MORE OCTOBER IS…..

As someone who has always been curious and enjoys a slight adventure, I took a second glance at my online search for days in October designed as “National _____” (fill in the blank). I found four more that I could make a connection with.

*National German-American Day–this was a ‘no-brainer’ for me. On my dad’s side his great grandmother came to America in the mid 1850’s in search of a better life. She was 18 and unmarried. In letters written in German between her and her mother back in Germany, they exchanged the everyday kind of conversation most common to all of us. There were questions about how the planting was coming along….how was your harvest…do they plant potatoes in America? While those back and forths don’t bring a lot of excitement when reading, the one paragraph that will bring me to tears every time I read it is…”I know that I will never see you again in this lifetime dear daughter, but I know we will see each other in eternity”. 

*World Mental Health Day–September is designated as National Recovery Month. Mental health and its complexities used to be a ‘hush hush’ topic in our society. But, as more and more people open up about their struggles, and our healthcare professionals give proper recognition to the increase in mental health struggles, hope is on the horizon. I know that in my family I can now recognize that my mother struggled with depression and so did my oldest brother. Unfortunately, neither one sought proper help for their symptoms. I often tell people I could tell by the tone of my brother’s voice if he was feeling “up” or was “down in the dumps”. My mother’s depression took on bad headaches and a lot of resting on the couch. Also as an unfortunate circumstance, while they were struggling I was at a loss as to what to do…what to say … .and most often I fell into the trap of being resentful. That’s a habit I want to overcome as I meet and minister to individuals who struggle with challenges to good mental health.

National Stop Bullying Day–Looking back on my childhood, I honestly don’t believe I was ever bullied. If teasing counts, well, I was the target of unkind remarks in my elementary years and junior high. I needed glasses by the time I was in 5th grade so I was called “Four Eyes”. Late to develop, sometimes I was pointed out as being “Flat Chested”. I had my fair share of snowballs thrown at me on my walks to junior high.

When I was in the first grade the neighbor boy David said something to me that I didn’t like so I beat him up in front of the other kids. To this day, if we see one another he reminds me of the incident. (He never bugged me again)

National Dessert Day–who in their right mind couldn’t get behind this one!? Goodness, it was sheer joy when we came home from school to find oatmeal cookies … .an apple pie or two…or a lemon pie…on the kitchen counter! How wonderful to know that while we were away at school our mom was cooking up something tremendous! Going to our grandmother’s home meant several pies lined up on the washer & dryer….cookies in the jar….a banana cake if we hit pay dirt (and to this day no one can duplicate her recipe)

I don’t know who thinks up these ‘national days’ but I give them credit for creativity, clever minds, concerned hearts, along with bringing awareness to each.

So, while I still have on my reading glasses (I’m still “Four Eyes”) I think I’ll go look for a yummy treat to enjoy later in the afternoon.

This weekend turns the calendar page to October 1 and as I once again asked myself “what shall I write about this week?” I got the notion to type in my search engine “special days in October”. The list is quite extensive. Many are serious…there’s a fair share that seem ludicrous while the remainder are quite silly….

I scrolled quickly down the list to see how many observances I could see myself participating. I identified five from the number in the long list…and though they may not be in a top ten list….I made fast connections with each.

*International Older Persons...hmmm, I noticed the word “older” versus “old”. Doesn’t seem that long ago as a young working adult I thought the 25 year old married guys in my department were “OLD”….I’ll be 70 in a month…guess my youthful opinion makes me a dinosaur now.

*National Coffee Day….I had my first cup of coffee at the age of 19 and that was by default. All the guys in my department drank coffee; if I wanted tea or hot chocolate it meant rinsing out the sole coffee carafe to have hot water. That meant extra steps to the bathroom…so I heaped a lot of cream and sugar to quench the taste of black coffee. It didn’t take long to realize adding sugar to my coffee was stacking up calories…dropped the sugar….not too much later I was able to eliminate the cream, too. But! I admit that I do enjoy seasonal creamer flavors that come out in the Fall and at Christmas!

