Thanksgiving wishes...

“Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for in doing so some have unwittingly entertained angels” ~Hebrews 13:1-2 Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family. As you open your hearts and homes over the thanksgiving; here is my wish for you. May your heart delight in the simple things. May you find joy in the everyday and cherish those around you. May the crisp cool air of the season fill you with renewed energy and a sense of peace. May you find the time to inhale the scent of the new and to run your touch across the passing of the old. May the bridges you cross give you internal growth and perspective. May you and yours have good health as we head into the holiday season. May you find forgiveness with your trespassers as they have also shaped who you are today and may you find wisdom to embrace all beings with God’s graces. May every dish you prepare or wash be done with love, it could be the last for someone close. May your meal be enjoyed with gratitude not gluttony. May your travels bring you pleasure and safety. May you place God into every endeavor this holiday weekend and may you find the presence of our Lord within everything you embrace. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of Jesus Christ in you” ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Remember God may have a special message for you to hear. Open your hearts and doors. The guest you invite to “dinner” may be the one to deliver it. Wishing you a blessed Thanks-Giving from our family to yours.......................... The photo is of my beautiful mother and I in 2012 celebrating her birthday, Thanksgiving and many blessings.

This moment....

What a busy and amazing whirlwind of activity surrounding us the last few months. Our home was filled with the laughter of small children most of the summer as I watched three little ones I had looked after a couple of years ago as babies. It was nice to see how they had grown and share the summer with them. The last month of the summer we were blessed with our two oldest grandchildren joining us. What a buzz of excitement as they swam in the creek, took care of farm chores, played in the woods and they saw their first fireflies!!! Great times were had riding down to the creek every night we were able too. We threw rocks in the water, waded on some evenings and waited for the fireflies to come out. We would ride back home well after bed time with their little voices still babbling even after the lights were out. My husband and I were soooo tired!!! I also spent one of the best summers a mother could imagine with my youngest son. While I admit I was a bit apprehensive as the process started. Our son needed a job and I needed help on the farm. I really was thinking in my “mom mind”; he would last about two weeks into this game of "side by side with mommy". I thought, he would be feeling smothered and want more money and he would bail. To my surprise he did not. We spend the summer sharing chores, working on the farm, talking about life and sometimes enjoying lemonade on the patio in the late afternoon as the little ones napped. While my plan was to make him go look for a job; "you know, grow up a bit". I am so glad he decided to work from home. I told my husband that we had the best summer ever! We didn’t do big things. Every day was an adventure whether we were hosting guests on our farm, working outside, preparing dinner together and talking about the day or his future plans. Yesterday my husband and I took our youngest up for a college visit; he will be transferring next fall. I am sad he may be leaving but so excited for him! It was awesome to hear his advisor tell him how well prepared he is to move into this next phase in his life (both academically and emotionally). We got home and after being gone all day I went out and mowed till after dark. When I came in my son said mom could you help me with some homework? At first the “bubble over my head” said “really, now??”: Good thing we don't really have comment bubbles over us!! Being a mom I said sure, after I shower. I got out of the shower and helped him a bit, he had most of it done. As he closed his books he said “mom, you know you need to wait until after this year to go back to school” (I was planning on returning next semester) I said really why? He replied, "Because I still need you". My husband and I had discussed earlier in the evening after the long day, that we never knew how we juggled five children!!! My husband said... “We didn’t”. I stood there for a minute and pondered this. He was right we didn’t manage anything! We just ran by the seat of our pants and tried to enjoy every minute of it. No matter what you are finding in your life today, extra children, broken appliances/cars, sickness, kids that won’t go to bed because of excitement about life, never ending homework, the daily grind of house work, rain, failed plans for the day… keep in mind to “Enjoy this moment, this moment is your life”. Regardless of what you think is happening now you will always look back with a smile or fond memory. I usually start to write my blogs with some intentions of making an eventual path towards a message. This time I decided to just get back to the “pen” since it had been so long. Childhood and life is short,savor every moment. My children are all “adults” but they are my friends and my children. Each one brings something unique to our family and to my life. Take some time this weekend to enjoy your family even if you do it cleaning the garage or working on homework  My husband has told me several times that I am the only person he knows who can find a reason to celebrate every day. I say... Why not??? Some of our summer projects!!! o

