For such a time as this

You have to say the title with a little song in your voice to get the full effect. 

I haven’t had an Oreo for a very long time, come to think of it.  But I got to be the cream filling the other day, sort of.  It was a busy, busy work day – five hours hefting gravel and rocks at the community garden, then a couple more hours at home stacking firewood.  We are doing very well in that we have more than half our firewood for next winter already cut and stacked.  Better than getting it in in September and burning wet wood all winter! 

We have a big wood shed up the hill above the greenhouse – nice warm*, sunny spot (*warm is a relative concept around here – 54 degrees has been the average).  I was stacking the latest batch of split wood and trying very, very hard to make it nice and vertical – a bit of a challenge as the previous several rows were not vertical.  Wouldn’t you know, just as I was picking up the last few pieces of wood to slip under the rafters…TIMBER!  The entire six foot tall stack fell forward – RIGHT WHERE I WAS STANDING!!! 

I caught the motion out of the corner of my eye and moved lightning fast.  I would have made it out of the way if it hadn’t been for that blasted post!  I found myself sqeezed between Several hundred pounds of heavy, wet firewood and an immovable object and suddenly I was the cream filling of the Oreo cookie.  SQUISH!!

I didn’t quite see little birdies flying around my head, but my bell definitely got rung.  I extracated myself and took a quick inventory – nothing appeared broken.  As I tried to walk it off, of course, I ended up on my tush.  Fortunately for me, my chickens were all nearby and came to comfort me.  There’s nothing like hugging a chicken to soothe one’s soul.

It’s been a few days now and the bruises are starting to show – left hip and leg where the wood hit me, entire right side that caught the post, big bruise on the side of my head and an impressive kink in my spine.

I think there was a bit of divine protection there – I could have been seriously hurt.  As it is a few aches and bruises just cause me to slow down a bit, which I really need to do.  I’ve been pretty busy lately.  I am struck again (no pun intended) by how quickly things happen and in the blink of an eye things can change.  That’s a good reminder.

Healing Continues…

Sunday evening Tim and I joined some new friends for dinner.  Kim and Donna Seeto used to be caretakers at Covenant Creek before it was Covenant Creek.  We invited them over recently to see the changes and visit the place again.  We’ve met several people who rented our house or worked here and each one has commented on what a special healing place it is.

At dinner, which was delicious, by the way, we were able to share testimonies of how God had worked powerfully and miraculously in each of our lives.  It was a very special time.  I also had the opportunity to talk with their son Corey.

Corey was one of the search and rescue workers who looked for Nathan in Devils Lake.  That event had a powerful impact on Corey and apparently he struggled mightily for a long time.  I thanked Corey for what he did that day, spending eight hours on a jet-ski in freezing temperatures, snow, wind and sleet.  His eyes teared as he said, “I’m sorry we couldn’t find him.”  I assured him that we found him and that Nathan was safe and Home and everything was all right.  I held Corey, thanked him, and reassured him.  I pray that he is able to heal more fully now.  He’s an awesome young man.

Another Nathan

We are hosting a young man named Nathan this summer.  Sabrina’s cousin is coming to spend several weeks with us.  Nathan threw me for a loop one day when he called and said, “Hi, Mom.  It’s Nathan.”  After I realized who was calling and picked myself up off the floor, we had a very nice conversation.

Nathan is so excited about coming that he calls nearly every day.  He’ll be here on Friday and we’re looking forward to loving and encouraging this 13-year old young man.  He’s been through a lot, having lost a sister in November 2005 and struggled with brokenness in his family.  We love him very much and think he’s a terrific kid.  We are definitely looking forward to our time with him.

It will be good to have a Nathan here again.

As Simple as Love

And finally to my dear sister Happy Gram, yes it is as simple as that.