Amish Folk in The Big Apple

It was the same year "The Juice", OJ Simpson committed or didn't commit a heinous crime, depending on who you believe or don't believe. Bert and I kissed our two small children good bye and we hopped into a taxi van in the middle of the night and drove to Akron, Oh to get on a train bound for NYC. 

Our children stayed with my parents. We knew they would survive staying at their grandparents, but we had no assurance that we would survive our trip to the big, bad city. As young Amish teens we had both read David Wilkerson's book "The Cross and the Switchblade" and John Benton's books of prostitutes and runaways and drug addicts who were found and set free. 

That was the picture we had of NYC. Well, that and also, my new-found pen pal friend, Lucy, who was from the Bronx and she painted a different, more glamorous picture of the city life . We would write to each other and each of our letters were small tomes. She would write about her life living in the city. She being a couple years younger than I and still in college and dating and going to bars and going on vacations to faraway lands like the Bahamas and when she would come home from her adventures she would write to me about her excursions both in and out of the city. I knew she was born and raised there and wasn't "killed yet", but was it really safe for two Amish folks to go to the big city and tour it and not get murdered, robbed, or anything else bad we had read about? She painted such an exciting picture of the city that we really wanted to go see for ourselves. Most of our family and friends thought we were utterly nuts to want to go to any city, let alone New York City! 

None-the-less, we tossed our anxieties by the wayside and boarded that train going to the big city. It was seventeen long hours of wobbly/rolling motions all the way to the Big Apple. During one stop at a station, I went to the bathroom, having no idea, nor seeing any signs cautioning against going to the bathroom when the train was stopped. Much to my dismay one of the crew came on our car and announced to us that we are NOT supposed to use the facilities while the train was stopped. 

I was mortified. I don't know why I didn't see the signs??? 

Sigh. 

From Philadelphia, Pa they booted the locomotive to the other end of our car and we "backed" all the way from Philadelphia to Grand Central Station. For years after that ride I have battled with a sort of vertigo and I'm pretty sure it was from that ride, because I was perfectly normal before that. I believe the trained moved at 90 mph and riding backward at that pace was just enough to mess with my equilibrium, I guess. 

Walking into Grand Central Station is like nothing I can explain to anyone who might have lived a sheltered life. You've never experienced people in a rush-rush way until you have entered the walls of Grand Central Station. 

My friend Lucy and her friend Denise came to Manhattan to pick us up. I can only imagine what must have been going through their minds thinking about how it would be to bring two Amish people to NYC and show them the city. When we first met up there at the station there were the usual hugs and introductions and then Lucy paused and looked us in the eye and said, "Now, not to alarm you, but when we leave the building here and go outside you are going to notice about 200 policemen all over the streets."  (For the life of me, I cannot remember why the policemen were there. Maybe she will remember as she is reading this and will reply on my Facebook page.) She went on to say we are not to worry, that all is well and we just needed to trust her and Denise. 

We stepped outside on the pavement and the first thing I noticed, after seeing a ton of policemen, was the city appeared to be clean and pretty. I was so surprised. The buildings were tall, the people were many, the traffic was heavy, the pedestrians were bustling and there was definitely a smell to the city, but it was so much cleaner than anything I had expected. Sometimes you smelled the exhaust fumes, other times you smelled sewer mixed with wonderful smells from the restaurants and street vendors. 

I think I fell in love with the city right then and right there. 

I remember after getting into Lucy's car we traveled around the city for awhile and she let us take in the skyscrapers and the city by way of car, then we headed to the Bronx, where she lived with her parents. 

I will never be able to say enough good things about her parents. First of all, they had that old world Italian charm about them. They sacrificed their bedroom for us the whole week we were there. I felt so bad, and felt so loved all at the same time.It was our little haven to go to when things started to get to be too much. When I say too much, I mean, just the hustle and bustle and the noise. There was a subway station screaming across the street - every couple of minutes it seemed. There were large airplanes coming and going overhead all the time. Then there was the beeping of horns and the sounds of sirens, and even the air conditioner seemed to make noise. We lived in constant noise the whole week we were there, coming on the train, and leaving on the train. The train itself was so noisy. More on the noise a little bit later. 