Mother's Summer's and Time

Mother’s, Summer’s and Time. May is the month in our faith where we honor our holy mother Mary and mothers everywhere. We celebrate the hard choices and sometimes tough days a mother puts in. We pray for thankfulness for our mothers and for Mary our heavenly Mother. Mother’s Day was yesterday and the end of the school year is fast approaching. When my children were small Mother’s Day was one of those days I would always wish for a much anticipated break. I was so tired. We frequently would spend the day taking the children to Worlds of Fun; a tradition that started when we lived up in northern Missouri. We were a young family and funds were tight. The amusement park would always offer “Mom’s get in free” on Mother’s Day. So it was the “best little vacation” we could afford (Bonus, our only child at the time, got in free). As we added children the trips continued and became a much expected family time. We moved back home and the drive was long (now 4 hours) but we still tried to go at least once a year. It was so much fun but so much stress and work for my husband and I to take all five peeps on this or any other excursion. Mother’s Day was awesome but hardly quiet or restful! School letting out for the summer always provoked comments from friends such as “only a few more days of quiet, then the kids will be home all summer”. In our house this wasn't the case as our children were already home, because we chose to home educate. During the school year we had a set routine and schedule we tried to follow during the day so the “I’m bored” and “what are we going to do today” were kept at bay. Keeping this schedule was often tiring. At the end of the day I was worn out from being Mom, teacher, housekeeper, cafeteria lady and sometimes the principal (although I did attempt to push the last one off on my husband whenever possible’ haha). I often would get dinner on the table just in time to leave to go teach classes or deliver a baby (which more often than not involved being up all night). When summer rolled around I was relieved we could plan our “Field Trip Friday” any day of the week or just do nothing during the day. I cherished those hot lazy afternoons. The children sometimes got cranky or whiny but from the years that had already gone by I was realizing just how fast time flies with parenthood. The children returning to school would have parents counting down the days till the house was quiet again. Not me; my house would not be quiet in fall nor would it be empty. Maybe more structured, busier, but always anticipated. As the children returned to routines we would also with five children load up on the biggest dose of little league style sports ever. Oh my how we wished for a weekend without 8-10 soccer games! There were some weekends we simply prayed that all the kids actually played in the same town so we didn't have to manage two car loads going 2-3 hours away in different directions. Sometimes we even ended up sending a third child with a friend in yet another direction. The past few years have slowly wound this pattern in life down for us. The last school or extracurricular activity we will ever attend as parents was this past weekend. What will we do with open weekends this fall! I am sure we will; or our now college age children, will come up with some amazing time fillers. What mother or father doesn't yearn for some peace and quiet? This Mother’s Day four of our five children were away from home. The one child home did manage to fill our home with the joy and the laughter of several teens. We hosted the post prom party and several stayed till well after breakfast and into Mother’s day. Quiet no, different yes. Later in the day as we sat down to dinner just my husband, my son and I; it was quiet. Not sure how I feel about this yet (haha). When I used to teach parenting classes we would talk about those first precious weeks. I would tell the new mothers that they would dream of sleep if only they could actually get some sleep! I would tell them how they would get up in the morning and sit in a bathrobe nursing/rocking a baby. As the day would go along they would be doing much of the same. At some point they would be dreaming of a hot shower (as a parent, you often don't get one... even when the day is done). At the end of the day you will be found still in your bathrobe in a rocking chair and without a shower. You will try to rationalize this with yourself and even attempt to explain to your husband or others why this occurred. You sat all day or so it seemed. Somebody did make dinner, do the dishes, care for the baby, wash tons of baby laundry and maybe even “gasp” leave the house in their disheveled condition (you knew you smelled like spit up and sour milk but had to go)! You know you did do something besides sit in a rocking chair and change diapers; but what you’re so tired your mind draws a blank. During times like this and others throughout parenthood we often think, “will I ever get to sleep in or shower” (and other things we dream of getting done). You settle into this routine and take it for granted. Suddenly you get up one morning and go to hold and rock your baby and he crawls off your lap. You pick him up and he screams to get down. At first you are excited. You get that “hot” cup of coffee you were yearning for and sit down. Joy ensues when there is more in you, than on you for the first time in weeks or months! You finish the coffee and pick up the baby. The earlier situation repeats; in that one instant you know just how special (trying for sure but…) precious those fleeting moments of parenthood really are. These types of moments will repeat themselves over and over. Some parents learn faster than others and quickly begin to savor every moment. Other parents don’t ever really get it till their children are grown and yet a scant few will never get it. How sad for them. I always told the new mothers it will seem as though this phase (the rocking chair stage) will never end but in reality it ends all too soon. Don’t ever pass up a moment when you can do something with your child. There will be lots of time later when they are grown when you may be alone and in the quiet. On those days you will wish you could enjoy your child’s voice in your home. You will want the noisy family trip on Mother’s Day and maybe even give anything to know that school will be out in a few days and those noisy, sticky, dirty little (or large) feet will be running a muck through your home. Older people especially grandparents know this life lesson well. How blessed you and your children will be to learn it early. How sad it is to have a child overhear a parent say “I dread summer vacation with the kids’ home all summer”. We always try to plan a special something when school gets out, even if just an ice cream date the first day of summer. I will be taking my high school senior on his “last” (although I hope it won’t be) “summer vacation kick off ice cream date” next week; I can’t wait! Let your child know you cherish the months ahead with them. They will in return cherish you. Copyright 2013 Micheline Edwards The photo of me and the baby, is me on my First Mother's day with my oldest son. The photo of the grown man handing a baby frog to the little boy is my oldest with his son sharing a simple moment. The others are some things we have enjoyed in summers past. Activities don't need to be expensive or complicated your children just want to "DO....... WITH YOU".

