This girl always does things in a big way. Nineteen years ago she entered this world on the eve of Hurricane Isabel. We hightailed it to Harrisonburg to see this new granddaughter before the storm hit. She was so cute with a head of black hair. After loving on this gift from God, we hurried back home as the ferocious, destructive hurricane began its approach. This bundle of joy has been living life to the fullest ever since.
Karla had a big weekend and it was a joy to share it with her. She is a setter on the EMU Royal’s volleyball team and they had a double tournament playing Lancaster Bible and Mary Baldwin Colleges. They won both sets.
#3 is our girl!
Ryan also had a double tournament soccer match-at the same times. We scurried to his field to watch some of his game also. Note: The pictures below were not of his actual game, but another game, as he did not get to play while we were there and the pictures were too far away.
Number 24 is our boy!!!
Karla has an amazing group of nine girl friends at EMU and they are all on the same dorm floor. They are making a lot of good memories sharing life together and are such encouragers and supporters of each other. They surprised Karla with an evening of food and games at Ruby’s Arcade and then came out to her home for dessert; chocolate peanut butter brownies and raspberry/blackberry cobbler made by her mother with ice-cream. It was a fun evening.
Sunday morning Karla was asked to bring the message at Weavers Mennonite Church. She did an intern there this summer and it was a great experience for her to be a part of all that happens in a church behind the scenes. Her final assignment was to preach. She did an amazing job and if I can brag on her, she had good eye contact with the audience, good illustrations, good delivery and most importantly, a challenging, inspiring message. Good job Karla.
A bit of history taken from the Weavers website…….WEAVERS MENNONITE CHURCH goes back to 1825 when a congregation began meeting in the home of Peter Burkholder. This home at 491 Garbers Church Rd. doubles today as a dwelling and a Bed & Breakfast. In 1827, the congregation built a log meetinghouse located across the road from the present site of 2501 Rawley Pike, and later took the name “Weavers” from the caretaker. When Virginia Mennonite Conference was organized in 1835, the meeting was held in this church. A larger frame building was build in 1881 to replace the original structure. The present limestone building was dedicated on January 31, 1943.
Just a side note….This was the church Gene and I were married at.
Before the service started, Karla served coffee in the “coffee house” behind the church. The building is a neat, quaint, old building that has a lot of history attached to it. I think it goes back close to the beginning or almost the beginning of Weavers. I remember it as the ladies sewing cottage. If my memory serves me correctly, Weavers was one of the first Mennonite Churches in the valley.
Lighthouse Coffee ShopThe grandparents; Darrel & Sherill Hostetter, Gene & Pat Hertzler enjoying time together before the service.
I love this picture as it shows the support of her college friends. They are there for each other!
Karla’s family, Obe, Ryan and Jill. I love their expressions.
It was a good, fun-filled busy weekend and a blessing to be with and enjoy family. God bless you Karla as you journey through life. You have a heart for service and may you continue to bless many with your joy for life, your gift of writing and now we know, your gift of speaking!!!
Sometime life reminds me of the games we used to play. Remember in “Monopoly” how we tried to buy and improve our status in life and not go to jail! We even borrowed money from the bank!!! In “Candy Land” we rolled the dice to move forward and then, oops, we’d slide backward. In “Uncle Wiggly” we moaned when we had to go back to the start. “Rook” betted on a successful partner and being dealt a good hand or having the skill to make a bad hand good. In “Sorry” you joyfully moved forward by pretending you were so sorry to send the other players back to home base. In all games your goal is to win, come out the champ, even at the expense of others! How we win depends on a strange mixture of skill and luck.
In baseball, a pitcher throws a curve ball in the middle of a series of good pitches to throw the batter off balance. It is slower than a fast pitch and curves downward before reaching home plate making the batter swing too early or over the top of the curveball. It usually does not end well for the batter. Life is full of curve balls. Sometimes they come out of nowhere catching us off guard and sometimes we see it happening and try to stop the ploy. Sometimes it is easy to go with the swing and other times it sends us sprawling.
Our Curve Balls
Gene Got Covid:
This has been a difficult spring for us. It started mid-January with Gene getting covid. It didn’t go well for him and he ended up with pneumonia in the hospital. He is still dealing with some long-term covid issues but is steadily improving.
Pat’s First Fall:
In mid-March on a rainy Saturday morning, I stepped out of the house with my umbrella to walk to our store to work. I usually ride the golf cart but it was raining to hard and I thought I’d stay drier walking with an umbrella. I slipped on the wet grass and after a few very undignified acrobatic maneuvers stumbled over my umbrella which had ended upside down in front of me. My left foot flew forward, hyper-extending my leg and tearing my ham string and calf muscle. It was an extremely painful fall and I had to have help getting up and back into the house. That fall resulted in a trip to the Ortho Emergency Center, a full leg brace, two huge black bruises and weeks of therapy.
On May 12 (Thursday), I completed my physical therapy with a certificate from my therapist. I had spent most of the winter in therapy due to issues with my arthritic feet. Their last words to me as I went out the door was “We love seeing you, but be careful and don’t come back”! I happily walked out the door, never to return.
