So I sit here in Steve and Jane's family room, my good friend cecily to my right, and a window with endless bean/corn fields to my left. Its good to be back here. Everytime I come to Indiana, it just feels right. And also makes me thankful for places like california! The weather is...well i'm not going to complain.
So lets go by topic.
1st: Weddings. By next monday I will have spent three weekends in a row attending weddings. And there are a multitude which have taken place before and after the ones I have attended. Actually, in the minds of a normal midwesterner, I have been present at a measly amount of weddings. But these few weddings have almost done me in. *whew* Who knew there was so much love to go around? I attended the wedding of a college friend, with lots of college friends, and it was actually one of the first where I wasn't connected to my family in any way. I felt way grown up.
The next wedding was for my cousin. my dear, sweet, beautiful cousin.
Who also happens to be TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME! now don't get me wrong. More power to them. But it makes me feel old sometimes. Now those of you who are actually older than me by a substantial amount will probably laugh and shake your head at the sweet ignorance I possess. But seriously. maybe you remember feeling that way...unless you tied the blissful wedded knot in your budding youth.
Whenever I'm on my way home from a wedding, I blast my new theme song, Riding Solo.
"I never knew single could feel this good...i'm on cloud nine, my heads in the sky. I'm solo, I'm riding solo..." and i convince myself that i really DO want to finish college and weddings are overrated.
Ok, next topic. [written shortly thereafter the previous ramblings]
The Amish. So tonight Jane told us we were going to their Amish neighbor's trailer for ice cream. My mind did a double take. or maybe it was a triple take. Somehow "Amish" and "trailer" just didn't fit. and I was picturing us all crowded in a cramped little trailer in the middle of a field, eating ben and jerry's around a home-made table with candlelight and a battery powered fan (i think they can use batteries).
But I was delightfully surprised when we pulled up that while it was indeed a regular trailer, it was not at all what I was expecting. This young family had landscaped and set up a garden, some sheds, an old and rusty classic windmill, beautiful clothes lines ready for the laundry and fields all around. They had three delightfully gorgeous children, and were such a sweet couple themselves! James, the dad had made homemade ice cream, which when we tasted, found our tastebuds tickled with the flavoring of natural maple syrup. Susanna, the mother, had made a cherry cobbler which was the perfect compliment to the ice cream. We chatted about crops and gardens and then...
Their daughter Maria comes out of the barn (which is about three times bigger than their lil' trailer house) on a PONY! Now at that moment I was picturing Veruca Salt...
"Daddy, I want another pony!" (said with british accent. check youtube: "veruca's ticket-charlie and the chocolate factory" for context)
We always reserve little girls with ponies for the rich and the snobbish. But this sweet young girl had her own pony at age 7. And it was completely normal! Mom and Dad, why weren't we Amish?
Anyways...It was a delightful experience. Joey felt a special kinship to the Amish after that so he began waving at all the passing buggies and farm workers. He soon discovered that not all Amish are as amiable towards the "English" (as they call us) and was slightly disappointed that there wasn't a lifetime bond formed.
The fun continues tomorrow night with buggy rides after church =)
3rd Topic: relationships. How is it that after a year of not seeing people, we can pick up just where we left off. Life happens, everyday experiences, joys, heartbreaks...shaping. And yet, here we are, hugs given, memories made and the bonds strengthened. When I was telling some co-workers that I have scores of friends in the midwest that I visit, they couldn't believe it. They thought I was exaggerating somehow. And I realized why. They don't have the One Friend that we have in common. Isn't it interesting that when you meet people, and you find out you have a common friend or acquaintance that you somehow feel as though you are now bonded in a way you weren't before.
And our common Friend is one that knows us all so well, and we have the opportunity to know the same, that we're all pretty much on equal playing field. Even if you aren't bosom friends...you can eat at the same table, worship in the same place, sleep in the same houses...and you can be comfortable. *sigh* and they don't understand.
I want to close with this thought...I have a regular customer at work who is a dedicated follower of Christ. He is a bright spot in my day...and incredibly encouraging. But when we finished up our chat the other day, he said, "Well it's been a blessing as always, Suzy, and I'll leave you with what I always say...Walk Worthy."
Walk Worthy.
Wow. It really hit me. When the Bible says, For by grace I am saved...not of my works. it is the gift of God to me...so that I can take no pride nor boast in my own salvation. And yet when I accept that gift, I am now carrying the name of Christ and am a reflection of Him. While my works don't save me...I must walk worthy of the gift I have been given. Without his grace, I am nothing. But because of his grace, I am worthy of this gift. And I long to walk in that truth.