Tests, Graduations and Good Things

I was at home this morning sorting out the week’s calendar, calls and correspondence. I believe I had one, two or three cups of coffee too many and my brain went into overdrive. We have so much on our approaching calendar and so much to be thankful for. We will be celebrating with two of our five children this month as they attend their respective graduations. We have one high school graduate and one college graduate. There is also an “unspoken sort of graduate” approaching as well. I am graduating from having young children in my home. All of our children will be (after this month) either in college or beyond. This doesn't represent the end of parenting but like a high school or college graduation it represents a lot of changes/choices I will need to be making in my life this year. Two of our children are still living at home (while they attend their first couple of years of college). When they are at the house I hope to be there also, to share their lives, their joys, their concerns and the daily jumble of things they encounter. Alas, I also know that at their ages these sharing sessions are different and also come at weird times; midnight, two in the afternoon, when they are hungry (lots of boys!) or a having a crisis. The sharing is not always the breakfast, bedtime or commute conversation we had when they were smaller. There are times when they will want to take a walk and talk; or give me a call to share a special moment. For these treasured times I am very blessed. As parents we spend so much time living both through and with our children that as they grow we have a hard time separating our lives from theirs. I am not sure there is ever a true separation. I would hardly consider myself an empty nester. I am neither sad nor in mental turmoil over this change. I am in awe at the lively, beautiful, and Godly young adults before me. I am so proud of them. I can’t wait to see what they decide to do with their futures and how they shape and mold their own families as they marry and begin those chapters as well. Like a teacher at the end of the school year; this is the close of one year and the anticipation of the next. Most educators find joy in seeing their students in later years and hearing of the wonderful journeys they have taken. I have been my children’s teacher, mentor, friend and parent for most of my adult life. Now it is time to decide my new chapter. Returning to school, working, improving my business, hobbies, trips, dates with the love of my life, enjoying grandchildren and being active in my children’s lives are still all on the activity wheel of life. When we view being a parent before we are actually one, we seem to think that there is a clear cut break when the children move on. When we are actually parents we then look at the milestones; “When Jack is out of diapers”, “when Susie starts school”, “when we don’t need a sitter anymore”, “when Amy starts driving”, “when Mark graduates”. Well folks, I have passed a lot of “whens” and I have to tell you there is always going to be another “when” waiting if you are an involved parent that loves your child(ren). This is however a time in every parent’s life when the “whens” and the “I can take a different route” come together. I haven’t decided what route that is going to be. I know it needs to lead somewhere and I have several destinations I am entertaining; but none of them seem to be jumping up and down and waving at me. None of my choices are hanging on my pants leg whining or sticking their fingers under the bathroom door saying they need me. I am not used to choosing without a squeaky (although always precious) wheel or a school calendar dictating for me. There are times when prayer is the best answer and this is one of those times. As graduation approaches for my children, for my friend’s children, for my friends who’s “whens” are diminishing and for my own self I pray. ~ “Dear heavenly Father may you look upon all those graduating onward to new adventure in life and grant them these blessings; May their weeks, months and years ahead become a molding of the future they envision. Guide them with peace and direction so that each and every one of them on their continued journeys finds joy, happiness and grace in what they choose. May they search in prayer for your will and guidance in each decision they make. Lord may you walk beside them always and hold their hands when needed and grant them bright futures” Amen.” ~ While there is no grand “Umf” to this post, there is a message to move forward in life with purpose, grace and prayers for wisdom in your choices. Sometimes the choices we make in life are simple and sometimes like hearing God when he speaks to us; answers to choices are not easily seen or heard. I will look forward to the coming busy calendar days this month with glad heart (and a little stress). I will hope and pray that the choices I make and those my children make serve God, themselves and those they love and care about with purpose and joy. “Test all things, hold fast to what is good” ~1 Thessalonians 5:21. I will hold fast to family and what is good. I will also test all the new things coming into my life and hope that everyone does the same. Congratulations to all those who are graduating on to new and wonderful things this spring! Copyright Micheline Edwards 2013

