What a find!

We had a banner morning as we ventured out just 15 miles north to a tree farm, but it's also a pick-your-own vegetables farm in the summer and fall. I (stupidly) didn't bring my camera, as this was QUITE the find! Acres among acres there were 100-foot gardens chalk-full of various vegetables. I've never seen anything like it. There were eight varieties of peppers, three kinds of basil, four types of tomatoes, zucchini, squash, eggplant, and flowers GALORE to pick for bouquets. Needless to say, I was a bit overwhelmed and wishing I had more knowledge of what to do with all these things. I totally need to go back with more of an agenda.

We got a healthy shopping bag full of basil, 2 kinds of zucchini, 13 tomatoes (pink and yellow), purple and green bell peppers, as well as cubanelle peppers... all for around 7 smacks.

Unbelievable!

Blueberry Boy

Recharged

This past weekend we traveled to a wedding for a dear, dear college friend of mine. One of the biggest highlights of this trip (besides the wedding itself) was re-connecting with friends I haven't seen in a few years from my college years and my DC years. It just struck me down deep that both this friend getting married and I had made the same friends from different settings. Well, yes, the Mennonite social scene is kind of like that where we generally have similar lifestyles and views of our surroundings, so I'm kind of not surprised to cross paths with these various folks.

It was a refreshing weekend, to say the least. This group of friends has been a close-knit community since day one of college. We keep in touch here and there and pick up where we left off when we see each other. There were a few missing at the wedding, which kind of made it easier to visit with the ones that were there, given that we weren't in town for very long. Nonetheless, they were greatly missed.

It's just so inspiring to hear what everyone is doing. One family (with three young boys, ages 6 months- 5 years!) is back in the country for the summer, but will return to their lives in South Africa with Mennonite Missions for another three years. Marc and I spent a good chunk of time reflecting on our way home about how this family sets a great example of how to do different things with young children. We'll see what happens with this.

Another couple just bought six acres of prairie and plan to start building a straw bail house next spring. Meanwhile, they are full-time volunteers on a community farm and they keep this AMAZING garden growing as well as do some other community projects during the non-growing season. They were telling me that they have learned so much about gardening, they basically only go to the grocery store for dairy and meat. Otherwise, they grow it themselves... you don't get as local as that!

I could share more things what people are doing, but these are what hit home to us the most. It was wonderful to see Ben interact with everyone and Marc getting to know these friends more.

The wedding was beautiful, the reception was delicious, and the community was inspiring and jolly. I wish it could happen all over again.

Birthday Prayer

Watch over thy child, Benjamin, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be.
Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he fall; and in his heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of his life. Amen.

("For a Birthday" from The Book of Common Prayer)

This prayer is read for birthdays in my family. I'm not quite clear where or when this began on my dad's side of the family, but I know this has been happening for as long as I can remember.

Now that I'm reading it for my child, I can't help but get a bit emotional. Perhaps it has something to do with knowing I'm carrying on a small, yet important and valued, family tradition.

We had a celebratory day of Ben's life today. It was complete with sticky buns for breakfast, rides on his new bike to the park in perfect weather, surrounded by family, and phone calls from grandparents sprinkled throughout the day.

This child is loved.

Happy birthday, dear Benjamin of mine!

Birthday Eve

I now understand why just about every mother would bring up bits and pieces of their labor stories at birthday gatherings.

"I told dad, 'don't get supper yet, I know she's coming soon this time!'"

Or how LONG women were in labor.

"Oh, back in those days, they would let you go for ever and ever!"

Well, it's the eve of Ben's second birthday and I can't help but think what I was doing 2 years ago to. the. very. second. The anticipation. The pain. The decisions to make. The excitement. The exhaustion. The everything.

Working that hard has never felt so good.

Tomorrow will be the celebration for Ben's birth, but today I'm celebrating our teamwork, dedication and gift of being able to do something this amazing.