So lets go by topic.
1st: Weddings. By next monday I will have spent three weekends in a row attending weddings. And there are a multitude which have taken place before and after the ones I have attended. Actually, in the minds of a normal midwesterner, I have been present at a measly amount of weddings. But these few weddings have almost done me in. *whew* Who knew there was so much love to go around? I attended the wedding of a college friend, with lots of college friends, and it was actually one of the first where I wasn't connected to my family in any way. I felt way grown up.
The next wedding was for my cousin. my dear, sweet, beautiful cousin.
Who also happens to be TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME! now don't get me wrong. More power to them. But it makes me feel old sometimes. Now those of you who are actually older than me by a substantial amount will probably laugh and shake your head at the sweet ignorance I possess. But seriously. maybe you remember feeling that way...unless you tied the blissful wedded knot in your budding youth.
Whenever I'm on my way home from a wedding, I blast my new theme song, Riding Solo.
"I never knew single could feel this good...i'm on cloud nine, my heads in the sky. I'm solo, I'm riding solo..." and i convince myself that i really DO want to finish college and weddings are overrated.
Ok, next topic. [written shortly thereafter the previous ramblings]
The Amish. So tonight Jane told us we were going to their Amish neighbor's trailer for ice cream. My mind did a double take. or maybe it was a triple take. Somehow "Amish" and "trailer" just didn't fit. and I was picturing us all crowded in a cramped little trailer in the middle of a field, eating ben and jerry's around a home-made table with candlelight and a battery powered fan (i think they can use batteries).
But I was delightfully surprised when we pulled up that while it was indeed a regular trailer, it was not at all what I was expecting. This young family had landscaped and set up a garden, some sheds, an old and rusty classic windmill, beautiful clothes lines ready for the laundry and fields all around. They had three delightfully gorgeous children, and were such a sweet couple themselves! James, the dad had made homemade ice cream, which when we tasted, found our tastebuds tickled with the flavoring of natural maple syrup. Susanna, the mother, had made a cherry cobbler which was the perfect compliment to the ice cream. We chatted about crops and gardens and then...
Their daughter Maria comes out of the barn (which is about three times bigger than their lil' trailer house) on a PONY! Now at that moment I was picturing Veruca Salt...
"Daddy, I want another pony!" (said with british accent. check youtube: "veruca's ticket-charlie and the chocolate factory" for context)
We always reserve little girls with ponies for the rich and the snobbish. But this sweet young girl had her own pony at age 7. And it was completely normal! Mom and Dad, why weren't we Amish?
Anyways...It was a delightful experience. Joey felt a special kinship to the Amish after that so he began waving at all the passing buggies and farm workers. He soon discovered that not all Amish are as amiable towards the "English" (as they call us) and was slightly disappointed that there wasn't a lifetime bond formed.
The fun continues tomorrow night with buggy rides after church =)
3rd Topic: relationships. How is it that after a year of not seeing people, we can pick up just where we left off. Life happens, everyday experiences, joys, heartbreaks...shaping. And yet, here we are, hugs given, memories made and the bonds strengthened. When I was telling some co-workers that I have scores of friends in the midwest that I visit, they couldn't believe it. They thought I was exaggerating somehow. And I realized why. They don't have the One Friend that we have in common. Isn't it interesting that when you meet people, and you find out you have a common friend or acquaintance that you somehow feel as though you are now bonded in a way you weren't before.
And our common Friend is one that knows us all so well, and we have the opportunity to know the same, that we're all pretty much on equal playing field. Even if you aren't bosom friends...you can eat at the same table, worship in the same place, sleep in the same houses...and you can be comfortable. *sigh* and they don't understand.
I want to close with this thought...I have a regular customer at work who is a dedicated follower of Christ. He is a bright spot in my day...and incredibly encouraging. But when we finished up our chat the other day, he said, "Well it's been a blessing as always, Suzy, and I'll leave you with what I always say...Walk Worthy."
Walk Worthy.
Wow. It really hit me. When the Bible says, For by grace I am saved...not of my works. it is the gift of God to me...so that I can take no pride nor boast in my own salvation. And yet when I accept that gift, I am now carrying the name of Christ and am a reflection of Him. While my works don't save me...I must walk worthy of the gift I have been given. Without his grace, I am nothing. But because of his grace, I am worthy of this gift. And I long to walk in that truth.