I wish I could remember every detail of every day, but Lucy and Denise were wonderful tour guides and took us all over, we went to all the touristy places, we went up into the crown of the Statue of Liberty, we toured Ellis Island, had a ride on the ferry, we went on a helicopter ride and saw the city from the air, we ate in Chinatown, we toured on a bus, we walked through Greenwich Village, we went up on Empire State Building, we passed the Twin Towers, we went to Chelsea Pier, and we rode the subway. We happened to be smack dab in the middle of the crowd leaving Madison Square Gardens when the New York Rangers won something "hockey". I have NEVER, EVER, EVER in my life seen anything like it before or after. NEVER. Folks were celebrating and happy and they were walking over the cars in the street because there were so many people, they had to wait to get around a car, or just walk over it. Of course, we were going the opposite direction of the folks coming out of the Garden...so, we were walking against the flow. Oh, it WAS an experience, for sure, for sure! One day we came upon the Puerto Rican Day parade. It was fabulous. Loud and flashy and gaudy.  The same day we came across a Jewish funeral. Some big Rabbi person had died and there were thousands of "Amish" looking hats, for blocks it was all you saw, men who looked Amish, but were Jewish. No ladies were there. I found that interesting. I guess it is their custom for the ladies not to attend such a funeral. 

Lucy's mother and father fed us like you would expect true Italian folks to do. Lucy's mother was a wonderful cook. The night we arrived she had prepared this amazing spread. She started with a noodle dish that was so yummy and she served it with Parmesan cheese on top. I serve my noodles that way ever since. Noodles are NOT good without the parm! Trust me. She had at least seven courses for us. I remember a pasta dish and meatballs, I think. Some salad and bread. It was ALL good and delicious and she kept serving us and serving us until I was ready to explode. 

Lucy's father was also serving. 

He served the wine. We took a sip of wine, he got up and filled the glass. Over the years, as we reminisce our time with the Iarusso family, this dinner time is always one of our fondest and favorite memories we have. They truly have the gift of hospitality bred into them. Hospitality oozes out of their pores. I am sorry to say that Lucy's mother did pass away a few years ago, but she was a wonderful lady and I always loved chatting with her on the phone or in person. Lucy's father remains in the Bronx and we hope to go visit him at his home next time we make the trek to visit our friends. We want to go back to the Bronx and see if we remember things or if things look and feel different than that first time we spent a week in the Bronx.

Lucy's family also had a summer home in New Jersey and so we went out there overnight to experience the "country life" the way they experienced it. We had so much fun, where ever we went, there were new things to explore, new things to see and experience. I had never been to a movie theater and being Amish we were not allowed to watch TV or go to the movies, but what happens in NYC stays in NYC - unless that person is no longer Amish and not afraid to share. wink wink....We went and saw The Flintstones. I LOVED IT. To this day, I love going to the theater. I would go every weekend if my better half enjoyed it half as much as I do. 

We had bagels in that little Italian home in the Bronx. So delicious. We still eat them to this day. We had our first soft pretzels on the streets of Manhattan. And one night, we went and looked for the prostitutes. Bert and I had read so many of those John Benton and David Wilkerson books, and that is what we knew about NYC and so we asked Lucy and Denise to take us to that part of the city. And they did. I remember seeing the ladies of the night, dressed up in their finest attire, standing there on the corners, just like in the books. Why the fascination? Just because it was something we had read about and couldn't fathom, I think. In today's world, I would probably be more inclined to get out of the car and try to befriend the ladies of the night, and try and help them somehow and do less gawking. Sigh

Lucy and Denise invited their friends over one evening and we had a party on the patio of Lucy's parent's home. I remember sitting there and visiting with so many of their friends, such lovely, lovely people. We visited Lucy's sister over on Long Island one day. What a lovely location Long Island is! The water was right over there, a stone's throw away from her sister's home. 

Then finally it was time to say good bye and return to Amish land and away from the city and the noise. I remember saying good bye to Lucy and Denise at Grand Central Station, getting in line and then looking back and they were no longer there. It was a moment of..."oh my goodness, we are all alone in this big city", but we boarded the train just fine and seventeen hours later we arrived in Akron, Oh. Early on a Sunday morning. Too early to pick up our children so we went home and got in bed. I remember laying there and the silence was deafening. The silence was so loud, you almost could have cut it with a knife. Later when we woke up and started to stir around the house I heard a car come up the road and it cut into the silence and was an almost welcome noise. I have never experienced quiet, quite like that. We soon adjusted to our home atmosphere, we picked up our children and got on with our Amish lives. 

I do have pictures that Lucy took while we were at her home, but I don't have a scanner and haven't figured out how to get the pictures on here. I think I should be investing in a scanner someday soon. I hope I painted enough of a picture with my words, though, that you are able to understand what we experienced as Amish folks in The Big Apple. 

