Life on the Farm

These were the "good old days". And this occasion was one of my children's birthdays, only I can't remember which one. Since they were all born in the summer, it's impossible to remember whose we were celebrating.

I still had dark brown/auburn hair, my neighbor, Edwina, was still slim, and most of the kids were still young. I had six children, she had four. We had great times out in the country--a large, fenced-in yard, two barns, one nearby, the other about a quarter mile to our west, a 36 acre wood filled with blackberries, birds, an interesting, mysterious, great mound and a pond stocked with fish. All around us were soybean and rice fields and canals to swim in. There were cattle to feed and horses to ride and feed and a country club within walking distance. It was a slice of heaven but we were usually too busy to appreciate it as we should have. Some of the Bowles kids were at this party, and I think their mother, Helen, was there too. She's well hidden behind Edwina and I almost missed her.

Days, weeks, and months seemed to creep by back then. Now that I'm on the other side of it--way on the other side--I wonder how it went by so quickly. Perception is a strange creature. Our "Baby Boy", Patrick, is the cute little fella third from the right sitting at the table. Sorry the picture isn't sharper. Michael is next to Patrick, then Philip, then Mary Alice. Laurie is second on the left. Don't know where Carey was that day. He may have been there and is just hidden behind the crowd.

We never have our children with us as long as it seems. It pays to try to do it right. We fumble and bumble along, but with the good Lord's help, He eases us through the rough waters, providing all that we need.
Thank you, Lord..