It’s Sunday morning as I began writing this. We had a wonderful Saturday at a livestock show.
After the show we saw a tire on the trailer was ruined. We didn’t have a jack but my husband was going to try to make it home. I called someone I knew that had connections in the neighboring town and she had her cousin bring us a jack.
I was overwhelmed by the young man’s kindness.
We got home safely because he took a few minutes out of his day to help us.
I was excited for a relaxed Sunday because Monday my daughter was headed to a weeklong camp. Maybe we would hang out at home. Maybe we would go to church. But we would spend the day as a family.
Sunday morning came and our daughter said I want to got to the livestock show in Garden City. We agreed as a family it was the right choice.
I had ten minutes to get ready. Twenty minutes later we were out the door.
Thirty minutes later we were back at the house because I forgot something.
We raced to Garden City and I entered her online on our way.
I thought about our choices. Some friends were at church. Some were on vacation at the ocean. Others slept in.
As I went to wash our first sheep at the wash rack I felt I was exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Out of nowhere, our daughter smiled and said I’m happy we are here Mom.
My heart smiled. We were together as a family. We were with show friends. We helped a couple people and a couple people helped us.
The day had its ups and downs. By the time we walked in our front door it was 9:00 PM. We were wiped out.
We had to shower, finish packing her up and get ready for the next day.
On Monday she left for camp.
It’s Wednesday morning and I am still uncomfortable that she is not home.
And while I am uncomfortable, I know she needs this time. I know she is safe and in good hands. But that doesn’t change the fact that I want her here, I want a hug, and I want more time with her.
So each day I have to make sure I am busy and I push myself to complete tasks.
And I can visit with moms who are in similar situations.
Unrelated yet related - A television news crew was here on Tuesday afternoon and I got to reminisce about the old days in television - the good and the bad.
I enjoyed the time more than I thought I would.
Meeting people who understood the demands of daily news and the difficulties of seeing video of tough subjects helped remind me of how God led me to exactly where I needed to be.
My heart is full of gratitude as I write this.
How often do you sit looking at circumstances wondering how you got here? How many times have you stared at your past wishing you did something different?
What if instead we stopped and found a few things to be grateful for. Even if you are uncomfortable, there has to be something. Maybe it’s gratitude that you are aware enough to see something isn’t working in your life.
Now do you have the courage to do something about it?
That is tough sometimes.
And life isn’t a movie. Sometimes we fail and fail again. We try, we fail.
But don’t give up. Keep climbing. Keep trying. Keep praying.
Sometimes the obstacles against us are to strengthen us.
I admit those are not my favorite moments. But looking back at a few tough moments in my life, I am keenly aware that the ones where I stood strong and passed the test empower me.
It’s only the ones that I caved and walked away from that I feel shame.
But really those were lessons too. They reminded me to not back down the next time.
So today I am praying for you all to be able to see your life through the eyes of God, meeting you exactly where you are, helping you to find the gratitude, and wishing you the strength to be able to move forward.
I will start. I love western Kansas, the wind that keeps the flies , the sunsets, the life. I love having sun on my face. I love God, my family, our animals, my friends, and a life that keeps me active.
I love to laugh and I am excited that in just a few weeks my first book is coming out.
More details soon!
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