There are mornings when I awake with a start,
as if Mother Earth, herself, is shaking my shoulder...
trying to motivate my feet to the floor.
Most times I listen.
I've learned the value in rising early to greet the day.
That shoulder shake occurred at 4:30 yesterday.
With no hint of light in the morning sky,
I stayed in bed, warmly tucked beneath the covers,
my face chilled by the pre-dawn air sifting through the screens.
I read until 5:15 and decided that it was time to start the day.
I headed to the barn with a headlamp to guide my way.
It didn't take long for me to figure out what Mother Earth had
in store for me.
As the sun neared the horizon,
the most intense and magnificent light show began in the
eastern sky.
"How lucky I am," I thought, "to witness this beauty."
It was most certainly a gift to begin my day in this manner,
and a reminder that each day is meant to be cherished.
Sadly, we have had two reminders in the past week of just how
precious and fleeting life is.
We lost a close neighbor last week, quite suddenly, to cancer.
Yesterday we lost a close family member in a tragic accident.
Both of these losses have knocked our knees out from under us.
Both men were slightly younger than us... and too young to leave this world.
Both will be missed beyond words.
May we remember with each rising sun that life is fragile and fleeting.
May we greet each day with reverence and gratitude
and the remembrance of what is truly important in this life.
Duck Update:
As you can see, the three hatched ducklings are thriving and well-loved
by Anna's girls.
Maybe they will be a bit more sociable than their parents!
Two of the eight eggs were beginning to stink, so Anna tossed them.
She candled the remaining three and said they looked promising.
Time will tell!
Comments
Hard to believe August went by so fast and it's headlamp season already.
Tell the girls thanks for sharing their ducks with us. It is exciting that there may be three more to hatch. xxxx
Thank you for sharing your beautiful blog and your gift with the camera.
Your sunrise is beautiful.
Sweet little girls. The ducks are cute.
Blessings...
Julia
Once I was an early riser, and now I may wake up early but am not ready to get up. Often due to poor sleep.
The little ducks and girls look perfect together.
Take care,
Mary
Happy that the Duckies are thriving.
Fall sunrises and sunsets are the best..
Sad and sorry for your losses.
Thankful that the sunrise sent its beauty for your early morning uplift!
(Masks arrived, perfect, I love them.)