the fog ...

makes the road home barely visible.

There is no white fog line to guide me or tail-lights to follow.

The pavement ends and the gravel greets the four tires of my vehicle.

I start counting telephone poles that line the field along the left side of the road.

I laugh to myself ... have I ever counted them in the daylight or on a clear night to {know} how many there really are?

No.

Oh well - it seems to help me inch my way along the gravel if I count.

{note to self ... count the phone poles when they're visible}

.....................................

How far away am I from {home}?

I'll probably never know.

But do I really want to know?

......................................

I like to know where I'm going.

I really like that on a clear day {or night} you can see our home as soon as the pavement ends.

The straight line to my destination.

The bumps are all visible.

You know there isn't a blind corner.

And you can see for miles. {literally}

.............................

Life isn't meant to be seen like that.

At least not in my opinion.

And as I'm striving to be {fearless} ... the fog has shown me more about myself than I want to admit.

It's {ok} to not know where you're going all the time.

It really is.

Because when you choose to believe in the unseen and have faith that your path has been prepared in advance ... just for you ... you're stepping out of fear & stepping into life.

.....................................

the fog ...

not always pleasant.

not always wanted.

but sometimes ... a reminder that walking or driving ... or sometimes even dragging your feet into the unknown is what faith is all about.

......................................

And the picture for today ...

my built in cabinet/hutch... right off the kitchen ... filled with goodness!

how {much}.

I started marking the boxes I had opened and rummaged through with an {x}.

The scarf and my favorite long sleeve shirt ... and the two pairs of jeans that fit {just right} were still missing.

Every evening after school I had searched with no luck of finding any of the missing items.

{they must be together. they have to be. but where?} played in my mind over and over and over again.

Friday evening I entered the garage and flipped on the light. All of the boxes had been opened. Not one left untouched. I stood and stared. They have to be here. They just have to.

I flipped the light off and walked back upstairs and into the closet in our bedroom. Boxes stacked one on top of another. Again, not one untouched.

And then I walked to the sliding glass door. I had already looked through the boxes that were stacked, but then I saw it.

A garbage bag piled with the scraps of molding and tattered curtains.

I forgot about the cold and rushed out the door.

I ripped the bag open and there were my {things} ... the scarf, my favorite jeans, my white long sleeve shirt, my mittens ... and a few other things.

Unbelievable.

A bag that looked to be trash ... but really was treasure.

Lost.

And now found!

....................................

Some of the things, people and places that are most important to us, we throw to the side every day - without even realizing it.

There are things, people and places that seem unimportant at times or seasons. Unimportant, until they're gone.

Multitudes of many.

Those people, places and things that make your life {yours}...



12. red paint {with a tint of orange}.

13. a {first time ever} to PF Changs and learning about chopsticks.

14. Christmas songs {after Christmas}.

15. BUNCO ... and losing at it ... but winning a prize ... and some new friends.

16. base boards, a nail gun, carpentry skills.

17. thank you notes.

18. wallpaper remover. {mine is my mother-in-law}

19. a Cattleman's dinner and old friends.

20. a night alone.

21. friends that love my boys as much as I do {well, almost}.

22. watching our cows calving from the window in the warmth of {home}.

23. split pea and ham soup, salad, homemade salad dressing, jello, brownies ... and friends to enjoy dinner with.

24. chicken wire, brown ribbon, barn wood, a jean jacket, and laughter.

25. a {mom} that loves to paint & has {the eye} for color!

26. The Love Dare. It's working!

27. the word {influence} and all the thinking I've been doing about it.

28. Go, Tell it on the Mountain!

....................................

Sometimes life is so wrapped up in {things} that you can't see straight ... and then suddenly ... it becomes about a whole lot more than {things} ... and you realize how {much} you really have!

.........

pictures of {home} will be here soon. I promise.

This is all I got.

Dark circles under my eyes.

A stocking cap.{that is now missing}

My HERMISTON sweatshirt ... a.k.a. my painting sweatshirt.

The floors and a glimpse out the window ...

The view is AMAZING!



A smile. {that may just be a teeny, tiny bit 'forced'}

The weekend is almost here ... and I've never been more ready.

Here's to unpacking, organizing, and finding.

May our weekends {yours and mine} be filled with {little things} ... that really are {big things} ... that make our lives {stories worth sharing}.

missing.

my favorite ribbon scarf.

my warm socks.

a belt.

thank you cards (that are written and addressed).

a few bills.

my bed.

my computer connection from home.

patience.

my camera.

mom & dad.

.................................

transition is hard.

and no matter how much you prepare yourself for changes to come, there are still things that are {missing} when you find yourself standing in the middle of {change}.

...................................

the bedroom floors are unfinished.

the bathroom is sub-flooring.

our clothes are in boxes.

and

we're calving ...

so the mudroom is muddy and even a little bloody (c-section last night) and it smells like milk-replacer.

.....................................

one day at a time.

and someday soon ...

pictures will be taken.

pictures will be shared.

and, pictures will be on here.

yes.

someday soon.

Joining up ...

with K-Love.

I'm doing the LOVE DARE.

Starting today.

40 days... ending on Valentine's Day.

Learning more about love and patience and understanding ... and alot about what marriage really is.

Want to join me?

I {dare} you.

Wordless Wednesday.

Gratitude.

The early morning light was nowhere to be found.

The dense fog surrounded me.

Christmas vacation was over.

And my 25 minute drive from home to school was just what I needed this morning.

Quiet.

Still.

Reflective.

............................

It's a drive I've had before.

It's the fog that rolls up the canyon walls from the Umatilla River.

The same fog that greeted me during winter months the first 5 years of our marriage as I drove to and from school.

And once again, it's {home}.

.............................

The reflections and quiet thoughts that surrounded me on my first drive to school in 2010 filled my heart and soul.

We all have them.

Those 'every day' moments and memories that make our life {ours}.

The people in our lives.

The landscape.

The words & phrases & scripture that make us better than we thought we could be.

Multitudes of blessings.

And today ... an opportunity to share my multitudes of many... recognizing the gifts in my life ... and showing gratitude.

My list starts now ... Monday # 1 of 2010.

.............................

1. Boxes filled with our {home}... being lifted and carried and stacked ... and at the end of our {moving day} ... unpacked.

2. Chuck roasts, enchilada sauce, a large roaster, warm tortillas, cilantro, cheese ... and friends & family to share it with.

3. Darcy's homemade salsa.

4. Muscles and hearts that seem to never give up.

5. A quiet whisper of 'I love our new house mom' as the day turned to night.

6. Willow Tree Angels unwrapped and placed ... and the conversations about 'collections'.

7. Fresh sheets and a perfectly made bed.

8. Laughter filling a room.

9. A yellow wall.

10. Phone calls that seem to take the anxiety of starting a school week a little unprepared away.

11. Peace and quiet ... and an amazing view that is now {ours}.

.................................

52 Mondays in 2010.

What 'every day' moments and memories bless you?

Read Ann's blog by clicking on the button below



... and then, maybe you too, will want to reflect on how gratitude can change your life.

.........................

We're without internet at home for awhile ... so please, my faithful followers, know that I'm still here even when it seems I'm not.