Lucy has long since married, and moved more than an hour away from the Bronx. She and her husband are raising their two lovely children in the country, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. We are like sisters, we don't stay in touch as much as we used to. When we left the Amish and adopted the English lifestyle, and got computers and email and Facebook accounts things all just seemed to slow down by way of long letters and phone calls. I don't feel any less close to her though, we stay in touch in a different way and when big things happen we are there for each other. Lucy and her family have traveled to Ohio for both of our children's weddings. At both weddings they were seated alongside my brother and his wife. They are family, always and forever. :) Our lifestyles still remain different, but we are more same now than we have ever been before. When we visit them we always make time to go see a show or two down in the city. We were there four years ago and saw Chicago, and Jerry Springer was in the show. I mentioned his television show in my last post, but I have to say, he is a pretty good singer and did a good job on the show, Chicago. Next time we visit I want to go on a food tour down in Manhattan and see another show for sure. The magic of the city draws us in and we can't help ourselves, we have to experience more of it now and then. 

If I could meet somebody famous from NYC? It would have to be two people, Donald and his daughter, Ivanka Trump. Both fascinate me and I wish I would get an invitation to dine with them and get to visit with them. We've been to Trump Tower, but never had the pleasure of even seeing them, let alone dining with them. 

Yep, a little bit starstruck!

suddenly, i'm in a bad mood

I'm on vacation. 

Spending all my time at home. I have not ventured far from my home since this past Monday night. I've actually left the house on two separate occasions, but only for a few hours both times and it is just how I want it. I love being at home. I'm one of those souls who is more comfortable at home than any place else on the planet. I'm never bored. Those creative souls reading this probably relate. 

Whilst panning through the channels yesterday checking out what there is to watch during the daytime I came across Jerry Springer. At first I paused and said loudly to myself, "Jerry Springer is still on the air?" The proof was right there on the TV screen. Jerry Springer IS still on the air. Nobody had to answer me. 

The story went something like this. Mom, and two daughters and one of the daughter's boyfriend were all on stage plus Mr. Springer and some bouncer type of personnel. They were discussing arguing the fact that the youngest daughter of the mom on stage wanted the boyfriend of her sister to take her virginity. I laugh as I type because you can't make this stuff up! I mean, I have an imagination a mile long, but this is for real TV! Somehow this thought made sense to the "boyfriend" of the other sister. And the mom was livid....I mean, she was LIV-ID! And the sister? She still loves him after five years of loving togetherness.

I can't imagine. 

Oh, and we wonder what is wrong with our country???? After about 5 and a half minutes of that insanity I had to stop watching because, well, who can watch THAT???? My goodness, there was a time when a girl was pregnant and it was hush hush to all the world, let alone ever talking to anyone about losing your virginity. I remember growing up as an Amish child and if a married lady was pregnant she was in the "family way" and little kids were not told. I was oblivious to so much growing up because things were not discussed, much less argued about! 

But in today's world kids are allowed to proclaim to the world and make an "ass" out of themselves by doing so, that they want so and so to take their virginity. 

How crass, how crude, how crazy! 

That a mother would consent to go on a show like Jerry Springer and be a part of this dysfunction!?! Are there no adults left in this world? Makes you wonder what percentage of our population in America has an adult mind and thinks like an adult? Where lies the responsibility and with whom? Do the viewers of such insanity  have any kind of responsibility? I would think.

I am NOT  a fan of Dr. Phil, however, periodically I do tape some of the shows I'm not a fan of to skim through and see what is going on out there in the world whilst I'm at work. I was watching one such show this morning and the issue at hand was an 11 year old girl got pregnant by a 13 year old boy. They were 12 and 14 respectively when their baby was born 11 weeks prematurely. 

Can I have a moment of silence here? 

The parents of both these kids left a lot to be desired.

I mean a lot. 

There is no wonder these kids ended up doing what they did. 

And Dr. Phil? Gah! He leaves a lot to be desired as well. He is out for ratings and you can tell. If you place yourself in the position to help someone, do you have to be condescending and mocking? I just had to shake my head. No good solutions came out of that show. A kid was led kicking and screaming against her will to some institute that was supposedly going to help her. I shudder to think of the damage that young girl will be living with the rest of her life. All for ratings, all for some air time, all for whatever everyone's intent was for being on the show. I don't want to sit in judgment of anyone, but I can see some really big problems with this kind of show. It shows exactly how immature our adults continue to be and how ratings-crazed the television industry is. Does anyone really think these shows are out to help anyone? I hope not.

