The hubs and I had been married for close to six months. We both were employed by Uncle Pete (aka Union Pacific Railroad) and found ourselves both working "on call" jobs. This was a choice on his part, allowing for more time at home, less stress at work and a bit better income. All of which made for an easy decision. I, however, was working on call cause my seniority, or lack there of, allowed for no other options. It didn't take us very long to realize this particular arrangement was not going to work when we found ourselves exchanging passing (though very loving) waves on the road as one was coming home from work and the other was headed to work. We sat down, cussed and discussed the situation and decided we could live without the second railroad paycheck and I would become a stay at home mom and number one ranch hand for the R4.
And just like that I started living the dream I had almost forgotten I had been dreaming.
My heroes have always been cowboys...good song but also a reality in my life. How could they not be with my Dad being the best cowboy I had ever met. I always assumed that someday I would marry myself one. I remember working on a ranch for Cliff and Bonnie Quick. Bonnie must have suspected my hopes cause one day she gave me a piece of sound advice. "Mardel, flashy cowboys are a dime a dozen. Hold out for a cattle man. Now they are of high quality." I took her advice to heart, wise lady that she was. I mean the woman could cook bout as good as my own mother, could ride like an expert, work a hard day in the sun and not once did I ever see her with a hair out of place or her makeup a bit smudged.
So there I was looking for someone that could rope and ride as good as my Dad with the levelheadedness of a cattle man. But I gotta tell ya, when I was closing in on forty without a ring on my finger, I was plain and simply looking for just a man I couldn't have cared less if he was cowman, horseman, or the mailman!
You can imagine my elation the day the (future) hubs got down on one knee...awww who am I kidding...he was leaning up against his motorcycle, looked at me with those baby blues and said "We are getting married."
And yes, it was the most romantic non-proposal I could have ever asked for. Perfect. I couldn't have asked for more.
Kinda like my life. I had quit praying for God to send me a "such and such" man and had begun to pray that God would start molding me and working on me so that I would be ready for the "man" I was hoping He was bringing to me. And ain't it just like God...I got a cattleman, a horseman, even a Harleyman and to top it all off, a godly man, a funny man and a family man.
So, yes, about a year ago I started a new profession though I must say I am a long ways away from being a professional. I am just an amateur ranchwife. An amateur living the dream she had almost forgot she had been dreaming.
Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us."
think, according to the power that worketh in us."
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