Mr. Virgo and I had different political viewpoints. Thankfully, it never interfered in our relationship as we could respect our differences and vote with our conscience. I have only been in one relationship where I didn't feel my views were respected and it did not last long. Politics make strange bedfellows but if we can live with a spouse with totally opposite views, surely we can live with our neighbors.

The countryside of rural America is studded with old barns. Whether currently being utilized or whether they are slowly being swallowed up by the earth, barns are a symbol of our agrarian roots. Big, Amish barns of Ohio. Quaint barns with hexes over the doors in the Dutch country of Pennsylvania. Small barns along roadsides with the remnants of "Chew Mail Pouch" advertising fading into the weathered wood. Red barns...white barns...barns of old grey wood bleached by years of sun and rain.

I seldom look back at what I've let go of. Mostly because of fear that I'll regret the decisions I've made and what's done is done. I recently learned my old next door neighbor sold her house and moved on. Yesterday, I was telling a friend about my former home and it set me to thinking about the space I shared with Mr. Virgo.

After going at warp speed for weeks, I took it way down yesterday. I slept till 10:30. That's unheard of! I baked gluten free biscuits and sausage gravy for brunch. I voted and checked on my insurance. I browsed in a hundred year old Five & Dime. I bought a cookbook...a rare indulgence. I went for a leisurely drive through the country. I ate BBQ for dinner. Essentially...I indulged my every whim and enjoyed every second of it.

Grief speaks to us in tongues...a voice only God truly understands. The Holy Spirit is the interpreter. And sometimes he only whispers so you must listen carefully. If you miss His more subtle cues, He likely will hit you a little harder.

I keep pushing and pushing. I say, "Ahhhh...finally I can sit down and write." And, before I know it, I'm up and off again. My good friend Jamie says you can't busy your way through grief. And, just because I'm coping and busy and happy doesn't mean I don't still grieve. I do. It's just different now.

"Danger, Will Robinson!" I don't know if I'm going to be able to use this driveway alarm or not. It went off four times during the night. I wouldn't have batted an eyelash at that except my friend down the road stopped the other night to tell me about all the break-ins in the area lately. This is an excellent demonstration of the power of suggestion. The threat has always been there, but it meant nothing till it was articulated in well-meaning conversation.

Yesterday I drove through the mountains and the colors were absolutely unbelievable! I swear...God was just showing off. As I made my way westward back to the farm from visiting my aunts and uncle, I listened to my good friend Janine Pettit's Girl Camper Podcast. Episode #56 celebrates one year as a podcaster and there is SO much good, useful content on Janine's shows. You don't have to be a "girl camper" to get something from it.

So, Thursday evening I am going LIVE here on Marshmallow Ranch. I'm giving a talk at 6:30 Eastern Time. I'll be talking about the Prayer of Jabez and how it has impacted my life. Tune in if you can. It will be saved here on the page for viewing later if you can't make it live. I'll be speaking to a group of people so I can't interact with comments, but feel free to leave them. I can respond later.

Take me home. I thought you might like to see what I see when I drive out to the farm. OMGosh...how I love this road! Several years ago, I discovered I could "drive" down this old country road on Google Earth by getting down on the street level view. It became my secret obsession...at least once a week I would log on my iPad and "go home". And now? Now I get to live here and see this every single day. I am SO grateful for this opportunity. I thanked my uncle again yesterday and he assured me he was just as grateful that I am here taking care of the place for him. He lives too far away and family obligations keep him from making the trip more than once or twice a year.

After the Annual Invasion of the Asian Ladybug, I was hoping my surprises were over for awhile. Ahhhh...no. I live on a farm now. This is not a life for the faint of heart.

Yesterday started out on a lovely, although somewhat disappointing note. I had every intention of going to church but when I woke up at 10:30, I realized that wasn't happening. Instead, I cooked a leisurely breakfast of French toast. Gluten free bread is great for this as it has a very dense texture. I had a patty of hot breakfast sausage and fresh ground Starbucks. It was 65° when I carried my meal to the little red bistro table on the front porch. I took my time and relished the warmth of the morning knowing full well we could have snow in a month.