A day of Refreshment in a week of Discouragement

The last couple of days have been magical.  Daughter Ashley brought the children for an overnighter at Briarwood, also known as "Grammy's House."  It was a time filled with horses and play and pizza and movie night, and more horses, and all of the wonderful fantasies two happy little girls could muster. (Little George at this point is more interested in eating dog food and playing with electrical cords than in experiencing wonder of any kind!) Rebecca and Ashley managed to get the spinning wheel working and started on the first crop of Scottish Blackface wool from Dayspring Farm. Here are a few pictures of the event.



playing horses

the real thing

and more!

Momma with Little Princess, her retired hunter jumper

Spinning the first wool from the Canter's flock of Scottish Blackface Sheep

Lunch!

Playing St. Michael in the Briarwood Chapel

I thank God for times like this.  The last couple of weeks have been very stressful.  Diocesan Convention, interactions with several colleagues, and the recent political infightings in our country have conspired to remind me of how much of the old order has passed, and of how little I like that which currently holds sway in this great and wide world of ours.  Added to some very difficult administrative decisions of late, it has all made me very tired emotionally and spiritually.  But when I look into the eyes of my grandchildren, and when I survey the wonder that is all around me, I feel refreshed and renewed...ready to face the morrow.  And so I close with a snapshot of Little Princess and Oscar, whose presence reminds me that all is not concrete and asphalt, and that there is still beauty defined by function and nature; beauty which participates in and grows from that which we have all known instinctively from the beginning; that which is unchanging and in which we see the very face of God.

As God shows forth his character and person in the wonder and purpose of creation, so he shows us the fullness of his glory in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, of whom the Holy Bible is the sure and verified record.
To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

"A Great Day To Be Alive" (with thanks to Travis Tritt for a great song title and a great song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4tSE2w53ts
I've been having some computer issues lately, or at least some errors related to operator ignorance which are blamable on the machine, and so I worked from home to finish up a couple of projects while everything was up and running.  It turned out to be a wonderful day.  A close early morning inspection and removal of burlap netting revealed that the cold temperature of the preceding night did not damage any of the fruit.  God willing, we will have good harvests of grapes, peaches, and apricots this year, and a fairly good showing of apples and cherries on the younger trees.  A quick trip to the church to open up revealed that our volunteers were hard at it doing the work of the kingdom, and enjoying the same!  Then it was back to spend the rest of the morning working on a leaflet for the funeral of William George Lantz, who lived well, worked hard, enjoyed the beauty of music, and loved his family.  At noon, Tristan and I broke for a lunch picked freshly from the garden, accompanied by a glass of California claret.  Rebecca joined us on her break, and we were mesmerized in good conversation as we laughed in the sunshine.  The mid-afternoon brought another trip in to the church for a consultation about the funeral and to load some necessary props for the evening's fund raiser for Young Life http://lancaster.younglife.org/Pages/default.aspx, a parachurch Christian youth ministry with which our town has been recently blessed.

After a trip to Dr. Kitzmiller DVM for Oscar's Rabies shot, it was off to Newark to meet Ashley and the children at City Barbecue for dinner.  Tristan leaves later this morning for his summer term in Luxembourg, and this was his send off dinner of sorts.  We laughed and ate and played hide and seek on the patio with the girls, and little George slept through most of the meal.  It was a magical time.  When Momma told the girls to wish Uncle Tristan a safe and happy trip, almost five year old Margaret teared up and said "I'm sinking into sadness."  Momma assured her that this was nothing like when Captain Joe went to sea, and that it was going to be a happy trip with presents from Europe and regular Face book messages from her uncle and godfather.  Everything was fine then, and we said our goodbyes.

I thought at the time how right she was.  This was nothing like when Tristan, or Matthew, or Joe went off to war.  And for that I am ever so thankful.  All of the men in my grand children's lives are home now, and we are thankful.  Some of you may remember the posting of when Joe put to sea from the Port of San Diego http://thecountryparson-rector.blogspot.com/2012/09/godspeed-captain-joe.html.  He and the fleet are home safely now, so I can post some of those old and dated pictures that I did not post before because of operational security considerations.

 
Welcome home Joe, and God bless you all.  How I look forward to the day when wars will cease, and all people, under the Lordship of King Jesus, will live in peace and harmony.

It was a good day, and today promises to be every bit as wonderful, with friends, family, and things to do for our Holy Mother the Church and for the kingdom of Jesus Christ.  May your day be as blessed, and may you find peace, and hope, and purpose.  AMEN!

Happy Children: A Blessing From God!

A few pictures of Margaret and Helen at their farm for those who are interested.  Saturday, Pappa broke sod for their 40x70 foot garden.  Hopefully, the sheep will arrive soon.  the chickens are doing well, and it is a blessing to see my children and grandchildren so happy in their little corner of this earthly paradise we call the Ohio Country.

"My soul doth magnify the Lord
    And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour..."

Uncle Tristan! Uncle Tristan!

Last week while home on spring break, Tristan spent a couple of days with his sister and her family at their farm outside Newark.  Here he is with George, the newest addition to our family.  I thank God that all of our children and grandchildren are back here in Ohio, serving God and working hard every day.  May God bless them richly as only he can do.

For those who are interested, here are a few more shots of the Canters at home.

Pappa and George after a hard day in the oil and gas fields

the girls and Pappa at his birthday party

a tractor ride at the top of the big pasture