Iona House in Autumn (from a child's perspective) by Amy Lee
A guest blog post by Amy Lee (reflecting the experience of Autumn Lee, her daughter)
My brother and I are supposed to be at school, but…
today is a special day!
Mommy and Daddy said we are going on an Autumn adventure! Autumn is my favorite season because we have matching names, and the leaves look like sunsets.
Today we are going to Iona House, which is very far away, but I don’t mind.
We stop to get yummy pastries from a nice lady named, Mary. Di-Di and I both get to pick a tiny pumpkin, too. Di-Di means little brother in Chinese.
The car ride feels long, but I like getting to see the cows and horses on the way.
Daddy plays my favorite songs, too.
When I feel bored, I think about all the fun I will have at Iona House.
I imagine waking up to the sound of Festus, the mini mule, greeting me from across the farm, “HEE HAWW.” I think he means to say “PLEASE COMEEE.”
When I walk out of my room, I am greeted by a tall Oak Tree.
I feel myself growing roots in this quiet forest.
As I make my way to the animals, I can hear the “tweet tweet” of the birdsong. I like it much more than the “beep beep” of the delivery trucks I hear back in the city.
The air is different, too. My nose likes it here.
The trees sway left and right, left and right.
I take deep breaths in and out. In and out.
Time feels slower here, but it also passes faster
As I spend the whole morning feeding the animals,
I am convinced their tummies never get full.
They are at peace with me,
and I am at peace with them.
“Ding, Dong. Ding Dong!” sings the church bell.
It’s time for morning prayer.
I reassure Joanie, the llama, I will be right back.
She nods. She knows.
I listen to the tall people pray, they seem at peace, too.
They thank God, and they ask for His help.
God sounds nice.
Di-Di and I explore the land, finding hidden treasures: pinecones, curvy sticks, and smooth rocks.
After I dig big holes and bury my treasures,
I go check on Zeke, the baby goat. They call him the “runt,” which I learned is another word for being the littlest.
I give Zeke all my leftover apple slices and strawberry tops so he can grow big like me.
He told me I’m his favorite. He’s mine, too.
“Ding, Dong. Ding Dong!” sings the church bell.
It’s time for afternoon prayer.
I reassure Zeke, I’ll be right back.
He nods. He knows.
The tall people pray again.
They thank God for more things and ask for more help.
God must be a good listener.
Lunch time is outside.
I choose a seat where I can see all the animals,
just in case they need me.
After lunch, me and Di-Di play in the sandbox.
Mink, my funny horse friend, watches me from her stable.
I think she wishes she could play with me,
But the sandbox isn’t very big.
We go to the garden after our nap,
There’s lots of yummy snacks to eat.
Peas grow next to flowers,
tomatoes shine like rubies,
and apples dangle just low enough for me to reach.
I learn a lot at Iona House.
I even learned a new word, “strobili”.
It’s the name for a pine tree flower.
It also rhymes with “so silly,”
Which makes sense to me.
After my nap, I visit my friends again.
I think Joanie really missed me.
I tell her I missed her, too.
The animals are slower in the afternoon.
I wonder if they need a nap, too.
Or maybe a snack. (*shovels orchard grass*)
I walk over to Mink and call her name.
She stops chewing and looks at me,
Which makes me think she’s a good listener, too.
Just like God.
Mommy says I can read her a book.
I forgot my books so I make up one instead.
Mink pays close attention.
“Ding, Dong. Ding Dong!” sings the church bell.
It’s time for evening prayer.
I reassure Mink, I’ll be right back.
She nods. She knows.
The tall people pray again.
They thank God again and ask for His help again.
I thank Him too, for my friends, and ask Him to help me see them again soon.
After dinner and a cranberry cookie,
It’s time for choir practice.
The tall people sing together in a small room with pretty lights.
They all sound different,
But they sing the same words.
When no one is looking,
I will sing, too.
Not very loud, but that’s okay.
God’s a good listener.
I am imagining the smell of smores and the glittery stars when suddenly I feel the car slowing down. Daddy says, “One minute away!”
He parks the car and as I unbuckle my seatbelt, I hear, “HEE HAWW.”
I jump out, “Coming, Festus!”