Patches and Pieces

Losing my father at age eleven left a large empty hole in my heart that I wondered if anything would ever be able to fill. The family ranch became a place of solace knowing it was dad''s favorite place. It also became a place of hope finding my future husband on the ranch next door.Shortly after our marriage at Uncle Sam''s request, Eric joined the Army and soon deployed for Viet-Nam when our baby was eleven days old. In God''s providence we both came to faith continents apart with a prayer and promise of going forward together upon his safe return home. Released from the constraints of active duty and with the needs of three children our family we began to long for open spaces and decide it was time to return to the ranch.Taking a step back in time, as the ranch was beyond phone and electric lines with no running water, we began living a simpler yet more rugged life with wood stoves for heat and coal oil lamps for light. There was a satisfaction and even fun in doing chores knowing that we all had a part and at the end of the day we were warm and fed. Actions or inactions were in direct correlation with consequences whether good or bad. We were humbled by God''s amazing love in all circumstance and His provisions, when most needed, through His saints or providing ten chukars with only two shells. Necessity was the mother of invention finding creative ideas flourish when needs arise.Being able to take a moonlight stroll after a day of home-schooling with the stars and the sky framed by the spiring red canyon walls on both sides was breath-taking. God''s presence seemed run through the canyon like the river that meandered by. Lana Mourning was raised on a cattle and sheep ranch in Western Colorado. She loved the majestic mountains, of the upper ranch and the towering red rims at the lower ranch. The ranch, a place of solace after her father''s death, also became a place of renewed hope, finding her future husband Eric on the next ranch over. They were married on her graduation day. So began their ''Love Story'' Eric''s departure for Vietnam when their first baby was only eleven days old, led to both finding faith in Jesus Christ, continents apart, while he was deployed. His return was an answer to Lana''s prayer and promise, that they would make their public confession of faith together. Two more babies, after Eric''s return completed their young, busy family.Lana being a seamstress made clothes and quilts adding to the income when needed. Poems and short stories were an enjoyable outlet.