Since all our planting is now complete, the disk, drag and chisel plow have been tucked into the back corner of the shed along with the corn planter and grain drill. All are stored until next year.
I am off the hook as far as field work goes. Until we start haying, that is.
This recent nice warm rain we got Memorial Day evening along with the warmer temps will shoot the alfalfa up lush and thick in no time. So my window of opportunity is small, but I am using it to my full advantage.
The countdown to daughter’s high school graduation has begun. As of this writing, it’s less than a week away. If this column makes no sense at all, please forgive me. My mind and heart are not working properly just now. At the drop of a hat I get teary-eyed, standing in the middle of the house, cleaning or straightening up as I realize the inevitable changes that will come. Good changes.
I’m proud of the plans our daughter is making and her take-charge attitude, but she’s our last one! We are squarely facing the empty-nest syndrome, and it’s been such a wonderful ride, especially watching them participate in extra-curricular activities such as music and sports.
We had scheduled her party the day after graduation, trying to accommodate the planting work on the farm. Each spring brings its own type of weather. (One year we had 80s in March, remember that? Then it froze in April/May!) The first part of this year when I was figuring dates for the party, I asked my husband, what did he think? Together we came up with the end of May as a pretty good estimate, and it turns out it was a perfect choice as we are done planting and not into haying just yet. Amazing, really, as in January when we were discussing this we were in the prolonged deep freeze and thought it would never, ever warm up.
The graduation party takes a lot of my energy and thought, and especially during these countdown days I’m driving my husband nuts talking about it. Last-minute menu tweaking, figuring out how many Nesco’s I need for hot food, and must I have two salad boats filled with ice to keep the cold food cold? Do I have enough drinks on hand? Do we need coffee or more cold drinks? The weather plays a role in that decision. The buns and cake have been ordered. I check things off my list as I go.
The back room has slowly been transformed into a pre-party fiasco, with decorations ready to be carted to the shelter the day before the party, stacks of paper plates, napkins, cups, the picture boards, our daughter’s high school accomplishments displayed and her scrapbook almost completed, all waiting to be transported. I’ve been working on all of this throughout the cold winter as I had the opportunity.
One day I wondered to my husband, “What on earth will occupy the space between my ears after this party is over?”
Quickly he retorted, “Oh, you’ll find something!” No doubt.
Dear Lord: Please calm me down and help me enjoy this season in our lives. We thank You for the opportunity to celebrate this milestone and share it with family and friends. Guide our daughter and all the young adults as they graduate and seek the next chapter in their lives. Lord, give them Your wisdom and also, help them understand Your great love for them and their incredible worth in Your sight. They are princes and princesses of the King of Kings and as such, have an amazing inheritance waiting. Thank You, Lord Jesus! In Your name I pray. Amen and amen!
(“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.” Ephesians 1:11, The Message Bible)
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