We are all Children on a Rainy Day

We are all Children on a Rainy Day. Yesterday while driving into town the rain was pounding down on everything. My drive from our home to town is about 20 minutes of relatively traffic free driving. There is lots of beautiful scenery and it gives you time to breathe before you engage in whatever activity you are headed to; be it work or play. I have told my husband that we are so blessed to be able to live in such a breath taking place. The air yesterday was balmy and thick and the sound of rushing water could be heard everywhere. The sounds in particular took me back to years ago and put a smile in my heart. Having had five children and been on a tight budget most of their growing up years lead us to find all kinds of cheap amusement in all sorts of odd places. One of which was rainy days. When my oldest two children were small and the “new” baby needed to nap we would sometimes take a drive. These drives were sometimes nothing more than a quick trip to the store but other times they were family style Sunday field trips into the country where on a dirt road the older two would roll down windows and hang out of them calling to cows. I always loved the “slow down mommy & daddy that one heard us!” as the cows would blindly follow any vehicle that came close looking for feed. The baby got older and didn't need car vibrations to fall asleep so we stopped our trips to nowhere. We did miss the drives. One afternoon after several days of being cooped up due to rain, I remembered the joyful giggles in the back seat from drives past. Some of the most vibrant laughter came from driving through low water bridges or large puddles. The children loved the way the water would splash up and over the car and sometimes onto them. They would always beg to go back and do it again. This rainy day years ago, was similar to yesterday; warm, humid and rushing water everywhere. I told the kids we were going on a fun trip. I dressed them in old clothes and loaded their puzzled little faces into Daddy’s car. My husband’s car had long ago been named “squeaky” because it was our second vehicle and was a budget purchase. Those brilliant little people knew something was up. Mom never drove squeaky! Squeaky was just that, Squeaky! Squeaky was an old Oldsmobile along the lines of a “k” car. It was a generic flesh colored beige and really there wasn't anything you could do to that car that would hurt it. The kids especially loved the squeaks it made when going over rough terrain; I however was often traumatized by the car. Squeaky was the perfect vehicle for our trip. As the rain poured down on us in our squeaky old car, I drove towards the back roads. When we got to the right spot I hit our first BIG puddle the children squealed with delight. We drove for nearly 2 hours that day doing nothing but hitting the biggest puddles we could drive through in our super car. I finally announced it was time to head home. The tears started streaming down their little cheeks, “please mommy just a few more splashes?” I gave in, but let them know we would head home and look for some more puddles on our way. On the way home I am sure anybody who saw our car would have suspected “a liquid over use” of some sort but not the kind we had enjoyed all afternoon. We swerved to the side of the road, to the middle and through all the dips to hit every single puddle along the way! As a young parent I would have never guessed that something so simple as driving through water would amuse 3 small children for soooo long! We got home just as the rain finally stopped. The children and I went inside to start dinner. Over dinner they told their father of our great adventure in squeaky. Anybody listening would have thought we had gone on some grand trip they were so excited. They told of the splashes, and the cows and how “we even did it in town” which must have appeared taboo to our oldest, as he lowered his voice to a whisper to divulge “his secret”. We spent many years home educating and many rainy days where when the childen finished they couldn't play outside when school work was done. At least one of our children would always ask on those days; “if they got done with their schoolwork in time could we go drive through puddles?” Sometimes we would drive down to the creeks and wait for the water to rise during a heavy downpour. The kids would get so excited driving from one low water bridge to another waiting for the water to spike. They would push sticks in to the banks and eagerly wait for the water to overcome their markers. We did discuss the dangers of flash floods but we also enjoyed this time out together while the rest of the world hung out inside. Rubber boots, raincoats and lots of rain could provide hours of free fun. My kids are older and now they drive themselves down to watch the water rise during a heavy rain. Sometimes I join them. We often ride our ATV’s instead of braving the weather in a car. We manage to get completely soaked along the way. I wonder if for the young adults now living in our home the creeks, puddles and low water bridges are like old friends they can’t wait to visit on a rainy afternoon. If they are home they seldom miss the chance to go to them. I would never have imagined the number of hours spent just driving through water that we have clocked over the years. As my children grew the giggles were always there on our outings but we also spent many of those hours just talking about life. As I was driving into work yesterday the weather reminded me of all those afternoons spent with my children. I didn’t want to go to work, I wanted to go drive through flooded waters and hear my children squeal with delight. I went over two flooded areas on my way. The first one was just a small stream over the road. I watched as the car ahead of me slowed and crawled through it. About a mile or two further as I approached the low water bridge that always floods there was of course water over the road. There was a sign which announced this before I got there. There are many (low water bridges) that are impassible and not safe but this one usually doesn’t get more than 6-8 inches over and literally flows out into a cow field; no danger of being swept away by raging water. As I approached it there was already one vehicle sitting there accessing the 3-4 inches of water? The car directly in front of me slowed to a stop and of course so did I. I sat there for a few minutes waiting to see if either would go for it. I rolled down my window and listened to the water, felt the rain and smelled the damp fresh spring air. I knew what I needed to do. I backed up and inched around the other cars. Took a second to pause and hit the gas! The water flew up over my car and the weight of it gave a small jolt to my rather large vehicle. As I went through the creek I felt invigorated and happy. I was reminded of joyful puddles and of the strength of Gods wonders. Family, time, nature and weather all become one in my head for a split second. I looked behind me now and realized that both of the other two cars had taken my lead. I don’t know what went through their minds as they embarked across the flooded creek, fright, joy, calm, success? I am sure adrenalin played a big role. What made them go through that water? Had they seen the safe passage I made or had they simply sat there long enough; perhaps it even looked fun. We never really know what drives one person to do something. I am not sure what I was thinking the day I loaded my children into the car to drive in the rain. I am glad I did. Sometimes we are leaders, sometimes followers. Often we want the safety of someone to go first. On rare instances we are free thinkers we “drive” feet/wheels first into the water. My children most of the times are the free thinkers and I love that. They enjoy the feeling of being the first to dive into something. I can’t help but feel that given a safety net of a solid family has helped them to do this with a secure place to fall back to. We all have this safety net even if the family or our world is struggling. God wants us to move forward even in the “flooded water” we sometimes encounter. He has proven many times over that he will “part the sea" or provide us shelter. Sometimes taking that first step is scary sometimes the water may be just too deep and we need to go around another way but there is always good to come of it. Jesus said, “The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is one who makes himself humble like this child”. ~Matthew 18:4 we should all dive into the “deep waters in our life” and find joy in them like a child. Laugh as the water splashes you in the face and enjoy the ride. For a child the mud puddle is something of joy to an adult it is often an obstacle to be overcome. Enjoy the moment, make memories, move forward and pray unceasingly for those who need it. Life is good even on a rainy day! Copyright 2013 Micheline Edwards

Giving Up Coffee for Lent takes you Nowhere.

