Back in the 90’s we leased this rambling farmhouse in Ohio. It was almost impossible to heat. I would lay in bed and listen to the furnace kick on and worry about not having money to fill the fuel-oil tank… but God provided.
I worked very hard doing whatever needed to be done to start a church and provide for the family. I packed UPS trucks. I built swing sets. I took insurance claims. I worked hard to shepherd my little flock in the Grange Hall. We made some memories here.
Most of all I remember our sweet children so small and all under one roof, simple meals, working together, trying to create a country life. I wasn’t very good at it but remembering still brings tears of gratefulness to my eyes and great thanksgiving to my heart.
I drove past the old place on the way to my Aunt Ann’s funeral this week and sweet memories flooded in of a tree house, basketball in the driveway, children riding the moped, potato soup, “checking the load” baseball games, Saturday nights at the Liberty Grange Hall getting ready for Sunday.
We gathered some people there who were good to us and loyal. We remain friends to this day. Some of them are in heaven now. I pastored them for ten years. I was still in my 30’s when I left for Michigan. Four of our children were born in Knox County.
Bittersweet Farm
Spring 2020
