Thunder sounds quiet in the distance as this storm we weren’t supposed to have moves our way. It’s one of the busiest times of year with harvest, pump delivery runs, the new batches of chokecherry jelly going in various stages, summer school and all the professional development required for fall launch, keeping up with my college students, the regular day-to-day chores around the farm and with the cattle, my garden, and making the time for a  lot of hiking to prepare for the 23.7 miles we’ll be hiking for the Make-a-Wish Colorado Trailblaze challenge in August.

I cherish my early morning run time just to breathe, to find a cool space hidden from the heat of the day, to pray, to remember how blessed I am and my dreams and goals, and to begin my day fresh and grounded. Sometimes it may not last long, that peace among the stars, but without it, my day can be lost from the start. If the gentle rains do arrive, I’ll welcome them as the gift they are.