Ranch Wife pt 2

“She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.” Proverbs 31:13

As a ranch wives (even if you’re not a ranch wife ;)) we spend a lot of time working with our hands. Cooking for our families, taking care of the house, fixing fence, working cows, feeding animals, etc.

All tasks that, once you get used to them, can feel… mundane.

We can find ourselves going through the motions: get the kids dressed and fed, put the pesky calves back in the pasture, start the laundry, chase the chicken out of the house, go feed or check cattle, get back home and try to hurry and do all the laundry.

Sometimes, I drag my feet. Sometimes, I DON’T have a good attitude about my work.

But that’s not what God wants for me- for us. Throughout the Bible, He tells us over and over about the value of hard work and a good attitude.

The Proverbs 31 chapter talks about this several times.

Verse 13, “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.”

~She doesn’t work with begrudging or slow hands. She works with eager hands. How often do we drag a task out that could be done so much quicker if we actually applied ourselves?

Verse 17, “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.”

~She works hard and with energy. God doesn’t want us to merely work, He wants us to do our best. He wants us to work vigorously and eagerly, to tackle a task with an eager mind.

Back to verse 15a, “She gets up while it is still dark;”

~The Proverbs 31 woman works long days as I’m sure all of you can relate. She’s an energetic worker who puts in a LOT of hours. Those of you who are parents can especially relate to this.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I am not the energizer bunny. Somedays, I want to curl up on my couch with a good book and a huge mug of coffee and let someone else work eagerly and vigorously.

This is an attitude problem- not an energy problem. I’ve been sleep deprived for a few years now, thanks to young kids. There are some days where I work eagerly on an hour or two of sleep. Other days, I’ll have gotten a longer stretch of sleep and think that I’d like to not do anything constructive that day. But as wives and mothers we are setting that example for our kids. We need to teach them to work eagerly EVEN on the days we don’t feel like it.

No matter what we feel like that day, we can still pray and ask the Lord to help us have the right attitude and the energy for our work. We can ask Him for the help to work eagerly like the Proverbs 31.

This is what we want to teach our children, that we can do it if we rely on Him to help us. Because that’s ultimately what He wants from us: to rely on Him in all things.

~Carina Swenson

Ranch Wife

“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:10-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What is a ranch Wife? A ranch wife is not just a “ranch Wife”. She is chief cook, hires hand, underpaid secretary, boss, mom, Wife, gate opener, parts runner, and the list goes on. Traveling 2 hrs to get groceries is a normal to her. Her day generally starts before the dawn and ends long after her children have been tucked in their beds. She is her husband’s right hand and support system. But she takes on every moment of her amazingly hectic day feeling blessed that God has allowed her to live such a wonderful life of being able to work alongside her husband and children. Everyday is not easy. Most are far from it! But she wouldn’t trade it for any other way. So what is a ranch Wife? Well to me she is the “Virtuous Wife”!

~Hailey❤️

Ask and God Will Give It

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:22‬ ‭NKJV‬

I used to wish I’d marry someone who loves agricultural and wanted me to work along beside them, but always feared that wouldn’t happen. Thankfully, though, that’s the amazing thing. When God says “ask and it’ll be given to you” (Matt 7:7) he actually means exactly that! I can’t count how many times I asked and when Thad walked into my life I knew God had kept His word. I still, to this very day, have a hard time grasping just how blessed I truly am. This man has made every dream of mine come true. He asked me to be his wife, gave me a lifestyle I love, and has given me the greatest gift of all; our daughter Camille Aurelia! Sure we have our ups and downs but what God has joined together let no man pull apart, right? All I can say is dreams can and do come true just as long as you ask and keep believing. God is more powerful and loving than we can ever imagine. 

~Hailey❤️

Goals: Expectations v.s Reality

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Do you ever have goals and expectations for those goals? I know I do all the time! Last week I decided I was going to start getting up at 5 am instead of going back to bed after feeding Cam. That way I could read my Bible and get my workout out of the way before my hectic day started. I did really good for one day. Then it happened; the dreaded real life hit! Cam started teething and that meant I was up every couple of hours. The last thing I wanted to do was cut cut my sleep even more short. Was I upset that my expectations for that goal were ruined? Of course! But I had to see the reality and adjust accordingly. Does that mean I am giving up on that goal? No! It just means that right now might not be the best time. That is reality, whether I like it or not! But that doesn’t mean I can’t still have expectations. I just need to be able to be flexible and allow God to have control of my goals!

