Western Meadows - Sandy's Story

The ranch I grew up on wasn’t big enough to make a livin ‘on. My Dad worked for the County Road Department and baled hay for people. He was also County Commissioner for 12 years. My Mom was a stay at home Mom till I was in high school then she worked at the Post Office for a while and at Montgomery Wards. She irrigated, cut, raked and baled hay, whatever needed done when my Dad was at work.

Sandy, Phil and Family

In the summer my brother and I hauled hay, swam in the beaver ponds, and rode horses. We were in 4-H. My projects were fat beef, then breeding beef, horse, cooking and square dancing. My Mom and Dad belonged to a riding club. My Dad helped in the arena and my Mom helped in the concession stand. I did not compete. My Dad belonged to the local Rodeo Association. I tagged along with my Dad everywhere I could. I love ranch life, the cattle, horses, outdoors.

I went to the same one room school with one teacher for all grades that my Dad went to. Every morning we recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the books of the Bible. At Christmas we recited poems and put on a play. The play was always the Nativity Scene. We took turns being angels, shepherds, and Mary and Joseph. I was in the sixth grade when the school district consolidated all the rural schools. The highest number of kids in the school was 9 and when they consolidated there were 5 of us.

We didn’t have a trailer or a way of haulin’ the cows. When we would take our cattle to summer pasture it was a two day cattle drive. We would get up before daylight and eat breakfast and saddle our horses. We started movin’ the cows as soon as it was light enough to see if a calf crawled under a tree. We knew the ranchers between our place and our summer pasture and they would let us put our cattle and horses in their corral over night. My Mom would meet us at the corral about dark and take us home. We were back at the corrals the next morning at daylight.

Sandy and her dad Roy

I grew up on a ranch, but I married a city boy, Phil. We were high school sweethearts and dated for 4 years (all through high school) then got married after I graduated. We were married 6 years when our son, Travis, was born. 14 months later our daughter, Jennifer, was born. We now have a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and 5 grandkids.

Phil and I lived in town but we helped my Dad on the ranch. Phil was a fireman for 20 years. He then retired and worked for the Department of Corrections for 18 years. Phil and I built a boarding kennel for dogs. I managed the kennels for 10 years and I was a dog groomer for 17 years. After Travis and Jennifer were grown we were able to buy the ranch we now live on. The ranch isn’t big enough to make a livin’ on. After moving to our ranch I delivered the mail two days a week. My favorite job has always been working cows with my Dad and Phil. We are now retired but we still have cows.

I didn’t have a relationship with the Lord until I was 35. I felt like there was something more and I was always looking for something not knowing what that something was. After I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior that longing was satisfied.

Rick and Judy bought my grandma’s house and became our neighbors. They invited Phil and I to a Bible Study at their house. I was trying to think how to get out of going but to my surprise Phil accepted. That night we both invited Christ into our lives to be the Lord of our lives. We went home wondering what that meant.

Sandy with her horse

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
Before I asked Jesus into my life I lived in darkness. I thought being a Christian was all about “don’t do”. When I acknowledged Jesus as my Savior and asked Him to be the Lord of my life my eyes were opened, the light came in. I began to see the world and the things I did with a whole new perspective. It was exciting! It was a whole new world and I wanted more.

When I was growing up my Dad raised several colts. I always wanted to see a colt born. I saw calves born and helped when they had trouble. A couple weeks after I asked Jesus into my life, He fulfilled my desire to see a colt born. Jesus woke me about 2 A.M. one morning and sent me out to the corral. I got to watch my mare give birth, I was so excited I could hardly keep from waking Phil and the kids to tell them.

“Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them”.

God takes 9 months to create each and every one of us in our mother’s womb. No one is an accident or a mistake. God loves his children like no earthly father does

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
God created each of us with a purpose. God gives each of us skills, talents, and abilities making us the same and yet different and unique each with a purpose.

“Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”.

There is no limit to what God wants for us. He wants us to ENJOY the LIFE he has given us and he wants us to ENJOY HIM. I do not want to miss anything God has for me and I want to be all that He wants me to be.

My life is one adventure after another and Jesus has blessed me with an “exceedingly abundant life”. He carries me through the hard times, He meets my needs, and gives me the desires of my heart. But I am not without responsibility, He requires me to repent, to seek and obey, to love others.

Phil and Sandy

Pride and envy are a couple of my constant struggles.  They are a snare that I get caught in, a mud puddle that I fall in. Then I tend to beat myself up with self-talk about how stupid I was, that was really dumb, will I ever get it right, etc.

It is my desire that you would know you are loved by Jesus Christ, you are created in His image, that you were created for a purpose, that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than you ask or think. Life is hard and being a Christian is hard but it’s worth it. When we ask Jesus into our lives He helps us through the hard times, brings healing, fulfills His promises, we have hope, and eternal life in paradise. Without Jesus there is no hope, no help, no promises, and no paradise.

For me working with Western Meadows is a privilege and an honor.   Loving you is a privilege and an honor.

Email Sandy:   sandy@westernmeadows.com

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