Wordless Wednesday...

This is just a little flash back to where my husband proposed.

To read more about that morning CLICK HERE.

Rewind....2005

My life in 2005- It was time to put the Prada away and pull my boot straps up. We're moving to Montana! Giddy-up! Waving good-bye to Michigan couldn't have felt more natural. Jaige and I drove west holding hands, windows down blowing our hair, belting out every country song we knew..... the screeching record came to a dreadful stop.

There was a slight change in plans since I was going to be detained in Blodgett Hospital. Days earlier: I'll get an exam just before I go...

It was thirteen years earlier (20 years old) and my ovarian cancer scare was so-so rare. Bald head and a forgotten 100 plus days. Minus one ovary and some lymph nodes. How could this be happening again? No time to wait, no time to think about the future. After calling my dad for a ride home, my feet were no longer working, my sister answered her phone I could not think of anything else to say, but "how do I tell mom." Silence then sniffles. I spoke the words to my mom that no one wants to hear. It wasn't for sure, but we can not wait...the knife will strike once more. Sleepless nights and quiet whispers.

"My life was going to change in so many ways...just let me get through this... you'll see", I spoke to the sky while laying on the stretcher wearing an obscenely thin hospital gown. Shivering. "You can't have me yet... I'm not done here." "Wait...please." Florescent lights one after another. Jaige held my hand until the bright lights faded. I woke up to the same warm hand and through the storm of tears I knew that he heard. Or, did I hear him? It had been a long time since we talked.

Life.

What do you mean menopause, I'm 33 years old? Hummmmmmmm, "take this pill and wear that patch." The doctor was talking. (The worlds best doctor if you ask me.) I'm quite sure he was talking? Through the humm in my head I heard every third word, nothing was making sense. Alright, alright whatever I need to do, I have a horse to ride in Montana. The night sweats were soon to follow, ummm what did that doctor say? Horse or not this sucks!

Days turned to weeks then the shackles were released. Free to go. The clouds were full of cotton, the wings glided west, my heart was sad to leave my family, but my love was already wear sexy chaps.

Rimel Road, take me home to Moose Can Gully Ranch. Up, up and down the winding road we went. Driving over the cattle guard to the place I will call home, the tires spoke, the animals whinnied, "Welcome home, Ann".

Under "big sky country" I was born.

Sunrise...

My first camping trip with Jaige (1 hour out of town) consisted of me sitting on the bed of the Ford F150 with citronella candles circling me while I read, sipped my wine and marveled at being in the presence my very own Hemingway character. Every minute or so I embarked on an insect assassination with my bug spray. We talked, he set up camp, we sat by the fire, I entertained him with my stories. The night went on..... and so did our relationship. Over three years later here I am sleeping in the Clearwater National Forest, Idaho. (1,828 miles away from home.) 5:30 am, the alarm steals natures silence. I lay my head down knowing full well that he will never wake up let alone get up. He likes to sleep. He sleeps best in the woods so I was safe. The night before he had this "great" idea to get up for a sunrise hike... but it was cold, dark and I was still counting my sheep. My shoes were still wet from the 14 mile hike just hours before when we were looking for the hidden lake, and hidden it remains. 7 miles into the hike we gave up and turned around to escape night fall and nurse my bloody feet. Now, with darkness still upon us we tripped, climbed and shivered our way along the path that would eventually lead us to, Graves Peak. Perched on a huge rock, along side of a cliff, wrapped in my Hello Kitty blanket the dawn of a new day, of a new life happened. On bent knee I became a Mrs. A smile crosses my face every time I think of his face, the beautiful words he spoke and the amazing way we became one. Waldon Lakes below, sunrise in my face and hope in my heart. I got the last good guy.....