April 29, 2003.

Dear Sisters,

"Spring has sprung, the grass is rizz, I wonder where the birdies is?" I remember Gerald's Dad saying that. But we know where they are...the children have been counting the robins, and Rebekah even found a whole blackbird's egg on our Sunday morning walk. I think Spring is here to stay!

How I love this time of year. What a treat to sleep on sheets that smell of the outdoors once again, to see the rhubarb pushing up through the soil, and to taste the first asparagus of the year. Yesterday at lunch Timothy kept saying "Can I have another piece of asparagus. Anybody want these last pieces?" And no more school books, tests, quizzes or marking until September! Hurrah!

The spinach, radishes, lettuce, onions, and beets are up and all the potatoes are planted. I can't wait to have our mid-day meal start with a great big fresh salad from the garden.

Our cow is due to freshen on May 10. I'm keeping my eye on her. She is "bagging up" (filling up with milk) so it won't be too long now until we hear that soft mooing sound from mama cow as she licks her calf and welcomes her (we want a female to replace old momma cow) into the world. Speaking of new babies on the way...my, I'm running out of space, guess it will have to wait until the next issue.

Laura (18) has now graduated from home school and is preparing to attend Olivet Nazarene University in September. And so another child leaves the nest---another good-bye.

"Life is a series of good-byes", I said sadly to Gerald recently on our daily walk. I was feeling rather sad at the time about an elderly neighbor who has gone into a nursing home this spring. He responded, "Well, there are greetings too". And then, after a pause, he said, "That's the wonderful thing about heaven: a final greeting, with no good-bye". The "Welcome Home Children" banner will be up unfurled for us in heaven when we arrive.

Blessings,

Helen E. Aardsma

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