Ok so we're only on day 3 of
the 5 day adventure composition set in the rural mid-west (at least I think
Iowa is mid-west....I just wanted to use words other than corn, farm
& small town) you get the idea though because you, my friends, are smart
cookies (we balance each other quite well).
Sunday: I knew I was going to
church while in town but I had no idea which church I would attend since my family is denomination-ally diverse. After the Holy Ghost time we had after the wedding at the Four Square church on the edge of town I knew that's where I belonged that morning.
church while in town but I had no idea which church I would attend since my family is denomination-ally diverse. After the Holy Ghost time we had after the wedding at the Four Square church on the edge of town I knew that's where I belonged that morning.
Breakfast at the farm was set for somewhere around 8am but there
was NO way I would be able to do work that one.....opting out of Sunday School
sounded good to my body. So by the time I finally pulled up the driveway
everyone was already outside in the freezing cold ready to go.
Another meal to skip. This whole not-making-time-for-food
coupled with running a 5K this week is sure taking its toll on my extra baby
fat (the extra skin still needs to find a place to hide) tummy tuck? hmmm....interesting possibility.
Focus, people.....the story is unfolding rather slowly with a
bland taste in my mouth so lets see if I can move this along.
Church...amazing!!!
Worship....amazing!!!
The Message....a call to action...what do you see around you that
needs your help? where is God leading you to be His hands and feet...to
reach the lost? the hurting? the hungry? GOOOOOOOOOD stuff, Mr. Preacher
Man! I’m moved to MOVE!
Quick, jump ahead: The Stables
oops, forgot my ranch gear at headquarters (Aunt and Uncle's
place) ...my red shiny leather heels wouldn't be enough for rompin’ in the
muck.... so back I go (all of a 3 minute drive through town).
 |
| on the way to the stables I'm enamored by the peaceful countryside... the cows are a bit perplexed with my side of the road stop over |
 |
| and my FULL stop at the bottom of the hill.....before turning into the Stables. This is where the healing of my heart commenced. |
breathless. speechless. motionless. weeping.
memories flood my mind of Daddy.
One summer he made me go in the river with him while it was way down. For some odd reason there were about 6-7 cars
and trucks stuck in the yucky muddy bottom of that river.
“Why are there cars in the
river?” I inquired of Daddy. “And why are WE going to dig them
out? Do you realize how old I am?”
“You’ll be fine, just tough
it out.”
“I’m a girl.”
“You’re a tom boy! Now, let’s go....work before pleasure.”
I made sure he told me the WHY behind this hard manual labor mess
of a mystery.
Well, when he and his friends were
young and stupid they'd buy
junk cars for parts and build their own race cars and even trucks. They
were caught racing on the farm and got in some pretty hot water so they moved
their operation to the next door neighbors (my uncle Richard had 200 acres “The Stables” that shared a
property line with Great Grandma's farm.)
So they
raced all around my uncle’s land thinking they were being slick. Well they tore up trails and pasture land and
turned the training ring into a big hot mess before my uncle had about enough
of that. All the boys went into town and
uncle spent all day with his “cat” or whatever they called that little tracker
and threw some of the cars in the river and buried the rest. When the boys came back they couldn’t find
one vehicle on the whole place.
I don’t
remember the details but I don’t think they even found out about what happened
until that summer when the river went way down.
Can you imagine seeing your lost car in the bottom of the riverbed as a
teenager? We all have family stories,
don’t we? I’ve always felt mine have a
special entertainment value. My dad was
quite the adventurer, risk taker, never afraid of anything, wild fun guy about
town so just about everyone in town has a Stan storyJ
Oh
my....back to the Main Event: sloppy,
healing, snot on my face crying commenced for what seemed like forever. Jo is in the distance eye balling my
Fiat. I’m sure by now she realizes who
it is. My heart ...ahh the
healing....surprisingly, I’m still experiencing grief over my Daddy's death by reliving such beautiful memories. I MISS HIM!!!!!!J
Then one
of my besties calls at the most perfect time and I spill it all on her with
zero regard for what her world may be experiencing on the other end...what a
friend I must be?! Spill it!
Now, since I’m not
the best at doing a “this happened, then this, then that thing” and making it
interesting, even though the turn of events from that moment and the next few
to follow had a profound effect on me and I’m sure on those around me, I can’t
seem to figure how to tell this part.
 |
| from the front of Welcome, to the view back to my adorable European gem of a rental car, back to the ranch and the river view....you can see the Lodge from here....wish I had time to take you inside all these amazing buildings hand crafted by my family ages ago. |
Maybe
Nancy (the new owner of The Stables) could tell this part.... I heard she’s an actual writer! intro:
It all
started after my super power Jo hugs. Oh, you don't know who Jo is yet? Well keep up. Jo is Nancy's Mama and was also one of my Grandma Barb's best friends). Now I hadn't been back here in 5 years so you know I needed a good hug!
