National Day of the Cowboy

As a tribute for this day that recognizes one of the defining forces in our history, I want to put down "on paper" (so to speak), what makes MY cowboy so amazing.  So, bear with me while I gush.

Did you know that, even though he was born & raised in PA with almost no horses in sight, he wanted to "go to Montana and be a cowboy" almost from the time he could walk (according to his mom).  He's was gifted with that cowboy soul by God from Day 1.

He can fix anything and build a lot of things.  He just has that "figure-it-out" attitude and doesn't give up just because something looks difficult.  He can be counted on to stay calm in a crisis and to know what to do.

He's got a gentle soul and a hard head.  He can't abide cruelty in any form and always willing to help out a neighbor or a stranger.  He cares about other people and likes to hear what they have to say, what they do, what they think.  And, while it can sometimes take awhile, once he's made a decision, his mind is seldom changed.  (A blessing AND a curse... )  He places his faith in God and his heart in me and his family.

He can ride almost anything with hair, horses and dogs follow him around like the pied piper, he can rope, brand, fence, milk cows, build trail, put up & take down any kind of tent, haul any stock load up any road, build a fire under almost any condition, he's a great hunter, a committed friend, a loyal employee, a wonderful dad, and a loving & trusted husband.

He knows more western history than a lot of professors, reads a lot (both fiction & non), likes people for who they are inside, not what they look like outside or what they own or what they can do.

He dances, he skies, he plays a great harmonica, he sings.  He can shoe a horse, taxidermy an elk, and braid my hair.

In short, he has everything a cowboy should:  Faith, Knowledge, Kindness, Loyalty, Strength, Love... and to top it off, he's the only one that does it for me. 

This year celebrates our 20th year of marriage... How blessed am I to be married to the only person who could fulfill all of my girlhood fantasies about marrying a cowboy and what he'd be like? In short, he's my "man among men" for this life.