Fall Fun

A few weeks ago we drove again to Wheaton to give Kim and Chris some alone time and Tom and I some Jack time. In the month since we had seen him, Jack has become a much steadier walker and added a few words to his vocabulary. I love to hear him say Hi and ba-bye. He is all about climbing, walking and having fun. Here are a few pictures of our happy explorer.





We also had a day away with Conley. We took her to the county fair. She wanted to go into all the animal barns and especially loved the baby animals. We saw and touched fury sheep, rabbits, and goats. She thought the chickens were pretty loud and the horses and cows were pretty big for her liking. She really surprised us when she wanted to ride the pony. Last year she was terrified of the carousel and wasn't interested in riding it this year, so when she wanted to ride the pony, we could hardly believe it. We reluctantly set her on Suzy-q and she loved it. As she rode around she shouted out, "look at me."

Harvest

This is the time of year that we enjoy the harvest. Really since early spring we have fresh asparagus then strawberries, in July blueberries but August and September the fresh fruits and vegetables are in abundance. Sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, peaches, apples and the list goes on.

I have been thinking of the harvest of my life. The years in growing up in a family, school, work, and raising my own family have yielded a wonderful crop of fruit.

My harvest is not the accumulation of material blessings that as the Bible says, "where moth corrupts and thieves break through to steal." It is the people who have listened, advised, helped, prayed, visited, celebrated and been there through all of life's joys and sorrows. It is also the time I have to spend with these cherished ones.

Here are some harvest pictures, mostly excluding the scrumptious harvest of children and grandchildren:

My sister-in-law Laurelei, sister Kathy and niece Nancy and I enjoying a girl's weekend and a day in Dorr County.




My sister Kathy has taken up playing her violin after almost 50 years.


A day at the beach with Joy and Conley. Such a sweet reward! What I didn't get a picture of is the seagull taking a sandwich from Joy's hand!






Nursing school friends, Kathy Smuk and Mary Rebert and I cooked this awesome meal for our husbands. We re-created the meal from our French cooking class.




Long time friends, Don and Andrea Halstead with Tom and I at Torch Lake in Northern Michigan. We enjoyed a day driving through vineyards and to Lelaneau Peninsula.

Birthday Fun

We all felt the fun of being 3 again as we celebrated Hudson and Claire's 3rd birthday on August 15 & 16. Angie's parents and Aunt Nancy, Chris, Kim and Jack and Tom and I met Dan and Angie and family in Denver. By late Saturday afternoon all the guests had arrived in time to watch Claire and Hudson open their gifts in the birthday suite.

Then it was on to dinner at Casa Bonita, a Mexican restaurant with Mariachi band, actors, water falls, an arcade and lots of people having fun. Claire and Hudson had their own table.



The party isn't over until they blow out their candles on the Cars and Princess Castle birthday cakes!! Wow!!




After church in the birthday suite, we packed up and headed out to Water World! This park has something for everyone, the Lazy River was my speed but I got talked into a couple speedy rides and loved it.












We had a wonderful weekend enjoying, loving and celebrating!

My work is done, or is it?

Yesterday I retired, again. It wasn't my decision, the business I was working for told me that after 11 years my contract would not be renewed. Purely a business decision, I am told. I'm not surprised but I am saddened. Each of us likes to think we are in control of our lives. Haven't I learned this yet after all the plans that have been changed, delayed, interrupted by unexpected events in the last 10 years?


My thoughts are everywhere on this. Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day in MI, as I drove to work. I asked myself if I would rather be at home in the garden, walking the fields, drinking coffee on the porch or be in the basement windowless office at the workplace.
It's like God is giving me a beautiful gift and I'm saying I'm not sure I want that gift. I wouldn't have made the decision to leave the work I do if it hadn't been made for me. I think God has other plans for my life and is not waiting for me to get on board, like a parent that knows what is best for a child so God knows what is best for me.


A local business sells its fried chicken in buckets that say, "Just one life, will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." I've been thinking on that sentence today. As I cleaned out my desk these past two weeks, I realized that much of what I had developed in the first years at this business is now obsolete, they have changed policies, now have computerized records, and new drugs and standards. Nothing lasts or remains the same. Since the work I have done there will also be out of date, did I leave behind joy, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, love, patience, friendship? My work will not last but how I treated others will last for my life time and theirs.


My co-workers took me for lunch and breaks and showered me with gifts, flowers and chocolates. I will remember their kindness and caring and kind words, always.

Now I will rest in the life of family and service and wait on the Lord to direct my path.

Jack in July

A couple weeks ago Kim enjoyed a weekend get-away to visit friends in DC. So Tom and I kept Jack and Chris company. We had a productive weekend. Chris and Tom tackled the dead wood in the apple tree.

The tree limbs came down pretty fast but cutting them up into small enough pieces to put into the recycling bag took hours.

My time was focused on the littlest member of the family, Jack. He is a busy little guy and always on the move. So here are a few pictures of him being Jack. He's a short napper but sleeps 12 hours at night and wakes up happy.

I love his little chair, and its easy to sweep up all those food particles that fly off his plate.

This plant is just irresistible! That bright red flower drew his hand like a magnet.

I love this picture because it shows how he is trying to keep his balance, so typical of a new walker. It amazes me how babies persevere at learning to walk when they continually fall. If only we would remember that something worth doing takes a lot of tenacity.Time with grandma is fun but daddy and grandpa's stuff is more interesting.

Jack did get away from home to visit the farmer's market, a few neighborhood stroller rides and going on the swing at the park. He played in the church nursery and had breakfast at Sally's. All and all a good weekend for daddy time and grandpa and grandma time.

Morning Walk

I took these pictures over a month ago but have been too busy to post them. Our lives are hurried and seem to speed by, maybe that's why we need pictures and blogs to help us recall the days of our lives.

When I take the time to walk in the fields, time stands still. The quietness with only the sounds of birds and the wind blowing quiets my soul. I sing, pray and quote scripture. The moments I spend in walking the land opens my mind to the blessedness of being alone with God. He speaks to me through the land and plants and sky. The Bible says that we are placed in God's timing on the earth "... so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." Acts 17:27. When I deliberately seek God, I sense his presence.

These plants, growing without cultivation, give a simple beauty to the land.

Often I see them grow out of a mass of tangled briers and vines. So much like life, that has troubles and challenges and yet God provides a way out. He gives simple beauty with his peace that brings us contentment.

When we take time to think on what we see in nature it teaches valuable life lessons. The above picture is of a vibrant green plant. It can grow leaves the size of dessert plates and a vine as thick as a cable. Beware! All we see as healthy is not good for us. This is poison ivy.

I'm thankful for a place close to home where I can walk and pray and "make a joyful noise." No one to laugh at my singing voice and no one to discount my sometimes foolish concerns. I hope those who read this post will find a place to be alone, to walk in our beautiful world and be at peace.