Beloved Homeland “Growing up on a Wyoming Homestead”

This is the true story of young war veterans and their young families. They came to live on homesteads carved out of virgin soil in a rugged windswept place in northern Wyoming in 1950 to begin life anew after WWII. I was six years old when I came with my parents up over the Rocky Mountains from southern California to see snow for the first time in my young life. I have called this work of love of family and community “Beloved Homeland, Growing up on a Wyoming Homestead. “None of our young parents had money but we all considered ourselves rich in those early years, living in black tar paper covered barracks from the near-by vacant Japanese Relocation Center. They were described as the Greatest Generation in the works of Tom Brokaw. Most of those WWII veterans are no longer with us but they bring to our nation a hint of raw courage. How little did I realize as a young girl growing up in a homestead community in northern Wyoming that one day I too would launch out in an adventure which would soon take on a life of its own? This is a non-fiction historical narrative which has evolved out of the Qualitative Research I have conducted while on faculty with the University of Wyoming. This is the story of young families that came from many parts of the country to begin life anew developing a homestead community with the challenges of a harsh climate and limited finances. The historical data coupled with my own specialization in Family Resiliency, have woven a story of family strength and a community cohesiveness that has been passed onto the third generations of families. 

I have to say that I am grateful and my heart is filled with pure joy, as I remember the days I have tucked myself away writing with the deep devotion the second edition of the Shepherd book. Surviving a heavy dose of Covid and those many life experiences when I knew the Lord walked so close to me has given me the courage and tenacity to write down the everyday stories of faith and love.

The 23rdPsalm has been a universally loved passage of scripture down through the ages. See the 23rd Psalm through the lens of my “Forever Friends.” Ron and Teddy Jones who are present day shepherds of many flocks of sheep. Snippets of the author’s life experiences are shared that can relate to the 23rd Psalm. Everyone has a story that can be passed on to the next generations of family and friends. This story of the 23rdPsalm brings home the beauty of a portion of Wyoming history from the heart of a shepherd girl.    

The 23rd Psalm has passed down through the ages of time as one of the most loved passages of scripture. Patricia McClaflin Booher brings insight from her childhood growing up on a Wyoming homestead taking care of flocks of sheep and caring for orphan lambs. This is a non-fiction true story of courage, faith and pure grit mingled with humor and the joy of living life to the fullest.

She has brought along her lifelong friends, Ronnie and Teddy Jones who have dedicated their lives to caring for sheep and describing the 23rdPsalm. The many challenges of caring for sheep, along with everyday life experiences that the reader can relate to in today’s society brings hope and courage and a “sense of time and place.” In this second edition of “Reflections of a Wyoming Shepherd on the 23rd Psalm,” the author shares her own experience of walking through Covid trusting it will bring hope to others.

It is a story of the love of family and friends through all seasons of life. The heart felt desire and prayer of the author in writing this story, is that the reader will be encouraged to live out their own destiny with hope for the future. 

Growing up on a homestead in the 1950s on the windswept northern plains of Wyoming is the rich heritage that has been given to the author, Patricia McClalfin Booher. Taking care of flocks of sheep and nursing baby orphans lambs back to health enriches the verses of Psalm 23. As an author, Patricia weaves a tapestry of life experience, mingled with aspects of creativity, family resiliency and faith into her stories. The outcome brings a sense of time and place across generational lines. She received an M.S. degree in Human Resources, Family and Child Development from Eastern Michigan University. 

Grief is a part of life everyone will go through at some point in their journey.  Some phases of grief will be manageable and then there are those aspects of grief that are life changing.  The story of Timmy is about a Yorky type pet that moved into a beautiful account of resiliency and hope after his death.  

There are stories of triumph and tragedy as well as tools for coping with grief.  Examples of four tools for coping with grief in this novel are as follows: Thankfulness, Forgiveness, Humor and Creativity.

 This non-fiction narrative has been written for those walking through times of grief.  Also, for those friends and family members who want to come alongside that loved one, the resources and snippets of personal stories from the authors own life experiences are filled with hope and courage. This non-fiction narrative will enhance the possibilities to allow one to look back and see the beautiful colors of the tapestries of life that can unfold during those times of grief.

Growing up on a homestead in the 1950s on the windswept northern plains of Wyoming is the rich heritage that has been given to the author, Patricia McClalfin Booher. Taking care of flocks of sheep and nursing baby orphans lambs back to health enriches the verses of Psalm 23. As an author, Patricia weaves a tapestry of life experience, mingled with aspects of creativity, family resiliency and faith into her stories. The outcome brings a sense of time and place across generational lines. She received an M.S. degree in Human Resources, Family and Child Development from Eastern Michigan University.