Lightning Bugs

As a little girl growing up in Tennessee, one of my favorite things to do on a summer evening was catch lightning bugs. I thought it great fun to watch the little things blink on, take a few steps towards them and wait for them to blink again. If the night wasn’t very dark, I could often squint through the darkness and catch them when they were not lit, but most often I had to wait until they blinked on near me. Then I would catch them in the palm of my hand, carry them to a jar, and drop them in. Katey and I would put our jar of lightning bugs on the dresser near our bed at night and watch them blink on and off until we fell asleep. The next morning, we would let those that had survived the night go…only to catch them again a few night later.

In New England and Texas, lightning bugs are not as plentiful. Perhaps it is too cold or too hot, but there are very few and hardly enough to fill a jar for a night. In Indiana though…

I wish I could take a picture, but my night time photography skills are non-existent (and my camera probably isn’t set up to do what I would like it to anyhow). But I hope you can imagine the vast darkness of the Midwest plains at night. You look out over them and little lights blink on and off as far as the eye can see. Lightning bugs – one of God’s wonderful little creations.

New Hampshire-sickness

This week we had visitors all the way from New Hampshire. They arrived Monday afternoon, driving through the night with only a few stops. The moment I heard Maura’s lively squeal as she walked through the door, I felt a pain of “New Hampshire-sickness”. It was so wonderful to spend time with the Blutts and enjoy a bit of New Hampshire in our home again.

This week has been a New Hampshire week, and so I have felt a bit homesick for the home we left seven months ago. Maura’s laugh and Maegen’s disdainful huffs about boys. Isaiah’s endless chatter and Mr. Blutt’s teasing. Mrs. Blutt’s hugs and stories from those we love. I talked to the Hardys this week and had to go look up an algebra problem to help James with. Allyson and I talked for over an hour, Violet said she missed me, Caleb told me about his pretend house he had built, and even Seth said “Hi!” and “Bye-bye”. I got a card from Ashley and a note from Dakota, two of the kids at church I taught. And today a surprise package arrived in the mail from Melanie, another young friend.

And so I have laughed and I have cried. (The movie Up didn’t help…but what a great movie!) I have remembered and enjoyed. Friends, family, love. Isn’t it all a blessing?

Cooking out at Turkey Run State Park.

On the suspension bridge at the park.

Playing kickball at the park.

A grand finish up 66 stairs!

Eating pizza near the railway station in downtown Lafayette.

On the bridge over the Wabash River.

Sonic Happy Hour!!!

To prove I have worked today:



I finished editing my children’s novel! (Well, for the first time…)

It’s one of those days when I come to write my blog and have no inspiration. I’m not sure why. It isn’t as if I’ve lived a dull life as late. For the past week, my grandfather from Texas has been visiting. He took each of us out to lunch. We all went out for Chinese one night. Another evening we went to a state park where we played tennis and basketball, cooked hotdogs and s’mores, and took a short walk over a suspension bridge. I showed him around the town of Lafayette a little, and we drove around Purdue which is really a beautiful campus. I had a writer’s group meeting on Tuesday night. Life certainly hasn’t been dull, yet there doesn’t seem to be anything interesting to write.

I must say I am glad not to be living out of suitcase any longer. I’ve been living out of one for over a month. In fact, as I put away my pajamas this morning I had to stop and think about which drawer they belong in! (I think I’m getting a bit old…my siblings noticed I have grey hairs. True – and I’ve had them for quite some time.)

The Lord has been very gracious to me this past week. On Tuesday I was out running errands with my dad and my check engine light came on. I thought little critter had gotten into my engine and died there for on Monday when I turned the A/C on, it didn’t smell very good. We were able to take it to a mechanic that night. The next day he called and told me it was the computer. Hyundai even had a notice up about this particular problem, but he couldn’t fix it. So I had to call the local Hyundai dealer and ask him about it. Could they fix it and was the problem covered under my warranty? They could fix it and, no, it wouldn’t cost me a penny. So, I went and picked up the car on Wednesday morning and – wonderful surprise – the mechanic didn’t charge me a thing for his work either! Isn’t God good?

You may notice I have added another little sidebar to my blog. It’s my writing goals for the week. Another incentive to keep me on track. And if you ever want to comment and ask if I got one of those things done, please do. The more people keeping on top of me, the better.

More guests are coming next week: family friends from NH. It will be a lively week, but I intend to lock myself in my room for much of it. For I have query letters to write, publishing research to do, and the never-ending task of editing. And when I need a break, well, there will be plenty of distractions to choose from!

Views of Milwaukee

I told my aunt when we were wandering about Milwaukee snapping pictures that these would be perfect for my blog. Her reply, “You mean I’m going to be on the internet?!?!” Well, just to insure that she is…

The grave of my great-great grandparents Joseph and Mary Sturm. (Their son’s name is here, but he is not buried with them.)

The grave of my great-grandparents Joseph and Ruth Sturm. (It’s a little hard to see the beautiful details of this marker, but my great-grandfather designed and carved all but his own date before he died.)

The graves of my grandmother and aunt Mary Louise, who died when she was six months old.

The first house my grandparents lived in after they were married. My dad and one of his sisters were born here. They lived in the downstairs front left.

The inside of Basilica of St. Josaphat where my grandparents were married.

One of the two infamous Milwaukee custard places we had to try. (It was good, but it doesn’t come close to NH ice cream!)

The family who gathered for the burial service including us, two of my aunts, my grandfather, my grandmother’s oldest living sister (Aunt Julie who is 92 and going strong), both her sons, and two of the sons of her eldest son.

“The gang” overlooking Lake Michigan.

My dad, grandfather and aunts Camille and Patty.