Danger is my middle name

 I promised you all that I would blog about what I really think of my new grandson Wesley's middle name, "Danger." Well, here it is!

For starters, I bought this onesie for little Wesley Danger and put it on him right before his parents picked him up to surprise them. I think the whole thing is pretty funny. (I also now know you can find just about anything on Amazon!)

Now don't get me wrong. I think "Daniel" would have been an awesome middle name, after the brave Old Testament prophet (remember him in the lions' den?). "Mark" would have been a great middle name too, after his dad, Caleb Mark, and Grandpa, David Mark. Mark is also my favorite gospel, because it is action-packed. "Wesley Dean" would have sounded cool, almost as cool as James Dean.

"Danger is my middle name" became a pop culture phrase after the 1997 hilarious movie "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery." That movie was one of Aunt Jenny Doty's favorites, and my kids remember watching it when they had sleepovers at her house. So maybe it was that, or something else, that gave Caleb the idea to give his son the middle name "Danger." 

Unlike Blake Shelton, who sings "You name the babies, I name the dogs," Caleb and June had a different arrangement. June named their first child, a girl, Rose Elizabeth, after her favorite saint and her own middle name. (Caleb completely agreed, because serendipitiously Great-grandma Epp is also Rose, and my middle name is also Elizabeth). But June had named her dog, Lily, before she ever met Caleb. So Caleb was given the lead on the task of naming the coming man child. And he thought actually giving his kid the middle name "Danger" would be fun. 

June, as you might imagine, was a little reluctant. However, she did something that I think was quite prescient. She told me she thought about when Wesley was older, maybe six or so. Maybe he and his daddy would go fishing, or something. And at some point, the conversation would inevitably happen. "You know, son, I wanted 'Danger' to be your middle name. But your Mama said 'NO'." And little Wesley would go running to his mama and demand why she refused the coolest middle name EVER. So she let Caleb have his way. 

My husband, who we call "Silly Grandpa," is pretty sure Wesley will become a wrestler like his Daddy and go by the name Danger Franklin. And that may be true, because he already calls him Danger more than Wesley. 

Caleb said he just wanted to have a little fun with his son's name. I am glad he and June are making decisions together, and I imagine Wesley Danger will have something to talk about for the rest of his life!

Wesley, as you wish

Our sweet grandson, Wesley, is nearly two months old. He was born on Father's Day, June 21, 2020. 

Our son, Caleb, chose the name partly after his first boss, Wes Stein. 

Well, Dave was actually Caleb's first boss, because our kids worked for Franklin Lawn Service from early on, sometimes because Dave wanted me to help and they were too young to be home alone. 

Wes was a new customer of ours, but we had known him for years, since Dave's grandma Lena Franklin had worked for Wes for over 30 years at his grocery store, Farmer's Market on North Broadway. Wes lived near us in Benjamin Hills on a large lot that backed up to the river. One day he mentioned that he would like extra help with landscaping and other odd jobs. We said our son Caleb could help him. We assured Wes that although he was only in middle school, Caleb had muscles and could probably do whatever Wes needed to have done.

And that started a part-time job that lasted until Caleb graduated from high school. 

Caleb says Wes was patient when he explained what he wanted done, and as the years went by the job got easier because Caleb remembered how Wes liked his vinca trimmed in spring, or where in the shed he stored a particular tool. 

While they worked together, Wes would tell Caleb stories about back when he was a boy, or about the places they traveled when Wes' wife, Mary, had her travel agency.

One year before Memorial Day (Caleb was already in high school by then), Wes had a special request:  Could Caleb accompany him on a day trip to decorate his family's graves?  And could he bring a Weed Eater? The country cemetery would be choked with weeds, and Wes, who was probably 90 years old by then, no longer felt up to the task of clearing away the debris. 

So Caleb went with him to run the string trimmer and help with setting out the flowers on the graves. 