Mother’s Day
Three days later on Sunday, May 15, (Mother’s Day) my husband planned a surprise for me. We went to Charlottesville after church and ate lunch with our daughter Jill and family at the Michie Tavern on the road leading up the mountain to Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello. It was a cold, fun day filled with a delicious buffet lunch and family time. I felt loved and blessed.
Michie Tavern
Pat’s Second Fall:
Arriving home I had a few things to carry into the house; a grocery bag full of puzzles, a stack of empty egg cartons and two small packages that were in our mailbox. Nothing heavy, just an arm full of stuff! I proceeded to take them straight to the laundry which is down two steps from the kitchen so that they would be ready to take to the store in the morning.
Life threw a wild curve ball and I did not see it coming. I am not sure exactly what happened but I fell down those steps with my legs straight out in front of me. Gene heard the commotion and said, “Did you fall?” What was I too say? I am laying there on the floor moaning!
The pain was excruciating and my ankle immediately swelled. I could not stand for him to touch the skin on my foot. He finally was able to get me up to sit on the bottom step. I instantly felt sick on my stomach and passed out. I awoke to him saying, “Are you awake”?
It was quite the ordeal to get me to my lazy boy in the living room. He thought my ankle was badly sprained because of the way it swelled so fast but I wasn’t so sure. The ortho practice that we go to has an emergency center twelve miles down the road. We really wanted to go there instead of the ER at the hospital. They are so much more efficient and they have access to my history and ortho doctor. After checking the hours on the internet we discovered they had already closed for the evening so we decided to wait until morning and I hopped with a broom handle to bed.
Long story short, I broke my ankle and needed to have two screws surgically implanted. The pictures below are the before and after surgery.
Break is to the right of the plus sign on the left
Look at those two long bad boy screws!
I have six weeks of non-weight bearing and four additional weeks of a walking boot. To my great embarrassment I had to contact my physical therapist and let him know I would be coming back to see him.
My real cast after my post -op surgery visit.
Fall Risk:
I was laying on the bed being prepped for ankle surgery and the nurse asked, “Have you fallen any other time in the last six month?” After my answer, she quickly left the room and came back with a bright yellow arm band that said, “Fall Risk”! Fall risk-now I am labeled and banded along with being handicapped! I wonder if it will help to wear it all the time?
The Restrictions:
I am to prop up my leg as much as possible and no weight bearing for six weeks. That means the injured foot is not to touch the ground. That has taken some figuring out. I can not use the leg buggy as I had a double knee replacement three years ago and I can not bear to kneel or put weight on my knees.
The Consequences:
How was I going to deal with such a handicap during our busy season in the store, a newly planted garden, a yard to mow, a house to care for and all the other things I do???? After some trial and error, I finally got it figured out. I use a combination of walker and crutches in the house but when I go to our store or away from the house I use the wheelchair. I have two wheelchairs; one I keep in the trunk of my car and the other in the store.
Gene built me a ramp into the side of the store. I can drive the golf cart up the ramp and into the feed room where I have a wheelchair parked and waiting. I do not have to navigate steps inside the store which would be impossible for me. A few other adjustments had to be made but it is a very workable situation and I can do it by myself.
Those who have experienced this can identify. When you can’t put weight on one foot, you can’t carry things or do steps. The walker and crutches is extremely tiring and makes my arm muscles ache.
Caring Family and Friends:
I have been blessed with caring family and friends who have come to my aide. I suddenly have felt very needy. There are so many things that I need help with or that need to be done. Our church family and friends have brought food. Our daughter Jill came for several days and worked on the flower beds and garden. My brother Rich Heatwole came twice for several days and so did friends Dwight and Linda Burkholder. They helped to make deliveries, fix a concrete dock, replaced broken stair trend in the house from where I fell, fixed meals, went grocery shopping, replaced my bird feeder, and numerous other projects. Gene had a to-do-list and every single thing on it got done!
Jill hoeing the garden
Dwight replacing stair tread that broke when I fell.
Rich and Dwight fixing a dock at the store that needed repairs.
Dwight replacing a broken bird feeder post
Fixing supper
Memorial Day:
Over Memorial Day week, Obe and Jill and most of the grandkids came and pulled weeds in the garden, flower beds, trimmed the roses, weeded the blackberries, weeded, picked and mulched the asparagus, mulched and pruned the tomatoes, picked strawberries, mowed the lawn, got the patio furniture out of the storage building and power washed it. It was a good day and so much got done.
Jill trimming the roses.
Obe power washing the patio furniture
Ryan working on the blackberries
kitchen crew
More kitchen crew
Grandkids and someone special!
Jill wanted some railroad ties.
The Hostetters went home with a trailer load of railroad ties to redo her raised garden beds.
All I could do was haul the gang around and watch!
