a boy named {grace}.

Grace was born last year as a reminder of God's grace and mercy daily.

His life was purposeful for me.

His presence was necessary.

His story is here. I hope you read it again and again.  I know I have.

One year later - and here stands Grace. 

Tall & proud.  

Not a lot different than the rest of the crowd, but oh so different to me.

I couldn't believe my eyes on this cold January morning.  

He was content, happy, and a beacon of light - staring at me as if to say ...

God's grace is sufficient for you Lindsay ... it truly is - and I'm living proof!

a court with a view.

Yep.  I'd say we have the best court in the county.  Hands down.  And one of the cutest little ball players too.  He's a hustler, and if he gets any taller, he'll be able to dunk before we know it.

a birthday.

It's the end of February.  We're a little over half way done with calving. I want to be excited about that, but it's only half way ... which means there is still a long way to go.  The weather has been mild this winter, but the catastrophes have made up for that.  Every year there is a different kind of storm to face.  Storms that may bring snow and ice, or clouds that roll exhaustion and even a bit of depression up the sides of the hills, or wind that blows anger and frustration in circles, and maybe even fog that seems to make everything a bit too close for comfort.  Storms don't always have to be on the outside.  In fact, they're usually not.  And the {storms} this year have been a battle - mentally & physically.

Sunshine hasn't been constant, but when it does make its appearance, we've embraced it - soaking in the warmth, the color, and the beauty that has swirled around us.  We've tried really hard to choose sunshine as a word to live by.  A word that means light, star, cheerfulness, happiness, bright, blazing, brilliance, and even a window.  I think I'd like to define our life as a window the most. A window that lets you see into our hearts & souls ... giving you glimpses of what our life is really like. No shades drawn & nothing to hide.

Ian turned 36 yesterday. It was cold & rainy, with gusts of wind swirling everywhere.  Problem after problem seemed to swirl in with the weather as well.  I used to wonder why days that are supposed to be celebrated are often the hardest?  Used to ... but not anymore.  It doesn't mean I don't question the reasons, it just means that my perspective is different.  Different, in that I know it's coming before it even gets here.

Life is a constant cycle.  We wake up early, we do chores, we read, we make beds, we fold clothes, we scrub toilets, we fix fence, we tag calves, we feed hay, we clean stalls, we burn trash, we write down numbers and names, we make phone calls, we give hugs, we kick the dirt, and we rest when we can.  We do what we do because that's who we are.  And then days come when you hope and wish everything would go as planned, but according to who's plans? You pray that this one day could be different, but really, shouldn't every day be different?!

I used to wonder about the days that were hard, but I don't anymore.  I used to try to plan everything the way I thought I wanted it to go, but I don't do that anymore either.  I still write lesson plans, and put sticky notes everywhere.  I plan parties, make menus, and pencil out calendars, but I'm done trying to think that know best.

Best isn't always the most beautiful.

Best isn't always on time.

Best isn't flawless.

Best isn't always about sunshine and blue skies.

Best is what we choose to see from the minute we open our eyes, until they close again - not just on days we want to be special, but every. single. day.

Yes, every day is a day to be celebrated.  Birthday or no birthday, we're alive.  We're making our way around the sun, trying to put one foot in front of the other with grace and humility.  We're trying to keep our heads up - looking for the warmth of His presence in our lives.  We're trying to not be tired, but we are.

36 is just a number.  It's a number that means you're here & growing despite any circumstances you're facing right now.  It's a mark on the timeline of you.  And the best part about it, is that you have the opportunity to trust that what is written about you at age 36 is going to be the best chapter in your book of life yet.

It's going to be the chapter where you left things blank and let God fill them in.  The pages that you're dreaming about and running toward may or may not be filled with what you expect.  But you have to keep running.  You have to keep stacking hay.  You have to keep tagging calves.  You have to keep getting up and facing the weather the best you know how.  You have to keep believing that the Author of your life is doing good things through you.

We are guaranteed to have days that are hard, but we're also guaranteed to see goodness on those very same days.  We have a choice to make with every second of our lives.  And those choices, those decisions, those steps ... they're what our story is made of.

A story with fences that need to be built, as well as fences that need to be torn down.

A story where you run and play when you can, but you also work hard at the same time.

A story where people stop and take notice of what you're doing - and may even want to join you too. Not because of you, but because of Who they see at work in you.

A story where truth is pounded in deep, and stakes are firmly planted.

A story about following the One you know has everything perfectly planned out & perfectly written.

A story about dodging bullets when you can, but also knowing how to take them when they hit hard.

Every day is a birthday.

 Every day is chance to be new.

  So ... step & live well.

the road to somewhere.

There are a lot of times in my life when I'm not certain of where I'm  going exactly.

Often times I'm following a path that's already been made - but in my own unique way.

Sometimes I cling to the center - not straying too far to the right or the left.

Other times, I'm in the lead, or even in the middle where I feel safe.

And on certain days, you may even find me pushing from behind while looking for any situations to avoid that may lead to a disaster.

We moved the cows a few different times this winter, and each time I would just watch them follow in amazement.  They're a lot like me.  Or maybe it's me that is a lot like them.  Either way, we're friends. Some knew where we were going because they'd been there before, but the others ... well, they just were wise enough to jump in and hang on.  Miles of tromping through the frozen ground, following a simple bale of hay.  Not even enough to feed them all, and yet, they still followed.

They followed with this faith that was unfaltering.  They knew that if they kept one foot in front of the other, and their head down a bit ... they would make it.  They would get to that place where comfort and rest could be found.  And their friends would cheer them on.

Their friend would give a gentle moo when they wanted to turn around.

Their friend would nudge them on with a slight little "push."

Their friend would shout from the distance ... keep going!  don't give up!  I've got you covered!

Because you know what - Sometimes when we ask God to send us an answer, He sends us a friend - so we’ll have both! *thank you Bob Goff

My life is filled with a lot of good stuff.  It's busy and full, but it's good - and it's filled with friends.  3 of my best friends live right under the same roof as me, and I don't even have enough fingers and toes to count the number of people who are the {answer} right when I need them most.

There are people {big & small} that are nudging me forward - out of bed, out of the comfy chair I want to sit in all day, out of my comfort zone, out of the house, out of anything boring, out of normal.  They need me, and I need them.

We coax each other forward.

We cheer each other on.

We keep an eye out for those sightings of God at work and then shout from the rooftops when we see them, hear them, taste them, or even feel them.

We've been given much, and in turn, much is required.

Much is required, and much can be done ... because we've got each other.

And so as we {my family and our cows} travel from one season into another, I'm going to remember this excerpt from Kisses from Katie:

This is the spot on the map where God has asked me to do the things I do ...This is the place where I am supposed to follow Jesus, obey Him and make my best effort, with His gracious help, to treat people with dignity and care for them unconditionally. To say yes to each and everything He asks of me, to each person He places in front of me.

We're going to be living proof that the road always leads to somewhere ... and that {somewhere} is usually right where we're supposed to be ... and guess what???

We're never alone.