I remember Caleb felt privileged to be included on that excursion, and I think he and Wes both had a good time. I think both hoped it would become a yearly tradition, but by the next year I don't think Wes felt up to making the trip, even with Caleb's help.

Dave's grandma and Wes remained good friends, calling each other faithfully on their respective birthdays. Caleb arranged for Wes (who was using a walker by then) to visit her in the nursing home. He picked Wes up and helped him navigate the facility. Both Lena and Wes thoroughly enjoyed the visit. That was the last time they saw each other.

Wes Stein visits Lena Franklin

It makes me happy that Caleb chose to name his son after a boss who patiently explained procedures. A successful businessman who enjoyed working outdoors taking care of his property. A storyteller who became a respected mentor and friend. And someone to whom Caleb was able to give back as well.

Wes passed away on April 19, just a little over two months before Wesley Danger Franklin was born, so he didn't know about the tribute, but we told his daughter and let her know we will be remembering Wes through our new grandson.

I think the handsome hero Westley from the iconic 1987 movie "The Princess Bride" also played a part in the name choice. Nothing wrong with that, either. I love that movie! Westley was a simple farm boy who always told the beautiful Buttercup, "As you wish." Through courageously protecting Buttercup from R.O.U.S. (Rodents of Unusual Size) and other hazards, he proves his true love for her. 

A hard worker or a dashing hero? Either would be fine. Maybe Wesley will be both.

If you kept reading until here to see what I really think of Wesley's middle name, Danger, you might be disappointed. I will tackle that topic on my next blog post!

Peace that surpasses understanding

It was over a month ago, on a Thursday. We'd worked a long day already and it was unseasonably warm for April. Unused to heat and the physical exertion required to mow, trim, and edge all of the lawns on our schedule--and probably dehydrated--I had developed a migraine headache. 

I'd felt the first twinge of awareness that not all was right with my brain a few yards back. After I finished blowing the clippings at customer's house and hung the backpack blower on the wall of our enclosed lawn trailer, I went to the cab of the work truck and checked the console. Darn it. I must have used my last pill last fall and forgot to restock my emergency stash.

With migraine headaches, time is crucial. The sooner you can get the medication into your system, the better the chances that it will work quickly and effectively. The longer you delay, the greater the chances that the headache will develop into a multiple-day ordeal requiring several doses.

We were working in our neighborhood, and to get to the final three customers on our route we would pass within a block of our house. I told my boss husband I needed to stop at our house and take my medication first.

What he said surprised me.

"Karen, why don't you just be done for the day. Don and I will finish it."

Relief flooded me. A cold front had whooshed in minutes ago, dropping the temperature nearly 30 degrees, and leaving me shivering in my tank top and shorts. The storm in the forecast couldn't be far behind, but suddenly I had a reprieve.

Once inside my house I quickly found my headache pills, took one with a big glass of water, and headed to our hot tub. I eased my body into the blissfully warm water and watched the blossoming trees swaying in the wind. The rain came, making a musical drumming on the cabana roof.

And in that moment, I had a peace that surpasses understanding.

Yes, I know what you're thinking. The good feeling may have had a little to do with the prescription drug I just took. But every thought I had was fueled with an intense rush of gratitude.

I still had a headache, but I was so grateful that I had a prescription that I knew would take care of it soon. I was grateful that I had health insurance to help pay for it. I was grateful that I still had plenty and wouldn't need to reorder during the coronavirus shutdown.

Working our lawn service business can be incredibly hard some days, but I was so grateful that Kansas had deemed it essential and we could continue without a hiccup. I was grateful that we only lost a couple of customers and had gained half a dozen.

I was grateful we had a hot tub, and grateful for the cabana roof to listen to the rain. I was also grateful for the rain, because it meant that we might have a day off tomorrow, or at least a later start and could plan on sleeping in.

Since our business in Kansas is seasonal, we have money coming in during the summer and use it up during the winter. If we didn't save enough, we might have to put stuff on our credit card before we can start earning again in spring. We were at the end of a full April, and I was so grateful that I could begin invoicing our customers and getting money to start balancing our accounts. I was grateful that we have been able to support our family with our business since 2003. 

