More Wildfires

Last week we finished our rounds, visiting the rest of the friends and family who live in the greater Sacramento area, before heading for Southern California. In the end, we did miss a few dear people whose schedules just could not be helped. When we were available, they were not, and vise versa. It is an unfortunate fact of life, that everyone’s lives are so very busy nowadays that time with loved ones falls by the wayside.

Our lives, like the dry California climate, become prone to wildfires, figuratively, of one sort or another.

As we were visiting with Ken’s cousins, in Walnut Creek, a fire broke out on Mount Diablo. Here’s some pictures we took on our way home that evening.

Even destruction can be beautiful, when viewed from afar. The sun was an intense ball of fire, and these pictures do not do it justice.

Love,

Jenni

Randomness of Blessings

One day last week, before we left the Sacramento Delta area, we happened upon some flowering plants that smelled like licorice and were absolutely covered in ladybugs. I think the plant is called wild anise, but don’t quote me on that.

It just goes to show that you never know what you may find around the next corner or the next bend in the road. I believe that both opportunities and blessings can be found just about anywhere when I open myself to them.

And so, today is simply pictures of these beautiful little blessings we found alongside the road.

Enjoy,

Jenni

My Best Friend

Let me tell you about my best friend, my husband.

We met 17 years ago, and my life has never been the same.

He can sing like nobody’s business, but he’s shy and sensitive and sings only for me. He has a sharpness to his wit and is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, though he chides himself for never having finished college. He seems to have a map emblazoned in his brain. We only have to go somewhere once, and he has it locked in to his memory banks, even if we go years between visits. Sometimes I think he is insane, but he has it more together than I do most days. He’s kind and gentle, and he is ferociously protective of me.

And he loves me. For whatever reason, he chose me, and I am forever grateful for his love and his friendship.

All he has to do is look at me with those dreamy chocolate pools, and I still get as giddy as a schoolgirl.

We make a great team, and he never complains when he finds himself doing more than his share of the chores. He knows when I can, I do, and so he cheerfully does mine along with his, all the while giving me bits of his wisdom and laughter as he chatters away. He doesn’t even mind when I make a comment like, now who’s the schoolgirl, for all the chattering.

We are a pair, that’s for sure, and I don’t know what I would do without him.

As we soaked in the pool yesterday (me sitting on the steps, shoulder deep, and Ken leaning into me, with his feet up on the side of the pool), a young lady walked by with her baby. She stopped when my best friend said hello and inquired about her day. She answered, and then she stopped again, smiled broadly, and declared, “Wow, you two look happy.”

I could not help but smile in return, for we are happy, and I am glad that it shows.

May you find such gentle intensity and trust in your relationships.

Love,

Jenni