Night 7 December 2015

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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As I ran this morning, I was trying to figure out why I love that time of day so much, the in-between of night and day. The last few days, I’ve seen the most brilliant shooting stars, leaving an impression of light against the black sky long after they’ve burned through atmosphere. I’m drawn to the light, to lights: those in the sky, those in the colorful glow of Christmas, those in the hearts of others and most especially that Christ-light held out to me when I most need it.

The light reminds me to focus on what is joy, love, and hope. This day in particular, is IMG_0323difficult as I remember my sister, Cathy, who would have been 51 today, and yet my true love shares this birth day with her and I rejoice in him. We cannot let darkness consume us, and I choose to believe in the light, the mercy and love of God who called each of us into being and formed us to be His light here on Earth. We fall so short so many times, but there are those small moments, glimpses of holy, that bring hope to others and to ourselves.

So, as I breathe in the glow of our Christmas lights and smile at the memory of each ornament on our tree, I have faith in the Lord, the Master of the Universe. I do not understand the violence, murder, and hate, but I believe in the light of Christ and I see it in so many little ways weaving love and healing into our lives.

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Morning 3 December 2015

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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Crisp mornings often bring the most beautiful sunrise with everything all aglow in orange and pink, and this morning the bright moon overhead. I wish I could capture the peace that comes with the earliest beginning of a new day and add it to my coffee all day long. The way the horses stand waiting by the fence for their morning oats, so still and yet ears alert for my approaching steps, and the bulls who are always bedded down when I run, but when the hay sled comes out, they struggle to their feet and amble to wherever we’re feeding that day.

There are always some small, or large, chores to be done: make sure the tumbleweeds are pulled out of the stock tank, that the heater is working, and that the water level is good; IMG_0320run a load of laundry, prep supper to be fixed in the evening, sweep or vacuum or put away the pots and pans left to dry from the night before-all those little things that keep life humming along.

Today I trimmed the bottom of the tree and brought it in, fixing it into the tree stand. Tonight I’ll put the lights on and that will bring the warmth of the season to fill our home. There is just something I love about the glow of Christmas lights.

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Trees 2 December 2015

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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Real or fake? While it’s true that there are beautifully crafted Christmas trees available, and many of them cost a small fortune, it has to be real for me. I love the smell and the feeling of bringing the forest inside for a time. I love the needles too, really. There is a magic that happens when the colorful little lights wrap the tree in that warm glow. And really, who knows better how to craft a Christmas tree than IMG_0291God?

Is mine perfect? Yep, it is, because it grew in a forest somewhere. It has a lot  of personality in the growth of branches and their covering of soft short deep green needles. This year, it isn’t very tall-prices were high, but it makes up for that in the fullness IMG_0292surrounding its gnarly trunk. I can’t wait to get the lights on, the ornaments, and some sparkly tinsel.

If I could, I get lights on our big sentinel tree that guards our home, and has for probably close to a hundred years. I may need to get one of those hover boards to get this job done-I think about it every year, but haven’t come up with a viable plan yet that doesn’t risk my neck.

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Brrrr 1 December 2015

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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It was a cold morning with 12 degrees and a stiff west wind! I’ve been in winter running mode for some time, but aside from the freezing drizzle I ran in on Thanksgiving, this morning has been the coldest. I know it is cold when I have to pull my thumbs inside the middle of my mittens with my fingers to keep all five digits warm. Over night, the wind had blown the snow into drifts along the tire tracks and that always makes the going more cumbersome. There was a bright moon lighting up the snow and that helped, and only two brave jack rabbits had ventured out to the road. I don’t know what rabbits do during the night, but the way I read the tracks they are busy going to and fro and hither and yon all night long! IMG_3677

As I was feeding the horses and the bulls this morning, I decided the lazy factor had not been a good idea because my sweaty running clothes quickly had me chilled to the bone…tomorrow I’ll take the time to put on my coveralls. I was trying to think warm thoughts and I just kept thinking about the incredible beauty from all the hiking we did this summer. It didn’t do much for my white-cold fingers, but it did bring the warmth of friendship and the awe at the imagination of our grace-filled Creator.

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On the Road 30 November 2015

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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After a lovely Thanksgiving, albeit cold and icy, we spent a fine weekend hunting pheasant and taking a short road trip to check out an old combine and see some old friends. We didn’t have much luck with the pheasants, but I loved all the walking on such a crisp, cold Saturday.

Early Sunday, after the chores were done, we left for Kansas. The roads were still quite slick in spots, but we took our time enjoying the view and the Christmas carols! Picking up our friend, we went as far as we could in the pick up and then jumped out and began our adventure across the ice encrusted wheat field west to the quonset that has housed the combine for many years. IMG_0289

One tiny, sleepy bunny had found shelter inside the combine and was not inclined to leave even though we poked around for some time. Once we’d given her a good look-over, we ventured back into the icy world outside and trekked back to our waiting pick-up. We love to explore old farm equipment and to wonder about their stories-who purchased it and where did they farm and did the kids ooh and aah when this new piece of equipment pulled into the yard. If only these beautiful old machines could talk…

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Gratitude 25 November 2015

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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For the beauty of the earth, 
for the glory of the skies, 
for the love which from our birth 
over and around us lies. 

