Green and Growing

Our lively pond has brought a number of wild things to my house....

I couldn't get the boy's frogs to stay, but they were nice while they did. We are delighted to see a Goldfinch or Robin taking a dip and the Goldfish can mostly be seen in the evening.

Here are a couple of weeds that just keep on growing and need much attention because they tend to become unruly in no time. I'm saying that because they wouldn't stop clowning around enough so I could take this picture so I said I was taking the flowers the get them to settle down and stop making faces.

Big Biker Boy

Off come the training wheels. Hans has learned to bike at the age of 3 and will only be 4 in September. He needed just one push from his dad and he was off like he has always been biking. Rodney only had to teach him how to get started and jump on by himself; now he is all over the colony having a jolly old time. He even wants to ride Judas’ bike now. I found out at the health and wellness fair that he is bigger than 100% of the children his age. It’s a small wonder then that he’s such a pro biker.
I’ve got some clips and will try one more time to post them…

The mother of a 6 yaer old??

Little Judas had his 6th birthday yesterday and we had a little lunch party with sister Melinda’s family. I spent all morning baking friendship bread and his cake, plus there were plans for family supper, so I didn’t feel up to having a normal party in the evening with games and all. That was just enough kitchen time for me.

This is for my wonderful little sport. Not only does he attend all baseball games but he participates even when his runs aren’t being counted. He doesn’t leave pouting or stops trying. I just have to give him credit for that. But wait, there’s more, today his parents talked in front of him about taking him along to Sunnyside where grandma and his dad went to finish off her buns for the new mother, (we have a new baby boy on the colony) but it turned out that there was no more room in the van. He was a little disappointed but was a real good sport about that too.

Me: “Isn’t your daddy wonderful, Judas?”

Judas: “Yes and I love him”

Me: “How much do you love him?”

Judas: “Oh, all the way up to heaven.”

Me: “Well, you only love him as much as you obey him.”

Judas: “I love Him third best of all.”

Me: “Hay, who do you love more.” (A little hopeful)

Judas: “First I love God, then the angels, then dad.”

Well, there you go, right next to the angels, our papa.

I also found a sweet little card on the porch from my little boy a few days ago. He is getting to be quite the artist. It’s him and me hugging, I keep telling him that I’ll be hugging him till he’s a grandpa, he better be ready. So far I can kiss him anytime I want, as long as no one is around. I dig the hearts, ah?

Wingham School has started teaching their kids to swim at Southport with some Fairholme girls as teachers. I went along last week to have a peek and found it very interesting; got a few tips myself. Judas is doing fairly well from what I can see and has always done pretty good in the water.

Judas you have no idea what a pleasure it is to be your mom, you are so much like your pa that you delight me more every day. You are a blessing and I love you very much.

For My Papa

Things He Taught Me:
Dad taught me his ‘plat deuch’ or Pennsylvanian Dutch language he spoke as a boy. He joined the colony at age 11 with his father and passed a few sentences on to me.

He also taught me how to drive at about age 10. Airport was the one place in the world where you where scared to see a pickup truck coming towards you with no driver. When it came close though, you could see a tiny little head pop out just over the steering. That’s how young we learned to drive on the farm barely reaching the paddles. I still remember the first curve I ever made or almost didn’t make. I turned the steering way too far and almost hit the ditch. Dad was so cool, he just grabbed it with one hand and said “Whoa, not so far” with no fuss at all. He is still a very good teacher, patient and lets you find things out on your own. I remember watching a young women learning to drive with her dad and he was being very helpful, in fact, so helpful that she was in tears and stopped in the middle of the city to ask him to please let her do the driving.

Things He did for me:
Dad took us to the Delta beach on the hot summer evenings about 15 miles off the colony, we would cool off and play in the water for a good two hours and then leave in the van refreshed.

He fixed my bike’s flat tire quite a few times in the evenings. I would follow close behind and watch his every move and soon I thought that I could do it on my own. So I went ahead and tried, everything worked out fine taking it off and patching the tube but I just couldn’t get it back onto the tire. I think I made several more holes forcing it on with a striate screwdriver.

Special Memories:
One night we had a flat on the old van on the cement road about a mile from home. I was very young, maybe about 5 or so and of course I was afraid of the dark. When dad was done having a look, he decided that we would have to walk home. Well, I couldn’t see a thing, it was darker than black. Dad held my hand all the way home and I remember how safe I felt knowing that the hand that was holding mine could be trusted and would watch over me.

Things He Said:
My dad would always say: “Too many chiefs, and not enough Indians.” He is still one of the best Indians I know of, humbly doing his part for the whole.

Audrey, Our Gift

Something quite significant happened in our little family this week. We had to let our wonderful babysitter go. We celebrated her 15th birthday on the 4th of June, and of course, that's when you join the adult work force on the colony. She will now be working, eating, worshiping, and socializing with the adults.
She has been a part of our family since she was 9 years old, taking care of Judas soon after he was born and then later Hans. She came every day to feed the boys at suppertime and looked after them during Sunday and evening church services, plus trips and different colony jobs like gardening, canning, butchering, and cook and back weeks. Sometimes I simply don't know what I'd have done without her.
Her mother (Margret) 'gave' her to me when they still had a child under the age of 5 at their home. In my eyes it was a pretty big sacrifice since they would have needed her as well. I have always been thankful for it and can only hope that if I ever have the chance to be as generous that I won't forget.
It's a bit sad to see her go because I really miss her but I'm a little proud too. Just because I've had the privilege to see her grow lovely and beautiful as a flower and now that she's unfolded before me I get to enjoy the fragrance she spreads all around her. It's just too lovely!!
Here are a few paragraphs from the letter of thanks I sent along with her gift. All she ever needed to do was look after my boys, but she did so much more. There will never be another like her.

You can take a lot of the credit for how quick our boys learned to throw, catch, kick, bat, and skate because you always played with them instead of just sitting around. You've helped them be good sports in baseball, soccer, volley and floor hockey and I'm sure that's not the only reason you will be greatly missed.
You have no idea how much we appreciate all the time you spent cleaning the living room, kitchen, bookshelf and much more. It never went unnoticed especially in a cook and bake week when it was neglected from all angles. That dear is not half the story, but we can't remember asking you to do those things once. You did it all without being told and without complaining, never once did you roll your eyes, clinch a fist, or give any sarcastic comments. Your dedication has been a great blessing to us.





We also want to thank you for the fact that we were always able to trust you in our house, not only did you never snoop or invade out privacy but there were always other kids here that you kept honest and respectful and made sure that nothing was damaged. It is no small quality to be dependable and trustworthy, so thank you that we could leave you in charge without worrying about a thing.
The greatest treasure of all, Audrey, is that you have always been a good example to our boys and your influence is something we hope they will never forget. You never let them get away with doing things that were wrong and that says a lot about the person you are. It shows us how hard you try to keep your own heart pure and leaves footprints behind you that are well worth following.

If it weren't for Audrey

If it weren't for Audrey we wouldn't know how to bat or through a ball as well as we do.
If it weren't for Audrey our mom would be on drugs for stress.
If it weren't for Audrey we wouldn't be half the good sports that we are.
If it weren't for Audrey we would have missed a lot of fun.
If it weren't for Audrey we wouldn't know a lot of good games.
If it weren't for Audrey we wouldn't know how to pray.
If it weren't for Audrey we would have missed some good, hearty, laughs.
If it weren't for Audrey we wouldn't have a friend for life.