Unexpected treasures

As I left the fair today,
I saw some young men
with canvas bags slung over their shoulders
passing handfuls of something
to each person who was leaving.

It took me a moment to register what was being shared.
When my mind identified the wax paper covered shape,
I let out a happy squeal
and gratefully accepted my generous portion.

Every year I pass by the Salt Water Taffy booth
and every year I look at the price of around seven dollars a pound
and I decide that I really don't need any.
Lately I've been musing what they would say
if I asked to buy only a couple of pieces
of the more interesting flavors.
However,
today when I passed the display,
I was so happily wrapped up in enjoying my roast corn
that I didn't even think to ask.

So,
you can imagine my delight
when the morsels of heaven
were being offered just for fun
as I left the fair.
Often there will be samples
of some interesting new product
being offered at the gate.
But,
never...
never even once
in my decades of attending the fair...
have I ever been treated to Salt Water Taffy!

What a wonderful surprise!
I think I had five or six pieces given to me.
I must confess,
I think I've eaten four of them.
I don't know whether to say,
"yikes"
or just,
"yummy".
:-)

Before the sun comes up

Before the sun comes up, in the quiet of the morning, I rarely know the weather.

Many times I step out and and am surprised by rain, falling snow or swirling wind.

How like life this experience is....

Sometimes, we can see good things coming or trouble brewing.

Many times though, what happens takes us unaware.

I pray that whatever comes your way today will not be too much for you.

That, good or bad, today's events will not cause you to stumble.

I wish for you a beautiful day.

...if you find rain instead...

may you have an umbrella!

Dandelions in life...weeds or unexpected flowers?

Sometimes in life we experience things that we never thought would happen to us. These occurrences can be good or bad, it really doesn't matter, because either can catch us unaware. (Although I've always contended I'd figure out a way to "deal" with winning millions!)

What should we do when we hit these "bumps" in life's road? As a child growing up, I always wanted to be a mother. I imagined what it would be like, using my own childhood for reference. As adult I have been blessed with three children, two of whom have autism. My life, although very good, is not what I envisioned.

Autism.... it is a word that makes many people sit up and pay attention.

For me, it is just a fact of life. It is the reason you have to know how to open a combination lock in order to get toilet paper at our house (think flooded bathroom) and the reason my ten year old watches Barney's Christmas Star, in July.

It is also the reason I haven't forgotten the joy of stamp machines and why my youngest daughter always knows where we are headed. (She has a truly spooky sense of direction.)

I am not here to raise autism awareness, in fact, I usually don't talk about it. My point is simply this, things happen in life that you don't expect. They can be good, like becoming a parent. They can be bad like losing a best friend. Or, like autism, they can simply be.

If you find that your "adventure" whether real or metaphorical, does not turn out the way you thought it would, take a deep breath and sit down.

I am convinced, that in the end, there is a bigger plan for us all.

I believe that the plan is good.