Karla Hostetter stayed for the week and helped me in the store and did a thousand other small jobs. When you have to have someone else do everything you do, it seems like so much work; water the plants, pick up stuff, take out trash, pick strawberries, lettuce, onions and wash them, go to the mailbox, run to the grocery store, run Gene Hertzler between fields with equipment , empty the dishwasher, do the laundry, fix a meal, gather eggs, wind the grandfather clock, and the list goes on and on. It is things I just do and don’t give it a second thought. I don’t consider it work but as I watched others do it, it felt different!!!!!
One evening Karla and Lauren make chocolate truffles, a family favorite.
Grandson Ryan
Four days after I broke my ankle, Ryan broke his big toe playing soccer. I could hardly believe it when I got the call! The break looked very similar to mine but he only has to wear a walking boot as it is not weight bearing. I am very jealous of him. It hasn’t slowed him down except he can’t drive! For him, that is a real big bummer!!!
Another Curve Ball Complication:
In the midst of my ordeal, my main and faithful employee, Summer, had to have surgery to remove her thyroid. This was a much needed, must do surgery that had been scheduled for several months. This really had us scrapping for help. Two of our granddaughters, Lauren and Karla, and a friend Amy have graciously come to help in the store. It is working out well and we are making it. Fortunately I had ten days after surgery to recuperate before Summer had her surgery.
From A Grandma’s Perspective:
When our grandchildren were little they said and did the cutest things. I wrote some of them down and called them “Grandma’s Perspective”. I applied a spiritual perspective to most of them. This reminded me of “The Game of Life” post I wrote about our granddaughter Karla on February 15, 2004. It is a different take than the above but I felt this was a good time to share it.
“The Game of Life”
Jill and I were playing a game and Karla did not want to play with her toys on the floor or sit in her musical swing. She did however want to be on our laps where she was in the middle of the activity and was very intrigued with the colorful houses and cards. At four months of age, she has no concept of a game or the ability to play in a grownup way. Houses are to throw on the floor and cards are intended to be low calorie food. Karla is learning and does not miss much her observant eyes.
Children learn from what they are taught, observe what they see and repeat what they hear. Habits are acquired, attitudes learned, morals developed, and values imitated.
Life is like a game. Sometimes my game plan does not work. Sometimes my move sends me back to go or down a slide. Sometimes the throw of dice is not what I wanted. Sometimes I draw the winning card. The important thing is not the game but how I played.
Did I have fun?
Did I rejoice when someone else succeeded?
Did I cheat?
Did I get mad if I lost?
Did I have a good attitude when things did not go my way?
Did I get arrogant when I won?
Want to know how you are doing? Watch your children play.
May I say with the writer of Proverbs 4: 10-13….. “ Hear, my son (child), and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction; do not let her go; keep her, for she is your life.”
The other evening several of us were sitting at mother’s bedside singing some of the old familiar precious hymns of faith and hope; “Solid Rock, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Shall We Gather at the River, I Love to Think of My Home Above, Oh Come Angel Wings, Blessed Assurance, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Power In the Blood, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, Near To The Heart of God, Sweet Peace the Gift of God’s Love (mother’s favorite)…..” mother was singing along and it was a binding together time of worship, hope, love and faith. The hymns spoke to and of our heart need.
Mother’s time on earth is drawing to a close and yet as a family we could sing songs about gathering together some day in heaven. I mentioned to mother to stand by that grand river and watch for us to come. Music has a way of binding us together and connecting us with God’s heart. Scriptures says “He inhabits the praises of his people” (Psalms 22:3). To think that when believers sing together it moves the heart of God in a special way and He literally comes near. A holy, almighty, loving, Father God settles himself in our midst. Do I really comprehend how tender and precious that is. Maybe we should sing all day long!
As we were singing, I was reminded of another precious time when a song ministered to me through my granddaughter Lauren. She was sitting on my lap in church when a song touched and moved her even at the tender age of 18 months. I have never forgotten the experience. As I watched my ninety-two year old mother attempting to sing along and my dad moping his eyes, I knew we were on holy ground. It was a moment to be treasured and remembered.
Below is the blog post I wrote July 6, 2003.
By Cleland B. McAfee
There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God:
A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God
Chorus: O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee, Near to the heart of God
There is a place of comfort sweet, Near to the heart of God;
A place where we our Savior meet, Near to the heart of God
There is a place of full release, Near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God.
Sitting on Grandma’s lap in church is a very special privilege and one my granddaughters relish.. On this particular Sunday, it was 18-month-old Lauren who reached out her arms to me after Sunday school. As we worshipped in singing, Lauren amused herself by quietly flipping the pages of the songbook When the chorister started to lead “Near to the Heart of God”, she pushed the book aside, turned around on my lap, wrapped her arms around my neck and laid her head on my shoulder. With her little heart quietly beating on mine, Grandma and Lauren shared a very special bond for the entire song. With my head resting gently against hers, I gently rubbed her back hoping to not break the specialness of the moment. Suddenly the words of the song took on new meaning. It was as if Lauren knew and understood the words to that precious song. Tears welled in my eyes as I vividly saw my Jesus gently rocking and holding me tight. It was a holy moment to be near to the heart of God and my granddaughter unknowingly showed me how precious it is.
