Amazed by God - and deer

So, my husband traveled to South Africa for a few weeks (Jan. 23-Feb. 7), essentially providing 2+ weeks of alone time. While he was sunning himself with 80-112 degree temperatures, I was bundling up and shoveling the driveway. It's not the first time we've ever been apart - he has gone traveled to Ukraine, Argentina/South America (twice!) and now South Africa since we've known each other. But this was our first mega-trip apart since we've been married.

We prepared for the trip as best we could. Did you know it's impossible to find a "safari hat" in South Dakota the middle of January? I tried. I was sort-of jealous that he was going to explore the world, and I was left to explore my own thoughts and emotions. He was getting outfitted for the adventure, while I...wasn't. It was kind of hard.

I love that he and I exchange daily encouragements to eachother when we will be away. I wrote a super-sappy card and a flip book filled with photos of us. He left me an envelope for each day he would be away, and signed every one "ROAR" and "YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, ALAINA." He's good to me, what can I say.

But being alone does something to me. Some people crave alone time (mothers, primarily earning that), but usually not newlwyweds. And since I haven't exactly built up a core group of buddies in this town yet, I felt doubly alone. No job to keep me distracted (ok, some freelance work, which ended up being a lot of work), no gal-pals to escape to. So, I did what I did best: Traveled.

The first weekend he was away I went to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew in Minneapolis. While i was there I quilted two quilts and visited my former employer. It was a grand time. I came home and got stranded in Morton, MN due to blizzarding wintry conditions. That was blow #1. I made it home a day later, only to fall mysteriously ill - so ill I went to the ER room (my first time!). The mystery bug disappeared. Then I went to my parents house in northern MN, quilted with my mom and Becky, visited Becky's classroom, and was an all-around goof. It was nice to be home and showered with love. Back on the road I went, and it felt good to be home. But, I still had time for one more trip. So I went to visit my husband's family. That may seem kind of strange to folks, but I was able to deliver gifts (which I love to give!) and it was 110% worth the time I spent there because I was able to get to know each person much more deeply.

But that's not what this blog post is about. While staying with my mother-in-law in Hastings, NE, I was able to watch deer pass through her yard. I was awestruck watching these beautiful creatures (pests, some may say!), and the gentleness in their every movement. Graceful, you could say. I spotted them one night, and then the following morning. We watched "Bruce Almighty" that night, and I was reminded that God sends his little love messages to us (as identified by how Bruce (Jim Carrey) tries to win Jennifer Aniston back to him by carving every single tree on her running path). Those deer I was seeing were little love-note reminders to me, from a very loving God.

It was so simple. I'm continually amazed at the small and simple ways that God conveys his love to me. Ever-since, I've seen herds of deer - everywhere. They looked like a bunch of cows just outside of town one foggy morning. Or how they nibbled in the feed bunks at that cattle ranch I was at.

So open your eyes and look for the love-notes God is placing all around.

Martha and me...

I happened to take a break from my freelance projects on Wednesday and tuned in to the Martha Stewart show while I woofed down some food. I don't usually watch the entire episode, but I like to tune in for about 5 minutes to see what's going on. What I saw Wednesday gave me pause...

Claire Danes was on as a guest. Don't get me wrong, I grew up when Claire Danes was the hottest actress in starlet town (Romeo & Juliet comes to mind...). But she was promoting her latest project - portraying Temple Grandin on an HBO special that aired Feb. 6. If you don't know, Temple revolutionized the harvest animal industry (packing plants and feedlots) in the U.S. Martha spoke highly of her. And I thought to myself - right on, Martha. The coolest thing about this is, I've actually interviewed Temple Grandin while I worked for BEEF magazine. Read that article, here.

And just for a moment I thought, Martha and I, we've got something in common. And that was cool.