The long view... post #4 (for my wife on Valentine's Day)

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I thought I would do something a bit different this year. This post is for my wife of forty years and the wonderful life we're spending together. Despite a few bumps in the road we have grown steadily more committed to one another as we continue to walk the path that leads out from this two acres of ground in farm country. I look forward to many more wonderful years with my bride, sharing in the many things we both enjoy, trusting in God, and preparing for an eternity together that will cause this that we so enjoy to pale by comparison. I love you Hon! Larry


You may have seen the little garden sign that says  "It all started in a garden". While I have no problem with that sentiment, in the case of Oak Lawn, it all started with a very old and decrepit building in farm country that my young wife and I purchased after only a few months of marriage. It was built by a number of local farmers somewhere in the 1850's. I have in the past gone into the details of making a home out of this very old structure and won't repeat myself in that regard except to say... we did it ourselves... and it's more than a home... it's a lifestyle that few would take on, but we love... an expression of who we are.

Somewhere in the deed we ran across the name Oak Lawn Cheese Factory being used prior to 1900 and decided to reuse the moniker. It's actually funny because there never was an oak tree on this property until we started to plant them. Originally there was very little land connected with this building where the locals sent their milk each day. We were young when we bought it at a time when it was well past its years of usage as a cheese factory... had we been at all wise in the ways of buildings, we probably would have passed it straight by... little did we know that it would take up much of our time and energy for forty years... but looking back, we don't mind a bit... we love it and plan on finishing out our earthly time right here.

These days, much more time and effort go into the gardens that surround the building, than into the building itself... as in the case of the rockery now two years old.

Let's take a little walk-about with the focus not on the gardens, but rather on the building that we have called home for so long, despite it's idiosyncrasies and its ancient crooked foundations that somehow help us feel grounded in the past and strong for the future.

This is where we have chosen to live our lives in a time when many people move from place to place for any number of reasons. We have grown in this sense of permanence even during difficult times when we were younger. Like all couples, we had our hard times, but our marriage was strong enough to survive just as this old building has managed to stand for so very long. Giving up has never been an option.

This is where we raised our children, grew in our commitment to one another, and became part of a life style that only holds meaning for us... but we share in our desire to persevere here where there is so much work... and so much satisfaction.

There are times when we think that it would be nice to live in some new building... but we soon realize that's all it would be... a building by the hands of others... a place where all our blood and sweat, our determination, our very understanding of who we are in this world would have little significance. We would no sooner consider this than separating our lives from one another... it would be unthinkable.

If for no other reason, this building is the place we want our children and grandchildren to know they can always return to, where they will be loved unconditionally and can be free  to be whomever they are with no strings attached. They will create their own homes and lives, but always this will be in their memory a place of joy and acceptance.

For us, this building represents our earthly freedom to live each day trusting in God and putting our feet up in the evening over a hot cup of tea and a good book... totally at peace with a sense of being thankful that we can live a simple life and know joy on a daily basis.

And every little while we look at each other and say what we've said so often in the past... "don't we have a great life"...

We really do Hon... Lar