Over 25 years ago I recognized that society was losing some life principles that were critically important in my up-bringing and started to dream about the role that I could play in instilling them in the next generations. I noticed that the next generation of kids didn’t have the example, which I had, to demonstrate integrity, character, honesty, the value of work, up-right morals, respect for others and elders, faith in our God, the value of a hand shake, amongst many others. I dreamed of a property that could be used to instill these life principles through examples.

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I made a list of specific items of what I wanted in a property and proceeded to refine the list as the years went by, as I traveled the world, always with this goal in mind.

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For many years the Rocky Mountain’s had been ‘calling’ me and in 2014 I moved back and landed in Post Falls, ID., near where I was born and raised in western Montana. I met and married the woman of my dreams in 2016 and we continued to look for our ‘purposed property’ across the north west.  

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April 2018, we viewed the ‘Homestead’ on Zillow twice, and asked the realtor that we were working with, for the specifics of its MLS number. A short time later he forward the requested information. The pictures and information he sent back turned out to be for a completely different property!  We went back to Zillow and other sites, and the ‘Homestead’ pictures were GONE! We couldn’t find them again! So we Google earthed it and found the property just north of Marion, MT. The first part of May we went there and visited several other properties and also found the Homestead. We had to snowshoe over the gate because there was still 4’ of snow on the ground. We immediately fell in love with the ‘homestead’ property. When we returned to Post Falls we gave the realtor the specifics of the property and he still couldn’t find any information on it.  

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So, being the researcher I am, through the public county tax records, and found the owners name and address. (Paula said I stalked him…) There was a reason why we initially saw the ‘Homestead’ pictures, and I was simply doing my due diligence in following up this lead, not knowing where it was going to take us. So, I wrote the owner a letter to see if the land was for sale. He called the next week and wanted to chat. Six weeks later we visited them (immediately fell in love with this couple) and obtained permission to camp on the property and walk the property. There was NO snow then, but it was wet! When we walked the property, we saw 4 moose (one bull), 2 bull elk (in velvet), wolf (we named Lobo), a jumpy mouse, a huge garter snake and countless deer.

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We fell in love with the property but wanted to take 2 weeks to sleep on it. This was a HUGE step for us to place an offer on this property. We knew in our hearts this was the place that we had been dreaming of to fulfil our purpose. We couldn’t wait for 2 weeks, so a week later we saw Richard and Debbie Sherman and agreed on a price. I had previously shared part of our story with them of our purpose and mentioned that my Dad preferred to do business on just a handshake. Richard said, “at this point I would normally ask for earnest money, but with you, a hand shake will do”. Ironically, the deal for our purposed property was consummated on, Dad’s very birthday with a handshake!

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DOUBLE B RANCH name: Some have asked how we came up with the name, Double B Ranch. As usual there is a story about this also. In short, the ranch name is in tribute to my Dad. He was a heavy equipment salesman that had a huge territory in the North West. He drove the roads continuously to serve his customers and provide a better lifestyle for his family than he had growing up. Each time he was going to pass a car he would honk his car horn twice to let them know he was coming by, hence his nickname was “Beep Beep”. A few years before he was promoted to Glory, he went into business for himself, naming his business “Beep Beep Enterprises”. I simply wanted to honor the principles my parents exemplified during my childhood and name the ranch after them to pass their legacy to the next generations.

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The whole point of this story is that as a society we often give up too soon on our dreams. We live in a microwave society that has lost touch with where we came from. DON’T give up, dreams do come true. Keep looking and refining your goals and aspirations and they WILL come true. Focus on what you want and not what you don’t. It took 25+ years for this one to come around the corner, but it is here now and it is time for another adventure! Praise God.

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Some will say but you are nearing retirement age, Mark, you should be kicking back and taking it easy. Do you really believe that?! I agree, this adventure is a HUGE chunk to bite off and way outside my comfort zone, but as I slide into my Lords ‘home plate’ in front of the Pearly Gates, I want to be 'worn out'; not 'rusted out'. We invite you to join us in this adventure and make a positive difference in those that you influence, but more importantly yourself.

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There are so many ‘thin threads’ that had us arrive where we are today; these will make many great fireside stories. This is a blessed destiny for both of us.

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For your entertainment, below is my 25+ year old list of search criteria:

                Shouldn’t see the property from the road:  Yes

                Surrounded by federal land:  Yes

                Water feature:  Yes

                Rolling grassy fields:  Yes

                Timber:  Yes

                Located in the Rocky Mountains:  Yes

                Room for a shooting range, hay crops and stock:  Yes

                100+ acres:  Yes

                Majority of property usable:  Yes

                Within 1 hour of a regional airport:  Yes

                Near a paved road:  Yes

                Property landscape to lend itself to separate the camp from private cabin(s):  Yes

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