Dragging Brush On My Birthday

Last Tuesday afternoon, I was at work when I got a text from Dustin saying
“You should take off tomorrow”. 
What a grand idea!

You see, the next day was a special one.
It was the day that yours truly came into this world 27 years ago.
A day off work was in order.

After lazily sleeping in until 6:30am (so spoiled, I know)
Dustin made a big breakfast of eggs, toast, and deer sausage as I sipped coffee and Creek played.
After a relaxing morning of toddler tantrums and nerf gun fights, 
we did what every woman dreams of on her birthday;
we cut down trees and dragged brush.

I know, I know, you just can’t contain your jealousy.
Your husband probably made you suffer through some fancy dinner
or sent you off to be pampered at the spa for your birthday.
Been there, done that.
I feel for you, really I do.
Not everyone can be this lucky!

….

I kid. 
But in all honesty, it’s exactly what I wanted to do.

We didn’t just work.
We talked, and played, and dreamed.
We walked hand-in-hand through our someday orchard
and planned where we would plant grape vines and apple trees.

We mapped out the site of our future home and talked about
screened-in porches and barn wood floors.
We watched Creek’s imagination run wild as he made a bow & arrows from random twigs
and checked every hole he found for fairies or critters.

We ate all three meals together that day.
That may not sound like a big deal, but it was to me.

One of my best friends texted to wish me a happy birthday
and asked what my big plans were.
When I told her what we were doing, her response was perfect:
“That is a good day! Making memories to last a lifetime”.

She gets it.

And so does my husband.

He understands that spending quality time together makes me feel loved.
He knows, and shares, my big dreams for our land.
He spent his last day off work before a nine-day stretch
running the chainsaw and dragging brush with me…
and he only rolled his eyes a little bit when I said for the hundredth time
that we should just build a yurt.

He knows me, and encourages me,
and humors all of the projects that I dream up for us him to do.

He gave me the perfect birthday,
and there’s no one else I’d rather “drag brush” with.