Welcome To My World

I have to apologize for being MIA (thanks Amber :) the last couple of days. Not that it really matters, other than when I set out on this little blogging adventure I made a commitment and thus far I haven't quite held up on my end of the bargin. I know, I know, it's only day four, but still way to early to be MIA. So here's hoping I can find and get myself into an everyday blogging routine.


I was so excited on Saturday when I wrote my first post that I left out sooooo much. I was not only excited about finally being a part of the blogging community, but also excited about being able to spend the weekend with my family, celebrating many wonderful milestones. If you were kind enough to read my "Blessings" post you probably walked away from it saying, who is this crazy blessed lady anyway. I know I did. So with that said, I thought I would take a little time to introduce myself, let you know ALL about me (the good, the bad and the ugly), my family and our journey back to the ranch.


It's so crazy for me to think, that as I sit in my living room and write this post, it's the same living room that I spent all of my childhood, junior high and high school years in. It wasn't until I went away to college that my parents built a new house. They definitely deserved it, but I remember how difficult it was to say goodbye to so many wonderful memories. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would ever live under that same roof again, let alone raise my family in the house in which I was raised.


I was born and raised in a very small ranching community in a very rural part of Eastern Oregon. When I say small I mean that there were only 20 some residents in the town where we lived and it was a little over 50 miles to the nearest city with an actual grocery store.. Our town trips, which happened once and on rare occasions twice a month, were a pretty big deal. Going to town was always an all day adventure and it still is, but I sure don't remember it being so exhausting like it is now. I would guess that 20 years and a 2 year old might have something to do with that....lol


I went to grade school and high school in a neighboring town about 15 miles from my house. Our little school was k-12, we went four days a week and I only had six kids in my graduating class. To make matters much more complicated (from a teenagers point of view), my mom was my principal and English teacher and my dad was my basketball coach. The chances of me skipping class or doing something even slightly against the rules were between slim and none.


After graduating from high school I went to a 4 year state college and got a BS degree in Psychology. After college I moved to Portland and worked at Nordstrom for 2 years before moving home to help out the family. I had an Uncle who became terminally ill and when they said they needed my help I didn't even think twice. I gave my two weeks notice, packed my pickup and was Eastern Oregon bound in no time. I was very close to my Uncle, he was my dad's brother who married my mom's siter. I know what your thinking, but really it's not illegal.

When I moved home I bought a house, as I couldn't imagine moving back in with my parents at the age of 27. I didn't think that I would be in Eastern Oregon long, that was 11 years ago. I have moved a couple of times and a lot of things have changed in my life, but the fact of the matter is that I am still here.

After Nordstrom I got a job for the Baker County Sheriff's Office as a 911 Dispatcher. I was a dispatcher for 2 years before accepting a position as the 911 Director for Baker County. I loved Lawenforcement, but I didn't like being inside, so I put in my application for a patrol deputy and got it. This was my dream. I worked in Baker County for a couple years before transfering to Malheur County. I worked the road for Malheur County for 4 years before we decided to move back to the ranch.

Shortly after transfering to Malheur County I met Casey. It was a whirlwind romance, as we went on our first date in February and were married in June and we packed up and moved home in September. It was a combination of things that led us to where we are now. Casey really didn't want me to work the road any more, we wanted to start a family and mom and dad needed our help.

It wasn't long after we moved home that we decided to start the adoption process. A process that was supposed to take two years only took 8 months. Our little man has been with us for a little over two years now and he is such a blessing! We are actually starting to discuss the possibility of adopting again.....I will keep you posted! Actually, that is why I opened my ETSY shop, Divine Line. Our first adoption was so expensive, as Hunter's birth mother didn't want state assistance. So we had to come up with 100% of the money. Which probably wouldn't of been to bad if she hadn't had to have a c-section and be in the hospital for five days.

Owning and operating a ranch is a wonderful life, but a hard life. We are on a very tight budget. To come up with the money to pay the initial adoption fees (which is what you pay to just get the process started) would be hard and probably cut us short somewhere else. So I thought I would start selling my crafts online to help with those fees. I could have never imagined the response and success Divine Line has generated. I am hoping to send the initial adoption fees in next week.......YEAH! Hunter might have a little brother or sister before we know it!


I have so much for to share, but I think I have rambled on long enough. Stay tuned for "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch, "Ranch Wives 101", "Our Adoption Angel" and why "Divine Line."

Welcom to my world, please come back soon! Here's hoping you had a wonderful day and a very enjoyable evening!

Take Care,