A God Thing

Last summer and fall, when the weather was nice, the boys were tan and blond, and the trees and flowers were alive, we blew off taking graduation pictures. In March I started thinking about them, and wondered what in the world we were going to do. I took Michelle & David's photos, but that was a little later in the spring, when there was some kind of good-looking scenery. Well, maybe David didn't have good-looking scenery, but at least there was a blue sky the day we went out! With the kind of weather we were having, it didn't look good for outside photography, and we don't have access to a studio. Cousin Aanna had expressed interest in using her considerable talent on our behalf, but because of college, she wasn't available until it would be too late.

Pete brainstormed some options - the evergreens, the church - as background, and he hoped to start one Monday evening, but time ran out as usual, and I was beginning to wonder how this was ever going to happen. The very next noon, Katie W. texted Daniel - "I want to do a shoot on baseball - would you boys be my models?" She had sung in the Ridgewater choir with Joel & Daniel last year and remembered them as she considered her latest assignment in the photography program. I had Daniel text back, "Sure - would you consider taking a few graduation photos on the side?" She was willing, and both missions were accomplished that Friday. Less than two weeks later she gave them a CD with 34 edited pictures of professional quality!

I take this as a gift from the Lord, and a reminder from Him that He's still looking out for us - even though I still can't talk!

An Easter Blessing

We're hosting my sister's six kids for a couple of days while she and her husband are at a wedding in South Carolina (90 degrees there yesterday). To celebrate Easter and serve, Pete wanted us to go caroling in a nursing home - the residents get so much traffic and attention at Christmas time, but very little, we were guessing, for Easter. When he called, the gal suggested we come on Saturday instead, and sing in a gathering room where they have coffee from 2-3. Pete figured we could pick up the Jones kids at my brother's at 1:15, then head to the nursing home - perfect timing.

I was not too excited for several reasons: I still have no voice; we had two services, a church Easter breakfast and a family Easter dinner to prepare for; we didn't know what, if any, of "our" songs the Jones kids also know. But since I can't talk, I had time to think it over, and decided not to "say" anything. I figured I could do the necessary shopping while they were in the nursing home (since I couldn't really help), so I wouldn't lose any time.

When we got there, Pete wanted me to come in, possibly to play the piano or generally be another adult presence. The residents thoroughly enjoyed the six or eight songs they sang, especially "Amazing Grace", which they knew, and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," requested by Abigail, age 3, who sang it enthusiastically. Pete & the 3 older boys sang "Beneath the Cross of Jesus," beautifully, as they had done Good Friday at church. Afterward, Pete had prepared the children to go around, shake hands and introduce themselves. Here, Abigail was the star of the show. I held her hand and we went around to each lady there (there were no men). As they cooed over her cuteness, she shook each hand, smiled and announced, "My name is Abi and I'm 3 and I play with REAL toys." We were the last ones out, waving and calling, "Bye!"

Despite my negative attitude beforehand, that event blessed me as well as everyone there. Thank You, Lord!

Voiceless

I have had laryngitis from some cause or other for about two weeks now. Usually if I get hoarse, I can still sing, and after a good night's sleep I'm fine. This is different. I've been pretty silent for about a week now, but it still isn't much better, if at all. And when I've whispered or talked, like Sunday morning to the praise team and the choir, my throat does start hurting and it gets worse. I'm actually going to a doctor as soon as one will fit me in. Our biggest fear is nodules on the vocal cords, which means six months of silence or permanent hoarseness.

Two things that stand out to me as I cope with not talking are:
1) how little of my normal speech is actually necessary
2) how much "lubrication" is provided by little bits of speech here and there. At the post office, at a funeral, at church, in a checkout line; it is so awkward to be speechless.

So on the one hand, I talk too much, or at least more than I need to; but on the other hand, a lot of "unnecessary" speech is very useful and helpful for making human interactions run smoothly.

30-Hour Famine

I'm lacking energy right now, because we are in the middle of a 30-Hour Famine. Joel, Sarah & Andrew are joining the youth group, fasting from 10 this morning until 4 tomorrow afternoon, to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief. Daniel's going to do it another day because he had his first baseball game today. I'm also fasting in solidarity, primarily because the youth group is leading worship tomorrow morning, hungry, and I thought I should be too. Well, so far I'm not really hungry, but I'm definitely lethargic. And a little cranky.

Andrew was impressed by the video he saw at the church kick-off breakfast this morning. He kept talking about the African children and how thin and hungry they were, and every time he felt hungry he thought of them. Lord, may we also remember how much You gave up for us as we give up food for a short time. And if anyone reading this blog wants to contribute to feeding hungry children, just comment below and I'll make sure you can.

More Basement Woes

A week after our basement flooded, the carpet and pad had finally dried out and Joel & Daniel wielded the Rug Doctor over the whole house from 4-10 pm on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning, Joel's first class didn't start until 9, so Daniel took off for his 8:00 class and Joel stayed to finish the other half of the basement carpet. As he was getting ready to leave, Andrew came racing up the stairs and said, "Water is pouring in again!" Sure enough, the septic system had backed up because of the frozen drainfield and we had more water in the basement. This time, thanks to Andrew's quick response, the carpet was mostly untouched. Joel left without the Rug Doctor to bring Sarah to softball practice (Willmar had spring break this week so practices were in the morning), Pete & Andrew cleaned up the mess and used the Rug Doctor on the part that had gotten wet, and then I returned the Rug Doctor and picked up Sarah. We couldn't run any water until the septic tank pumpers came and did their work, then we gratefully started using water again - until Thursday morning when we again had a leak! I forget who caught that one, but after a while Ross the plumber came over in the afternoon and blew out the pipe, and we were back in business.

Friday morning I had the thought that I should check it. There was some water on the basement floor, which could have been from before, so I just put a bucket under the pipe outlet where it had gushed out earlier, and decided to check on it when the load of laundry started draining. I told Sarah, "I'm going down to check the septic; if it starts leaking, I'll call you and tell you to shut the washing machine off." Unfortunately, I said this right after Andrew had pointed out it was April Fool's Day, so she suspected a trick. When I saw that water was gushing out again, and called her on the intercom, she queried, "Are you serious?" and didn't shut off the washer until I hollered it and she heard the water in the background.

This time Ross came out and finally discovered the true problem - a tree "root ball" had grown into the pipe and plugged most of the opening. The slow draining in our bathroom sink, which had been going on for a week or more, was now explained. The guys had to dig up the pipe with a backhoe, pull out the ball, repair and replace the pipe, and fill it all in again, but now everything works.

I didn't think of this before, but how often do problems in our lives work that way? We think we've solved it, only to find the same symptoms coming back, because we identified the wrong problem.

Anyway, as Sarah said while we were using the office bathroom, "If we were used to an outhouse, it wouldn't be a problem!" We take so many things for granted, and only appreciate them when they're gone. Thanks You, Lord, for running water, working septic systems, electricity, people who can fix all of the above, AND Your gentle occasional reminders that all these things are extras. The people we love are our true treasure.