From There to Here

The helicopters hovered overhead. There were 6-8 of us, donned with yellow shirts, green pants, helmets, canteens, pulaskis and, of course our fire shelters (lovingly referred to as 'potatoe bakers'). Our faces were black with soot, our clothes so stiff with sweat and ashes that they probably could have stood by themselves. The radios that hung from our chest pack buzzed with the news that a water drop was imminent in the area and we should retreat a few hundred feet. Upon retreat, the thump-thump-thump of the helicopter was instantly drowned out by the propellers of the C130 as it dropped its load of blood red fire retardant. We ducked but didn't escape the unexpected shower. Covered in the red liquid we hurried our pace, approached a ridge, turned around and saw the second plane coming in for another drop. We watched for awhile as we saw 15 foot flames cower to the mighty fire fighting force... which included me.....that was then....

Twelve years later, the closest I get to that is dumping the hot coals from my small red Weber grill and allowing my three young sons and two little daughters to cover them with dirt. Would I change a thing? What mother would? But it is to the memory of my younger, more adventurous days that I retreat to now, when I feel the need to feed the adventurer that lives within. Like an active, but sleeping volcano.
Throughout the posts of this blog, I hope to engage my guests, as well as create a memoir for myself and my children. I believe we are placed on this earth for a purpose and the meaning of life is found in the fulfilling of that purpose. Our purpose may not be conscientiously known, but in listening to our hearts, placing our trust in God, and following His will, I believe we can rest assured that our purpose WILL be fulfilled. So, I gave an example of there, you might be wondering what is HERE like!

Here is a single mom. I don't even like that term, so from here on out I will use the term...independent parent. No, that one sounds like I made the choice, which I most certainly did not. Financially-struggling-perpetually-late-often-frazzled-matriarch? No, too dreary. I think I'll stick with single mom.

I do, however, find happiness in being a single mother. I love having the freedom to pack up the kids in the blink of an eye and head to the drive-in (yes, we still have one of those nearby) without having to schedule dinner and house cleaning around anyone else. I love being able to eat popcorn for dinner if I want to (hey, the kids love it too!), I love going to my family's houses for dinner and get-togethers without having to debate over other options. I love staying up too late to watch MY choice of movie, and I REALLY love being in control over how much the Wii is played in this household. I could go on and on about the simple joys of being a single mom, but I won't. The truth is, I loved being married too. The point is, although, my best laid plans were short lived, I was able to pick myself up and not only get on with life, but be happy and thrive in conditions I once thought were only for the most unfortunate of all human beings.

So, as you will see, I have gone from helping put out large wildfires in vast forests, to fanning the smoke out the door when I burn the onions and garlic I was sauteing on the stove as I ran down the hall to wipe my sons behind. Life is good.