Greetings from southern Colorado. No, I didn't get this picture off of my latest Zane Grey western novel. As I mentioned last week our son Kurt came out here to help friends work and move cattle.
Kirk and Rebecca live and ranch in Westcliffe. Mark, their ranch manager and friends with our family, lives there as well. However they winter cattle further south in Thatcher.
Kirk and Rebecca's ranch in Thatcher has 5 miles of the original Santa Fe Trail going through it.
The crew worked and lived down on the southern ranch about a week. This is the old 1800s cabin that was their home during that week. When they arrived they chased out some varmints. They also killed a rattlesnake the first day.
After rounding up the pairs and working the calves, they moved them north to Westcliffe. Jan and I brought Emily, Jackson, and Jayden to Colorado to see Kurt and finish the week with him.
Kirk and Rebecca along with their ranch manager Mark and his wife Stacy were really fun to hang out with. Rebecca hosted us all for supper on their ranch on a mesa in the mountains. This kind of trip you have to experience to appreciate.
They also had a birthday cake made to celebrate Emily's birthday.
Meanwhile back home in Iowa the crew spent a lot of time spraying beans.
We have this famous mud hole on BJ and Cassia's farm that seldom dries up even though it is well tiled. All of us have been stuck in it more than once. It always looks dry on top. However it must have old coalmine shafts underground that bring up water constantly. Once again this sprayer operator called home for a pull.
Our helper Jim poured some concrete at his place Friday morning. Part of our crew helped out. I would like to finish up this visit by listing some things that can't be bought. Money can't buy a work ethic.
Dollars can't buy grandchildren and their desire to help their dads.
Money can't buy experiences. Some of those experiences we had as a child we remember the rest of our lives.
Money can't buy kindness. Kindness cares about the well being and happiness of others. Kindness values relationships over rules. Kindness takes folks in just as they are. Kindness forgives and gives folks second chances.
Money can't buy talent and ability. Those are God given and must be used and shared to keep them at their top potential.
Money can't buy integrity and character. Those come from a lifetime of honesty, clear purpose, and helping others.
Money doesn't buy legacy. How folks are remembered doesn't come from what they've accomplished. It comes from what they've helped others accomplish.
Money doesn't buy a clear conscious. Telling the truth and doing things right the first time is the easiest road to follow.
Finally, money doesn't buy health. For those of us that have good health, we need to thank God every day that we can enjoy life. We also need to pray for and help those that are struggling.
I am visiting with you this evening from Colorado Springs. We stopped and visited my sister Beth and her family. Since Kurt's wife Emily and I both share birthdays today, Jan and I, Kurt and Emily, and their boys went out for supper. I've had a lot of birthdays. I doubt if I can remember what presents folks have bought for me over the years. However I will never forget that they took the time to make me feel special. I'm also thankful for all the gifts I have been given by God and others that money can't buy.
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