I’m writing this in the waning hours of the weekend. Friday night we stayed in a rustic log cabin in Holmes County, Ohio. Eight of us shared the place, so it was cozy. Our family has been using these cabins for 30 years. Out on the front porch of the cabin is a log bench. Little Koen is four. He sat down on the bench and dangled his feet while he sipped his cocoa. It reminded me of a picture I have of his mother sitting on that same bench when she was his age. That kinda’ stuff tugs on your heart.
It was a cold moonlit night when we arrived a the cabin. Soon the whole place was warm and glowing with a dancing wood fire. We had a good, old-fashioned “tellin'” in the cabin. Late into the night we laughed and swapped stories and memories. In the morning we had coffee and huge cinnamon twists from the Amish bakery. We puttered around the area, browsed the shops, and drove home Saturday arriving back in time to sleep well and enjoy our Bethel family on the Lord’s Day, rested and happy. It’s nice to be home. I’m sure we tucked-away some good memories this weekend.
Sunday morning when I walked into the Bethel Worship Center I looked over and saw Hope with little Keira. They had picked up ice coffees and they were wearing matching outfits and they were ready for worship. Keira loves her aunt Hope. The Bethel Kids sang a lively number in the service. Keira and Koen had front row seats. We welcomed four more new members. Bethel just keeps growing. April 1 we will have two more full-time staff members working with children, teens, and families. (Amy McDole and Andrew Wadsworth).
My Aunt Ann lives in Ohio. Springtime is coming to the gentle hills there, but my Aunt Ann will not live to see it. Her springtime will be in heaven. It’s always blossom-time there. It makes you think. You only get a few springtimes and then your steps will slow and you won’t have little round faces to kiss, and sweet little voices asking questions, and chubby hands to hold. They will grow up and make children of their own and memories of their own and you will have to work a little harder to keep looking forward and not looking back all the time.
They say it’s going to be sunny in the morning. Springtime is here. I’m looking forward to it.
Bittersweet Farm
March 24, 2019
