15 Years!

Fifteen years of yesterdays ago, it was our wedding day... Time has flown by. It is incredible to think of who we were then, and who we are now. I wouldn't change us back... oh, yes, Abe had a bit more hair and I had a few less pounds... :) ... but in the things that matter, we are so much richer. Our feelings for each other have been tested, and have grown.

I like to think back and remember. We sang a song together at our wedding, and while I knew the words to be true then, I never knew it to the extent that I know it now. It goes like this:

"I could never promise you

On just my strength alone,

That all my life I'd care for you

And love you as my own.

I've never known the future,

I only see today.

Words that last a lifetime

Would be more than I could say.

But the love inside my heart today

Is more than mine alone.

It never changes, never fails,

It never seeks it's own.

And by the God who gives it,

Who lives in me and you,

I know the words I speak today

Are words I'm going to do.

So I stand before you now

For all to hear and see

And promise you in Jesus' name

The love He's given me.

And through the years on earth

And as eternity goes by

The life and love He's given us

Are never going to die."

I am so glad that the love of God never fails. I know it to be a sustaining power!

If the next 15 years are anything like the first 15, I will say it has been an amazing ride! The enormity of the volume of growth and change that I know has gone on inside of me is almost shocking for me to think about. And yet in some ways, nothing has changed. What I saw to be true then, what I knew I could depend on, is the same today. As life happens, what was once new and fresh and beautiful gets tested by the fire. It either emerges purified or proven false and better abandoned. On the other side of testing, it is stronger, more durable. A butterfly's wings harden and strengthen after it emerges from it's cocoon, making it ready to fly to places it only dreamed of, as a caterpillar.

Pictureless Catch-Up Post!

I just noticed that my last post was in May! Help!! This whole summer has just been flying by! I have enjoyed less gardening and canning than last year, and a lot more "people".

Our computer was having some problems...getting slower and slower and then the browser wasn't working and I had so little time to address the problem I was just making do without it.

Thanks to my brother Justin, it is back in working order and we also upgraded our internet access so it is speedier than ever!

We had two young friends spend 2 & 1/2 weeks with us, from Columbus. That was fun! Victor is 14 and Mukami is 12. Mukami was born 6 weeks after Carolie, so having her here was like a taste of what it would be like if she was still with us. It was lovely and I'm grateful to Charity for sharing her children with us. Mukami was a great big sister to our girls. It did my heart good to watch them all together. She is such a sweetheart!

Victor gave the girls a glimpse of what it would be like to have a big brother. He was really good at tolerating all their "girl" play. They like to have wore him out one evening with all the piggy back rides he gave them! He hung out with Abe a lot too, doing the "guy" stuff, like hunting for groundhogs, farmin' and such. He has quite the humor, and kept me in stitches. Nephew Austin and he were quite the pair! They both have the same random funniness when you are least expecting it. The girls liked to tease them and call them "Austina Ballerina" and "Queen Victoria"! :)

Our next-door neighbors have welcomed us to use their outdoor swimming pool all we like, and since this has been the hottest, most humid summer I remember in a while, we have done just that! The girls have made good progress at learning to swim, and we are all a bit more tanned than we usually get.

We had a long-time friend, Lois, visit us from Canada for a few weeks. She split her time between my sisters and Mom and me. We tried to all hang out together as often as possible. Took her to Berlin to do a bit of the tourist thing... visit Heini's Cheese and taste the gazillion kinds of cheese they make... Oh, and let's not forget the fudge!

We also went a couple times to Mohican State Park with picnic food along and just spent hours. It's so beautiful there and the creek/river is warm and fun for all ages. Dropped by Landoll's Mohican Castle so she could see what she remembers hearing us talk about years ago... Memorable times!

Harvey (Abe's brother married to my sis Monica) put out a small field of produce this year. Since I have basically no garden this summer, I have hoed a little corn and pulled some weeds, and lately, picked watermelon and tomatoes, over there. Whoooeeee! There's a lot of tomatoes! I have been putting up some in various ways. I did some with green chilis to use in Mexican type dishes. I have some I need to work up tomorrow into spaghetti sauce. I have a bunch of yummy ingredients to work with and I feel a little like Remy in "Ratatouille"! I have no recipe I love, so I plan on winging it. I love how that kind of stuff makes the house smell!

Harvey and Monica went on a trip to Idaho to a family reunion. They will be gone a week. We entertained the thought of going, but ended up feeling like it wasn't the time for us. Maybe next time. While Harv's are gone, Mom and I are keeping an eye on the produce and of course the sweet corn was ready today. What was estimated to be about 10 dozen ears that should be ready, turned out to be more like 30 dozen! Many hands make work light, though! Between Mom and I and another friend, Christa, and my girls helping with the husking, and it is all in the freezer! We did what Monica needed, 10 pkgs. for me and also some for a neighbor. I still am persuaded that "Incredible" is the best sweet corn out there!!! New kinds keep coming along, but Incredible is my absolute favorite!!! (Needless to say, we ordered pizza for supper!)

