VETERAN'S DAY

                                         THANK A VETERAN !!



Are any of you that view New York State of Mind, a Veteran?

BISHOP ELI TELLS

Some people wanted to know a bit about about our lives and families.  So let me start with my family.  My wife Emma and I have nine children.  They are all grown, married and with families of their own.  We all live pretty close together.  They are all farmers and raise cows.  At present, we have 15 grandchildren with at least one more on the way.

I come from a family of 16 children - I am the eldest.  Emma came from a family of 10 children.  We grew up near each other, and went to the same school.  Emma and I courted for quite a while and would probably still be courting if her parents hadn't decided to move.  They would be taking Emma with them.  The night I heard that, we went to the Bishop, set the wedding date and married about a month later.  By the way, her parents did move, but ended up moving back again.  I kid them and say they did that to get me to finally marry Emma.

Like Elmer said, we moved around and ended back in Pennsylvania. Our last move, so far, is in New York State.  We have no plans on moving again, but we never know what the Lord wants us to do. So what's that old saying: you never say never.

Telling about our lives, I assume you mean Bishop family life.  When I became Bishop, as happened when Bishop Joseph became Bishop, some of our older children were not happy.  They had to accept it because it was God's decision not ours, but that did not make them happy.  Young folk seemed to think they were going on display because their father was Bishop.  In a way, I guess they were.  If any of them did anything wrong - not matter how small - people would say, but you are the Bishop's son or you are the Bishop's daughter.  Emma and my reply were they are not perfect.  They are young folk and so make mistakes.  Whatever they did was taken care of at home.  No one adult or child or young folk is perfect.  We all make mistakes - some worse than others.

It doesn't bother them as much now,  as they are all grown up with families of their own.  Still my grandchildren get that there Grandfather is the Bishop - like they didn't know that already.

Being a Bishop, at times, I live a busy life.  In addition to my farm, I have the work of the Lord.  It helps that my sons live near by as they help with chores when necessary.  Also Amish members of our church help when they know I have other things to do and can't handle everything.  Even our English neighbors have come to help milk cows, feed the animals, etc.

In our home, I have an office, that I use for my study.  Also, it is used if someone wants to come to my home to discuss something with me, set up their wedding, funeral or something else.  If women come along, Emma comes in the office with her.

I am sometimes called to a home if someone is ill, a fire, someone is injured, and more.  Also, I go to the hospital at times.

 Really, I am not like the Bishop you read about in the novel books.  I don't think my Amish people are afraid of me as you read people are in novels.

I don't really know what information you want to know about the Bishop.  So please ask.  That is how I know to answer your questions.

Our Amish people help me as much, if not more, than I help them at times.  They help me on my farm.  Most anything I ask someone, they will do for Emma or myself.  When I go on vacation, they care for our farm.  Even Bishop's need vacation for a rest.

God Bless and Keep you,
Eli

JOHN AND SARAH'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY

Today is John and Sarah's first wedding anniversary.  They got a little pre-wedding anniversary gift - they got to bring a little bundle home from the hospital - Baby John.

The doctor called yesterday morning, told them that Baby John was just fine, but would like to meet them at the hospital after their church service.  So John and Sarah had a driver come and pick them up after church.  When they got there, the doctor said she seemed to remember their wedding anniversary was tomorrow and they said yes.  Well, she said, I have a present for you - Baby John weighs just a bit over what she wanted him to - so he can go home.

John and Sarah were thrilled.  Doctor had all the release papers made out, told them all she wanted them do - what to watch out for - what not to watch out for and more.  Sarah packed up all the items she had there for Baby John.

They asked the doctor if she came into the hospital just for them.  Doctor sort of laughed and said no.  She had delivered one of her patients that morning and had another one on the way in.  So after she delivered the first baby, she thought of checking Baby John and remembered their anniversary. Baby John weighed over the limit she feels safe sending him home and what an anniversary gift he would be.