For the wonder of each hour 
of the day and of the night, 
hill and vale and tree and flower, 
sun and moon and stars of light,

For the joy of human love, IMG_3678
brother, sister, parent, child, 
friends on earth, and friends above, 
for all gentle thoughts and mild,

Christ, our Lord, to you we raise 
this, our hymn of grateful praise.

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Grateful 24 November 2015

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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Keeping with my theme of being thankful this week, I’m so thankful to live in such a beautiful state and one that is so diverse in its beauty. I can’t think of anywhere we traveled that I haven’t seen the charm and elegance of the place. There is just so much to take in and appreciate, and that is why I love to travel in the pick-up; you can see everything.

I give thanks for so many little things: the way the barn light shines when I need to feed in IMG_3883the dark, Christmas lights shining in a dark place, pre-dawn the color of Prairie Gold, getting the Z out to pull the rack or sled to feed cattle, the sound of popcorn popping on Friday nights, and fresh green spinach!

IMG_3673I give thank for: a bright moon setting before dawn and the glory of the stars singing the moon on it its journey, coffee-hot and black, the low humming sound of cattle lowing, the fresh start and clean slate that comes each and every morning, shooting stars that leave a bright trail, and that thin line of orange stretched across the eastern horizon under a dark layer of black clouds.

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Give Thanks 23 November 2015

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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It is a week for being thankful, for counting blessings and simply focusing on all the gifts  we have right in front of our faces. It is a time to dream too, of all of the vast possibilities and then to get out there and turn them into reality. Why do we let the naysayers and negativity get in our way? After all, if God is for us, what else matters?

Some things I’m thankful for:

shooting stars launched across the early morning sky, a visit from Alex, a phone call with Jared, riding on a beautiful Sunday morning with Elaine and Alex, a Snapchat from Teresa, unexpected tacos for lunch from an English teacher on my team, whispered “I love you’s” in the dark, a hundred year old barn and the hard work to make it a warm shelter for four horses this winter,

deer, elk and antelope that are not only a pleasure to see but put yummy meat on the table,IMG_0284 the sense of country and belief in freedom that brings men and women to serve in our military, for believers all over the world who strive to bring the love of Christ to others in very real ways, for those who have faith even in the midst of great adversity, for that pheasant rooster who keeps popping up in the pasture-only to be lost again in the tall grasses and tumbleweeds,

for the strength of the Word of God and the grace in those words, and for a week of giving thanks, both here and in my deepest heart.

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Dreams 18 November 2015

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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I’m not sure how old we are when we start dreaming about what we want to be, what we want to do with our life. I do remember experiencing various stages of wanting to be a teacher, a singer, a dancer, an olympic rider, a rancher, a writer, and an actress. I also remember going to college and being in classes that absolutely blew my mind in terms of never having been exposed to the information before and finding it fascinating.

There was an excitement and a sense of anticipation in all of these dreams. I still have dreams of what I want to be, of who I want to be. It doesn’t end just because you get older. I think there is still time to chase these dreams, time to live in anticipation of good things to come, time to realize and find joy in these new dreams. Of course, in the next breath I IMG_0538wonder what in the world am I thinking. I should be set in my life at this point; I should be dependable and routined and well down my path.

In some ways, I am living my dreams-yet I know there is still more to come and I don’t want to bury or kill the dreams of that scrawny little girl with the huge eyes, the one who read voraciously and wanted all the beauty, love, and determination of those characters, the one who was sure she could be anything she wanted to be, the one Scan 131780054who found her faith could bring her through the most troubled times.

What is the biggest reason I have right now for not pursuing some of my dreams? I’m convinced that I don’t have time; I don’t have the financial resources; I don’t know how or where to start. I have that terrible self-editor inside who pooh-pooh’s all the best ideas, that one is a dream killer. I thought this morning as I ran under a magnificent shooting star, that maybe I could catch a ride on that west wind and let it carry me right into that little girl’s dreams.

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Warnings 16 November 2015

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Sally Gerard

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Sometimes it seems like we live from one warning to the next while we do our best to prepare. We are in our second blizzard warning in the last eight days, but this time it sounds like it will be much more intense. Forecasts vary of course, but somewhere between five and ten inches of snow and fifty MPH winds. Once again, the timing of the storm is giving students that hope of a snow day.

I confess that I could put a snow day to good use. While it isn’t really a ‘warning’ as such, I IMG_3875have a huge test on Thursday that I’ve been preparing for and I could use another chunk of time to study. In the teaching world, many states advertise reciprocity with other states and teaching licenses. To me, this should mean that if Colorado has granted me a professional teaching license, and I want to get a license in a state that has reciprocity with Colorado, then it should be a simple matter of filling out a form, providing my professional credential and receiving the new license from the other state. Not so fast.

Although background checks, official transcripts, teaching experience, courses and evaluations abound, that isn’t enough. I must do all of this again. The thing that is driving me nuts is that many of these requirements are federal, so why can’t they just apply nationally? If I proved with a FBI check in Colorado that I have no record, and if Colorado recognizes me as an IMG_2369official US citizen, then why doesn’t that apply in every single state? It is frustrating to say the least, especially when your livelihood depends on being able to teach in multiple states because you teach online.

So, I study for this particular state’s test because, apparently, my state’s is not good enough. My Master’s degree is not good enough. My FBI and USCIS checks are not good enough. Let the snow come and the wind blow, just not on Thursday.

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