The Ranch

Thomas and I met one summer while I was working at Clear Creek Ranch.  It was a guest ranch that specialized in family reunions.  It's nestle up North Fork Road just a few miles outside of the East entrance to Zion National Park (aka some of the prettiest land in the country).  I got the job after stopping by a fun looking booth at a BYU career fair in the Wilk.  There were 10 other kids from BYU that went down and worked for the summer.  We cooked, cleaned, drove tractors, put on barn dances, crafted with the kiddies, and lots of other fun activities.  It was a dream job really.

Thomas was home from his first semester at BYU after his mission.  He was working for his dad in Orderville.  Orderville is the closest town to the ranch, so that where all of us ranch kids went to church.  He introduced himself at Stake Conference, my second Sunday there, when he thought I was looking back at him.  I only slightly remember meeting him, because I was looking back at someone else :)


There is another ranch just 5 miles up the road that is much bigger... probably 40 collage aged kids work there for the summer.  So Thomas and his friend had lots of motivation to drive out to the ranches to hang out and meet people on the weekends.  Let's be honest, 90% of the people working for the ranches were girls.  Thomas was no dumbie, he knew where to spend his free time in the summer.

One night we were in the kitchen with lots of kids, eating ice cream and Lucy Charms when a guest came in and said his wife had fallen off of a rope swing and her arm was broken.  He needed some help.  Thomas, the local, knew where the hospital was and offered to take her so the husband could stay with their kids.  I was the ranch rep "on duty" that night, so offered to go with them.

The 3 of us got into Thomas' truck, so conveniently I had to sit next to him in the middle.  We chatted while the woman got a cast.

I've been grateful she broke her arm ever since.

The first wild flower bouquet from Thomas and our 24th of July together - our summer (2005)

As we drove by the ranch this past weekend on the way to a friend's home, I pointed out the place and told Macey that was where I met her dad.  I told her that I thought he was funny, and I thought he knew a lot about the stars, and that he was so cute.  Then I told her that her dad thought I was so pretty, and so this that and the other.  She listened quietly from the backseat.  When I was done listing a few of the things we noticed about each other, she begged me to tell the story again.  She made me list over and over again the things that we first noticed about each other.  It was such a fun and special experience.  I thought I should write it down so that I would remember it and remember to tell her the story more often.