Gun Class

It occurred to me that I never reported on my Women's Handgun Safety course I took this summer.

The Sheriff's Department in my county puts in on with help from the NRA.  They only accept 50 women each year.  The room was full, to say the least!  What a wide variety of women, too.  One delightful lady sat with me and shared that she already carries a .22 with a laser.  She works in Pittsburgh.  Several women were hunters, but knew little or nothing about handguns.  Most of the women were there to learn about gun safety and were interested in their personal protection.

There was significant time spent on safety issues and handling long before we were ever taken to the range. 
We were given a nice lunch (the cookies were wonderful) and then taken in small groups to the range.  The deputies were there to help us and make sure we were all being safe.  I was given a Lady Smith & Wesson .38.  My only complaint is that I only got to fire five rounds.  Hardly enough to even get acquainted with the gun.  I was able to hit the target, which is saying something--I was shaking to badly!!  Some of it was from nerves, I'm sure, but some from MS, too.

All in all, it was a very fun morning and I learned a great deal.

Since then, a more experienced friend has taken me out with a .22 semi automatic (ohhh yeahhh).  It was nice to be more relaxed and have lots of time.  I hit the center several times!!  Several weeks after the two of us went out, we took our kids (young adults...who am I kidding).  Oh my!  My son gets his target skills from his father!  It was as if he was born with a gun in his hand!  Her daughter did amazing, too!  It was fun to be out with my son, even though he made me look pretty pathetic.

I need lots more practice, but perhaps that will come.  It is a great sport and I would recommend it to anyone!  My husband is even considering selling his service gun (very heavy, and the ammo is super expensive) and getting a .22....I want a laser, if he does!

Life Changes

It has been difficult to get to this place. I have not written for some time because the words just are not able to form. It is difficult to grasp and understand...communicate.

In late January, I spent a snowy weekend in the hospital believing I was having a stroke. Wrong. Turns out, after many tests, that I have MS.

I have gone from being a person who despises going to a doctor, to having three. Taking medicine was never something I liked or did. I was not on any medication (which is surprising these days for a woman of my 50 + years), now I give myself injections once a week. Did I mention that I hate needles. I also take medicine to keep my legs from jumping around all night. At least I am able to sleep so much better.

This summer has been difficult. The things that I enjoyed I struggle to do, let alone find joy in doing them. The garden has been difficult to maintain. The heat of this summer was draining on my energy, which didn't help get things done.

I've needed to "talk" about this situation, but knew that this page was not exactly the place to do that. This is/was a peaceful, happy place. Perhaps it will be again.

I just recently finished R.C. Sproul's book, The Holiness of God. Not far along in the book, Sproul is talking about Jesus and the long list of men in scripture that have been "appointed to such suffering". While I am no Isaiah, I know that God is in control and has a purpose for this. He has not left me.

Right now I need a place to share my feelings and struggles, even if no one is out there. You are welcome...it might not be pretty, but it will be as real and honest as I can. I think if I can write it out, it will help me come to grips with, not only the sin in my life, but how God will use me through this time. It is called Valley Insights at www.valleyinsights.blogspot.com

In Him I have all that I can hold;
enlarge me to take in more....
If driven to the verge of hope and to the pit of despair,
grant me grace to fall into his arms.
O God, hear me, do for me more than I ask, think, or dream.
---excerpt from The Life Look, Valley of Visions

Deer, Birds, Rabbits: Getting a Grip on Sovereignty

This year the garden has been a source of stress. Not only was the garden late in getting tilled, it seemed that every time I was able to get out to plant, it rained. The plants were bought in plenty of time, but finding a time when the soil was not overly damp was becoming a problem.



Fast forward to June. Things are planted and growing well! (The weeds seem to be doing well, also.) One morning, I noticed that some of the leaves were gone from the broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Nothing major, but it made me wonder. Two days later, most of the leaves were eaten. Ok, now we have a problem. There was still time to go to the greenhouse, but they might come back. I decided to give it a few days. After a week, there were no signs of recovery, so off to the greenhouse. Thankfully they still had some plants...a bit on the "sad" side, but I was willing to nurse them along. I dug up the worst of the poor things thinking that there might still be hope for a couple of the plants. After the new ones had been planted, the one or two plants that I thought might recover from the havoc that had been wreaked upon them, were eaten to the ground. The new ones were left in tact. Just the other day, I noticed that these new ones have been chewed on as well. Although, not badly...yet.



