We have been blessed to sit on top of a hill overlooking a beautiful panoramic view of the Pennsylvania countryside. We savor and delight in its changing color and its magnificence splendor each day as we sit on our porch. A train winds its way through our town and we can see it from our porch as it snakes its way past Main Street as we listen carefully to the language of its whistle.
Several years ago, the neighbor that sits directly in front of us planted a row of Norwegian Pine trees. With growth of about 12” per year, the trees have grown to be massive, challenging the view within just a couple more years. We would no longer be able to see the train and the countryside would be blocked forever. Our view would shortly become pine trees and sky.
We have a good relationship with this widowed neighbor, so we asked her if we could chop those trees down, and put Japanese Weeping Cherry Trees in their place. She was quite agreeable to this proposal and we began the rigorous task of chopping and hauling four giant pines that very afternoon. About halfway through digging and planting of the new cherry trees another neighbor happened to stop by as he drove down the road. He informed us that the trees we just chopped down did not belong to this neighbor at all but it was the right-a-way for the man who lives in the last house on that driveway. With three of the six ($300) trees already planted, we stood in shocked silence. Well, actually it was not very silent, for I was going nuts. What were we going to say to this man was the question of the day? How were we indeed going to explain this one?
Evan dropped his tool of misdeed and languished down the driveway to meet trouble head on. He was not home but his mother said she thought he would be okay with it. We finished the job as quickly and as neatly as we could. After mulching and watering, we left the crime scene and put our tools away.
The next day we once again walked to his home to offer our apologies, but again he was not home. The other day while I was down in my garden, he drove past and gave me the friendly wave. I am comforted he has no hard feelings about our mistake, but rather as he told our neighbor “it was one less thing, he had to care for.”
Next spring we will enjoy the beauty of the Weeping Cherry trees and remember the grace God extended to us as that afternoon. It could have been ugly.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Monday, May 07, 2007
Fogarty's and Cook's meet
It feels very official now. We had lunch with the in-laws yesterday at their home after church and met the whole family. A little awkward at first, but then they brought out the guns. A weapon and a little target shooting can unite a bunch of guys quicker than anything else I know. We had a lovely lunch together and the afternoon melted into early evening much too quickly.
As we said our goodbyes to everyone Tyler turned to me and said, “Well Mom, soon I will be adding my goodbyes as well.” He had no idea how much that stung. He has been in my home longer than most, for which I am grateful, yet, knowing quite soon he will be living somewhere else where he will soon have to choose where he spends his holidays, Mother’s Day and even where he will sit in church. I will never make him choose to be here, but I will always be grateful if he chooses to be. This is certainly a bittersweet time. I have released him from my home, but I am struggling letting him go from my heart. Oh, I know he will always be my son and I am confident he will always love his mother, but it changes doesn’t it? I am blessed with a wonderful daughter-in-law who loves my son and for that, my heart is filled. I always prayed my boys would marry someone who would cherish, value and care for them unconditionally. It seems to me my prayer was answered with this one. I praise God.
As we said our goodbyes to everyone Tyler turned to me and said, “Well Mom, soon I will be adding my goodbyes as well.” He had no idea how much that stung. He has been in my home longer than most, for which I am grateful, yet, knowing quite soon he will be living somewhere else where he will soon have to choose where he spends his holidays, Mother’s Day and even where he will sit in church. I will never make him choose to be here, but I will always be grateful if he chooses to be. This is certainly a bittersweet time. I have released him from my home, but I am struggling letting him go from my heart. Oh, I know he will always be my son and I am confident he will always love his mother, but it changes doesn’t it? I am blessed with a wonderful daughter-in-law who loves my son and for that, my heart is filled. I always prayed my boys would marry someone who would cherish, value and care for them unconditionally. It seems to me my prayer was answered with this one. I praise God.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Yesterday was an exercise in humility and I did not like it at all. We received a summons to appear in court for not paying a medical bill totaling $74.60 over NINE years ago, count them NINE. It was a matter of principal back then that I did not pay the bill, and it has remained a matter of principal all these forgotten years. However, it was brought to my attention again several months ago when my fastidious mail carrier brought the summons to my door where he personally placed it in my hand. Letters and phone calls flew back and forth and months later, we came to an agreement. We even agreed to pay half which we did, which was apparently lost in the mail by some other persnickety mail carrier bent on causing us a great deal of trouble. The line was drawn in the sand and it was up to me to defend myself as the doctor was taking us to court. Knots began to form in my belly as I thought of defending myself. The bill was for Tyler anyway why don’t they come after him.
