As I reflect over the Thankgiving holiday, I have great reason to stop and pause for the many blessings in my life. I live in a generally quiet flyover state that has recently been thrust into the national spotlight due to the ongoing protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline. It would be an easy assessment that North Dakota is weary. Tensions are high. Blame is thrown on both sides. A peaceful resolve is less than uncertain. A good friend once told me judgement is easy, understanding is hard. Anton Chekhov said only fools and charlatans know and understand everything. I'm reading stacks of books about Indian policy and the history of sovereignty, treaties, battles, and reservations. I am not interested in picking a fight with anyone. Whether we agree or disagree does not matter. It is hard to live this close to Lake Oahe and not believe the protest has been hijacked. I am equally saddened by the mere coincidence of location for my friends that drive through guarded checkpoints daily (since August) to enter and exit their ranch. I pray that resolve comes soon for all parties involved.
I am thankful for blessings my children have received by the simple fact they were born into a life on the upper plains. There are many life lessons that can only be learned where work is measured in acres and not hours. Without Troy none of this would be possible. I hope that the smell of fresh cut hay, the brilliance of the northern lights and the wonder of a newborn calf brings the girls thoughts of their dad long after they are grown.
I am thankful for the safety of living on a rarely traveled dirt road. It is quiet. It is serene. I'd be lost without it.
I am thankful for seatbelts, airbags and volunteer ambulance services. I had a bit of a mishap this summer. I woke to my own ambulance crew tending to my battered body. They gave their tender hands and loving hearts to me when I needed it the most.
In The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkein says not all who wander are lost. I simply love a great road trip, a flexible agenda and no schedule. Joy is found in unscheduled stops, unexpected finds and spontaneous laughter. A passport and a plane ticket never hurt.
There is something to be said about knowing how to ride a horse before knowing how to ride a bike. Rodeo has been part of my children's lives from the time they could steer a pony around a patch of dirt. From local rodeos to the Jr. High and High School National Finals Rodeo, our life this summer was spent on the road. We wouldn't have it any other way.
Blessings come in all shapes and sizes. Take time send a note to a friend and open a door for a stranger. You just never know when someone is carrying an unseen burden.
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