A January day - a different perspective

By Veronica Olsen

There are moments in life where everything stands still. This morning, our family decided to take a day trip to Leavenworth to play in the snow and enjoy the town. We had just started driving on highway 2 eastbound in Snohomish when we turned around a bend and saw large plumes of smoke and steam, a logging truck in the ditch, logs all over the road, and badly damaged cars strewn all over the highway. It was bad. The accident had just happened and we were the first on scene. 

Being a firefighter and EMT, Jeff quickly got out of our car and ran over to start triage. He was the only one there with emergency medical training. He quickly triaged the people involved, then began to treat the most critically injured, a young woman in the heavily damaged pick-up. When he found her, she was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious and not breathing. He quickly repositioned her to open her airway, at which point she began breathing adequately on her own. Jeff remained with her, immobilizing her neck and keeping her airway open until on duty EMS could arrive. 

As Snohomish FD was arriving, the woman stopped breathing on her own. Jeff pulled her from the vehicle and used a bag valve mask from the on scene Snohomish County Deputy to begin breathing for her. Jeff continued to assist her respirations as she was treated on scene. As more responders arrived, Jeff cleared out and remained on location giving a report to State Patrol as she was airlifted by helicopter to Harborview. 

This was the farthest thing from our mind as a possibility of happening on our family outing, but my thankfulness is infinite for God's protection of our family and for Jeff's skills being used to assist those in their darkest hour. We were probably thirty seconds away from being directly involved in that collision and I thank God and our guardian angels for their protection and for putting Jeff right where he needed to be to help. Please, everyone, pray for the victims involved as they all have difficult healing roads ahead of them both physically, mentally, and emotionally. I pray especially for the young woman who Jeff worked on and was airlifted, that she makes it and that her family is able to be with her. Thank you Jeff for your courageous, no hesitation willingness to help the people that need you most even while off duty. While everyone stood back in horror, you ran forward without hesitation and gave her a fighting chance. God bless you and protect you always.

. . . . . . . 

We also learned that the Snohomish County deputy had been just a few cars behind Jeff and his wife, Veronica.  Veronica called 9-1-1.  Jeff, being off duty didn't have the equipment he needed to help Hannah, but the deputy did. (both the bag valve mask and the radio) Only Firefighters (Jeff) have authorization to call for medi-vac.  The fact that they were both on the scene immediately saved precious moments for Hannah.  

We also learned that getting a helicopter in the air can take time, but this day, it was ALREADY in the air, saving even more valuable time. 

Later we would learn that Jeff and Veronica have a mutual friend with Eric and me. 

Just the previous day, our pastor preached on prayer.  Our church family sure had opportunity to put it into practice.  

God's fingerprints were all over this event.  We know that He had this planned before time began for our good and for His glory.  We trust Him fully and so can rejoice.  We are thankful, of course, for Hannah's life being spared. We are thankful for how it brought our family even closer.  We are thankful for how it deepened our faith - this Refiner's fire.  We are thankful for how our friends rallied to our sides and cared for our other children.  We are thankful for now knowing just how to care for someone else who finds themselves in a similar situation.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  ( 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 )

- Carol

pronouns and definite articles

One of the gifts Eric gave me for Christmas was Switchfoot's California Vibes Christmas package.  Included was their newest EP which contains acoustic versions of three songs.

In true Carol style, while driving around town running some errands, I had it on repeat so I could really listen and enjoy and soak in the words.  Switchfoot came up in conversation recently and he said it best, when he said they were wordsmiths.  It couldn't be truer. 

The chorus from Hope is the Anthem of my Soul

My heartbeat, my oxygen

My banner, my home

My future, my song

Your hope is the anthem of my soul

Hearing it in this acoustic style I heard the YOUR for the first time.  I always just thought it said 

Hope is the anthem...

YOUR hope makes all the difference.  

Anyone can have a general hope - a positive attitude - a sunny-side disposition, 

but that's not what this is about!

YOUR hope -
the object of this hope is Christ.

This hope is the hope that belongs to us in Christ for his atoning work on the cross for us giving us HOPE for eternity.

Again, this acoustic version made the THE stand out.  

It's not an anthem.  

any old anthem or one of many -

It's THE anthem of my soul.
The thing my soul sings aloud from the mountaintops and from the depths of my soul.
It permeates in and out of me.  Because it's THE anthem. 

YOUR HOPE is THE only anthem of my soul!

- Carol

Good-byes are always hard

I am feeling so many emotions currently, but I have absolutely no words for them.  

