Family Time

Monday, February 24, 2025

It was a whirlwind weekend. Jim flew into town on Friday afternoon to join the family in watching Grandmanita's Celebration of Life in Halifax via Zoom on Saturday afternoon. On Friday my kids gathered here and we cooked breakfast for dinner, or "brinner" as Hannah calls it. We had French toast, sausage and bacon, hash brown patties, and fruit salad. 

We had an easy time connecting to the Celebration of Life but the sound did not come through loud and clear. Computer programs are designed to filter "background noise" and they can get confused as to what should be filtered. The closer the mike was held to a mouth, the better we could hear. It was pretty amazing to see family scattered across the two countries.

Jim asked on Friday evening if he could go to church with me on Sunday. I picked him up yesterday morning on my way into the city. It felt amazing to have him there with me. It's been a long time since any of my kids sat with me through a regular church service. We stopped at an Italian bakery (Leo's) on the way home and the family gathered again mid afternoon for some chili and a final evening together. 

Friday, February 28, 2025

James's oldest sister was in town for the week. I saw her briefly on Saturday afternoon when I went over to Bethany's house a couple hours after the Celebration of Life. She was sitting at the table in the kitchen where a game of Scrabble was being played. I said hello, she answered, and then leaned over and whispered in my son Dave's ear, asking him to take her around the corner to a cousin's house. She hugged the family, said her goodbyes without looking at or addressing me, and went out the door. This is divorce. I hadn't seen her since Jim and Michele were married in 2013. She made no attempt to see Hannah while she was in town, much, I think, to Hannah's relief. 

Our world feels turned upside down lately. My country feels strange and scary... a large portion of the church feels cold and callous... I no longer recognize people I have known for years... I fear for friends and neighbors... and my children and grandchildren... I am ashamed of our leadership... In another week or so we will welcome a new little life into our home. We will wrap him in our arms and pray for his safety and success. We will love him and teach him to love others, especially the least of them.

 

The Clearer Picture

Sometimes I get stuck thinking in circles and so you get a few gray thoughts this evening. Life is not really so black and white as one might think.












There's actually a lot of gray needed in order to see the picture clearly.

Another Naughty Post

Life gets crazy and there are times when I long for a spell of silence. It's quiet now... An hour or so of stillness in the midst of a sometimes hectic schedule. The sky is overcast. Perhaps it will rain. The clock ticks loudly on the living room wall. It's so quiet in here that I actually notice... It's hot outside, stifling even, and I am attempting to cool my dwelling with the air conditioner in the upstairs bedroom window. I could clean the remnants of grandchildren from the carpet and furniture, but I am sitting here instead, soaking in the quiet. But all that is not naughty, and I did title this "Another Naughty Post."

I was on my way to work on Wednesday morning (actually on my way to walk with Rachel before work, but that's beside the point), and getting into my vehicle, when Naughty One hopped up on my windshield. He is the most rascally of the two and was likely looking for a little excitement.  I snapped his picture and got out of the van to catch him, but he scurried up onto the roof instead.


I needed to take care of the chickens before I left home, so rather than snatch the cat off the roof, I drove very slowly up the driveway and down around the back of the barn. I could see Naughty One's tail cast in the shadow on the ground. I kept my eyes on the mirrors and made my way around and stopped in front of the chicken house. When I got out, there he was, proud as punch, and enjoying the ride.

Later, at work I showed P. a cat photo on my Nook. 
"That's my cat," I told him. "He's naughty."
Not everything P says is comprehensible, but this time he looked at the picture, laughed, and said, "No kidding!"

Yesterday morning that Naughty thought it would be a good idea to ride on top of Leta's van. When I attempted to scoop him off the roof, he layed down and made himself comfortable instead. He's a crazy one, that cat! Of course, we couldn't let him ride down the road to work with Leta, so we persuaded him to get down of his own accord. (He also likes to get inside of vehicles, so we have to keep a close eye on this character. One day he could end up going on a grand adventure!)


And now, I must attend to the crowing rooster and his harem of hens. They're all getting bright red faces and wattles now. I'm going to have to find some egg eating friends or family or we're going to be eating a whole lot of custard and quiche!)

Time is a Racer

Life flies by...

Twenty years ago we welcomed our seventh child, a little girl named Hannah who never believed in being a newborn. None of that floppy baby kind of stuff for her! She arrived ready to compete for her place in the family and compete she did. We used to laugh at her ability to keep up with her brothers because the possibility of not never even entered her mind. She has been so much fun!


Did I say life flies by?

In another four weeks our sweet daughter will be getting married. Although it hasn't necessarily been public knowledge, it hasn't exactly been a secret either, at least to us. We just weren't quite sure how it was going to happen. Now we are. So, we have been making plans, addressing invitations (they're going out tomorrow), and waiting to see how the whole event will come together.

And somewhere in between then and now we're going to welcome another baby girl into our clan. Bethany is due in one week.
:0)

Crazy Times

Life gets crazy.

