LIFE IN BLUFFTON

These years that we are spending far away from family and friends make me especially thankful for the time we can spend in Bluffton between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Next year we won't be able to, because of school. Here are some things that I have begun to really appreciate about the rhythm of our days here:

Waking in the morning and seeing Grandpa briefly before he walks to work
Mondays, when Grandma works at the bookstore, so we load up the wagon with girls and blankets, and walk to see her
Lunch at my cousin's coffee shop after the bookstore
Wednesdays, when Grandma and Grandpa head to Lima to run their free healthcare clinic
Walking a block to see my sister and her family
Convincing my 14-year-old niece to be my running partner
Frequent visits from cousins who are sensitive and kind
Walking down the street and seeing faces I've known all my life
Driving through the countryside and seeing the land that my ancestors chose to settle
Fostering memories all around me
Not locking my car
Seeing people biking and walking, even when it's cold
Knowing most of the neighbors