A few minutes later there we were, the Kindergarten mom paparazzi with our cameras in hand waiting for backpacks and ponytails to come bounding off the buses. The funniest thing was in class, once the children were all settled at their spots, it got really quiet. We moms just stood there like we didn't know what to do next and the children kind of looked frozen with uncertainty in their new surroundings. It seemed no mother wanted to take the first move to leave the room until we were gently reminded by the teacher that it was best to just say goodbye and leave so that she could take it from there. And out we filed, me kind of feeling like I needed to go to a class and learn how to be ' the Kindergarten mom' No tears for me though, I was so happy for Hanna and also looking forward to this new phase of letting go a little bit and letting Hanna learn. Just a feeling of de ja vu as I remember being that five year old girl walking down the driveway with my niece, Cara, as we embarked on our Kindergarten journey. I remember so clearly as we'd go to school with matching outfits and nutella sandwiches, playing games and singing songs with the bus driver. Little low german speaking girls in a new world of learning. And so, twenty and several years later I watch my own little girl create her own school pathway of memories.
Poor Jakey-boy has had many tearful mornings watching Hanna leave for school, but he's adapted and now cheerfully waves good bye and watches the bus each morning from the window. Sometimes throughout the day he asks "Where's Hanna?" He definitely misses her even though they fight half the time they are together. So these mornings it's just me and the boys and I have to admit that right now I'm enjoying these much quieter mornings when I'm not constantly refereeing and being able to catch a nap after lunch while both boys are napping. Jake and I have been able to spend some one on one time doing things like feeding the chickens and playing catch. He enjoys playing quietly with his trucks and tractors too and tries to hitch up to everything or he gets to watch 'Mighty Machines' while I work or look after baby. Jake just melts my heart with his big brown eyes and dimples and has smoke coming out of my ears with his whining and screaming. He's in a very typical two to three year old stage as he's learning more and more to exert his will and want things his way. Hanna used to be able to do everything first of herself and now she has competition from a little boy who picks up on everything and now wants to do those things himself. From opening the door first, turning off the light or TV first, going up the stairs first or letting the water out of the tub first. It makes my head so tired with the constant arguing, most of the time it just feels like I join the argument and nobody wins. The sweetest thing is though once the air is calmed I can hear Jake go up to Hanna and say I'm sorry Hanna and they'll hug each other. In those moments I'm reminded that after the storm when I feel like nothing good is happening God sends me these reminders that there is fruit in the labour of parenting and that these little hearts are learning and loving as we go. At the end of the day when Jake fires his slap shot and yells 'Check that out!' or Hanna sits and sings song after song that she makes up about Jesus, I'm reminded to be thankful for the gift of these children.
Then there's Peter. He's also got something new going on this fall and that is figuring out that he can sit. The nice thing is that he has so much chub around the middle to give him balance that he's hardly had any falls. So he just sits, leans as far forward as his belly allows and then leans back into sitting position. Once in awhile its too far to the side and then he ends up on his back, but this little dude just likes to sit and reach for toys. Even better than that is eating, anything I chop up and put on his tray puts his little fingers and mouth to use. Oh yeah, and the mess. I forgot how much of a mess babies make when they start eating themselves. He has a little addiction going on with those baby Num-Num crackers, keeps him entertained in the chair for a while. He loves to giggle at the kids when they act silly in front of him. Jake has been such a pest to him already though that as soon as he gets to close Peter starts screeching already. Once he is of the right size I think Jake will have it handed back to him. Nights are a bit better but I keep wishing for him to sleep through that early morning hour that he can't stay asleep through. Someday. It's so much fun to see his personality starting to shine through although the attitude is forming too. Hopefully the attitude won't match his red hair. Lucky kid though, I always wanted red hair!
Random shot of Samson. He's still the king of the castle. Lost a few fair feathered friends to the neighborhood fox this summer and some ended up in the soup pot. Last winter I was so tired of my chickens after trudging out there eevery day through pregnancy. I still can't get rid of them though and lately I have a new appreciation for my walks out to the chicken house. After the craziness of the day is over, I enjoy going out after it's dark and breathing in the cold air. The stillness and quiet and opening the hen house door to the soft shuffling of the flock is relaxing and clears my head. I used to be so afraid of the dark and there's been several times Ive raced back to the house just like I'd do as a child. That fear has been replaced by just enjoying the simplicity of listening to the night sounds and having some moments of quiet prayer.
The apple dumpling gang! We made many pies from these wonderful apples. Finally got a good harvest from the Goodlands tree that Wayne planted five years ago when Hanna was born.
Wayne celebrated his bitrthday the first week of October and then several days later suffered an injury to his leg. The first Saturday of October he went out with his Dad to his Grandma's place where they were going to cut down a tree. It never even dawned on me to think about Wayne's safety as he's been cutting wood all summer but around three in the afternoon Wayne phoned as told me 'I cut myself with a chainsaw'. Him and his Dad moved fast and got into the truck to get to a hospital. Amidst confusion of where to go to I decided to call 911 and an ambulance met them on the way and took Wayne into Portage. He texted me a few times telling me he was okay but it was hard to imagine a chainsaw cut being okay! Along the way the ambulance stopped at the scene of a fatal car accident to offer their help while Wayne waited in the ambulance. At this point he was feeling very little pain possibly because of the shock to his nerves. He told me that sitting there watching the paramedics work at the deadly scene before him made his situation seem much more bearable. When I got to the hospital the ER was frantically busy as the ambulances all came in at once. I had to wait an hour and a half before I was able to see Wayne. When they let me in I instantly tried to avoid looking at his wound, not being sure I would be able to handle it and Wayne was the one who assured me that it was okay. They were just washing and beginning the stitching. I couldn't imagine how that torn flesh could be tightly stitched together again. After the procedure was done and x rays were taken Wayne felt intense pain that morphine couldn't ease. It was my turn to assure but you feel so helpless seeing someone you love in so much pain. during this time we were also receiving news that the accident had involved local boys and two of them had lost their lives. Meanwhile one of the boys was on the other side of the curtain from us and asking continuously about his friends. it was all a lot to take in and my regard for emergency medical staff certainly deepened as I watched everyone juggle between the situations. I'm not so sure I would do well emotionally as a nurse in an emergency ward. We were just so thankful that Wayne's injury was not worse and that he was alive. We were able to leave around ten that night afer Wayne finally received pain relief from stronger medication and he hobbled out on a pair of crutches.