Meeting Jesus in a quiet place is a special privilege that only His children know. Words cannot convey the pure love of the moment when my heart beats against God’s heart and He wraps His arms around me, holding me tight. That moment doesn’t happen accidentally.
Psalm 73:28 says, “It is good for me to draw near to God.” God is always there, but I have to turn and give God a squeeze. It is a “place of full release, where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.”
When loved ones are dying, it changes our life perspective and makes us think about heaven… a lot. We watch them cling to the earthly while the heavenly begins to pull stronger.
I was reminded recently of a blog post I wrote about my granddaughter Lauren in January 2004. It seems appropriate to post now.
Lauren was running as fast as her little legs could carry her to my house. But every few steps she would stop, turn back towards Mommy standing on her front porch just across the drive, clinch and unclench her fist to wave, and say, “Bye Mommy.” The pull to the comfort and love of Grandma’s house was huge, but to leave Mommy for even a small time was also a big deal. The moment she was in the door she no longer looked back.
It reminds me of our life struggle. My desire to see Jesus and to live with Him forever has me running full steam ahead while the love of the present has me strongly anchored to earth’s soil. God has prepared a heavenly city with precious stones. A mansion is waiting with streets of gold. There is a river of life flowing with crystal clear, nourishing, everlasting water. The banquet table, laden with food, is set. There is a tree bearing life-giving fruit every month. The heavenly garments are washed pure white. But my shoestrings are firmly knotted to my anchors.
How can one say goodbye to loved ones?
How could my family get along without me?
Who will complete my unfinished work?
Who will cherish my treasures?
I want to see my granddaughters grow up and hold their babies.
I love my husband and cherish our time together.
I still have things to do, places to go and words to say.
The pull towards the comfort of my heaven home is huge. Father God is there. I often look to the sky and wonder when Jesus will return. To leave earth is also a big deal even though Scripture reminds us over and over that our time here is temporal and fleeting. I am strongly rooted and attached to the things of this earth. God has created within us a desire for fellowship and belonging. God blessed the creation of male and female and commanded us to be stewards of the earth, to be fruitful and multiply. Jesus commanded us to make disciples in every nation. I am grateful it is not for me to decide when my task is done.
Titus challenges us to keep a proper perspective while on earth, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13) When God beckons, my shoelaces will snap and I will go; I will not look back for I shall see His face.
When a five year old gets ready to enter kindergarten, it is a big deal for Mommy and especially when it is your first child. Our daughter Jill was having a talk with Karla about this new grand adventure she could hardly wait to begin. The conversation went like this.
Jill: “Now you know that when you go to school, Mommy will stay home but you are a big girl and will go all by yourself….”
Karla: “That’s ok. Jesus will go with me.”
Jill: “That’s right, but what about Mommy? She will be home all by herself.”
Karla thought for a moment and said, “Well, you can have Moses!”
Moses! Karla gets Jesus but Mommy has to settle for Moses! Maybe she thought Mommy needed someone to lead her around so she wouldn’t get lost!
Later in the day Jill decided to pursue the conversation a little further and explain how Jesus could be with Karla at kindergarten and home with her all at the same time. After listening to her mom’s theological explanation of the omnipresence of Jesus, Karla said, “that’s okay, Mommy. I’ll take Jesus for two hours and then you can have Him for two hours.”
October 14, 2008
2021
And now, all of a sudden, this lovely girl is getting ready to graduate from high school and on to bigger and better things. Where have the years gone? Jesus has been and will continue to go with her. It is exciting to watch her mature into a young lady who has a passion and heart for God.
When my grandkids were little I wrote down some of the cute things they said.
I love this picture with my three granddaughters
Caught pictures of Emily, Lauren, Karla and Ryan playing Hide and Seek. They were so cute. (2008).
Counting…playing hide and seek.
Anticipating …ready or not, here I come
This is my collection from granddaughter, Emily Nicole:
December 7, 2003: Some youth girls were practicing music after church. Emily who was 3-1/2 years old quietly slipped up front and danced her heart out…. to God, totally unaware of anyone else and the girls practicing were unaware of her. I just happened to look through the window in the auditorium, had my camera in my hand and was able to capture this precious moment.
July 2009: Emily had just completed a week of Chorale Camp at Rosedale Bible School and her mother took her out for breakfast to have some mother & daughter time alone. She asked Emily how she enjoyed camp. Emily responded, “Didn’t I tell you about it last year?” That was the end of the conversation-there was nothing more Emily had to say.
This is my collection from granddaughter, Lauren Anne:
July 2009: Lauren was riding with us to church and out of the blue she said, “Grandpa, will you forgive me for not being your grandson?” We were just stunned at her question and on further questioning, discovered her mother had written in her baby book that grandpa was hoping for a grandson!!!!
September 19: 2010: Last week Emily and Lauren found out that I have a bathing suit! This totally blew them away. I guess they could not imagine their grandma in a bathing suit. Today Lauren wanted to know if she could see it, she really did not think I had one. After looking at it she said, “Myyyyyyyy, it is old! Looks like something the lifeguards used to wear!” Guess that dates me!!!
