Serenity Now!

I hope and pray that everyone has that one place on this Earth where they can escape to. It is heavenly to know that no matter how bad things get, there is always one place you can go that you feel safe, secure, and content. For me, this place is my Aunt Cris's and Uncle David's house.

When I was little I would spend a couple weeks there during summer, and now as an adult I go as often as possible. Before we got pregnant, Robert and I would try to make it over there at least once a month, calling it "Shafter Bed n Breakfast". There have been many times I've gone by myself and I have even brought some of my friends to my little oasis.

My aunt and uncle have lived on the same plot of land for at least the last ten years. It's about 40 acres in the middle of the American heartland. Driving to their house, you pass a multitude of corn fields and cow patties. They own six horses, I think, at last count and three cows. It's less of a farm though, and more of a ranch.

They built their own custom home a few years back making more room for family get togethers and of course for me and my family to come and stay for the weekend or even a week here and there.

Maddox, my son, loves to go. He loves his cousin Sophie, which is my cousin Skylar's two year old daughter that lives there with them. Of course, Robert and I love Sophie, too!

There isn't really anything special that we do there, it's just so relaxing.

In the winter, we light up the fireplace and watch movies...in the spring and fall we have bonfires out in the pasture...in the summer we sit outside and sip tea while watching the horses.

The new house has a gorgeous gourmet kitchen, which I love because there is nothing I love more than preparing dinner for my whole family.

My cousins got a pool table for Christmas, so I will sometimes go down into the basement and hang out, however, that is considered "the dungeon" and often wreaks of "boy".

Maddox and I are leaving this Saturday morning to stay there for at least a week and I cannot wait!

However, this time will likely be quite a bit different.

Last week my aunt had a hysterectomy, so I am not going just simply to relax, but rather to help her and to take care of Sophie because her daddy works nights. I know we will still have fun, especially having someone to be with all day!

So, for now I am counting down the hours until I get to leave this house that mostly does not feel like "home" and go to the one place on Earth I feel at home.