God made a Cowboy

In honor of the first National Cowboy Day today and I am heading up to compete at the Teton County Fair and Rodeo tonight I figured the below (I cannot take credit ) would be a perfect fit.

To all the cowboys and cowgirls in my life this is for you.

So god made a Cowboy:

On the 8th day God made the farmer, but he was not done... He looked down on the wilds of his untamed earth and said, “I need someone who will never be broken”.

And so his greatest work began. First he filled their belly full of guts and hearts full of try, then he called them a Cowboy. He needed someone who could handle a horse, teach them, tame them, but never break them. Someone whose soul needed the saddle and would not change with the world around them. So God made a Cowboy.

He needed someone who could find a hot bull in a hundred section pasture, ride a bronc, hold a family together, read a brand, let wrong doings go, and pull a tight cinch. God needed someone who didn’t mind dusty cow pens, smokey branding irons, long days and cold nights. So God made a Cowboy.

It had to be someone who could make a living with their rope, cow dog, and a few good horses. Someone who would never know a 40 hour week, nor care to. He needed to create a proud man, one who would take a stand and whose greatest complement would be to have his kids called handy. So God made a Cowboy.

But after he created the cowboy, he was far from done. While his creation was tuff and untamed, they would need more than just a good horse to share their name, and no ordinary woman would understand... the cowboy. God needed to create a woman who didn’t want store bought roses by the dozen but rather wild flowers seldom picked and sweet cowboy loven. He needed someone who could take a good cussing in the working pens, love unconditionally, and forgive. Someone who could open her own doors, sweep tack room floors, look past muddy boots on kitchen floors, make a home, hold her own, and have an eye for a good horse. Someone who didn’t need lavish and flattery but would find joy in a spring born colt. Someone who could raise babies, fix fence, patch jeans, and never waver in hard times of cowboy life... So God made a cowboys wife.

And when God fashioned the cowboy and his wife, he made them in his exact likeness and image, and blessed them for all their earthly life.

by: Kalyn M. Waters

Dear Mom On Mother's Day

Mother,

I thank you.

Today is your day, Today we celebrate you and thank you for what you have done to make me the person I am today.  

Love,

Nicole

…

Many of you know my mother passed away suddenly six years ago in December right before Christmas. My mom loved any holidays that meant getting together, cooking food (which was her first love) and laughing endlessly with loved ones.

It's funny how as time passes you think that things get easier…but they really don’t.

You begin to miss the little things - the texts, the numerous calls throughout the day, her bringing me a sweet tea from Starbucks because I washaving a bad day. But the things I miss the most are the times she said, “I am always so proud of you and what you have done lately.”

Navigating Today

I recently switched jobs to a new company and they sent out a press release email blast announcing me as a new team member. I wish I could tell my mom how awesome my new job is and tell her about the amazing ladies I am working with and how thankful I am for everything that she instilled in me. I am so thankful for the amazing life she has given me.

At a young age I watched her run a 5-star guest ranch with close to 50 staff that would do anything for her. I know they would agree with me that…we are who we are because of her influence.

My mother was a strong, independent, kind-hearted woman who would give you the shirt off her back. If you called her at 2 a.m. she would be there.

I am so very blessed that I am her daughter and I am passing along her morals in my everyday life. She is so loved and so missed.

My Tribe

And then there are the other women/adopted moms in my life. I don’t need to name any names because they all know who they are, but damn!

Seriously how did I luck-out with such an amazing group of strong, kind, loving talented women who continue to push me daily to be a better, stronger woman. I strive to be a better friend, fur mom and a wife each day and I thank them all for my continued success.

The little blessings that come each day I can thank my mom for blessing me from Heaven because I know each day she is walking through them with me.

A Final Note

Anthony and I were driving home the other night and a song on the radio started to play and it was Cole Swindell's "You should be here."

Anthony looked at me and that this song came on other other and he instantly started to think of my mom and how much he missed her and how this song reminded him of her

It is true… she should be here, helping us haul hay, cooking meals, going to team ropings and watching a 100 teams before Anthony and Kaitlyn rope. She should be here sitting in the grandstands in Rock Springs watching and writing times down and making sure to get her phone out before my run to get it videoed and screaming at the top of her lungs, “KICK!!”