There are foil pie pans hanging for noise and I have used other "sure fire" methods, but nothing seems to be keeping the critters away. Our garden has never experienced much animal damage. A bunny here or there and ALWAYS the Japanese beetles, but this year we have had deer eating the apple trees and edemame (this is only the second time we have even seen deer since we moved here six years ago), I flushed out a groundhog from the asparagus while I was mowing one day, and birds were pulling the baby corn out of the ground (at least that is what I think).



While I can only do so much to keep them away (we may need to consider fencing, but it is a big garden...can you say $$$), I am coming to grips with the fact that I am not in control of this. Yes, I am responsible if I want any produce from my garden, but there are limits to my control and efforts. Ultimately, God is in control of what does and does not grow in my garden.



Yeah, I know, there is a life lesson here. I am broken. Not only spiritually, but physically, as well. Seeing my physical brokenness is helping me grasp my spiritual brokenness. The physical brokenness is not easy to see, but it is becoming more apparent. My spiritual brokenness is often easier to hide...from people. Not from God. God sees my state of "messiness" and still loves me. Physical and spiritual issues are all known and seen by him. He has them under his control. I am in the process of learning that He does have control all the time in my life and in my garden. This is one of those things that, yeah, I've heard a thousand times on Sunday, but when you see it played out in real life, it seems to make more sense. Or, maybe, now that I'm older, I'm paying closer attention. Or, maybe I'm in a better place to learn.



Side note: I'm taking a women's gun class this month!



Selections from Psalm 25:



To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.

Show me you ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

A Good Day

When life gives you lemons...go to New Wilmington--Amish country.

Going to visit Amish friends is a guessing game. Are they home?? Is it some special auction day?? They don't have phones so an impromptu trip 50 miles away is a big gamble. Saturday was just such a beautiful day and I have missed my friends. Knowing that my husband was gone until after dark, it seemed a perfect choice. I just prayed the entire way that Providence would provide that at least one of my friends would be home.

I arrived at Sarah's first. Clothes on the line, buggy out...all good signs. Of course the poor girl was horrified that her house was dirty--you know the usual stuff that happens when you have four little boys; dirty dishes and toys. My house has looked like that before (even post-kids). She was relieved it was me and not her mother-in-law. It was a great time to give her a hand cleaning up a bit, for which I counted it a privilege. (Who wouldn't want to say that they could do dishes in a dry sink!!?--OK, just me.) We had a wonderful visit. Next I was off to see if Lizzie was home.

At Lizzie's house I hit the jackpot because her mom was there, too! Church was to be held at David and Lizzie's so the crowd has just left from pie baking, moon pie making and cleaning EVERYTHING!! And I do mean EVERYTHING! (Sarah said that church will be at her house in four weeks and she needs to paint the kitchen!) I was able to pitch in drying dishes.

Lizzie's mom, Katie, is a delightful woman. I don't think I've ever seen her without a smile. And she has had some rough times. We were able to sit for a bit and visit, but it was close to dinner time and the benches had to be set up for the morning service.

So, I was able to see them all! Everyone was home! And...this is what I was fortunate enough to do that day:

Sing (try to sing) hymns along Rt. 422 and 19 -- note to self: take the Trinity next time--you mess up the verses!
Feel the warmth of the sun in the car.
Wash dishes in the dry sink
Sweep the floor
Dry dishes
See that Lizzie's daughter, Martha, has grown so much!
Hear about how Lizzie loves teaching in a one room school!--and even being all-time pitcher for baseball at recess
See that Wallie just plowed the garden
Buy fresh eggs for $1
Get the good news that Sarah is expecting another baby later in the summer--#5
Get "take-out" moon pies
See Sarah & Wallie's newly designed laundry area--it even has a hot water tank and a bathtub!
Drive Katie home
Sit with dear friends

A very good day for which I am very thankful.

A Poem by John Newton:


1 I ask'd the Lord, that I might grow In faith, and love, and ev'ry grace, Might more of his salvation know, And seek more earnestly his face.
2 'Twas he who taught me thus to pray, And he, I trust has answer'd pray'r; But it has been in such a way, As almost drove me to despair.
3 I hop'd that in some favour'd hour, At once he'd answer my request: And by his love's constraining pow'r, Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
4 Instead of this. he made me feel The hidden evils of my heart; And let the angry pow'rs of hell Assault my soul in ev'ry part.
5 Yea more, with his own hand he seem'd Intent to aggravate my woe; Cross'd all the fair designs I schem'd, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
6 Lord, why is this, I trembling cry'd, Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death? "'Tis in this way," the Lord reply'd, "I answer pray'r for grace and faith.
7 "These inward trials I employ, "From self and pride to set thee free; "And break thy schemes of earthly joy, "That thou mayst seek thy all in me."

