That morning we had continential breakfast and he really liked all the different juices, apple, orange juice, milk and water and drank more than he ate. But he did eat some apple and a bit of banana, about a fourth of a banana muffin, some honey nut cherrios, a few bites of Mark's waffle and a couple spoonful's of yogurt. A man came in the breakfast area having his sunglasses on the back of his neck and Israel said "auh ohh".. he knew something wasn't right with that. lol. We met up with Marisa and Jake and all got into one vehicle and went and toured a cheese factory where they make cheese and allow samples. that was fun. we also went to an amish store called Sol's and we enjoyed looking at all the neat amish crafts and I found some birds that I thought was wood. i let Israel carry them and bang them around to keep his hands occupied from touching everything else in the store. When he dropped one of the birds and it broke i realized they were not wood. It was a clean break and so i will be able to glue it okay. So glad it didn't shatter. I really did think they were wood the way they are crafted they look just like antiqued wood. anyway, we had a good time there. then we went to the Swartzentruber farm. Jakes mom his brother Joel, sister's Anna and Elizabeth and his mother all stood at the door and we stood on the porch and talked for a very long time. Israel played peek a boo with Elizabeth and she gave him some candy. Israel wouldn't go to any of them, but later he did hug them around their legs and then even later he tried to step on everyone's feet. it was funny and Jake said that Israel and him do that, Israel will step on Jake's feet and Jake will say "ouch" and Israel will laugh. Israel started getting brave and running around the porch, which caused me anxiety becase there was no railing and he didn't sense the danger. We would grab him and pull him back to safety. Finally I had enough of it and I took him down the steps and let him run on the grass and he would go around and around. Mrs. Swartzentruber said "He is going to wear out grandma".. and I said "Yeah". Israel then would lay on the ground for a minute in the grass and then get up and do it again. he was sooo adorable and I know she got a kick out of watching him. We went back up on the porch and talked some more. They showed us Joel's wound from where he was shot in the arm and how she bandaged it with chickweed and lard and a light gauze wrap around it. His arm looked awful and very infected to me. But they said it looked much better than it had and how it had been all blistered but that the chickweed was taking the infection out. She showed us the x-ray's and medical form from the hospital and how they had put in a metal plate and screws and where he had gotten stitches. The x-rays also showed where there was still a lot of b b's in his arm and also she showed up his stomach and you can see a b b still in there. But they won't take the b b's out saying that digging them out would cause more damage than leaving them in. I don't understand that as I would be afraid of lead poisioning, but I pray that that doesn't happen. Joel is like 14 or 15 years old. He has the Amish side curls which Jake told me later that that is part of the Amish belief that the ears have to be covered and cannot show. Jake's mom and sisters had on boot type shoes and long dresses and you could see the straight pins that held the dresses closed. Marisa got to feeling faint like she was going to pass out, I don't know if it was from the long walk or from standing on the porch so long, but Mrs. Swartzentruber brought out a chair for her to sit on. And also brought her a glass of water. Marisa felt better after that. They brought Israel some water too and offered us some, but we didn't need any and so declined. Israel had messed his diaper and so Marisa was going to change him on the porch but Mrs. swartzentruber said that wouldn't be proper changing him on the dirty porch and let Marisa and Israel go inside to change him. I know that was a miracle even in itself, well it all was, how she was so kind to us and how we had such a good visit. It was getting late and Jake was wanting to go out to the barn to try to see his other brother and sister and possibly his dad. So we were saying bye as Elizabeth had to leave to go help her dad and other brother in the barn and a little later Anna had to leave to go gather eggs or take eggs somewhere. Israel went around and shook everybody's hand and gave a hug around the legs again. We walked to the barn and Israel got to see Pigs in mid leg deep smurky wallow water and the stench was unbearable. The pigs had their snouts up to the fence and was looking at us, and then they would turn and go slopping through the water and then back around and come look at us again. it was funny to watch, but horrible to smell. There were cows too which Israel really liked seeing. Jake's sister Mary was out plowing and we went and talked to her. she was using a hand plow and said that her rows were not very straight, but they were much