Giving up coffee for Lent takes you nowhere… Spring has finally arrived in the Ozarks. On Easter Sunday we were still recovering from the rain, snow and cold that came upon us. While it seemed that the gloomy weather was out of character for the season; it was to me, quite fitting. It was still March and it was Lent. As Christians we look at Lent as a time of reflection and abstinence. As a member of the Catholic Church we give up something for this time and like to believe it makes us better humans. Our house of course always has a discussion about the usual avoidance of meat on Fridays; most Catholics do. Ours Is somewhat different due to the issue that we have a vegetarian in our house and don’t eat meat about half of the week anyway. This conversation then leads into what we should additionally sacrifice during this time. The usual responses from friends and family range from television, Facebook, chocolate and soda, to wine and swearing. Now, I don’t know about you but giving up swearing probably would improve your standing at the golden gates; however, I really don’t think avoiding chocolate or social media is going to earn any extra golden check marks from God. Although one year I did give up coffee and I can tell you that the self-discipline it took to be civil every morning might have taught me something; perhaps my lesson was “THAT was never happening again!”. During our “Lenten trial periods” early in our family we came up with an idea we stuck with for many years (still do this often). We decided that everybody was to give up one (still useful) item every day during Lent. No, the trash you left on your bedroom floor doesn't count! For our family of seven (years ago) this amounted to seven items a day for 40 days! If you didn't already do the math that is 280 things removed from our home. This is of course the ultimate spring cleaning. We figured this was a great way to give a lot of things to charity and purge ourselves from unwanted “stuff”. In the beginning the kids are always very giving but by days 3 to 5; I always get the occasional sock w/ a hole or something along those lines placed in our to go box. Upon cornering the child who “sacrificed this treasure” I ask, “is this the best you can do?” I get answers that sound like this, “I was out of things to give” or “I couldn't give anymore”. My classic response is “REALLY?” The whole course of this sequence leads to an eventual discussion of you can always give more than you think you can. Reach down into your heart (closet, toy box, drawers etc) and look! What a hands on lesson! “In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for the people” ~Colossians 3:23 . So we reach the end of Lent every year and repeat a lesson in life that we can always give more, do more and sacrifice more than we thought we could. This lesson repeats it’s self so many times in our HOLY BIBLE it is good to repeat it many times in our lives. All of the items for charity are placed in boxes downstairs on a bench (actually this is a large church pew!) and taken to the needy. So now we have a clean(er) house and hearts. Back to the weather; It was still dark and gloomy outside the week before Easter. For some reason as long as I can remember it always seems to be overcast or rainy on Good Friday. By Easter the sun usually is shining and the day is beautiful. This year was no exception. It was if God himself took us from darkness into light! Now, isn't that the journey we are yearning for as we leap into the light and warmth of spring and Easter? Lent and winter seem to prepare us for the light and the life to come. I know this is a bit late for this year (or is it?) but maybe next year as Lent approaches (or all year) each of you can dig down within yourselves and search to give more than you thought you had to offer. The weather this week does feel more like spring. In the week since Easter our flowers started blooming, the grass is greener and new life has arrived at our farm. My children are now much older and only 2 still live at home. We don’t always totally stick to the 40 items for 40 days rule but we do try to give. We of course don’t eat meat on Fridays (as we don’t 3-4 days a week anyway; Mr. Veggie is one still at home). We try to fast a bit as well. We try to keep as often as possible to simple one course meals so that we are giving up more than just the meat which might have been missing anyway. As we enter the Easter and spring season, we should look within our hearts to give more, take less and look to the Son as a shining example as whom we should be like. I hope your Lenten journey prepared you for a Happy Easter and Spring. By the way you might have guessed, the moral of this story is not; “Don’t give up coffee!” Copyright 2013 Micheline Edwards

