Barns and Cupolas

I have a new love, one I never expected. I supposed that type of love is the best. We rarely get what we expect, and what we get is often better than we could ever hope for. So I have to confess I have a thing for barns, especially barns with cupolas. It doesn't matter if they are new or old, though old ones have a special charm.  I like to think as I get older I have a certain special charm too. Or maybe I just resemble an old barn. A little older, a little faded, but full of hope. Some days it's all debatable.  

Cupolas are the icing on the cake. All through life, on the roads I travel, I find landmarks that speak to my soul. Lovely gardens, interesting architecture, a horse I long for, stately trees, lakes or ponds, charming cottages, palatial mansions. Now as rural life embraces my heart, I am drawn to the barns.  

I realize it sounds odd, but I want one of my own.  Heck, I'd love to live in one. Complete with cupolas of course.  They say dream big, so I do.  It's okay to dream. Your dream may be a place on a lake, in the mountains, or the big city. Whatever speaks to your heart, listen for that and embrace it.  And whatever shape your "barn" is I pray it is graced with a cupola.  

In the meantime, on the country roads that have become home, I search out barns and they speak to me.    

Pushing Through...

For the most part we are all just pushing through life.  Sure, it seems like some people's life is all easy sailing.  No worries, no struggles, no loss.  I beg to differ.

Reality is we are much like the bulbs of spring.  Planted with hope, weathered over time to bloom in a new season.  In the mean time we push through some hard stuff.

We push through heartache, through job losses, through financial difficulties. We push through illness and grief.  We push against the curve balls of life and we embrace the joys that come along the way.  Often one would never know the challenges we endure.  We assume, all is well, and never scratch the surface to see. Some never share the challenges they are pushing through.  Some open their hearts and share the burden.  Grace blooms twice when they do.  

We look for signs of growth, we worry they will never come, and when they do we worry they may be nipped in the bud.  Growth comes...I promise you that. Sometimes in stealth mode, sometimes with bells and whistles.  It comes to all of us.  So we wait.  Until the day comes we push through the hard times and bloom again.  

Down Time and Snow Days

I am not one of those people who gear down very easy.  I'd rather be busy. I'd rather go go go.  Part of leaving the city and taking up small town life is finding peace and comfort in the quiet.  Finding time to witness nature, experiencing solitude.  So even though I work full time, have 3 dogs, garden, play on Facebook (a lot!), cook and try to craft a bit I am trying to find more time to be, rather than just do.

Nothing like a good snow storm to slow me way down.  I remember when my kids were little and we had snow days.  Whoohoo - they loved that.  It meant movies, shoveling, sledding, baking, shoveling, sledding and snow pants in the dryer.  They were full days even if they never left the yard.

Now snow days are different and I'm working to embrace them on my own terms.  Mostly I'm striving to embrace time to gaze out the window, to be less productive and enjoy that more.  Nothing wrong, and perhaps everything right, with accomplishing nothing for the day.

Don't get me wrong I took time to crochet, to blog, to walk the dogs.  And of course we didn't go hungry.  I did have to make a conscious effort to relax into the change of pace.  It's okay to sit and dream.  To gaze into the fireplace.  To marvel at Mother Nature (pretty sure she wants us to).  It's the stuff of peace and a happy heart.  It's okay to be and not do.  So I did.

Encouragement

Food, water, shelter, and encouragement.  Throw in a couple dogs, some wine, laughter, faith, family, friends and you've got it all.  Well that is my recipe for life.  Yours may differ.  Mine also requires flowers, cooking, gardening, hugs and walks along the river.

But I digress, encouragement is the topic of the day. Somewhere along the way we need a source of encouragement. Acknowledgement, without criteria for improvement, of what we are doing right.  It's like food for the soul, energy for the journey and shelter for the heart.

You did good.  I love you.  You've learned so much.  I like the way you did that. Good thinking.  Brilliant.  I know you can do it. Your talent shines.  You give the best hugs.  You make my life easier. I am so grateful to work with you.  Your friendship graces my life.  You're my rock.  I can trust you. You are making progress. I value you. I couldn't do it without you.  You are important to me.

You catch my drift.  To encourage is to plant seeds in another. It's like sunshine for personal growth.  Would that we could give it, as easily as we find reasons to find fault.  

May your journey be full of encouragement.  May you give it daily, may you receive it generously.  Whether they are city roads, or country roads, may they begin and end with encouragement.  Life will be sweeter if they do.  Give some today and watch it return in ways you could never imagine.

