Big winds...

bring in March. I sit and watch the leafless trees swaying as the wind pushes in fiercely. They are dark against the stormy sky. Still, it is a wonder to watch from inside the house, where the wind is not touching me. The view of the shadowy mountains in the dim morning light gives me a sense of solidness and safety. God, the maker of the mountains and the trees and the wind, is in control. And I am not. I know that is a good thing.

Today, I leave the safety of this place that so holds my heart - leave to travel to where I came from - to Florida - to provide support to my mother as she (and all of us) transition to a life without my father. Hard for her - painful even - but she has weathered worse and will get through this. Iam sure her heart will be bruised and slightly broken - but she is stronger than she looks and she can build on the strengths of her past to move forward into a positive future. Meanwhile, we will try to help guide and protect her from the harshness of some realities and strengthen her to stand on her own - never alone, because we will keep our promise to take care of her.

I will return quickly - the separation from here brief. I will be back to the earth and to the mountains that strengthen me. I will miss it and feel dispossesed until I return - but return I must. Though pieces of me walk the earth outside my body in the form of my children and those I love, here I have the one I love most with me and I know I am where I belong. Those pieces - my satelites - spin in their own worlds now and I must respect that, honor that and support it with my love and prayers. Each of us must be where we are meant to be. My place is here.

SO much is happening here in our little woods - trees are budding, crocuses popping out their heads. The blueberries, plums and pears are budding. No fruit this year, but next, I am sure. The garden in my mind will be taking seed next week and in the weeks to come. Our organic vegetables and herbs, the flowers to come....

We have been adopted by a cat - I say we, but I really mean me, since DH is so allergic. She is a big black and white with a large head. She is a hunter and obviously a successful one. She landed here to lounge on the furniture outside and drive the Bumble Lab mad. She is elegant, but fierce and loves attention, rubs and being addressed. I have named her "Stinky Paws" (Stinky for short) as she has a habit of sniffing her paws and shaking her head when she goes to groom, as though her paws smell. She is not "ours" as we do not feed her (though I have been tempted to give her treats now and again - still resisting) but she is here on our land much of the time. In her hunts, she keeps down our rodent and squirrel population some - mostly mice, I think. She is not old, yet not young - about 3 years or so, I think. She drives the neighbors' pets mad too, and seems to enjoy it all. So she is a "stinker" in another way as well.

Well, off to pack and then off on the trip. Still praying for a job to come through. It is in God's hands - but then again, isn't everything?

Be blessed.
Kim