Directions. Culverts. Hollers. As far as the crow flies. Turn left where the old oak tree was. I’m lost.

Growing up in Denver did me little favor when it comes to knowing my directions. On the Colorado Front Range, the Mountains are West. Once you learn that, it is pretty easy to find your way around. In my new life on the ranch, if you told me to turn West, I’d just be lost.

Though we don’t have the mountains to the West, I have learned there are key landmarks to help guide the way. You just have to know a little bit of history, what kind of trees are in the area, and how far a crow flies.

Shortly after moving here, it didn’t take my kids long to make friends and get invited to birthday parties and sleepovers. Trying to get directions to those houses became one of my greatest weaknesses. My first experience trying to find one of their friend’s houses went a little like this:

Me (calling on the phone): Hi. Thank you for inviting my kiddo over to your home. Can I get your address?

Parent: Ohh honey. GPS won’t get you to our place. Here’s the best way to get here. Go North on your road…

Me (in my head): Wait, I don’t know you. How do you know what my road is?

Parent: … When you come to the second culvert turn left. Go down that road a ways, until you come to where the old oak tree that was struck by lighting used to be. Turn left there. You will drive as far as the crow flies, past the old Smith place…

Me: I am sorry to interrupt. I just moved here and am not familiar with the landmarks. But, my husband did grow up here. Let me get him on the phone.

Tom was able to successfully get our daughter to the sleepover. I have since figured out some of the landmarks and have created my own. I still don’t know how far a crow flies. And, the city girl in me always panics a little when someone says the GPS won’t get me there.

I do have to say, however, some of our greatest adventures since moving to the country have been while we were lost down a dirt road.