"I have blood!"

"I have blood!" Jo shrieked after a tumble on the driveway last night after supper.

Usually when he falls down he picks himself right up and reports, "I'm okay." before moving on. He is remarkably resilient that way. But when there is blood involved he freaks out completely.

So, two parents hovered over him at the sink trying to rinse out all the grit embedded into his cuts. He must have really hit hard as some of that grit was deeply embedded in the cut. LK had the brilliant idea of distracting him from his distress with Jelly Bellys. There are LK's favourite jelly bean, which we diligently hunt for every time we are in Winners (the best place to find them at a discount). Mouth full of beans, Jo submitted, not very graciously, to having his wounds cleaned somewhat.

With Mr. Men band aids on both palms he was tucked into bed. My last instructions to him were to leave the band aids alone so his boo boos could heal.

This morning he has one happy palm, well on its way to healing, and one cranky palm. The cranky palm has some grit left in the wound and is turning an ugly red. So, although the skin has started to close already, I tried to gently dig around with a needle to open it up and get the rest of the dirt out.

"That is closed already," Jo protested.

Oh, I hate having to make my kids more upset when they are hurt, but that dirt just can't stay in there. So, we sang a song to distract him from the poking. Now he has a fresh band aid and Neosporin slathered on the cut to help it heal. I hope that we got all the dirt this time.

The poor boy has new instructions this morning, "Stay out of the dirt today." Yeah, right. Like that will happen.

Fresh Breezes

Right after Oma and Opa spent a sweltering week with us the weather shifted and thundershowers and strong breezes have been blowing gorgeous weather across the skies for the past 24 hours. We spent the afternoon outside. Now I have several nasty sets of suburn lines. Why can't I remember to put sunscreen on properly? Perhaps it is time to invent a sunscreen prayer - like those tanning booths...

We also have been getting the COW (Cabin on Wheels) ready for camping. The Sprouts are thrilled to have it set up and are making the most of the extra play space.

"Mama, I am having some quiet reading time," wafted from the interior last time I stepped out onto the deck. Ah, sweet summer.

Soaking Up Family-shine

We have had a lovely visit with Oma and Opa. We celebrated birthdays, lazed in the sun, explored some of the sights of Grassy, Kenora and Winnipeg, and did a little home improvement. A perfect family visit in my book.

I love living here and am very content with where God has us right now. I think that one of the few things that I struggle with is the distance from our families. The last few days of a visit is hard because we are trying to soak up enough grandparent energy and time to last a year (without sucking them dry). And the prospect of going whole year before getting another dose is a bit of a downer. But, with all the amazing blessings in our lives, who can really complain for long. We have two sets of grandparents who love us very much and make big sacrifices to spend time with us. What more could we possibly ask for?

As we say goodbye for another year (oh that is not so fun to write) I am glad that the Sprouts have more happy memories to cherish, and some pictures (thanks Papa) to help them remember. I hope that we will be able to welcome Oma and Opa back again, as it has been wonderful to have them in our home.

Aaaand Here's Nana & Pop!! Nana? Pop?

My parents embrace life's challenges with gusto and celebrate its joys with verve. Their current move from their little log cabin in Muskoka to join us teaching here in the bush for a year is a pretty good example of facing challenges with gusto (or at least remarkable grace).

They were due to arrive here three days ago. On Wednesday we got a call saying that they were bumping the move a day so they could finish up a few last projects around the house. They are the ultimate DIYers (they have built most of the homes we lived in when I was growing up), so that meant projects like finishing flooring, trim, or staining the exterior.

That postponement was not much of a surprise to me, having lived through several Dix-style moves. Although vague, the memories are flooding back to me now. However, my husband and kids have not experiences that style of move. We are in the middle movers, rent a van, and then do the rest yourself and with friend/family labour. It has worked out pretty well. No one in my immediate family has ever done the pay packers/movers to get your stuff from A to B; we just all have other priorities for the amount of money/debt that would mean (like eating for the next sixth months after the move).

Anyway, one day postponement turned into two as the trailer they were moving all their essentials in was overloaded and needed to be repacked (with the heaviest stuff left behind). Much debate ensued regarding the wisdom of just renting a van (I voted for that one) or trimming the baggage down (that one won).

They were safely off Sunday morning with a message left on our machine saying, "See you in two days."

So last night we waited and watched the road, excited to see them (and the grownups anxious for them to be safe and sound). Instead there was a phone call.

They are stuck in T Bay. The car broke down over Lake Superior and they had a vast tow to the nearest dealership (the downside of driving a Subaru is the few dealerships). I was really impressed with how calm my mom was on the phone; two dogs and a cat in a hotel room in a strange city with a broken down car after sitting at the side of the road waiting for help for five and a half hours. I would be sobbing in a puddle on the floor. But my mom was level and sounded incredibly peaceful. She is one amazing woman!

I am praying that the car just needs a hose replaced and the that can be done in a short while this morning. But I am fearing that they will be stranded in the city for several days.

I have a fresh appreciation for the worry that my parents went through when my sisters and I left home for the first time and they were not sure We would be able to stand on our own two feet. I know that my parents can (stand on their own two feet), they have done so with remarkable grace for my whole life, I just wish that things would go smoothly for them, just this once.

And I am struggling with wanting to jump in my car and drive to rescue them. I know that won't be any help at this point, but it is what my heart is telling me to do instead of this useless waiting.

Prayers for their safe arrival would be appreciated.

Bear Scare

We were just finishing up supper and getting ready to clear the table when there was a knock on the front door. We knew it wasn't a friend, as all our friends know that we use the side door. So, curious, we went to answer it.

Two men stood on the front porch, huffing and puffing as if they had just been chased by our mama bear. But she was nowhere to be seen. There was also no car in sight. From their sunburnt skin and American accents, they were obviously not locals. Why would a pair of retired white guys be knocking on our door 80km from the nearest town without a car at dinnertime?

"Is this where the police still live?" they puffed.

"No, Treaty 3 Police have their office about 2km away. Can we help?" I answered.

As it turned out they were fishermen who have a cabin up the lake. They were huffing and puffing because they had climbed the hill from the lake (that explains why we didn't hear a car pull up). They had a problem with a bear at their cabin and needed help.

They had come back to camp after fishing for the day to find a bear in the cabin. The bear was not the least bit concerned that the cabin occupants were not looking for company, and was reluctant to move along. The next day the bear was back again. Again it was unconcerned about the humans who seemed to think it was unwelcome. After two visits in two days, the fishermen were looking for a solution.

After several phone calls to various police (jurisdiction issues???) the men had a solution; the Treaty 3 officer that was coming up today to join the group for fishing would bring his gun. If the bear dropped in uninvited again, well, it would be dinner.

Refusing offers of a beverage, off they went down the hill to launch back to camp. Today LK and I are both wondering what happened to the bear.

No Caffeine After 4 O'Clock!

I made the mistake of having a Coke with our take-out dinner last night (yes, we have take-out in GN; the chip truck). It was delicious after working all day. But the cost was lying in bed awake until after 2am. By lunchtime I anticipate a serious case of the grouchies. I hope that if I drink enough water and inject some caffeine directly into my veins it will all be okay.

Almost everything is set back to rights after finishing the painting yesterday. I am happier with the colour every time I walk into the room, and that is great as I started happy and am growing to adore it. However, I still have two plants with no home, a bathroom light cover that has lost its screw, no curtains, and no art on the walls.

While laying in bed I pondered the possibilities for the plants, art, and window treatments. Ideas, but no solutions. We shall see what today brings in terms of inspiration.