It is with great happiness that I say that I am part of a very large family, and I'm always welcome at any of my family's homes. This past week I spent seven lovely days at my aunt and uncle's home in King of Prussia. Although unfortunately I wasn't feeling well the one day, and had to lie abed for much of that day, the week was full of new and interesting experiences.
I am so glad for so many things... So many little things that happen and make such of a difference in my life. This past week was one of those weeks... Where I learned so much of life and felt like I grew up several years. In a good way... (I don't plan to let myself grow up in a bad way.) But that week I spent so much time calling out to God. My aunt took me to a lovely park, and we walked for several hours through the beautiful woods. I walked silently for a long time, praying, thanking God, and begging Him for grace... I have learned so much. I have so much to be grateful for!
The little things that overwhelm me... The heartshaped walnut shell half; the perfect acorn cap; the late-night conversations with loved ones; the phone calls in my bedroom, and in the park, and in the rain; the sun shining through the leaves in the cool of the day; a baseball-shaped stone; giant crayfish darting through the creek; cool water rushing around my feet; honest and beautiful words spoken to me; hands to hold; sisters to sit and be silent with; heaping plates of food that are placed before me by loving hands, though I know I will not be able to eat even half of it; the generosity of strangers; the desperate searching the lonely and Godless have; a song at the right moment; air blowing in through an open window; the unique slanted design of table legs; tea; late nights; someone who its so fun to be scared with (Oh Hana, you're so much fun to hold hands with in the dark...); a kiss in the darkest of nights; a sister as a best and closest friend; walks with that very special sister through a creek where we sat together on a stone silently, then wildly tried to catch crayfish; long hugs by close friends; a mother who cares; a pretty hat; swings - oh wonderful swings!; tears in the dead of night; love shown and proven; a God who cares and loves so deeply... more than anyone can ever care and love; Oh, its so, so beautiful. I am in love with life and with God.
In so many simple ways the week was a good one. I went alone to the park down the street once, and waded in the creek. It was beautiful to just sit on a rock and meditate, and I didn't want to leave. The park was one of the must beautiful and yet lonely ones I've ever been to. The swingset had a ghostly look to it. I could easily imagine perhaps several ghost children swinging on the overgrown and rusty swings. And the wooden steps leading up to it were simply lovely. The mosquitoes were not, unfortunately. I have bites on my legs. The walk in the park (Valley Forge Park, that is) with my aunt was special, too. Not only did I get much-wanted time in prayer, but the simple beauty of nature just awed me, as it always does. And seeing General Washington's headquarters was neat too. The kitchen immediately caught my interest, and I began dreaming of my own home. Ah I know... Silly me. Then the log cabins and the old train station too caught my eye... What a day for exploring. Other times, such as the day with my married cousin where we just sat around and talked like I needed to so badly, were just as special and worthwhile. When it rained we danced around outside, hoping to see a rainbow. We did not, but I'm sure there was a big and beautiful raimbow somewhere. Her husband came home and they kissed sweetly. It's so beautiful to see a couple still so much in love with eachother as at the first. Ah, I do believe that her life is very close to the one I have wanted for so long. Just a simple life as a married woman, in love with her husband and doing all sorts of homey things... Decorating the house in such a womanly and pretty way, gardening, cooking, baking, cleaning, canning... Ah God knows my desires and if He so wills He will provide me with something just as beautiful.
My aunt took me to visit her Indian friends, who are Sikhs. They have a gas station, a store, and a restaurant, and so they invited us to come that week to their restaurant for free. They wished for Aunt Rosie to pray for their newly opening store, and they wanted to treat us to a meal at their restaurant at the same location. The food was so good, though hotter than I imagined. I so enjoyed it, and I really enjoyed trying yet another culture's foods. The cilantro they use did not appeal to me, as my siblings and I share a distinct hatred for the stinkbug-tasting herb, but I ate it anyway, quite bravely!
Before I went home on Sunday, Hana and I trekked down to the park and hunted crayfish, swung on the swings, and just sat and talked. It is such a blessing and so special to have wonderful sisters. I'm so pleased and so blessed.
On Monday, then I discovered that my father planned to take my siblings who were home and I camping nearby. Goodness... It was quite an experience. Now there are people I do want to go camping with. But this was slightly trying on my patience. Still, I enjoyed it, for some reason. Perhaps it was the lovely campsite, with wild-looking trails winding around, and green trees, and a brightly burning fire... Perhaps it was the adventure of being responsible as 'mother' for all my siblings, and of roughing it through the thunderstorm and cold and wet, and of trying to see how much I could keep the children happy through slightly damp clothes and bedding and hungriness and restlessness. Or maybe I was just happy, so nothing could get me down. Because I was (and of course still am!) extremely happy. God is good. And I shouldn't (and won't!) let soggy shoes, the children's white, muddy socks, damp pillows, hugry children, rainy days and so much more get me down.
Today, as I finish up this rather short post, I'm sitting on the porch swing in the cool of the evening, at my grandmother's house. We have just finished sitting around the bonfire for several hours watching the old junk burn itself away and polluting the earth. (Ah yes, Uncle Paul, I do believe that burning that plastic and Styrofoam and such was pollution. :P) We ate some elderly marshmallows, toasting them with care. My uncle has just finished mowing the upper yard, and he is now with his sister, my aunt, inspecting the springhouse door that is falling apart. Hana is resting in the hammock, and Grandmama is inside. It's peaceful here. I should be totally content...
This brings to a close my past week and a half. Hopefully there will be more adventures to report on in the near future... Loved ones and family, I hope you enjoy my strange writings as much as I find enjoyment writing them. Take care...
