Life
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Journal Entry
Went to my brother & sister-in-laws house today with Gavin. They had a large oak tree that came down awhile ago in their yard. We could use the firewood and they wanted it gone so it worked out well for both of us. It was a blessing spending time with them and seeing my little nephew grow up before my eyes never fails to astonish me. It’s a wonder how much change can happen within a month or two. We saw him on his 1st birthday in late July and since then, he’s running and has learned baby sign language. We were asked when we’d like to have a child…
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This is 30
The day of Gavin’s party, our buddy Chase arrived with his backhoe. There was a fourth pine at the front of the yard that we wanted to take down (but I was hoping not this day). As I scurried around to prepare for guests arriving, I found Gavin starting his ascent up the tree. I yelled to Chase, “WHAT IS HE DOING?!” He replied with a laugh, “I told him I would climb but you know your husband, he wanted to do it himself.” Gavin was hoisted up in the claw of the backhoe. I watched in frozen terror as his 200 pound self reached higher and higher. The flimsy…
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Journal Entry
We had a party last Saturday for Gavin’s 30th and Aunt Cathy’s 50th birthday. The preparations to make everything as ‘perfect’ as possible has left me drained of all motivation to pick up where I left off before the party & begin again on the projects still unfinished. One conversation in particular from last weekend has stayed with me though. I had the joy of giving my grandpa’s brother, Tom, a tour of the house. It made me wish grandpa could be here as well to see all that we’ve done. I hope it’d make him smile. As we walked up the stairs and arrived in the library, he looked…
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Hobo Pies
Gavin pulled into the driveway, home at last. It was nearing dinner time but I knew as soon as he got out of the car & went to the garage, we’d be eating late tonight. He walked out with chain saw in hand, ready to go to work for the second time today. He cut & I dragged the dead branches to the burn pile. Cut & drag, cut & drag, back & forth until we had a heap of branches mounded to the sky. As dusk settled in, he started the fire. We continued on until we couldn’t see anymore. Darkness covered us up like a blanket. Finally the…
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Farewell to Winter
Spring has arrived, but before I go barreling into this new season, I’d like to pause & bid adieu to our very first winter spent in this house. The following is a synopsis of that time. . Mid November, we took trips to Amish country in search of a wood stove (I’m always up for a visit to Lehman’s). Using all the savings I had since I was a teen, we were able to purchase one in Salem. The installation took days & involved getting the original 400 pound cast iron one out of the way first. Thank you Uncle Fritz. To our joy, we were finally able to use…
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Glimpse
Written last Saturday evening.. There are moments, such as this one, when it’s difficult to continue. When my back is aching and my body’s spent, no amount of wine or beer can help. And I know full well that’s not what can make me feel much better, but at least it aids in the process, sometimes. “You’re the dreamer, I know you are” he exclaims, “but I know the work that goes into this!” sweat beading off his brow. ‘Hard work’ isn’t just a word taken lightly by us. It’s something we do every day. When we get home from our day job and have more work ahead. When the…
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Key
I’ll begin the story about 8 months ago. I put in my resignation & officially ended a job I enjoyed & had been working at for three years. June 1st was my last day. After getting married in May & moving to a new home, I felt it was time for me to begin something new. I walked out of the doors feeling like I made the right decision but anxious about what to do next. I had nothing lined up. I went straight to a coffee shop & sent an email to the only lead I had. It was a name of a woman I didn’t know but maybe…
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Thankful
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6 Have you ever made your requests known to God? Maybe you’ve never thought to before or aren’t sure if there even is someone listening to your prayers. Well, as I sit here on this diving board overlooking the pond, a place of my childhood, I realize that the Lord, my God whom I believe in, has blessed me with so many of my quiet prayers & requests from years passed. I don’t say that to make any assumption that He’s a genie in a bottle we can call upon for…
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American Holly
This is one of our favorite trees on the property. Today I cut a few small branches & placed them around the house to decorate with. I wanted the house to look just right for when my brother & mom came to visit. After taking him home from the hospital last Saturday, I wouldn’t have thought he’d see the house until spring. Today has been a good day. I’m thankful for my family’s faith that’s been strengthened through this season. And all of the work that’s been done to the house feels like it’s not for nothing when friends & family can come over & enjoy the beauty around us.…
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Dusting
Have you ever thought about how the small moments of day-to-day life often go unnoticed? The mundane, every day, “got to get it done” type of chores? Well today I found myself with the urge to clean & ended up standing on the bathroom sink in my slippers, wiping down the light fixture which you see now. In the midst of cleaning this old home, I found myself awestruck by the craftsmanship that this light held. It’s been hanging there for as long as I’ve been born & surely many years before, yet still maintains its beauty, even when covered in dust. I’d never know, had I not hoisted myself…
