It has been ever so long since I’ve written a blog post that I hardly know where to start. I thought it’d been about a month, but it’s even longer than that! So I will attempt to catch up today and then make a concerted effort to stay up with it.
About a month ago, my niece, Kate, came to visit. She is such a dear heart and we so enjoyed her visit. She is a nanny for a family in the DC area, so she is less than two hours away. BUT, she is heading off to live in Dallas, Texas. She has lived there before and loved it, so she is off on an adventure. I really admire her courage for being able to follow her heart’s path and trust she will find a job and a place to live soon after arriving in Texas. She’ll be living with a friend as she re-enters her Dallas world.
Here is a photo of Kate and me during her visit. Sorry about how much I’m squinting in the bright sunlight.
Kate Mast and me
David and I are still house-hunting. It’s a tight market here in Harrisonburg. In the last month, we’ve made more than full-price offers on two homes on the first day that they came on the market. Both times someone outbid us. The first home received seven offers, and the second one received five. So David and I are really starting to scratch our heads, wondering what it takes to buy a house in this market. I’ve never seen such a tight market before. We’ve decided to stay with it until we find something. Our real estate agent claims he’s seen this many times before, and he assures us we will find a home that is right for us. More are coming on the market, so we are trying to go with the flow.
David and I’ve been sick this past week. The flu that’s been going around here is one anyone wants to avoid. I don’t often get as sick as I did this past week, and neither does David. To top it off, I got a debilitating migraine Thursday afternoon. I don’t often get those, but I did that day. Every other flu symptom you can imagine… I got it. So this is another reminder for me to always be grateful for my good health, and never take it for granted. And if any of you out there have a chance at avoiding this flu, do take whatever precautions you can. It will be worth it.
We’re getting ready to go to the Southwest for a ten-day vacation that ends at the Tucson Festival of Books, and I will also be participating in a Masters Workshop at the University of Arizona for two days. We plan to fly to Denver, then drive to the places we plan to visit: Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Petrified Forest, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, and Tucson. For those of you who have visited those areas, if you have tips, we’d love to hear them.
David and I needed to get out of the house today, so after church, we drove to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. We’d been there before, but it’s the kind of place you can easily visit often. We walked about the town and then came back. I had my camera ready to go, but we left it behind be accident. So I can’t share any photos.
I came across a story about a young woman who left her Amish community and is thriving in her chosen world. I love stories like these, so I thought I’d share the link with you. Her name is Susan Miller and she is going to nursing school in Rochester, Minnesota.
So this my catch-up blog post. As always, thank you for reading.
Be extra careful this flu season. I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia for several days…slow recovery. Take best of care.
Thank you, Gayle. I’m so sorry you got so sick. Pneumonia… wow… that sounds awful. I hope you’re feeling better.
Thank you. I hope you are on the mend. :)
It is good to hear from you again.
And it’s good to hear from you, Katie.
Thank you for sharing the article regarding the Amish girl who is going to school to be an R.N. I always enjoy your articles, so, thank you again!
Blessings ~
You’re quite welcome, C.J. I always enjoy hearing from you as well.
Glad to hear from you. Thought you were house hunting. God knows what you are looking for so your house will come.
Have an enjoyable trip!
Greetings out of the snow
Wilma
Hello Wilma, warm greetings to you. I keep asking for trust that everything will happen as it should in terms of the home we eventually buy. In the meantime, it’s definitely anxiety-provoking to not know. ‘Trust’ is the word.
I hope you’ll find the home you’re looking for. It’s a crazy market everywhere, I’m afraid. Have a wonderful trip to the Southwesst!
Thank you, Joan. We look forward to our trip. I didn’t realize the housing market is so tight in other places. Where we left, it wasn’t so much like that. Perhaps our generation is moving south…
I hope you’re enjoying your new home.
Have a wonderful week.
Sorry to read that both of you were sick with the flu, nasty stuff. Paul and I have been passing a horrible cold back and forth since long before Christmas. Thankful though that the flu has, so far, passed us by. Considering the fact that the grandson I babysit is in kindergarten this is truly a miracle!
How beautiful your niece is and how brave. Hope she finds great joy and personal fulfillment there. Speaking of traveling I have been to Santa Fe several times, absolutely beautiful. It was back in the 90’s so I’m sure many things have changed. One thing I can pass on. In the town itself many locals come in and lay blankets on the side walks to sell their goods. Silver and turquoise jewelry, beautiful leather goods, ect. We found that if you go outside of town to one of the local outdoor flea markets you can get some of the same items for much less money. I’m not sure any of this even takes place any more or that they still have the outdoor markets but thought I would pass it along any way. There is a great deal to see there and enjoy if you are interested in American Indian history and culture. Having Choctaw Indian in my DNA on my mother’s side I had a keen interest in it. I truly loved Santa Fe and hope to visit it again some day. Hope you and David are feeling better. Oh, and don’t lose heart, your house is out there waiting for the perfect time to welcome you home.
Pamela, it is always a pleasure to hear from you. I hope the flu keeps passing you by! Thank you for the information about the local outdoor flea markets. We’ll check out whether this is still happening.
Thanks, Pamela, for the confidence that “our” house is out there. Our realtor is confident as well. So we borrow that confidence. It’s been truly discouraging for us.
Have a wonderful week, Pamela.
I love, love, loved your first book (just finished it), not only because of your story but your writing is splendid. Thank you for writing it, now on to book 2!
Cate, thank you for letting me know you’re enjoying my books. There is nothing more gratifying for author than to know readers are enjoying our writing. I hope you enjoy the second book too.
Have a wonderful week!
I hope you’re feeling better again–the flu is miserable, and migraines are awful. I have chronic migraine, so I am very sympathetic to that pain. I’m so glad to see your post! Praying that you and David will get a house that is just right for you.
Saloma,
First of all, what a beautiful niece you have! She looks a lot like you to me. It’s wonderful to get to spend time with family. Secondly, I wish I had caught up on your blog earlier! From what I have added up of the days of your trip, it sounds like you’re already in the middle of it. I have lived in Arizona my entire life and have been to all of the places you mentioned that you and David are going to visit and I would’ve loved to put in my “two cents” about places to go, things to see, places to eat, etc… I could go on and on! ? I look forward to reading all about your trip and hope you gain even a portion of the love that I have for the beautiful southwest.
Best wishes for a wonderful and safe trip,
Donna
Hi Saloma,
I have just recently read both of your books. I was browsing the bookstore one day and came across Bonnet Strings. I bought it and then discovered there was another you had written prior, so I bought it and read it first. I loved both of them. They were both amazing reads. They brought back memories of my childhood; I grew up in upstate NY and there was a large Amish population in the area. I remember thinking how cool it was. In Bonnet Strings you asked who would want to read your story. I, for one, am glad you wrote it, and it looks like a lot of others are as well! I have been enjoying reading your blog since I discovered it. Thanks for sharing your life with us!
Hi Saloma,
I recently read both of your books. I was browsing in a bookstore and came across Bonnet Strings, but when I was going to read it, I saw that there was another before that, so I bought it and read it first. Both of the books were fantastic. You said in Bonnet Strings, who would want to read your story? Me, and a lot of other people! I’m so glad you wrote them!! Reading them also brought back childhood memories; I grew up in upstate NY and there was a large Amish Community near where I lived, and I remember thinking how cool that was. Thanks again for telling your story!