For Father's Day, my Dad was convinced to take a break from the work and we went up the mountain for a picnic. My brother and his family came as well. The girls and I were the lucky ones...we got to ride the horses up while my brother and his family walked, and my Mom and Dad rode the four wheeler. It was an enjoyable evening and good exercise for our out of shape horses.
Me leading Mackenzie and Marina. Aubrey wasn't with us as she spent a week with her cousins. Our horses were breathing hard by the time we got to our picnic area.
Our picnic spot in the shade.
Eating dinner with the horses in the back ground.
I had hoped to post a blog in dedication to my Dad for Father's Day, but didn't get it done. So here is a late post to let him know how much I love him. I thought I would share some stories and memories I have of my Dad. The first being before I was born. My Dad doesn't make quick decisions on things. He thinks things through and tries to make wise decisions. Most of the time he is quiet and one knows there is a lot going on inside his head but he is quick to listen and slow to speak. When Dad talks to you about something, most of the time you know he has thought about it and it is important and you better listen up as he has put a lot of thought into it. Well with one of the more important decisions one makes in a life time, he didn't take long to think things over. My parents went on three dates and on the third date my Dad asked my Mom to marry him! Wow! That didn't take long! The first was a blind date, the second bowling and on the third date, he invited my Mom to the ranch. Mom helped him with things since it was calving season. First she helped nurse up a calf (score 1), next she milked the cow (score 2), and finally she washed up the dishes (score 3). Dad must of seen what he liked and they were married 6 months later! He must of known what he was doing because pretty soon they will be celebrating their 44th wedding Anniversary!
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| My parents on their wedding day. |
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| After only three dates, the marriage proposal has lasted almost forty-four years! |
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| Then came us kids! This is one of my favorite pictures of me with my Dad at a very young age. |
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| My Dad with my brothers and sister on Christmas Day. |
Dad has always been a very hard worker and taught all of us kids the value of work. As I grew up, I can remember the milestones of my first time changing pipe, getting to drive the tractor, finally being trusted enough to bale the hay, etc. I looked forward to getting to do these things, instead of dreading work like a lot of kids do now days. I think this is because of the example my parents led. My brothers, sister and I all were out working on the ranch at a very young age and we didn't get paid or an allowance, until high school besides having one cow and calf. We just did it because we were part of the family and that is what a member of the family did. While in high school, there was a lot of times I was the only kid at home working with my Dad in the fields as my brothers and sister had gone off to college and jobs. I remember one day going down to a field where I was suppose to help my Dad change some hand line. As I drove the four wheeler down the road, I noticed my Dad was laying flat out on his back in the field by the pipe, not moving. All kinds of thoughts went through my head, but the one that stands out is that I thought my Dad had, had a heart attack. I went racing across the field to where he was laying and as I drove up he sat up with a smile on his face. He thought it would be funny to see what I would do. I was not too happy and told him to never do that again, because I seriously thought he was hurt or dead! Dad likes to scare people like that. We still hide in dark places in the basement and jump out at each other to this day. In fact Ross calls me the Queen of Scaring as it has rubbed off on me and I have made him scream like a girl when jumping out behind things at him!
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| The girls with Grandpa, stacking square bales. |
Every once in a while we would take a break from the hard work to go camping and do some fishing. Fishing is one of my Dad's favorite relaxing things to do. We would usually wade down the river's and streams, fly fishing. My sister and I have quite a few memories of long days fishing with my Dad. So maybe that is why I decided to marry a fisherman!
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| Dad with a red snapper he caught off of our boat when we lived in Southeast Alaska. |
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| Grandpa having roasted Marshmallows with Marina around a campfire. Nice Marshmallows mustache Grandpa! |
Dad is quite the cattleman. He raises purebred Simmental cattle. I got my love of animals from both my parents, however Dad's animals have to make money for him. He knows his cattle like the back of his hand. Dad has shown in quite a few shows and his cattle usually do quite well. We all grew up participating in 4-H and showing in the Junior Simmental Association.
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| Dad and my brother Shannon with their Fist place pen of heifers at the Denver Stock Show. |
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| Aubrey and Mackenzie with Grandpa watching him nurse up a calf on it's Mom. |
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| Dad taking care of a twin calf. |
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| Dad rescued this little fawn from the river that was flooding in the field one year. He brought it up for the girls to see and then put it away from the river. The mom finally came back and got it. |
My first dancing partner was my Dad. I remember going to dances and riding around on his feet while he danced holding my arms. Ross and I have great memories of dancing at the Blue Moon (the place they went on their very first blind date) with my parents. Whenever Ross and I are down here, we usually try to get Mom and Dad to go dancing with us one night.
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| Dancing with my Daddy to "Butterfly Kisses" on my wedding night. |
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| Grandpa teaching Marina how to dance at my cousins wedding. |
The girls love being with their Grandpa. This summer I have been enjoying getting to see them do things with my Dad that I enjoyed doing with him as a child. The other day Grandpa even got down on his old knees (although he doesn't act old) to be a bucking bull for the girls. This was a favorite childhood memory for me and I think it was a winner with the girls as well, because when the bucking session was over, Aubrey said, "I'm going to teach Daddy how to be a bucking bull!" Every time Grandpa comes in the house since, the girls ask him to be their bucking bull!
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| Grandpa the bull trying to butt Marina, while Aubrey tries to run and jump on before he butts her too! |
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| Hold on tight Aubrey, you have a spinning bull on your hands! |
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| Mackenzie getting her legs flung in the air while riding backwards. |
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| Grandpa and Aubrey sharing a good laugh together when she was a baby. |
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| You'll even find Grandpa doing things he use to never do. Things like helping decorate Valentine's Day cookies with his Granddaughters. |
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| Grandpa teaching Mack how to change hand line pipe. |
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| Changing pipe with Grandpa in the hot sun. |
I remember Daddy´s hands, folded silently in prayer.
And reaching out to hold me, when I had a nightmare.
You could read quite a story, in the callouses and lines.
Years of work and worry had left their mark behind.
I remember Daddy´s hands, how they held my Mama tight,
And patted my back, for something done right.
There are things that I´ve forgotten, that I loved about the man,
But I´ll always remember the love in Daddy´s hands.
Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong.
Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle
But I´ve come to understand.
There was always love in Daddy´s hands.
I remember Daddy´s hands, working 'til they bled.
Sacrificed unselfishly, just to keep us all fed.
If I could do things over, I´d live my life again.
And never take for granted the love in Daddy´s hands.
Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong.
Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle
But I´ve come to understand.
There was always love in Daddy´s hands.
Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong.
Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle
But I´ve come to understand.
There was always love .....
In Daddy´s hands.