Noise...or the sound of laughter.

Ladger was home last evening for the first time in awhile. I think he had been looking forward to a nice evening home with his family but I think he completely forgot the reality. The boys got along great - maybe too good- and the noise level was a little intense. It's easy to just hear noise but I had to step back and hear the laughter instead. And there was plenty of that. What a blessing those two imps are in our lives.

It's a Beauty...

Yesterday I 'blessed my home' (to borrow from FLylady). Today it looks as if a whirlwind caught us all off guard. How does that happen in one day?!! Yesterday I spent the afternoon digging potatoes, onions, carrots, etc from our garden. I guess that's part of the answer. I didn't do 5 min room rescue and 2 min hotspots or 15 min in my zone. And a little mess seems to explode with no effort at all at our place.

(The boys and Grandpa had a little excitement though - trying to shoo a stray cat out of the grain truck.)

But I do have to admit that there is a sense of satisfaction in storing food away for the winter... maybe some primeval instinct kicking in. Rory was digging out his own potatoes and I could barely get mine done because every few minutes I heard, "Mom! Look at this one...it's a beauty!" And of course I'd have to go and have a look and ooh and aww over his potatoes. He was convinced that his were much better than mine. LOL

Waddaya mean....not even halfway?!!!!

We all went to town this morning as Ladger had to pick up some parts and I had to pay some bills. Last night Ladger's dad hit the ditch with a full grain truck for the second time this season. This time it was as he was trying to pass a combine on the road...not enough room when the header of a combine is usually around 30 ft wide. Will this harvest ever be over? Ladger said we're not even half way yet - YIKES!!!

Everything is turning color so I thought I'd post a picture of one corner of our yard. There's not much red in our fall foliage and that's one of the things I miss about New Brunswick.

This morning I thought I would have to go to town to pick up some parts for our combine header (the new one which broke down yesterday... again...grrrr). For those of you not familiar with this machinery....It's the wide part that you see on the front of the combine. So I got the boys all ready to go and then Ladger phoned and said I didn't have to bother as some parts wouldn't be here until tomorrow. Since we had nowhere to go I left the boys with Grandma and went to the Wymark school to try and fix up the music schedule. And then it was back home to get a phone call that I would be having an extra guy for dinner (and not someone I know either). And that's when I knew....I'm starting to 'fly'. I didn't have to look around my house and panic even though I hadn't even figured out what I was making for dinner. The house was already quite tidy and so I could just focus on cooking something. No problem!!!

It's been taking awhile to transfer all my old programs and files over to our new computer. I'm sure there's an easier way but I just copied files and re-installed most of my programs. It took a bit of doing but it's almost finished and more importantly....my accounting software is finally ready to go. So that's what I'm working on today.

Unlikely candidate for speaking to a group of ladies on housecleaning...

We listened to a simulcast with Rick Warren on Sunday. One thing he said was that God will use the troubles in our life to minister to others... much more so than our strengths. I've been thinking of this as I prepared for MOPS. My topic was 'housekeeping' as I was asked to share what I've learned through Flylady. I really did enjoy it and it's true. Sometimes we have to be willing to be honest and vulnerable about the areas we struggle with because inevitably someone else struggles with the same thing.

And I certainly need to be on top of housekeeping these days as I never know what I might be facing when my back is turned. The other day, Paxton dumped out several of my spices including garlic powder, ginger and oregano with several cups of flour to make the mix really fun! It was a wretched combination of smells. But I vacuumed and carpet cleaned and am ready for what he does next. *grin*

Back up and running....

I haven't been writing lately...mostly because of two new toys that I got last week. The first is a digital video camcorder and the second is a new computer. I knew that we'd need to upgrade the computer if we were working with video files and so I've been doing some research for awhile and I just picked one up Saturday. So I've been really busy making the switch and I still feel like I have a long way to go but it is fun work!

Plus tomorrow, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) starts and I'm the speaker. So that's been heavy on my mind these past days. If you see me talking to myself...well that's just how I think things through. LOL

But here are a couple of shots that I've been able to get with my new camcorder. It'll be fun to get those impromptu shots - funny facial expressions. And I love the one with Paxton in the grain truck.

Still trying to get that crop in.....

One of these days, I'm sure the sun will shine again. But the last few days have been wet, cloudy and miserable for harvest. We didn't get a great amount of rain like a lot of farmers did but this rainy weather just seems to want to hover. This morning we saw a bit of blue sky and we had high hopes of a nice day. Soon a gray fog settled in and the day is looking dreary again. Ladger says at this rate, maybe we'll finish harvest by Christmas!!

Almost exactly two months ago we ordered a digital camcorder and I had almost given up hope of ever receiving it. There was a strike on the West Coast that affected shipping of products and they told me that it probably wouldn't get in until August. August went by and nothing. I called a few days ago and they said "It's here!" Now I'm wondering how long it had been sitting there with no one letting us know. Anyhow, I've finally been able to start learning how to use it and I think the wait will have been worth it...in the end.

We've had a couple of days of rainy weather but you won't hear me complaining. Many parts of our province received up to 6 inches of rain and that's bad news during harvest. We didn't get nearly that much so hopefully the crop dries enough that we can get back at it tomorrow.

Yesterday was the first meeting we've attended for the homeschoolers in our area. I was pleased to meet quite a few new people. The boys had a great time - we barely saw them at all. One family's daughter is selling guinea pigs and they just had a new batch. Oooh, I'm really tempted to go over and take a look one of these days. And most likely if I do, I'll be bringing one home. Yikes!

