Nebraska

After our time in Nauvoo we mushed onward toward Ashby, Nebraska. We left at 5 at just drove til we hit Omaha, Nebraska and then had to stop at 2 different Targets to do some Christmas shopping for a special item that was on sale. I was hoping they were sold out so I could get a rain check, beacuse of the item size, well they were sold out of 1 of the 2 items but no rainchecks so we had to stop once more and luckily the 2nd target had item 2of 2. If I remember right we drove til like 1am and then crashed in the truck again and slept til like 6. We got of I-80 and started heading northwest. After breakfast we drove a few more hours arriving at the Rex Ranch where we would spend the next week. The basement of the office was an "apartment" kind of and thats where we stayed.

We relaxed Saturday from our marathon drive and explored the local scene a little bit.

Sunday we went to church. It was just a branch which was a new experience for all of us. Church was held in this old Methodist Church. There were maybe 40 people there. A really cool experience.

Driving to and from Church and well for the next week the roads looked like this or worse--FYI everyone that thought we missed out on Utah's cold front- we were in Nebraska freezing without any winter clothes- literally freezing surprised Daniel still has all 10 toes.

We spent the next week interviewing with the ranch. It was a "couple" interview for the most part except they were nice and let me & Cinch stay indoors for the most part because it was so cold and the lack of snow clothes.

Tuesday night we escaped the office and went to one of the Foreman's houses. It was exactly what we needed. Somewhere that felt like home, decorated and feel of love. His cute teenage daughters had decorated our room with Christmas light, mistletoe, ect. Feed us yummy dinner and breakfast and well treated us like their own kids.

The rest of the week Daniel worked with different Foremans and Cowboys. The accountants wife was nice and let us come play at their house 2 mornings with their 3 yr old twins.

And the best part of the week--- We had a job offer and accepted!!! As of May 10 we will become Nebraska residents. Our house will sit in between Lisco and Lakeside in the sandhills. Daniel & I will be over 949 Mama cows and 530 heifers. Way excited for our future adventure and to know we have a great job when we are done with school.

We had hoped to leave Friday morning but they needed Daniel's help so we weren't going to be able to leave until 5 and in my mind I planned on standard cowboy time --- so 6ish. Because of this Daniel got out of packing the truck once again. I will admit it wasn't as good as when we left Florida but 1- it was freezing cold outside and 2- our saddles weren't quiet as bendable as they were in Florida. But needless to say we were packed and tarped by 2.

And Daniel actually got home at 4:30 so we were on the road by 5. With a 10 hour drive in front of us- hoping to make it in 9. We drove and drove and made good time til WY and luckily we only dealt with the wind and minimal drifting. And then we hit this lovely sign....

It was heavenly to know we were 2 hours from home-- we thought and then the storm hit! We couldn't really complain too much because at least we were in Utah and not trying to cross WY. I switched Daniel and drove because his eyes were tired. The canyon wasn't too bad but from Ogden to Elwood was snow packed roads and it was SNOWING Hard! Luckily there wasn't too much traffic- we finally made it to Elwood at 3:30am safe a sound. Not our desired time but we were home and Cinch was WIDE awake. He got in the house and made laps and then up and down making sure all his toys were there. We threw him in bed with us because the house was a little chilly and to try and get him back to sleep. He was nice at let us all sleep til 9:30. It was the best we had all slept since July. So we are home at last, sleeping great- no sore bodies, Cinch is in heaven with all his toys and enjoying the snow.