The Dirt Road Called Life

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Life is like a dirt road. It has its ups and downs; it’s smooth and rough patches. Sometimes it is straight and sometimes it is curvy. Not always can you see what is coming over the rise, but you have faith it will continue. Faith that God has graded the way for you. It might take you a while to get anywhere but that’s the beauty of it. Look around and enjoy the scenery. So many people don’t take the time to just relax and appreciate how far they have already come because they are so intent on how far they still have to go. When you are in a hurry you don’t have the time to fully come to love and appreciate all those God has brought into your life and all the beauty around you! So take a moment, drink some coffee, and enjoy this dirt road called life!

~Hailey❤️

Plain & Simple

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45


Sometimes I feel like writing is my outlet, my open vein of emotion so the toxic blood can bleed out. So I guess there’s no wonder when I write, it looks like inky sadness. But I forget to write about the great times in my life.The ones that left a positive effect on my life. I forget to write about the words and how the tip toed throughout my mind and the slipped away before I could even write them down. And let’s be honest, I was always too sidetracked to remember any of my wandering thoughts that went through my head. I was too busy living life. I never realized how blessed I was sitting on those broke horses and surrounded with pine trees.. that was my safe place. Plain and simple. That’s where everything that was happening in my life went away and I was just living. Sometimes I look back and would love to do so many things different. But I am so thankful for my past because it has made me into the person I am today. I forget what to say sometimes and it just comes out vague. I don’t mean it that way cause heaven knows how deep my mind goes. Bottomless. I always feel my eyes being drawn and pulled from distraction to distraction, left with too little time to focus on fluttering phrases. Best friends are the root of happiness. I want you to know that we were always smiling and giggling, tossing cuss words as terms of endearment. And damnit, we were happy. We might have had a bad day, one with gory truths and failure and it hurt. But we were okay and without the failure, there is no success. Without the pain, there is no comfort. Sometimes you’ll put your middle fingers to the wrong doers and keep on moving. I feel like the simpler your life is, the better. The less drama you have in your life, the better. My last piece of advice for you tonight would be get tough and stay tough. Be the right kind of beautiful, the kind with Jesus in your heart and love in your eyes.
Xoxo- Kate

Beauty

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In our day and age when someone says beautiful we tend to think of Barbie; tall, thin, has curves, blonde, and has perfect skin. Hardly do we think about if they have a beautiful heart. Some of the most beautiful people I know don’t “fit” in the Barbie mold. But non the less they are just as beautiful as the “Barbie”. On our own, beauty is only skin deep but when we have God inside of us it radiates from our very souls! So, why do we have these “molds”? Why aren’t we throwing them away and looking at/commenting on others inner beauty?!

~Hailey💗

Calving Season

 “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭nkjv

It’s that time of year again, Calving Season. Calving season can mean so many different things. It means sleepless nights for some, being covered in placenta and crap more often than being clean, seeing new life come into this old world, and knowing that even though you try you can’t save every calf. But, every calf born alive you thank God for because that means you are just one step closer to getting that little guy to market. Most people don’t understand that ranchers really only have one “payday”. And every calf that makes it to market means a bigger “payday”. So, just like that pair depends on us, we depend on them.

  On the other hand, it’s not just about the money. There is something amazingly beautiful about being able to see a new life begin. Something fulfilling watching that calf take its first steps on wobbly legs. It’s a hard way of living but you tell yourself that anything worth doing is not done easily. You have to take the pain with the joy, the death with the life. All you can do is take one day at a time and know God is in control this calving season, just like he was with all the ones before and all the ones to come.

So happy calving season and may your coffee be stronger than you temper!!

~Hailey

Let’s Dare to be Different

“For I am the Lord, your God. Who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear. I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

