I'm excited to write that our friends were able to come by on Sunday, no cancellations, no sickness, no bad weather. I was so relieved. Prior to them coming by, my little minions, I mean, kids, were put to serious cleaning work. I wasn't about to have these friends come by who are used to high level cleanliness and order and then see our house which looks like a barn most of the time. They didn't love it, nor did I, but it had to be done anyway and so for most of the week and all of Saturday we cleaned....
I had no idea how the meeting would go. Would they walk in and start laughing? or would they walk in and wonder where to begin? or would they walk in and get excited about what could be done? Well, none of the above happened. In fact, the meeting took a very interesting turn that we could not have predicted. But the best part was it was just an amazing time of reflecting and realizing how long we'd known each other and catching up over great food. From the second they walked in we couldn't stop talking. It was so great to see them again. They've lived an exciting life and it was great to catch up and hear all they've been up to. We had almost everyone, minus one son and plus one boyfriend, in the kitchen - so it was LOUD! These people have no kids, just a cat, so, no doubt, it was a experience and a half for them. Quiche, salad, fruit and cinnamon buns were on the menu and it was great.
The conversation flowed so naturally and slowly but surely we got our dreams out about all that we wanted to do with the property, the house, the winery. We admitted we have lots of vision, an entrepreneurial spirit, but need more focus. It didn't take them long to see we have lots going on. We took them on a quick tour of the property in the cold. They saw the winery and all the wine that is yet to be bottled and sold. And that's when things started to turn in an interesting direction and their other skill set kicked in - marketing, branding and design. I hadn't dared to think they could help us with that. These people were in that business for 30 years ish and were super successful. I thought they had left that behind to do home and garden design, but it seems they still do that as well. They started to throw all sorts of ideas that could really kick us into high gear. All talk of home and garden were suddenly put on hold as we all started to see certain priorities needed to be done first - i.e., get the wine sold. This wasn't to say we couldn't move forward on certain things on the house, but now we were no longer just considering these people as home and garden designers, but really as business marketing resources.
We had pulled all the kids together the night before to pray, to pray for the meeting - we weren't sure how to pray, so we just prayed. I actually think the meeting was divinely guided. They were the objective outside source we had needed, truly business angels. As Christians themselves, they had a bigger picture in their head as well. They observed our family while they were there and 7 of the kids, plus the boyfriend! were all sitting around in the kitchen playing a game while we talked. The wife said, "You know that's not normal." "What, the kids playing a game?" "No, playing together...highly unusual and so great." They started to talk of how our story as a family could really be a big part of the branding. She had so many ideas bursting out of her, I wish I had written them all down. All that to say, I feel our prayers were answered. As we stood around before they left, they encouraged us to talk and pray and we'll reconnect by zoom this week and then we'll make a plan from there.
A loooong time ago I wrote about rebuilding the ruins of this farm. I had hoped it would be a magical year or two back then and somehow it would all get done. I didn't know how or when that would be, but looking back I see how things are getting done in such interesting steps and in ways I could have never predicted. I still have no idea what is next on the house, all I know if we have these people on our team, we have a much better chance of success.
Yesterday was the first day of the co-op. If looks could kill we would all have been dead. My one son walked around with angry eyes most of the day, except when he was having fun! That's right. There was fun involved. The day is broken up with games and fun activities throughout the day as well as snacks so that was great. Yes it was long, very long and rather overwhelming as there is a lot of new things to know and do and they are learning years of grammar in a matter of days and weeks, but guess what, they're actually learning it! Everyone was rather impressed that we had power learned 12 weeks of stuff in one week prior to yesterday. I was shocked to see how often my kids raised their hands to answer questions. They got lots wrong, but they also got lots right. This is 100% going to kill us all, but like I kept telling the women, oh well.
The day got interrupted with terrible news about one of the dads of the children who attend. He starting going rapidly downhill yesterday while we were in class as he is sick with covid and in the ICU intubated. The kids had no idea as we all hung out together. The mom had stepped out to take the call I guess and never returned. I figured she had work to do, not knowing she was on the phone. Good friends of ours called an urgent prayer meeting and many many people joined on the zoom call. It was actually so amazing and so profound as so many joined together in worship and prayer for 2 hours. I was so grateful to be a part of something like that where God was glorified by His Church. I dreamt all night about the situation and half expected news of the miracle this morning....still waiting to hear. It truly is hard to understand why God has allowed this family over a month of suffering now and with no chance to visit him. His ways are higher than our ways is the only thing we could pray and sing.
Life is full...how we need God in our lives to help us and direct us all the time.
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