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Friday, 20 April 2012

Back to the Grindstone

I thought that we might be able to sneak by spring break this year, but after a while the boys caught on and began to ask when they were going to have a break. It's not that I'm opposed to having spring break, it's just that our schedule has been so topsy-turvy this year, that I was intent on getting in some solid weeks of work when it finally started happening. We sat down with a calendar and decided that we would take a week off, but as it turned out we had a day off the week before and two days off the week after and we ended up with more of a break than any of us had intended.

The week before we were off for another photography class. We met at the Marine Corp Museum where there is plenty of light. Susan wanted them to work on black and white pictures and to think about contrast.

Justin lined everyone up for a group picture.

Another of Justin's pictures. This time aiming straight up.

Jeremy started out with some colored photos,

and then caught this shot when he switched to black and white.

At the top of the boys' "to-do list" was fishing. We actually managed to work three fishing trips in. The first one was the most successful if you only count fish caught.

The boys had gotten their heads together with some friends at church and planned a doomsday fishing trip. When the day finally arrived, we picked a spot we had never fished before and I was prepared to take it easy while they fished. Even though the four boys had five rods, two tackle boxes, three nets and multiple boxes of bait between them, they didn't even get a nibble. After two poles became hopelessly tangled, they began slopping while I sat in the shade and untangled lines.

My sister-in-law had planned a day for us get together and get pictures taken of all the Shaffer grandchildren. All the kids were glad to be together again both at the photo shoot and again at grandma and grandpa's for supper.

This is the best pose of the two boys together.

The next week, JJ joined us for a couple of days during his spring break and we went fishing again. On another day, we invited friends from church for a playday and six mothers and 23 children enjoyed the afternoon together.

We finished off JJ's spring break by going to a concert. The music was a Capella spirituals. One of the songs they sang was the Lord's prayer and part way through the song, JJ looked at me and said, "we have that at home." I was glad to know that he's listening and learning when we pray together.

Finally this week, we were scheduled for a full week of school, but we did take part of a day for another field trip. This was at the nature center for a class on snakes.

I decided that corn snakes are pretty snakes, and the boys were more than glad to have a five-foot snake draped around their necks.

When I look at my school notebook, I can see that even though we took more time than planned for a break, we're still going to get our allotted school work done. But I can also see some extra gaps where we had intended to work. Even though the break has been good for us, we do need to keep our noses to the grindstone for several weeks now.

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

A Rocker Full of Memories

On Saturday, I met a friend in Pennsylvania for lunch. It's been a long time since we've had a chance to sit down and visit even though our paths cross a couple of times a year. We had a nice visit and thoroughly bored Jeremy and Justin. After we finished eating, we took care of the item that was the catalyst in bringing us together for a lunch. Becky and her husband had recently visited my mother in New Mexico, and since they were traveling alone, they had room in their van to transport my great-grandmother's rocking chair.

My memories of this chair go back to when I was a teenager, but my mother's memories go back to that little house in rural Indiana that was known as "Grandma Weimer's house". She remembers her grandmother sitting in the chair in the living room and visiting with her guests. We think it may be called a sewing rocker, but mom doesn't remember Grandma Weimer sewing while she rocked.

One winter when I was a teenager, my dad and I re-caned the seat of the rocker and re-wove the back. Neither of us had ever caned anything before, but we were willing to give it a try after getting a bushel of caning strips in the mail along with some mimeographed instruction sheets. We counted holes, and counted holes, and counted holes again before we figured out where to begin and how to start the caning. I remember some sense of frustration when our work didn't look like the examples. The rounded space provided quite a challenge for us and I remember having to unravel some of the job before we were partially satisfied. We never did get the seat to look like we wanted it to and after three decades of use, Dad took out our job and replaced it with pre-woven cane. The back still remains as we wove it at least 30 years ago.

That same winter, Dad and I tackled the caning in another chair and by the time we got to that chair we did a much better job. Of course it helped that the opening was closer to square and we didn't have to count so many holes. It's a lot easier to count from corner to corner than it is to count all the way around an ox-bow.

I am very thankful to have this little rocker in my home now, but having it brings up memories that bring tears to my eyes. Dad was so patient with me as we worked together. He probably could have caned the chairs just as quickly without my help, but I wanted to help and he let me. As we tugged and pulled and pegged and counted, we were doing more than fixing an old chair, we were building memories and strengthening our father-daughter bond.

Monday, 02 April 2012

Preparing for Doomsday

Yesterday between Sunday School and worship, Jeremy and Justin put their heads together with one of their friends and worked up a plan for the week. I haven't been let in on the plans yet, but as worship was starting, Justin handed me his First Will and Testament. (I've corrected some spelling.)

I, Justin Shaffer, give my fishing stuff to Caleb, my BB guns to Noah, my stuffed animals to to Elizabeth and Abigail, my science stuff goes to Peter. If I live this doomsday fishing plan, I want all my stuff back. O, yes, also give Noah my swords. Give Caleb my CO2 pistol. Give Peter my penny bank money. Remember if I live, I want my stuff back. Mom, I love you.

At the bottom on the page, he added, "I'm done for."

I haven't heard anything about Doomsday this morning, and I'm not counting on it happening today but I am glad to know though, that whatever happens, he loves me.

Sunday, 18 March 2012

Winter Winding to the End

As winter comes to a close, we've acquired a new pet. After two weeks, she's still called "the cat" or "kitty". We've tried out several names and haven't been able to settle on any of them.

Tabasco, Mittens, Hornet, Sage, Kitty Khan, Kitty Kinte, Pussy Jackson, Myrtle, and Ethel have all been considered, but none of them have had enough votes to become official. Our latest idea is that she should have a different name every day.

Whatever her name will eventually be, the boys have been enjoying her.

Like many others, we have had a very mild winter, and the boys celebrated the last week of winter by getting their swimsuits on and playing in the sprinkler - twice in one week. We haven't mowed the yard yet, but it's warm enough for summer clothing and activities.

J joined us for the weekend and we celebrated his sixth birthday. He was excited to celebrate and wore his new Lightning McQueen shirt when he went home this afternoon. We first met J soon after his second birthday so he's been a part of our lives for four years now.

Friday, 24 February 2012

Today I Cried

Today I cried

-for my mother and the empty bed she sleeps in every night.

-for my brother and his loss of a fellow worker in the gospel.

-for my sister and for her loss of a counselor and encourager.

-for my nephews who see an empty chair each time they visit grandma.

-for my sons who will never get to know their grandpa better.

-for myself and the empty spot in my heart.

-for the sermons unpreached and the babies unheld.

-for the prayers unprayed and for the songs unsung.

And while I cried, I sang hymns that I learned as a child.

-hymns of hope.

-hymns of grace.

-hymns of forgiveness.

-hymns of the gospel and our heavenly Father's love.

As I sang, my thoughts turned to the struggles each of us face and my thoughts turned to prayers.

-prayers for my mother and the battles she now faces alone.

-prayers for my brother and the wisdom he needs for the days ahead.

-prayers for my sister and for strength as she helps my mother daily.

-prayers for my nephews and the needs each of them have.

-prayers for my sons and the future they face.

And prayers lead to hope.

The Lord is good and has never forsaken us.

He has brought us to the place and has promised to finish the work he has begun in us.

All our needs have been supplied and his grace is sufficient for all we face.

Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Even though I know the tears will come again, I know that the Lord will be with all of us as we continue to grieve and that he will continue to be our strength and hope.