Shades of White

For the Love of Children

In Autumn, it is not unusual to find the windows covered with a morning dew, but  I don't normally find this sketched into my back door at dawn when I head out to feed the cats. LOL!

 

Bethany and Brian

My daughter was married in June, and we are still waiting for the photos! But here is one that a friend gave me. 

Congratulations, you two! Love you!

Just Married

I'm still awaiting wedding photos! This is the best I can do right now. :)

Oreo

 

Yes, I've photographed this same silly kitty sitting on this same deck rail with his paw hanging down like this way too many times...but I still run for the camera when I see him doing it.

My youngest left for Civil Air Patrol encampment today. Now I am down to one child at home--and he works more than full time Monday-Friday. I may need to borrow a kid for the week...

Enjoy the journey.

February 4th, 2009

My blog has been quiet lately.

It seems as though my days go by faster than ever now that we are home from the hospital. Jacob is doing well, but it is going to be a long time before he is back to his normal active life. I’ve been getting up nights to give meds, and it just seems as though my daily routine is all out of whack!

My site meter says you are still stopping by—I’ll see if I can get back to posting a bit more regularly this week. Today we are celebrating Jacob’s 16^th birthday. Happy birthday, Jacob!

Blessings to you all!

Upcoming Surgery

About a year ago my 15 year old was diagnosed with Scheuermann’s Juvenile Kyphosis. This means that one side of a few of his vertebrae is growing correctly, but the other side is not, causing a curvature in the upper back that should not be there.

In order to correct this, the doctors are planning to put rods into his back and to add donor bone to correct the misshapen vertebrae; surgery will be at 8:00 a.m. Monday, January 12^th. It usually takes about 8 hours. He will be in ICU for two to three days and should be able to come home in 7 to 10 days. The bone takes a full year to fuse, so his activities will be restricted for quite a while.

 

I'll be staying in the hospital with him, so I will not be around here too much--and even now I'm trying to get my household ready to do without me for the next couple of weeks. So if you notice I'm not around too much, send up a prayer for us. I will try to leave an update here or ask my daughter to check in with you.

Blessings!

Sunday Morning: Book 'n Breakfast

Several weeks ago,  I decided that all of my children were old enough to read the adult Christian books that I had on my library shelf and that we ought to be discussing them. With one child in college, two busy in outside activities, and my husband trying to juggle full-time work and the farm, the only time I could be sure all of us would be home was Sunday morning. I told my family that I'd get up bright and early to make a nice breakfast if they would get up in time to discuss the week's reading.

We started with A Slow and Certain Light: Thoughts on the Guidance of God by Elisabeth Elliot. (I think this title has been changed to God's Guidance: A Slow and Certain Light.) I divided the book up into readings of something around 20 pages. Although they all wait until Saturday night to read it and the discussions are a little sleepy, I think I've found something that is working well. I'm enjoying my family reading and discussing the thoughts and ideas of deep people.

We just finished The Mystery of Pain by Paul Lindell. I knew Paul when I was a child; he had cancer and did not survive it, but he was the most inspiring of men. I was 13 years old when he was head of the World Mission Prayer League (WMPL) and led a study on 1st Corinthians 13; that was when I felt the scriptures burn within me for the first time, finding faith something that was vibrant and alive. This small book talks about all kinds of suffering--not just physical pain. It caused us to ponder the In Between stage--that time after the Garden and before the New Earth--in which we are now living, a time when pain and suffering is "the norm" and not something unusual or unexpected, a time when our weaknesses show God most visible. This little gem use to be available through WMPL, but I do not find it available on their website now. Several sites sell it used: Amazon and abebooks.com.

This Sunday we will discuss the first two chapters of O. Hallesby's Infant Baptism and Adult Conversion. I borrowed this old book from my pastor a few years ago and loved its discussion on the faith of a child who is raised in a Christian home and the importance of his knowing his imperfections. It gave great insight into the difference between the person raised in faith and one who converts to it when older. When we finish it, I plan to move into Becky Pippert's book, Out of the Saltshaker and Into The World, and we may do a book by Tozer. There are so many wonderful options!