This girl is my first born.  The one who made me a mom,

the one who taught me so much about myself as I learned about mothering and motherhood.

Parenting is not for the faint of heart.  Sure, there are tons of books giving advice on how to be a good parent.  Some helpful, some not, but each child is a unique creation of the Father so there is not a one-size-fits-all kind of advice.  I learned that the hard way as I leaned heavily on a parenting curriculum because I was so insecure with my inabilities.

Sarah was born early, and I wasn't ready, not that you can really be ready for a life-changing event.
I experienced post-partum depression and felt so inadequate for the task of raising this teeny-tiny baby of mine.
I wish I would have just done what felt natural - hold her more, let her cry less.  I wish I'd known about baby wearing twenty-six year ago.

Sarah has grown to be young woman who is strong and independent and impetuous

and she is fun.

She's always held her own with her brothers.

She's creative and has an eye for detail.  I've always admired that about her.

She's determined too.  

And now determined to begin a new life.  She is moving to Northern California.

We've known this was coming for a while, and yet it's hard to really let it sink in that she won't be just a few miles away.   Our busy schedules often prevented us from getting together regularly,  and now... it's not an option. 

this last weekend, our family helped Sarah load up the U-haul.  

She has moved to Northern California.

happy... sad... apprehensive... melancholy...
Of course, we want only the best for her and hope this new chapter brings her much happiness.  We also pray that when trials arise she will turn to the Lord for guidance, wisdom, and comfort.


Mary found the bright side of things - a little perk when your egg-nog loving sister must clean out the refrigerator.

- Carol

Life lately...

Hi,

I thought I would give you a little glimpse of what we've been up to lately along with a few photos from my phone. 

Summer has arrived in the PNW.  We've been enjoying sunny days with temperatures in the 80's for a couple of weeks now.  By enjoying I really mean taking advantage of the dry weather and taking care of much needed projects on our property.  Mostly splitting rounds for desperately needed firewood. We nearly used up all we had last winter.   We've also been cleaning up by collecting the many downed branches, running them through the chipper, and spreading all that mulch where it's needed (hydrangeas beds, chicken run, etc.)  

We come in hot, sweaty, filthy, and completely exhausted!  It feels good to work hard, to feel sore muscles.  It's even better than a workout at the gym- I'm sure we burn just as many calories and notable progress is made on the property. 😀  After work like that, we reward ourselves with ice cream cones, and don't feel a bit guilty about it!  

I even found some gluten free ones at the grocery store.  I'm so glad because we have taken Mary Anne off gluten now too.  She was exhibiting signs of intolerance with very red, rough hands. Hannah suffered just like that too.  Wanting to avoid a Hannah situation with Mary Anne, and with Sarah having been diagnosed with Celiac's... it just seems prudent.  

. . . . . 

We have a small garden this year, but what we do have is growing!  This year we planted zucchini squash (because we love zoodles), spaghetti squash because it's a great substitute for pasta spaghetti, butternut squash because we use that in our breakfast bowls, beets, basil, green beans, and lettuce.  

Oh, and weeds.  😏 So far so good. 

. . . . . 

Once we are done with school for the year, I take the rest of June to absolutely NOT think about any aspect of it.  

Now that it is July, I've started thinking about next year - what we need to study, and what curriculum we have on hand that we can use, what I need to buy, and school supplies we need.  Can you believe we have graduated half of our children?!  This year I will have one new to high school (Dan), and the three little girls.  (4th, 2nd, and 1st.)  I can officially give my kindergarten curriculum away.  😮  I've just about finished deciding on what we'll cover.  I only have a few things I'll need to buy, and then to do the nitty-gritty of lesson-planning.  

. . . . . 

So far this summer I have done ZERO canning.  Usually I buy flats of strawberries, and then flats of raspberries. Some for jam, some for eating.  There was so much rain the first part of June, that it has delayed harvest times of everything.  I kept watching for them - U-pick signs along the road are the first clue that the picking season has arrived.  I never saw a one!  I missed it.  Thankfully, Costco carries frozen organic strawberries year-round! 😀  I do hope we haven't missed raspberry season. Have you ever put a blueberry inside where the raspberry stem was?  So good!  You should try it. You should also try a chocolate chip there too.  You'll thank me!

I like to put raspberries in a quart of white wine vinegar and let it sit for a couple of weeks.  The vinegar gets infused with the raspberries.  I use the infused vinegar to make oil/vinegar salad dressings.  

