Saturday the R.C.I. staff girls went to Shipshawana, Indiana. We had a lot of fun. I love the Amish. Their simple life, love of family and their country homes.

We used to live very near the Amish country of Ohio. Holmes County. It was beautiful there. In the summer time we would make trips there often. I didn’t really fully realize then the beauty of all that I was in. We would often go to the little towns or villages there called Walnut Creek and Charm. The country-side with the farms near and far, rolling green hills, gardens that would take your breath away, always in the front of the house. It was something we as a family will always remember. I was taken back Saturday to the days when we all, as a family would, drive up into Holmes County, Ohio. I miss it.

Going to Shipashawana to visit was fun. I enjoyed so much these trips when I was young and found not much had changed over the last nine years. We went into this restaurant called “Wana Cup” It was cute. We walked in out of the cold and all eyes seemed to turn to us. There were many Amish men women and children there. We ordered our meal and went to find a place to sit down. We found a vacant spot and sat down thankful that we got it in time. Many more eager customers were coming in through the door. I sat down and looked around. To one corner there was a group of women in plain dresses pastel in color their stiff white bonnets in place.

One booth caught my eye. Four girls around 12-13 were sitting at a booth there Mom’s were sitting in the next booth over. They were talking away in Pennsylvania Dutch. I was curious to know the subject of their earnest and excited conversation. Bent over the table they were chattering as if they had learned some very exciting news, something was on their minds or they were just happy to be together having fellowship again. It was kinda’ cute.

Soon our food came as I was eating my chicken sandwich Heidi leaned over to me nudging me with her elbow she said “Holly, look” I looked to where she was nodding her head. I little Amish boy was in the booth next to Heidi sipping his coke through a straw. He was about 7-8 I would say. He was smiling at Heidi with the biggest smile I’d seen in a while, especially on a little guy of his age. I told Hiedi his Dad was probably wondering why his son was looking over his shoulder and smiling at some “strange English girls”. He got a talking to on the buggy ride home, I am sure J. To my right I noticed two couples. They were talking with each other.

I said to Heidi “Courting Couples”.

She whispered back “One is married”

I whispered “How do you know?”

“He’s growing a beard” was her answer.

I laughed as I noticed the little beard just starting to grow on his chin.

We walked into a grocery/fabrics & crafts store. I looked up and noticed I beautiful, hand-sewn Amish quilt hanging up on the wall. The stitches were so intricate I would not have believed it was hand sewn had it not been for the tag that read “Hand sewn by Esther”. Talent, hard work, time and as a result a wholesome beauty was displayed on the country blue quilt. It reminded me of the quilt I started that still needs a few stitches and a little more time to be completed, I want to finish it soon.

Later we girls found some neat hickory rockers lined up in a row outside the door of the store and sat down. I was ready for a little rest. Then I noticed that Heidi, Hannah, Mom and Frances were all laughing at me. I looked up wondering what was the problem. Then I realized that beside me was a sweet-looking older Amish man with a full white beard rocking beside me a big smile on his face. He was probably waiting for his wife to finish shopping. Mom was saying she wished she had her camera. She thought that it was rather amusing, I guess, Me and him rocking side-by-side.

We had a great day in the Amish Country of Indiana. As we drove out of town the sun came out from behind the clouds. We passed the simple homes that stood back from the road a ways, a one room school-house, a cute bed-n-breakfast, and bakeries.

We were happy girls bouncing down the country road for home. Just the simple things in life can make you happy. Simply visiting the Amish can be a reminder of the true joy in simple things like hand sewing a beautiful quilt, a meaningful chat with a friend, returning the smile of a cute little boy, or rocking in a hickory rocker…
—————————————————————

Books I would recommend to read on the Amish life though these are fiction they really made me see that contentment we need is really found in the simplicity of life.

