Changing It Up

This blog began when life gave us a second chance at marriage and the journey that entailed. You know, second time down the aisle, planning a wedding, finding what had celebratory meaning for us.  All that jazz.

Now we find ourselves on the cusp of our 3rd anniversary.  Clearly not newly weds..not quite old married folk.  Still searching for ways to celebrate us.  Of late, it's been suggested I write about our life in the country.  After all, we are city people blessed to be enjoying life in the country.  I can do that, I can change it up.  

First of all, though we thought it would be great to own some land and get out of the city, neither of us thought it would ever happen.  We still marvel at that.  Sometimes it's the marvel of these are our weeds needing to be treated, those are our tree limbs downed in the storm, that's our lane needing to be plowed.  

Once we took the leap of faith we never looked back.  Except maybe when we leave for work and wish we didn't have to: a) work, b) work in the city and c) leave home to do so.  

I remember years ago taking a drive in the country and wondering who are these people that live out there and why would they.  Well now I know. In the city I would look at my yard and think this is my yard.  Now I look at my yard and think this is my YARD!  We're living an upper case life in the middle of heaven.  Well, heaven as we've come to know it.  

Changing it up is not without challenges.  But that's where humor, faith and a stiff drink comes in to play.  First you laugh, rather than cry, pray (sometimes in the form of a rant) and have a drink because hydration is important!  Okay, I'd be a liar if there weren't a few tears along the way.  I am one of those weepy women.  Owning it is the first step...go ahead, I dare you to put on your surprised face.  

Who would have thought a hot date on a Friday night would involve walking the garden, watching the corn grow and, you guessed it having a drink.  We used to go to the bar to drink. Now home holds the best bar available.  That and the fact we live 12 miles, give or take, from the closest bar.  

I used to think there was nothing out there, and now I find everything is out here.  Such is our life.  

Two Years Ago

In the beginning there was a man in Reno and a woman in Omaha. And God laughed. Because he new the bigger plan. Okay, so I'm thinking he's still laughing at us, with us, for us.

Almost exactly two years ago we walked down the aisle, I giggled my way through our vows, enjoyed a fabulous party and began married life. For the second time. I do believe it's sweeter the second time around.

Since then we've sold a house, moved twice, started a new job and moved to new locations. Just a few life stress's in that. Here's the deal. I am so grateful. The road led us to places we could never have imagined. It included a fall out of an attic. That first step's a doozy. I don't recommend that trip. It has included downsizing dramatically and then upsizing remarkably. Okay, the yard increased substantially, the view unbelievably and the house, though small is just perfect for us.

Two years ago we looked forward with faith, humor and the support of our family and friends. We still count on that. There have been bumps in the road. They happen. They have been tears - of laughter and of sorrow. There have been foster dogs...seven since then. Ha...a revolving door of dogs! Our world and welcome too it.

All this said, I believe I'll sign up for another year, or two...God willing. Since God was willing to bring us together in the first place I think that's a good place to start.

Chin Up

Dear Friend.....

I know you are in for a rough time.  Cancer sucks, but it does not define you.  You will get through this.  It will change you, but it will be for the better.

May I just say chin up.  Chin up to better days ahead.  Lean on the strength of those who love you.  Trust in the power of prayer.  Believe.  Breathe...it helps. Breathe again....it helps.

Let people be there for you.  You will be amazed at where the support comes from.  It's okay to lean on others.  Hold fast to the hands that reach out to you until you regain your balance.

It's not a journey we would choose, but there will be blessings you could never expect.  Don't forget to breathe...and hold you chin up.  

I have faith in you, I'm here for you.  Breathe.... 

In Good Times and in Bad

I'm thinking those terms are relative.  A good time to me, might be a slice of hell for you.  A good time is hanging out in our little house on the prairie and watching the dogs.  A good time to you may be the hustle bustle of the big city. Bad times are part of life.  They often kick us in the pants when we need to move to a new place in life.

All of us in relationships....and aren't we all in relationships of some sort, have the good times and the bad.  Work relationships, friendships, spouses, siblings, neighbors...all of the above. Heck even pack dynamics with the dogs have their moments.  There are times you want to throw in the towel, run home to Mom, kick the cat (my apologies to the cats of the world -it's just an analogy). You envy your single friends, who envy their married friends.  

