Sharp and Dangerous

When sitting my 15 month old son on the ground, you can almost see his radar search the room. He takes a deep sigh, scanning the room with a piercing gaze. What will his next target be? The brightly colored, rounded-edged toys in the left corner? Perhaps the plastic fire truck in the right corner? No, almost instantly his little legs run toward the pile of paperwork in the center of the dining room table. Much more interesting. Especially on the ground...

It seems that no matter how interesting or brightly colored his intended toys are, what his attention is drawn to ends up being much more dull in color and seemingly boring...to us. Often to our dismay, these items are fascinating to our children. Anyone who has bought an expensive toy only to have the child delight over the wrapping knows this. For hours, my son will walk around with a wooden mixing spoon. At times, he will carry the broom around for kicks. He searches all of those dirty spots you thought you could hide under this, behind that. He promptly locates the scissors you left after wrapping that present - in the middle of the table.

Upon the determination that all children's toys that are currently available are completely ineffective at engaging our toddlers, I have a proposal. We need to have a line of toys that look annoying, sharp, dangerous, loud, and messy, but are actually benign in nature. These would serve as mere deterrent - a distraction if you will, while we safely secure and hide all of the actual sharp, dangerous items, and the meticulously done paperwork.

Just a thought...

Finally Some Rain

It's finally raining- we have had a whole night and a half day of good soaking. It feels great to get some rainwater on that garden, and I am sure the farmers in the area are going to be in better spirits these next few days for it.

We have zucchini...well, that's an understatement. I planted one hill at the beginning of the garden, and Phil informed me that we needed a lot more than that. Long story short, we ended up with 10 plants. Ten big plants. When they started putting on zucchini, we were excited- we love them fried in butter! Well, we had them for a few nights, and then took a few nights off to eat other food. When he went out to grab one or two from the garden last Tuesday, this is what he came back with, explaining that there were about 10 more half this size. Though the picture doesn't do them justice, just imagine that each one is about the size of your forearm.

Needless to say, we have a few zucchini. Phil explained that they will KEEP COMING throughout the summer. You can believe that got a good deer-in-the-headlights look from his wife. We have started to give them away any chance we have. Phil commented on a garden at one neihbor's house this past week, noting his ONE zucchini plant. The neighbor exclaimed "Yeah, we used to have two, many many years ago." I can see why...


It is hard to picture our enormous pumpkin plants, but I just had to put a shot of them up here. All those vines are only TWO pumpkin plants. Each plant has vines sprawling about 16 feet. We already have a pumpkin that is about the size of a quart canning jar. We read that if you plant them inbetween your corn, the raccoons won't climb and eat your ears.

All of the corn in the patch got taken up and eaten by little ground squirrels, but the gigantic pumpkin plants remain healthy as ever.

We have been eating peas for awhile now, and just in these past few days they have started putting on really well. I think I might actually get enough to freeze. Peas don't do too well here, but there is nothing better than a snow pea right from the garden! Not too many make it to the salads...














We didn't really expect these visitors, but are thankful for them! We have seen two toads in our garden now - this one is pretty small- about the size of Ryan's fist. We saw one about twice his size last week. We also saw a tiny tree frog pasted on our upstairs bedroom window last night.

I'm just fine with them eating as many bugs as they would like...And dad, don't mention anything about eating frog legs OK- these aren't those kind of frogs. (Are any frogs really that kind? I think not.)



that we didn't really expect from Iowa



Ryan is doing wonderfully - no more fever and back to being himself. Man that kid gets to running around, and definitely keeps me on my toes!

Update on Ryan

Ryan slept soundly throughout the night last night, and we kept his temperature where it should be with Motrin and Tylenol. The doctor also prescribed him antibiotics for an ear infection, so within a few days he should be feeling great again. Though he is still pretty tuckered, he is already running all over and creating mischief. We had to have a small talk about how he scared everyone pretty badly, and the least he could do was act a little more sick!

Even in Iowa?

Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do
not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will
wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the
ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds
them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

When we first moved to Iowa, our parents, friends, family, were worried. Who would take care of us when we were in need? Who would be there for emergencies or help or advice or support?

We too, were worried.

During the long drive from Washington to Iowa, Phil's mom talked through her fears with her big brother- Uncle Jim. After she was through, Jim smiled at her, and said "Sis, believe it or not, God is in Iowa, too."

