The Land

I grew up on a farm in rural Marshall County Iowa. The farm was around 150 acres tillable and probably 40 acres of pasture ground (I’m just guessing here). My dad grew up on a farm, learning by working with his father and maternal grandfather. 

The farm was purchased in the 60’s, which meant I switched schools in March of my kindergarten year. It was worse for my sister who was in high school. When the weather warmed up I was excited about exploring the new farm with my dad. Ours was a true farm; it had a few of every farm animal.

 

The land was what I really loved. The soil was rich and black with a good share of rocks. Every spring dad and my sister and I would pick up rocks that popped up when the soil was turned. Most of the rocks were unloaded to an existing pile at the corner of the field. Pretty ones always found their way to a flowerbed or around the house. Sometimes we would find just the tip of a really large rock that would require lots of tractor or truck power to pull it out. Those gems became ornaments on the lawn.

 

As I grew older I was allowed to explore the whole farm on my own. I spent many hours walking the pastures and timber, and wading in the creek. I fell in love with nature and the land.

 

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires,” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV).

Summer Fear

Summer was a time for swimming lessons when I was growing up. There weren't many indoor pools when I was a kid. And just as few outdoor pools. Most larger towns had a community swimming pool so small towns bussed their children to the bigger town for swimming lessons. Mine were held early in the morning so they didn't interfere with the open swimming times.

Beginning the week after school was out, I got on a bus early in the morning in State Center and rode for 30 minutes to the Marshalltown pool that was located in Riverside park. It was very cool out and I remember shivering most of the lesson time in the cold water. It was the first time I'd ever been in a pool.

I was fearful of the deep water and of jumping in. I was a slow learner because of my fear. I never had the chance to go swimming. We lived in the country so swimming lessons were my only contact with water until I was old enough to go to church camp. Sometimes the camp was near a lake or had a pool. 

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand," (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).

Eventually, the new high school, built in State Center around 1970, had an indoor pool. Lessons were offered there as part of PE class in the high school during the school year and during the summer for younger kids.

Opportunities to Grow

Summer is time for Vacation Bible School (VBS) and summer camps. When I was a young person I attended both VBS and church camps. 

I loved VBS because I knew the volunteers and it was in my church. I loved the activities that focused on the day's scripture and lesson. There was always something to take home and show my parents. There was outside play time with structured games and snack time. VBS was always looked forward to and enjoyed.

As an adult I helped with several VBS's over the years. My home church struggled to get children to come because it was located in the country. There weren't kids in the neighborhood. So eventually they gave it up. Instead we urged our church children to attend a VBS in a nearby town. I volunteered to teach one of the classes. It was a lot of preparation time, study, and prayer before it even started. We always had older kids as helpers and they were wonderful.

When I was a preteen I attended church camp for a week every summer. This was hard for me because I was shy and knew almost no one there. Even so, I made good friends; often becoming pen pals when the camp ended. There weren't personal or hand-held phones back in those days! We used "snail mail" instead.

"God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out to him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring,'" (Acts 17:27-28 NIV).

Summer offers many learning opportunities, new experiences, and fun. May you enjoy the summer and be blessed.

Summer Vacations

Summer is here. It is time for vacations. When the boys were young we couldn't afford big vacations so we did several Iowa vacations or day trips. It was good family time and we made memories. But the one big family vacation we took was to Washington D.C.

We flew into D.C. where we saw all the beautiful monuments, toured several of the Smithsonian museums and were amazed at the size and beauty of the Capitol building. It was amazing but so much as been added since we were there that we should go back. 

From D.C. we drove to New York state where we visited my aunt before driving north to Buffalo where my Jordanian brother and his family lived. They took us to see Niagara Falls which was an amazing day. The main reason we took the trip, according to our boys, was to attend a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game! They were Brent's favorite team. We went one evening and watched something like 16 innings into the wee hours of the morning. Then flew home the next day. It was a wonderful trip spanning 10 days.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go," (Joshua 1:9 NIV).  

May you be blessed by a summer vacation and the memories you made or will make, or by a stay-cation at home.