The next two weeks were certainly a change of pace and pattern for our family as Wayne was on the couch and putting up his leg. Each day was kind of up and down with pain, rest and attitudes. After several days infection set in due to it being a dirty wounds and several pieces of wood still working their way out. That meant many days driving in for IV anitbiotics and check ups. We became quite familiar with the ER waiting room and ate a little too much McDonald's that week! We fit in a couple of Thanksgiving outings but it became obvious that healing needed much rest for his leg.
Through this time is was good to be reminded by this quote that : When some things go wrong, take a moment to be thankful for the many things that are still going right.
He was cut in a very awkward spot over his knee yet fortunate to have missed his knee cap and major muscle. Looking back now it's amazing how the body heals and knits back together. After the infection, each day brought much improvement and less swelling. Ater two weeks Wayne went back on the truck and adjusted to moving as his leg would allow. Not long after that he was back to woodcutting a little to my dismay, but not without protective gear!
Here's Peter giving Daddy some love while on the couch together.
It was great to have some extra Daddy time at home although I'm sure there have been many moments where Wayne would liked to have escaped for a bit from the craziness. I love this picture of Jake listening to Wayne play guitar. It reminds me so much of when I used to sit at my Dad's feet while he would strum many different Hank Williams' tunes.
Thanksgiving at Grandma Friesen's house. This one makes me laugh. Bradley busy on his phone and Jake checking out the farm and ranch magazine. I think Bradley should take a lesson from Jake and put the phone down, haha!
Ladies from the Friesen family although missing one gal from the pic. Looking at this pic reminds me of when I was a teenage girl and the gap was starting to close with my sisters as I began to connect with them. Now I see my teenage nieces coming down that same road and the gaps are beginning to close between us. We often joke at gatherings about the ones that are finally allowed to join the adult table. The rest are banished to the island. So thankful for all of our families and the many memories we create.
October 20 came around again marking the ninth year since Dad's passing and each year I dig back into my storehouse of memories. I have found that the years that I have given birth are the times I feel a renewed sense of grief and wishing that Dad could've been there for these milestones in life. This year I've had many moments of missing. One Saturday morning in particular I was baking buns and just put on a pot of coffee. This sense of nostalgia just swept over me maybe because that was just a familiar Saturday morning scene growing up. I looked to the door and felt such a sense of longing to have my pap walk in the door, pour him a cup of coffee and watch my kiddos climb on his lap. A tender moment not meant to be, but just imagining it was somehow comforting. Hanna asked me many time this fall to tell stories of my life as a kid and about my dad. That's meant so much to me and I enjoy passing my memories along. That's what leaving legacies is about. To be able to breathe memories and history into the next generations. Every so often she will tell me that she loves and misses her Grandpa Friesen who went to Heaven.
Me and my mom at Thanksgiving. So thankful to see the joy that her grandchildren bring to her life. I'll admit, there were times I'd lament that I'd been born so late in my mother's life and that I had to grow up with 'old' parents. It didn't seem fair when I watched cousins and friends grow up with several siblings and their parents seemed funner because they were younger. However I'm the kind of girl that seems to learn life's lessons and reasons through hindsight. Looking back I'm so thankful my mom had me to be with her during the first hard and lonely year and half after Dad passed. Also so thankful that she has been able to enjoy a new wave of little ones these last six years, grandchildren that have brought her much happiness and peace again.
Taking in the season's last bonfire. We've enjoyed so many evenings out and about on our yard and yet now it feels good have everything laid to rest outside till spring. The work didn't all get finished but the cat and chickens have a warm spot, the boiler and wood pile set for winter and rest will get covered by winter's snow. The week of the first snow I couldn't help myself and bought some clearance bulbs. Found a spot that wasn't frozen alongside the house and planted a bunch of alliums. It 'll be nice to those to look forward to in Spring!
This vine has never looked so pretty as it did this fall. One super windy day and everything was bare!
In the season of Autumn I'm drawn to the verse in Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Some days, I'll admit, I'm just plain tired. Physically tired from the sleepless nights and the constant demands of running a household and raising a family. Mentally tired from trying to keep up with it all and feeling like I'm running in circles and falling short. Sometimes spiritually tired because I let my time with God fall to the bottom of the list. Sometimes it's days that feel like this, some seasons seem to feel like this more than others. However it's the not giving up part and knowing there is a God who understands me in all things that encourages me to see the next moment, the next day in a different way. When I look back over my days through renewed vision I can see that it takes toil mixed with the raining down of love, sometimes pain and the light from above to grow the seeds of thankfulness. And in thankfulness lies the harvest. That's why I love looking back over a season of family snapshots. None of the craziness is frozen in time. I see that it's been good, really good.
Christina
