![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Payton-Buddy-e1772683756926.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMy Staci and Larry built more than homes, a lodge, fences and barns here. They built space for souls to breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’re gathering with them \u2014 and with the newly-weds — my granddaughter Alexia and her husband Winston. Nearly five months of marriage already. Newlywed glow still shining. Love still fresh and bright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And yet — woven into our joy is a quiet ache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Theirs (and mine) — the faithful Australian Shepherd, Buddy, is nearing his finish line. Oh, what a companion he has been.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Buddy-Nana-e1772683825491.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember those Frisco days when he stayed with me \u2014 loyal eyes, steady presence, tail wagging like he owned the place. Our walks — my guard and protector. Buddy has had a way of loving without complication. And saying goodbye never feels easy.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Buddy-Larry-e1772683907946.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, the world feels loud. Nations at war. Headlines heavy. Tension rising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do we celebrate on a ranch while the world wrestles in conflict?
Maybe the answer is this — life has always held both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romans 12:15 says: \u201cRejoice with those who rejoice — mourn with those who mourn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes we do both in the same week. Sometimes in the same breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus stood at a wedding feast and turned water into wine. And He stood at a grave and wept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joy and sorrow are not enemies. They are companions on this side of eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Buddy-Alexia.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the world shakes, we hold tighter to what is steady.
\u201cThe LORD sits enthroned over the flood.\u201d (Psalm 29:10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reigns over ranch land and battle lines. Over wedding rings and worn-out paws. Over laughter on the porch and tears in the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this week, I will hug my family a little longer. I will celebrate young love. I will scratch behind familiar ears while I still can. And I will pray \u2014 for peace in our homes and peace in our world.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Buddy-Larry-Staci.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because even when life feels mixed \u2014 joy and sorrow braided together \u2014 God remains constant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in Him, we find both comfort and hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!\u201d Psalm 126:5<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What better treat for having finished up the elections with true grit and determination — than to be in Alto, Texas. Aw — 62 beautiful acres called Epiphany Ranch. The name alone feels like a whisper from Heaven. A place for respite. Healing. Encouragement. My Staci and Larry built more than homes, a lodge, fences…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[33385,224,1210,16917,1769,1253,1111,3024,24468,30761,173,40,41,32538,6457,32140,33386,586,20193],"class_list":["post-23905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-alto","tag-australian-shepherd","tag-blog","tag-buddy","tag-christian","tag-conflict","tag-determination","tag-finish-line","tag-grit","tag-headlines","tag-healing","tag-inspiration","tag-joy","tag-lodge","tag-marriage","tag-mourn","tag-newlywed","tag-rejoice","tag-respite"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23905"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23914,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23905\/revisions\/23914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}