Hello, this is Lovina’s daughter Verena. It’s Tuesday evening, and I decided to write Mom’s column. The sun is shining nicely, and there’s a nice breeze flowing.

I keep looking back at life at the age of 16. I was so excited to turn 16 and life seemed to go so slow.

Now I am at the age of 24 and life seems to be going too fast. I wonder what I will be saying at the age of 50!

I recently got to experience going on an Amtrak train. I left with friends Samuel and Wilma and their 3-month-old daughter, Kimberly. I enjoyed the train ride — the only part I didn’t enjoy was trying to sleep. It wasn’t too comfy.

We left the morning of July 11. We then arrived in Colorado at Samuel’s brother Freeman and his wife Sarah’s house the evening of July 12. That is where we stayed until July 16.

Samuel’s sister Laura and Laura’s friend Liz rode back with us on the train. Laura and I shared a seat. We sure had an enjoyable time.

On July 17, we had to get off and go on another train. While we were waiting at the train station, we decided to find some food. I saw the escalators and I got a wild idea to try one out with my mobility scooter.

Without thinking of any consequences, I took the scooter up the escalator. It did a good job, so I wanted to try going down. So I did, and it worked perfectly — although it didn’t impress the caretakers of the station. They had to put over the intercom that wheelchairs or any kind of scooters are supposed to take the elevators, not the escalator. It was a fun and funny experience. I do not suggest anyone tries it, though.

Around midnight July 18, we arrived an hour from home — just to discover our driver forgot to pick us up and had been fast asleep. Now we had to find a way to call home and find another driver. We finally were able to do that, and the driver came around 3 a.m. We arrived home around 4 a.m. I did not sleep right away, either, so I definitely lost a lot of sleep, but it was definitely worth it.

Sister Susan’s boyfriend, Ervin, moved up here into a rental house. It’s six miles or so from Susan’s house, which has made life much busier and brought more changes. The changes are good though. I’m very happy for Susan and Ervin. I’m also happy for the children — they sure have adapted well together.

Every morning, Ervin’s work driver picks me up around 3:10 a.m. That means I have to get up by 2:45, at least. Ervin makes sure to have my mobility scooter sitting out there so I can just drive it into the house once I get there.

Ervin’s three children are still fast asleep, so I lay down close by them somewhere. They normally get up around 6 or 7 a.m. I then get them breakfast, then I wash the breakfast dishes and, of course, entertain the children. Around 11:30, we have lunch, and then I put them down for a nap.

After they are napping, I wash the dishes, sweep the floors and mop the floors if needed. Not all that gets done all the time before Ervin gets home.

I then have a driver take me back to Susan’s after Ervin is home. Ervin gets home normally around 1 to 2:30 p.m. I also make sure to have supper prepared for him so he doesn’t have much to do.

Today I loaded all three kiddos up on my scooter and we drove to my parents’ house. Mom made breakfast for us, and the children loved it. We then went over to my sister Loretta’s house to see baby Denzel again. He sure is growing, and is doing well.

Wednesday, July 27, my nephew Ryan will be 3 years old. Ryan is Susan’s son. Ervin offered to have our family there at his rental house for Ryan’s third birthday.

I hope you are all doing well, and God’s many blessings to you all.

Garden Salad

3 medium cucumbers, peeled and sliced †-inch thick

1 medium onion, sliced and separated into rings

3 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges

1/2 cup vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup water

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup oil

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Toss well to mix. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Lovina Eicher is an Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight who lives in southeastern Michigan. Her newest cookbook, “Amish Family Recipes,” is available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at P.O. Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply), or email LovinasAmish Kitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.