This is the first day of my "blogging experiment". I have no idea how this will bode for me...or the reason why I'm giving it a shot. But blogging has always interested me somewhat, and I've discovered this year that my life is a continual journey, so putting my thoughts and feelings out there may just be helpful to me.
So, why the title "Life in a Hammock"? Well, I've spent alot of time in our family hammock this year. It's been a very rough and challenging year for me....and I first began going to the hammock out of necessity for some "alone time". If you are a parent, you probably will understand the need for that. The hammock was my retreat...a place that I could cry freely without concerned eyes staring at me and trying to figure out what was up with Mom.
Pretty soon, the hammock became the first thing I would do upon coming home from the office. Well, to be honest, I would change out of office clothes into comfy clothes, make a glass of iced tea, and then I'd be lying in the hammock before you knew it, staring at the beautiful blue sky.
God and I had wonderful talks in the hammock. My prayer time became very personal and full of intensity out in the hammock. For me, there is something wondrous about being outside in God's creation when I pray. I talk easier to Him outdoors than I do anywhere else.
The hammock became my place to read. I read my bible, inspirational books, novels, magazines and cookbooks while lying outside.
After a few weeks, both of my girls began to show interest in the hammock. One at a time, or sometimes both together, they would gravitate outside to where I was and before I knew it, my tranquility and "alone time" would be over. But amazingly, I never felt a grumble in my heart. You see, we were going through a painful time summer, and we needed each other like never before. The hammock became a place of conversation...sometimes silly, sometimes serious. We laughed alot in the hammock. Secrets and feelings were shared. Sometimes we just cuddled and would swing back and forth.
People began to catch onto the fact that my "hammock time" was precious, but no one understood this more than my best friend. She'd call sometimes and ask "Are you in the hammock? I don't want to disturb you". I can't think of a time that I didn't either need or enjoy her phone call, but she's just the type of "real" friend to whom I could've said "Let me call you back" and she would've understood perfectly.
And oh yeah...I forgot to mention the dogs. Cocoa, our loveable lab, and Flash, our active jack russell, both enjoyed laying on the ground right next to the hammock, hoping we'd pick up a ball or frisbee to play with them.
I'm going to enjoy as much of the hammock as I can during these glorious fall days, before we have to put it up for the winter. If I could bring the hammock inside, I would. But something tells me it wouldn't be the same.
But I love my life in a hammock. And my time in my hammock has taught me to enjoy my life no matter where I am.
