2023 Word of the Year

It was New Year’s Eve and I had been unable to decide on a word for 2023. I was about ready to give you all together. But then, it came to me. My word. Less. This year, I want less. In a culture (and with a personality) that always thinks more is better, I want

2022 Book Report

This post does contain affiliate links–if you click the titles below, I’ll get a small commission, and your cost stays the same. One of the best things I did this year was to get myself a library card and the Libby app. This has significantly increased my ability to read (and not to continue to

The Gift of Remembering

This article was published as part of the Our Rural Roots column for Progressive Farmer. For many people, the holidays are a joyful time filled with gifts, treats, and family.  But for those who have lost loved ones, especially those who have lost someone within the last year, the holidays can be really difficult.  I am

2023 Christmas Gift Guide

I have done these for years, and at least one person (hi, Emmy!) said they look forward to them, so here we are. Ha! Just a few of the things I’m looking at buying or we already own and love. Many of these do include affiliated links, meaning if you order by clicking my links,

Breaking the Mold & Being Grateful for Your Story

Last year, I was honored to be a guest on my friend Bunny Terry’s “I Love New Mexico” podcast. How did I never put this in a blog post?! We had a great chat about chasing your own dream and being grateful your story, even if it might not look like what we think it

A “Get To” Life

This article was initially published as part of the Our Rural Roots Column for Progressive Farmer. We were recently in Reno showing at the Nugget All-American sheep show and sale. At the beginning of the sale, they bring all of the breed champions to the stage, play the song “Auctioneer” and lift the curtain for

Be a Good Neighbor

This post was written as part of the Our Rural Roots column for Progressive Farmer. It was late one evening as we were driving home from checking cows. Everyone was tired. That’s when we saw our neighbors’ cows were out on the road. We immediately started to help gather them. It’s what neighbors do. It

Old Friends

I read this quote from Shauna Niequist: “I felt profoundly grateful for the familiarity, for knowing someone across decades, for having the kind of history that allows for shorthand, shared language, a thousand inside jokes, but even deeper than that, an awareness of one another’s hardest days, darkest wounds, scars, and secrets.” I count many

Come On, Nana!

Last night, we stood on the porch during the storm and I was yelling “come on rain!” (Our house is very calm and quiet, obviously.) Harper started yelling, “come on, Nana!” I asked what she was saying. She replied, “uh, mom, Nana is in heaven sending the rain.” {Thanks be to God and to Nana,

Marky

We’ve been praying for the Runyans since the moment we heard the news. When my kids asked me about Mark, I told them he had the best laugh, gave the best hugs, and made everybody feel special. He always treated me like one of his own. My guess is that most of the “kids” in