Change of Seasons

Well, spring has finally sprung in Minnesota!  With a breathtaking suddenness, warm temperatures and bright sunshine melted all the snow, enticed shoots of grass to burst out of the dark ground, and brought us all out of hibernation.  Just a week passed since our nerve-wracking drive in the blizzard; now we're wearing shorts and capris and studying outside.  Philip learned to do a back flip at Joey's birthday party, and now he can perform six in a row without any jumps in between.   Cousins Rachel and Beka visited for a few days and joined us in appreciating the glorious new season we've waited so long to enjoy.

We have recognized with increasing clarity that we are experiencing a new season of life.  With six people living at home instead of nine, and two of those absent regularly, I'm cooking for four or five most of the time.      Unfortunately, I can't seem to grasp that fact, and my pantry is stuffed full of bulk and sale-priced food.  Ironically, when I had nine at home, I did once-a-month cooking fairly often; now I don't even consider it, even though theoretically it should be easier to do.  My teaching time has expanded to fit the time available, so it feels like I'm spending as much or more time teaching just two students as I did when there were six.  Of course, I hope these two are receiving a better education!  :) 

Our three youngest children function almost as a separate family from the oldest four.  Their experience on the farm differs dramatically.  When Michelle was 11, there were 39 kids (18 and under) within a mile radius, including the two turkey farms and a neighboring family.  Now there are not many, and virtually none in the tween and teen age ranges.  The other kids were able to experience all sorts of team sports out in the yard.  These three - not so much.  In fact, not at all!  So we have allowed Sarah, Andrew and Philip to play school sports before they got their driver's licenses.  Which means we're in town constantly.

For some reason, I don't get up in the morning like I used to.  I remember walking with Judy Stadem every morning at 5:30, rain or shine, in the dead of winter with our faces bundled in scarves to keep out the bitter wind.  Now I rise at 6:30, and walk on the treadmill while watching "Jeopardy!" sometime in the morning.  We do stay up til almost 11:30 most nights.  Why?  A different season.

Although the previous season of our lives lasted far longer than this winter did, I have a lot of nostalgia for it. But I need to be thankful for the current season with its blessings and trials.

Facing the Unexpected

We had a harrowing drive on Thursday evening.  The public schools dismissed students two hours early, and numerous activities posted cancellations on the local radio station, so we checked the Minnesota highway website.  The site reported "difficult driving" on a few roads, but mostly "fair driving" at 3:00 pm.  Since we had driven without incident on several occasions when many activities were cancelled, and since it was April 18, Pete figured we wouldn't have a problem and we took off at 6:15 for Mankato, intending to arrive at Grizzly's at 8:30, be seated by host Joel and order food for when he got off work.  After eating with him, we intended to drive on to Rochester for the homeschooling convention.   Andrew came with us to attend the Teen Track.

The first three miles seemed moderately uncomfortable, but when we turned off Highway 7 on to County Road 44, conditions deteriorated rapidly.  Drifting, blowing snow, ice, and snow stuck on to the roads so we couldn't see the lines slowed our progress to a crawl.  However, Pete crawled a little too fast and we began slipping off the road where it curved east.  Pete saw that we would lose this battle, so he turned into the skid as we all cried out to the Lord - "Help!!"  Thanks to God, there was a road at an angle to the one we were on, and Pete gunned the van into the ditch and drove right up out of it onto that road.  Unbelievable!

During the ensuing journey, we pulled another vehicle off the shoulder, saw a telephone wire down on the road, and spent twenty minutes tailing an ambulance with flashing red lights.  I texted Joel at 9:00 (when his shift ended), "We are near New Ulm going thirty behind an ambulance.  Call me."  He admitted to being a little "freaked out" before he called and discovered that none of us were in the ambulance!

Our two-hour trip to Mankato ended up taking four hours.  After consuming delicious appetizers, we ventured on to Rochester at greater speeds, arriving at 12:30 am.  Pete says he's learned his lesson.  We'll see.