*National Name Your Car...I didn’t know this day existed. Gosh, my husband and I have been naming our cars since we got married in 1980. A sampling includes Buzz Bomb, Madonna, Blue Whale, Jack, Hazel, The Waggie, The Buick, Snow White, Red Racer. I have no idea WHY we name our cars, but it’s been fun. I even had to ask my husband to help me remember a few names. He stepped in as I was writing to have me include names of cars from his own family…mom’s was the Rust Rocket and granny’s was the Silver Bullet.

*National Be Nice...for heaven’s sake isn’t it a shame we humans HAVE to be reminded to be nice? I had to include this one because after all, that’s the format of my blog. So, have you been nice today? You have until midnight…and then you can start over tomorrow when you wake.

*World Hospice & Palliative….this one holds a lot of significance. Both of my parents were placed under the care of hospice; I cannot describe the level of gratitude and respect I have for this organization. Caring for people in their final days, weeks, or months is a special calling. I’ve yet to meet a hospice employee who was not gracious, loving, and totally committed to serving families, sacrificing time and energy.

There you have it. There’s a few of special days in October that brought back immediate memories from long ago to the present. If you’ve got a few minutes, do your own search and see what you might want to celebrate in October, too. Grab a cup of coffee….glance at your car and give it a name….be nice today…heck, be nice every day! and be grateful for life, for the air in your lungs…pray you get to become one of the “older” people.

Ah, fall, that time of year when heat waves are replaced with cool breezes that begin to tear leaves from their branches….summer flowering plants either die or begin their preparation for winter by slowing becoming dormant….lemonade to quench a parch throat is replaced by a mug of hot tea or better yet, mulled cider.

Ah, yes, fall. Perhaps one of my favorite seasons, it offers glimpses of hope as each week brings cooler temperatures and less blue skies….brings back memories from years gone by. I’m almost 70 now, and while many childhood memories have long faded away, there are those that remain, bringing a smile to my face.

I grew up in Saginaw–in the city–so visiting farmers markets or orchards was a delight. My mother enjoyed making apple pies so our trips to local orchards was a given every fall. We had our choice of several growers to choose from….if she wanted Northern Spies we usually found them at Turner’s Apple Orchard or Bintz’s Apple Mountain. The advantage of going to Bintz’s included watching them make cider in their mill…waiting for warm donuts to come out of the oven, enjoying both at an outside picnic table under cloudy skies. If mom was feeling especially generous, we even took a bag of donuts home along with a quart of cider.

By the time I became a young adult another orchard established their business in a nearby community which included their own cider mill and bakery. To this day, you can enjoy one of their many treats inside their “barn look café”, away from those cool breezes and little bees that seem to enjoy a sweet treat as much as us humans. This orchard–Bayne’s Apple Valley–is a thriving business and popular attraction for local families. For me, it holds one of my most precious memories–it was the last time I enjoyed cider and donuts with my dad.

In the last four years of life, my dad lived with dementia. We kids did our best to get him out for social interaction, breaking up his time living in memory care. As was our custom, my husband and I made the 70 mile trip every Sunday to spend time with him. In October one Sunday, we took him to Bayne’s. My brothers and their wives were with us and we joined the crowds of families waiting in line for our delicious treats. When seated, we chatted. We reminisced about all the years we had spent time together drinking cider and eating more than our fair share of donuts, hot off the rack. Our afternoon was bittersweet, as I realized this may be my last time celebrating fall’s bounty of apples and donut calories no one bothered to count. Dad, at this time of his life, was quiet. Words didn’t form easily anymore. Most communication came through the twinkle in his eyes and a smile that never seemed to wane, even on a bad day.

We talked about the number of pies mom probably baked over the years. Did he remember?

We joked about which donut was the best…the cinnamon sugar? or the plain one? the cider one? Did dad have a favorite?

Before we left Bayne’s that cool afternoon, I made a stop in the store where baskets of numerous apple varieties lined the walls….carefully choosing a few Northern Spies for a couple pies…selecting others for applesauce and lunches. Each bag of apples carried with it a memory from childhood that fills me with joy every fall season now as I recall those former family errands and time spent together that have become precious reminders of living through many seasons.

