The Cattle on a Thousand Hills

I posted this picture to a Facebook group for Bible Journaling a few months back and the response I got from it was overwhelming! It's even going to be featured in a magazine! I'm so flattered.

My mom was visiting and we stayed up late one night to Bible journal together. This is what happened.

My husband works for a cattle ranching company and I think of this verse nearly every time we're in the car.
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
(God does... my husband doesn't)  ;)

Winter on the Ranch

I'm sure I'm not alone in the fact that I am very much looking forward to spring!

Although, I don't think I can justifiably complain about this winter.

The snow has been... scarce.

Growing up in WI and then living in the high country of CO, I am definitely a fan of snow. I love sledding and making snowmen and forts and the big, fluffy flakes and hot cocoa and feeling all warm and snuggly as it's coming down outside knowing that in the morning there will be beautiful new sparkles covering everything.

That only happened a few times here this winter.

So, I'm left in this place of mourning the winter that wasn't, being ready for spring already, and hoping that this isn't foreshadowing to a ridiculously hot summer.

As far as work on the ranch goes, the guys have to feed cows everyday, they spend time hunting the cows' predators to keep the herd safe, they do a lot of corral work (fixing the old corrals and building new ones), and they do a lot of work around the ranch getting things prepared for the busy season.... which starts now.

We are now fully into calving. It's always fun to see all the babies!
I'll have to share some pictures of them soon!
-kt

The Big One

Friday.

A game changer.

The day of the big one.

Our daughter has battled with uncontrolled epilepsy for nearly 3 years.
She will be 4 years old in about 2 weeks.

She had a rough pregnancy, her first seizures on her first birthday, lots of testing and trips to Children's hospital, many different meds and treatments. She is my little hero.

The seizures are normally absence seizures. She looks like she zones out, spots on her face twitch, and just as quick, she comes right back and goes about playing.

But, this one...

This one was on the floor, convulsing, little lips turning blue, mommy calling 9-1-1.

This was scary.

*We're all ok now*

I've started Bible journaling.

I've had some trouble over the past couple of years getting into the Word.
It's hard with all these littles running about to find the time or energy to really study.

This has been a GREAT way for me to meditate on scripture in the midst of mommy hood.

I'm not super confident in my artistic ability.

But, this one, including her sweet little handprints, is one of my favorites so far.

When we were going through our crazy pregnancy with her, we were told we were miscarrying her. I trusted God to do what He saw as best, but I (of course) wanted this child to be healthy and whole and a part of our family.

"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him."
      1 Samuel 1:27

In the next verse, Hannah is expressing that, because God saw fit to give Samuel to her, she would give him back to the Lord.

While we were pregnant, my father-in-law told us that our sweet Little Miss would be used mightily for the kingdom of God.

On our bad days, I struggle to see how that can come true, but I'm hopeful. I hope that people can see the way the Lord is giving us hope, the way He is sustaining us, the way He is protecting her and providing for us. I hope people can see that even on my darkest, saddest days, I still trust Him. I've honestly really been struggling, but I know He is good. I know He loves us. I know He cares for her.
I know.

Give us strength to be used by you, Lord.

"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him.
  Therefore I have lent him to the LORD.
  As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."
       1 Samuel 1:27 & 28

I'm so grateful.
-kt

Dark Days

The dark days.

Sadness.

Pain.

Lack of joy.

Hurt.

Exhaustion.

There's no real reason for them.

Yet, they linger.

My children are beautiful.
My husband is faithful and kind.

Yet, they linger.

I have people who love me, bosses who take care of us, a church family that supports us, family members that are loyal.

Yet, they linger.

I feel like we take one step forward, two steps back.
We stand up, and get tackled.
We make progress and get stopped.

I fear hope.
I resent dreams.
I expect disappointment.

I have moments of "happy" that are preceded and followed by pain.

My body hurts.
I'm so tired.

These are my dark days.

I'm looking forward to the light.
-kt