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Abducted Amish Girls Are Home!
I was shocked and horrified by the news about the two Amish girls in upstate New York who were abducted from their roadside stand. All day I've been watching for news about their whereabouts. Many prayers have been answered. The girls have been found and returned to their parents, according to a Syracuse News Report.…
Read MoreScrabble
This is an update on my original post published on August 8. This is to clear up some of my mistakes, and also to answer some questions I've gotten from readers. The updates are in bold. One of the little known facts about me is that I love games. Mostly word games, but I like…
Read MoreAmerican Experience Goes to the Emmys!
The PBS documentary "The Amish: Shunned" that aired on American Experience in February has been nominated for an Emmy Award for "exceptional merit in documentary filmmaking." The American Experience film "JFK" has also been nominated for an Emmy. I was very honored to take part in both "The Amish" and "The Amish: Shunned." I was…
Read MoreA Universal Sign of Hope
Yesterday afternoon was beautiful here in the Pioneer Valley. I had attended a church service in the morning, and then in the afternoon, I wrote. I was writing something hard, about a traumatic childhood event. At times I wanted to look away from the emotional pain it still causes to remember what happened. But I…
Read MoreA Treasure Trove
It is a gorgeous, sunny day. I'm looking down into the village, enjoying the beauty of a small town on a winter's day. Each house has at least one chimney, with white smoke curling out and above the white peaked roofs. It curls out in thick streams, then the stream widens as the smoke thins…
Read MoreWinner and another Giveaway
First, I'd like to mention that you have two more days to sign up for a chance to win a free giveaway copy of Bonnet Strings on Goodreads. I hope that you will sign up and let your friends know. And I also want to thank all of you who signed up for the giveaway…
Read MoreGiveaway and Interview with Emma Gingerich, Author of “Runaway Amish Girl”
Today I have the honor of introducing you to Emma Gingerich, author of Runaway Amish Girl. Emma has had quite a journey since she left her Amish family and community less than ten years ago. She left at the age of eighteen, and immediately started her educational journey by studying for a GED. Then she…
Read MoreMinistering to the Amish?
Sally Schwartz wrote: I grew up in Canton and later taught in Ashland Ohio so seeing Amish and Mennonites was a common experience. I think if I were Amish, all those tourists coming to stare would really tick me off. I haven’t seen the TV programs you mention but see all those Amish romance novels…
Read MorePerceptions of the Amish
From where I’m sitting, it seems to me that the perceptions of the Amish are changing for those who look in from the outside. For years it used to be that people would say “Amish!” with stars in their eyes, and they would think an Amish life is idyllic, pastoral, and “simple.” In short, the…
Read MoreAnnouncing the Winner
I would like to thank all who commented for a chance to win a giveaway copy of Jolina Petersheim's new book, The Midwife. And many thanks to Jolina for the interview and for offering a free copy of the book. So the lucky winner is Linda. Congratulations, Linda! Please send me your mailing address and I will…
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