Working with my husband as my boss is often challenging, but when he unexpectedly let me off for the rest of the day, he fostered a lot of goodwill in my heart. I was so grateful. I was also grateful for our faithful friend Don who runs the weed eater on Thursdays when we do our biggest residential lawns, letting me mow with one of our riding mowers and saving some steps. I was also grateful that our daughter Laurel had helped us during her spring break from Emporia State University, and continued working with us when her spring break was extended due to the virus, and that she had promised to work with us again for the summer when she finished all of her classes.

As I continued to look over our tree-filled back yard, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for God's faithfulness and blessings, even though I felt we were on the precipice of COVID-19. In the weeks since, I have often gone back to that moment when I so clearly felt that peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Philippians 4:6-7 has long been my go-to verse, and it is even more pertinent now.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus."

My green gables- Our hot tub at the back of our house is normally a peaceful place, but this time I experienced a peace that even surpasses understanding.

606

I woke up at 6:06 a.m. For ones growing up in the Mennonite tradition, 606 is the number in the hymn book of the "new" version of "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow." I think extra sheets were physically taped into the current hymnbooks after the last song, 605. I can't be sure, because this was from the General Conference, and I grew up in the Mennonite Brethern, so we had different hymnbooks. But I digress. . .

So when I woke up at 6:06 a.m., I immediately thought, "Praise God, from whom all Blessings flow."
So I am praising God for my home that Dave and I returned to after 26 days away.
I am praising God for David Franklin, my husband, my travel planner, driver, and companion.
I am praising God for his amazing might in creating the mountains, gargantuan boulders, endless ocean waters, impossibly tall redwoods, and sandy beaches.
I am praising God that I live in a country where we can so easily drive to see these amazing places, and drive through these amazing places. (Some of the roads along the coast were crazy, but they all were in pretty good shape, and the mudslide damage from two years ago is repaired).
I am praising God that we were able to see dear family members that we hadn't seen for far too long.
And I am praising God that I get to spend the day with my granddaughter Rose today, I have missed her sweet face.

An Easter like no other

12 days until an Easter like no other.
I saw on Monday that my mom, Rosella Epp, has a cross right by her door. Jesus's sacrifice for our sins and then his rising from the grave is the reason we always have Easter.
This year will not be an Easter for getting new shoes and dress clothes for the family. This year we will not have huge Easter egg hunts and Easter SunRuns.
This is an Easter for listening.
"Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

Mother's Day Parade

I had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday, and the absolute best part was the surprise parade that my husband, Dave, and daughter, Laurel, planned for me.

A while after we'd nearly finished a panful of grilled shrimp, chicken, and veggies (that looked like this--yum!)

the mothers were told to congregate on the front porch to wait for a surprise, so June, her mom, my mom, and I went to the porch. This is what we saw:

And this is what we heard:

So we joined them!

It was such a beautiful day for a walk. Our streets were resurfaced last week, so the asphalt was nice and smooth. The music that Dave had on his Bluetooth speaker tucked in the wagon lent a festive air. The two dozen cans strung together rattled behind the wagon, and if they didn't make enough noise, someone was ringing a cowbell. (Because, if you know me, you know I like to ring cowbells!)

And Rose loved it! She was grinning from ear to ear, and moving to the music. She knew this was really a Rose parade. Occasionally she would grab a balloon and try to bite it, I was hoping it wouldn't explode in her face, but it didn't.

As we walked through Benjamin Hills, we waved to people who were wondering what the commotion was about. We saw our friend Angie (not pictured, darn it) and wished her a happy Mother's Day and marveled at her son Indy's amazing flips on his trampoline. Then we stopped to deliver a handmade sign for another favorite mom and mom-to-be:

So all-in-all, it was a great idea and so much fun. I think we'll have to do it next year too!