Saturday August 8 2015  MY BIG WONDERFUL DAY TODAY!

 

I said a statement today that I almost didn’t live to regret.

Yesterday’s blog was a simple poem and borrowed wisdom!  Today I had a great big wonderful day as I had planned, and an even better ending!

Dave and I woke up early and readied ourselves for our day at the lake at the Redder’s home in Pardeeville.  A quiet, simple, beautiful community.  It is also Amish-land.  So many beautiful farms, road after road.  Clothes in abundance hung on the clotheslines whipping in the breeze.  All hung in precision of size and gender and garments.  And each yard had many rows of very long lines of hanging space.  Had there been safe places to pull over I would have taken photos.    There were gardens laden with a profusion of vegetables.  Road side stands laid out in wagons and tarps in front yards with a jar beside the produce to accept your money.  I bought a baker’s dozen ears of corn for $2.00!  A beautiful home grown cantaloupe for $2.00.  Green peppers for 50 Cents.  A huge kohlrabi for $2.00 (which is one of my favorite vegetables).

As we drove down a little country road I noticed an Amish wagon by the road with several little Amish children sitting serene and stock still on two rows of seats up high in the large wagon.  The children were toddler age on up to about 4 or 5.  There was, who I assumed to be the mom, working in the vegetable garden off to the side of the wagon and in close proximity to her there were four or five other children ranging in sizes of about 5 or 6 years of age, to maybe 12 years old.  All were bending, harvesting, weeding or doing whatever else you do in a garden.  We drove past, commenting on the children so patiently waiting on the seats.  I thought maybe they were packed up there because they were going to be going on a trip but had to gather the veggies first.  We passed them on our way to the Amish country store.  Dave and I were in the front seat with me driving, and two friends who came with us in the back seat.  About an hour or so later we finished our shopping in the country store and headed back down the country road.  There was the buggy again.  The little ones still sitting docile and serene just as they had been over an hour ago.  The older children were still working with their backs bent, noses to their tasks.  The wagon (a large one that is normally drawn by two horses) had been turned and was now half way down the rows of the vegetable garden, wheels in the spaces between the vegetation.  It was a very large garden.  In the back of the wagon were piles of produce.  As I drove by I wondered how long those babies would have to sit so still and how long the older children would work.  Probably until lunch.  We went by at about 9:30 a.m. and back by closer to 11:00 a.m.  The little ones were not watching an Ipad either, nor did I see any toys.  Just thought you might like to know.  I marveled at the wonder of seeing that scene in this chaotic world we live it.  I wondered what was the motivating factor for such compliancy.

The four of us arrived at the lake location a while later.  It was a perfectly beautiful day.  A bit overcast, warm, but not hot.  A slight breeze that seemed refreshing and such a beautiful lake to view.  The food was delicious, the company was enjoyable, the pontoon ride was relaxing and it was over too soon.

I just remembered I left something out.  On the way through the little downtown area of Pardeeville earlier that morning I spotted a parking lot full of booths selling their wares.  I spied some chairs that looked interesting and asked the others if they would mind if I stopped.  No, they did not mind as it was a great adventure to them to be so spontaneous.  I think Spontaneous is my middle name.  The chairs I had noticed were not what I was looking for but I saw a table and chair set that I thought might have some potential.  I did not want the table, but the chairs, five regular dining chairs and one captain’s chair, looked pretty good.  Old chairs from 1943 made by Leath Furniture Company.  They were painted a soft white and then finished with a distressed look.  Sort of the shabby chic look.  The vendor would not separate the chairs and table.  That is, until I convinced them it was the right thing to do.  So, I bought the chairs for my “new” dining room table.  Distressed table—distressed chairs!  What a great combination.  So here is my dilemma.  Six chairs about 60 miles from my house, two grown women sitting in the back seat of my LITTLE Kia and no way to get them home.  Oh well, I knew it would happen one way or the other so I didn’t worry about it.  So we go on about our day, did all the above, had a great time and I’m still thinking about how to get the chairs home without having to drive all the way up to Pardeeville this week.  Besides, I didn’t know if 6 chairs would fit in my car even with the back down.  Now I do know I was able to get  an awful lot of STUFF in the back of my Silver Fox while I was traveling, but I am a master at stuffing stuff in little spaces if the stuff will cooperate.  Chairs do not cooperate.

