A Warm Embrace in Oklahoma

There is one thing you learn when you grow up living far away from family, when ever there is a chance to see family, you go see them. My Uncle Steve and my cousin, Seth, have a Texas Longhorn ranch near Tulsa, OK. Since we were heading west, it only made sense to go visit and see them and the ranch, Lochloosa.

I am so glad we did! Uncle Steve, Seth, April and their kids were so warm and welcoming! We parked our house at the ranch, saw some beautiful cattle, and were given a tour of the ranch property. Their ranch is beautiful. I had no idea that Oklahoma has hills and mountains! I know that sounds ignorant, but whenever I think of Oklahoma, I think of prairie and grasses, not boulders and hills. But there they were. And it was beautiful. Steve and Seth explained a lot of what they did to develop their property, including building roads, miles and miles of fencing, moving boulders, and the constant hard work to improve and maintain such a vast undertaking.

After the ranch tour, Seth took us to pick up some Oklahoma BBQ (which was outstanding), and we went to his and April’s beautiful home to have some time together over dinner. Seth and April’s kids were just adorable and sweet and fun and so full of personality and energy. I was engrossed in the moment and connection that I didn’t think to take out my camera. And I am regret that a lot. We had an evening of laughs, and great conversation and reminiscing about our younger days when we were the energetic kids that our parents had to wrangle. And the hijinks I exposed my cousins to when I was a young, trouble making teenager. I did introduce Seth to Guns and Roses. He still thinks I’m cool for doing that…or at least I think he thinks I’m cool. Eventually, it was time to head back to the ranch and our house on wheels. So we bid Seth and April and the kids goodnight and headed back to our house on wheels.

In the morning, before I brewed coffee, I remembered that I own a camera, and took a few pictures of the cattle. And the sheep and the goats. I didn’t get a picture of the very awesome ranch dog, Wrangler, but I fell in love with him immediately. I had just brewed coffee, and Uncle Steve brought us breakfast. We had a little more time together. Precious time. And then, it was time to hit the road again.

I will say again, family is EVERYTHING. And probably the hardest thing about the journey Aaron and I have chosen is that we won’t often be near our family and loved ones. We have the freedom to go where we want and when we want, but, we won’t always be geographically close to family or friends. That is the main reason I have decided to write a blog. It will keep our loved ones better updated on our lives than a Facebook post. I’m not knocking Facebook, it is the main way I am able to keep up with family and friends. But, it isn’t the right platform for detailed posts like this.

We are just a little over a month into our new life, and hopefully I can get the blog caught up to be more current. Maybe I should have started this about a month ago….