My other favorite thing (besides just eating them as is) is to make raspberry sauce for pancakes and waffles.  Just cook the raspberries on low and add a bit of sugar (only a little)  It makes for a super delicious ice cream topping too.  

We will try to go blueberry picking, but if we miss that too - well...Costco to the rescue.  Yay for frozen, organic blueberries!

I used to can peaches, but I can not find a source of organic that is affordable for canning.  So - we just enjoy eating them in season.  

Last year I canned a TON of applesauce, and we have only 3 jars left!  Did you know applesauce makes a great egg substitute? (1/4 cup = 1 egg) It also makes a great oil substitute. (1:1) And, if you use a variety of apples you will not need to add sugar!  It's amazingly delicious!  

. . . . . 

We lost a goat.  

Long story long...

I had taken the girls on a little "adventure" day over to Camano Island to check it out and escape the heat.  Hannah thought it would be fun to pack along a secret treat for when we got there.  We thought it would be so fun to pack ice cream and cones to eat on the beach when we got there.  How fun is that?  Kind of a reward for a long drive.

It took us just shy two hours to get there, but when we arrived at the trail head parking, there was an ambulance.  Having never been there before (so not knowing how long the path to the beach was, and not wanting to get in the way, we opted not to get out of the car, but dished out ice cream cones in the car instead.  Believe it or not, the ice cream survived.  The girls were thrilled - almost like eating leftover pie for breakfast!

My impression of Camano Island - it's quiet and scenic.  It's what I imagine Deer Isle, Maine to be like.  I could definitely see Eric and I living there in years to come (you know the ocean is forever calling to me.) The only thing it seems to be missing is a charming little town with gift shops, an independent book store, etc.  We didn't explore the whole island, so maybe there is one.  

Anyway, the day was a hot (89 degrees - that's hot for Washington!), and once we were home the girls asked if they could sit on the back deck and play with water toys. (a bucket filled with water and toys like army men or pocket dolls or whatever.) Abbie went out first and discovered one of our goats lying on a stairs that lead up to our deck.  She came in crying saying that Kaanapali was there bleeding and missing a leg!  

We immediately thought a bear got to her, but the more Hannah and I thought about it, that didn't really fit the circumstances.  It turns out, as I looked closer, that she wasn't really missing a leg, but she had skinned it, but good and was bleeding a lot.  It was a mess! I'll spare the gore-y details, but suffice it to say, we had to put her down.   We have only three now.

. . . . . 

Ellie's chickens are doing well, even the one that was missing for a few days.  At least I think they are well.  We are only getting an egg or maybe two per day from four hens. 😒  I'm not sure why.   We quit giving them so many scraps so that they would eat their feed to ensure the proper nutrients needed for egg-laying. Ellie is good to check their water each day.  If you've have chicken experience, we'd love your advice!  (she has four hens, one was in the coop.)

. . . . . 

My calendar is filled with doctor's appointments.   For a time, while Eric wasn't allowed to drive due to his broken collar bone, I was taking him to all of them, but now I only go to the ones with the rheumatologist. (for moral support and catching details from the doctor's conversation.) There are appointments for Hannah too (still trying to get to the heart of her digestive issues), and for Mary Anne - she has begun vision therapy.  

Also - for the next few weeks I'll be taking a dear friend to chemotherapy appointments.  Nothing like that to give one a bit of perspective.  I catch myself complaining about something and then realize that I have NOTHING to complain about.  I am privileged every day to do life with my favorite people!

. . . . . 

Eric and I are just about ready to take our coffee roaster exam.  There is so much to know - from seed to cup how coffee is grown and processed, to green coffee buying, to cupping, to brewing and extraction, and of course all aspects of roasting.  It's exciting and scary all at the same time.    

. . . . . 

So life is pretty busy, but the schedule is loose, which is one of the best parts of summer vacation.  

- Carol

Ordinary days and a few thoughts

Hello,

I find I've been at a loss for what to say here on this ol' blog.  Even though we are officially enjoying summer vacation from school, I still remain busy with the typical and ordinary things of motherhood. My days are full, but typical and ordinary don't seem to offer much to write about ~ and worse may come across as complaining, and I would never want that!
Here is a little bit of what's been going on.

