Old Order Mennonite Memoirs

"Splat, splat!" Raindrops pelted on the cabbage leaves in the Fair Valley garden where we were cutting heavy heads from their summer home. The wind-driven raindrops that chased us were only the first in three thunderstorms we received last week. Although we were glad for the refreshing showers, here at home on Tuesday, my husband wished he would have skipped lunch. Perhaps then he could have baled the last four rounds of dry hay before the sudden storm.

Besides cabbage heads to cut, we worked together to do corn and beans. Flowers bloomed and butterflies fluttered among them. When I left on my bike, it was with a happy 'see ya on Friday!'

For our sixth annual camp-out with the grandchildren, I had two days to get ready. After mowing on the first evening, my husband and I set up two tents the next night. From experience I knew the meals would be simple, but I still needed to plan ahead and prepare.

The first meal was for 17 of us, shared in the great outdoors at the home of our newest grandson. Meeting and holding the adorable little boy and giving gifts was the main reason for our trip. But for three of the baby's older siblings, our trip also meant coming home with us for camping.

My life changed with the presence of seven busy children, but I was ready. Till I had my dry laundry away, I let them run; the two girls to the attic for dolls and the five boys to the sand box and the hill for rides. Next I gave them all my accumulated bubble wands while I held the bottle. We enjoyed bubbles and breezes before we settled at the picnic table for games of Bingo and Blink.

Supper was chicken noodle soup, fresh veggies and dip before they all had a chosen Popsicle treat. After feeding the calves and horses we played games of hide and seek. When I sat in hiding under the spring wagon brushing against cob webs, I wondered at the things I do to share life with those I love. With Frisbee throwing came much calling and running. The badminton game that followed wasn't really a game, more like practice.

It was dusky when we arrived at camp with our excited crew. This time we came prepared to meet the mosquitoes that live in a summer woods. Learning from past poor attempts, a fire was soon blazing but I'm not sure how to do melted marshmallows and seven children without a sticky chaos, other than having plenty of water and wipes on hand. Of all the stories I've read aloud to children, I think I like best to have a pajama-clad cluster around me beside the campfire. A little flashlight aided reading as katydids began their lively songs. Stars began to twinkle through the leaves when we all knelt to conclude our day with God. A dash for sleeping bag entrance meant sleep for some of the seven, but for the girls, giggles and chatter lingered.

This year we didn't need to rise in the night to cover our tent from raindrops but Momie and Dawdy have learned that tents aren't a good night's sleep. The rewards are rather included in starting fire for breakfast and being there to meet the seven when they pop from their tents. On Saturday morning the heat of the fire felt good after a chilly night.

When Dawdy came back from choring, we scrambled the eggs in a pan over the fire and toasted the bread to share a breakfast. The red tail hawk screamed above the trees and the morning sun peeped through the leaves; it was the beginning of a good day. Rides and games and the discovery of a hornet nest were before a doggie roast at noon. Back on the farm a treasure hunt was for those who helped their grandma with camp clean up. With other games and fun, we drew pictures on saved packaging paper and always there were stories. When they were gone and I was alone to clean my floors, it seemed really quiet.

Meanwhile at Cove Lane School, the last singing school for the youth was in session. The next morning we worshiped at Piney Creek church but it was in New Enterprise church that a couple was published to be married. Our nephew Chadwick Leid, son of Clifford and Berneice Leid of New Enterprise will claim his bride from Lancaster County. September 26 is the big day in Ephrata at the home of Kristine Hoover, daughter of Franklin and Marion Hoover.