July 2, 2013: Lauren said she is going to start a blog about the funny things her grandma says such as “wrash clothes”!!!
July 20, 2015: We were having a family supper and there was a discussion about flying. One person at the table had a severe paranoia about flying and we were were giving that person a hard time. I was asked what I would do if the plane started to go down. I said, “Pray. I’ll just die and to to see Jesus”. Lauren threw up her arms and shouted, “Hallelujah”! We all stopped stunned. Then I said, “Lauren”! I’m not sure what she actually meant but the situation became hilariously funny. At least I know she will be thrilled that I am gone!
February 6, 2015: Today a conversation with Lauren went like this. Lauren: “It smells like snow”. Me: “You mean it looks like snow?” Lauren: “No, it smells like snow”. Me: “What does snow smell like?” Laruen: “Snow”. Me: “Snow does not smell”. Lauren: “Yes it does”. Me: “Does it smell like the farm?” Lauren: “No, it smells like the snow you eat when it snows”. So, now I know!
This is my collection from granddaughter, Karla Grace:
July 2009: Karla to Lauren after Lauren and Emily had a little sister tiff: “I don’t think you’re very good sisters. I really like it when you’re GOOD sisters.”
August 7, 2009 According to Karla, “The beach is lots of fun. But coming home is even MORE fun.”
May 3, 2010 Obe said, “When I don’t know the answer to a question, Karla just tells me she will ask God. She is quiet for a while and then tells me what she thought God said…..
July 23, 2011: Karla said, “I love being here without mommy and daddy.” That makes a grandma feel good and special.
July 23, 2011: We were celebrating Uncle Keith’s birthday and Karla said, “For my birthday, I want a healthy cake”. I asked her what that would be and she replied, “Carrot cake”. Now we know!!!
November 2011: The following email was sent to Karla’s daddy from her teacher at public school: “HI Obe. I just love Karla… she has a heart of gold! While the kids were talking about their lists for Christmas gifts, of course everyone has such materialistic items. But Karla just asks for Jesus to forgive her of her sins. She has a very special heart and relationship with the Lord. Great for her!”
September 7, 2011: Jill posted on facebook….Karla was chosen to be on the bus safety committee. She gets to learn how to use the 2-way radio, set the parking brake and all kinds of cool stuff so she can help in case of an emergency. Today her duty was to keep order on the bus for the substitute driver and let him know where to stop. Hah. She came home and said, “Mom, I had to use my SERIOUS voice and some of the boys STILL didn’t listen.” It’s only beginning, hon, it’s only beginning.
March 21, 2013: Karla and Ryan called me this morning on my birthday. I asked them if they knew how old I was. Karla guessed 23! I said “No” and then Ryan guessed 42. When I told them I was 61 they said, “WOOOOW. But you look so young!!!”
May 19, 2013. The grandkids were all here for “Fun Day on the Farm” a special event we host for the community. As Karla was climbing in the car to leave she said, “I am sorta ready to go home and I sorta want to stay longer”!!! Karla is a homebody and that was a real compliment coming from her.
March 31, 2015: Karla and Ryan were here for a few days and Karla apparently had a bored or mischievous moment. She texted both of her folks who were both at work and said, “I have a boyfriend”. She got their attention as they both immediately called. Her mother said, “WHAT are you doing? You mean Lauren has a boyfriend, right?” Lauren was also spending the day. I about died laughing when I heard the story from tow giggly girls. It was not even April Fool’s Day yet–but close! They now know how to get their parents immediate attention!
This is my collection from grandson Ryan Darrel:
January, 2009: Karla (5) and Ryan (3) were arguing about what happened to the snow. Finally Ryan figured it out and adamantly explained, “I know! God ate it!” Of course, he insists he is right.
February 13, 2010: Gene and I attended the wedding of a niece and Ryan came to me, “Grandma, can you take me home. I am tired and I want a nap!”
May 18, 2010 Ryan told his daddy….that God helps lift him up so he could jump higher (on the trampoline) . He asked me to watch as he jumped high and so that he can now see over our neighbor’s fence!
May 29, 2010 Ryan graduated from pre K yesterday. Today he wanted to know when Church stops. Does he graduate from Church?
June 25, 2010: Ryan was down for a grandkid visit without his parents. I was not aware I had monsters in the house and that they were so scary. I can not write a book on “50 Ways to Not Go to Sleep”…drink, pee, scrooch, wiggle, too cold, too hot, too dark, can’t sleep, scrooch, wiggle, scrooch, wiggle….finally!!!!
June 27, 2010. Ryan did not need to say his prayers tonight. God came down out of the sky and talked to him today so he prayed then.
June 25, 2010: Ryan spent several days at our house. The first night when I was tucking him in bed he said, “there are monsters in your house-there they are (pointing out the door) and they are very scary!
June 27, 2010: When I tucked him in bed he said, “I don’t need to say my prayers. God came down out of the sky today and talked to me and I prayed then.”
