Coming Home

I knew this would be hard. I didn't expect it to be easy. It's the coming home. . .after a loss. Things have changed. We knew when we walked in the door there wouldn't be a floppy, wiggling mop to greet us. At what point had we come to expect this? 3 years ago there was no such thing as this floppy, white (sometimes) mop. But there it was, something we had grown to expect. Something that made the coming home what it should be.

We had grown used to the greeting. Expecting it. There was a lot of coming home this year. With me travelling to take care of mom, I came home quite a few times. . .longing to get here to receive hugs from kids, sweet kisses from my beloved, and body wagging greetings from the P dog. 

But this time. . . it was quiet. 

Coming home was different. 

There was no onslaught of a white tornado, no wiggling or wagging. 

No, it was silent.

And all I could think of was our real home going. Someday we are all going to go the way of the earth. And that home going won't be silent. 

And I imagine the first greeting I receive will be a white tornado, wiggling, wagging and sneezing.

Psalm 30:5 ...weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Sisters

Sisters.

I've never had one. I've had a cousin that's been probably about as close as a sister can be. . .but I am sure it's not the same. I have never stayed up late sharing secrets; (whose kidding who, I don't stay up late for anything!) or shared a room (except with my poor college roommates and now my beloved husband) 

But I have watched my 4 daughters. And I love it. The way they giggle and snuggle; tease and play. It is a gift. One I have been privileged to watch. There are 10 years between Clarissa and Chelsea, yet when Chelsea got married it was Clarissa she wanted by her side. Sisters. It's a gift.

And when one sister weeps the other shops. . .and knows just what to get. Besides a giant hug. . .and a shoulder to cry on. . .jewelry to remember by.

It's a gift.

Counting Your Blessings

Sometimes, when things are hard. 

The best place to go, is right out side your door.

Change the perspective a little, and you'll see things in ways you've never seen before.

Counting blessings.

~Family photos that include our beloved Pemmie

~Trips to see Chelsea, Adam and soon to be. . . 

~Grace for the moment

~Promise of things to come

~No matter how hard things become there is always Hope

~Even when it rains, and rains, and rains, and rains. . .no one can steal our joy

~My mom, who was the forever optimist

~And coffee, so thankful for my cup of Joe

May all your travels today lead you to true joy 

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

They say Farm Life Prepares you for Death

Our little corner of the world was rocked yesterday when our dear Pemberly Longbourn Netherfield Davis was struck by a car and killed. Our bodies are wracked with sobs over the loss of our dear pet.

We are a family that is no stranger to death. It is part of the job of a dairy farmer. The cycle of life. . .if you will.

But does it prepare us any more than anyone else for loss? In some ways maybe so. Discussions of life and death begin at an early age around here. We do not take anything for granted. We are appreciative of all that God has given and taken.


The sudden loss of Gary's parents with in a year of each other was a shocker and painful. . .time has lessened the sting, but their presence is missed every day. This past fall my family endured loss after loss, as my parents dog became suddenly ill and needed to be put down; my dad's sister died a week later and 2 weeks later, the husband of my parents best friends died and 2 days later my mom passed after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
    So, we are no stranger to death. But does it made it easier? John 14:1-3  says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

We know where we are going. . . 

We have hope like no other. . .

We have loved deeply. . .

and these moments on earth are fleeting. . .

Just when you think. . .

This morning as I struggled to wake up. . .and I don't even get up at 3 like the boys! I remembered, I wanted to sit out and look at the mountain whether it was raining or not. (We're desperate here folks). So, I grabbed my coffee, bible, journal and phone (do we go anywhere without those anymore?) and headed to the porch. . .and then the back yard.

And everything is so peaceful and serene.

And the sun is really trying to win the battle over the clouds. . . and I think maybe we'll see it today!

And I head back to sit on my porch. . .

And I notice how the girls are staying where they belong. . .

So, I head back to this. . . and . . . the phone rings. The girls, that were behaving so nicely. . .have sent one among them to visit the neighbors. . .

Just when I thought it was going to be a quiet day.

Adding more fencing to the list.

Have a great day!

It's all how you look at it

One day I walked into the kitchen and my son had taken out every pot, pan and lid. He was sitting on the floor banging the heck out of them. . .The floor was a mess, it was loud and I sighed, just as I prepared to yell. But, my son turned to me and said, " Mom, it's all how you look at it."

This is how Memorial Day weekend began this year. We woke to our road completely washed out on both ends. No way in, or out. Culverts to driveways, most of the way up the hill destroyed. Our friends, Dobie and Sandy, at the horse stable were flooded once again (in 2011 during Spring flooding the water came up so quickly they had no time to move equipment), and we could not get to them.  We knew they were evacuating horses. . . we knew rains were coming, and being flooded once causes you to listen carefully to the weather, so most of their equipment was up at our place, on high ground. But, we could not offer help. 

The 4th of July brings similar forecasts. Dobie and Sandy have been gone on a 2 week vacation. We thought while they were gone we could get some hay in for them. It's been a tough year so far. We looked forward with anticipation to the joy they would have on their faces when they returned and saw hay in their barn. But after nearly 2 weeks of rain everyday. . .this was not to be. . . As a matter of fact, their main hay field is now. . . Lake Dobie. 

We began our 4th of July festivities as most do! 

Gary took the kids to the parade. Cedric is not pictured. Must be because he didn't have the matchy, matchy outfit and hair thingys. Or maybe he took the picture. Anyhow, it was nice enough for the parade to take place. This met their parade needs. . .their candy bags were filled and Gary saw enough old tractors and trucks to last him awhile. I warmed up corn dogs in the oven, being the great mom that I am. . .and everyone ate them . . . even the cereal lover, Ella. . .And then it happened. This earth changed in a moment, from a lovely family gathering, to a down pour that was begging for Noah to show up with his Ark.

 After chores were finished. . . we ventured down the road to a neighbors for a cookout. . .while we were there we kept noticing the shimmering of the river becoming more and more visible .(yes in a moment the weather had turned nice, actually really sunny and humid. . .I am not kidding)  That shimmering is pretty, but from where we were sitting. . .we should not have been able to see that shimmering. . .at this moment, Dobie and Sandy pull in. They had returned from their journey. I kid you not.  Dobie drove the motor home into his yard. Turned it around. Parked it in the driveway up on high ground. . . just as the river skipped it's banks. . .again. . .for the second time this year. 

Gary and Dan rushed (Ok, Dan rushed, Gary sauntered) down to try to help. . .Carole Ann, and Linda and I decided we should go and see how Sandy is. We helped her and her daughter secure the horse barn, getting all things off the floor. . Others have come to help. They are prepared. . .they know how to do this. . .But how do you help stop an angry swelling river? This is how it's done Vermont style. Dobie in the skid steer and Gary on the Valtra.

. . .They built a berm. . .and you know what? They stopped the over flowing of that river. . .this time. . .

And this is how we finished the evening. Wishing Ella a very happy birthday. And being reminded, "It is all how you look at it."

I Corinthians 13:12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Our Baby

Our baby turns 8 today. . 8 years ago, we had different hired help. Chelsea had just graduated High School. . .now Elijah has graduated. . .

8 seems to be our number. Chelsea turned 8 when Elijah was born. Clarissa turned 8 when Ella was born and now Ella is 8 when the first Grandchild will be born. Not sure if there is significance, but interesting. 

Gary and 4 of the kids are off to the Williston Parade. We usually head over to Richmond for the festivities. . .but Richmond is rather wet and all events are cancelled. I heard someone ask if we think Noah has any room. . .The rain has made for a very difficult farming season. Glad we have hope. . .Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Have a wonderful Independence Day!