Dr. Morgan - Part 18

Well Hello FFFs,
I realized that today was Friday and I wasn't sure what to post. I wanted to get a 4th of July story written and hoped it would be several parts long, but I haven't had any chance to write for a few weeks. So, I had to figure out what I could post. Since I don't have time to go through all my stories to see which is the shortest one, I thought I'd just give you a "Dr. Morgan." I know you are probably all really sad that you get that story again. :P

I could tell you my week was busy, but I think I always tell you that. Let's just mention that we are babysitting my 7-year-old niece, my 6-year-old and 3-year-old nephews since Tuesday morning. Life is different when you have three young ones running around. For some reason you don't seem to be able to get done all the usual things. Doodle Bug (age 3) is always saying something funny. We were reading a train book and he was pretending he and I were driving it. I asked him where we were going and he wasn't sure. I made suggestions of different places and states and when I said "Wisconsin" he shook his head and said, "Nope, we can't go dere." "Why?" I asked. His reply wasn't what I expected. "Cause there's too many people dere. My cousins are all dere." :P Silly boy.

We've played outside in the water, we've swung on the swings, rode bikes, played dress-up, read books, played with legos, made and flew paper airplanes, and sent them all to bed tired.
Today they get to help us clean house. Should be interesting. :)

I am hoping to get back into writing next week. TCR-4 is calling me and I want to work on it! The illustrations for book 3 are coming along well and I can't wait to get it published.

By the way, if any of my readers are going to be at the OCEAN conference in OR, my Triple Creek Ranch books are going to be at the Homeschool Authors booth.

But now that I've been distracted several times by Goofball wanting to talk, I should just get the part posted and get on with the morning. After I figure out which part I need to post.

Part 18

    What good things could she fill it with if she couldn’t remember anything? Suddenly part of a verse from one of the evening hymns floated through her mind.
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
    Then another phrase:
    Thro’ clouds and sunshine, oh abide with me!
    Perhaps that was what Adam was thinking about. “Thro’ clouds and sunshine,” she mused. “I feel like I’m in a cloud or maybe a fog. Abide with me. I wonder what I thought about prayer before—well, before all this happened. Dr. Morgan said he believes in prayer, and his father sounds like he believes it. I suspect Mrs. Morgan and Sara believe in it too. What do I believe? Oh!” she turned restlessly. “Why can’t I remember anything?”
    For some time it seemed that no matter which direction Amy tried to turn her thoughts, she always ended up with the same cry, “Why can’t I remember?” At last she fell asleep, determined to ask Adam about what he meant in the morning.

    A snowstorm was blowing down across the mountains when Amy awoke the following day. She felt tired and wondered at first if she should just remain in bed, but at last, feeling that doing anything besides remaining alone was preferable, she rose.
    It was later than the previous morning and breakfast had been eaten by the rest of the family when Amy at last entered the dining room where Mrs. Morgan was seated. Mrs. Morgan rose with a smile. “Good morning, Amy. You just have a seat and I’ll have breakfast ready for you in no time.”
    “I’m not very hungry,” Amy said, sinking down onto a chair.
    “That’s what you said yesterday, Dear,” Mrs. Morgan laughed. “We’ll just see if you can’t put away another hearty breakfast.”
    With a sigh Amy leaned an elbow on the table and her chin on her hand as she stared out at the swirling, blowing snow.
    “Good morning.” The quiet greeting startled Amy and she turned to see Adam coming from the front room. “It sure is snowing outside.”
    Here was her chance, Amy decided, and she blurted out, “What good things do I fill it with?”
    Adam didn’t have to ask what she was talking about, but simply replied, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Adam quoted the words in his quiet manner and added, “Fill your mind with those things and the rest will take care of itself.”
    Amy didn’t reply, and Adam, picking up what he had come after, returned to the other room. Thoughtfully Amy ate her breakfast, not noticing what she ate or the somewhat troubled glances Mrs. Morgan  sent her way.
    Into the quiet dining room came Sara’s eager voice, “Mom, Dad has the boxes down!”
    Smiling, Mrs. Morgan called back, “Wait a few more minutes, Sara, and let Amy finish her breakfast.” Then, turning to her young guest, she added, “We’re going to decorate today, except for the tree, and Sara is about as impatient at nineteen as she used to be at nine.”
    “Decorate?”
    “For Christmas. You can help too, if you promise you won’t wear yourself out.”
    When Mrs. Morgan and Amy entered the living room ten minutes later, they discovered the rest of the family waiting for them. The bustle and activity which followed was something Amy never forgot. Soon she found herself settled in a chair untangling Christmas tree lights while she watched the others unpack ornaments, bows and garlands. Every little while Sara would sit down before the piano and dash off a few bars of a Christmas carol which set everyone to singing. Even Danny and Jenny were not forgotten, and Jenny happily stood by a chair or a table, hanging on to a string of jingle bells and giggling every time she shook them, while Danny followed Adam and Mr. Morgan around, cheerfully getting in their way and not caring in the least if he was nearly stepped on numerous times. Sitting there watching the excitement, Amy wondered what it would have been like to have grown up in a family as happy and pleasant as this one must have been. Reaching the end of her string of lights, she leaned back in her chair, content to watch and listen.
    Everyone was so busy that day that Amy had no time to sit and wonder about her life, and when she went to bed that night, her mind was so full of the pleasant things of the day that the troublesome thoughts of the previous night were forgotten.
    The following day was much the same and Amy, feeling stronger and a little more sure of herself, asked to be allowed to help with supper. Mrs. Morgan accepted her offer with a smile.
    To Amy that was a new experience. She had no knowledge of how to do anything, but, once Mrs. Morgan showed her how to peel the potatoes, Amy felt as though she must have done the same things before, for her hands moved with the speed and ease of someone quite used to the task. “It’s strange isn’t it,” she remarked thoughtfully. “I couldn’t have told you how to peel a potato but now that I’m doing it, I feel as though I’ve done it many times, only I don’t know where or when.”
    Mrs. Morgan nodded sympathetically, but said not a word.
    When the potatoes were bubbling in the water, Amy gathered plates, glasses, napkins and silverware in preparation for setting the table. Humming a Christmas carol, she carried the items to the table and then stopped short. A sudden feeling of panic and confusion swept over her and she cried out, “I can’t do it!”

What do you think of this part?

Any ideas or suggestions?