2018
2018 has come… and comes to an end. I felt something akin to a dizzying disorientation with the changing of the seasons, as one melded into another. The seasons, ever changing, draw us closer to those days of which Christ spoke, “But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.”
Trout Lake weathered steady and mild seasons, quite insulated from the fires, floods, and shakings that wake and warn the children of men. Who has an understanding of the times? Daniel 11:32-35, 12:1-3, 9-10
Marshal settled into a year of steady routine. The farmer wakes before the sun, and cares for his cattle, pigs, sheep, dogs, and barn cats. There is at least two of everything. The chickens, geese, and guineas wait for Gabe to rouse. Then Marshal grooms himself for his self-employed day job at the clinic, prepares his breakfast, and checks in at the office by 8:00 AM. He is Dr. Harpe until at least 4 PM, although always the doctor night or day when the phone rings with an urgent request. We receive appreciative and loving feedback from the community in regards to our presence as a clinic in Trout Lake. Marshal invited his mom, Ruth, to join him as his volunteer staff in the clinic over the summer, and she took him up on it. Marshal’s dad moved a trailer over here so Ruth would have her own little house three days a week with us. She not only helped out as a receptionist, but supported Marshal in every task, whether it was an extra hand in patient care, clinic housekeeping, or outdoor maintenance. She washed windows, dusted, mopped, repotted the dying house plant, weeded and cut back the irises under the plum tree for starters. It was so nice for each of us to have Mom, Grandma, with us on a weekly basis. We also enjoyed the bounty of her Eastern Washington garden, fresh produce all summer.
Marshal coached Trout Lake X-Country for his second year and took the high school girls to State along with Gabe, qualifying as an individual. Running takes up the end of summer and fall, but the weather was perfect for it, and the days were still long to fit it all in.
I follow Marshal every day without a steady routine. I might fit in a load of laundry, strain the kefir, knead some bread dough, put away the dishes, clean the toilets, scrub the shower, wash the dog, control the clutter, oversee Gabe and Lydia as they embark on the day, forget breakfast, make a smoothie, and then head to the clinic. I’ll spend hours with a Nutritional Therapy client or two, learn something new, answer the phone, inventory supplements, pay bills, reply to emails, get lost in Quickbooks. Quickbooks- what an oxymoron. Then, I’ll follow Marshal home. What’s for dinner? Hmmm. The bread dough is still sitting in the pan; the counters have accumulated new clutter; the meat is still in the freezer, and there are clothes to fold. Think I’ll just see what the rest of the world is doing on Facebook.
I did do something out of the ordinary this year; I joined a small group that went to Baja, Mexico(see my June 1st blog post) for a week in the spring. Twenty years ago, I had become acquainted with Foundation For His Ministry, a children’s mission. Four years ago, I reread the story of how the ministry was raised up, Charla’s Childrenby Charla Pereau. It is a testimony of God’s work, not the work of man’s hands. This year, I had the invitation to go and see firsthand.
Just before Easter, Gabe joined the Langdon family on their one of many return trips to Malawi, Africa(see Aug 21 post) where they had founded a Baby Nursery ten years ago. When given the opportunity, he seized it. He had three super weeks in Africa, experiencing life, language, culture, food, climate and lots of children and babies on the other side of the world. His highlights were Easter Sunday worship service with dancing and music, jumping up and down for hours until his armpits were raw. The other was playing with literally hundreds of exuberant and competitive children. We loved his little iPhone videos he was taking during the time. He got quite sick at the end with concerns of Malaria, but in hindsight, figured it was a migraine reaction to the food coloring in Sobo and Fanta drinks.
Gabe came home when track season was in full swing, and it was off to the races in the 800 M. He went to State and ran well. He came home with Marshal from State and stepped out of the truck with a Norovirus. That GI bug took us all down throughout the week and cancelled our Anniversary plans to take the kids back to Newport, Oregon coastline.
Gabe hatched a dozen goslings, half a dozen mallards, over a hundred guinea keets, and chicks this spring and summer. He sold dozens of eggs, chicks, and guineas at the peak of production. Marshal wonders what we are doing with all the fowl, but I say that they are good for the soup pot if nothing else. Gabe was employed by our neighboring dairy farmer over the summer, moving irrigation wheel lines twice a day. Moving wheel lines is hard manual work and good money, but he found his niche in an additional side job, trapping gophers in the cropland. He did such a good job as a gophinator that he had to fill out a W-9 for another farmer!
Currently, Gabe is tanning hides. He was brought a black bear, a bobcat, and two coyotes all within a week’s time, so he has been busy!
Oh yes, he ran X-Country with Marshal, August until November. He ran strong through the season and qualified for the State Championship in Pasco on November 3. He placed 66th at state out of 150 runners. Not bad.
Last but not least, he bought himself a Dobro, so he can play music like musicians in Josh Turner’s band. He is teaching himself, watching the promos for online lessons, and I caught him playing along with the radio this afternoon.
Lydia got strep, rheumatic fever, in January and fought the rest of the year to feel good. We were thankful to have a doctor in the house. Marshal identified and treated the inflammatory response promptly. I came across a fabulous-four supplement combo, Ubiquinol, magnesium, L-Carnitine, and D-Ribose, in kefir and berries and Vitamin C to strengthen her heart and pulmonary capacity. She had to push herself harder for a slower time in Cross-Country, but she ran all season without fail and helped her team go to State.
Lydia has been home-schooling herself really well with LifePac workbooks by Alpha Omega. She gets up with an alarm and starts voluntarily with Bible in the morning. Many times she makes me breakfast. I take her over to Aunt Meg’s at 10AM. She joins their school day and studies alongside her cousin Naphtali. She continues to play her violin with weekly lessons and Thursday night Bluegrass. She just bought herself a mandolin. She also continues to teach herself piano and plays freely.
Lydia took a special childcare job, watching a baby boy, on Thursday mornings. I have joined her this school year so far, but I now get the luxury of sitting on the couch, studying and reading, while she becomes more and more confident and competent in taking care of Stephen, a darling one year old.
Christmas!
A celebration of Christ incarnate. Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Such a reason to celebrate! Time to fill the world with royal color, reds and gold, evergreens, and shining light. Such a reason to do so many things out of the ordinary: parties, feasting, cookies galore, extravagant gift giving, choirs, caroling, children’s pageants. Today, Gabe strung lights; Marshal took Lydia to Whidbey to the Nutcracker; I sit down to right a letter.
Look at the heavens, remember the star that marked the time of His appearing. Today the Light of the World has shone upon our hearts that we might believe in Him, trust Him, obey Him, love Him and know His everlasting love. May our hearts be set on fire by His holy fire. May we reflect the light of His presence in a very real way.
Merry Christmas!!!
With Love,
Marshal and Shanea, Gabe and Lydia