So today, I am sending so much love to you my sweet mother in Heaven and to my mother-in-laws and my step-mom and to all the women in my life.

Happy Mothers Day.

 You should be here" By Cole Swindell

"You should be here, standing with your arm around me here
Cutting up, cracking a cold beer
Saying cheers, hey y'all it's sure been a good year
It's one of those moments, that's got your name written all over it
And you know that if I had just one wish it'd
Be that you didn't have to miss this
You should be here

You'd be taking way too many pictures on your phone
Showing them off to everybody that you know back home
And even some you don't yeah
They say now you're in a better place
And I would be too if I could see your face"

A Hui Hou

It’s hard to believe we are half way through April already. When they say you get older the years pass by quickly that is an understatement. 

The snow is thankfully disappearing quickly and the only unfortunate about that is mud season. But before we know it, it will be the end of May and we will be at the neighbors branding this years calves. Stay tuned branding season is one of my favorite times of the year!

2019 has thrown some crazy curve balls at my life but so many things to learn and be thankful for.

I would not be here today if it wasn’t for my amazing husband that supports me and loves me so fiercely and encourages me to be a better person each and every day.

And my family - each and everyone of them - are all such amazing, kind-hearted, talented people. I am lucky they have my back no matter what. 

Then to the friends that are considered family. Seriously I am blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life. You know who you are and thank you for what you do day in and day out.

So much change in such a little time, but change means growth.

Something my mom always said on Saturday nights at the cookouts to departing guests,“It’s never goodbye it’s I will see you later.”

On the last night of the six-week ladies bible study I participated in, one of the final chapters had a saying and I will end with this:

A hui hou is Hawaiian and means “ I’ll see you later”.

- The Matriarch -

Where do I even begin to state how lucky my husband I are that the Saunders family came into our lives. Anthony has known them a little longer than I have, he guided hunting trips for several years for Circle S Outfitters which Tony Saunders co-owns.

When we purchased our home in Bondurant, WY in 2013 we started to spend time with the Saunders either helping around the ranch in the Spring, Summer and Fall or snowmobiling in the Winter. My favorite time is always when we get to go visit with Bill and Martha, Tony’s parents.

Bill and Martha moved to Bondurant in the 1970’s to the Riverbend Ranch with their five kids and have lived here since.

On March 16, 2019 several of us gathered in Bondurant to celebrate Martha turning 90 years young. Close to 70 people made the journey to celebrate this an amazing woman.

The mother of five amazing children, 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, Martha has lived out what it means to be a strong ranching woman and to love your family and friends unconditionally.

You are an amazing woman Martha I am truly lucky to call you and yours not only my friends, but also my family.

From left to right

Ronnie & Laurie Hanson, Stacy & Tony Saunders, Chris Lockwood & Sheryl Saunders, Martha & Bill Saunders, Fred & Jennifer Saunders

A little about me -

Welcome!

I am so excited I finally bit the bullet and with some help from one of my awesome friends to get this launched!

I guess I need to introduce myself for those who don’t know me.

My name is Nicole Uhl and I live in the small cowboy community of Bondurant, Wyoming with my husband and our array of animals. You may have seen us on the news every now and again for being one of the coldest places in the lower forty eight states or for being on fire and burning to a crisp. Why live in Bondurant you ask?

Spring, Summer and Fall outweigh the brutal Winters - hands down - making living here worth all the while.

A couple things you do need to know about me. I live for my family and friends and am thankful for each and everyone of them for always being such good sports when I am taking their photos and overall for being so supportive of my new venture!

My main focus is taking portraits, family, cowboy and ranch life style photography. With a few photos of my animals and my “trophy husband” (winky face) here and there. I may be biased but I think they are pretty good looking!

Thanks for taking the time to look at my website. Please check in and I will try and post as much new stuff as I can. I am looking forward to a fun year with some cool shoots coming up with family and friends and looking forward to what 2019 brings!

-Nicole

Make sure to follow me on Instagram @nuhlphotography