Soon, I’ll visit an orchard or farmers market for this year’s supply of apples. I’ll hope to visit an orchard that serves cider and donuts…and I’ll lift each one to my mouth…hoping for a twinkle in my eyes complimented by a gentle smile to quiet the moment, allowing my mind to linger for just a few minutes in the legacy a paper cup of cider and a sticky donut create for a little girl…grown up now…making her own pies…remembering her past and rejoicing in a future rooted in love…in change…no matter the season.

We all know them. You know, those “firsts” in life that are exciting and as memories repeated through conversations…bragging … .reminiscing…they become milestones that are etched in our minds forever, like photos stored in albums…to be enjoyed for years to come.

With the arrival of September, many of our children and grandchildren have returned to school. Some kids across our nation entered their new grades in mid August, bringing a close to summer days filled with sleeping in after long playful days that stretched into nighttime hours under the glow of countless stars…lightning bugs hovering above lawns…bonfires and smores. 

For me and my husband, this is the first year that all four of our grandchildren will be in their respective classrooms. Our oldest is now in the third grade; her little brother has begun preschool. Our son’s oldest boy, age 4, is enrolled in pre-kindergarten and his little sister, age 3 ½, is also in preschool. To use an old familiar phrase, where has time gone?

The first day of school got me thinking about all the important first things we accomplish in life and though my list is lengthy, it is not by any means exhaustive. There’s my own first day of kindergarten. Though I don’t have vivid memories from that year in 1958, I remember my teacher was Mrs. Glass, who was quite seasoned in her profession and it was a positive year. Except, part of my first day of school included me  thinking I had accomplished the task of going…the second morning mother woke me I resisted quite firmly declaring “I’m not going, I already went”. Never mind I had two older brothers who went off to school every day under my watchful eyes. 

Learning to ride a two wheel bicycle was wonderful. We had over 30 kids in our neighborhood so bikes were plenty; we were always trading and sharing. One of my friends had a small “two wheeler” as we called them which allowed me to get on easily, practice my balance, knowing if I fell over the distance hitting the ground wasn’t too painful. I was so excited that the day arrived when I mastered riding the bike without wobbling…actually applying its brakes by pushing back on the pedals as designed, versus slowing down and jumping off which had been my early practice coming to a stop! With my newfound excitement I told my parents I knew how to ride a two wheeler. Much to my dismay dad wasn’t quite convinced as I begged him to buy me a bike. It took borrowing that friend’s bike and giving him a demonstration up and down the sidewalk in front of our home. I was SO pleased when his earlier suspicions were replaced with shared excitement and soon we made a trip to our local Firestone Store where he happily bought me my “first” two wheeler. It was green and had white wall tires. I became the envy of the neighborhood, now having my own bike to ride–and share.

There are other “firsts” in my life…getting a job after high school graduation–at our local children’s zoo. Enrolling in business college, carpooling for nine months and then landing a full time position with a bank, carpooling again–with dad this time–until he made a phone call to my uncle who was a car salesman. Uncle Rusty found a 1969 Opel, a car he thought would be perfect for a 19 year old. It was. It was bright blue, a two door which made it look quite sporty despite its small engine. I thought I was pretty cool. Until I visited my cousin Jim one day. He had a brand new Firebird and after riding all over Flint with him one afternoon I decided I wanted one, too.

Against my father’s wishes I made the purchase. Since I worked in a bank I had access to the book which calculated monthly payments and laid out a plan to save for my down payment in order to finance the remainder. When the time came, I ordered a 1974 Firebird from the same uncle who found my Opel. It didn’t take long–one spin around the block–and my dad was hooked. He even agreed to be a co-signer on my loan.

“Firsts” can be scary as we face many unknowns in life. They are also exciting and adventurous. Inevitably, they are unavoidable, too. How we approach and embrace every “first” that comes our way depends on how we’re wired…our knowledge of what’s in front of us…maybe influences by others who have gone before us.

I’m happy I learned to ride a two wheeler. I was thrilled the first time I put on ice skates. I was nervous on my first real date with a boy I really liked when we were both in the 11th grade. I didn’t know what to expect with labor pains and I’ll never forget how it felt when the nurse laid our baby girl–our first born–in my arms. Having her cozy up to me all swaddled in a small blanket, her sweet “new baby smell”, made all the memories of well deserved labor pains go away…and I found myself daydreaming of all the “firsts” that would now become her own adventures, me watching from a front row seat to cheer her on at every turn.

