As soon as Katie Miller’s resident rooster started his morning song she opened her eyes anxious to get her morning started.  Her best friend Emma Byler was coming over to help her make a new dress for her first Sunday night singeon. They both had been waiting to be old enough to attend the youth gathering for weeks, and with both of them just turning sixteen, they shared in each other’s excitement.

Not taking the time to put on her kapp she quickly rolled her hair in a bun at the nape of her neck and tied a blue scarf around her head and ran down the stairs taking them two at a time.

“You’re up awful early this morning. Where are you running off to in such a hurry?” Her mamm asked.

“I want to get out to the blueberry bushes and pick a few to make some shortbread bars before Emma gets here. We’re going to work on our dresses this morning, and I want to have everything ready before she gets here. I’m hoping I can pick a quick cup in a few minutes.”

Grabbing a small basket, off the counter, she headed out the door letting the screen slam as she passed through. Standing on the first step of her parent’s porch she lifted her face to the sun and breathed in the fresh summer air.  The smell of jasmine tickled her nose as a light breeze welcomed her outside.

Making her way to the row of berry bushes that lined her mother’s garden she quickly filled her basket with fresh blueberries and headed back into the house to bake a special treat to share with Emma.

“That was quick. I only had time to pull out the recipe card for you. I wanted to get all the ingredients gathered for you before you made it back in the house.” Her mamm said.

“The bushes are full again, and I even took some time to lay the netting over the top of the bushes to keep the birds away until we have time to go pick them clean.  After Emma and I get done with our new dresses today, we’ll pick them for you.”

“That would be wonderful, you datt has been asking for a blueberry pie, and I have not had time to get out there and pick them. How about I whipped up these blueberry bars, and you go get things ready in the sewing room for you and Emma to get to work.”

Katie smiled as she walked over to kiss her mamm on the cheek and tell her thank you for letting her take the morning off from her regular chores so she could spend time with Emma.

Running her hands over the blue fabric, she had chosen for her new dress she couldn’t help but think it was the exact color of the blueberries she had just picked.  Emma had commented that the blue fabric matched her blue eyes and dark hair perfectly.

This was the beginning of a new stage in their lives and attending their very first singeon was the first step in finding a suitable husband and taking their kneeling vow. In the back of her mind, she knew that the only boy she had eyes for was Daniel Miller, and he wasn’t Amish. Closing her eyes and bringing the material up to her face so she could feel the softness of the new fabric she prayed that Gott would help her find a way to forget about Daniel Miller. She knew she was not willing to leave her Amish community, not even for love.