Behind Closed Doors

About a week ago my husband shared a short bit of a book he was reading. The title was something like “52 Things Every Dad Should Give their Kids” sorry if I butchered the title (and my applause to the author whose name at this moment I don’t know). I will of course read the whole book later, when I have the chance. The piece my husband shared got me thinking. According to this book every kid needs a $1200 garage door. Now really who has a toy chest to fit that and of course there are all of the safety regulations involved. I am also pretty sure that maybe it would be a real downer for most kids to tell their friends that Santa or the Easter bunny brought them a remote control …connected to a garage door and not a gaming system. If we of course did this; something also tells me that we might be suspect in some sort of child endangerment scandal on the evening news as well. So why was I was so deeply entranced, with this tiny bit of novel; if not odd advice? We didn’t have a garage door when our oldest kids were very small and I suppose we set out on a journey to provide one to our younger kids at an earlier age than their siblings. Little did we know that this prize piece of fiberglass would be a recommended top toy pick later? Okay, really we didn’t know that we were gifting them with just the door; we were looking at the barn which it was attached to (we didn’t even know at the time, it was a gift to the kids). Our barn/garage door no different than most but our children and their friends seem to see endless uses for it. When built we had no other ideas for it other than our cars, some hay, maybe a tractor and a stall/pen or two for use when needed. It has received several make overs some of which might show from the outside; there are a few garage door dings and scratches. The secret to the gift of our garage door is what is hiding behind “door numero uno”! Across the back inside of our barn is a wall that sections off our storage. My husband and boys spent several weekends planning and working on this wall. It hides nothing more than rubber tubs. On the shelves behind the “great wall” are tubs with memories of holidays and childhood. Some are stored for the future, some are stored because someone still loves whatever is in the box and isn’t ready to part with it. Although we do weed the memory pile out from time to time, it serves as a gentle transition from childhood to adult life where our children can decide what they wish to move on with when they are ready. The wall itself is a great memory full of lessons both mental and physical (my kids know their tools!). Speaking of tools, the other side of the “great wall” is a dream in progress. The boys and their father have hopes of a fully functioning work shop someday and “the wall” will be its backboard. A lot of afternoons have been spent with in depth discussions of what should be included in this workshop someday. For now the wall serves as a space to house a grain box full of hundreds of pounds of feed and a place to put a second hand refrigerator given to us by a friend for egg overflow (the kids have chickens). In front of the grain box is a corner similar to the junk drawers we all have. Next to that is a stall that has been used for goats, chickens, ducks, pigs, cows, a nursery for whatever the kids brought home or found and on occasion a hide out or a place to “store a sibling” until mom or dad rescued them. Behind the door are signs, a screen door insert and a tangle of assorted things used for numerous “projects”; the likes of archery, rocket building and things I am not sure why they are there. This pile spills into different sections in the barn all of which are camouflaged by hay or that great gift; the “garage door”. On occasion, the refrigerator has even held the eggs it was intended for. The fridge like the project piles has served many uses. Sometimes it sits empty and other times it is full to the brim with meat (a project) or eggs (a project) or leftovers from a get together (family and friend project) or snacks for a teen dance or party. It seems that the uses for what is behind our garage door never end. It has provided space for playing in bad weather, a gym; it’s been an auto body shop, a place to sit and think and a spot to cuddle a furry friend that needed care. Since the first of the year we have transformed it into a dance hall in 20 degree weather; complete with stereo surround sound, black lights, a food bar (the great wall lined with card tables) and heat (brooder lamps and barn heaters will keep dancing teens warm too!) I have been informed that this will occur again for prom (another project). The boys had a bachelor party for their brother complete with poker, games and thanks to Mother Nature and some sleds stored in the rafters a 3am sledding party. One last childhood memory before moving on in life. In the past 30 days we have moved a calf out and two litters of tiny teacup piglets in. My grandchildren experienced the miracle of life and learned to care for things less able bodied than themselves (they are 2, 3 and almost 5yrs old). I learned that our barnyard friends should be having 3 meals a day and snacks (a grandchild pointed this out; I’ll think on it). The boys have planned movie nights and had several game nights. Last night we had a bonfire (outside) and a game night in the barn. The teens set up tables among brooding pens full of baby pigs and played board games into the wee hours of the night. Many of our youngest son’s friends along with himself are great philosophers. I was informed over breakfast this morning (several teens stayed over we got an ice storm) that cancer was cured in our barn last night in a private brainstorming session behind our barn/garage door. So no we didn’t give our kids a garage or barn door we didn't even intentionally give them the barn (we’ll maybe reclaim it someday). They sort of found it and have become great thinkers, builders, artists, friends, hosts/hostesses, poker players, auto body repairmen, more proficient in animal husbandry, gardeners, caregivers, more physically fit, and more compassionate (another blog entry sometime). Our children have learned to think for themselves, teach others, and rekindle relationships, to saddle a horse, feed a chick, mourn the loss of life and be in awe at the wonder of God’s creations. I am sure they have gained more than I ever thought they would from the gift we didn't know we gave or were supposed to give. I am glad we have paint splatters on our barn floor, a few piles of junk here & there and a ding or two on our garage door. I don’t really think the garage/barn door is actually the item we should give our children. I think that it represents what every parent should give their children; a freedom to explore, be still, to hide, live, learn and grow: all humans, I think need this. Copyright 2013 Micheline Edwards

Groundhog Day Memories...

Yesterday was Groundhog Day. For some reason unknown to me, my mother has always had a particular fondness for this peculiar holiday. It is funny how we rest our forecast on a fuzzy rodent and make a whole day to enjoy his predictions. I guess really this is no more odd than placing a man or woman in dress apparel (as if it were a holiday) on television and sitting around every night to see what they have to say about the weather. Now in all honesty the “weather humans” have a more scientific approach than the “weather rodents” to this whole nonsense. Why is it that when all is said in done both the human and the rodent; more often than not (especially if you live in Missouri) are still sitting at a 50/50 shot of being right? At any rate we all still sit and watch and wait. First thing in the morning my mother would always call our house when the kids were small and wish them Happy Groundhog Day. My father at my mother’s request many years ago made her a groundhog cookie cutter. She would usually spend the morning after she called us, making gingerbread groundhogs. Mom and Dad would then show up sometime after lunch, to discuss the furry fellow’s prediction from earlier in the day. My dad always played along or maybe being from Pennsylvania he really enjoyed all the hype; I really don’t know which. My kids would always await their grandparent’s arrival of the funny shaped cookies with great anticipation. Often as they got older the kids (especially the older two) would sip tea, eat rodent shaped cookies and watch Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day with their grandparents in the afternoon. One year after a particularly hectic holiday season our family failed to get any Christmas letters or cards out (not like this was an isolated incident either with five small children). However, this year we decided we would not wait a whole year to send out our yearly greetings. So with many chuckles and actually some outlandishly made up details we mailed our first ever Groundhog Day letters to family and friends. The kids were small but the older three were able to contribute to this yearly Edward’s family documentary. I say this in a light hearted fashion as I am not really a fan of these ever popular Christmas brag fests that blanket our mailboxes every year (we have one friend who actually mails out a 3-5 page newsletter every year…really?? Why???). Most of us write these to let others know what we have been up to, or how the family has fared over the past 12 months. Others (“ahem.. a lot") are usually riddled with elaborate accounts of how somebodies everything is the best and most amazing and guess where we traveled? “Oh yes and little Susie made honor roll!” Now, don’t get your panties in a wad, I too have succumbed to writing these letters more often than I care too. I do actually enjoy getting them; although I have to be honest, the 3-5 pager gets skimmed. We do live in a world where it is hard to see and visit with everybody who we care about. Many times we have joyous news to share: births, weddings, graduations, moves and wonderful achievements that we should all celebrate are also part of these yearly Christmas letters. Well folks the year we wrote our Groundhog Day letter we included everything! My oldest three chuckled their way through the afternoon as they detailed our important “do tell” activities. From a child’s point of view these are quite different than what an adult would write. We gave detailed explanations of what we ate for breakfast (I believe scrambled eggs), that my daughters shoes didn't match again (this happened a lot she liked them this way!) The boys told about their Lego buildings and I believe the only family photo that year was a crayon drawing done by our 4th child. I have to say Doyle and I were in tears laughing as we read over this letter and mailed the last few. It is still one of my all-time favorite holiday letters from the past 25 years! This year… I woke up yesterday I told my husband that I would call Mom and wish her a Happy Groundhog Day. As I mentioned this, the only child at the house yesterday morning mentioned with love the groundhog cookies. Incidentally my father did several years ago make me a groundhog cookie cutter also; a cherished family heirloom for sure! Sometimes my parents still make groundhog cookies but now that dad doesn't drive they don’t always arrive after lunch. I took a mental note that I hadn't sent out our Christmas cards or letters this year either; things have been crazy busy. Probably more of a reason to write a yearly letter, even if we just keep a copy for ourselves (which we have done; like a family diary). Two years ago our daughter was given the privilege of writing the family letter as it was her last Christmas as an “Edwards” and she had many joyful things to share. This year we have been blessed abundantly also. It may be time for our 2nd annual Groundhog Day letter to go out! This one will be late and may not be as funny but will be cherished for sure. Along with great news of weddings, engagements and graduations maybe I will give a detailed account of breakfast just to make the letter perfect! I don’t really know to this day why Groundhog Day was so special to my mother but for many reasons other than the prediction of spring weather it has become one of my most fond memories. Copyright 2013 Micheline Edwards

