The Amish Cook's Caramel Apple Dumplings

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Editor's Note: special guest writer this week is Gloria's 11-year-old daughter, Julia. Gloria returns next week!

My two weeks in Ohio are flying by too fast. Well, I think it’s because I'm having so much fun! Mom told you a week ago how Hosanna (7), and I (11), traveled to visit family here in Danville.

One unique experience was going to the dentist- the one Dad went to when he was a boy. At home in Illinois, Mom kept thinking about my tooth that needed to be pulled to make space for my new one coming in, and trying to decide what dentist to move forward with. Now, in Ohio my uncles and Aunt Mary told me I could go their all-time favorite dentist and get it pulled as a surprise for mom. I thought it was a good idea, and the next Tuesday, we headed for the dentist with electric scooters. Cousin Janeva, her dad, and Aunt Mary went along too.

Then we headed on a big family trip to West Virginia.

A few days before, Mary and I had gone to Costco and bought all kinds of things for the trip, including stacks of drinks and piles of snacks for everyone to eat along the way. Tuesday morning at 3:00, both buses were loaded and we headed for West Virginia. After four hours of travel, we stopped at New River Gorge, a huge bridge that went over mountains, rivers, and canyons. It was amazing! I never saw something like that before. It is so amazing to think that God made it all.

Next we headed for the Cass Railroad where they gave people rides up the mountain. We all went onto the train they started its old-fashioned steam engine and blew the whistle and rang the bell, and we were off! It was thrilling! On this four-and-a-half-hour train ride, I was just sitting there on a bench in one of the train cars looking out, and for the first time in my life, I saw a bear in the wild! My friend saw it too. I was shocked to see it, especially to think that it was not far away from us.

Next we all headed for the hotel. We took all of our belongings into our rooms then walked to a restaurant nearby. The exercise felt great and we were soon filled with a yummy supper. We were all very tired and crashed into our soft beds and slept well. We were very thankful for a good night’s sleep.

In the morning, we quickly ate breakfast at the hotel and were on our way again by 8:30 and headed for Cooper Rock where we had plenty to see and do. First, we went on a little trail that took us to a lookout point with railings around it. It was beautiful, you could see very far off in the distance; I could even see people down at the bottom, they looked so small, as if I could scoop them up with my hand! Next, we went on another path with all sizes of stones you had to climb over and around. I enjoy climbing so I made it my goal to climb over all the ones I could. There were also larger scenic stones along the way.

It was a good day filled with hiking, and travel. By 8:00 that evening we arrived back in Ohio at Tobias’ house. As soon as we had cleaned out the buses, Tobias and his family, Aunt Mary, Hosanna, and I walked up to Mary’s house where Mom and my brothers

were waiting for us. We were all excited to be together again. That first night we could hardly talk fast enough to get enough stories in about all that had happened the past days.

Best of all was when I gave her a little container to open. When she opened it she was puzzled where this tooth came from, then I showed her my mouth she couldn’t believe her eyes!!! It was very fun to surprise her!!

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