(thanks, Stephen)

Thoughts on Getting Older and Eating (of course)

My dear husband and I have always been notoriously slow eaters. When the kids were young, meal time was an opportunity to catch up on things, take stock of needs for the remainder of the day, and enjoy a quiet respite from the day.

The kids are now grown and gone most with families and starting traditions of their own. Even now that it just two instead of five, meal time remains a time for us to talk over the comings and goings of the day, the latest political disaster or the news of the family.

No doubt, when we were younger we were in a hurry to run somewhere and do something. There is much to be done with young families. I am finding that, as time goes on, mealtime has increased in importance as well as duration...even when it is just the two of us. Older folks, I believe, grow up and find value in things that lacked importance when they were younger. Things like visiting on the porch of a neighbor over a cup of iced tea, watching babies, satisfaction in a dish drainer of hand-washed dishes, enjoying the learning of a new skill or lost art.

Does a more rural life style help to promote a more relaxed frame of mind and lifestyle? There are times that life in the country or down on the farm is anything but relaxing. I do believe that most rural folks have a good handle on what is important to them in their life and what is the fluff that may be fun to look at, but at the end of the day, is just that...fluff. (Not saying that you have to live in the woods to grasp the concept, however.) Is it just plain better for us to let go of the stuff of the day over a well made meal and a good cup of tea (okay, or coffee and let's add some Mozart)?

The older generation from every age have probably always wanted the younger folks to slow down and relax, desiring the next generation to find what they had found sooner than they had come to realize--the joys of a relaxed life.

I am sure that my Grandmother told me more than once, "Sit down and visit with us and enjoy your supper!"

It's That Time Again...Seed Ordering Time!

My favorite seed catalog arrived not long ago to brighten my winter days. Johnny's Selected Seeds has wonderfully bright and colorful photos in their catalog. Their website is so very helpful and when I have called them, they are able to skillfully answer my questions. There are, I am sure, a great many seed companies that are reputable as well. Johnny's serves those of us in the northern climates so well with seeds that are bred for the north. Johnny's has been my seed supplier for some years and I have always found their seeds to grow very well. Of course, I still go to Bowser's Feed Store down the road to get peas, seed potatoes, corn and onions. They also allow me to buy just a few zucchini seeds. If I planted an entire package, my neighbors would lock their doors when they saw me coming with 'gifts'. A local greenhouse is where I get my plants such as broccoli, tomatoes and the like. I just don't have a good window for starting my own seedlings.

While it may be some time before I see the bare ground again, I enjoy thinking through what fun veggies I can try growing for the first time. It is also time to think about where to plant each type of vegetable--crop rotation--as well as what did we like and what did we plant too much of...or too few of.

Lord willing, I will not be laid up with another broken ankle this summer.

May I recommend reading a recent post by The Midland Agrarian on his review of the movie, Food, Inc., as well as his some of his thoughts on growing one's own food. I'm anxious for Part Two.

Sunny Winter Days

Here in Western Pennsylvania, we value sunshine quite highly. During the month of February, the sun has rarely been seen. (And it is not just winter when the sun is often hard to come by around here.) The snowfall has reached record-breaking levels and that brings with it the seemingly endless gray days. This is when I wish I had a digital camera to show the snow piles! It may be June before my tulips bloom because the snow is piled so high! However, the past two days have been a boost to the mind and spirit. The temperatures actually got above freezing, too! Seeing that the sky is still blue and that the sun is still up there has brought smiles to everyone around. What a blessing it has been. I think God knew we had had enough.

It won't be long until Spring. The days are already getting longer. I'm getting anxious to get my hands in some dirt!

ALMIGHTY GOD,
I am loved with everlasting love,
clothed in eternal righteousness,
my peace flowing like a river,
my comforts many and large,
my joy and triumph unutterable,
my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation,
my sense of justification unclouded.
I have scarce anything to pray for;
Jesus smiles upon my soul as a ray of heaven
and my supplications are swallowed up in praise.

--an excerpt from Assurance from the book Valley of Vision, A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions