POST 16/2026 GOSHEN IN . . . Thirteen days on the road. Our journey by car included: the memorial service for Marcia Parker at Plains Mennonite Church, Lansdale, PA. A round of visits in Harrisonburg, VA. Several nights at Breaks Interstate Park (on the border of Virginia and Kentucky). A first-time visit to Maysville, Kentucky, on the Ohio River. Overnight with family near Dayton, OH. Labor Day, arrival home again in Indiana.

Our trusty, seven-year-old hybrid took us on the 1800-mile journey without a hitch (fuel efficiency in the 47- 58-miles-per-gallon range). Our gratitude goes out for safety, heart-felt reconnections, worship, meals together, rest, the beauty of mountains, valleys, fields of corn and beans, parks, historical sites, and, yes, satellite navigation, supplemented with old school maps. Mostly we took the slower roads, though had to share some busy highways thronged with trucks and other traffic.

Life’s blessings flow on

This prayer by Byrhtnoth (10th century) hits home: “O God, I thank thee for all the joy I have had in life.” And still have.

Marlis and Michael, after bountiful provisions for body, mind and spirit at their home in Ohio, sent us home with fresh herbs and veggies. Just what we needed after the “extras” in our diets during the almost two weeks away.

Stay calm

and

walk on

-John