Then some small talk about all that messy crying,
deflected. Now Jo offers to take me to see.....
the Boss (some folks are brave enough to call her Nancy). Rounding the front side of the Main BunkHouse
(not sure what they call it these days) I hear faint voices growing closer by
the nanosecond. Giggles.
Suddenly,
as if catapulting off
a galloping gelding in the middle of a classic ranch horse show to the tune of “We’re
Coming to America”,
appears this blonde bundle of energy, packaged in muscle sporting a dazzling smile
as her precious adornment. Her long, perfectly wavy golden hair was blowing
in the crisp breeze. She embraced an uber confident swagger which made me run
into her arms like a long lost friend.
She didn’t miss a beat. Miss Top
of The World Today is what I shall call her. Right about now I was able to see what the movie scene would look like when this moment is recreated. "Who do you want to play you in the movie?" I asked? Blank stares....fake smiles.....huh?!
Aside from the movie comment reaction, how did I do? In describing Nancy....the breezy blonde moment? Oh, leave a comment but be nice ;) I think I’ll start calling her Boss. Out of respect and a bit of fear:) She really rocks that place....so don't get in her way.
 |
| Here's Tori....one of the tough gals who passionately work this ranch just as I once did....such hard work yet so rewarding. (ignore my tear stained face) Oh, another thing, Tori had her gorgeous cowboy classy wedding here....Ahhhh |
Hey, there's a thought. Maybe if I come up for the summer she’d let
me have a part in the show....put in a good word for me, JoJ
I MUST film one of them at the very least but if I’m in it well then, all the better!
 |
| another shot of the river (and Tori hard at work) |
So the 15-30
minutes I planned turned into about 3.5 hours of chat n laughs with a bit more
tears in the barn. She actually told the
details of Jesse’s death (one of the best horses that place has ever
seen). I bawled me eyes out begging her
to stop but she just had to tell it all.
Oh boy! Can you believe they’ve buried 30 horses out
there since buying this place from uncle.
That’s another story. She just
has such a huge heart for the horses...like they’re her babies.
 |
| everyone sitting in the feeding trough listening to the crazy lady pacing the barn |
She gives them the absolute BEST life until their
last breath.
After
getting some good shots, stopping the flow of work for the afternoon and
shaking things up a bit I decided it was time to head to my next
adventure.....but I didn’t take a VIDEO!!!!
It’s ok, I told them, I’d be back tomorrow for another visit and maybe
even a ride (the most amazing experience on horseback in the state of
Iowa). To be continued...
 |
| The infamous Nancy "Boss" and her Honey, Rick. what an amazing pair! |
 |
| part of the tack room....many hours/days of my life spent here. |
Oops.....I
missed my farm time completely.
What now?
My “in town” family was to have a wee BBQ with the whole
family. I also invited my other best
girl, Julie to the mix. Then this, then
that, then cousin can’t come, then I moved Jules to tomorrow night so I could
have some one on one girl time. Ahhh, an
evening of peace is at hand. Not to
mention the normal meal at my fingertips and taste buds. Sorry Gramps.
Yummy Aunt Jill.....my tummy thanks you for feeding it so
generously. Great family! Great
conversation! I must say, I felt so comfortable there.....like I’ve been in and
out of their home between my wild shenanigans all my life.
 |
| love these people....my loving family! |
Home.
Family.
Laughter.
Gratefulness.
Love.
WOW!
Dinner behind us, now
what? Hey, I can make it out to the farm
to chat up Gramps before he heads to bed.
Perfect!
However, we'll have to take that journey tomorrow because this is already a super long blog story....come back later for part 2 of Day 3....do you even care? I think you maybe should...or not....your call.
I do love you because God loves you and so .....ciao for now, come back soon:)
love n hugs n horse kisses.
Diella Wyatt
However, we'll have to take that journey tomorrow because this is already a super long blog story....come back later for part 2 of Day 3....do you even care? I think you maybe should...or not....your call.
I do love you because God loves you and so .....ciao for now, come back soon:)
love n hugs n horse kisses.
Diella Wyatt
Blu, I just happened upon this blog. YOU ARE ONE AMAZING WOMAN!! I haven't had time to read much and I have to go to an appointment, but I WILL BE BACK!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Ann
Thanks SO MUCH Ann for your encouraging words. We just love being connected to your amazing family:) Blessings
Delete