Highways and biways...

Saturday morning, my little gray car was all gassed up to head northwest, then east then west again! First stop, Flora, Illinois to visit with my grandpa and great-aunt, both of whom have had their share of health struggles lately. Both are on the mend, thankfully!

Driving along highway 45 always brings back such fun and good memories. There's the little white Methodist church that we stopped at when dad got pulled over for speeding. It was in the dead of summer, we were in a black car (possibly with no air conditioning - my memory fails me) but I remember the windows being rolled down. My dad, ever the considerate one, pulled the car forward enough before stopping so the police officer could park in the shade of the tree rather than us. We teased him about that ticket for years!

And then, perhaps 6-8 years later, my cousin and I were traversing that same highway when I too peaked the interest of an Illinois police officer. He gave me a warning as he saw I was from out of town, and I remember him remarking, "It's easy to speed when you're not from around here." Rookie. Sadly, I totally knew I was in the wrong. We giggled as I drove away - a great start to a summer stay with the family in Illinois!

And so it was Highway 45 (and later Hwys 50 and 41) that led me to another great adventure. I picked up my two Aunts and the three of us hit the road again - destination: Indiana. Purpose: the Noel Christmas train.


I was a gal on a mission. I had called ahead, and the shop owner graciously pulled my little train from amongst the goods for sale and wrote my name on it. I was on my way to claim an item from my childhood : )


And claim it I did! A mere $7.44 has brought back a fun little piece of Amber history. This little piece of Christmas decor, made in Taiwan and in mint condition will become a family heirloom if I have anything to say about it : ) After all, I drove a total of 8 hours in one day to get it! Totally worth it though.

My Aunt Kayla found some items for herself too. And my Aunt Gina added to her Peyton Manning/Colts memorabilia with a P. Manning bobblehead.


I haven't been able to spend time with my aunts in years. The older I get, the more hectic and busy life seems to be. Saturday was a wonderful time of slowing down. Enjoying the company, laughing, good conversations, good food and leaving responsibilities and the day-to-day life behind, just for a few hours. Once we were back at Aunt Kayla's we took some time to pick blueberries.


There is something so nice, relaxing and simple about gathering berries. The "bob-whites" were out and singing in the fields. My great-uncle Joe taught me about "Bob-whites" during one of my week-long stays one summer. They are a kind of bird that when they chirp and sing it sounds like they're saying "Bob white." I hadn't heard one in years. While I was picking the blueberries all the memories of playing basketball and snapping beans and playing in the rain came flooding back to my mind. For a few years, each summer I would go and spend a week at my Great-aunt and uncle's house. Aunt Treva taught me about making her famous blackberry cobbler and doughnuts from canned biscuit dough. We would play skip-bo well into the night and she would graciously let us make up our own rules. Her house was one where our imaginations could run wild, and she was right there with us, imagining right along.

As I was driving home on the gravel road, the moon was full and bright and a deer casually walked along the side of the road before disappearing in the tall corn. It was in that moment I realized how much I miss those times in Illinois. But I realized too what a blessing it is to hold such sweet memories. The Lord is so kind to have blessed me with wonderful family and a rich childhood.

And speaking of childhood....here it is! The NOEL Christmas train. Christmas in June at the homestead!

A friend dared to call it tacky after seeing the picture in my previous post. Haha! Tacky or not, it will forever be a fixture in my household at Christmas time!

For now, it is perched on the shelf in my livingroom. Right alongside "Joy" and "Peace" I now have "Noel." My "tacky" and out-of-season reminder of sweet times from long ago.

And for 'ole times sake....


And for a little bit of cuteness, we found this little guy nestled by the garage at my aunt's house.

I really wanted to catch him and love him and call him my own...but the adult voice in my head said "No." Which oddly enough, that adult voice sounded like my parents all those times I would bring home birds, turtles and geese and stray cats.