An Update:

“You should write again.” 

So I am told. But sometimes writing seems overwhelming to me. What do I write about? What don’t I write about? Lately, I have been asking ChapGPT to write me poems and I have been discouraged because her poems are so much better than mine. 

I think life updates are boring unless one has some big, life-changing announcement. After all, this blog was never intended to be about me. My life isn't nearly interesting enough for that. It was supposed to be about adventures and stories from those adventures. But according to Pinterest, "life is one great adventure" or whatever, so here is a boring update that you don’t need to feel obligated to read. Maybe if you're having trouble falling asleep at night, you can have somone read you this and let it bore you into sweet sweet slumber.

__________________________

School's Out

School ended on May 16th. My heart swelled with pride as my three 8th graders marched up to receive their diplomas. I almost cried, but I would never tell them that. We had so much fun in class every day, and I miss my 7th and 8th graders already. I think they’re the greatest and will accomplish lots of amazing things. I am very much looking forward to my upper grade class in Mifflinburg next year. I am positive they will be the greatest too.

Yes, Mifflinburg, PENNSYLVANIA. I cannot believe it either. I wanted to go somewhere I had never been before– somewhere I could experience a new culture. My coteacher from Mifflinburg told me one day that she turned in my name to teach upper grades. When Mr. Nolt messaged me one Saturday evening, I knew his offer checked both of those boxes. After some thought and consideration and an enthusiastic message from my mother ("GO FOR IT!!!!"), I accepted. I look forward to a long drive in late August putting some major miles on my car. (Come visit.)

_______________________

And Then There Was the Fire 

One evening on the way to after-church snacks at Uncle Kendall's, Bri called me and said there appeared to be smoke coming from our wash house. My parents live on the “old home place” that once was home to my Great Grandpa Henry’s large family, and, due to it being an “old home place,” there were a number of buildings left over from the old days. A tornado took the big red barn out back, I don’t know what ever became of Uncle Galen’s house, and the last building remaining was the wash house. We all had a ton of fun playing school there in the younger days, but more recently it has been home to cats, both beloved and wild. 

“What am I supposed to do about that?” I asked Bri. I was living at the teacher's house, and my parents were still at church. She said she didn’t have a clue, but she just wanted to let somebody know. 

And so I got in my car and sped over there. Sure enough, before I even arrived, I could see flames leaping out of the windows. Bri had been right for once in her life (I am kidding– she’s very dear to me and usually knows what she’s talking about.)

It was a windy evening, as are many Kansas evenings in late April. I could just imagine the fire jumping to the row of cedars, and the whole yard would be up in flames in minutes. With shaking hands, I dialled 911, and with a shakier voice, I told the dispatcher that there was a fire in one of our outbuildings. Then I called my dad and told him what was happening. 

I sat in my car, too scared to pull into the driveway. I willed my parents to come faster, and maybe if I prayed hard enough the fire trucks would come quicker. But then the neighbor flew past on the way to get his water trailer. My Hero Brother showed up and whisked on his fire gear over his Sunday Best. (They were even his wedding pants.) Friends stopped in on their way home from church, and my Hero Brother and the neighbor’s water trailer nearly had the whole fire out by the time the rest of the fire department arrived. We had a good laugh as the Chief retold how the fire had been dispatched as an “outhouse fire.”

There were plenty of beautiful things about that night: our friends from church stopping in on their way home, the generosity of our neighbor and his water trailer, my Hero Brother’s pals from the fire department and EMS coming with their brand new ladder truck, the humor in the situation once it was all over. The most beautiful thing about that night, however, came the next day: there were dead rabbits in the garden. Why was that beautiful? Because my cat had put them there— the cat that lived in the attic of that old building. I was so horrified by the thought of him burning to death in the flames that I dared not even think about it the night before. I have never been happier about dead rabbits in the garden.

(For those wondering, he has a new home in a newer barn. He’s thriving.)

____________________________

Going Places

I don't plan to take quite as many or as dramatic trips as I did last summer. Still, the summer is filling up. I need to go to Montana to see my sisters and their husbands and my nieces and nephew, but I am not sure where I'll get the money for that. I guess you can start a GoFundMe if you feel like doing some charity work.

One of my coteachers is getting married in Mifflinburg on June 8. Yes, the same Mifflinburg where I will be teaching. I am very excited to scope it all out before I go there for the real deal. Maybe if I am too freaked out, I can tell Mr. Nolt I was just kidding when I accepted his offer. I already met most of their youth at an April youth rally in Ohio, and they seem like an A+ bunch. 

Ah yes, the youth rally in Ohio. By some miracle, our youth group got invited to Scenic Ridge for a youth rally! Shocking. Pick your jaw up off the floor. Mifflinburg, Arthur, Morten’s Gap, and some Murray/Mt. Pleasant kids were there as well. I had a grand time. It was extra amazing because my second and longest mission family, Trevor and Lisa Wedel, live in Kidron. I stayed there and we ate and drank and stayed up late and laughed loudly and talked over each other just like we used to in Bangladesh. 

Back to Mifflinburg and the wedding. The day after, I plan to fly from PA to Florida to lead singing for Bible School. One of my best childhood friends lives in Arcadia, and she’s been trying to get me out there ever since they moved. I figured this was the year. I have never been to Florida, and I’ve always wanted to see for myself if all the stories about alligators and “Florida Man” are true.

More weddings. My other coteacher (yes, I was living with two engaged girls— thank you for the prayers) is getting married in July. That one is here in Western Kansas, so I don’t plan on buying a plane ticket for that.

________________________________

A Job to Fill the Days and Nights

 I pulled my scrubs out of the bottom drawer and am back to working at the nursing home for the summer. I love it. I forgot how much I missed taking care of all the sweet Grandpas and Grandmas. Each time I work, I am reminded of the truth in the saying:

“To care for those who once cared for us is the highest honor.” –Tia Walker

When I am back here, I wonder why I ever left. When I am teaching school, I wonder how I'll ever quit. Sometimes. I feel lucky to have found two things I am equally passionate about; sometimes I think it's a curse. I guess I should just be glad I discovered them both.

___________________________

I hope your summer is filled with cold popsicles and sunny mountain trails. Come see me. Add that to your summer plans. I'll even move my school stuff out of the guest room for you. We can eat Mexican food and take a walk in the park and watch a sunset. Come while you can, because my days in Kansas are numbered for now.

☀️