The Luck Pot

Ever have a week where it seems like your pot full of luck has run dry? One of those weeks where you don’t cry over spilled milk but spilled coffee? I have a pretty good feeling that everyone has experienced a rough patch a time or two. It just so happens that this was my “one of those weeks” week where I was left seeing unclear and feeling helpless.

Sunday morning, Dan and I were on our way to being early for Sunday school. This is a very rare thing. As we walked out of the door we began discussing how we were actually going to be early for once. Oh how quickly things change! We somehow managed to lock the house up with no house or car keys in hand. With our spare house key stowed safely on the key rack in the house, Dan ran up to his Granny's house (in the old Jeep) in order to see if she had a key. No such luck....Granny was at church. Once Dan made it back, we made an executive decision to take the Danger Ranger (with a large water tank in the bed). Looking back now, I am unaware of why we didn't just take the Jeep or Ranger in the first place. We always have a key for them. So the one day we were ready on time, we missed Sunday school and barley made it to church on time.

Monday morning, purse in one hand and lunch bag in the other, keys wrapped around a finger while trying to keep a hold  of the cell phone and the death grip on the precious mug of hot, oh so splendid, coffee trying to fit somehow between belly and forearm. Everything was going smoothly until I realized I had to open up the door. In the process of laying the purse down in order to open door the coffee drops helplessly to the floor. Monday morning + lack of coffee= a great way to start the week.

As the days passed I thought my week was looking a little brighter. I was excited to go to the eye doctor to get some new, more comfortable contacts.  After completing the basic eye tests, I was asked to take out my contacts and to go wait in the waiting room. Don’t they realize that removing the contacts usually leads to poor vision? It was bad enough squinting my eyes just so I could at least make it to a chair without knocking something over but now someone was wanting to talk to me. A lady began asking about Dan and the farm while I tried to answer as normal as possible. Lets face it, how normal is it to squint the eyes while leaning in closer in order to see the face of the person you are trying to talk to? 

Just as I thought things would get better at the eye doctor, I quickly realized that I was mistaken. Once in with the doctor, I was advised that he dilate my eyes so he could do a thorough exam. For those that have never had their eyes dilated, make sure you don’t need to read any fine print afterwards. The doctor said that it would be safe to drive but what he didn't tell me is that I wouldn't be able to write a check or even worse, I couldn't go on my weekly couponing trip! I arrived at CVS safely but left extremely irritated. Trying to read the print on the packages and the print on the coupons was nearly impossible. Needless to say, I got in and out of CVS very quickly.

In attempts to brighten my spirit, my next stop was to Tractor Supply so I could buy a new riding helmet. Yes, I still wear a riding helmet. Some of the locals comment on my helmet-wearing habits but when you ride without a helmet and your backside becomes more familiar with the ground than the saddle you quickly reevaluate the possible safety measures that can be taken. With a new, shiny, black helmet that fit my noggin like a glove I was on my way home to try it out….until I found the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Three horses in the pasture, two come running in and one is left not moving an inch. Thirty antibiotic pills and wound dressing daily, one month stall rest, and several months of healing is what we are left with due to a hunk of wood being lodged into Ms. Annie’s hoof. We are hopeful of a full recovery with time being our biggest obstacle as long as we stay clear of infection. This was difficult to take in seeing as I have seen so much progress in Annie the last two months but, things happen for a reason.

So what did I get out of this “one of those weeks” week?  I can see that the dried up “luck pot” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A dried up pot of luck can leave you realizing how truly blessed you are. Simple things that you take for granted suddenly mean more than before. I realized that I am blessed enough to be able to afford food to put in my lunch bag and coffee in a mug as well as a having a job to go to in the first place. I am blessed enough that I can put contacts in my eyes and be able to see. I am blessed enough to go home to a loving husband that calls the vet, tries to make me laugh when I just want to cry and even insists me wearing my new helmet around the house just so I can wear it.

My week doesn't even hold a candle to what some may go through on a daily basis but I firmly believe that if you just trust in the Good Lord and believe that he has everything planned out better than we can ever comprehend, you somehow are left appreciating all the simpler things that you take for granted along the way.

The joys of being a very blessed farmer’s wife!