August 2010: Ryan’s great-grandma Heatwole took him shopping for his “resting blanket” for Pre-K. As they looking at the blankets, grandmother asked him which one he wanted. He said, “let me get my list.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper on which he had written the colors he wanted in his blanket with crayon marks of the color beside the word. He said, “…Red, check, blue, check, green, check…till he named all the colors. Then he pointed to the rainbow blanket and said, “that is the one I want.” He had done the paper totally on his own and unbeknown to his mother! Later in the van with his mother and his new rest blanket for pre-K, she heard Ryan say, “abracadabra, put us in Daddy’s car. Bam!” and then, a very disappointed, “Mom, it didn’t work. I picked the rainbow blanket because rainbows are supposed to be magic!”
September 8, 2010 Mom’s report on Ryan at PreK: Ryan was SO excited about his new underwear that he just had to share the excitement with his classmates. According to Ry, this led to a “show-and-tell” and at least one little boy dropped his drawers to show off his undies. Which of course led to a lesson in modesty from the teacher. Ms. Michaels, I am SO sorry (and SO glad it was you and not me!)
November 3, 2010: Ryan announced this evening to his mother… “Mommy, my pants keep falling down. You need to buy me a butt.”
November 22, 2010: Ryan’s theology: I asked God why he made thorns and he said, “It’s part of nature.” and I said, but why? and God said, “It’s so people remember to wear shoes!”
September 4, 2011: When Ryan grows up, he wants to go to a church with children’s church, “so my children do not annoy me.”
October 5, 2011: Ryan is such a care-giver. At school, it is his responsibility to take classmates to the the school nurse (he knows the way all too well). But he’s added a new twist. His teacher says he prays for each one when he takes them…… “And a little child will lead them” Isaiah 11:6
November 24, 2011: We were taking Karla and Ryan along back to Powhatan for a few days. We were not even half way home and Ryan suddenly developed an attitude and started to cry. He was inconsolable. Then he wailed. Grandpa threatened to turn around and take him back to Harrisonburg. He wanted his mommy. Finally I called Jill and she talked to him but that did not help. We just kept driving and finally he cried himself to sleep. What a way to start a trip to grandma’s house!!!
September 9, 2012 on Jill Hostetter’s blog…This morning I experienced 15 of the most scary moments of my life as a Mommy. Ryan disappeared. I need to start with a disclaimer: I don’t panic easily when my kids are “missing”. Because honestly I have lost them too many times before. There was the day in JCPenny when Ryan walked off because I practically dared him, “You stay right there!” and turned my back to make the point. Yeah. I counted to ten, turned around and he was gone. I will say JCPenny amazed me with their rapid response, with all entrances sealed, and he was back at my side in 2 minutes. Or the time in Kohls when Karla was about 3. She was easier to find, because the sales clerk a few rows over in lingerie was giggling uncontrollably. Karla had a triple D bra over her head like a hat. And yes the cup was larger than her tiny head. And there was the time in Powhatan on the farm that we lost track of Karla, only to find her headed out to pasture with the cows. She crawled under the electric fence and headed off to see the bull. Good thing she had a bright red sweater on. Sheesh! I think she was 2 1/2 that time. I’m really not a bad parent, I just like to give my kids the freedom to explore a little. This morning was different. Obe got up and left for a men’s group at 7 a.m. I came downstairs about 2 minutes before he left and Karla was packing her lunch. As soon as he left, I started looking for Ryan. His book bag was packed by the door, but he was nowhere to be found. After the third search through the house, I asked Karla to help. This time, we checked in the closets and under the beds and our calls demanded that, “If he could hear me, you need to answer NOW.” You know, just in case he was sulking somewhere. On the fourth search, I’m calling Obe, repeatedly, on his cell. Of course he doesn’t answer. This time, I include smaller places that Ryan might have gone into and gotten trapped. The attic, for example. We searched outside, too. I stepped outside to think a minute. Karla was starting to panic and went to the backyard one more time to check the playhouse. Our neighbor was walking to his car and I called out to see if he had seen Ry anywhere. He quickly responded that he would search outside for me. I went back in to look one more time. I couldn’t put the pieces together quickly enough. Karla insisted Ryan was in the living room this morning. How does a kid disappear FROM HIS OWN HOME that fast? Loosing them in a store or on the farm, it’s easy to loose track for a few minutes but on our little lot? It just didn’t make sense. There was no where to go! Next thing I know, Ryan is standing on the doorstep, wide-eyed. “Daddy said I could go to the neighbor’s on the other side of our neighbor to sell my fundraiser. ”And just like that I hugged him. We went straight to find Karla and she burst into tears. It had been a long 10-15 minutes of searching. I couldn’t fault Ryan. He thought Daddy would tell me where he went. But bless his little heart, he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and said, “You don’t ever have to worry if you can’t find me. I’ll come back. I have to. I can’t leave you.” And that my friends, is how one of the scariest moments turned into one of the best.
May 19, 2013: The grandkids were all here for “Fun Day on the Farm” a special event for the community. I overheard Ryan ask his mom when they were going to honeymoon again. He wants to come to Powhatan this time when they do!
