Homesteads

In the process of moving into my new computer I found this and thought I would share. I wrote it a few summers ago after Kristen and I spent a beautiful summer day with my dad's parents exploring where each of their parents homesteaded.


June 2010

All that is left are parts of an old Model T. The rusted bumper, hood, a piece of the steering wheel and a chain. There are some old tin cans, also rusted, the rocks that might have been the front step and an indentation where the cellar was.

On the other plot there is nothing, not even a scrap of metal. What was most likely a hand dug well is now a puddle.

As we walked we watched for rattlesnakes, took pictures and listened. Listened and tried to remember everything they said. Because this is our history; our piece of the puzzle.

It’s a beauty that can’t be described, the clean air, smell of sagebrush and chirping birds. What was supposed to be a rainy day didn’t shed a drop though the roads were too muddy to take our own car.

The stories are too many to retell, although I hope I remember well enough to be able to tell my kids someday. How they lost 40 sheep in a blizzard, how the kids raised enough money with a badger hide to pay for the concrete in the foundation to add on to the house. I learned things about my grandparents I never knew. My grandpa went to California two winters in a row to find work, my grandma went to a semester of business school in Denver before they got married.

They were 19 and 29 when they married. They bought a piece of land together, built a family and a life. Raised four children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They lost countless animals in blizzards, drought, other elements. They lost a granddaughter to meningitis. They never quit.

What is physically left of the original homesteads is not much, but what is left is my legacy. The lessons learned. Be kind, fair and work hard. Love. Share what you have. That is what is important. More important than any piece of land.

Two weeks in God's country

PJ had two weeks of leave between artillery school in Lawton, OK, and reporting to his (first!) permanent duty station. We spent the time enjoying our family and friends, knowing it would be a while before we had this much time off again. The few days PJ spent with his dad on a motorcycle trip to the Black Hills and I spent with my family. Then he ventured to the UW game with his mom's side of the family and I went to CO to spend time with my sister.

We both spent the next week around Douglas, driving to Cheyenne to see his Grandma Mary, and to the ranch to see my dad's side of the family. Of course we had to spend a day getting our things that were in storage ready to ship and the motorcycle drained, and then a day wasted sitting around waiting for the movers to come. Apparently shipping household goods from Wyoming to Hawaii is not something that happens very often.

The day before we left my parent threw us a going away party and it was so nice to stay in one place and have everyone together! We are so blessed by the amazing family and friends we have.

We have a house

One year

How one year changes things. One year ago today PJ asked me to marry him. 

We had decided to go camping for his birthday and to hike Laramie Peak the next morning. We had an amazing dinner cooked over the fire and spent the evening enjoying the cool Wyoming night. 

Since it was so late in the season and the middle of the week, we had the campground all to ourselves but PJ was insistent on keeping the truck locked the whole time. I didn't think much of it at the time...

We woke up, packed and got ready to hike. PJ was being weird. He didn't pack any water with him, only two beers, and he kept going through his bag like he was missing something. When we finally got on our way, he took off at a fast pace, leaving me (who was carrying all the water) behind. 

When I finally pointed this out to him, he slowed down and we made our way to the top of the peak. It was a fairly cool and windy day and once we were on top the wind was blowing like crazy. It wasn't fun at all so we headed back down to find someplace to have lunch. 

We found a place to stop and I sat down and dug in my bag to find food. Stuffing a handful of trail mix in my mouth, I turned around to find PJ down on one knee with a ring in his hand. 

Neither of us really remembers what he said, the only important part was that I said yes. (After spitting out the trail mix in my mouth.)

I could barely get the ring on my finger since it was swollen from the elevation and hiking. The ring belonged to his Grandma Mary.

We drank our beer and headed back down the mountain. I think I skipped the whole way down, I couldn't wait to share our news!

It is hard to believe that was only one year ago. So much has changed since then. We got married, moved to Oklahoma, and in exactly two weeks we leave here to head home for a visit and then we're moving to Hawaii!

One month from tomorrow we will get on a plane and start our new adventure. 

It's scary. Until Oklahoma I had always lived fairly close to my family. Hawaii is four hours behind and an eight hour flight away from them. 

It's also extremely exciting. We have the opportunity to travel and start our new life together in an amazing place. 

The packing and moving details have been stressful, but are finally finished and now comes the fun!

Right after PJ proposed some really cute older ladies came walking up and offered to take our picture. It was perfect! [9.1.10]

Right after PJ proposed some really cute older ladies came walking up and offered to take our picture. It was perfect!