This week is the fair! The girls are all excited about the prospect of helping tomorrow evening to dip and sell ice cream cones for The Dairy Boosters. Chloe and Abi were distressed about not being able to help, so Hadassah came up with the idea they could take their children's ice cream maker along to Grandma's and they could pretend to make and sell ice cream and Grandma could be their customer. What they don't know, is that Grandma is going to make some homemade ice cream and help their fun along a little bit! :)

Wednesday is the day they have a good deal on unlimited rides for kids, so we'll plan on pretty much spending the day there. If it is like it usually is, it should be incredibly hot! I remember the days when you have a baby in the baby carrier and the sun was so hot, you feel like your brains are surely about to the boiling point! :( Since my "baby" is rapidly heading towards 4 , it is much easier now! Today the weather was absolutely balmy... humidity way down and a cool breeze. Doing all that corn in the garage was so much more pleasant because of it!

Well, Abe went to the tractor pull at the fair tonight, which is why I'm on here. Kind of a guy thing, he says... but really he loves the fair 'cause he hangs out with the farmers in the beef barn, and checks out exactly how fat and prime the steers are (and how his measure up, or not), then with the farmers in the dairy barn, and with the neighbors in the pig, or sheep, or turkey, or whatever place. Then through the course of the evening, and successive evenings, he bumps into everyone in the county that he hasn't seen in a long time. (Probably since last year's fair!) A fair truly is a melting pot!

Anyway's, I am going to close this hoping you all have been enjoying your summers equally as much as I have! We just "have this moment to hold in our hands, and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand"! I am really feelin' the sand thing for sure! Savor it all!

Goodnight all! - Janelle

Under the Gray & Behind the Black

When the fog burns off

You'll see what was always there

Hidden by the gray.

I have been thinking about this... Often times we settle for living our lives with lots of gray areas, kind of like ostriches burying our heads in the sand. We are afraid to acknowledge things because we will then have to do something about it. All along we are just fooling ourselves. It is what it is, and not acknowledging it does not make it go away. When we bring it to the light, the gray burns off just like fog. The surprising thing is how much better we feel and how much beauty there is, hidden in ashes.

I have no picture to post with this haiku. I was driving when I noticed this...

Lightning reveals that
Behind the black of darkness
The sky is still blue.

It is a most comforting thought. Take heart! The sun always burns off the fog, and morning always comes.

Dandelions & "Someone Else"

"Someone else!" her heart did cry.
"This should not be mine to bear.
The ridicule, the scorn, indifference,
Responsibility and blame,
Should be someone else's game."

She longs for someone else
To bear the brunt, remove the scrutiny.
"Why should I be singled out?"

("Someone else!" He must have cried. "Remove this cup from me!")

Someone else, to step up to the plate.
"Someone else" will seal your fate.
Life will pass you while you wait
For someone else.

"From the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you.
Not someone else."

(He still looks for someone else, with whom to share His life.)

Someone else! I know this cry.
I've heard it in my heart.
Surely there is someone else
Who's not afraid to die!

Some One else - He steps right up.
"I'll be the first.
I'll be the way.
I am the Truth and Life.
I'll be your "Some One Else"."

Let me be like a dandelion that is blown by the wind, wherever it listeth. Soft, and susceptible to the tiniest puff of Your breath.

May Apples & Cherry Trees

He speaks in so many ways. I am learning to listen and see.

May apple, under
Your umbrella, hide away,
Content He sees you.

Cherry filigree,
leaves uncounted shiv'ring praise,
You live out your days.

Trunk, branches, and twigs,
Life-sap running in your veins
Upholds and sustains.

Dogwood Fascination

When we first moved onto our property, there was this puny little dogwood tree right behind our mobile home. It did not get it's fair share of sun, being towered over by much grander relations. Abe didn't think it was going to survive. It had no strength to produce flowers.
Over time, with the removal of other trees and more sun for it's nourishment, it gradually came into it's own. I feel like I have been privileged to watch it's journey and hopefully share in the growth. The birds love it. It is typically loaded with blooms. They start out quite small and green, fading to yellow, then white. As they grow they increase in size and whiteness. The blossoms eventually produce red berries that the birds love.
One year on my birthday, Abe got me a huge wind chime. I had been wanting one, but had no clue where to hang one. The best part of the gift was that he hung it in the dogwood...
What was once hardly noticeable, in our back yard, is now gloriously evident in our front yard. I think it's typical of God.

If I were a bird
I would choose your canopy
To find rest under.

If I were a bee
I would choose your sweet blossoms
To sip nectar from.

Since I am myself
I will simply enjoy you,
Revel in Your gift.

Spring Pleasures = Haiku

Days like we are having, loaded with spring's unique bounty, are awe-inspiring.
Haiku material, for sure!

White catches the light
On a rain darkened morning.
Dogwood blossom shine.

Still, your quality.
Gentle nourishment falling,
Drowning seeds to life.

The girls spent a couple days mothering a wild baby bunny. Such a precious little creature... I never saw it close it's eyes. Damaris said she saw it blink once.

Some bunny loves some bunny...

I love the expression in the hands... a picture really is worth a thousand words!

I love morning. Since living in our house, where we have big windows up at tree level, I have been made aware of the life in the trees I have been living sheltered under, all this time.

Every morning You
Practice the art of stillness.
Leaves are evidence.

You start with quiet.
Orchestrated crescendo
Is the day You make.



Bird in flight, cheerful
Example of freedom's yoke,
Shout your song to me.



I give you freedom.
'Tis a weighty thing to give,
Paid with blood, sweat, tears.