The Sixth Week of 2019

February 4, 2019

We don’t always get off the ranch for more than a day at a time, but when we do – we try to do it up right.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Last week was no exception.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My favorite human (Mr. FFB) and I traveled with one of my besties (Cowgirl Boots and Running Shoes) to New Orleans for Cattle Con 2019. While we were there, we got to take in all things Cattle Con – important industry meetings, the fabulous trade show, and the fun evening entertainment.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We got to catch up with friends that we only get to see (sometimes twice) a year. I got to finally meet some of my vriends (virtual friends) in real life. And, you better believe we tried local cuisine (beignets at Cafe Du Monde and gumbo, frog legs, and gator at Mulate’s, etc.) and ate seafood to our heart’s desire.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I was also recognized as the 2018 Beef Advocate of the Year at the Best of Beef Breakfast. It was such an honor to be receiving that award just shy of my five-year blog-iversary.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I feel beyond blessed and extremely grateful for all who follow along with my shenanigans. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’re brand new, thank you so much for all the love and support!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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PS – I took a bit of a break last week in an attempt to be where my feet were and enjoy the trip. So, if you’d like the highlight reel be sure to check out my Instagram stories NOLA highlight.⠀

February 5, 2019

As you may know, we had my friends Laura Johnson and Anna Junck out to the ranch for a photography session back in September. And the resulting images were in a word – gorgeous. But if I’m being honest, I was hesitant to share their work with you.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It felt weird to share photos I didn’t take. And, honestly, I was afraid.
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I was scared of what folks would think of me, especially if they were following along for my photography and not my (wildly entertaining 😉) stories. I was afraid I’d be thought a fraud and that folks would think I was being fake adorning my feed with the beautiful (and cohesive) imagery Laura and Anna captured.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I was REALLY in my head about it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But then I was like, “Come on T. Snap out of it! These photos are of you doing what you do in your natural habitat. They’re not fake. If anything, they’re more really because you’re in them.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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After I kicked myself in the pants, I started posting their pictures. And you know what – once I let go of my insecurities, I was able to see that our photo shoot was more than just a photo shoot. It was a weight lifted off of my shoulders. It was a beautiful blessing. And, it was God’s timing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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He knew that I’d be on hiatus from the ranch and wouldn’t be capturing images of my own. He knew that there’d be a photo to fit each story I’d tell. He knew that my worry was unfounded. And He knew the relief I’d feel when I finally let go.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Moral of the story – sometimes we have to let go of our preconceived notions and worry, so we can see the blessing He’s given us through the help of others.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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HUGE shout out to both Anna and Laura for blessing me with their beautiful imagery!⠀⠀⠀

February 6, 2019

This kid here – he’s easily distracted like me, but thoughtful like Mr. FFB. He’s a rule follower more than a risk taker. He’s determined, but also knows when to let go. He knows how to drive me past the point of crazy, on occasion. And he never ceases to amaze me.
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This morning I got a message from Destiny that read…
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“Tell Tripp thank you so much for the bottle warmer. What a precious kid to think of us!”
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Sometimes I wonder, as I’m sure we all do as parents, if we’re doing right by our kids or just doing a great job at really screwing them up. And it’s the little things like messages from friends, kind words from strangers, and witnessing our kids do something genuinely kind that bring it all back and reassure me that we’re doing alright, even if I’m not so sure all the time.
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So yeah – I’d be lying if I said Des’s message this morning didn’t warm my heart and make me feel incredibly good. And not just good as in proud of him (I am so proud of him), but also good as in reassured that we’re on the right track with our parenting style.
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I’m sure I’m not alone in these feelings, so tell me what was the last thing that made you feel simultaneously proud of your kid and reassured that you’re doing alright as a parent.

February 7, 2019

Last Saturday, we took an Uber from our hotel in New Orleans to the airport. I sat in the front seat because motion sickness and chatted with our super awesome Uber driver for the entire 20 minute trip.
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He asked us if we were in town for the Cattlemen’s Convention (he’d driven a few other cattlemen around prior to us), and I said yes. He asked where we were from. And somewhere in our conversation, he asked how we keep our cattle warm in Nebraska when it’s frigid and if we bring them inside.
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I explained that cattle like it a fair bit cooler than we humans do and that they have thick skin and put on winter coats that do a fabulous job at keeping them warm. I shared how when you see snow covering their backs, it’s actually a good thing that their coats are doing their job, keeping the cattle insulated and warm.
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I went on to explain how the snow serves as further insulation to protect them against the cold and wind and that honestly, it would be bad news bears if they weren’t wearing a blanket of snow during and in the day or two after a storm. And I touched on what we do (extra feed, moving them to the protection of the hills, etc.) to help protect them in situations of extreme cold.
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He found it all very interesting and after swapping 6-degrees-of-separation stories about a couple professional athletes, we were at the airport. And I thanked him profusely because I didn’t get motion sick, not even a little bit.
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So, if you’re ever in NOLA and meet Jeffery in a red Explorer, consider yourself blessed because he is literally the best Uber driver I’ve ever ridden with. Also, tell him thanks again from me!
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📷 January 2017

February 8, 2019

Do you ever feel like parenting is a constant battle between getting your kids to eat what you make for supper and caving and making them something entirely different just so they’ll eat? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
No. Just me.
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It’s a good thing I love them more than life itself and they’re cute.

February 9, 2019

Two things…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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1) I really love this photo of two of my favorites – human and horse.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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2) I’m really proud of my favorite human. Yesterday, he bought himself a welder and didn’t try to talk himself out of it – not even once. He made a money spending decision and stuck to it, which might not seem like a big deal. But this guy’s been walking around with a Cabela’s gift card in his wallet for going on five years because he can never decide what to buy. Yes, you read that correctly – five years, friends.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So, his purchase yesterday – it’s kind of a big deal.⠀⠀