The Cubs just won their first World Series in 108 years. Miracles do happen! We were so excited (and loud) celebrating their victory, we woke our kids up.
I have loved the Chicago Cubs for as long as I can remember.
When we moved to Missouri, my dad defected over to the Cardinals. We banter back and forth every year about whose team is the greatest. I don’t know if it was my Iowa cousins influence or my love of the underdog, but I shall remain forever a Cubbies fan.
As you might recall, the officials called a rain delay prior to the 10th inning. By that point the game had been full of surprises and I thought I may have a heart attack. The Cubs rallied during the delay. A team pep talk fired them back up again. They came back onto the field with the full force of teamwork. It was a beautiful, well-deserved victory. It felt so good to watch them win.
Teamwork is essential in families of any size. For us, it’s non-negotiable. We are a big family and there is a lot of stuff to do. No matter how big or small the people in our family are, everyone helps with household and farm chores. Even when the kids have friends over, they get Huck Finn’d into helping too.
Sometimes my husband’s agenda of what needs to be done around the farm and home casts a cloud over what I think should be a priority. I have recently discovered a remedy to this. I tell the kids about a “really cool project” we can all do together. My husband cannot say no to their excitement, especially if it involves power tools or heavy equipment.
Our laying hens have slowed down considerably since the days have gotten shorter. I had been after my husband to put a light fixture in the henhouse to prolong the “daylight” and keep them laying eggs throughout the winter months. This was not his priority. The kids had been disappointed not finding any eggs upon collection time for a few days. I told them we should all get dad to help us with a lighting project and they thought it was a GREAT idea. Bingo.
On the last weekend of October, we were a well-oiled machine. Our oldest son and I scooped out the floor of the henhouse and cleaned out cobwebs and dirt-dobber nests. We hauled manure to the garden. Our younger son handed my husband tools and supplies as he worked on running electricity into the henhouse. After two trips to town for supplies and an afternoon of teamwork, the henhouse was lit up for winter.
Not every game ends in victory. Not every farm project goes smoothly. When our family gets out and works on something we can look at and be proud of, it melts my heart. I’m thankful for the family I have been blessed with. I’m so happy my baseball team won the World Series this year. I’m thankful I get to share all of this with you. Happy Thanksgiving, neighbor!