Suddenly, I'm in a bad mood. I have so much I want to add, I've deleted so much from this post already. I find it very hard to contain myself, but I will refrain from saying what I really want to add. Except to make this one point. We, the people, are responsible for what we watch and are a part of. We have to grow up and be adult in nature, not just physically be adult, but in nature too. We have to do adult things, make adult decisions, be responsible for our children, and if our children make bad decisions we have to help them think things through or find help for them outside the spotlight of television. In this day and age it seems like everything has an answer, you go on television to make a point, to get help, to get famous and rich. But at the end of the day, the only folks benefiting are the folks lining their bank accounts as the ratings for their shows grow more popular. 

Just thinkin' it through! 

PS....I did want to say, I was NOT looking to write a post about this, so I wasn't out to "find" a couple of sensational topics to run with on this post. It is literally what I "found" when I was panning through the TV and also which Dr. Phil show had aired yesterday and I watched today. After the fact is when I just had to "say it" to someone. 

Lucky you!

December 26, 2013

Have your recovered? 

My last day of work for the year was on Monday. It was a two-fold strategy, work is slow this time of year, and each year I am more resolved that the Christmas season will not cause me stress or to get sick. I've had too many years of being stressed, exhausted and sick. Today, I took some time to "recover" from our celebrations. I slept way in. I won't tell you what time I actually finally crawled out of bed. Then after lunch I took another two hour nap. I woke up with a headache though. Snarl. I stretched for awhile and that seemed to help it some, but there is a twinge still lingering. Maybe I need another nap?? 

So, in-between the cheese balls, the dips, the chocolates, the actual Christmas dinner, the games, the movies and the naps, did we remember why the season was being celebrated? My husband did a good job during prayer time to take us there and helped us be thankful for the season. He read narrated quickly the Christmas story to our two year old grandson on Sunday night. Our "little guy" doesn't sit for too long, so the story went by pretty quickly, but they did stop to observe the various pop-up scenes in the book and my daughter reported that on Christmas morning they got him to say, "happy birthday Jesus" and they also read the Christmas story as a family with "little guy". He is going to grow up knowing who Jesus is. Our responsibility feels no greater than helping the younger generation understand why we exist and what life is really about. The world would have us think it is about us..about our wants, whims and wishes...but we all know, it really isn't. I did read an interesting commentary about Christmas yesterday...and they were saying..."Christmas IS about us"...the point was being made, "God loved us so much, he sent his son so that we could all live". So, in a sense, it is about us, if you look at it that way, but our job is to recognize why Jesus was born and to have a relationship with him and teach it to the younger ones. 

Can I get an amen? 

I took a bunch of pictures of our festivities. We celebrated Christmas with our children-only on this past Sunday night, then on Christmas Eve we told various family members and friends they could come over. Most of my family was here, and our new friends, Betsy and Allen. Then on Christmas day my family, and Betsy and Allen came back to our house for a more traditional Christmas dinner, we met at 4 and since most had to work today they left earlier than they did on Christmas Eve. Following will be pictures from the various celebrations. Nothing fancy, we have a very small house and with almost 20 people squeezing into our little cottage there wasn't much room to be fancy, but we had love and fun, so who cares about the fancy shmancy anyway?

Enjoy!

My parents serving themselves some food on Christmas Eve. 

Our son and son in law in deep discussion while waiting their turns in the food line. Our daughter is serving herself some delicious fruit kabobs. 

My dad, my great aunt, my daughter in law and son, we were unwrapping white elephant gifts. 

My beautiful niece, husband and mom.

The pile of white elephant gifts to choose from.

We didn't all fit on chairs, my beautiful sister was sitting on the floor and she is holding up her gift.

Betsy and Allen, our new friends...whom we have been enjoying so much. He has a fascinating business, he has chicken houses and sells eggs...like thousands of eggs per day. I wanna go see his operation sometime soon. 

Daughter in law, son, nephew (who shot a 12 point buck this season!), niece, and my husband. 

My mom making her selection. 

Our little guy getting some help from his father, unwrapping "another" gift. He received a ton of gifts this year. 

My lovely great aunt unwrapping her gift. She loves to be part of the commotion and we enjoy having her. She is slowing way down. It is sad to watch her life begin to "fade". She is 97 years old and she has told me on a number of occasions, "Oh, I hope I can just die in my sleep. I hope one morning I just won't wake up." She has been a widow for quite a number of years and her immediate family won't take care of her, so my parents have been providing a home for her the past couple of years. It is the Amish way not to let one of their own become homeless. It has been a challenge for my parents and sister to have her living with them, but they feel someone needs to be responsible and so they have taken her care upon their shoulders. My great aunt's church district also helps out some, especially with funds and also providing assistance to my parents as my parents request help.

