Thursday, September 23, 2010

Chutes and Ladders


If you've been a regular reader of the Little Blue Bungalow in the past you've probably wondered why the blog has been quiet. You've probably been dying for a sneak peek at the building of the garage or wondered what our produce looked like this summer. Atlas, The Little Blue Bungalow (I) was silent.

I'd love to say I went on some glamorous vacation for months on end, sailed the ocean, or even "unplugged" the computer for awhile, but I didn't do any of these. No, simply life got in the way.

Honestly, this summer I've spent a lot of time looking at ladders (literally) and riding the "chutes" of life. I've climbed a few ladders over the past few months too and carried my share of wood up to our new garage, but those darn chutes.

"Chutes" including the diagnosis of my mother-in-law, Bonnie, with stage 3 breast cancer. Life "chutes" of possible job lay-offs and job stresses. Waiting patiently to find out Drew made the "cut" only to find out weeks later there are even more job cuts to come due to budget constraints. Finding ourselves juggling life, construction, and work among an already packed schedule.

For every rise of the "ladder" I climb, I find myself shocked at the possible fall below, but have no where else to go but up after a ride down another "chute". It is ironic that as I child I loved playing "Chutes and Ladders", but now as an adult I expect it as a daily part of life...the "ups and downs".

I don't find happiness in these "chutes and ladders", but face it with determination, one foot on reaching up for the next wrung of the ladder. We all face our own "chutes and ladders", sometimes we just have a few more falls to take and need to find the strength to climb onward.

I'm choosing to keep climbing ladders among the "chutes".

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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