Embracing Those Around Us.

I’ve been spending the last few weeks since Christmas catching up on things. You know the usual putting away holiday décor, “prespring” cleaning, and getting things back into a routine. One of the major things I didn't notice that had been left untended was catching up with friends. I thought as though I had seen, visited, sent letters and even gifted during the holiday season enough to hold everybody over for a while. Looking back at all of my efforts to place a sugar coating over my lack of presence in friends lives; I came to the conclusion that overkill once a year doesn't maintain the “ship”. I have spent the past two or three days that I had off visiting either by phone or in person with close friends, good neighbors and family. Still have a long way to go but starting to feel better about these relationships that I cherish. My apologies to those of you, who have not seen me in months, trust that I have not forgotten you even though my apparent efforts have seemed as such. I am still working on getting in touch with many special people. I have written before about maintaining bridges that take you nowhere. How sometimes it is good to let the bridge meet its maker and move on. Dear friends are not one of those things you can allow this to happen with. I am admittedly shorter on time than I have been in the past few years but I have also resigned myself to being a better friend. I suppose this means writing a letter once in a while, sending an email or “gasp” a text or message. I know the last few methods don’t really win me an A+ on the friendship charts; but hopefully they allow me a way of saying, “I still care about you and value our relationship”. I have always been one to host a lunch or dinner and actually sit face to face with friends. This has been a hard few months to do this but I am working on it. Anybody who knows me well is aware that I am a “type A” chatty patty. I wasn’t always this way. I was actually very quiet and shy as a child but starting noticing that the type A’s seemed to have way more fun and a lot more support in life. I don’t know if this is true but I’ll stick with my conclusion on this one (haha). I enjoy hosting a party, I love making my friends and family feel welcome. I am a giver and a nurturer and am happiest when I am hands on with a project for someone. I grew up with parents that seldom hosted or went anywhere if there was a single obstacle. I have had to overcome that way of thinking. However when things get hectic I tend to fall back to my roots. I have resigned myself today to get back to enjoying life; to reaching out. How much better would all of our lives be if we got some sort of “I really care about you” during the week? So even if you get a text from me know I am working my way back up to lunches and evening get together. We are the sum of those we surround ourselves with. If we have nobody to share our lives with, to me it makes for a dull existence. Besides a smile on a friends face or a hug is always worth even the smallest gesture of kindness isn't it? Not to make be a gloomy person I always think about the Christmas many years ago. I was in a huge rush to get in and out of a store. I was running late and was tired. I saw a friend of mine who frequently stopped in for a visit in the afternoon. I valued her friendship but didn’t have time to stop and talk this day (yes, I know sometimes you just can’t). I didn’t have a “real” reason just that I was in one of those moods of “no obstacles”, she was always long winded. A week later I found out my friend had taken ill and passed away. I am still saddened and ashamed that I was in my heart to selfish to stop for maybe 5-10min. to talk. All too often in life we don’t get second chances. This was one of those times. After that I always try to make the time to say hi, give a hug or at best ask, “When can we reschedule this I would love to see you!” So while crumbling bridges are not really anybody’s “thing” if the bridge is still working put some effort into it. You will never know how rich the payoff may be. Blessed are those with many friends for they have wealth beyond measure. “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have unknowingly entertained angels” ~Hebrews 13:1-2 Embrace friendships both old and new you never know where they may take you. Copyright Micheline Edwards 2013

God plans little Things too...