Grandpa and grandson collaborating about some toy "little guy" just received. :)

My mom provided us all with a little treat for Christmas Day dinner. Little chocolate mice. They were cute as a button and the talk of the table for awhile, some of the tails were going one way or the other so we were discussing what moods the mice might be in. A conversation piece for sure. 

I was having issues yesterday with my pictures, so I am actually posting this a day later with less pictures than I had intended on sharing with you all. You get the gist, we had plenty of food and fellowship with family and friends over this Christmas season. 

I hope you did as well. 

Lue

what if we treated our country like a television show?

Yup, I had to chime in. 

Why not? 

Everybody else seems to be having their say. 

I'm not a fan of Duck Dynasty. I'm just not a fan of duck calls, how they are made, or men called Uncle Si. I find the cast of Duck Dynasty a little bit immature and crass when I've watched the show. As with all reality shows, you can sense where things have been staged. It becomes non-reality for me at that point. I KNOW they pray, they are good folks, that seems to be the reason why folks like them so much, oh and Uncle Si. 

To my utter dismay my husband even has a Duck Dynasty tee shirt. My heart sank when I saw him come home with one of those shirts. 

double ugh! 

My husband is a fan and watches the show. I get it second-hand, like smoke. So, I believe I can have an opinion on the show, as I just shared. 

But, having said all that, I stand by Mr. Duck Dynasty on the grounds of free speech, just like millions of other red-blooded Americans did this week. I found myself "liking" pages on Facebook and "liking and sharing" comments and posts of others. I did so because I support free speech. 

I didn't particularly like how Mr. Duck Dynasty chose to say it, he was crass and that was probably a little bit offensive, but that is who they are. If I don't like them, then I don't have to watch them. But to come out and punish him for exercising his free speech rights, and to purposefully misinterpret what he did say. Hmmm? Sounds more like an agenda to me than anything else. 

Where I take heart is reading all the articles today, of how things are changing for the show, it seems like Mr. Duck Dynasty is un-fired. Seems like Cracker Barrel all-of-a-sudden had a big change of heart and the voice of America seems to have been heard. Now, this is where I think we should ALL take hope. It seems like our voices were heard! We, the people rose up and "roared" our opinion and disdain for what had happened and we learned something from it. We learned if we stand for something together, we can move mountains. We stood for what was right and just and what maintains freedom, and it looks like the good prevailed over the bad. 

This time. 

But seriously. What about when it is time to go vote. Why are we not voting? Why are we not doing more to campaign for the good guys? Why are we not running for office? We, the people, the good guys...not the career politicians, but we, the people...Let's take this fire in our bellies from the Duck Dynasty fiasco and let's let it motivate us out of our inertia and let's do something. I think with this much common sense in America...my goodness! What we could do with that? 

Maybe we should all pretend our great country was a TV show being run into the ground by a television network and then we would start Facebook pages and write dialog fitting to change things and impact folk's thinking and we could take it all the way to the highest office and get this country back on it's feet. 

For me it is interesting to see how much folks rallied around the demise of a TV show, but when it comes to our country so many of those voices are too busy watching television and don't care about their country, their family, their relationship with God or much else. At least their actions wouldn't show they cared from the outside looking in.  

I come from the Amish, and the Amish don't vote, unless it has direct implications on their way of life. Most will tell you they don't vote for the presidency, etc. Mostly just for laws regarding farming, and local tax levies, and etc. I was not a voter, but then one day it was announced in the church there was some law to be passed regarding farming. (I have no clue what it was) and so we were encouraged to go vote. I registered and stood in line with my husband and hundreds of other Amish and voted for one thing, against the new law they were pushing. But years later when I left the Amish and started to learn more I began to understand how if I am a citizen of this country and I want to be "free" I have to let my voice be heard by voting. I have to put the work in and do research. I have to form an opinion and I have to vote. 

In a sense that is what America did this week, we let our voices be heard and things seem to be changing. May I be so bold and I suggest we all put the remote control down and become a voice for America, let's understand what is going on in the country, let's keep that fire in our belly for what is 'good and just' and let's take back America. Let our country be free again and let the folks who live here be free before it is too late. Let's do the hard work, let's find a way to get our country out of debt, and let neighbor be for neighbor and let the folks with a good head on their shoulders stand up and say, "elect me", and let the folks who are good with campaigning on social media, start the campaigning, and let's treat the country we live in with as much passion as we do some television show we love to watch.

May God be with us! 

Go America! 

Lue

new year's resolution

(sometimes i have to just "say it" to myself, this is one of those posts.) 

