As the rain falls

Here in Ohio we have a saying, "If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes, it'll change."

However, I must say that in my 38 years of living in this state, minus a few college years in New York, this weather has gotten enough air time (get it?).  We have been slogging through the rain for weeks.  The kids have never worn rain boots as much as they have this year.  I guess that's a positive, there have been years where the boots aren't hardly worn and they grow out of them before they have had any use.

We pass over bridges that span swollen rivers rumbling down their beds.  Full of brown frothy sludge with who knows what under the swift current.  I can hardly keep my eyes on the road as I watch the river pass under the bridges.  Trees who are several feet under water, houses, cars, old tractors, islands covered with this water that keeps coming.

Our backyard sports a trampoline under which sports a small swamp.  This swamp has been water covered since the thaw we had back in March.  I have caught my children with rain boots parked by the front door wading in this swamp, backs bent under the black disc of stretchy material.  Not barefooted, no!  With some sort of tennis shoe or other getting completely ruined...why?

And if that isn't enough our dog, Cocoa, who hates getting a bath.  In fact, we use a spray bottle full of water to squirt her into obedience..she is standing in the swamp, running through it, digging in it getting covered in muddy grime.

My body, my garden, my flowers, my seedlings, my nerves, my family, my dog, my grass (which currently is beyond mowing and now needs baled) we all need a dry spell with some sunlight!  Either that or I need an escape to a beach somewhere with sunshine!

Grumbling skies

The weather over the last 5 weeks has proven that Ohio skies can change and temperatures can plummet in a matter of moments.  The old addage "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" ...yeah, well not this year.  The first week of March brought hail, torrents of rain, floods, and tornadoes.  Our basement filled with water as our 12 year old sump pump retired peacefully in the night.  The rest of March proved equally angry, thunderstorms, rain, tornado warnings, and finally high wind advisories!  With gusts up to 100 miles per hour!

Yesterday ferocious thunderheads shook the house so hard the dishes in my cupboards threatened to smash forth.  That brought on my daughter's comment, "Mom, the sky is so grumbly today."

We have days of grumbling, even the scriptures warn against grumbling and complaining.  I would like to grumble about our unique spring weather and the difficulty it has caused our family.  It's April, today started out in the 50s, by lunch had dropped into the 30s and snow was falling as we drove to our choir location.  As we traveled along route 36 heading east the rivers we crossed had swelled their banks and filled yards and fields with brown rushing liquid.  My tulips are a good six inches above the ground and probably wondering why.  "AH! Retreat, return underground and wait until this season of spring gives us some more dependable precipitation and friendlier temperatures!"

Alas, the lamb of March has lost her way.  It is now April and the only lamb I will be thinking about is the Lamb who was slain and His ultimate sacrifice for us.  Jesus, thank-you.  I will stop my grumbling now...

Bring Your Own

Our piano has temperament.  Every third week a key drops flat for no apparent reason, sometimes without being touched.  As the number of flat keys build the level of difficulty to practice increases for my three prodigy pianists.

Mr. Stanford, our paino expert, travels from Bellefountaine to repair and occassionally tune the instrument.  In January of this year was one such occassion.  He arrived cheerfully and set to dismantling the patient needing attention.  Kathryn and Ethan hung over his shoulders asking questions during the process.  As he worked and removed the broken plastic elbows that had crumbled to pieces he asked for a paper towel to catch the mess.

Ethan popped up from his side and ran to fetch a towel.  On his return he whispered in Mr. Stanford's ear, "Next time bring your own."

I had no knowledge of this exchange. 

So this March when seven more keys fell flat as well as the sound of our dear old friend we called on Mr. Stanford.  He again arrived cheerfully but this time he called for Ethan as he started his task.  He drew out of his tackle-tool kit a paper towel which he promptly handed to Ethan saying, "This is to pay you back for the one I used the last time I was here, and I brought my own for today's mess!"  With a smile he set to his work of repairing and then tuning with Ethan and Kathryn watching his every move.

Lost My Mind

Yes, the results are in, I have officially lost my mind.  That's what several area moms say to me when they hear I have chosen to stay at home and keep all three of my children at home 24/7/365.  "What?!?  I would go crazy if I had to be with my kids all the time.  There is no way I could survive that!" say the moms in disbelief, "How do you do it?"

It is a day by day choice, that is not easy or at all glorious.  Yet, I know, we know (my partner for life) this is what we are to do.  We have rough days, tearful days, sick days, bickering days, messy days, and even angry days.  Thankfully those are not the norm, nor are they so bad that I decide to throw them all into a big yellow bus and say good-bye.

Being with my 3 cherubs gives me the opportunity to model...scary because I blow it all the time...godly living, honoring attitudes, integrity in actions, and how to serve each other.  That opportunity will only last as long as they are in this house.  It can seem like an eternity these 18 years plus.  And yet, there are moments when I look at my 10 year old still, and say where has the time gone?

This opportunity also gives me the chance to ponder, "If there were no laws governing what to teach my child what would I most want him to know?"  Think about it...

First Entry

So I was thinking about blogging long ago...mainly to force myself to journal...I have journaled for a long time and was taught by the example of my dad, but writing takes so much time, especially by hand.  Blogging seemed like the best of both worlds.  The only difference is it's not private like a journal.  I hope to use this to catch moments that would otherwise escape memory.  I prefer not to air dirty laundry unless it brings a smile and encouragement to the reader.

Silly stories, true life living, and honest reflection stirs the heart.  May God be blessed and praised through our lives lived out and may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to my God, who I am sure also has a great sense of humor.