Weekend with D

This past weekend D and I went to PA for youth group training. The sessions went well and we both learned a lot. Also, for the first time, we did not have to tend to any crises at home during our trip. We concluded training Saturday night so yesterday, we visited Amish Country and really enjoyed ourselves. It was very interesting to learn how the contemporary Amish and early settlers lived and provided for themselves. It causes me to long for a simpler life.

Today I had hoped to stay home and rest as I am stilling feeling a little run down. However, I have been called out for a service call and have stopped at the coffee shop on the way. It feels like a typical early winter day with temps in the low 30's and a dusting of snow on the ground. I am bundled up in my leather coat and gloves. The sun is shining bright and there is a light breeze stirring the flags in the square. I am amazed that the merchants have already started touting their Christmas offerings. I am not a religious person, but I think Jesus would have gone through Wal-Mart and even Starbucks overturning the "money changer" tables with a vengeance. In previous seasons, D and I used to run up some serious debt back when we used credit cards. However, now that we pay cash for everything we emerge into the new year free of that liability.

B spent the weekend with my sister in-law's family and apparently witnessed non-stop turmoil including shouting and arguing for most of the weekend. His cousin is 16 and his parents seem to have problems setting boundaries and enforcing consequences. They deal with the resulting conflicts through anger and verbal altercations. I think it is good for B to witness this type of interaction as it may help him to appreciate his stable and predictable home life.