I realize it isn't "even" Christmas yet and here I am already pushing the New Year with a subject of resolutions. I must be just a little bit off, huh? Let me explain why I think not. 

Probably a dozen years ago I started to set goals for my life, and it seemed that it always began sometime around the middle of December. I am the kind of person who likes Monday morning because it somehow symbolizes a new start for me. I get to start the week over and try to get it better in the new week, learn more, see more, do more, live more, than I did in the week prior.

December seems like the fitting time to sit down and write out goals, as I examine my life, evaluate the past year and kind of look into my life and see where I would like to make changes and live the next year differently. Some years I am more specific with those life resolutions than other years. Some years I've been more vague, and less stringent about setting real goals for my life. I think those are the years when I've been more settled, happier and feeling more full filled in whatever roll my life was playing out on this planet we call Earth. I had less of a reason to feel like I needed to change much because of what was going on in my life those years. 

As I have been gaining birthdays and having deeper conversations with my friends and having a deeper relationship with my Savior, I feel the need to really examine my life this year. Really, really examine. Honestly, I don't have to do much, my heart is already telling me so much, it is like pushing me to "move on and grow". It is a matter of the heart and soul for me. I long for growth, I long to be utilized using my strengths and abilities, and for awhile now I've been living unchallenged and very stagnant it feels like. 

I wonder, does anyone out there wrestle with this subject?

Or, is it just me? 

I really wonder? 

A couple years ago one of my friends told me she picks out one Bible verse each year to live by. She actually took a mix of verses and made her own little life verse and it was simply, "To be in the world, but not of the world." Since then she has lived it fiercely. I can tell how resolved she is with each conversation we have. She will describe a situation she was in and then she will tell me how she responded because of her life verse and will quote, "You know Lue," she says, "I am in the world, but NOT of it." It is her conviction and it is what keeps her grounded, balanced and accountable. 

Isn't that awesome? 

I think it is.

vision statements

I know, I'm not in business, but as successful businesses go, they have a vision statement.  You know where there are going and how they are going to get there. I remember years ago when my husband's company was still small, the spouses were invited to more seminars and parties and such than we are today. At one such function we got to attend the CEO of the company was speaking and wanted to know if any of the spouses knew what the company's vision statement was and by golly, we knew. Why? Because they involved their employees and even the spouses in various activities of the company. We were all on board. So, thinking about that, the excitement I felt being a small part of my husband's company, feeling included and all, I learned so much from them about, not only, business, but also, personally. (This post is NOT about business or running a business, I wouldn't know the first thing about it, it is only how I am trying to make a point here.) 

Seems to me if a company needs a clear vision of where they are going and how they are going to get there, then it makes sense to come up with a personal vision statement and a clear plan for my life and then share it with those around you. Like my friend would share her, "To be in the world, but not of the world" verse with me many times in each conversation we had over that year's time. In fact, I think it still carries into some of our conversations today. Why? Because she planned it well, she made it her vision for her life and it really impacted her life on many levels. I could tell each time we spoke she was more resolved to not live like the world, but to be set apart. And what did her vision statement do for me because she shared it with me so often? I started to get it, I started to think about that and it has truly impacted my life, just because she shared it with me so often. I also have been very careful around her, not to cause her to stumble in areas where I know she doesn't want to go. I was not always so sensitive to my friend, but once I knew her vision for her life, I became more sensitive of her convictions.  

The Bible says in Proverbs 29:18, Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. KJV

I am convinced that we need a vision for our lives, individually, and also in the church and the family, and, at the end of the day, wherever there are human beings, there needs to be a vision or we become stagnant and just live in the "daily grind of life" with never a thought of anything beyond our normal routine and survival. 

normal routine and survival?

How incredibly boring is that? When you really think about it. Why not live with a heart of adventure and not be so afraid of what comes next? Of course, we have to be responsible, but do we have to be so responsible that there is no room at all for growth and God's will in our lives? In my life????? 

To tell you the truth, I have not "ironed all of this out" in my soul. I don't have it all nice and neat in a box, but I do know that I want to work on a vision statement for my life in the next few days and I hope to find a way to map out some of my life goals and what I believe is God's will for my life and work toward those goals. I want to be specific, not vague with my intentions, and I want to ask God for His will in my life. I want that front and center because it just feels so much better that way. 

God's will in my life front and center.

It feels good that way. 

Will I be able to come up with such a vision statement that will inspire others as I have been inspired both by my friend and my husband's company's technique of including all in the vision? I don't know, but I think it is worth a try. And, it is living life with a heart of adventure and responsibility all in the same breath. 