As humans- and especially Americans - we like to be in control. We like to know that whatever happens, we will be taken care of - and we like to leave no chance or situation where that might not be the case. We have health insurance, life insurance, car insurance. We have the government. We have the US. We often, however, leave God out of the picture.

But the beautiful thing is, He can take care of you. HE WILL take care of you. And better than the insurance companies. Better than the government.

Let me give an example. And let me just say- this is only an example, because I could name many more times we have been taken care of -better than the lilies of the field.

Last week, we gave Ryan his 15 month shots. The doctor explained that he would most likely run a temperature within about a week. The temperature set in last night. We gave him some tylenol, an early bedtime, and he slept well. This morning, he woke up, and was lethargic. Nothing new for a baby with a temperature. But he was very hot. So we spent the day in a rocking chair with him, taking turns with a cool cloth and a fan. A few times his temperature was high enough where we put him into a cool bath to take it back down

At 1:00pm, after about three hours of sitting with Ryan, I relinquished him to Phil. I went into the kitchen to start some dishes. I made a phone call to Amanda, who recently had her baby. I had not had a chance to call her until this time. Two minutes into the call, I heard Phil yell from the other room. I ran in to see what was wrong, but he was gone. Upstairs, Philip had Ryan in the bath: he was having a siezure.

I don't know how it happened, but somehow I hung up with Amanda, and got on the phone with 911. All I could do was pray as the first responders and the ambulance were on the way. When the siezure finally stopped, Ryan went limp, exhausted. His parents, however, were very shaken- no, closer to panicked. What was wrong with our baby? Were we doing the right things? How could we know if he was OK?

The next thing we knew, Ryan started to cry. The 911 dispatch informed us that this was a good sign- a normal thing for a baby to do after such an event. She let us go to comfort our baby and wait for the EMT's. The long wait was broken with the ring of the phone. A sweet voice asked "Is this Tracy?" It was a woman from our church- she is what they call a "first responder" in a neighboring city, and had heard our name over the emergency system. She called to see what was going on and to ask if I wanted her to come out. She tried to put my fears to rest, asking questions and telling me we had done the right things. I started to breathe for the first time since it all began. We heard sirens as she was talking to us. No matter how strong I felt in the moment, the caring voice of a friend in a time of crisis brought tears to my eyes.

We took turns holding Ryan tight until the ambulance came. They checked him out, but wanted us to take him into the emergency room or the doctor to make sure there was nothing else going on. Though we had brought his temperature down in the bath, it was starting to rise again, and his heartbeat was too fast for their liking.

The ambulance crew stuck around until we knew our doctor could see Ryan. Instead of patching us through to scheduling, our doctor had come on the phone herself to tell me that she would be happy to check out Ryan, but from our details, she was sure he was fine. Though still shaken, it was nice hearing from someone experienced that our baby was OK. The ambulance followed us the whole way to make sure he was safe for the ride.

The information we got from his doctor helped to alay our fears further. She explained how these convulsions this can happen to small kids once in awhile during high fevers, and we don't need to worry about lasting effects. Now that he has had one, he is more likely to have them, so we need to keep a close eye on him. Other than that, he will be fine. We felt extremely tired, but blessed. A situation like this always brings things into focus.

Just last night, we had been lamenting over all of the projects on our to-do list. We had both looked at this daunting list- with items ranging from "absolute must- do" to "should be done before winter". The biggest, most frightening thing on the list was a leak that had started on one of our basement pipes. Phil had tried to fix it once, but had not been able to stop it. Since it was right where the new plumbing had tied into the old plumbing, he was worried we were going to have to taclkle the upstairs plumbing- something we were not yet ready to do- financially or mentally. As this water has been dripping into buckets, we have been dreading addressing the issue. And there are other things on the list- you know, build a kitchen, etc.

But when something like this happens to your precious baby, you are able to bring yourself back to reality. Oh how we take something like our health so for granted. We are never as thankful for what we already have until it is threatened.

Tired and subdued, we left the doctor's office, picked up some motrin and tylenol for Ryan, and headed home. We finally smiled about the fact that we were faced with such a heavy load. While still overwhelmed, at least we knew we were all safe.

