Suzanne Woods Fisher's Blog, page 141
March 30, 2011
It's Already Wednesday?
What is your best caption for this wonderful Bill Coleman photograph?I've been running a regular Wednesday photo caption contest on Facebook and I don't want to leave any of my blog readers out of the fun! If you have a wise and witty caption to suggest, leave a comment and I'll include you in the contest. Winner gets a book of your choice! We pick the best caption on Friday night.If you want to see other captions, pop over to my Facebook author page.
Photo Source: Bill Coleman photographs
Thursday on Amish Wisdom: Laura Hilton
Tune in on Thursday at 4:00 pm Central! To listen in - go here and just click on the player in the top right corner.
Don't miss our guest this week, Laura Hilton. Laura's first book in her Amish of Seymour series, Patchwork Dreams , is releasing next month. Besides being a multi-published author, Laura is also a professional reviewer. She's has over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites. Wow - 1,000+! Be sure to tune in on Thursday at 4:00 pm CST to find out more about Laura.
About A Harvest of Hearts: Ever since returning from her rumspringa pregnant and unwed, Becky Troyer has been a pariah in her Amish community in Missouri. Even after the young mother confesses her sin and rejoins the church, her peers continue to shun her, and she despairs the unlikelihood of marrying for love. It seems that her only hope is to eventually marry a widower with a family of his own.Becky's world changes when Jacob Miller arrives at her family's farm with the understanding that he will help with chores during the summer and then return to Pennsylvania. What Jacob does not know is that his father, who disapproves of Jacob's sweetheart, Susie, sent him away as part of a plan to introduce new blood into the Amish community of Seymour. In addition to his work around the farm, Jacob undertakes the task of cheering up the lovely yet listless Becky, inviting her to various youth gatherings and offering her the only unconditional friendship she's known.
As their friendship grows, the two find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. Will Becky and Jacob overcome their insecurities and self-doubts so that their love can grow, or will Jacob keep his pledge to Susie and turn his back on Becky, as so many others have done?
For chance to win a copy of Laura's book, leave a comment {HERE} (with email address) and we'll choose a winner at random next week to receive Patchwork Dreams .
More about Laura: Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor's wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools her children. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.
Her publishing credits include Hot Chocolate and Shadows of the Past from Treble Heart Books; a devotional in a compilation from Zondervan; and the first book "Patchwork Dreams" in her Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House will be released in April 2011, the second book, "A Harvest of Hearts" in September 2011, and the third in April 2012. Laura has her business degree from Ozarka and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.
For more about Laura and her other books please visit her website.
March 29, 2011
Stillness
This beautiful poem, Stillness, was sent to me by a reader. He gave me permission to share it with you.
Suzanne:
I completed Amish Peace last night (I started it over and read it through with my wife).
Several times I was reminded of this poem I wrote a number of years ago, and thought I'd share it with you...
It was particularly brought to mind when reading about David Kline and his walk with God.
I hope you enjoy it.
Chuck Lennon
STILLNESS
In the depth of the woods where stillness abides
Where peaceful hearts wander and quiet resides
The anxious will gain
A calm that sustains
In the depth of the woods where stillness abides
On the breadth of the plains where stillness expands
Where peaceful hearts journey 'cross wide open lands
The fretful will find
Great solace of mind
On the breadth of the plains where stillness expands
On the height of the mountains where stillness endures
Where peaceful hearts search for a hope that assures
The fearful will know
Peace not found below
On the height of the mountains where stillness endures
In the presence of God where stillness dwells best
Where peaceful hearts come to the end of their quest
The hopeless will see
The Lamb who sets free
In the presence of God where stillness dwells best
Suzanne:
I completed Amish Peace last night (I started it over and read it through with my wife).
Several times I was reminded of this poem I wrote a number of years ago, and thought I'd share it with you...
It was particularly brought to mind when reading about David Kline and his walk with God.
I hope you enjoy it.