-Mariam’s Journals
By Carrie Bender

-Dora’s Diaries
By Carrie Bender

-The Shunning
By Beverly Lewis

No comments yet

I think that spring is trying to come again! The other day turned out to be a wonderful sunshiny day. Hiedi, Hannah and I were sitting out on the 3rd floor deck getting some sun rays on our faces. Mom then came up and asked if we wanted to take a walk to McDonalds. So she took all the kids out for a little walk down the block to get a yogurt. The sun was shining so brightly it hurt my eyes as I walked out of the Inn. I looked around me. Here I was, standing in downtown Flint. It was not beautiful, but the sun was shining. And I was happy to be out in the sun again.

I have always been one who loves, enjoys, and even needs the sun. When I was around thirteen years old I would lay in the sun for three hours straight. I got so brown. I loved it. I don’t do that as often now. I have gotten a little older and little wiser and started reading health magazines. The sun makes me happy. Sunny days are usually when I am at my happiest.

Spring is really not a beautiful season at first. The ground is usually muddy; sometimes it’s rainy and windy. But I like the spring it is a season that puts happiness and lightness in the heart. I was born in the spring.

I remember one springtime especially when I was fifteen. I didn’t know then the happiness that I would experience. The extreme love I would have for the little, tiny girl that would enter my life in the spring of 1999. A baby girl was born April 20th. The sweetest gift ever given to anyone, Hope. She put sunshine in my soul, I can tell you that. I was there in the birthing room. It was hard seeing mom go through the labour and pain. She was tired. Her eyes were tired. I looked at Dad. I could see worry in his eyes as well. I wanted to help though I couldn’t do anything for her but cry out to God silently in my soul. It was a hard birth for Mom. One of the hardest she said.

Finally she came. Hope came to that dark hospital room that early morning at 5:27. I looked at her still in the doctor’s arms. My first thought was “She looks like me!”

As the doctor gently laid Hope into mom’s tired arms Hope looked straight up into Mom’s eyes. Mother and Daughter meet for the first time. Hope was not used to the bright lights that were shining in her eyes. Blinking her little brown eyes again and again she never looked away from her mothers eyes. Then Mom said in a tired-happy voice “Oh Sweetie!”

I could tell hope and happiness was in Mom’s heart. I looked at Dad he stood on the other side of the bed I could see through the tears of joy hope, happiness, contentment and extreme love was there. He was happy and proud. Also thankful. Heidi, and Hannah were there too beside me. The worry and fear gone from their eyes. In an instant love, happiness, joy replaced it. Smiles again on their faces. My heart was light. I could just imagine God was looking down from heaven joy filling His heart as His gift of hope had filled the room early that morning.

When it was my turn to hold her I remember looking into her little brown eyes as I held her close and saying to myself “How could I ever love anyone more than I love this little girl in my arms?” I thanked God for her.

Mom amd Dad had chosen the name Hope America. America was our great, great Grandmathers name. We thought of how appropriate that name was for that very day. A day that a lot of hurting people would need hope in their lives. I believe with God nothing is by chance. I don’t believe in chance. I believe and know God sent Hope America to this world on that very day because He knew we needed her. America needs hope she can only find in Him.

Later that day as we were in our cozy, happy home with our precious Hope we heard the horrble news from Columbine. The killings had happened that very day. While we had a happy day full of celabration and joy hearing this news brought a sober note to each of our hearts. We thought of the families who had lost their young children that day. They needed hope. Some of them had none. The young men who had comitted this crime represented the need for hope in a loving Saviour.

As the birds sing in the blue sky, green grass begins to grow, crocuses push their way through the hard ground, tulips start to bloom and as you feel the warm breeze and the gentle sunshine on your face it’s all a reminder from God. We have the opportunity to spread the sunshine of salvation and to display the beauty of a life filled up with true hope.

1 Peter 3:15
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
And be ready always to give an answer of the hope
That is in you with meekness and fear.”

By Holly Allene Pierpont

No comments yet