Dusty Roads to the Heart

There are four things that I am thankful for this time of year.  They are -- my four-wheeler --- a sharp spade --- a bean field --- and "pigweeds" Whoa -- you say --- this woman has to be crazy!! -- Your thankful for 'PIGWEEDS'  You must be kidding!!  But --- no I'm not crazy --- at least not all the way crazy.  I really am thankful -- and this is the reason why --- My husband and I are farmers --- small farmers really --- compared to all the other ones around us.  One of our crops is soybeans.  There are these weeds you call "pigweeds" and they love to grow right along with our beans.  My hubby sprays -- and sprays -- those little burgers when the beans are small--- but some of those weeds just will not die.   So now --- when you look out over our bean field -- you see all those weeds popping their ugly little heads up all over the place.  The beans are way to tall for the spray business ---  so guess what???--- Yep --- you g...

Men are amazing --- by that I mean they can do anything --- and fix anything.  Now I can only talk about my hubby --- because it is him who has the privilege of "fixing up" after me --- but I know as sure as I'm writing this --- that there are hundreds of other husbands that can do miracle's out there. Hey --- some of you girls may be handy with those wrenches and such --- but sad to say -- I'm not one of them.  My farmer hubby has a "tool box" that fills the whole machine shed and more.  I mean there are wrenches -- drills -- pliers -- screwdrivers -- hammers -- socket wrenches -- power saws -- you name it -- from one end of the shed to the other.  Some even extend a bit to the outside.  Believe me when I tell you -- I am not to touch it!!  By that he means -- don't organize it!!  He knows where everything it --- just the way it is. So I just gladly "fall over a pile of something" when I go to get a extension cord -- or push real hard ...

 I lay in bed --- the window is open --- I am wide awake.  All is still and dark in the house ---all is dark except in the little bedroom down the hall. A owl hoots in the darkness -- but otherwise all I hear is the chirping of the crickets and my husbands soft breathing.  My thoughts --- or feelings --- go this way and that.  I am happy --- very happy --- because I love with all my being --- the stillness --- the quiet --- of the beautiful thing we call nature.  Just laying there --- listening --- brings a peace to my heart --- that words cannot tell. But --- down the hall --- in that little bedroom --- are two people that have won our hearts.  As I lay there --- so content --- they are getting dressed -- combing their hair -- making their bed -- and packing their suitcases.  In about a half hour --- they will give us the biggest "Canadian hug" you can get --- pick up their suitcases --two bags --- and walk out our door --- leaving us standin...

It is still dark in our bedroom.  I lay there --- wide awake.  What had woke me up?  I felt so uneasy --- so unsettled.  Soon the alarm sounded.  "What time is it?" I ask my husband.  It was 5:30 --- oh if I could just get back to sleep --- if only for a little while. I lay first on one side -- then on the other -- as negative thoughts run like water through my mind --- effecting my heart --- not bad thoughts --- just thoughts that made me feel uneasy --- unsettled. With a sigh I say "I can't sleep so I am going out to the garden to work.  Getting dressed I rush to the back door.  As I opened it I saw a cloudy sky.  The air had a kind of "misty smell"  All was quiet and at peace.  The world was just beginning to wake up.  I took in a deep breath and walked to the feed shed for a bucket. As I knelt in the garden ready to pick my first beans something drew my attention to the creek.  I still had that "yak" fe...

Life's road is a beautiful thing --- a true friend by your side -- makes it even more beautiful --- more meaningful. I compare my life to a dusty trail --- a trail that goes on and on.  A trail that is straight -- that climbs high -- that dips down --- down into valleys -- before climbing back up again. My husband and I are just home from a vacation that was full to the top --- full of personal lessons --- lessons that taught me how I should be to everyone who walks this "dusty trail we call life"  They were simple little lessons I learned --- there on those back trails --- lessons I learned from my best friend --- my husband. We packed our tent, our hiking shoes and our bikes and went to the Black Hills of SD.  Our intentions were to camp and walk and bike the back trails --- witch we did.  There on those trails I learned some things about myself.  I learned how much I depend upon the kind words --- encouraging words --- acts of kindness --- ...