Is this real? (Yes, I think so)…

I’m slowly changing our address on all our bills and documents to… Powell, Wyoming. How did this even happen!? It feels like I’m just a short drive away from family and maybe it’s been a busy week so we haven’t seen each other but no, actually I’m 900 miles from everyone I know and it will be awhile before we meet again. WEIRD.

Rex arrived here almost two weeks ago and I showed up a few days later with the rest of our belongings, so over these past days we have been unpacking and trying to get settled here before the real work begins: investing ourselves into the next generation. (That’s Rex’s phrase, not mine.)

Our days begin early and don’t end until bedtime. Thankfully we have two days off each week, which we’ve worked out to be Saturdays and Mondays at this time, which helps us not to become overwhelmed and burnt out. We are part of a team of staff who live with a household of boys who have come to be on the ranch for many different reasons, but can be summed up by saying they are troubled and in need of a change of culture.

This week I was lucky enough to be designated hair-cutter (apparently the only experience necessary is being a woman), so a handful of boys who had been hanging on to their lovely locks begrudgingly came forward to detach themselves from their hair-literally- and take a step forward in the program, which seeks to help them create a non-toxic environment in which they can grow in character and virtue.

I also got to saddle up again for the first time in quite awhile! I rode a mare called Leyote, and we went out to check for any newborn calves who might be struggling in the cold. There have been calves born day and night since we’ve been here; this is prime calving time.

The boys have been far too generous with their compliments of my cooking, which I can’t help but smile when I see them enjoying a good meal we’ve come up with together. I brought out my childhood favorite recipe of “Pannakoeken”, basically a big apple pancake baked in the oven, except that I had to multiply the recipe by SIX to make enough for 13 hungry men! I haven’t yet ceased to be amazed at how much food can disappear in just minutes with stomachs like these.

Tomorrow is our day off, and Rex and I are going into town to mail some paperwork for taxes and whatnot, and then he really wants to go check out (correction: bring home) a snowmobile he test-drove the other night that he can ride up in the mountains. We’ll see what is decided 😉 We’re also working on getting phone service out here that doesn’t cut out every third word! Patience, I know.

Speaking of patience, I went to confession on Friday and the priest here is a breath of fresh air (thank You Lord!). I couldn’t have hoped for a sweeter parish so close, yet out in the middle of nowhere, and I pray we can really grow here. Anyway, Fr. Brian reminded me in confession to be patient with myself as we transition and take on a whole new life. I have been feeling overwhelmed and frankly, inadequate as I look at what lies before us. But he’s right, and thank God for holy advice. So just in case you need to be reminded too,

Be Patient with yourself. God is faithful and will use whatever you offer to Him, big or (seemingly) small. Amen?

JMJ
Anna

ps. did you get a chance to look at that picture of the mountains? That was a sunrise from this week… How gorgeous. If you ever needed evidence that there IS a Creator…!