I enjoyed an unexpected day at home today and spent the morning catching up with friends. It is funny how things work out sometimes. I drove slowly down the back roads over to help a friend and neighbor with a sick pig and see their new puppies. I drove slowly, as you do on dirt roads. I enjoyed the frost covered winter scenery and thought about how much these simple country moments mean. When I got there my friend was out feeding and watering. I helped my friend (in his 80’s) finish his morning chores and we went in to have coffee and chat with his wife. Sometimes it is the simple things that are so meaningful. We talked about puppies, unfinished and unending projects that pop up around a farm and what kinds of seed we needed to order for our spring pastures to perk up after last summer’s long hot drought. As I left he tucked a seed catalog under my arm and walked me to my car. I so enjoy the energy that he has and his gentlemanly charm even on a day when it is about 22 degrees outside. I got home and broke water (again) for our livestock and went inside to tackle some projects. As I was starting a pot of stew for dinner and cutting up vegetables my thoughts wandered to how nice the morning visit was. I then began thinking about simple time’s years ago and how friends would spend all morning doing chores together and sipping coffee. I thought about how neighbors were friends and how everyone cared for one and other with deep value for life. My thoughts then went to my Amish friends who I had not spoken to in a few months. I missed going to their community and how the world came to a new pace when you were there. I don’t know that slower is the way to describe the Amish life style but simple and pure surely do seem to fit. Just as I was longing to visit with my friends in the Amish community, the phone rang and it was to my delight one of my Amish friends. So nice it was to hear her sweet voice and get caught up. While she was not in my home I felt as though we were in the same kitchen as we chatted and I worked. We finished our visit while I finished my stew and dishes. I passed greetings and well wishes on to my other friends and we ended our phone visit with a promise to see each other in person soon. As I sit here I ponder how things sometimes occur even without our own understanding. While today these were simple gifts of friendship and thought; I would have missed out on these had I been at work. I was unaware of these sweet gifts when I was deciding not to go to work (due to illness circulating there). I was even somewhat upset about missing pay (although I didn't care to get what everyone else had) but now I realize I would have missed so much more today than the all mighty dollar. Of course we all do need cash to function and we all need the jobs that generate this cash flow. It is sad sometimes how these jobs that allow us to live in our society often isolate us from society and what matters. While I cannot miss work every day; I am so glad I spent the unexpected day at home. I got a chance to catch up with dear friends and several things around the house. It does seem that God has a plan for us even in the smallest matters.Copyright 2013 Micheline Edwards All rights Reserved.

Happy New & Better Year

I am sitting in my kitchen this morning with snow on the ground and the first of the year behind me. The coffee pot beckons me to have another cup and get back to routine. It has been a long while since I written an entry. My lack of entries was certainly not due to lack of material but probably more time. Gandhi is quoted for one of my favorite life lessons. “There is more to life; than simply increasing its speed”. While this is true and I try to obey this mantra, life doesn’t always follow rules. Sometimes life takes you in directions you never saw coming and they DO move at the speed of light. Often for our betterment, sometimes not and occasionally sorting it all out in a fifty~ fifty split is insanity at its best! I put considerable thought into what to write about in my first entry for the New Year. Would it be a fancy “letter” about our holiday happenings? A list of resolutions that are not really going to better the world or me (come on, you all know you have good intentions but what really happens). Would I chat with you about the birth of our Savior? Or the problems in the world? After much thought I have decided to keep this simple. What would make the world a better place? Whoa!!!! That is not simple you say. End world hunger, create universal peace etc. Really friends, I am into simple, I promise! I am asking each of you to look at yourselves and those around you and apply basic preschool wisdom. Treat others as you too would wish to be treated. You know replace the toilet paper roll, wipe your feet, put your dishes in the sink, and be responsible for your own belongings, say please and THANK-YOU, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze (or better yet stay home and rest and not make others sick). You all know you get angry when others come to work or school sick yet we continually do it to each other. Once in a while hug someone because they deserve a pat or need comfort. Forgive others for mistakes they made (or at best be civil) remember “no matter how flat you smash a coin there are always going to be two sides”. Try your best at everything you do… but also know when to walk away from a bridge that leads nowhere (they are expensive to maintain). If you have the resources (time or money) help those in need. If you are the one in need…Ask those who love you for help (Put away your pride). Everybody needs help sometime, everybody has people who love them even when they think they don’t, and you can always ask God. Know that whatever happens to you or someone else we are all human. By God’s design in giving us free will we will not always make the best choices. It is hard not to judge others but remember most of us thought we were doing the right thing at the time. Most of us don’t aim to disappoint. Be honest! Take a walk, have a picnic, plant a tree or garden and enjoy the gifts of our world. Pick up that piece of trash on the sidewalk even if you didn’t put it there. Bring a friend a cup of coffee, a single piece of chocolate in a brown bag or dinner when they need a lift. Leave a note of joy on somebodies windshield or help an elderly person load their groceries next time you are out. Life DOES move at the speed of light but taking the time to make it a better place isn’t a monumental task but one of everyday thoughtfulness. Who among us doesn’t have time on a daily basis to do at least one of these things or something like this to make the world better? May all of you have a most joyous and blessed New Year. May 2013 bring you peace, hope, good health, prosperity, and the common sense to do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. Copyright 2013 Micheline Edwards All rights Reserved.