The forecast here in Zanesville, Ohio, for tonight is snow, the first of the season. Yesterday, it was sunny and 70 degrees; that was ideal for me to take my neighbor on a country ride to see the beautiful fall colors of the trees.
Saturday, it was ideal weather for my daughter Jenny and I to visit my dear Amish friend, Melinda, and her family at Baltic in Holmes county near Millersburg, Ohio, where I lived from 1963 to 1977. We ate lunch and shopped in Baltic and a store 10 miles from Baltic. Malinda gave us cookies and homemade bread, and her daughter gave us a book she wrote, Poetry for the Heart & Soul by Miriam Hershberger. About the Author.... Miriam Hershberger was born premature, weighing 2 lb. 12 oz. at birth. She was in the care of doctors and nurses at Akron Children's Hospital in N.I.C.U. for the first two months of her life. Due to being a preemie and lack of oxygen on the brain at birth, she has the incurable disease of cerebral palsy. Because of this, Miriam had three surgeries on her legs to improve her walking ability. At the present time (2009), Miriam has taught four terms of Special Education at different parochial schools and is looking forward to another term this fall. Miriam is now 23 years old........ On page 8, I will quote (with Miriam's permission) the first paragraph of God Is Only a Prayer Away.
When we have trials in our life, and tears stream down our face, we can always have a glimmer of hope; because of God's never-ending grace.
So when the load seems heavy, you're feeling blue today, bring your cares to the Lord; God is only a prayer away.
I will treasure this book because it is so inspirational and thankful for long-lasting friendships.