Reality

This past week we had the privilege of entertaining my parents. They left home on July 15 and traveled out to Omaha, NE for a meat processors convention and then left Friday morning to travel the rest of the way to the ranch and arrived late that night. Unfortunately our trailblazer didn't make it all the way. They got about an hour and a half from us and it just died. Thankfully it brought them as far as it did without any problems. When my parents finally made it to the ranch, they were completely exhausted and in need of a good sleep. Saturday and Sunday had us driving to Ekalaka to help cook lunch for football camp. After we (I use this term loosely) were done with our duties, we decided to show mom and dad the beauty of Montana. We took them to the Medicine Rocks and to Camp Needmore. We got some beautiful pictures and I'd love to share them with you, but like my SUV, my computer is now opting not to work. (If anyone knows how to cure a white monitor screen, I'd love your advice!) We also made some great memories along the way and shared MANY laughs! What a blast!!! After a busy weekend we spent the rest of the week at the ranch. We got all the boxes off the trailer that Jamie and I brought out in May and they are now organized and stacked neatly throughout the house. I can't wait for the day when boxes no longer litter my living room. I keep telling myself that each day I get closer to this...sometimes, though I think my voice gets lost in clutter. But regardless, this too shall pass and I will have a better appreciation for once again having space to call my own. Thankfully my mom was here to help me unpack and pack the kitchen. We are not only moving in, but we are also moving Jamie's boss out, so it adds a different element to the whole process. But we made it and it's nice to have my kitchen out of boxes and into the space it belongs again. Unpacking boxes that were packed months ago makes it feel like Christmas...I forgot I had some these things. My mom is truly a saint for putting up with me all week and for helping get things put away. I had so much fun with her!!! She is such a blessing to me. My dad (better known as Papa Smurf after this trip....who knows how it started, but it has stuck) had the opportunity to go out with Jamie and see what he does, but unfortunately they were laying concrete for the last 3 days of their trip and there wasn't much true ranching work going on. But that provided my dad with some much needed R&R and my mom and I had the privilege of his company. Papa Smurf also had the chance to show off his cooking skills and it was great see my dad in his comfort zone again. I miss being his A-ssistant! After a long, hard week of unpacking boxes and putting things away I'm afraid my poor parents were in desperate need of a vacation from their vacation. But we were so thankful they finally had an oppotunity to see Montana and the ranch and come for a visit. We look forward to their visiting again. So after a week at the ranch it was time to drive the dreaded 3 hrs or so to the airport on Friday. I had to make the trip with my parents by myself because Jamie had to help with the last day of concrete at the ranch. I'm not sure where my head was because I just assumed he would be along. I have to get used to this! I don't really know my way around here yet, but I've been forced to learn because I HAVE TO, so I do. Thank goodness for GPS!! At least at home you have landmarks and road names, out here it's just dirt, dirt, and more dirt. Oh yes and the occassional cow. Try and give directions with that! "Ok, go to the first cattle guard, take a left, drive past a pasture of cows, go past 3 fence posts and turn right..." Yeah, not really helpful, but I'm proud to announce that I got us to the airport without turning around once and I got myself home again without turning around!!! When your forced to do things your not comfortable with, you sure do get a sense of accomplishment when you do it and cross one more hurdle. This whole living in Montana is quite a transition, but I'm always one for a good challenge. Saying goodbye to my parents and driving away from the airport was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. It hit me that this is it! We are now on our own out here! I just wanted to walk back into my childhood and into what I know is comfortable. Every part of me wanted to run into the airport and tell them not to go, but my hands numbly turned the steering wheel away...towards a life of uncertainties and unknowns. I think I came as close to panic attack as I've ever been. I just wanted someone to hold onto in that moment. It hurt inside and for once in my life, my mom wasn't just an arms length away...she won't just be down the road when I need a shoulder to cry on or a hug. But I am filled with a sense of peace knowing that God, the ulimate Creator, has a plan for us. This is not easy, it doesn't come without pain or frustrations, but He is there in the middle of it all and He will be there for me. I think on Friday there was only one set of footprints in the sand...His. I'm thankful for the memories we made this past week and the time spent with my parents, but my heart misses home today. Since I don't have any pictures to share with you, I thought I would share the following clip from the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". This is a family classic. There is a part in the clip (about 2 1/2 min in) where Uncle Billy yells out, "I'm alright, I'm all-right" and it's something we've been saying in my family for many years. In a note Papa Smurf wrote to me one time, he ended it with, "Your alright, your alright". We've shared this saying many times together and Papa Smurf, this one goes out to you. Know that although I may hurting right now, I'm alright, I'm alright...I will rise to the occassion of my life!