Our community suffered a huge storm last week. High temps combined with an increase in humidity created thunder, lightning, heavy rains accompanied by wind conditions that looked like the storm in “The Wizard of Oz”. Unfortunately for some, a tornado formed and wreaked havoc along a stretch of expressway between two small towns. Although I have not seen many actual photos of the destruction, I was told cars and semi trucks were tossed about like feathers floating in the air when a pillow breaks. Our home was protected; our only casualty was loss of power Thursday evening to Saturday before sundown.

Our daughter lives about 40 miles from our home and they, too, lost power. Living in their newly built home, they’ve enjoyed country living at its best, until their own stretch of time with no running water…fear of losing recently purchased groceries…entertaining two small children who are accustomed to all the comfortable amenities life offers. Initially, when the power went off in their home young Cody, who is 4, yelled “Jesus, Siri! Turn on the lights”. I’m glad he called out as he did…and put in proper order the ones he believed could remedy the problem. Thankfully, too, when the crews flipped the switch, made the repairs to their connection, lights and TV powering up, our lil guy walked around the house in sing-song fashion “thank you God! Thank you God!”

Storms bring out the worst and the best in us. Last week’s unexpected interruption to an ordinary evening in front of the TV was quickly flipped as though mother nature was holding a remote in her hand. And, this past storm was not the first time we’ve had to weather through a few days with no running water or lights. In past years we were entirely at the mercy of waiting for precious electricity as we paced the floor worrying about a fridge and an extra freezer holding all of our food. We did our fair share of finding a source for water to flush toilets and learning to eat sandwiches or use the gas grill, which is great by the way for warming water to take a sponge bath!

While hearts and minds yearn for all conveniences to return, seeing and witnessing how neighbors and church family rally for one another gives refreshment to the soul. With the added benefit of social media, those fortunate to be operating full speed in their untouched homes offer hot showers, water, a place to charge digital devices, a break for weary bodies and minds. In times like we experienced last week–and in past years–our small community always rises to the surface to love, provide, and comfort. Then, power is restored. Grateful voices echo on social media singing praises to the hard working crews who’ve spent hours away from their own families…and slowly….as ordinary days are stacked one against another, we return to “normalcy”….complacency sets in where frenzy once raged….social media posts return to those fed with memes and photos of family activities….work crews and their heavy equipment trucks leave neighborhoods…cleanup takes care of upturned trees and damaged buildings….life as we like to enjoy has returned….until the next time…..based on experience, it’s only a matter of time. Winter’s coming. Can you spell i-c-e s-t-o-r-m?

Goodness, mid August has arrived with beautiful warm days with a spattering of nice rain mixed in during the week. Although some of my flowers are beginning to end their cycle of vibrancy, our lawn is a lush green….vegetable plants are beginning to yield their produce…and to my delight our blackberry bushes are going nuts!  For a couple weeks now I’ve been able to pick a bowl full of these delightful berries…some are making their way to the freezer for cold winter enjoyment…others have been devoured fresh with a dollop of greek yogurt as a healthy garnish!

I remember when I planted my first berry bush. Quite honestly, I thought I had purchased a red raspberry…turns out they are black. I nursed this lone plant for two years…much to my surprise and delight I now have quite a row of plants. I haven’t bothered to “tame” or “train” their growth…they look rather unkempt, much like a toddler’s head of hair after a good nap or wrestling on the floor. But I don’t care. I have berries!

Picking them is a nice leisurely activity except for the thorns. I’m also intrigued by how well hidden some of the berries are…hiding under leaves … .growing in small clumps deep inside all the growth of the strong tall canes. Getting to those hidden treasures is a challenge not to become “stuck” to a thorny vine,  or worse, suffering a painful poke to a finger or arm. Challenges and anticipation of a thorn meeting up with my skin is a risk I’m willing to take in order to harvest my own berries … .one less item to pay high price for at farmers’ markets or the grocer.

