June 21...summer solstice...the longest day of the year...our anniversary...great day for a farmer to get married! It was 32 years ago that John and I stood at the altar and vowed before God that, in His strength, we would weather the storms of life together. We were young, idealistic and had no idea how God would lead in our lives. NEVER would I have imagined that I was marrying a farmer! But, oh, how thankful I am that our lives took a totally different direction than I envisioned. John has been an amazing husband, and has modeled for his 4 sons what it means to be a godly husband caring for the needs of his wife.
Friday (the 21st) was a busy day and we were having a hard time getting out the door (we were scheduled to go away for a couple of nights). Finally, we were walking out the door when Joshua came busting into the house holding his hand, saying he had cut himself. You see, his sweet wife loves her little "freckled herd" of goats and he was making a nice hoof-trimming stand for her. We've been proud of him for taking so much interest in the things that she loves… Although new at it, he really is an amazing husband! When I tried to look at the hand he said, “no” and insisted that we needed to go to the ER. Heading out to the car, he said that his finger was in the garage. I could not believe my ears! I ran up to get ice while John mustered the courage to pick up Joshua’s finger off the garage floor! Flashers on...racing at high speed we rushed to the hospital. (This is some of the "worse" that we committed to handling together 32 years ago). Joshua assessed his own wound and told us the pinky was half cut off and the fourth finger was pretty damaged. Although devastated, we all just started thanking God that it wasn't worse. It was the pinky on the left hand. If you have to lose a finger, it's the one you would choose.
So the next time you see Joshua at the market, he says he will give you a "high 4 1/2". That milking stand cost him blood, sweat, tears… and his pinky! Of course we are saddened he lost the finger, but we are glad that he is learning to be an amazing husband.
