I had only had my camera a few months and had joined a photography group for fun. We were out shooting the full moon when he strode up to me, gently took my oh-so-precious brand new camera, cleaned my lens and then grabbed this weird round glass thingy from my bag. It had come with the camera but I had zero idea what it was for.

He told me it was called a lens filter and that it had one major benefit.

And that is this: when you bump your lens and this happens….

…you’ll be mighty happy it only happened to an inexpensive lens filter vs. your nice (expensive) lens.

He was so right. Two years later and in the energy of Thanksgiving, I’ve got to give a great big thanks to Dave.

What little thing are you feeling grateful for today?

On our way from Nashville to Wisconsin, we stopped in Indiana for a bit. We stayed at the Lincoln Boyhood Memorial campground. It was a gorgeous location, full of history.

Our stay was really rather wonderful. We invited several local families up for a potluck and enjoyed a day of hiking through the park, chatting and playing with new friends and dodging the lightening and the rain.

We also went to see the play Lincoln at the park’s amphitheater. It was way too much for us with the insanely loud gunshots going off a mere yards from our ears. And it’s was smoldering. But overall we really loved the strong, emotional performances and it was a nice treat for the three of us.

Walking back to the RV that night and in anticipation of leaving the next morning for Chicago, I mentioned to Justin how I was needing a couple days of downtime with nowhere to go and no one to see – time to just vegetate.

I got my wish the next day. Our engine started having problems. It turned out to be our alternator and if it weren’t for the solar panels keeping our batteries charged, we would have broken down somewhere in southern Indiana. We took this is a most definite sign to hunker down in Indianapolis while we searched out parts and got Benny fixed.

Instead of sightseeing or exploring, we took walks around the pond at night, played on the computer, watched the geese, talked and not much else. We enjoyed “doing nothing” so much we decided to skip the stress Chicago was showing itself to be and head straight for Wisconsin with a small stop in Illinois at a tiny little park: $13 for incredibly fast (cuz no one else was there to use it) wifi, a swimming pool, gorgeous weather. We didn’t even mind the 3am train whistle.

It was an easy and reaffirming kinda week. The kind that remind you that community exists in strange lands, that unprayed prayers are still answered, that life has a funny way of making you laugh and that with a bit of faith our needs are always taken care of.

I can’t help but feel full and thankful and at peace with the simplicity of this crazy life.

:: Reality checks
:: Bloggers like Hillary and Stacy and Kelly Rae that continually inspire me, all in different ways
:: Thick, warm thigh-high socks
:: Feeling like I’m finding myself, regardless of the pain that comes with tearing away from the past
:: The sweet tone in my husband’s voice when he says “I can fix that for you”
:: Discovering a new creative spark
:: The challenge that is Love and partnership
:: The challenge that is Motherhood
:: Warranties. Thank Gd for warranties.
:: The chance to downsize
:: Knowing even the shitty days have a purpose if I remain open to them
:: Making Thanksgiving lefse with our family

:: A world of infinite possibilities
:: Oh, the possibilities!
:: Dreams of finding a new home and community
:: My hubby’s warm feet on my cold toes
:: All the beautiful friends who’ve sustained me in this city (even if most of them don’t have a blog to link)
:: Almost having Benny the Brave FINISHED
:: Authenticity and the art of Being ME
:: The lovely people I’ve met through this virtual world
:: And the hopes of meeting more
:: The amazing things my body handles
:: The incredible things my heart has endured
:: The wonderful things my mind creates
:: The beautiful person I feel I am becoming every day
:: That Divine Connection with The Source from which I too often mistakenly feel disconnected

One day I may be all “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy” and the next I’m so miserable it’s all I can ever remember feeling, but I am still so in awe of this dazzling, beautiful, saddening, overwhelming, inspiring, painful, miraculous, unbelievable, horrendous Beauty and Truth and Illusion that is wrapped up in this tiny little life.

There is always a silver lining. Always a HIGH to balance out the lows. A tiny spot inside that calms me. And one of these days I may learn how to quiet it all long enough to catch another glimpse of The Divine. And all those crazy moments of insanity will seem perfect again.

He’s silly and handsome. He has the best smile in the world. And when I twist up my face while I trim his (massive) beard, he tells me how beautiful I am.

He’s playful and open-hearted and engages with Zeb on Zeb’s level. He makes us laugh until we roll off the bed. And he holds us if we have a scary dream.

He’s usually tired and left with little time or energy to follow his own passions.

But as his current job winds down, and his layoff becomes imminent, and the RV gets a step closer to complete, we’ve seen a fire in him. He’s overwhelmed with the infinite possibilities that lie ahead. He’s anxious to find what it is that is calling him. And every second is filled with one more plan, or idea, or dream.

He’s waking up. He’s consumed. He’s infectious.

And I’m thankful for every minute with this passionate man.