Seven Days' Worth of Clothing

Online a month or two ago, I read an article touting the benefits of paring down one's clothes to seven days' worth.  The author contended that choosing her outfit, gazing at her closet, and laundry had grown easier since implementing this step.  I procrastinated for weeks, directing the dinner theater and preparing for Holy Week.  Then I procrastinated for days, just procrastinating.  Finally on Friday, I found another article online describing clothing needs for seven days - four short-sleeved shirts, three long-sleeved, three jeans, etc.  I adapted the list to my situation, wrote a short memo of how many different articles I needed and set to work.  After hauling all the clothes out on the floor, I started putting back only those items that fit well, looked good, gave comfort and didn't go over the limit.  I filled a bucket with sentimental, seasonal or "I might need these later" pieces, and piled up at least ten things to give away.  Now - voila!  The writer was right!  Gawking at my closet gives me the giggles; this morning I had no trouble deciding on what to wear to church, and hanging up clothes couldn't be easier with all the extra room.  I wish I had a "before" picture to post, but here's the "after" and this is a course I highly recommend.  Suffice it to say that if spring ever gets here, I will do the same with my spring and summer clothing!

I finally took kids out for private times this week.  There was a time when I spent an hour with each child individually almost every week.  We'd do half an hour of my choice (which was a book or Bible study and working on their Creative Memories album) and half an hour of their choice (which was usually some sporting practice or playing a board or card game).  That hasn't happened with any regularity for at least two years, maybe more.  This week I dined with Andrew at a Chinese buffet on Thursday and with Sarah at Olive Garden today.  We connected in a deep way, with tears and "true confessions."  (Nothing bad, don't worry!)  This is so important.  May I remember that and act accordingly!

It is Finished

What a week!  What a month!  What a third of a year!  After church yesterday, Karen put her arm around my shoulders and chuckled, "Will you sleep for a week now?"   No, but since November our lives have hectically revolved around Big Events.  From planning for Christmas (at home and at church) while attending all the seasonal parties and meetings, we launched into writing, directing and choreographing the musical dinner theater at Svea, only to find ourselves immersed in Lenten activities and preparing for Holy Week (at home and at church).  Throw in six or seven funerals, both in and out of Svea, and trying to stay in touch with three out-of-the-home children, and I think we can be forgiven for hoping that April proves to be blah and boring!

The last ten days provided a fitting conclusion to this frenzy.  On Friday, we awoke to find Gene on our couch; on Saturday, Shelley and her family arrived to stay for Lori's funeral.  Palm Sunday wasn't too demanding at church - just getting the children to march around with palms and choosing an organ solo for special music.  We spent time at the visitation for Lori and pizza with the parents.  Monday morning Gene left and I played for Lori's funeral.  Tuesday Shelley and family left; Andrew and Philip completed almost a week's worth of school work in two days; we dined with sister Julie and kids in Willmar and brought two cousins back home to sleep over.  Wednesday brought Pizza Ranch, bowling and visiting; we stayed up until 11:30 to greet Michelle and boyfriend Saul when they pulled in from Mexico via Sioux Falls and Iowa.  Thursday we all had brunch at the parents' house, shopped, had coffee at Lulu Bean's until the Jones family left for home and the rest of us headed to the Maundy Thursday service at Svea, where Michelle and I played an organ/piano duet.  Joel also showed up that evening.  Friday brought David and Callie, a good long conversation with Michelle and Saul, the Good Friday service at which Callie played her harp, and a game of Telephone Pictionary.  On Saturday after some more food and talking, Michelle and Saul departed, and the rest of us practiced with the Luther League kids for Sunday's sunrise service.  From 6:30-11:30 on Sunday, we worshiped and led worship at Svea, then relaxed at Grandpa and Grandma's with a delicious turkey dinner fixed by Grandma.  David and Callie took off at about 5, and now we are getting back into our "normal" routine, with only a Science Fair, Andrew's permit test and Sarah's softball games to anticipate.

All together for 19 hours - plus one!

The Lord sustained us through all of this; all of this was Very Good.