The new Mr. and Mrs.

I thought you might enjoy a little story..

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Lydia, who grew up in the Amish-faith community.  She came from a large family where she enjoyed a happy childhood in Strasburg, Pennsylvania.  Her family enjoyed their lifestyle of farming on Miller Street, and often visited with their "English" neighbors along the Street and throughout the community.  As the years passed and Lydia grew to become a woman and start her own family, she would often happen by a little brick house on Miller Street and watch to see how it changed and matured. She remarked to her friends and her family how much she loved that little brick home, calling it her favorite house in the town. She came to know the elderly owners of this brick home and as with so many of her other "English" neighbors, called them her friends. 

 Many years later the elderly couple of this brick home passed on and the home was occupied by a new family.  It was a younger family who wanted to give the home a new look both inside and out...and so the young family hired an Amish carpenter to add two new bedrooms and a bathroom in order to accomodate its growing children.  The children enjoyed the presence of this Amish carpenter each day as he worked, and were sorry to see him finish his project...but he did a job well done, and was on his way.   For ten years the young family went about its business, enjoying the peace of the little brick home...and the Amish carpenter went on to do what he did best.  Each continued on with the duties of life and their paths ceased to cross anymore. 

Until one day when Lydia, who had since raised all of her own children, happened along Miller Street, along her normal route to her errands.  Upon passing this little brick home she'd come to love, she was stunned speechless to see a sign announcing "FOR SALE" in its front yard.

Without a second thought, Lydia jotted down the phone number on the sign and promptly arrived home to hurridly dial that number...never even stopping to tell her husband what she had seen. Just hours later, bubbling with excitement, Lydia directed her carpenter/husband, who had in recent years left the Amish faith, down the driveway of the little brick home to view what was inside.  It was all she could do to contain her excitement as she entered the doors and immediately fell in love with what was inside.  The young family, which had now grown ten years older, immediately recognized the carpenter-husband as the very same man who had built the upstairs.  Lydia marveled over the sturdiness of the little brick house and excitedly explored her husband's handiwork...all the while remarking more than once during their visit,"I don't think I can sleep tonight!"  She opened every cupboard and closet, explored every nook and cranny, and gave her husband the secret look of approval...

....and the rest...

Is history....

THE END

{picture taken with permission and eager participation of the subjects!}

Meet the new Mr. and Mrs. who will occupy our little brick home when we are gone....

Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Zook!

"It takes wisdom to have a good family,

and it takes understanding to make it strong.

It takes knowledge to fill a home

with rare and beautiful treasures."

Proverbs 24:3 

“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”