Roads to Home...

I love Fridays....end of week, end of stress and all roads lead to home.  Any other day of the week it's city streets, to highway, to interstate, to highway, to gravel roads.....ahhhh and home. On Fridays I take the first interstate exit and cruise through the country.  Almost no traffic.  I need that to wind down, to let go, to shift gears.  I don't want to see anyone and if I do, it's a country one finger wave and each goes their own way.  

Roads to home sometimes never even occur on roads.  I have an old dog on the road home too.  His destination is not at all the direction I want him going. Many years ago he changed my life.  In 14+ years I'm pretty sure he's only had one bad day, maybe two tops.  One was the day, shortly after I adopted him, that the cord from the iron caught on his collar.  Like a bat out of hell he raced down the hall, down the stairs, bang, bang, bang.  Pretty sure he thought his tail was on fire. Thankfully, the iron was not hot, nor would it ever be again.  His other day, may not even count as a bad one...just a funny one.  He rooted through the laundry basket and managed to hook a bra over his head.  Out in the yard he went, flying like the wind, bra sailing happily behind him.  To run is to live, bra or no bra.

I am certain his road and mine were meant to be.  Just as I know I'll take his last walk with him no matter where it leads. Roads change in life, and who you travel them with makes all the difference in the world.  My roads used to be all big city roads, now I am happiest when the pavement changes to gravel. Gravel, fields, sunsets and silence.  And a grand old dog at my side.  

Beginning Anew

It is that time of year....our brains, bodies, tummies and hearts are full, and we're tired.  Okay, maybe that's just me. Christmas came and went, it's a new day, a new year and a new chance in our lives.

Chances are good.  Chances indicate hope and promise.  Who wouldn't like a second chance?   Funny how willing we are to look forward to the new chances coming our way, even though we may have refused chances that already came our way. Chances bring change and I sometimes fight that tooth and nail. Change for the better is so much easier to accept.  Of course, how I foresee change is often not the way it unfolds.    

I'd like to take a chance at accepting change without resistance.  Proof right there I'm a dreamer.  Add that to my list of titles, dreamer, crazy dog lady, humorist (again in my dreams), writer, designer, Mom, wife, Grandmother, friend, sister, niece, aunt, neighbor, boss, employee, mentor, and, did I mention crazy dog lady?

All that, and I'm still defining myself.  Each day, each year, we get to begin anew.  I'd like to begin softer, more gentle. I'd like to begin with an open heart and willing hands.  I'd like to laugh more and stress less. I'd like more celebratory shots and high fives. I'd like more flying hugs. Those are hugs from people so excited to see you they literally fly to your open arms.  I'd like more foster dogs, but we have a three dog rule around here. I'm forced to slow down a bit in that area, which is probably a good thing.  I'd like to work less and play more.  I'd like to do more crafts. I'd like to make more snow angels.

So, as this year begins...what would you like to do...to begin anew.  And how will you do it?

Maybe Christmas Is Just A Little Bit More...

As years go, it's been a tough one.  A lost job, impossibly tight finances, disappointments, challenges to our faith.  It gives you cause to dig deep for hope and for gratitude.  And then the holidays came fast upon us. 

As Christmas' go, it's been a different one.  It's not coming with buttons and bows, big fancy tree's, extravagant gifts, who-hoozles and fandangles.  And yet, the Grinch did not steal our Christmas. 

We've discovered our paired down Christmas comes with just a little bit more. More understanding, more love, more acceptance.  Sure, we'd love to come bearing physical gifts, big presents, lavish feasts, delightful surprises.  Instead we come simply, genuinely with thankful hearts and a wealth of love. 

I've be remiss not to admit we've been humbled by the "adventure'.  All along I've said some day we'll look back on this and laugh.  One says that when faced with absurdities.  Some day we'll understand why this journey came our way. Or maybe we'll never know...and that's okay too.

The less you have, the more you realize what has value.  Those who share your journey and love you in spite of it, are the greatest gifts of all.  

So my heart is light and the song in my head is from the Grinch...

Welcome, Welcome
Fah who rah-moose
Welcome, Welcome
Dah who dah-moose
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp

Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome, welcome Christmas
Welcome, welcome Christmas
Day

Christmas day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp.  Infinite thanks for holding our hands. We love you for it.