It has been so nice to have Matthew and Hannah back home.  Even though Matthew's work schedule doesn't leave a lot of time to interact with him, I still like knowing he is in the same state and time zone.  They had such a marvelous time spending time with family, forming new relationships, and strengthening and deepening others.  They really enjoyed seeing so many different sights and even the warm/muggy East Coast weather.  A change of pace can be so refreshing.
I have to admit, it felt so weird without them here.  Weird because I knew they were across the county.  Weird because we all felt the hole from their absence.  Weird because it allowed us to see just how much they do to be a help and participate in family relationships.  Weird because they were making memories and I wasn't part of that.  I know that may sound proud or egotistical.  I don't mean it that way.  It's just that we have done things, especially big things, as a family usually, so I share in the experiences.  Of course each of us has our own perception of things, and memories are uniquely our own, but this time they were off and my only participation is to view their photographs.  Weird.  I know this is how it is all supposed to go - they don't stay little and at home forever.  I'm ok with that, but it still takes getting used to.

. . . . .

No rest for the weary - and boy was she weary from her very exciting, exhausting, fun, memorable trip.  This week was full of appointments.  Another doctor appointment for Hannah.  This one was with a GI specialist with Children's Hospital.  She is baffled by Hannah's symptoms just like all the other doctors we have seen.  She has ordered an endoscopy.  Perhaps a look inside will help? Meanwhile, my girl suffers so.  I know that God has this particular trial for her to bring her closer to Him.  A close abiding walk is the result of utter dependence upon Him.  I can see a complete surrendering to His will.  That is never easy, when the situation seems bleak.  Will we find answers? Will she ever not hurt?  Will this last forever?  These are overwhelming and terrifying and discouraging thoughts.
So we take one day at a time.

. . . . .

The other day was National Skateboarding Day!
It's also the first day of summer.  See what they did there?
I had several things I wanted to get done that day, but before the afternoon got away from me, we went for a quick trip to the local skate park in our town.  We had it all to ourselves.

Hannah has been teaching herself how to longboard dance.

. . . . .

Ellie has been having chicken troubles.
She has one hen that is very broody - or at least that's what we think is going on.  She sits in the nesting box all day - all night.  She makes noise at you if you try to move her out of there.  Because of this she is getting hen-pecked when she does come out.  We decided to separate two of the more aggressive hens, and put them in the barn to try to adjust the pecking order a bit.  Later that night, Ellie went to check on them and there was only 1 hen in the barn!  No signs of mischief though,  No feathers, no blood, but no chicken.  She and Dan checked the barn high and low and there was no sign of her. LOTS of tears with thoughts of maybe an owl getting in the barn and snatching her away - or that she flew out and over the fence and was wondering alone in the wilderness.  She tried her best to put on a brave face, but...
4 days later when Daniel was cleaning out the goat pen, he heard noises, and checked it out.  He found the chicken stuck under a pile of wood, behind some fencing.  Not quite sure how she got herself there. She had laid two eggs though.  Suffice it to say, when she was put back into the coop, she drank and drank and drank and ate and ate and ate.  I think we found her in the nick of time.  She seems to be fine.

. . . . .

Father's Day
We all pitched in to give him just a little something so he knows he is very much loved and appreciated! He is a servant - always fixing broken toys for the younger children, broken vehicles for the older children, household anything for me. He's way better than I am in the kitchen, and he enjoys cooking (how did I get so lucky?)
He knows so much about so much that if any of us needs to know how to do something, we pretty much know we can "just ask Dad" and he will have an answer.

I'm not sure why I chose to only take a "men" picture rather than with all the children.  Duh.
But whatever.  Look!  Dan is just about as tall as Eric.

We have this old fashioned cookie cutter which reminds us of a certain Looney Tunes cartoon. 

It was Ellie's idea to make cookies for Dear ol' Dad. 

If he could have done anything on Father's Day it would have been to spend some time on his skateboard.  He has been off of it since April 30th, and he misses it so much.  He was so hoping that at his most recent appointment with the orthopedist that he would be given the A-Ok.  

The good news is that he is no longer wearing the sling AND there is new bone growth.  It's not completely healed yet so there are still restrictions in place.  No heavy lifting.  No skateboarding. Both for another 6 weeks.  BUT he can drive now - so he feels a little bit of freedom. 

. . . . . 

Summer for me is a time to reflect on the newly completed school year and try to figure out what we accomplished and where we need to make adjustments for the coming year.  It's also a time that I need to take advantage of by using it wisely for training the children in new chores and responsibilities.  But, I love the loosey-goosey schedule of carefree summer days.  

I am having the little girls read aloud to me daily so they continue to make progress there. 

