Some say high school was the best four years of their lives, and in a way, it was for me, too. Being the youngest of three siblings, I believed I had all the insight needed to begin my high school journey. I watched my brother and sister navigate their way through Arkansas High School. However, my high school experience was quite different.
No Regrets... Like the great Dr. Seuss says, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” I have never been one to stop and dwell in a valley. When it’s time, it’s time. I never tried to rush to the end before I got to experience what phase I was in presently. Each phase had its own purpose and joy.
Life comes at you fast, and time only seems to move faster as you grow older. This is a concept that I have been exposed to my entire life, but it has taken 18 years for me to finally realize the terrifying truth behind those words.
I have visited many schools during my fourteen-year journey, and it is my friends and teachers that I must thank for helping me understand the meaning of success. Those who cared to watch me grow were able to give words of encouragement from the heart and not just from muscle memory. With their kind support, I pushed my way to the top of what I thought was the entire world, hoping to make them proud.
There is something nostalgic and pure about the idea of picking blackberries, gathering eggs and enjoying birds chirping in the morning breeze from your oversized front porch. It evokes feelings of a quiet and uncomplicated life, untainted by the bustle of busy streets. It is country living at its best. Nestled in the very center of Bowie County, down a long and winding red dirt road, sits a small and unassuming bit of the good ole days. Country living is not for everyone, but for Faith and William Ellis, that long dirt road represents more than the route to their home.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FARMER … There are so many moving parts to running a farm and a business that it’s hard to encompass them all. Every day is different, and every day there are trials you did not have the day before. It is challenging and evolving, and it is a beautiful and hard lifestyle. Still, I feel it should be mentioned that I maintain a level of freedom that is enviable. Once my animals are taken care of, I can go help a friend, go to the lake with my family or take a vacation in the middle of the week.