The Nicest Anniversary Get-Away Yet!

Elv and I took the travel trailer and went "camping" on Black Lake last weekend. It was the nicest get-away we've ever had! The campground was very quiet...all the families with school children have returned to the city for school and work. It's too cold for swimmers, and only dedicated fishermen would camp in late September in Wisconsin. There was one gentleman there from a nearby town who came to go grouse hunting and one or two other campers further down the line from us. We had our area to ourselves.

Another reason it was nice was that we had not taken umpteen projects to do. Instead of having games, movies, books, scrapbooking, and fishing to do; we spent a lot of time just reading and hiking. We left the canoe at home and couldn't decide if we should go back for it...the lake was rather inviting, but we ended up not going after it. Elv and I walked 14 miles tallying up our three hikes! Not bad for grandparents. Oops! I almost spilled the beans ahead of time.

The third reason it was especially nice was that Elv did most of the cooking while I lolly-gagged around reading and writing letters and whatever I felt like doing. I guess you have to be married 27 years to know how special this is. Elv is a good cook, too. He's bit focused on the meat end of things, but who am I to criticize? So he cooks and I do the clean-up. That is a perfect arrangement, I believe.

The fourth reason our weekend was so nice was that while we were there we became grandparents for the first time. I think that's the nicest reason, don't you?

I'm pleased to introduce to you Jubilant Dean Lattin. Parents Dru and Lisl Lattin work for the Lord in Thailand and we won't be able to hold this little boy for a long time. That's part of the reason I splurged and let you all see him and know his name on this blog. Count your blessings! all you readers who come here and never leave a comment. :)

The Hard Parts

Sometimes people ask me if they may read my journal. So far I have always declined them the privilege. Oh I wouldn't mind if they read the fun things, the nice parts, or the pages that have plenty of Hallelujah's on them. But there's the hard parts: conflicts, worries, and the recordings of my not so nice thoughts and feelings.

The other day Elv and I were talking about my desire to write a book someday. He suggested that I am already doing that...the journal, you know. I challenged him that to have Mom's Journal (the children's reference to my volumes) published would be rather exposing. I assured him that it isn't that I am in need of a story line..the only plausible reason I can think of to resort to my journal...I have a story in my head.

But I've been thinking about Lance, our twenty year old son, who is on the fire department, heads up a children's ministry, and is a logger. (He is getting a much needed vacation camping with friends these next two weeks.) He's had some hard parts in his life lately being on the fire department. He and his dad have had to attend three extracations in the last thirteen days. On two of them Lance operated the cutting tool. It's heavy! He says it gains a pound every minute. But the really hard part is that they are working as fast as they can to cut open the car. The EMT's are working over, under, and around the extraction crew, as the case may be, to support the life inside there through whatever openings they have. The very minute the victim is freed they close in and start to pull him out. Sometimes they have to go back in for more cutting. These situations are packed with intense emotions and work.

The crews get together later to talk things over. It's a good idea. Everyone needs a chance to share how they're feeling and to cry a little.

It's what we learn from the hard parts in life that matters. We choose to become better instead of bitter as the saying goes. The hard parts make the easy parts sweeter.

Last night I had to have time to talk things over with Elv. Four of our children walked out the door and left for Nebraska yesterday. The married couple of them lives there and the other two live here but will be gone for two weeks. We have our first grand-baby due overseas and we won't see him till he's two years old, most likely. Although we count our rich blessings in having children who love the Lord, I tend to feel sort of weepy on a day like yesterday. So Elv held a debriefing for me, lovely man, and I feel better today.

Revelations 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, now crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Garden Tea

The girls hosted a tea party a couple weeks ago. The enjoyment and delight that I felt while all this was happening came as a surprise to me. I had been focusing on getting the lawn and the house just right so much that I failed to anticipate how much of a celebration of womanhood this was going to be for all of us.

This little girl is all lit up with the joy of a real tea party. How many teas has she hosted with her little friends with dolly tea sets and little goodies granted from moms kitchen. This picture ought to be framed for her mother, don't you think?

We had dainty food that everyone oohed and ahed over. We found out that "dainty" does not mean easy. But it was well worth it, everyone contributing to our food table.


One of the ladies and her daughters arrived in a carriage and wowed all of us immensely. Just the perfect touch for our party!






This was so much fun...so satisfying to all of us. There's something very special about fragile tea cups, white lace, candles, flowers, and pretty things. Speaking for myself at least, there is a measure of healing from the hurry and work of daily life in a nicely laid tea table. I think God loves to pleasure us ladies with beautiful things.