Today, while I carefully reached deep into the center growth of my bushes, I began to think about the hidden things of God.  As I sat down to write, I also looked online for scripture that talks about what I felt as I picked my berries…

Your word I have treasured in my heart,

That I may not sin against You. Psalm 119: 11

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44

I marvel at how one small berry bush I purchased a while back is now tall, bushy, vines in every direction, producing an abundance of berries and giving birth to “new” canes that are popping up in the grass nearby. And even though my berry patch is under a tree that is also growing tall and wider–providing some shade–the berries are still finding their way from late spring blossoms to fully ripened fruit. It’s also enchanting to be working away filling a bowl while bees buzz around me, completely content to do their work without bothering me.

Today, I am grateful for two kinds of treasure. One, an abundance of berries both very visible to my eye and the ones deep inside the thorny branches. Second, a sweeter harvest to glean from everyday…God’s Word…which I DO treasure in my heart…and which I DO rejoice over as I discover His promises..and thankfully His bounty comes without thorns.

Here it is…August is upon us and I feel like summer is about to end. Never mind there’s sure to be more hot humid days ahead until leaves begin to turn colors and fall to the ground, covering the lawn that has needed mowing almost weekly.

Small seeds and vegetable “starts” have long grown to harvest or didn’t fare well for whatever a lazy gardener did or didn’t do…other plants are still thriving, blossoms galore on the squash and cucumber…tomato plants are being slow pokes. Herbs are starting to look limp in the daytime heat no matter how much attention is given. 

Looking back, I’d admit that in May I had grand dreams for the summer months…we’d go on day trips…maybe a night or two over somewhere in Michigan we haven’t traveled to yet…boat rides…ice cream trips…maybe explore a couple hiking trails in our area. Dreams are great, but making them come true takes time and diligence. 

We didn’t make any overnight trips other than a conference in July. We also didn’t discover any hiking trails or boat rides, but we’ve enjoyed our fair share of ice cream with or without our grandkids … .we’ve spent evenings watching our oldest granddaughter play softball…we’ve had playdates, too, with all the grandchildren. We’ve done all this while keeping schedules where responsibilities have called us to be during the week and weekends …woven inside my husband’s cardio rehab appointments that have stretched from late spring until now…about to end in a few more visits. All this too, while he has worked his part time job and taken care of summer chores with cars and the house.

Admittedly, it’s been hard to fight off envy or sadness when friends post beautiful pictures of their vacations or family gatherings. Fortunately, I don’t allow myself to park very long in the “pity lane”, quickly reminding myself that sometimes best laid plans are interrupted…circumstances beyond our control. Arriving from moments of sadness to feelings of contentment give me a greater sense of peace…lessons learned from letting go of expectations and accepting what daily life offers.

With August here, delivering its last of the hot humid days…mixed with much needed rain…comes the anticipation of fall with all its beauty…cool breezes…weather that requires a cozy sweatshirt…pumpkin spice everything (smile)….empty school classrooms filling up with happy children….moms and dads adjusting to the quiet an empty home creates when little ones are not under tow….yes, summer days can put me in a slight “daze” if I think too much of what I think I’m missing rather than focusing on the blessings in front of me…besides, hiking and overnight trips aren’t just reserved for the summer. 

“Sanks”

“Melcome”

“I love you”

“Excuse me”

“What’s happenin?”

“What’s that sound?”

Toddler phrases. Short little sentences. Curious minds. Conversations that have many mystery words while continued development takes place. Such is part of my world right now and I love it.

I remember a time when I wondered if I’d become a grandmother? I was watching other people cross over this tender threshold in life…making room in their hearts to welcome a new member to their families! And I wanted that so bad for myself. And then it happened. By 2015 we welcomed our first grandchild, a girl…along came a grandson in 2018, a second boy in 2019 and our last grand was another girl in 2020. The longings I once held in a tight heart are now replaced with beautiful healthy children–each very unique and made perfect in God’s image.

Soon, as speech began my “mom” title was replaced by “Ga”…my husband was “Da”. Our oldest grandson called us gramma/grampa as though we are one entity; the youngest boy calls us “Ah-ma” and “Ah-pa”. It’s our littlest gal who has always called us grandpa and gramma with clarity in her husky voice!

