Amish
New Horizons
Today I bring you updates for both The Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund, (ADSF) and for what is happening in my personal life. I will start with ADSF. July 10 was the deadline for students to submit their scholarship applications. We are considering a record number of students this year … 25 in all. It is…
Read MoreReflections of the Plain Roots Conference
Our Plain Roots conference in Middlebury, Indiana went well last week… so well! The stories that speakers had to tell were as heartwarming as they were inspiring. Many of the stories were about overcoming major obstacles on the way to academia, and the deeper the struggle, the greater the triumph. We will be going into…
Read MoreA Mind Set Free: Part 2
Photo: Sharon Beachy’s graduation from SCF A Mind Set Free: Part 2 By Sharon Beachy Upon receiving my GED, I immediately enrolled for my first semester of college at Indian River State College in Vero Beach, FL. Not knowing where to begin, I met with an academic advisor to discuss next steps in my path…
Read MoreChristmas Thoughts
The other day while I was grocery shopping, I encountered a woman in a parking lot outside the store. She was walking with a cane and she asked if I would like for her to take my cart back. She said it would help her. I turned the cart around in the right direction, thanked…
Read MoreThe Writing Life and Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund
It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. Please bear with me. I am in the process of rewriting my second book with a very tight deadline (October 1). It is quite intense and also very exciting. In my major revision, I am adding on chapters to those I’d already written. It is amazing how many…
Read MoreWhat’s the Difference Between the Amish and the Corporate World?
When it comes to accommodating people who have a “different style” (as in direct), not a heck of a whole lot. Here’s my comparison: The Amish make people who ask fundamental questions pariahs in their communities. So does the corporate world. The Amish do not like to show the rest of the world their underbelly,…
Read MoreBook Review of “The Amish”
The Amish by Donald Kraybill, Karen Johnson-Weiner, and Steven Nolt is a comprehensive look at the Amish culture and religion. It is well-researched and well-written and is divided into five sections and twenty-two chapters. Each chapter begins with an extract of the material to follow. I am focusing my review on several sections that stood out…
Read MoreIntroduction to My Second Book, Bonnet Strings: A Memoir
I’m working on revising my manuscript for my second book as I get feedback from readers. I have a new title and introduction. Instead of naming it Wearing Amish, I am naming it Bonnet Strings: A Memoir“All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to…
Read MoreDo Amish People Resent Tourists?
Recently Fran Shultis asked a very good question about vacationing in Amish country. I will answer this to the best of my ability. Here’s her question: Saloma, my family and I are going on an overnight vacation to Amish territory this Spring. In many ways I feel like an intruder because I know the Amish…
Read MoreReview of “Thrill of the Chaste” by Valerie Weaver-Zercher
I recently was given a copy of the book Thrill of the Chasteby Valerie Weaver-Zercher, in exchange for visiting one of Dr. Donald Kraybill’s classes. I had known that Weaver-Zercher was studying Amish romance novels, so I looked forward to this publication, for I want to understand the reason for so much interest in…
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