Visitors…

Imagine my delight a couple of weeks ago when a friend proposed she and her husband come and see us!

We only had a day’s warning so couldn’t go really gourmet, we managed coffee, sandwiches, a good, long catch up and a drive around the lake to catch the unsuspecting Pelicans I had been raving about!

But before we get there let me tell you what I learned that day from their visit.

The home I am living in is indeed a lovely place.

Up until seeing it through their eyes and facial expressions, (they were thrilled by the spaciousness of the house and it’s general open layout) I, in my familiarity, had started taking my pleasant surroundings for granted.  It’s been 20 some odd years since the in-laws moved here and the novelty wore off long ago!

I have been reluctant to host the meeting of any of my children’s friends here at Hideaway.

“It’s not my place.”

“It doesn’t truly express who I am.”

“Nothing about the ranch reflects my style or echoes my personality…”

Yadda yadda yadda!  I was full of empty excuses!

The children understood so we did our meeting and greeting of their friends on their turf, where our furniture lived, where we felt relaxed and authentic.

Seeing my friends’ reaction to my comfortable abode I graciously changed my mind.  They found the house to be large, agreeable, and welcoming.

I was encouraged to consider the possibility that perhaps this house does reveal more about who I am than I gave it credit for.

My mother in law is an active woman, in no need of care she is independent and up to date with her modern devices, a tablet and a computer with high speed WiFi and flat screen TV’s.  She works four days a week, cooks for an army and never takes a nap!

However, on her own she is lonely.  She loves our company is a great talker and generous host.   I am at home in her house, I know my way around her kitchen, her fridges and her pantry.  I dust and vacuum, cook and do laundry and have my own office where I can write for hours on end.

Sometimes my reluctance to settle in completely gives rise to prayer.  God and I are working on my ingratitude.

Most of the time I am a appreciative daughter-in-law.

I am setting an example to my children by living the way I hope they will emulate in my future.

I don’t have to be here, I choose to be.

Back to the unsuspecting Pelicans!

After lunch we visited the lakeshore where my friend took some photos of the said freshwater fowl by the lakeside,

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“God is preparing me for something…”  I murmured.

And the Cardinal sang his familiar song as I took in the deepness of the silence.

We walked around the Bird Sanctuary where the birds weren’t,

BirdSanctuary

they couldn’t read and had no idea what they were missing.

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too busy patrolling their territories on the other side of the road.

We took some photos to remind us of the lovely gift our friends had brought with them.

Me&Theresa

Larry&Reed

The gift of clarity.

I am being prepared.

Bring on your friends children, I am ready to meet them wherever I am!

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