Landmark Roses by Nancy M Bell

Author:Nancy M Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: celebrating 150 years of canada, following the mennonite beliefs, grandmother telling of her arrival in canada, mennonite community near landmark manitoba, nothing is more painful than losing a child, raising a family on the manitoba prarie, war and the problems it brings to pacifists, watching your children suffer loss and pain
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.

Chapter Seven

Blizzard of 1947

Christmas celebrations were over and life settled into a comfortable rhythm for Elsie. The cold and snowy weather kept Ike in the house more than usual, and she enjoyed his company. The house often rang with the laughter of Agnes and Walter’s youngsters confined to playing indoors. Sometimes, laughter changed to tears and cries of childish frustration.

Imperceptibly the daylight hours lengthened although the sky was obscured by clouds most days. Ike declared it was one of the snowiest winters he could remember. Knee high paths cut across the yard from the house to the wood shed and the out buildings. It required daily work to keep them open, the ever present wind sending snow to drift into the depressions at a regular rate.

Elsie was glad of Walter’s presence to aid Ike with the never ending chore. Sarah was still a worry on her mind, always in the background even when she wasn’t consciously thinking about the imminent departure. In some ways the brutal weather was a blessing. Anxious as the couple were to get on their way the inclement conditions precluded any notion of an early departure.

The house wrapped its warm arms around her family and kept them safe. The end of January was almost upon them and Elsie looked forward to the approaching spring. She would plant some oat seeds in a small pot in the kitchen toward the end of February so she would have some growing on Easter weekend. It was a custom she picked up from her mother, who had learned it from her mother. Over the years the significance of the origin of the tradition was lost, but to Elsie is always signified the promise of new life and plenty. And wasn’t that what Easter promised as well? The Saviour’s trials and sacrifices so that His children could look forward to everlasting life in his Father’s House.

Her lips moved in the old familiar words. “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, so believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” She skipped forward to the bit she liked the best. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The passage always evoked a sense of security and comfort in her heart.

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