In good times it's easy, in bad times we are called to love.  In reality we might feel more called to murder at that particular moment, but trust me it's love we need.  The challenge is to move towards healing.  Because it's much easier to hold onto the pain than to reach out in peace.

At some point you can go back and laugh at the audacity of the situation, giggle at the irony, chuckle at the way it all played out.  Give thanks the creek is not deep enough for a body.  To make that happen you both have to give a little...and find your way back to the good times.

Cross Roads

I always used to take one road to a destination and another road home.  Just for the variety I think. Or because I could.  Or to make my kids wonder, as they certainly did. Maybe I did it to avoid traffic, to get there quicker, or simply to enjoy the drive.  In the city there are a million crossroads.  In life probably more. Now our drive is divided by interstate, highway and gravel roads.  Less traffic, more time for thinking.  It begins and ends on this lane that defines home.  

Funny how life changes our roads.  Or is it the roads that change our life?  In a million years I never would have thought I'd travel gravel.  In those same million years I never would have thought I'd leave the only home I knew.  I still marvel at where we ended up.  

It is different than I ever dreamed and better than I expected.  At first I signaled every turn on the gravel road.  Now I know there is no one to notify of my turn.  Sometimes I do signal out here. Force of habit, or maybe I like the clicky noise my blinker makes. After years of signaling, it's rather a treat to not...ummm...signal.

Sometimes we are amazed to see another car and laugh at our absurdity.  Sometimes, I admit longing to see a familiar car coming up the drive.  But mostly, I'm giving thanks for the new roads we cross. 

Celebrations

I never used to enjoy saying Merry Christmas or Happy New Year. I mean, really, did you have any clue if it was going to be Merry or Happy.  Why ask for trouble?  In fact, I can remember one New Years Eve going to a party, back when I was skinny.  I chose that day to start my diet.  Hellooooo, was I nuts?    My logic, pathetic as it was, was that if I couldn't eat reasonably then, I couldn't on a regular day.  So by all means do not take pleasure in the festivities, because it wasn't safe to be festive.  I kid you not, I used to be that person.

That was years ago, and I'm not that person anymore. hfewwwwww!!!!   Maybe we all have times like that in our life, where we are simply afraid to live.  Perhaps we are a seed and our time to blossom has not arrived.

But, thankfully it happens. And it is cause to celebrate.  Life is really too short not to. Celebrate it all, the good and the bad.  Each has a life force to mold us into a better me and you.  If I had to do it again...I'd surf that buffet of party food like it was my last meal.  Surely I passed up some potato chips that night, egads what was I thinking!!  Maybe there was chocolate with my name on it, and yet, I said no, no chocolate for me.  There were toast's to good times and I held back.  

So here is the lesson....don't hold back.....   Embrace, savor and taste the goodness.  Plain and simple, celebrate.

  

Surviving

I will be the first to say I never would have made it as a pioneer. Face it, I've been a city girl all my life.  Or rather I was a city girl, now I'm a country girl, sorta.  Until this week it's been an easy adjustment.  

This week we had our first major snow...okay a full blown blizzard. Once I got home I didn't want to leave.  Once Reno got home (and it took him forever) I didn't want him to leave.  It was a safe at home, snowy but safe.  Someone should have pulled me aside discussed this with me.  Or given me a "how to survive winter weather in the country" class for a housewarming present. 

In one storm I've learned which roads to stay off of, that a front end loader is a godsend, that you can get stuck on flat ground, that a towing chain is a good investment.  I learned when the drifts are really high the dogs can walk right over the top of the fence.  I am learning that a few good neighbors in the country can mean more than a whole block of neighbors in the city.  And I've learned it is humbling to be the one who knows nothing...and even more humbling to have a neighbor repeatedly come to your assistance. What a blessing that they are so gracious and willing.  It's what neighbors do, I am told. It's a lesson I am learning anew. 

I admit today was a weepy day, frankly I wanted to go home. I'll let you figure out which home I wanted to go to.  For the life of me I couldn't find my big girl panties.  Had I been a pioneer, my husband would have tossed me out of the covered wagon not far out of town.  For the good the wagon train, I'm sure. It may have been a wise decision.

But luckily, there was no wagon train involved.  I survived, we survived with a little help from our friends.  Life is like that, a learning process.  If you are lucky like we are, help is there for the asking.  It's how we survive and thrive.