Sunday, November 1, 2009

Reflections of Two Years

As usual, I've lost track of time--I don't know where October went. All I know is that before I turned around it was gone and so was all of its precious time it contained. But what is even more mind-boggling is to think of what's happened to us in the last two years. Two years ago in October, we sold our house in Ashburn, and bought our place here on Mountain Road. One week after that, my Mom passed away. Looking back on the last 2 years, it seems like it flew by in a blink. But I have to admit that it's easy to see missed goals, time wasted, and some of life’s other disappointments. It is however just as easy to choose to see the beauty, the blessings, the gifts and the miracles we’ve had during this same time.

We have grown to love living where we do, even though I know some think it's out in the middle of nowhere. I grew up around army posts and in neighborhoods full of kids--But the time spent at my Grandfathers while growing up, gave me my love for the country! Moving away from it all was something Carl & I thought about, dreamed about, and prayed about. We pictured it and it finally became a reality.

It's hard to fully explain all the things I've grown to love about living where I do. While I have to admit I could have done without the barage of stink bugs this year, being here has taught me to appreciate and see the world in a much different way. I have learned to see the beauty of the trees in all seasons...The rain, and the changing weather...The stars that seem so close in the night sky...The wonder in nature each time we see the deer, the ground hogs and hearing the birds singing and the owls in the wee hours of the morning...I always watch for and enjoy seeing the rabbits that have grown up this summer and live along our property...Watching and discovering all that is here.

Most of all I love that we have so much more room inside and out for our dogs! I love their excitement as they bark and run through the woods exploring and smelling and sometimes rolling in what they find. I love how happy and content they seem to be, and how content I feel in being here! While moving here two years ago came at a time when I had just lost my Mom, being here has helped to heal and ease the pain because there is so much life here on Mountain Road!! We are so blessed!

Friday, October 16, 2009

A "???" Dog Night!


The cold weather came and stayed this week! The weather man said that the temps today were 40 degrees colder than they were exactly a week ago (it was 85!!). I've resisted turning on the heat because it's admitting that the warm days are gone and winter is just around the corner. This is a hard time of the year for me. I think it may be because of our days in Alaska. When the weather was like this there, the clouds kept the mountains hidden from view. Everyone waited for them to clear. When they did, it was like curtains opening on a stage and everyone would see for the first time, the mountains tops with snow on them. In Alaska they call this "termination dust" because the first snow meant that the miners would lose their jobs and be "terminated." Seeing this was always a bit depressing for me because it was an unmistakable sign that winter was there...I think this is why I hold it off as long as I can and try not to turn on the heat. Last night the temp in the house was 59. I still didn't want to turn on the heat--We were just going to go to bed, right??!! I figured we could just throw on another blanket, and it would be okay. At around 2 o'clock in the morning, I woke up and there were 3 dogs in bed with us, and the cat--I got comfortable and fell back to sleep. Sleep didn't last long because a little bit later Sheba who never gets on the bed was there trying to find a place next to us. She usually sleeps on the floor next to the wall, so I'm sure she was cold--But I just couldn't agree to one more dog in bed with us, so I let Sheba stay and made someone "volunteer" to get off--That was hard to do because it was so very toasty and comfy for all of us! I gave in this morning and turned on the heat and made chili.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

God & Dog by WJ Francisco

I saw this and just loved it--The video and the poem are so sweet and the simple message was a good reminder to me of how blessed we are to have dogs and all animals as part of our lives!

GoD & DoG
(WJ Francisco)

I look up and I see God,
I look down and see my dog.
Simple spelling G- O- D,
Same word backwards, D- O- G.
They would stay with me all day.
I'm the one who walks away.
But both of them just wait for me.
And dance at my return with glee.
Both love me no matter what.
Divine God and canine mutt.
I take it hard each time I fail.
But God forgives, Dog wags his tail.
God thought up and made the dog,
Dog reflects a part of God.
I've seen love from both sides now,
it's everywhere, amen, bow wow.
I look up and I see God,
I look down and see my dog.
And in my human frailty,
I can't match their love for me.


Friday, October 2, 2009

I'm sucha Grasshopper!!


The last few weeks the story of the “Grasshopper and the Ant” keeps tumbling around in my head. I remember the story not because I read it in a book, but because I saw the Disney cartoon. In the cartoon, the grasshopper fiddles, sings, and eats the leaves off trees while the queen of the ants warn him that he'd better prepare for winter too. But the grasshopper continues fiddling and singing. When winter finally comes, the grasshopper becomes almost frozen from the cold. He can no longer play his fiddle. In desperation, he knocks at the tree where the ants live and begs them to let him in. The queen ant gives her “I told you so” speech and ends with “Take your fiddle...” and after the long pause she says “and play!” So in the end, the grasshopper earns the warmth and food of the ants by playing his fiddle. I am reminded of this story because I am like the grasshopper in the story. I am never prepared for winter. I always put off things until the last minute. And, if things don't get done, it's usually okay; I'll do it another time. Because after all, isn't time what there is so much of? However, the older I get, and living here in "the country" I'm finding that there doesn't seem to be the time there once was. And with winter quickly approaching I know I need to focus and get things done in order to be prepared...But my grasshopper ways are really hard to overcome, especially when it's so nice outside and the dogs want me to play!