July 12, 2013: The grandkids were here for several days and they love to play games. The game “Sorry” I can handle but “Memory” I really do not care for and Ryan is a pro. Ryan said I have short-term memory loss! Well!!!!
July 12, 2013: I made chocolate chip cookies today. Ryan says I should sell them and put a sign on them that says, “the grandkids say these are the best cookies in the world”!!! And then he said I should take some cookies and cut them in small pieces so that people can have a sample. This kid has an enterprising spirit and loves the store. He is also always looking for a way to make money. He also wanted me to make sure and give his mommy the cookie recipe because she does not have it.
September 21, 2013: Last Christmas I gave the grandkids gallon size money jars with $20 worth of coins in them. I told them that when they got $100, I would match it but the money was to go into their college fund. After that it was up to their parents how they spent their money. A month or so ago Karla earned and received her $100. Today I got a call from Ryan, “Grandma, I got my $100”! I asked him how he did it and he gave me a run-down of where and ow much money he earned. The last $10 came from cleaning their basement giving him $101.50. Then in a pitiful voice he said, “Grandma, don’t do that this Christmas”!!! The idea for this came when Ryan was here fall and he saw a customer pay with a $100 bill. That just blew him away and he wanted one so bad and thought he could quickly and easily earn it by doing a few chores for me. Now he knows how valuable it is!
This is my collection from Noah Stephen:
Noah was a cute little fella but I never collected any sayings from him as he was more of a question asker….question after question after question. I guess I should have written down his questions!
The weather on Christmas Day was warm and inviting to be outdoors. Grandson Ryan got a drone for Christmas from his parents and he brought it along to Powhatan. He and his cousin had great fun flying it in the large open fields and taking aerial pictures and videos of the farm. The drone has limited range but it could soar like a bird and sends an alert message to his phone when it is getting out of range. I was impressed and thought the pictures were amazingly good!
Aerial view of the farm
Horse Stables-Powhatan Equestrian Center
Once the drone got out of range and before he could bring it back it went down. After searching, they found it in the driveway. The drone is not easy to see. It is a very lightweight, wire- looking contraption with two red and two black wings. You know you are flying it correctly when you have the red wings away from you going forward and the opposite coming back.
Snaptain Drone
By mid-afternoon Ryan was feeling fairly confidently in his flying skills and offered to take me on a picture taking excursion of the farm. We took the golf cart across the creek to the top of the hill on the other side of the farm to get a good aerial view. He uses a remote to control the drone and gave me his phone to watch the pictures the drone was sending back. It was so cool to see the pictures as they were taken. That thing could almost be addicting! Before we finished, I wanted a picture of us by the golf cart watching it fly.
As he was bringing the drone back into position, it got caught in a wind draft above the trees and moved out of range behind a grove of trees where he couldn’t see it. When he lost visual sight, he couldn’t tell which direction the drone was going. In a panic he started wildly moving his controls. The drone dropped in altitude and then we heard the sick sound of it crashing into the branches on the trees. The drone was stuck on a small branch of a big tree about 60 feet in the air. He tried to get it to move but it appeared to be upside down.
The grove of trees. It was above the big branch that is going horizontally.
“Houston, we have a problem”!
It was a sad ride back to the house on the golf cart as he talked about the what ifs, might nots and should haves. Ryan handled himself very well but he could hardly believe what he had done. Everyone had to go assess the situation.
The girls weren’t any help!
We do not have any equipment that would begin to get that high in the air. Uncle Keith evaluated the situation and felt it could be gotten but said we needed a tree guy. We knew several. Grandpa called his buddy Wray who promised to come to the rescue on Saturday.
Ryan had to go home without his drone.
Saturday.
Wray came with a lift he uses to trim trees and his Big Shot Slingshot. He felt he could probably get it with the slingshot.
He had a weighted pouch on a long rope that he shot over the branch and then was able to shake the branch.
After several tries, the drone tumbled about half way down and rested on another branch. After another couple of tries, the drone tumbled safely to the ground, landing at the base of the tree right side up and unharmed.
Wray flies remote controlled planes so he had a soft heart for Ryan predicament. He said, “Trees are a magnet for drones and planes!” There are wind drafts above and around trees that you can not feel from the ground.
Wray told us a story. One time when he was flying his remote controlled planes. He thought it was a buzzard flying in the area and decided to chase it with his plane. He worked his way up towards the buzzard, circling, when the bird got very agitated. He suddenly realized it was a hawk, not a buzzard and started moving away. The hawk, with one fast swoop, suddenly nose-dived at the plane, hitting it with its beak. Right before his unbelieving eyes, his plane exploded into confetti. Oh, the lessons we learn!
There was one happy boy listening to the whole ordeal on his phone! He wanted to hear what was happening in real time!
Houston to the rescue. Problem solved! All is well that ended well and a good lesson was learned.
This was written when Lauren was just a little tyke. She recently had a birthday and I reminded her about this story. Happy 18th birthday to a sweet, helpful, caring young lady with a servant’s heart.