I've been reading ahead of my family during my daily meditations, choosing books that might be interesting, tossing others that don't seem to be a good fit for us. This has been an excellent reason to get myself back into several books that I read years ago.

And breakfast on Sunday morning is a lot better, too: pancakes, waffles, apple panakukan, omletes. Care to join us?

Lifting Them Up

The phone rang. I was rushing around, trying to be ready to leave when my ride came.

It was someone I did not know, and they wanted me to take a message to our neighbors who have no phone: the father of the family was coming home from the hospital.

My taking the time to run over and tell the shy teen who answered the door was paid in full by her eyes lighting up in pure joy hearing that her dad would be home in a few hours.

Yesterday we learned more.

This father of 11 children (or is it now 12?), has lung cancer; they sent him home, and the prognosis does not sound good.

Henry, a bishop in his Amish church, is a kind and gentle man and always polite.

His wife Sarah, a sweet, cheerful woman, gave birth to another welcomed child not so long ago; the oldest child must still be in his early 20's.

This is the same family whose house burned a few years ago.

I went over after calling the fire department and found the children standing outside, quietly watching their house burn while the firemen drove through the fields and lanes to get there--when I had called 911, we did not know if the baby had been gotten out of the house in time or not; the the firemen came with real purpose.

The baby was safe.

Mom and dad were visiting with family.

As quickly as I could, I bundled them into my car and took them to the home of their relatives--I could not imagine what horrors were going through their minds as they stood there watching, and I did my best to take them quickly to tender, loving arms who could wipe their tears and comfort them.

And now they need comfort again in a very real way.

When you think of them in the coming weeks, will you pray for them?

Thank you.

Getting Comfortable

How can he sleep that way? Must be a cat.

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On Tuesday I will begin teaching my 15th year of homeschooling.

Sometimes I feel very weary, and I can only look in awe on the mothers of large families who continue the homeschooling journey for so many years.

Weary or not, I would not willingly give up the years in the past or in the future of my time with my children.

The other day someone asked, "If you were to be stranded on a deserted island for the rest of your life, who would you want to be there with you?"

I did not have to think about it for more than a second.

My family.

We laugh together, and we quibble and spat; we read the same books, and we hold the same values.

We worship the same God.

Life has been good.

At Grandma's House

On the living room table

In a toddler's rocking chair

At home

We Are Weary

Mom called 911 for an ambulance 4 times last week; she has dizzy spells that incapacitate her.

I convinced her to stay with me until we can get to the doctor on Monday, but she is rather adamant about not being "in our way" out here.

It would be nice if we would get on something other than the wait-list for the neurologist.

This is getting old...

Beyond Tranquility

I almost always find simplicity in beauty.

Many have asked about my mom. She is doing better and is back in her home again after being in and out of the hospital several times. It has been a long three weeks for all of us. Thank you for your prayers.

Today is Monday

Sometimes Penelope, my donkey, reminds me of Eeyore.

We found a dead cow in our pasture today; she was covered with snow. She probably died in the really bad storm two days ago. It is possible that she failed to give birth. We are not sure yet.

My mom has not felt well since her surgery, and I finally convinced her to come and stay in our home. It will be easier to care for her here.

My Lenten candle is burning tonight. It is a quiet reminder of the season we are in--a time of conviction of sin, repentance, and renewal.

Blessings.

Wednesday's Storm

Wisconsin had a rather large snow storm on Wednesday. The cows never seem to mind the snow. Do you see the cow lying down on the right side of the photo? She's crusty with snow--and chewing her cud, which means she's happy.

Between delays and snowstorms, I have not yet taken my mother home from the hospital. One cannot drive through roads that have not been plowed--and I've not heard a snowplow go through since the storm started. She is anxious to get home.

I'll take my computer with me, but I don't know if I will have any internet connections.
See you soon!

Jean

Shrove Tuesday

I don't think I'll be having much of a celebration today, but I'll serve pancakes to my boys before I leave for the hospital! My mom's stent placement went well and I'll be taking her home today and staying with her for as long as needed. I can't believe they can do that surgery on one day, send them home the next, and allow them to drive within 48 hours! We will see if recuperation truly goes that quickly.

Enjoy your Mardi Gras!
Jean