Of course, I don't have to require reading from Dan and Hannah.  Pulling them away from their books is more of the challenge.  😉

. . . . . 

Eric and I have been learning about coffee roasting and how to become coffee roasters.  Not just home roasters, but honest to goodness for realsy reals certified coffee roasters.  

We are excited about this new endeavor/adventure, but scared to death too. 

We want this to be something that can bring Eric home from the corporate world.  Something we can do with the children.  Thinking mostly of Hannah and Daniel, but as the girls grow, they will grow into jobs that they can do.  It is overwhelming though!  There are so many aspects of a new business to think about and put into place.  It can definitely get a little overwhelming.  

Working with the county on a specific idea we have is  s  l  o  w  -  g  o  i  n  g.  It's also frustrating for many reasons that I'll share at a later time, but suffice it to say, that the Lord is showing me areas I need to grow.  One area in particular is patience in His timing.  I have come to discover that I tend to be anxious.  I fret and worry, and don't even realize it.   It's a constant battle of my mind to choose to trust Him.  You know that verse that says, "Oh Ye, of little faith."  UGH!  

And that has been how our days are rolling.  Mostly home, doing a little of this and a little of that with some fun thrown in for good measure.  

- Carol

He is Risen!

Happy, Happy Easter, Friends!

I have found my thoughts drifting to a couple of things all week as I think on the Holy week.

Holy week begins with Palm Sunday - which is recorded as Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where throngs of people laid down palm branches in the road as he rode in on a donkey.  They shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David", praising Him.

However, as the week progressed, they turned on Him demanding that Pilate crucify him.

And I keep thinking...how could the crowds go from one extreme to the next?   How could they adore Him one day, and sentence him to death just four days later?  How fickle they were.  How fickle I am! One minute I am full of faith - completely trusting Him, and another fear, worry, and doubt overcome me.

But God...
God is God.  He never changes.  His love never changes either.  I am thankful that his love for me doesn't change based on my attitude.  His love is completely a gift of grace.  There is nothing I can do to earn it or deserve it.  On the flip side of that is there is nothing I can do to squelch it either.

It's that love that I have also been thinking about this week.
and this too...

"Good Friday was the worst Friday...until Sunday" - Mike Donehey

His is Risen - just as He said!

Happy Easter, Everyone.

 

- Carol

Thoughts on motherhood

Hello, 

Have you ever watched a movie only to have it run through your head for days afterwards?  That is how it has been for me with The Help, the movie we watched last week.  I don't want to spoil things for you in case you want to watch it (which you should TOTALLY watch it!) so I won't say much, but the scene that has been rolling around in my head and heart is the scene of a black maid who works for a white family - who among other things is raising their little daughter, who they pay very little attention to.

The little girl is just about three.  The maid, Aibileen kneels down to her eye level and tenderly tells her, "You is kind.  You is smart.  You's important."

And in her little three year old voice, she it repeats back to Aibileen.  It's just the sweetest ever!

What has resonated with me is just how much my children need affirmation and love.  We all do!   And why would I be stingy with life-giving, relationship-building words?  Sweet and tender words of encouragement and love and affection cost me nothing. 

  

 But the dividends are immeasurable.

I often ask myself why I am quicker to correct my children when they are misbehaving, or being loud and rambunctious rather than speaking words of encouragement?   They grow up so fast.  My time with them is short.  I have learned that I must be intentional about what I say and how I say things to these precious people in my life.

I'm not just talking about complimenting them on a how pretty/handsome they look on a given day (though, I am sure they like to hear that too), but rather about speaking affirming words about their good character.  Things like kindness and deference, joy in spite of disappointment, diligence, and perseverance through frustration.

But most of all, how loved they are for who they are. And loved not just by me, or by Eric, but by their Heavenly Father who created them and knows them so intimately.  Who loves them more than I ever could (which almost seems impossible to me.)

Motherhood is not for the faint of heart.  It is demanding.  It requires strength and wisdom, which I often lack. (Thankful that God supplies me with both when I ask Him.)  At times it is discouraging. Sometimes because I can't see the "fruit" yet in their life, other times because my own sin stares me square in the face. (That is surely discouraging!)

I am reminded of some verses.

Psalm 126:5 "Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting."

Proverbs 31:26 " She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

Colossians 3:12-14 "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

I want to be a mom like that.

I have finally realized that life will always be busy, and stress will always be present, but making time and taking opportunities to build relationships in the midst of it all must be a priority. I want it to be a priority - so I need to order my days accordingly.


- Carol