So, like I mentioned when I began this post, I don't think it is too early to be thinking about my resolutions or life vision statements, or whatever you want to call it. I believe I need to seek God's will in this matter through prayer and I believe I need to not be flippant about it, but think it through, be precise and then live it. 

love and blessings,

lue

i want to be like her

"I am the Lord's servant, may your word to me be fulfilled." Words spoken by Jesus' mother, Mary. 

Luke 1:38  

Tis' the season to celebrate the birth of our Savior. As I read over that Bible verse this morning I began to reflect more on Mary, the conviction she must have felt to be able to utter those words must have been deeply rooted. When I think back over what I know of Mary's life, she was one of the most selfless mothers known to man. If you think about her being a witness at her son's crucifixion, the strength and resolve it would have had to take to remain there and witness the event. But, knowing that as a young girl she was already resolved to do God's will, (per Luke 1:38) allows one to grasp how she might have been able to witness the crucifixion, because she knew and trusted that the God she served had a plan. 

Do I trust God like Mary did with all the things I hold dear? My family, my reputation, my dreams, my goals? 

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, any servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26


Mary Did You Know?

Lue

my heart....my conviction...my reminder

"Too often we watch in self-righteous judgment as others writhe in pain before the trials of life, forgetting that God will hold us partially responsible because we did not offer encouragement when we could have." 

That quote comes from a Bible study I'm a part of at our church. It was written and is led by a gentlemen, namely, Ken Stoltzfus. What an amazingly inspiring and convicting study, More Like Jesus. 

My eyes have been opened to other folks pain and suffering in a whole other way, plus, I have gained insight of myself, in such a manner as is life-changing, through this Bible study. It has caused me to go back and kind of "feel" for a moment where I was emotionally a few short years ago when I battled depression and felt like I had nobody who understood me or cared enough to try and understand. I am sure, if you are reading this, you have either experienced this or know someone who has. I remembered a night in my deepest depression when I was lying in bed in the dead of the night, looking out the window at the moon and the stars and silently pleading with God, "please dear God if ever I get out of this depression, I promise to always be ears to others. I promise to always be there for others if I know they have a need. Please God, just help me out of this pain." 

How quickly I moved away from that thought and got on with "my life". Reflecting on the quote at the top of the post and what I had prayed that one dark night, I am deeply ashamed to say so often I have not encouraged others as I should have. I've not stopped to ask someone if they might need an ear. You look around and you know someone near you is a statistic, somehow.

I can't change the past, but I can change my future and it is my new conviction that I want to be more sensitive to those around me who might have needs or hurts buried deep inside of themselves. This Bible study has brought back the resolve I had some years back to never let folks wallow in their pain by themselves. God has certainly used it as a reminder and all I can do is move forward now and put actions to my conviction.

This song means a lot to me. I hope it means something to you too. 

Resurrection

Because I needed to remind myself is why I wrote out these thoughts.

Lue

little amish kids stopping their summer fun to pose for me

One weekend this summer my husband's family got together to camp out and fellowship together near a creek and at a campsite. I was taking a time out to be by myself with camera in hand when I came upon the little great nieces and nephews having some real summer fun. When they saw me and my camera the little girl in the fuchsia collared dress asked me if I wanted to take their pictures. I looked around, wondering what their parents might say...but since they were willing and I was able, I snapped a bunch of photos and I was giggling on the inside the whole time. They would pose, then I would snap, then they would come to me to see the photo on the camera. It was some of the best fun I had all summer. I have a better camera now, and if I get the chance, it is going along to next years gathering, because these pictures could be a lot better had I had a better camera. Nonetheless, please enjoy these pictures of some of our youngest blessings in the family. 

If you click on a photo, I think they should come up as a gallery so you can see the details better. 

I hope you enjoyed a little bit of summer in the dead of winter. 

Lue

a meaningful christmas season

Well, December is here. As I grow older I wonder, how can I go into the Christmas season and have it be more meaningful for me and my family and those around me. 

About five years ago or so I was in such a tizzy with "doing" everything. We were last minute Christmas shoppers that year and nothing suited me and I was just like, "this is not who I am or what I want to be." The rushed and hurried feeling is not one I do well. We also had no routine for the season, nothing that you could call a tradition, except go to the usual functions that we usually went to. It wasn't how I wanted to celebrate the season, it was too cold, too hurried and not always very meaningful. 

So, I purposed in my heart to make Christmas more meaningful and each year I try new things. I take extra care to find little ways to make the season more meaningful for my family and friends and myself. I'm not even sure they realize that I work at it, but nonetheless, I. do. try. 

