The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living. ~ Cicero About fifteen years ago, I became interested in what the cause of my great-grandmother's death was. (This was my maternal grandmother's mother). I knew only a very few details — that she had died when my grandmother was not yet twenty, and that my […]
Keeping the Family Stories Alive Read More »
Me at seven years old (For the story behind the photo, please visit my website.) After I finished Kindergarten, I had to get used to the longer days at school in first grade. Then I had the meanest teacher in second grade of all times. She was like Mrs. Trunchbull in the children’s book Matilda by Roald Dahl. On the
When I was five years old, my parents decided to send me to kindergarten in public school. At the time, there were no Amish schools near where we lived, so that was not an option for my older brother, sister, and me. I am surprised that my parents decided to send me to kindergarten, however. It was not mandatory at
My First Day of School Read More »
The other day I was out picking raspberries and blueberries at a local berry farm. I was reminded of another day, back when I was baking professionally in Vermont, when I had an unusual experience. "Olin Clara" was someone who made a big difference in my life as a young Amish girl. Years later, I wrote this tribute to her
I am discovering there are quite a few blogs and websites about Amish. I will list the ones I know about. The Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies has an Amish Studies website with a newly updated statistics page. The surprise in it is that Lancaster, Pennsylvania has surpassed Holmes County, Ohio in Amish population. Author of Success Made
Blogs and Websites about Amish Read More »
Elin asked: "What do you think about outsiders who wants to join the Amish? Do you think that they are 'crazy' or can you understand their reasoning?" Thank you for asking this question, Elin. I know that everyone has a spiritual path — mine happened to take me out of the Amish, but someone else's might take them into the Amish.
Joining the Amish, Revisited Read More »
