Yesterday started off nothing special, and I wasn’t sure how I would spend the day. Bella got me up to serve her breakfast and then make coffee (yes, in that order!). It was a grey day – drizzling rain with a hint of wet snow. Well, we decided to go for a ride and see where it would take us … ok I decided and Bella went along with it, as she is always up for an excursion!

We stopped in Port Blandford for gas, then at Joey’s Lookout at Gambo, then at Tim Horton’s in Gander for a coffee refill, onto Route 340 through Lewisporte and visited the Marina, where the boats are stored ready for the upcoming winter. We left there and drove the pothole capital of the world (as far as I’m concerned!) on the Road to the Isles, stopping at Boyd’s Cove, enjoying the views on the way to New World Island and headed for the Long Point Lighthouse at Crow Head. Coming into Twillingate, the snow began and the outside temperature had dropped to zero. Not quite sure what I had thought heading out in my sweatshirt, leggings and running shoes, but as I said, I didn’t have a particular plan.

After a brief stint in the chilly wind at the lighthouse taking in the view, we got back in the Jeep and shortly thereafter headed for home. I had miscalculated both my timing and the weather, so it was dark by the time I got back to Gander, and from there a slow, snowy, blowy, night drive home with not much traffic besides my Jeep and the snowplows. Bella was very happy for her supper by then!

Now … that doesn’t sound all that blogworthy, and the photos aren’t my best ones. BUT, as the title indicates, there was BEAUTY in this day. There was the beauty of my little companion, faithfully at my side. There was the beauty of freedom, of wide open spaces, of music and recuperation. And there was the beauty of friendship, of encouragement, of cheer, of sharing and connection (despite such connection was by roaming data usage!). It was a very special day actually, one of my best since I’ve been here these past few weeks, and my heart was full. Someone chose to make a difference. Someone chose to be a lighthouse in the storm. Someone chose to give up part of their day, to be involved in mine. And for that … I thank them. They will never realize how much it meant, what a difference it made.

“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” 

John F. Kennedy

“Don’t forget that maybe you are the lighthouse in someone else’s storm.”