Fried Green Tomatoes

I grew up eating some strange things. We lived on a farm so most of our sustenance came from what we raised. The basement shelves were lined with vegetables and assorted pickles. And our super-sized freezer was filled with green beans and corn plus a variety of homemade goodies. However, I didn't taste pizza until I was a teenager.

On the farm we used every part of the animals we butchered. We raised chickens, pigs, milk cows and sheep. I remember Daddy butchering a pig and Mama took care of the chickens. I don't remember anything larger than a pig. We did it at home because there was no butcher's fee to pay.

Our meals were all from scratch. We had macaroni in a number of dishes, but no spaghetti that I recall.  We ate liver, brains, gizzards and tongue when available. Quite the delicacies! We also ate okra and a range of normal vegetables. But one of our favorites was fried green tomatoes. This is the perfect time for making sandwiches of the fried green tomatoes. I still make them whenever we have a surplus of tomatoes.

"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything," (Genesis 9:3 NIV).

God told Noah that everything could be food so eat up everyone! May God bless your table with bounty.

Reflections

Our family reunion was Saturday. It was perfect weather and the four sisters were together again. One of the best parts was the children who attended. My nephew had all three of his children together and they all have little ones. There were red-headed girl twins from one family; a two-year-old from another family; and a three-year-old girl and a six-month-old boy from another. The baby boy was the heart charmer as he is named after our father: Corwin. Such a precious gift.

The time together was wonderful. We caught up on others' lives, shared laughter and some tears as we hugged to make up for lost time apart. The potluck was massive but the pies seemed to be the hit. The kittens were a big draw, too. 

Watching cousins reconnect, sharing common concerns over aging parents and decisions to be made. Health concerns were shared. The oldest there, my 92-year-old brother-in-law, Gene, said an eloquent prayer as we joined hands in a circle.

Memories were made that will last a life-time, but we will all wait anxiously for the next get-together of family.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever," (Psalm 73:26 NIV).

Family Reunions

Summertime is great for gathering families together. After my parents were both gone, my family tried to hold a Springer gathering each year. When they were alive we all gathered at their home on the farm. That farm was sold so the problem was where to gather. For many years we gathered at a golf course clubhouse. Then one of my nieces and her husband welcomed us to their acreage. It is a beautiful setting and everyone loves to come there.

When I was growing up my mother's family, the Hilsabecks, gathered every summer, most often at my Uncle Ralph and Aunt Mabel's home. They had a wonderful large screened-in porch. I loved seeing my cousins. We would play in an awesome playhouse or in their big back yard. Once in a while sleepovers happened because of the reunion. Cousins became good friends and sometimes pen pals.

Today our reunions involve the four Springer daughters and their families. A potluck is the main focus but the real joy is being together again. Conversations fill the area and hugs abound. Good food is shared and lives are rejoined. All in a tribute to our parents.

"Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the Lord is the great  God, the great King above all gods," (Psalm 95:2-3 NIV).

The Fourth of July

Tomorrow is Independence Day. The day we commemorate the Declaration of Independence being adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The day the United States of America was established. It is celebrated most often with fireworks but also with family gatherings, barbecues, picnics and baseball games. It is a day off for many but not all.

Sparklers were our usual excitement when I was a kid and also when we were raising our boys. We didn't usually go to where there were fireworks. There was too much to do on the farm.

One year when we lived on our acreage, the neighbor set off fireworks. Our dog Bella was frightened and ran away. Bella was an Anatolian mix, bred to guard sheep. That's all she did. She wasn't tame to people except when we had a treat for her. Then she would cautiously approach the treat, take it and run.

We searched the neighborhood for miles looking for her. After several days I posted on Facebook that our dog was missing and described her, big and white, loves sheep not people. And sure enough a friend of a friend had a white dog show up in their sheep flock a few days before, about 10 miles away. It was Bella. We had quite a time getting her into our sheep trailer, using a lamb as bait, and herding the neighbor's sheep into a smaller feeding pen. We did get her into the trailer and shut the door!

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anoints my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever," (Psalm 23 RSV).

May you have a safe and happy Fourth of July.