Once upon a time a young woman from California (Erica) met a young man (Louis) from Louisiana at her cousin’s wedding and after doing the necessary checking to make sure they weren’t too closely related (if you know you know) they decided to make a life together.

 

This life included lots of love, laughter and eventually two beautiful sons Donovan and Austin.  Donovan was a gorgeous, brown-haired, blue-eyed boy with all the charm and grace of a future A list Hollywood Actor.  Austin was an old soul from the day he was born.  His wit and sassy responses to life are still part of conversations to this day.  

 

When Austin was five years old, he was overheard having a conversation with his four-year-old cousin and asked him “Are you pondering what I’m pondering?” To which his cousin promptly responded “huh?”

 

Sadly, this story takes a turn for the worse when Austin passed away in 2006 at the age of ten.  Erica and Louis were devastated, and it took a long time for them to pick up the pieces of their lives and work through their grief.

 

In 2013, the family found an amazing property in Howe, Texas and as a tribute to Austin, Louis decided it would be registered as Pondering Farms. Their new home quickly became the location of many family gatherings and offered all the comforts of home to everyone who visited. 

 

Unfortunately, their happiness was short lived when Donovan was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2015. It was as if their family had been struck by lightning twice.  Their path to healing took a lot longer and required some creative ways to get them through the pain they were feeling.  Louis purchased two horses for Erica and got her lessons in their care and upkeep, which Erica found very therapeutic.  In 2016 they added six pregnant cows, and their care and upkeep has been Louis’ therapy.

 

The herd has grown and so has their family.  Erica and Louis have incorporated two daughters Danielle and Kayla and they have their youngest son Jordan.

 

After a very challenging journey the family is so excited to embrace this next chapter in their lives and introduce Pondering Farms to the world. 

 

Louis retired from corporate America and has now decided to bring the tastes of Louisiana to North Texas and Southern Oklahoma.  Pondering Farms will now provide cattle and crawfish.

 

There is a more detailed accounting of their lives in Erica’s memoir Loving,Losing&Living available on Amazon, available by clicking the link below.

 

Welcome to the farm!