The little things, overnight cooking, church dinner

Yesterday passed by uneventfully until later in the afternoon. The wife of one of our visiting missionary families asked if she could come to the farm to do some laundry. The answer was, of course, yes. Laundry is one of those household chores that are difficult to accomplish when you do not have a house to use for those chores. So, as Mama and I were out feeding, the family arrived at the farm. They have four boys ranging from four years old to eight years old and an infant daughter. The four-month-old baby girl is the real attraction to both Mama and Victoria.

The boys ran around outside for a bit but as darkness quickly dimmed the skies they wandered inside and rummaged about in the supply of toys Mama has available. To their delight, they discovered our huge collection of Lego’s. The Lego’s and the matchbox cars provided enough to keep them occupied for the remaining hours of their visit. While their mama washed, dried and folded cloths, they played – mostly peacefully. They are, after all, brothers. Since, in their travels, the family is housed in hotels for the most part, everyone enjoyed the large open space of our living room. The four boys were not abashed about using all the available space for the city they were building.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the Thanksgiving meal and service tonight, our Pastor was firing up a large smoker he has on which he was going to smoke two briskets and four turkeys. Anyone who was interested in spending time with him as he worked was invited to do so. So, the missionary dad and I headed to the Pastor’s house about 6:30 pm. It was well after dark by that time and was much colder than I had anticipated. I wore the insulated vest I had worn when Mama and I were doing the evening feeding, but I was a little colder than comfortable as we exited the truck and met the pastor at the smoker. Fortunately, Pastor had a fire going in a metal fire pit and we stoked it sufficiently to warm us. It was one of those evenings where you spent your time crowding closer to the fire as the night progressed.

We sent a couple hours with the pastor and on my way home, I dropped the missionary off at their hotel in town. Turns out, I should have called Mama to see if the rest of the family was at the hotel or at the farm. I failed to do so and only realized my oversight when I got back to the farm. I got to the house about 9 pm and the boys were still at their Lego structures, the mom was still working on the laundry and the baby was being cuddled by Victoria.

I was pretty worn out, so I laid down on the bed as the activities continued. From the bedroom, I listened to the chatter, to Mama reading books to the youngest boys and to the baby happily babbling to Victoria’s encouragements. It was not until a little before 10 pm that things were gathered up and carried out to the vehicle to head back to the hotel to join their dad. I had fallen asleep during that time and was awakened by Mama to help get the heavier items out to the vehicle. The boys were sorely disappointed to be leaving. That is typically the case when children come to visit Mama.

This morning Mama got a very sweet note from the mom of the clan thanking her for the freedom the boys felt to play, the pleasure they had in hearing her read books to them and for being so hospitable in watching over her children while she caught up on not only laundry but several other little things that needed her attention while she had to opportunity to focus on those things. From Mama’s point of view, it was a pleasure. It is nice to have something to share. So little of our lives get shared with others. Mama and I enjoy every chance we get to add a benefit, an encouragement, a respite to the lives of those we are able to touch in that way. This setting, our farm, our house, our flocks and herds, our isolation, is especially suited to sharing our lives in that way.

Tonight, we will have our Thanksgiving dinner and mid-week service. While I have specific work assignments to complete, Mama will be preparing the dishes and desserts we will be adding to the fares of this evening’s meal. This get together is one of the highlights of our year. Having suffered through the isolation and separation and fear of the past two years of Covid-mongering, it will be nice to spend time together in this type of setting.

Everyone is looking forward to it – me and Mama included.