fragile

it must be the law of the universe.  or God's way of tempering my mettle.  but when there is stress in life...everything just seems so much more stressful.  after my dad died i prayed.  i prayed, "bring it on."  if i can get through this i can get through anything.  and i did get through it...eventually.  these last few weeks have been challenging for me...juggling without brad.  and at a low point, here's what i was given:  a listening ear and a calming voice, a smile at my back gate with a few ears of corn, a brother at my beck and call, chicken enchiladas, an extra set of hands from nebraska, babysitters, neighbors from all over the place lending hands, and words spoken straight to my heart.  you can handle this.  i will show you how if you listen.  quiet your mind.  quiet your heart.

i made him cry (i think).  my neighbor, donny.  that tough old guy and his adorable wife mowed my lawn, watered my gardens, fixed my sprinklers, manicured my yard.  and in thanks i told him that all a parent really wants is to know that their child is taken care of when they are not able to do it themselves.  i told him how honored my dad would be to know that his friend was taking care of me while my husband was away.  he started to be gruff (he's impervious to the ways of "the princess" not having a daughter of his own), and then my dad's words spilled out of his mouth..."you little sweetheart."  i'm sure don never heard dad say those words to me.  it was kind of a "thing" between us when he was feeling sentimental.  i find it strange yet amazingly comforting that when i felt the universe weighing down on my shoulders, words from the heavens found my neighbor's voice.  i am so lucky.  i am so loved.  even when i'm lonely, i am not alone.