We love any amount of time spent with our grandchildren, especially as they are growing and learning faster than we keep up with them! Macklynn is 8 now and loves softball and basketball. Her brother Coby is into vehicles of any kind and remembers each one by description. How he does that amazes me considering he is now four. Jacks knows his “bugs” and has never met a stranger. I love watching him talk to people wherever he goes. Mylah is very independent and a take-charge kind of gal–she loves Disney and is a good climber on the equipment at playgrounds. 

Although all of those things above are wonderful, the best part of their four lives is they are being taught about God. Our adult children take their family to church quite consistently and at home bibles are read and hands are folded to pray. During fair week recently, four year old Jacks learned that a horse had “tummy issues” and he told the girl who would be “showing” the horse “I will pray for his tummy to feel better when I take my nap”.

Macklynn–who was not ready a couple years ago  to be “bathmatized” made the decision to do just that in October 2022. Prayers that she develops a strong heart, a wise mind, and be tender have proven to be evident. She excels at math and cares deeply about others–winning the Kindness Award two times from her teachers.

We’ve prayed that Jacks would be healthy, smart and happy. His smile lights up a room and he enjoys making others laugh! Jacoby is our hesitant one, he takes a while to process change but prayers for him to have a strong mind show in some stubbornness that keeps getting harnessed…he is cuddly by nature on his own terms, too, quick to offer “I love you” when least expected. Mylah is indeed a “warrior” and gracious…two qualities her parents have asked God to instill in her. She’s quick to help others with anything around her, turning many day-to-day chores into a chance to “learn” and “do”.

Four little people have changed my life and world. It’s been pure joy so far and I know there’s a lot more ahead–ready or not–here I sit waiting for the next conversation or adventure through a young mind. 

GARDENER WOES

This  isn’t my actual acorn squash plant, but it resembles mine quite a bit. I’m a novice gardener by no stretch of words or imagination. I’m one of those people who expects to plant a seed or small starter plant and nothing will go wrong. The sun and rain will automatically nourish. I’ll water when needed, pull out some weeds…maybe. 

In the fall of 2022 I saved a seed from an acorn squash. I actually taped one tiny seed to a 3×5 card and tucked it away in a drawer. Spring arrived and I put my precious seed in some potting soil inside a red plastic drinking cup. Set it on the window ledge above the kitchen sink and waited. I didn’t have to wait long! My lil guy sprouted and when I thought he was healthy enough I moved him to the back of the garage next to my cucumber and tomato plants.

I anxiously watched as my lil sprout gained strength…added on vines and leaves….observing when several orange blossoms formed and behold!–there is a beautiful squash on one of the vines. Success! Pure joy. Makes up for the lilies, geraniums, beets….

I love the deer who visit our yard, but they’re on my “naughty list’. They’ve managed to eat every last potential lily bloom … .have devoured budding geraniums…cleaned up the beet greens, thus, no mature beets for this gal to enjoy cooked and nestled in fresh greens or roasted in the oven.  Thankfully, they’ve left the yellow beans alone as well as my green peppers. 

Gardening is a lot like life. We have our best intentions. We lay out a plan. We begin to follow it and then “life happens”. An unexpected illness. Relationships get fractured. Friendships change. Expectations for a successful project go awry. 

But God.

He is constant. He is faithful. Like the sunshine and rain that automatically nourish my lil garden plants, He showers me with love, grace, hope, and encouragement. He sees my need for protection from elements that could cause me harm….He holds back stormy winds and steadies my boat. He doesn’t only do this during a short growing season like that of a plant, He does it every day, every hour…most often when I’m not paying attention. Why? Because I belong to Him. I’m His child.

As I watch my cukes, squash, beans, peppers and herbs grow I am waiting anxiously to enjoy their bounty. Each summer day brings me one meal closer to a bountiful harvest–although I will admit I’ve enjoyed a few cukes already and a picking of fresh yellow beans rounded out of my lunches this week. Somehow I’ve squeaked out some radishes, swiss chard, and arugula, too. 

Yes, I love my little garden plants. Deer? Well, not so much right now. I think I like them better in the winter when all that’s left to dine on is dead plants and pine needles from our trees. God? I like Him year round.