She was born with a wild grin on her little childish lips and she’s always been looking for trouble to get in. She’s also came to find out that her little dimple can melt any mans heart. Whether that’s a good thing or not, I guess that’s for you to decide. The problem with her grin and dimples is that she finds trouble all too easily. I sure hope I’m not the only one that can find trouble at the tip on a hat or the shake of a hand. Trouble is wrong, and unfortunately, wrong usually tastes good. Even when the wrong tastes good, we always have that little thought nagging at us. The good, the part of us that knows better, but proceeds anyways.. I guess we all have to learn at some point and time, right? But lets dare to be different. To strive for the goals we set in life. To live up to the standards we set for ourselves. To see the good in the not so great people. Hell, to see the good in everything. Take deep breaths and give long kisses. Sit on the edge of that mountain, looking over the horizon and the beautiful picture that God placed right in front of you. Show people the real you. The one who finds peace in Gods country. She feels right at home on that trusty sorrel horse. Some days she feels like she can only count on that trusty mount. The simplest things in life give her the greatest pleasure. Early mornings, late nights and long miles rode. She loves every single moment. Be so much you that the weak hearts just can’t handle it. Wear the dress, go out with the boy. Do things that you never thought were possible. Do what you feel is right, even if that means hurting the ones you care about. The older you get, the less you care what people think about you. She doesn’t mind what people say behind her back, I mean they are there for a reason right? Put your middle finger to the haters and let them roar at your success. Listen for the morning birds start to call to their lovers. Just like it calls to your soul. Being different is nothing to be ashamed of. You’re gonna be alright. Drink too much, make a story. Love too much, you won’t regret it. Kiss too much, just because you can. Feel every last emotion, deep and fierce. Dare to be different in a world that is filled with so much love an wanderlust. Go find it, I dare you.

~Katelyn

Dear New Momma

Dear new mama,  

Don’t worry you’re not alone. I see you over there with your new baby. Everything is new and scary for both of you. Where your tummy used to be flat and smooth, it is now flabby and covered in stretch marks. A full nights sleep is now replaced by an alarm every few hours. A breakdown at least once every couple of days seems to be the new normal. Trust me, I know how stressful it is to watch your baby cry because its tummy hurts and you have no clue what to do. It seems caffeine and dry shampoo have become your new best friends. Whenever you go out, you have to take a change of clothes for both of you. No one ever told you just how much you’d have to give up. Where you once had time to do your makeup and hair, enjoy a shower, hang out with friends, go on a date with your significant other, or just have some me time, your life is now replaced by a little human that demands all your attention. When you look at all that you’re missing it easy to get the baby blues. 

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But I promise you it is all worth it! Just like no one told you how hard it would be, no one told you how amazing it would be. When your baby smiles at you it is the most beautiful sight. Nothing can compare to it! Just knowing someone depends on you and you are their whole world is the most amazing feeling. The saying ”don’t blink” is so true. They grow up way too fast. Soon they will be crawling, then walking, and before you know it moving away.   

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So dear new mama, put down whatever you were doing and enjoy what little time you have to hold your baby. For this time will soon pass. And I promise, you will survive and you will wish you could come back and hold your baby once more!

“Strong”

She’s strong despite her fears. She’s strong even though she’s been through hell. The definition of strong means so many things to so many people. To me, strong isn’t defined by muscle strength. Strong is mental toughness. Strong is when everyone is telling you that you can’t do something, but you know in your heart and soul that you could prove them wrong. You get up every single day knowing that you can conquer whatever is standing in your way. You put your calloused hands to work and you’ve proved to yourself what kind of person you are. Strong is being hurt by someone you love, but still loving with a full and forgiving heart. Being able to love as well as forgive someone who has done terrible things. God has taught us to love and live with everything we have. She’s strong because she’s had to be. She’s had to be the brave face behind the endless tears and sorrow. She’s had to pretend that everything is okay when that’s far from the truth. She’s smarter because of her mistakes. She’s happier because of the sadness she’s known. But you know what, some of the strongest girls you’ve known will never admit that they are strong. They will pretend that they have a soft heart and they might shed a tear in front of you. That’s how you know they trust you. Because let’s be real, we all think we’re too tough to actually show our feelings. But when it truly comes down to it, the strong girl has such a fragile heart from all the beatings it’s taken. It’s not all a bad thing though. She knows her worth. She knows she’s a strong independent person. She is wiser than her years. She doesn’t let men walk all over her or play with her heartstrings. She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She walked with the universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings. And well the truth is, you’re not always going to be okay. And that’s okay. You’re tough, you know it. Take deep breathes and remember the times that you sat there and though how blessed your life truly is. I sometimes have those moments, usually when I have a colt that is working really well for me.. you just stand there in awe like God put me here on this earth for this reason. To be strong and stand for what I believe in. To use my talents to the best of my ability. So, don’t be ashamed of being strong. Everyone knows you can’t always be strong. “The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us but those who win battles we know nothing about.” ~Katelyn