straighter than I could have ever done. Then we headed to the barn where Elizabeth now was helping her brother Jonas load manure on a wagon being pulled by three huge belgim draft horses. Israel LOVED the horses. I wished I could have taken pictures of all of this, but I respected the Amish ways and knew they do not like pictures. all the picutes I took was from a distance and never of their faces. So we didn't get pics of the family or of the animals and of Israel being his cute sweet self. Jake's dad was in the barn but when he saw Jake he jumped on the wagon and took off. he went past us and looked at us but no greeting of any kind was offered. At least he didn't run us off or tell us to get out of there. Jonas was really nice and talked to us. Israel went right to him and Jonas took him and allowed him to pet the horses. Israel nearly crawled under the fence to get to the cows and would have if Jake hadn't stopped him. Another team of horses and wagon were brought into the barn and Elizabeth, Jonas and by this time Mary had joined us in the barn as she had finished with her plowing. They all enjoyed holding Israel and letting him pet the big belgim horses. Jakes' dad never did return. Mark and I took Israel and headed back to the car as jake was finishing up his conversation with his brother and sisters. we saw Joel take off across the field I guess to go to a friends house. when we got up the path by the house Jake's mom and sister Anna were working in a herb garden and they stopped and waved at us. I forgot to mention earlier that everytime Anna spoke to Jake when we were on the porch she always spoke in Dutsch. Jake always answered her in english. I thought that interesting. Jake's mom had asked if Jake was teaching Marisa Dutsch and Jake said a little. Marisa did say something to Elizabeth and Mary in the barn but they didn't know what she meant until Jake said it again and then they understood. It was "how are you?" or something like that. I don't remember what it was or even how to begin to spell it. Jake's dad is 58 years old and I think his mom is probably close to that. I was playing in the yard with Israel when they were discussing that. Jake's dad has been sick lately, but he just keeps going anyway. I know that Mrs. Swartzentruber has really been under a lot of stress and heavy hearted with all the things that she has been through. There is one other daughter - Deliah who is teaching school in New York. i asked how she got there and they said by bus. She probably will be there for a year or so. Mary had taught school for a year and a half but she didn't like it, said it wasn't her job. Jonas isn't married and said he can't get married if he doesn't have a girl to marry. lol.. Elizabeth had a ring on her finger, she is engaged. Jake asked Jonas if he wanted to talk to Eli and his eyes lit up till Jake continued, "on the phone" and Jonas said not on the phone. I told Mark later, maybe we should have thought of the speaker phone, though I don't know if that would have been any different. Jonas looks a lot like Eli, though he has a full beard, kind of reddish brown. He had friendly eyes. He will be the one to inherit the farm since Jake and Eli left. (Marisa told me later that Jonas noticed that Marisa is expecting and said to Jake - "you have a round wife". lol ) Jake had asked his mom about Eli's gun and bow, but his mom said he would have to ask his dad. Of course Jake didn't get the chance to ask his dad as his dad didn't say anything to him in the barn. That part was so sad, but that Amish shunning is something that the men take seriously. I was just glad that the mom and siblings were allowed to visit with Jake. and hope that no reproof was given to them after we had gone. Marisa had given Jake's mom some tracks about the church and what we believe even before she had been invited in to change Israel and when she went in she noticed them laying on the dresser. Mark, Israel and I made it back to the car long before Marisa and Jake came back in view and so I was able to take a couple of pictures of them walking and holding hands. So sweet. What a precious couple. I thank God for His mighty work.
After we left the Swartzentruber farm we went to Tim and Jamie's house where they had prepared a wonderful supper of ham, roast, corn casserole, green bean casserole, seven layer salad, rolls, cookies, oreo balls, peanut butter pie, banana punch, coffee, etc. It was great visiting with them and dad and mom were there also.
After we left the Amish Door we went to Levi's house, where Marisa and Jake had been staying and there was a horse and buggy right there in the parking lot.
Levi had a really cool toy that Jake and Israel really enjoyed looking at.
I will miss my little man, but I think they are coming to stay a couple weeks here in henderson the end of May and then we plan on going to KS around the time of the birth of our second grandchild.
To God be the glory!
Thank God for His love and mercy and for allowing me to have another day.
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