As we drove into the driveway, we noticed a blue paper pinched in our screen door. Phil jumped out to see what it was.

It said "Phil, Your water is shut off. Be right back with plumbing parts. -Mike"

We had not mentioned this leak to anyone. Not a soul. Mike is the neighbor farmer we talked about two posts ago- the one who mowed down our hay.

When he showed back up, we heard the rest of the story. Mike had heard from three different people that the Grossmann baby had a siezure. He called three area hospitals, to see if he could find us. When he couldn't track us down, he came to our house. He opened the door to yell at us, and heard dripping in the basement. He came in to investigate- noted the leak, and shut off our water. Then, he went to get a neighbor who knew how to do plumbing.

Within ten minutes of us being home, our plumbing was fixed.

I called Amanda back to let her know what had happened, and that we were all OK. She, too, had been filled in through other people in the community. They, too, had called three hospitals to see if they could find us to come and sit with us.

We believe that most of the surrounding towns know about that cute Washington baby by now. Word gets around quick despite the long distances between the homes.

Ryan, upon coming home, is acting normal again. He started making little squeals, and even smiled at the men while they were repairing the plumbing. He toddled around, still weak but much more himself.

We can have insurance, but no insurance company could have provided the sweet phone call, the caring community, or the plumbers. No, that is not something we could have asked for, nor would we have even known how.

It was as if God was saying "Yes, I am still here. And I will take care of you. Even in Iowa."

Remodeling Universal Truth #23

You will reach a point

With each project you can pinpoint a certain time where it seems to overwhelming to go on. This always happens after the "can-do" stage and also right about the time when you realize you are still very far from your end goal.

Let me give an example using a small, seemingly insignificant remodel project I like to call "my pantry."

It started out like every project..in the The Unrealistically Optimistic Stage," where I set out to "re-do" my pantry in one day. Sure, it is piled high with household cleaners, painting supplies, and about a hundred other various and sundry things. Sure, it needs to be wiped down and repainted with primer and two coats of pretty paint. And sure, it needs a new floor put in. And new shelves built. But hey, I have nearly all day, right? And it's such a small area, how could that take more than a day?

So I began to unpack. And then of course, I have to find a place to put the 103 various and sundry items. That took some organization in the basement...and the garage...and the small bedroom upstairs.

Fast forward four hours later. To the last few items to unpack. That's right. Still unpacking.

And of course, this is where you realize that it won't happen in one day. However, being the resilient type you are, you think "hey, a two day project is just fine! I will just finish tomorrow!"

You can see where the cycle begins. If you could keep up the optimism, you really would be finished in a few days. But at some point you feel like the project will take nearly forever.

This is the point in every project where it starts to be ignored. Where you realize that it won't be a one, or even a two day project. No, maybe two weeks was more accurate. At this point (still on day two) you start to notice many other things that need dire attention. Partly finished, started but far from complete, your project sits, awaiting your return. Each day you walk past said project and it calls out "do you have time to work on me today?" and the hasty answer comes "of course not, I have a blog to update!"

But I have noticed another part about this specific point. It always comes when there is some small yet completely undesirable task to complete. Some point where you have to locate a phillips head screwdriver or when you have to climb up in the attic to get the "right" paint, or when you have to wash down the walls of an old, icky closet so you can prime without cobwebs. And such it was with this project. It stared at me, day in and day out, for one week, at the unappetizing point where I would have to muster up courage to dawn gloves, a sponge, and then wipe down the walls. Inside the closet.

So, of course I didn't have time! That would take like a year! I'm sure of it! And besides, Ryan needs to be fed and dinner needs to be made...and that laundry needs attention. So, for one week, Universal Truth #23 - the "sticking point" ruled over our closet.

Until yesterday, when I decided that this cooling off period had gone on too long. I dawned gloves, and the year long washing project was completed in about 16 minutes...without pain. Yes, that is how it often is with sticking points. They are never as bad as you build them up to be. The screwdriver is right in your old tool box if you would just go get it. There is something freeing to passing this point in each project- a sense of satisfaction that you overcame the worst part of the task and now it's nearly finished.


Universal Truth #24
After passing the "cooling off" point, you will be renewed with energy to complete the project. You will wonder why you ever took time off, and lament the missed days without your pantry.

In other news, my pantry will be done today, I'm sure of it!