homestead

Earlier today, when the sun was shining high and it was almost 80 degrees, I remembered that before I started this self-imposed torture Lent blogging project I had thought that I would use some of these posts to catch up on a few things that I’ve been meaning to finish.  Like pictures from that trip.  You know the one.  It happened last year and I’m still not done telling you about it.

So welcome to the ranch.  This is where Bryan grew up.

Well, technically, he grew up all over Texas – which is what makes him such a fabulous person – but this is always where he came home to roost.  His grandparent’s ranch in Lampasas, TX.

He learned to drive at age ten in a rusted out old bug with no windshield or sides that used to be parked in front of that barn.  It’s no wonder he’s already let our eleven year old pilot the family SUV.  I mean, heck, it’s an entire vehicle.  What could be safer?

This place was the first place he took me to meet his family.  As the weekend grew closer, more and more of that family decided to join in the fun.  By the time we drove over, he was quizzing me on the names of all 5 of his older sisters, their husbands or boyfriends, and offspring.  It was a little…overwhelming…  Good thing there’s a lot of empty space out there.

Memories of this place always make him smile.  It is weekends and summers and adventures; staying out until the sun goes down.

We always stop on the way down to his parent’s house and visit his grandmother. I love that my kids get to connect with this physical place that was so much of his childhood.  Family land.  Not something we really have going on here in Sherwood.

It’s such a wonderful stop. A place to breathe. To be amazed at the space.

And then we drive away as the sun goes down.  The lights on the square of this small Texas town blink on to wave us goodbye…