Hay Creek Finery

Last night I started a poem in my head when I was trying to go to sleep...what to do?  

1) Go to sleep and hope to remember all my brilliance in the morning...or 

2) Get out of bed as quietly as possible, grab pen and notepad that just happen to be on the night stand without knocking all the other crap off, sneak into the bathroom, close the door in epic, silent slow motion, turn on the light, be blinded just a little, and then sit down on the closed toilet seat and scribble the poem down as quickly as is humanly possible...all while hoping my husband doesn't think I'm in there texting my boyfriend. (He would never think that. We're both way too lazy to keep up that kind of scheme!)

Well obviously I chose #2.  #1 would have been way too hard!
Here is the poem about one of my favorite places on earth...


Hay Creek Finery

Hay Creek Ranch is a place like no other
In fact, you'll want to write home to your mother
You'll ask to stay, to never leave
The fun and the beauty are too much to believe
There are horses and dogs
Kittens and frogs
Good coffee and smiles that never end
Campfires and s'mores and new lifelong friends
Out on the trails you can ride and ride
Your horse'll go through the water, no matter how wide
You can saddle up, sit back, see what God's given you 
When you come to Hay Creek, that's all you can do
You'll come in with your horse, and a bit of free time
And you'll always leave knowing that, "It'll be fine!"


Hay Creek Ranch is my parents' place where people can go to ride their horses in the Black Hills.  Part of my reason for loving it so much is my love for my parents.  But honestly, I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't think they're awesome.  If you have horses (or if you don't) and you would like to see the Black Hills, check out their website at http://www.haycreekranch.net.  They also have a winter camp in Arizona.  You can link to that on their main page.  Or you can check them out on Facebook at Hay Creek Ranch Horse Camp.  

Lindgren Family Round-Up August 3, 2013

 The pictures of the reunion really tell the story.  I have always loved learning about my ancestry and the little family histories that make me who I am.  As a parent, this has become even more important to me.  I grew up with a majority of my family within an hour drive from my house.  During middle and high school I was 3 miles from my Lindgren grandparents.  I was so blessed to spend time with them whenever I wanted to.  My kids don’t have that, but I am so glad that they get to have connections made to their past through things like this family reunion.  I hope that everyone that put in hours and hours of planning time knows that it was worth it to everyone who attended.  I will be thankful to all of you forever for taking the time to get “everyone in the whole world” together. 

Highlights:

Time spent with Papa Doug that wasn’t interrupted by work

Meeting and spending time with Tom Lindgren and his family

Watching my kids fall in love with Tom’s kids instantly

Realizing that I knew people that I didn’t know I was related to (Sorry Pomeroys, not sure why this escaped me for so long.)

Aunt Natalie showing off her Basketball skills for the little kids (Girl got some hoops.)

Seeing photos to put with the names that I have seen on the family tree and finally understanding more of that tree

Meeting relatives who live in the KC area

Watching all the little kiddos play together

The food---all the yummy food! Thank you to everyone who contributed and to Dennis and his boys for the meat.  Lindgrens don’t get together with out good food, but you all out did yourselves.

LaVonne showing off her mad recovery skills  Her outlook on life is an inspiration to all of us.  I am so glad she was there.

The Saltons singing “Happy Trails” to everyone as they left  You all are hilarious and so much fun.

Pictures of “the whole world”

Finding out that the photographer of the family took my first “school pictures” as a teacher in Andrew, Iowa

Meeting the newest members of the family

Watching my grandparents be so in love with each other  You are an example to all of us and your smiles for each other are what marriage should be.

This big ole clan is a bit crazy, so I have to say thank-you to everyone who decided to marry into it.  You either didn’t know what you were getting into or you are the same kind of crazy that we are.  I have no doubt that the future of our family will not be lacking in a sense of humor, work ethic, and a respect for those who came before them.