Rechargeable

Endurance is rechargeable... When you feel the flame of life dwindling, something happens that keeps it burning brighter just a little bit longer.

I had the BEST dream the other night! In it, I was driving around my hometown of Sonora in an old, beat-up pickup truck. I was following closely behind some friends and we didn't see a wooden crate in the road and ran over it, flattening one of our tires. We drove across town to a family friend's garage to see if he could take a look and fix it.

My friends pulled into the garage bay first, so I sat in the parking lot, fidgeting with my iPod while I waited for them to finish. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man approaching the truck. I glanced halfway up and caught a flash of familiar denim, allowing my eyes to trail further upward... skimming the material of the man's shirt. My jaw hit the floor as my eyes locked into his - instantly recalling the chiseled lines on his leathery face, and his big, chocolate brown eyes. How could it be, though? My father had died 16 years ago!

My eyes not leaving his, I asked "Do you mind if I ask your name?" to which the man replied "Steve." My heart swelled up into my throat... It took incredible force to keep me in my seat. Anxiously, I said "I know this is a strange request, but do you mind if i hug you??" He shrugged his shoulders and leaned in the driver side window of the truck and I threw my arms around his neck and hung on for dear life! I wasn't letting him go this time!

...and then I woke up. I got ready for work, and I drove the same route to the office that I always take... and I was greeted by the same hawk sitting on the same fencepost, just like every day... I whispered "hi daddy" as I drove past... and then I cried. Not because I was sad - but because I was reminded of how blessed I am to have ever known him at all! Blessed that he still watches over me and finds ways to tell me he's still in my life.

My life gets tough... sometimes it's down right painful! There are days when I wanna pull the covers over my head and sleep through the rest of the week... but then I get to wake up and I'm surrounded by my amazing family - and dreams like this make going on that much more worthwhile.

My hawk, on his fencepost... (if you look closely to the far left, you'll see the second one that started showing up shortly after my aunt passed away in July, 2010!) I like to think that they're watching over me... every day...

I love you daddy...