This year marked Lyrik's sixth annual trip into Yellowstone.  Wow!  Six years of traveling into Yellowstone for a birthday trip.  What a cool way to spend your birthday.  Of course this is how I feel about it.  So far Lyrik still loves his birthday trip into Yellowstone.  One day this may change, but for now we make the memory.  

       As you know from past post, I believe the investment in memories are more valuable than any toy ever made.  So instead of spending money on presents that will sit in the corner of the house after the first week, we make sure to build memories that will be mentioned for years to come. 

        This year was just a bit more special as we went with our new family; my wife her son, and her parents.  How special the day had become as we shared our tradition this year as a new family.  Many times, throughout the day, my eyes passed over my family with pride as the moments of the day brought on a smile originating deep from the heart.  

       As we roll down the road in a very unique way we run into all kinds of friends, and for me many of my fellow co-workers.  People I have known for years; and people that have watched Lyrik grow up here in Yellowstone Country.  

    Yellowstone will always hold my heart and imagination.  It is a place of continued wonder for me.  I am blessed to be able to share this area with my family.  

        Some projects can take just a few hours to complete, from beginning to end; and some projects take much longer.  This project was to take over two years before completion. 
  
        I believe in finding the right people for the job and not to make a decision in haste.   I accepted the job and spent a year looking for those individuals to help me complete the task. 
       Pete and Virginia Bennett of Bennett's Custom Spurs were the perfect match I was looking for.  Honest, good people, hard working with their own stories of an amazing life.    

       After working out a lot of details of why I was calling, Virginia and Pete decided to take a chance on this strange caller asking for a set of custom spurs for a governor.  We had lots of work to do including finding his boot size, since their spurs are so custom they even are made to a specific boot.  Where would you go to find such information? 

      Virginia knew exactly how to go about finding such information.  She quickly made a phone call to an old friend, and the response was just as quick.  We soon had our boot size and commenced to the finer details of what was expected.  I drew up a rough idea of the spurs I envisioned.  Something with the governors seal on it was the direction I envisioned.  After the design was approved by my client, I quickly called Pete and Virginia in excitement!  "We have a winner!  Let's get started!"  

       I have been told, in the past, Anticipation can be sweeter than honey.  In those words I have found life an amazing adventure of what could be, what it has been, and where I am headed.  

      
       Near the completion of the Gov. Perry spurs I called a good friend from the Bozeman Montana area and asked if he would like to take on the task of hand making some spur straps.  Hoss and Katie Hopkins, from Hoss' Leather,  quickly took on this task with great enthusiasm.  Katie was essential in her efforts of helping to facilitate and email back and forth.  With out her help, I wonder if Hoss and I would have been able to make our set deadlines.  Thank you Katie for your endless help! 

       Really that is all we can do, ask for one step at a time to get anywhere we need to go.  

       On November 19th, 2014, the the State of Texas receivedthier spurs.