Lessons

Monday was looking quite dreary

...and no amount of coffee and glazed muffins was going to help...

Until I called these lovely people and they loaded up their car with a few earthly possessions, mobility aids, a tank full of gas and a HUGE sense of adventure!

Here's to U. Daniel & A. Thelma!

Best Sweet Potato Fries in town!

Inside "Boyd's" aka the locals

"hang-out and drink too much coffee and shoot the breeze when it's raining"

place to be

Wednesday morning started out gorgeous! And so off we went to the Behalt; Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center with a Mural painted by Heinz Gaugel. It's a story of the history of the Amish and Mennonite churches beginning and ending with Christ. If you ever get a chance to see it, do. It's worth it!

Stucco impression by Heinz Gaugel showing the early settlers from Swiss background

(The humans in front are real, not stucco:)

Zink's Fabric Outlet

ladies: they had some of that really nice "Amish fabric shop" type of fabric for

drumroll please... $2.99 A YARD!!!

U. Daniel telling stories

"...I can remember when I was young..."

perusing

beauty

details

wisdom

role model of a cheerful, giving heart

the LORD is my help and guide

HE is my SHEPHERD, and I SHALL NOT WANT

"green therapy"

it's like a patchwork quilt

So far this week I have learned...

You learn a lot more by just sitting and listening, rather than talking and trying to "guide" the conversation where you think it should go.

It's okay to not be perfect, and it's okay for your family to not be perfect. Rather, sit back and relish in the imperfections and appreciate each other for who they are instead of who you think they should become.

Working with three Doctors can be hair-raising; just don't forget who's in charge...

(they are.. ALWAYS!!).

Working with families can get "sticky" but it's in the "sticky" that you get a glimpse of who they really are every other day.

It's okay to cry with your "patients".

It's okay to take a day off, and let it be known that you are taking a day off.

How to "chill out" (kind of; still not a complete success story for that one).

How to just stand there and breathe.

It's very scary when small babies have open heart surgery.

How to ask myself the same questions that I am asking everyone else in my interviews.

How to mow the lawn diagnonally and not in a "wave"pattern (sorry Ray).

That putting on bandaids by oneself with one hand bleeding and the other trying to operate a two-hand operation is quite hard... this goes to prove that we humans can't survive alone and we are VERY dependent creatures.

How to cook pancakes in a small skillet.

Fresh Blueberries are one of God's FINEST creations:)
We're all together in this, and whether we admit it or not, WE NEED EACH OTHER!

Love does not go unnoticed, neither do prayers.