You probably won't believe this...

I really enjoy driving that big grain truck! I love it when I get the clutch rhythm down and nothing feels better than to have that gear shift slide into place smoothly. The drummer on our worship team said that I shouldn't have any trouble with the rhythm of clutching. It seems that I have found my rhythm and am enjoying it. I love the surge of power as I move that truck to a decent road speed. I love having the window down and enjoying the beauty of a summer quickly coming to an end. I love sitting on the field and either entertaining one of my boys while watching the combine go up and down the field or burying my head in a book for a few minutes at a time as I wait for another load.

God is good.

Flying High on wings like eagles...

Here's what I wrote in the middle of Saturday night:

Tonight I'm on the edge of a precipice looking into a deep ravine that I need to walk through. If I could just take one small step at a time, I'm sure I will get to the bottom safely and then be able to climb out the other side. But I'm afraid that I'll fall and become trapped down there. My heart cries out, "How can I cope?" I honestly don't know the answer. Tonight I was reminded how the events of a short period of time can change everything. I'm overwhelmed and so tired but sleep eludes me because I haven't yet handed over my worries to the only One who has offered to take them.

One of my greatest fears is that something will happen to my husband's dad (mid-seventies). We are at a point in our farming operation that Ladger is the only one that can operate all of the machinery and he relies heavily on his dad to do certain things. For instance Ladger is the only one who can operate the combine and he relies on his dad to drive the main grain truck which is a thirteen speed with no syncronization of the gears (meaning it needs to be double clutched - clutch to take it out of gear into neutral and then clutch again to put into the new gear).

At noon, Ladger told me he was very concerned about his dad as it seemed that he wasn't feeling well. But when asked he said it wasn't to worry about. All day, little things happened that indicated that he wasn't doing well. And then he drove into the ditch as he was making a corner...with a full load of wheat. It was a miracle it didn't roll. We got the truck out with the help of neighbors and then Ladger and his mom decided to take his dad to Emergency to have him checked out. I got the phone call after 11 pm that explained this. And I just had a sick feeling. I knew that Ladger's dad would not be able to work for at least a few days in the best case scenario. That leaves me as the only possibility.

I was afraid of so many things that night as I waited for Ladger to come back from the hospital. I was afraid that I would not be able to learn how to drive the truck. I was afraid that I would learn and suddenly be working for hours every single day and not being available for my kids for weeks. I was worried about how we were going to manage starting AWANA and swimming lessons. I was discouraged that all the housekeeping and homeschooling routines that I've been working so hard at would just be wiped away like that. Everything in my life would have to be put on hold indefinitely.

Sure enough, Ladger walked in and asked how I felt about driving the grain truck. His dad would be staying at the hospital until they discovered what was wrong. There was never any question in my mind. Of course I would be driving. I just didn't know how everything would work out. So I wrestled in my spirit far into the night until I could finally hand over my worries to God. It was irony to me that I would be leading worship the next morning as my life felt like it was unravelling. But I can testify that God is good. The words to one song touched me "You are God alone.....in the good times and bad". I didn't just know it in my head. I knew it deeply in my heart. I also 'happened' to talk to two other farm wives going through their own struggles right now and we promised to pray for each other. And then I went home to learn to double clutch.

I did. It wasn't long before I was ready to drive out to the field and give it a try. Ladger took the two boys in the smaller grain truck (we can all drive that one). And I drove the big one and it went well. He combined for a couple of hours and filled up both trucks and then we headed home. The boys were so good. And I felt like I was ready to tackle this situation one small step at a time.

But I didn't have to...at least not today. The gentleman that we rent some land from offered to drive the smaller grain truck and then asked if we would need his son to help out with the bigger truck - he was available for the day and he took his trucker's license a few months ago. And my heart is filled with gratitude.

Meanwhile it turns out that Ladger's dad had a vicious stomach flu and ended up dehydrated. He's still in the hospital recovering but I no longer have to worry about a more serious prognosis. One way or another, we'll find a way to keep going and get this harvest in. One of the most special things was that my willingness to learn and drive that truck meant a lot to my husband. I think it gave him hope that he badly needed when things were looking so bad. As for me, I learned that I truly can hand over my worries. I'm at peace tonight even though I have no idea what will take place tomorrow. Blessings to each of you and especially to those who are going through a crisis of your own.

"How can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? ...Have you never heard or
understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of
all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of
his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers
strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted and young men will give
up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on
wings like eagles...."

I've been listening to Josh Groban. The 'you' in his song "You Raise Me Up" is probably not intended to be God but that is how I always hear it. And it reminds me of this passage at the end of Isaiah 40.

Supernanny spotted...

I took the boys to McDonald's for supper. Sitting at the table next to us was a mom trying to get her young boy to eat his dinner before playing. After watching her go after this young fellow a few times, Rory says to me in a stage whisper, "That must be the Supernanny!"

My little farmer...

Rory was harvesting too. Earlier this spring he planted a row of wheat seed right in front of my perrenial bed...in front of my roses. And if you know what wheat's like - it's quite tall but I didn't have the heart to remove it. Today, he went out and started 'combining' it with a pair of scissors. Then he'd bring it in and carefully 'thresh' out some wheat kernels. He's planning to take them out to the field and add them to Daddy's wheat when we head out there for supper.

Harvest has begun!!

It was so great to hear the trucks going back and forth last night - the sounds of a harvest in full swing.