There was a time when the days slipped by in relative ease. I chased my own small children during the daylight hours, cooked supper for nine, and found myself wanting to fall asleep while getting my brood into bed for the night. It seemed like a big deal, and it was. It was an exhausting job, mentally taxing, physically draining, and tons of fun all wrapped up together. The entire family slept under one roof. I knew where my children were, who they were with, and most of what they were up to. There were tears and frustration, but there was laughter too.

I have found life doesn't get easier with time, it gets harder. Hopefully spiritual roots and family ties run deep and keep us anchored. If there is one thing I learned from my dad, it is to hang on to faith with all my might and trust that Jesus has me in the palm of His hand. The storm still beats against us and each day I find myself repeatedly giving my stressed out heart back to the Lord. I've not gone back to the chiropractor or taken ibuprofen for over a week now, but not because my back and neck don't threaten to tie themselves into knots. It has been my mind's diversion for so long that knotted muscles just happen automatically, but I'm treating them differently now, with prayer, and it's working, most of the time.

The sun came out for a while today, long enough to take two little ones out in the yard for a bit. Spring has not been deterred by the nor'easter that blew in Sunday night and into Monday. It is determined to arrive, even if it takes a fight to get here. After dinner the evening sun brushed the eastern sky and tree tops before sliding off into the west, and I remembered to thank the Artist for once again wielding His divine paintbrush. He is incredibly awesome!

Taking Courage

"... Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Time keeps marching on. There is no way to stop it or even slow it down. We are on the boat for the duration of the voyage and there is work to be done.

I brought an old book home from Mom's house the other day, "All Sail Set." It is a book my father mentioned in his first journal. Though I had intended to sit down and read the book, it was my husband who picked it up first and began to read. I think what struck him most in the story was how hard the characters in the book worked and were expected to work. It was their way of life. They worked together as one unit for good of everyone on the ship. They had to. We, on the other hand, have had it so easy that when difficulties come, not only do we often not know what to do, but we are unsure of how to implement what we know should be done. Sometimes we actually know how to implement it, but lack the courage to follow through. My prayer today is for courage, courage to follow through even when the opposition is strong.

Yesterday afternoon my sister and I met with some Senior Consultants. We talked of Mom's needs, our responsibilities in the situation, and some steps to take toward resolving some of these problems. I must admit that I am cowardly and I am thankful for my youngest sister who is there to not only encourage me, but to sit down and talk with Mom too. We are starting out with a changed mailing address and an unlisted phone number. This will cut off the pleas and solicitations for money that come in by the scores each week. (Now my mailbox will be full instead.) Next comes the search for a possible new home for Mom. These are difficult days for us, but we are not alone. There are others who work alongside, lend support, and lead the way. For this I am grateful.

A Different Kind of Day

Words elude me tonight... I am thankful today for a wedding anniversary to distract me from the ache that otherwise most certainly would have set in. I am thankful for my dear husband and the twenty-nine years we have spent together, there is no question about that, but a first Father's Day without a father cannot help but be a little bit emotional. This year James and I are both without our fathers.

When my dad was sick, I decided there was one thing that I wanted to tell him while he was still here. I didn't want him to pass on without ever telling him I was sorry... I was just seventeen when my father took us to the town hall to sign for me to get married. I thought it surely must have been a terribly difficult thing for him to do, but complicating the matter was the fact that I was not the only one he was signing for. He was also signing papers giving the groom permission to marry. My parents were his legal guardians...

As I brought up the subject, my dad glossed over whatever embarrassment he must have felt at the time. Instead he focused on the reaction of the town clerk. "You're Martha's father?" she asked him.
"Yes," he replied.
"And him?" she asked, gesturing toward James.
"I'm his legal guardian," Dad replied.
At this point, he said, she lowered her glasses and looked at him over the top. Dad laughed at the memory. "I think she was looking for the shotgun," he smiled.

It was all water under the bridge. My father had come to love, forgive, and see James as a son. James had come to love, admire, and view my dad as his own. I watched love, trust, and mutual admiration grow in their relationship. On this our 29th wedding anniversary, I am blessed to know that God had His hand on all of us, healing hurts, planting seeds of love and forgiveness, and giving me the peace that could come only from asking my father's forgiveness.

(So much for words being elusive.)

A Change of Scenery

"The Claw" has returned and the old apple trees across the street are destined for the fire. Impressive is an understatement. This massive piece of equipment is ruthless when it comes to old trees. They don't stand a chance. There is no fighting back, no resisting, instead they are "plucked" up by the roots like a mere weed. (You all know there is an analogy here...) I don't believe there is much chance of these old apple trees being redeemed. They have lived long and borne much fruit. I believe they did a good job and produced just exactly what was expected, but they are old trees now, soon to be replaced by new stock, and there is not much call for apple wood in the woodworking industry. I'm glad I'm not a tree and that I am held in the Father's hand. I don't need to worry about "The Claw".

There Goes My Life...

Last night my son sent a link to this video. It was his tender, careful response to my post earlier this week. Somehow, in spite of my radio travels, I don't ever recall hearing the song. How did I miss it? Maybe God saved it for this moment... I've watched it several times now. It has brought back memories, a few tears, and many thoughts. It is amazing how time changes our outlook on life and situations.