3 a.m. in Brazil, Indiana…

It's 3 a.m. in Brazil and I decide that sleep is impossible tonight. I have been battling some homesickness lately and therefore, trouble sleeping. I slip out of bed careful not to disturb my husband and tiptoe downstairs scared to breath because my son can sense my being awake and is always glad to join me. As I hit the bottom of the stairs I look at my living room and think to myself that eventually, I should put something on the walls. I rehabbed this house to move in and being the one who did all the one hundred thousand hole patches and painting decided I was never going to put a hole or mark upon them. Funny, the idea of minimalism seemed so nice then. Now, it just looks antiseptic to me.

The kitten scurries over to me and begins his usual game of "let's knock down Mom for some attention" and I quietly slip into kitchen and sit at the table. I chose not to put curtains up in my kitchen window because back then, there was this lovely home cattycorner from us that was being refurbished and how I enjoyed watching them turn that once uninhabitable home into a beauty for sale. My cigarettes sit in front of me and I begin my daily battle of not smoking so many. The house is silent and the streetlights dance in the puddles of water left by a much-needed rain. The wind dances in what's left of the leaves on my magnolia tree and all is peaceful. I thank the Lord for this.

I marvel at the simplicity of my life now. I don't know how to handle it sometimes. It unnerves me. It is just soooo quiet here. My phone sits silent most days now and the plans are not there. There are no trips to the mall for unneeded purchases and the bustle is no longer needed. Life has become so simple. I begin to wonder if that is a blessing or a curse. Maybe I should volunteer at the Humane Society? I've looked for a part time gig (job) in this town and so far, no one needs anyone. I am settled and now, its time for me to get involved. I'm fairly sure I have found my Church home and I have even made a few new friends.

I flip on my computer and begin to write, all the time aware that those blasted cigarettes are screaming at me. I hate smoking. If there was ever anything I have wanted more it's to be able to flush those things and wish I had never started. Well, that's one more thing to accomplish in my magical thinking wish list.

As I settle my headphones on my head and the sweet, docile tones of Allison Krauss begin to flow into my ears, I am aware of just how in love I am with this existence. I pull up my mental gratitude list and put this Blog as one of the newest things I truly love and am grateful for. I find myself wondering if there is anyone else awake and feeling the way I am right now. Feeling grateful for food, shelter and the love of the Lord and this small town.

The leaves rustle outside to the wind coming up my front porch steps and the feral cats I feed are outside huddled up in the box on the old comforter I put out for them to keep warm in. One of them had kittens this year. We affectionately refer to them as "the mange family." One of the kittens is a calico and she is still with her mommy because she was born severely cross-eyed. She always bumps her head on my concrete pillar coming up my steps and she is only one who will even come close to me when I come outside. The rest scatter in fear and hide. She is so beautiful and the simple beauty of life here again overwhelms me.

I am scared about the election. I feel neither candidate is a great one and I wonder what we are about to live through with the economy failing so rapidly and I pray that the Lord will bless this town and that the citizens will come together should the worse happen. I wonder how many of us stop and think about those who are already homeless or almost there. I am used to homeless people being from the city. No one pays them any mind. We are taught to be hard on them. They must have landed themselves there by bad choices and laziness. Someone else will take care of them; we have to do for ourselves. We have to continually strive to keep up or do better than our neighbor; it's the American way. When did the American way become the antithesis of the Godly way? Will either one of these candidates we go to vote for bring this nation back to God? No. How about our Senators who have their hands so deep in the pockets of the pork laden fat men that they no longer care about their constituents? When did we let it get so out of control? When did politics become a 401K plan? I pray for our leaders, but wonder if they remember to pray for us? I wonder if when someone says pray around them do they just think P-R-E-Y. I worry about those on fixed incomes and if they can afford the water increase and food or heat.

I wonder if anyone is up and thinking about these things too? Well, the cigarette is mightier than the will and I bundle up and walk outside. The town is quiet and all is at peace. What must we do in order to have this much longer? A nation who chooses commerce over God chooses punishment over prosperity. A small town that prays and brings God to their homes, hearts and families prospers when the nation falls.

Goodnight Brazil. I will be praying for you all. That's what a good neighbor does.

Stay tuned….