Beginning of the "Summer Run" | June 15, 2015

 

Three hours past our “time to pull out”.. we get the big rig rolling down the driveway and headed north out of Pilot Point, TX…our newly called “HOME”. Loaded down with 4 horses, 3 Steer Wrestlers, a barrel racer, two kids, a French bulldog, and “Peanut the Rodeo Glider” (my daughter’s pet sugar glider.. just google it) we embark on a new adventure and new way of life for our family. You see we’ve always been a rodeo family to some degree…. But in the most recent years we’ve been a “separated” family during the bulk of the rodeo season. This time of year is typically full of excitement along with sadness and tears when we say good-bye to Daddy for 3 months. However, in result of a statement Bray made at the end of the 2014 rodeo season… “Next year ya’ll are going with me.. or I quit”…. We stand here looking at the yellow brick road the Lord has layed out before us. You see, if it wasn’t for God, NONE of this would be possible. SO Many things had to fall into place at JUST THE RIGHT TIME (God’s perfect Timing)  for this opportunity to be possible for the Armes Family to “RODEO” together…. That is a whole OTHER Testimony I’ll share at a later date!! But for now, we’re back to the Big Rig headed north, loaded down with.. well, you know that part.

 

 Let me introduce the  “Characters” of our story.. We start with Bray Armes, Professional Steer Wrestler, 3x NFR Qualifier but more importantly MY Faithful, Loving Husband and father to our two kids Breely and Drake. Bray is also the BOSS of the rig and “Man of the House”… whichever “house” we may be in at the time. He is a man of God that let’s is faith shine brightly through his soft spoken words and Never-Give-Up attitude!!! (yes… I am proud of my husband hehe ;)
 

Next Steer Wrestler in the Rig is the “Tall Drink of Water” from Sulpher, La.. Casey Martin. Better known in the rig as “MARTIN”,  Casey is 4x NFR Qualifier and has been a top contender for for a World Championship title many of those years! Casey is the faithful husband to his beautiful wife Shawna and the devoted daddy to his 6 children anxiously awaiting his return home.



 

Third and final Steer Wrestler in this rig is “soon to be first time Daddy”, Beau Clark from Bozeman, MT And yes.. his intro is important because that “Label” will be instigating some exciting blogs in the VERY near future! Beau aka “Beau-Bo” is also an NFR Qualifier and has gotten his 2015 rodeo season off to a HOT START!!

Now I guess it’s time for my intro.. “the Barrel Racer”.. but my more important roles in this rig are “Momma” and “Bray’s Wife”, two labels and jobs I carry with joy and pride. My name is Neelley and I typically can be found keeping kids in line, giving Bray a hard time, cleaning the RV or taking care of my barrel horse, Noah. God has given me two gifts with this opportunity to go on the road with Bray.. 1. To be with and support my husband as he supports our family while keeping our family together. And 2. I get to come out of a long retirement and chase a DREAM myself, rodeoing alongside my husband.

Now let me introduce our children.. first there is my spirited blonde haired blue-eyed baby girl that isn’t so much a baby any more! Breely is 8 years old and loves ALL THINGS NATURE! She is the “mom” and caretaker to our resident Sugar Glider “Peanut” and also our knowledge source when it comes to the different places we are traveling to! She can be found wearing her jewlelry and muddy boots dancing to her own beat around the rig or carefully caring for the newest frog or bug her brother has captured. On the introduction of her brother… our spirited wild child Drake. Drake is our rambunctious 6 year old that is as big as most 8 year olds who can do more push ups and sit ups than most 10 year olds (just ask his personal trainer Beau-Bo) Drake can typically be found aggravating his sister, digging in the dirt with his tractor or finding any and every frog in a 3 mile radius. Both of our “Angels” were hand designed by God and couldn’t be more loved by their Momma and Daddy.

Let’s not forget Our 4-Legged Family Members that are along for the trip. First we have “Otis-Jeremiah Armes”, (yes it’s hyphenated) our 1 year old french bulldog and essentially mine and Bray’s third child. Otis, at times can be the most well behaved child in the rig haha. He loves wrestling with Drake, playing fetch with Breely or riding shotgun with whomever is driving the rig at the time. He also likes to oversee the horse chores and oddly enough, the horses don’t mind him much either. Otis’s furry roommate in the rig is Breely’s furry friend  “Peanut” the sugar glider. Sugar Glider’s are a small flying squirrel type animal that is native to Austrailia. He is nocturnal and can be the source of some mischief in the middle of the night… just ask NFR bulldogger, Stan Branco. Breely loves her Peanut and Peanut loves his Breely so naturally, Peanut could not be left behind on this family trip.

 

Our Equine Athletes in the rig are the one and only French Wonder better known as “Ote” or to his fans, “that pretty palomino bulldogging horse”, his side kick and hazing horse “Bam”, their colleague “Tucson” owned and ridden by Casey Martin, and “Noah”… my “little yella bottle rocket” barrel horse.

 

{More details and backstories on the horses in upcoming blogs.}

 

So the scene is set and the characters are in place!! Let the Rodeo Adventures of 2K15 BEGIN!!

 This blog, by popular demand, will be updated as much as possible telling the “Tales of the Rodeo Road” as seen through the eyes of #TeamArmes …. with ALL of its UPS and DOWNS. This Rodeo road is not always Rainbows and Butterflies and can sometimes get really mentally and physically tiring. BUT.. there are also glorious moments, precious moments, and moments that become LIFE CHANGING.

As it always has been and continues to be the TRUTH our story was built on.. 

“With Man this is Impossible, but with GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE” Mt. 19:26

Have a blessed Day! It’s a Choice!
~Neelley