One thing I like to do is invite family and sometimes friends to our little cottage on Christmas Eve and I use to cook the whole meal for all of us. The only problem that needed tweaking, because our family has been growing, is there is no room in my small kitchen to cook and entertain all at the same time for that large amount of folks, so we don't have a sit down dinner anymore, but we all bring snacks and appetizers. We share in bringing the food, and gift each other with wonderful eats and treats. 

On Christmas Eve we also all come with a wrapped gift and have a white elephant gift exchange. I believe we "hoot and holler" louder during this time than any other moment in the season. It is great fun. It doesn't matter what the gift is, just as long as we are together and having fun. 

As the evening progresses we play games around tables placed all through our little cottage. This year we have more room as we can utilize more of the basement since we are empty-nesters now. That is good news, we can spread out a little bit and have more fun. 

It is interesting how in four short years this has become a tradition that family members start asking me about as early as October. :) I think we would all miss our Christmas Eve together if we ended that tradition now. 

Another way I try to make the season more meaningful for the years to come is I purchased a regular tablet, there may even be a kitten on the front page, and each year I poke and prod everyone to write SOMETHING in that little tablet. For some it is a painful exercise, but I'm guessing that years down the line, that little tablet is going to be precious to all of us. We will be able spend time reviewing what we were thinking ten years back, maybe twenty years back. We can experience the children growing up and seeing what was important to them. It is a tradition I hope to hang on to, even if it isn't the most popular one. 

To make Christmas less hurried and scurried I also try to do most or all of my Christmas shopping before December 1. What a relief if I get this feat accomplished! 

Other, more personal ways I am cherishing the season is by listening to great Christmas music. I'm not talking the "holiday music" they play on the radio. You can go to Youtube.com and find some really, really good music on there. Type in a carol you especially like and listen to a few different versions of it. You can spend an hour or two relaxing and listening and watching some great productions, it can become a little worship service and meaningful. 

I am one of those who uses the Bible app on my Kindle Fire tablet and my smart phone. On the app you can find Christmas devotionals. I like laying in bed in the morning and reading through the devotionals for the day. I actually chose 2 different ones to follow and it just starts my day out right with remembering what the hustle and bustle is really about. 

I don't bake cookies and candies, so that is one less stress for me. There are enough other folks who do and I ALWAYS get my fill at various functions along the way. I chose to make other foods, I have several recipes that are my "go to recipes" for the season and I never tire of making a cheese ball or cooking up a batch of ham balls and pineapples. I find things to make that don't take a ton of my time and opt to make fresh things as we go to functions, rather than have the cookies and candies stashed away ready to go. It is a personal thing, I'm blessed that others do the cookies and candies. :) 

I also quit doing Christmas cards. I haven't fully come to grips with that idea, and feel shady when we receive cards from others. Each year that stack dwindles down though, and it is one of those things that are being left undone by many folks. I may pick this one back up, if my conscience keeps bugging me about this time each year. On a side note, I keep wanting to send birthday cards throughout the year to many folks who I would love for them to know I remember them and think of them. I will have to make this a priority in the upcoming new year, I think! 

We have one grandson. We feel, so responsible. Not for his total well-being, but to support his parents as they are raising him. We want Christmas to mean something to him which is not just about gifts and food, so last year I purchased a big pop up book with the Christmas story displayed, both in words and picture. Last year he was a little small and got bored, but I am looking forward to this year sitting together with our little family and first taking some time out to read the Christmas story to our little guy and for all of us to pause, and reflect on what the meaning of Christmas is really about. 

Personally, I love giving gifts, it is fun to think about the person and take time to think about what they might like and need, and then making the purchase, then going home and wrapping it up. I tie each gift with ribbon and bows. It is almost an obsession for me. It is part of the way I show folks who get gifts from us that I love them and want to package the gift up with a personal touch. I don't care if you don't, it is just part of the giving of myself. 

A few things I would still like to do is attend a Christmas Eve church service. Each year I find out where the services are being held, but we've never actually gone. I think it would be awesome to attend services as a family and then come home and finish the night with gifts and food. Maybe one year we will accomplish that. 

I also want to experience a sleigh ride. I think that would be so fun and our inner-children would definitely come out on a journey like that. Don't you think? 

Even more than all the things I want to do, I want to remember my Savior was born so I could have eternal life. How amazing is that? I don't want this season to go down with me just doing and doing and doing, but to also find me sitting quietly and experiencing and reflecting on and worshiping him. 

I wish you a Christmas season that is meaningful and full of worship to the King, with an added dose of  fun and fellowship in the mix. 

Lue