January 25, 2004
I have decided that precious, sweet, cute, adorable Lauren is basically selfish. It seems her favorite word is “me” and if that isn’t enough emphasis for a given situation it is “me, me, me, ME!” Me wants her share of cookies. Me likes to play with the same toys as her big sister. Me wiggles into “her” spot on Grandma’s lap even if it is full. Me wants her book read first. Me cherishes her share of attention. Me is afraid she will be left behind. Me pushes a chair up to the sink to be close beside Grandma while she works. Me notices herself in pictures. Me wants to help Grandpa feed Katie, the dog.
I, too, struggle with selfish motivations. I take good care of my needs, wants, desires and rights. Step on my turf, take what belongs to me, deny me my privileges, and see how I react! Sometimes the picture is not too pretty.
Scripture helps us to evaluate ourselves and teaches us how to develop Christ-like character.
Let nothing to done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others. Philippians 2: 3-4
Love does not seek its own way. I Corinthians 13: 5
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4: 1-3
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. Romans 12:10
Since the beginning of time when Eve yielded to the lust of the eye and ate of the fruit in direct disobedience to God, mankind has struggled with the temptation to sin. The lure of wisdom and longevity snagged Eve even though it sounded like a reasonable and noteworthy aspiration. But Eve was thinking only of her own wants, desires and rights, and in the process doomed us all to the struggle with sin.
Paul understood this struggle. He said, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Paul also experienced sweet victory. “…God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you will be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:12-13
Jude 24-25 offers hope in this passionate benediction:
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen”
It was at my husband’s birthday lunch that we found out the news. It took a moment as we read the card for the reality to sink in.
“Dear Grandpa, you don’t know me yet, but the doctor says you will around March 6th. I’m looking forward to meeting you. Happy 50th birthday! Love your Grandkid.”
Suddenly we joined the club of other smiling “older” folks called grandparents. We didn’t have any pictures to show yet but we did get to see a glimpse of our still unknown offspring through a grainy ultrasound photo. It was fun to see its head was shaped just like my babies. Our first grandchild! It was so exciting and so much to dream about and anticipate. Would “it” be a boy or girl? What would “it” look like? What kind of personality would “it” have? As the days and weeks crept by I began to bond with and pray for this little one being created in seclusion by a loving heavenly Father. I found myself praying that this little one would have a gentle spirit and a heart for God.
One day Viv, Jill, and I were having lunch together and Jill and I were trying to weasel out of Viv what the “its” name would be. Finally, I said, “whatever you do, if it is a girl, just don’t name her Emily!” I just did not care for that name. There are times when it is best to not say out loud what you think! Unbeknownst to me, I created a real problem for the expectant parents. After seeking counsel from several other people, they decided to stick with their name of choice.
I have made it a habit through the years to pray for my children, even before they were born. When they were little I started praying for their spouses. As the children’s personalities developed, I prayed for specific personalities for each of their spouses. It was so neat to see how God answered each one.
It is interesting to me to observe people’s names and to see how often their personalities reflect the meaning of our names. Is it by coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. I choose to believe that godly parents who seek God’s favor are given divine guidance in naming their children. In the Bible God sometimes told parents what to name their children and what the life mission of that child would be. God’s eyes see and know our substance being formed. (Psalms 139:16)
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4
When tiny, precious Emily was born, her mother, unaware of my prayer for a spirit of gentleness said, “We like the name Emily because it makes us think of a gentle, sweet person.” As I watch our oldest granddaughter develop, I am grateful to God for her gentle, sweet nature. And guess what? I immediately loved the name Emily! How could I not, God had smiled with delight as he answered my prayer!
Sometimes simple questions have very hard to understand answers. It was one of those times when 4-year old Emily ask me, “When is tomorrow?” My first response was “tomorrow never comes.” I could tell by the puzzled look on her face that I needed to come up with a more sensible answer. As I tried to intelligently answer the question, I found myself stumbling over a jumble of confusing words. “Tomorrow is the day after today except it never comes so when tomorrow comes the next day is tomorrow.” Fortunately for me the answer satisfied her desire for more knowledge or questions!
My mind began to ponder the elusive tomorrow. If it never comes, why do I fret and worry so much about it coming?
Jesus preached a little sermon on worrying and being obsessed over the basic needs of life. He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6: 33-34)
James said we should not boost about our plans for tomorrow, what we will do, where we will go or the profits we will earn. “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’” (James 4: 14-15)
The Preacher in Ecclesiastes struggled with the vanity of life. He too fumbled for words, “Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who will come after” (Ecclesiastes 1:11) and “that which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of the past.” (Ecclesiastes 3:15).
In 1950, Ira Stamphill very eloquently penned the words to the following song.
I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.
I am a country gal who enjoys writing, gardening, baking and my family. My husband and I own a retail feed store and it keeps us active and busy. We love living in the country and on our beef farm. We retail natural, Angus, dry-aged beef in our store and a local "natural" store.
My writings, called "From A Grandma's Perspective" are mostly inspired from our five delightful grandchildren. These along with "Life Perspective" can read on our web page at www.hffinc.com under the "Who We Are" tab.
By the way, I love hearing from people who read my blog!!!