As the day progressed, lunch was over and we were all sitting around I asked if anyone had a van that would hold six chairs and if so would they mind taking them to Madison for me so I could pick them up at their house.  Immediately someone volunteered.  They went with me right then to the street vendor, packed them up and toted them to their home after they left the party.  After emptying my car of the back seat passengers we drove over to their house, put 5 chairs in the back with the promise of picking the captain’s chair up from their van tomorrow morning at church, and left for home.  And what happened next is what made for MY TRULY BIG WONDERFUL DAY!

Earlier in the day when we were getting on the pontoon boat someone said that nothing ever exciting happened.  I responded, well something exciting has to happen with me around because I need something to write about every day in my blog.  Just a passing comment, meant in jest.  If you read my blog every day you can testify that my days do not prove very exciting here on the home front.  But in my heart every day is exciting and fulfilling just because I am alive.  However, today something did happen.  Perhaps that something was more nerve wracking than exciting but when it was all over I was very excited because I was alive and intact!

After picking up the chairs from our friend’s house we discussed how to go home.  I thought I’d go home the back way so as not to need to get on the freeway with the load in the back.  Then I reconsidered and I decided I would take the freeway, so got over into the right turn lane.  When I approached the right turn curve to get on the highway a truck came from the opposite direction, turned left to go onto the same on-ramp.  My entrance and his entrance were separated by a triangular curbed berm.  In a split second I noticed he was coming way to fast, went up on the berm, lost control of his truck, went to the left side of his enclosed lane, barely missing the vehicle coming up behind him, swung violently and speedily across the front of my travel, spun around and was facing me in an almost head on  position  just feet away from my car when he stopped and I stopped.  Actually, had I not seen him out of the corner of my eye approaching the turn so erratic and fast, I would have probably have plowed into him.  I had started breaking fiercely the second I saw him jump the curb.  His back tire was totally off the rim.  He backed up, straightened up his truck and took off like a light.  I tried to get his License number but could not due to his surprisingly quick escape.  So we called 911 and reported the “almost accident”, and followed him onto the freeway.  He exited at the first available exit,his trail of rubber debris giving  proof to his direction.  I was speaking with the 911 dispatcher giving her the streets he was turning on.  Soon I lost sight of him.  For a while I was able to follow the debris of rubber left behind by his disintegrating tire.  When the tire debris ended we could no longer give directions as to his avenue of escape.    He really wanted to get away.  He looked wild when our eyes met through the windows of the up close and personal position of our vehicles when we were facing each other on the freeway on-ramp.  AND THAT IS WHEN I KNEW I HAD A TRULY BIG WONDERFUL DAY!  Not only did I find the chairs for my dining room table, I was going to have the opportunity to go home, whole and healthy and carry them into the house.  Remember, every moment we have to live is truly a big wonderful day!  I am so thankful for two things.  One, that I decided to travel home via the freeway.  Had I not turned there I would have been in the exact path of that truck when it made the turn and very likely would have been hit before he entered the freeway on-ramp.  Secondly, after it was all over, there I was behind the wheel, totally sound and safe with my husband safe and sound beside me.  How awesome is that?  So, I guess it really was an exciting day after all.  My adrenalin rush will attest to that.

Most of all, I thank God for his protection over me this day.  IT REALLY WAS A TRULY BIG WONDERFUL DAY!

 

A TRULY BIG WONDERFUL DAY

By Kathleen Martens

August 8, 2015

 

Thank You God, for being You

Vigilant in all you do.

Watchful over me each hour,

Your strength is my power.

 

In my weakness You are strong,

Wherever I am, to You I belong.

You give me wisdom, signs to heed.

Your protection is all I need,

 

You guard me both day and night

You shield me with Your guiding light.

You are my shelter in time of storm

My days numbered when I was born.

 

You are my protector through all my days,

And You whisper sweet thoughts that say

What it is you want me to know,

So I’ll know which way to go.

 

Thank you God, that Your hand is on me

That you will show me what You want me to see.

I know someday I’ll see Your face.

In Your timing I’ll be in Your place.

 

And if had been Your timing today

These are the words to You I’d say.

Thank You God for bringing me home

This is THE BEST, WONDERFUL DAY I HAVE EVER KNOWN!

 

Earlier in the day while in the food line for lunch I asked the host of our party if he had any wisdom for me.  This is what Darrel said to me: “Trust in the Lord forever”.  I said “That’s it?”.  He replied  “That’s enough”.

 

Well, for me today, THAT WAS ENOUGH!

Good night.