Sunday, December 17, 2017

Christmas 2017, Puzzle Pieces & LIfe



Dear Friends,

With 2017 coming to a close, here is a cross between a Christmas letter I had intended to send and thoughts that felt like I needed get them down on paper. As I reflected on the past year, the speed bumps in life landed me right where I needed to be.  How can you go wrong when you let God be the driver?
Not long ago I saw a  sign that said SOMETIMES WHEN THINGS ARE FALLING APART, THEY MAY BE ACTUALLY FALLING IN PLACE.   Very true.  When I was looking back from where I was this exact time last year, it was a hard time, not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally.  I felt it was time to relocate and sell my house, but I didn’t know where I wanted to go, I was restless and felt lost, plus I was on the down hill slide of a relationship that needed to end.  And little did I know that after that long bleak winter that the pieces of my life would start falling together in a perfect harmony that definitely was guided by the Good Lord.  I can remember taking a long walk on a beautiful sunny crisp winter day and having a conversation with God about helping me find my way. ( I know I can be stubborn, hard headed and probably cause our Creator some grief when he has to rein me in with a firm hand)…. Anyway I remember thinking how badly I wanted to find that perfect little house just outside of Moscow, a new place to make my new happy plans.  And seriously, the very next day, the most perfect house came on the market.  And within two weeks, I was signing on the dotted line.  I had put my Genesee farmhouse up for sale on a Thursday and by Saturday had an offer. All I can say is that it was meant to be.   The moving of an entire farmstead  in four weeks, was at best, a dizzy pace that is still a blur in my mind.

My Vintage Beauty
And then another amazing thing happened.... while I wasn’t thinking I needed to be in a relationship, apparently the universe had different ideas.  And a few months ago, I started dating a very special someone and he “gets me” like no one ever has. We’re both extremely busy, so we see each other as often as we can. We’ve started making vacation plans for next summer as well as bucket list kinds of things for the future.  Adventures await!



Plus 6 weeks ago the universe decided I needed another dog too, and I’m happy to report that the new rambunctious black lab mix now happily romps around the fenced 5 acres with Miss LuLu.  


Happy girls

Tonight I hosted a neighborhood social with drinks and appetizers as a way to get to know my new neighbors. We’re all around the same age and everyone is down to earth with a fun spirit.  They have all lived in this area for 20+ years and the camaraderie among them was enchanting.  One of the guys said, “I help all my neighbors, so I’d be happy to help you trim your trees. And I can ride my horse over, bring over an extra horse and after we’re done working, we can ride over and drink beer at Sam’s place…. That is just the way we do things around here.”  Oh my gosh, that was so sweet as well as hilarious (although I’ll have to take a pass on tipping back a beer or two and riding a horse…. Maybe I’ll just hop on the gator and drive over...!)  lol   But it made me realize again that I had ended up in the perfect neighborhood where I would fit right in.  And that that has been the way this year has gone.  All the pieces falling into a perfectly divinely guided puzzle. 

All I can say is I know I am blessed and it humbles me.  And as 2018 is just around the corner, I know there will be changes with some ups and downs as more pieces of the puzzle falls into place. But I know I want to live the upcoming year well. Every day is precious and I need to remember to enjoy the journey and take time to be around those I hold near and dear.

And with Christmas just days away, I’m excited to host Christmas Eve in my new place.  I’m looking forward to having my youngest daughter stay with me over the holidays and cooking the holiday dinner together.  It will be bittersweet though  as Kaitlyn and her wonderful man are moving to Maryland on December 26.  But it makes my heart happy seeing her make new happy plans for their future. My other daughter Jen & her family are close by and we enjoy our time together ( Texas! from an earlier blog post!)  =)

I wish only the best to you and yours and hope you have a truly blessed year where all of your puzzle pieces in life fall into the perfect pattern just right for you.   All my best, Gayle  Swheatfarmlife@gmail.com