The doctor told Sarah she knew what Sarah went through last year with her father being ill and passing.  Anna had told her when Sarah first went to her so she would know Sarah's fear of hospitals.  Doctor said this time, good things do happen in hospitals, too.  Now take your little boy home with you and have a Happy Anniversary.

Anna, Sarah's Mother and I went over to their house after church and waited to see what the doctor wanted.  Anna said she thought the doctor was sending Baby John home.  If he was fine, why else would she call them down there on a Sunday.  But we all waited just in case.

When the car pulled up, we went out on the porch and we could see John in the front next to the driver and he was beaming.  Anna was right. When the car stopped John was out and opened the back door where Sarah was holding the baby.  John took the baby from Sarah, she got out, and the three of them walked into the house.  I think even Baby John was glad to be home.

Even though Baby John is home, there are rules about people seeing him yet.  Doctor doesn't want a lot of people in their house at the same time.  No one with colds, flu, etc. that Baby John should get.  Make sure he gets all his rest.  She would say to make sure he eats, but he will let you know when he is hungry - although Sarah does have a schedule.  Don't take him to church or where there are a lot of people.  Sarah has to bring him back to the doctor in two weeks or before if necessary.  Doctor said she knows everyone will want to see him and in a few weeks, he will be able to, but let him get use to home and away from any illness.  Even then, the doctor said, you still can't avoid illness sometimes, but Baby John is strong now.  Between Sarah, Anna and the midwife, I think Baby John will be well taken care of.

So the party we were going to have for their anniversary, we are delaying until Baby John can have more people in.  Anna said she really thinks, they would want just the three of them together on that day, anyway.  Their maude had the baby room all ready for the baby.  They had given them Monday evening off before they knew Baby John was coming home - so they told her take it off even though he is home.  They could manage Baby John.

John said he is so glad Baby John is home.  Not only to have Baby John home, but Sarah has finally stopped crying.  She has a smile now, not tears.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer


PLEASE READ PRECEDING POST, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.

MARILYN HAS SOMETHING TO SAY !!!

I have a change this week.  First of all, Veteran's Day is on Wednesday, so I will be putting on something for Veteran's that day.  Jean's recipe will be on Thursday.

Which leads to a question.  Do people still want Jean's recipes on Wednesday?  Do you still want the Christmas recipes on?  We are not getting much of a response for Jean's recipes. I am not talking just about the ones that leave messages, but on the over all pageviews.  The pageviews are very low.  Would you rather have them on every other week?  Will their be responses to the Christmas recipes?

Jean goes through a lot to pick recipes she thinks we will like.  Also, the Christmas Recipes and the Easter Recipes take a long time to make up those lists and get them on.  She doesn't mind doing it, but if no one is interested she could put the time to other use.

Also, I don't know if I will be able to get posts on every day this week.  A friend of mine's Mother passed away so I went to the viewing and funeral.  Last night I found that another of my friends Father passed away. They may need help or just a friend during this hard time.  So I don't know if I will be able to get everything on.  I hope you understand.

My Mother used to say, passings always happen in threes.  I hope she is wrong this time, but she usually wasn't.

Also, I am considering not putting posts on Saturday.  They, too, get a low response.  I would special ones on for special times that happen on Saturday, but the rest of the time, I would leave it vacant.  I think people have things to do on weekends and don't always have the time to read posts.  I would have posts Monday thru Friday.  What do you think???

I guess that's all I have to say today.  If I think of something else, I will add it.  Just want you to know what is going on.

Blessings,
Marilyn

GOD'S CREATURES - CANADIAN GEESE

These geese are playing around in the field next to a pond.  None of them were in the pond, there were all in the field.

1932 DEUCE COUPE

1932 Deuse Coupe pictures were taken at Canal Town Days in Palmyra back in September.  This one needed a post of it's own.

OLD ORDER MENNONITE HORSES

These Old Order Mennonite horse pictures were taken during the barn raising back in July.  Just got around to putting on.