Moving in, more work ahead, our new ox

I got to the place Grandma and Grandpa are renting only a few minutes after they got there. Despite the threat of rain all day they were about an hour behind it all the way from Amarillo. It took them about an hour longer to get here than it normally does but all the vehicles and the trailer made the trip without any issues. The little truck was Grandpa/s biggest concern because of transmission problems he has been having, but it is here now and we can take our time getting it repaired.


Our poor little van looks so empty now since I took out all but one of the backseats so Mama could load it up. It will not go home empty though since we have to take back a bed that was taken to the farm some weeks ago when Grandma and Grandpa made their first attempt to stay there. Victoria wants to downsize since she and Chase are going to share a room at the house we are moving to. Her larger bed will help stuff the garage.

Grandma and Grandpa are in a very nice place for the moment. It should be one of the very last moves they will have to make. Mama reminded me that the last will be to the farm at some point possibly next year. That should be an easier move. Like the one Mama and I are making it will be a relocation of only four miles or so.

But for the moment there is some rest. There is plenty of work to be done, but it will be the patient, persistent, plodding type of work characteristic of running a farm. I know Grandpa is looking forward to that and so am I. Mama and Grandma are anxious to get started too. They were really getting into the area as we sat on the front porch, drinking hot tea and watching their neighbor practice calf roping. He was out there for over an hour throwing his loop, roping the calf then letting it go and doing it all over again. Even though we were a good distance away, it was fun to watch.

We watched the sunset paint the sky the most beautiful orange. It was even more impressive since the horizon was full of large oak trees almost as if it had been planted for the effect we were enjoying. I am confident there will be a repeat performance tonight, something unique to the night. God is infinitely creative that way.

Today our equipment is being delivered to the farm. We are all very excited about that. I imagine, back in Bible times, a farmer and his wife lying in bed talking about the oxen they have bought. The delivery is tomorrow. They are excitedly sharing with each other the vision they each have for the increase the animals will bring to their humble farm, how much more they can do, how much more they can plant and reap, the stalls they have built to house them. It is the same with me and Mama as we see our modern day oxen delivered tomorrow.

Livestock will be coming soon. I will wait on Grandpa to begin those purchases after the stalls are ready.