Of Mishaps and God's Goodness

So...

We had a really wonderful time at our Eidse Festival in southern Alberta. It was relaxing, inspiring, exciting, delicious. It was poignant, memorable, delightful, humorous. I honestly haven't laughed so long and hard for a while. It was just good. I love me my family!

And then we got home.

And two days later Zach had a rendezvous with the go-cart, a very scary episode. He ended up being in the hospital from Tuesday night until Sunday morning; a broken foot, seven stitches in his knee and surgery on his back Saturday night to stitch up the wound.

Now he needs to be off his foot for 6-8 weeks. He can't do anything with his back for two weeks, like not bend over to tie his shoes or pull on his jeans. And then no sports, go-carting, jumping on the tramp, etc. for another six weeks.

It's been... hard, crazy, tiring.

I never dreamed I'd be able to nap in the hospital on a flimsy little cot in the middle of the afternoon. I've never thought about watching my child go in to surgery or wheel-chair hospital halls or get stitches in his knee. I don't want to think about it. But I still see him under the go-cart, jumping up and running across the driveway only to fall on his stomach. I see the open wound on his back, his shredded clothes and the look on Pat's face as he scoops him up and carries him inside.

We are so blessed. We have life, we have clothes to wash, dishes to do, shoes to buy. We have everything we could ever wish for. And more.

I'm so very grateful for my dear sister and all her help and support, my dear husband and his constant vigil (he did all the nights at the hospital), for my mom-in-law and her free bed and breakfast and babysitting service, my friend Jodi and her instant help (driving me in to the hospital) and late night pizza and Tim's drinks, etc. I'm so so thankful for the people that took the time to come in and show they cared. Today my friend Ruby came for coffee and ended up vacuuming my whole house and cleaning up. I'm so very grateful....

And so I cry.

For what could have been. For what I have. For the dear church and people around us. For the teachers, the students, the network of love around us...

It’s Like This

So many things to do in so little time: the story of our lives. J

We’re leaving tomorrow for southern Alberta where we plan to meet my Eidse cousins and aunties and uncles and Grandma; my mom and siblings, too. We’ve been planning this grandé festival for a long time and I’m so very excited!

In the next three weeks we hope and plan to attend said festival, partake of and attend year-end program and play day (including youth activities such as the annual concession booth, cleaning mice outta the youth shed and the annual rib supper), attend youth singspiration in Swan River (5.5 hours away and how many evenings of practicing songs and planning) and send Pat’s folks off with pomp and show to the Edmonton girls unit for two months (which also includes a bit of sewing).

In the last week I’ve finished five dresses, one slip, one quilt, one bag and two books, with the emphasis on the books. I absolutely loved The Spy Wore Red, Love Without Limits was so-so and I just plum couldn’t get past a couple chapters of Once Upon A Prince.

We’ve dined on food more basic than most of you can imagine, left the floors until the grit about trips us and done home-work and studied for exams until the mother’s eyes are crossed and her brain in fudge. Yes, the mother. How does the child feel? I don’t know. It’s been a stretch. And I’m not going to bother telling you the whole story to a) protect my child, b) save your brain (and heart) and c) save mine. Also, my garden is an epic fail; a mole, late frost and no rain (ahem, apparently I haven’t heard about sprinklers). My ash trees had just leafed out and we got a heavy frost, so they’re starting again and thankfully are alive.

K. I’m off to collect blankets and sheets, towels and washcloths, playpen and gaunch.

I’m sorry. J

Have a wonderful day!