The Loveliest Couple

I met a couple today, through the sale of an item they purchased from me. They are of the Hutterite faith. I know very little of the people themselves within that faith base. I know some of how a colony works. I also know that within any group of people, you have the good eggs and the bad eggs. I was always taught that most Hutterites were of the bad egg ilk. Not so, people. This couple were the nicest and most down to earth people I have ever met. They had quite the sense of humour and it was such a blessing to see them interact as a couple. We spent about an hour and a half together. We shared many common interests. She is a great quilter, sewer, canner, gardener, just like I am. We shared some recipes for food and for healing oils and creams. She said her colony is just getting into more of the natural healing elements. They patiently explained about how their colony works - they each have their own home and look after that, they do their own families laundry and on occasion, they do their own cooking for their family. About the only things they do together is eat, the canning, gardening, the farm animals (in this case chickens and pigs), and the fields. They do have their own businesses - this couple have a cabinetry business that they share with two of their sons. She said that though they have teachers come in, the ladies over the age of 45 take turns teaching the kindergarten class and of course they share in looking after all the kids. They invited me to come visit whenever. I may take them up on it. We were able to share our faith, which when you think of it, there is no difference except what MAN has made of it. We will look for each other at the local Saskatoon farm. I truly hope I run into Mary and Levi again.

Today we have a melting pot - melting mud, melting snow, melting salt, melting snow. So nice except that I just washed my vehicle on Saturday. Oh, well I do have all those gift certificates for car washes to use up - so no worries. We will be into the plus side of temperatures by Wednesday and going further. That old Mr. Sun feels so wonderful on my winter dried out white skin. Maybe it will hit the magic +10C on the weekend. In which case, I will be sitting on my wicker chair, on the porch with a large glass of ice tea, watching the world go by. Oh joy! Life is good.

Nothing else new or newsworthy today. Did enjoy my dinner with my youngest son, my daughter and two of my grand kids. My middle grandson takes auntie out into the sun room and declares "Welcome to my summer home". He has such an imagination - gotta just love it. I wonder if he thinks he's moving in for the summer!

Take time to enjoy the weather and all that God has blessed you with.

Blessings to all

Jean

THE BIG NOTHING

Sorry, no posts this week. That stomach bug going around is to die for and I don't mean in a good way. I am told that some of us older folk will have lasting effects for a few weeks after. I thought I had protected myself pretty good. Wash hands - check, Use Hand Sanitizer - check, avoid people like the plague -- check --- NOT! My oldest son and family had it, I stayed away. They called for a babysitter, I thought they were over it until I got in their foyer and BOOOOOMMMM! Nicole says, Geoff got it back again this morning. I couldn't think of a polite way out of babysitting and by then I was in the contagious zone. Less than 24 hours later it was game over. I made it to work only one day last week. I still feel tired, and if I eat more than a few morsels at a time, my tummy gets quite bloated. I went to visit some friends yesterday and was so embarrassed as I could not quit burping. Enough sick talk.

Happy Palm Sunday. When I was small, some of the churches called it White Sunday and we all were to bring a tin of food. In those days we were told it would all go overseas to some needy country. Now, if churches still do that, I am certain it goes to the local food banks. I have always loved the story of Jesus riding a donkey. Was sort of disappointed this morning at church - no retelling of the Triumphant entry, no children waving palm branches and singing Hosanna. Just our regular service. Thinking about it, I think the little kids are too small and the medium size ones are too big now. If the parents took the little kids up front, there wouldn't be too many folk in the chairs. Yeah for growing churches. Now starts the march to Good Friday. I can hardly wait to read a bit every day this week, make notes and let the marvel of what God did for us sink in once again. This year I am working through a book by Kay Arthur called When The Hurt Runs Deep. It is one of the most awesome books I have ever studied.

We are going to get warmer temperatures this week - Yay - however, snow will accompany the warming trend three of the next four days. We really don't need more snow. As it is, the Weather guru's in the US have forecast another major flood for the Fargo ND area. If you live north of there you know that all rivers lead to Lake Winnipeg, then on out into James Bay. Needless to say all that water has to come our way and though a month ago, we had not a bad flood forecast, it will be interesting to hear what they say come the 1st of April. I really hope the folks in the western half of North Dakota won't have much flooding - they got hammered pretty good last year. I think it was Minot that most of the town was wiped out. It might be a good time to remind you all - DON'T BUILD WHERE IT USE TO BE A LAKE! Every year we get a bit of flooding. In the past it was usually a bit of over land flooding. It seems like the past 10 years or so, it is getting worse every year.

Back to church for a minute. We have a couple that if you didn't know they weren't related and married, you would think that they were brother and sister. They are married and have stair step boys. Six months, 1 1/2, 2 1/2, and 3 1/2. They all look identical. I don't know where she gets the outfits, but they all wear the same jeans, the same shirts and the same shoes - too cute. They are the best behaved little guys and such handsome little dudes. It will be interesting to watch them grow up. I think there may be quite a bit of mischief coming up. Mom is up to the challenge though.

Well, that was my week in a nut shell. Maybe some sewing or stitching may happen this week, if so good, if not well that will be okay too.

Enjoy the longer daylight hours, and the warmer temperatures. For you all in warmer climes that can be outside working in the yard - I am so jealous. Of course that jealousy will only last until the first couple of things I rake or dig and I realize just how out of shape I am.

Blessings

Jean