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Stephanie Howell

reading, organizing, shopping, momming too close to the sun. Home is wherever the Army sends us.

5K Ranch

**ETA after several email inquiries…this is a privately owned ranch. It’s not a hotel or rentable property!**

So between seeing my family in Waco and Jimmy’s family in Nederland…we decided to take a little vacation at 5K Ranch.

Hmm. How can I describe 5K Ranch? How about this. Heaven on earth.

Imagine a place where you have absolutely nothing to worry about. It’s in one of the most beautiful parts of Texas, each of us have our own large bedroom+bathroom, and there is a big ole pool. At 5K ranch there’s nothing to do but ride 4 wheelers and explore, swim in the pool, eat, read, and relax.

Oh, did I mention that our most favorite friends in the world gather there every year? This was the 6th summer at 5K ranch.

We’ve made three.

Every year when our friends meet up there I’m so homesick. Homesick for the jokes, the laughing until we cry. Homesick for the BBQ, the cocktails, and the just being together.

The core of this group is Jimmy’s best guy friends that he’s had since he was a kid. Friends that are the kind of friends that would do anything for each other. You know…the ones you can call up in the middle of the night and they will come without hesitation.

Yep. Those kind of friends. The kind that are the best kind to have when your husband is in Afghanistan and you don’t know if he’ll come home. The kind that dance with you at weddings when he is gone so you don’t feel sad, the kind that take you in as one of them even if it’s super intimidating at first.

The last time we went the the ranch we pretty much had the only kids. This year? Well look for yourself.

Kind of amazing, huh? And two more growing in bellies as we speak.

The kids run themselves ragged all day. Swimming, exploring, not napping, getting dirty, using their imaginations. There is a collective group of a zillion adults watching them.

We discipline and admonish each other’s kiddos as if they are our own. Love them like they are our own too.

This year I met six children that I’ve watched grow through the Internet. Four kiddos I’ve long to hold and get to know. I finally got to do that this week.

We finally got to tell them how long we’ve been waiting to meet them and how much we love their mommies and daddies.

]And after the kiddos zonk out we stay up late talking, reminiscing, and laughing. So much laughing. As I sit here today I don’t have a voice at all.

This week I got to have my coffee on a porch swing every morning.

I got to watch the sun set and the horses graze every night.

And where can you ride a giant swan and learn how to flip off the diving board? 5K. That’s where.

Oh, and let’s not forget the cocktails.

Thanks to Uncle Brad for making me not one but two delicious drinks that tasted like juice and threatened to have me napping on the lawn with the dogs. Which wouldn’t have been a big deal because there would have been 93248028 adults to step in and take over my parenting role.

That’s the thing about 5K. Never any worries.

I’ve tried to put in in words here, but the fact is I can’t really do that properly. The fact is that I’m a little bit teary eyed as I type this.

We are very fortunate to lead the life we lead. We get to see this world and explore and meet new people. But we miss our friends. I  miss them so much it makes my heart ache.

Most people are fortunate to be surrounded by their best friends and family at all times. We miss out on that and it can be sad sometimes.

True friends of the heart are a gift. And time worry-free is a gift.

So grateful for 5K ranch.

We’ll be back in three summers. And we’ll miss it terribly until then.

xo

Comments

  4. I love everything about this post – your heart felt words, your photos, the history and the future.
    What great memories for your kids!

  5. wow what awesome photos and looks like you had a GREAT time!! thanks for sharing!

  6. A beautiful post and what a fabulous send off you had/will have from families & friends.

  8. This sounds like a perfect week. I also wish to go on a trip like that with my friends, but it´s so hard to find a time that works for everyone.. :/

  9. What a fun time! I wish we had friends like that, but our husbands aren’t social, so no “couple friends” (haha!). I hope you can come home for vacation when you are in Italy so you can see your friends and both families!

  11. Love this! Have tears reading it because I feel your pain missing out on seeing friends and family time, struggling with it so badly right now (& feeling selfish because your family sacrifices that time for our freedom, thanks!). Glad you had a great time and shared the beautiful photos with us!

  12. So glad you were able to have this time with your families & friends(sounds like they’re family too) If anyone deserves a wonderful vacation, it’s you & Jimmy! We are indebted for all the sacrifices you all make. Just a note – you can call me in the middle of the night & I’ll come, too. Safe travels to Italy!

  14. You’re blessed to have friends like that. In our present day world of Skype, Twitter and whatsapp they are never far away,and you’re bound to make many new ones, because that is what you do and what you are good at, both of you! Take care.

  16. Aww Steph, that place sound amazing!!! LOVE the photo of Harper with the sunglasses on – makes her look 16!!! You’re a brave soul Stephanie and I admire your strength and determination. Wonderful traits to pass on to your children. xx

  17. I loved this post, the love for everyone just shone through it all. Texas is a place I would love to visit during one of our stays in the States and thanks to you I am off to google this place to have a look at prices etc as it looks amazing.

  19. What a lovely gift to yourselves as a family of friends. I don’t have anything remotely close to ths is my life… It sounds like a wonderful group of people and a wonderful tradition. I wish you a happy reminder of your time with your families, and a happy arrival in Italy.

  20. Loved this. I find making friends hard but also have an amazing husband with wonderful childhood friends who accepted me no questions. It is a lovely feeling knowing they are there…I hope some of your friends can visit you in Italy and make it even more special for you and also them. Best wishes for the coming weeks xx

  21. For all you and your husband do for our country and each other, you deserve this beautiful break with your friends. May the memory of this wonderful time warm your heart always.

  24. I can remember just how excited Chad was when Jimmy moved back to town. These boys have always stayed so close- such an awesome legacy to leave your girls. My family has prayed over Jimmy and your family for so many years and I so enjoy keeping up with y’all via your blog. Thank you for sharing!
    Signed: Carly, the older cousin who would sometimes let those boys crash her parties and is very excited to finally see a preggo pic of Cynthia and who has 7 week old identical twin boys so I love reading about the littles in particular.

  25. What a bittersweet post. As I grew up, we had family friends like that. I’m here at the lake cottage vacationing with them as a mom with two of my own children as I type this. Those kinds of friends are treasures. So glad that you had that precious time with them before you head off to ITALY!!!!!! I can’t wait to live vicariously through your blog (I simply am not the world traveler…and that is okay).

  27. Steph? I can’t be the first one to tell you that the lovely photo of the 5 of you is shaped like a heart!
    Your sweet heart-shaped family = love <3

  28. Ok so I first started following your work when I saw one of your layouts in the CK magazine. My husband was in Iraq at the time. I love your work and can relate to so many of your stories. I read this post and saw that your hubbys family is in Nederland. I live about 30 minutes from there. Such a small world!! Good luck in Italy.