We were ready to do battle and if it were left to me that is exactly what we were going to do. We felt the case was in our favor and felt certain that we would be exonerated of the crime.
We happened to show up a good 45 minutes before it was our time to appear. Several people were waiting in the long hallway on wooden benches. I poked my head in the courtroom to see if we were in the right place and was escorted rather briskly out of the courtroom where I learned it was indeed the right place but the judge had some bond hearings to try and then do lunch. The lawyers came first and the rest of us would be last. Men in blue business suit were filling up the place. It was going to be a long day of waiting. I then asked a woman who was sitting outside the courtroom if she knew how these things work and to my utter amazement, it was the woman representing the doctor. I was staring directly in the face of the plaintiff.
She asked if we were the Fogarty’s and we said yes. She then asked us if we would agree to pay the bill to avoid the court scene, but my instant reply was, “I’m done with this.” Then, in comes the Holy Spirit resting squarely on the shoulders of my dear husband. Oh, brother…I’m thinking we were beginning to waffle. Short end of it, we settled out of court for half of the money and half of the court costs, $50 some odd dollars.
As it turns out, the whole thing was not about the court, or about what we owed, nor was it about winning something we thought was wrong. It was about this woman named Doris and it was about my heart. As we talked to her, we found out that her son was killed just nine months before her husband died of cancer. As she, wiped tears out of her eyes Evan asked her if she knew how much Jesus loved her and that he was there for her. I stood in shocked awe as I watched my husband put his arm around my enemy, a person God loves and was willing to die for. Evan put down our “rights box” and ministered to a woman that was hurting and lonely.
God will go to any length to get us to learn a lesson. It was I who needed to see the big picture. I watched something up close and personal and felt the love Jesus had for this woman. He used Evan’s heart and willingness to see through her job and see a person.
My daughter danced for us at the end of our day. She put on her little wedding dress and danced with delight as she looked for approval in our eyes. We need to dance before the Lord each day and also look for approval in his eyes. One day I may get it right the first time. Until then and forever, I will be looking.
We were ready to do battle and if it were left to me that is exactly what we were going to do. We felt the case was in our favor and felt certain that we would be exonerated of the crime.
We happened to show up a good 45 minutes before it was our time to appear. Several people were waiting in the long hallway on wooden benches. I poked my head in the courtroom to see if we were in the right place and was escorted rather briskly out of the courtroom where I learned it was indeed the right place but the judge had some bond hearings to try and then do lunch. The lawyers came first and the rest of us would be last. Men in blue business suit were filling up the place. It was going to be a long day of waiting. I then asked a woman who was sitting outside the courtroom if she knew how these things work and to my utter amazement, it was the woman representing the doctor. I was staring directly in the face of the plaintiff.
She asked if we were the Fogarty’s and we said yes. She then asked us if we would agree to pay the bill to avoid the court scene, but my instant reply was, “I’m done with this.” Then, in comes the Holy Spirit resting squarely on the shoulders of my dear husband. Oh, brother…I’m thinking we were beginning to waffle. Short end of it, we settled out of court for half of the money and half of the court costs, $50 some odd dollars.
As it turns out, the whole thing was not about the court, or about what we owed, nor was it about winning something we thought was wrong. It was about this woman named Doris and it was about my heart. As we talked to her, we found out that her son was killed just nine months before her husband died of cancer. As she, wiped tears out of her eyes Evan asked her if she knew how much Jesus loved her and that he was there for her. I stood in shocked awe as I watched my husband put his arm around my enemy, a person God loves and was willing to die for. Evan put down our “rights box” and ministered to a woman that was hurting and lonely.
God will go to any length to get us to learn a lesson. It was I who needed to see the big picture. I watched something up close and personal and felt the love Jesus had for this woman. He used Evan’s heart and willingness to see through her job and see a person.
My daughter danced for us at the end of our day. She put on her little wedding dress and danced with delight as she looked for approval in our eyes. We need to dance before the Lord each day and also look for approval in his eyes. One day I may get it right the first time. Until then and forever, I will be looking.
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