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…
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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

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