A Season for Tractors

Springtime is tractor time around our little farm. Although we don't work the ground ourselves, we enjoy the benefit of the fellowship with the crew that does. Big brothers and their menagerie of whoever is available to help always causes excitement when we see those green John Deere's come rolling in the driveway.

The thrill of riding with the uncles, plus the never-forgotten promise that Steve would teach them how to drive this year, causes sibling quarrels over who goes first. Usually there is a race to make sure the chores have been finished, and if the event falls on a school day, they are all glad that math is over so they can take their turn.

It's a time of little boys looking up to big boys, greasy wrenches and standing around in the dust in the midst of the tractors' far off rumble as we listen to stories that we've heard numerous times before, but could gladly listen to over and over again.

A time to open wide our doors in hospitality, and to be glad that today the house cleaners really did meet the standards of "company clean."

A time when we're glad the freezers are full and there's gas in the grill. When the kitchen is full of bustling girls whipping up potato packs, italian pasta salad, and bars for dessert to feed a hungry crew.

A time when I realize that there aren't enough matching plates in my menagerie of cast-off antique dishes to make a pretty table setting, only to realize that Uncle David won't mind anyway if he gets the chipped china; just pass the chocolate chip bars.

Another round of the corn planter in the dark brown soil; another smiling kid; another year of memories as we pray for God's blessing, once again, on our humble farmstead.