Chuck Lennon
STILLNESS
In the depth of the woods where stillness abides
Where peaceful hearts wander and quiet resides
The anxious will gain
A calm that sustains
In the depth of the woods where stillness abides
On the breadth of the plains where stillness expands
Where peaceful hearts journey 'cross wide open lands
The fretful will find
Great solace of mind
On the breadth of the plains where stillness expands
On the height of the mountains where stillness endures
Where peaceful hearts search for a hope that assures
The fearful will know
Peace not found below
On the height of the mountains where stillness endures
In the presence of God where stillness dwells best
Where peaceful hearts come to the end of their quest
The hopeless will see
The Lamb who sets free
In the presence of God where stillness dwells best
March 28, 2011
Don't Tweet from the Church! and other royal rules...
This was an article in our Sunday paper that seemed very relevant...to those of us who are waiting for an invitation to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. So glad to know some of these royals rules so I don't do anything embarrassing!
Assuming, of course, my invitation will be arriving soon.
On the other hand...after reading all of these rules, I think I'd be a nervous wreck up to, during, and after the event, convinced I will make a fatal faux pas.
Don't Tweet from the Church!
Don't give the queen a friendly hug and don't tweet from the church.
That's just the start of the advice being offered to those attending Britain's April 29 royal wedding.
St. James' Palace says the guest list is an eclectic mix of European royalty, military personnel, charity workers, diplomats and friends of Prince William and fiancee Kate Middleton. Some invitees will have been born into families that teach children to curtsy as soon as they can walk, but others may need a bit of help navigating the etiquette and protocol that such an important day demands.
Anyone who is invited to the royal wedding will be given detailed instructions on how and when to arrive at Westminster Abbey, where the wedding is being held.
The first rule: Don't be late.
"The queen should be the very last person to arrive at the church before the bride and her attendants," said wedding planner and etiquette adviser Sarah Hayward. "At most weddings, guests are asked to arrive around 20 minutes before the ceremony but the royal wedding will obviously have several important guests and very high levels of security, so give yourself plenty of time to get there."
Next, choose an outfit that blends in.
Women should wear a dress -- not too short, not too skimpy and certainly not white. Most British women will complete the look with a hat or a fascinator -- a small feathered or jeweled hairpiece attached to a clip or a comb.
"Never ever do anything to draw too much attention to yourself," says Hayward. "It's the day the bride shines."
Men in the armed forces should wear a military uniform. Male civilians are asked to wear either lounge suits -- business suits by another name -- or a morning suit, formal attire that includes a long jacket and a vest. A top hat should be carried, not worn, inside the church.
Couples should remember they will be seen together.
"Often you see a husband and wife who look like they are going to two different events," says William Hanson, an expert on protocol who gives lessons around the world on proper behavior. "One person will be in something that looks like pajamas and the other is in black tie. You don't need to be color coordinated but do think about how your outfits look together."
Guests may be asked by security to leave their cell phones outside the Abbey, but if they aren't, they need to make sure a ringing phone is not heard by millions during a service broadcast live around the world.
"The ultimate faux pas would be to have your mobile phone go off in the Abbey, even if you had 'God Save the Queen' as your ringtone," Hayward said.
Tweeting or updating your Facebook status during the day is also bad manners.
"It's a private occasion, and it would certainly be an abuse of the invitation to take photos or tweet during the ceremony or any point in the day," said Hanson.
After the morning ceremony at the Abbey, some 600 guests are invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace, where the food and drinks are sure to be amazing. Hanson advises guests to accept the offerings politely -- but don't gobble, don't gulp -- and for goodness sakes don't get drunk.
"Sip your drink, don't gulp it, and always be aware how much alcohol you can tolerate," said Hanson.
"Don't embarrass yourself (otherwise) for you can guarantee you will never be invited to this kind of wedding again."
Guests should also watch their body language. Michelle Obama put a friendly hand on Queen Elizabeth II's back during a visit in 2009. The queen didn't seem to mind -- she even put her own arm around Mrs. Obama's waist -- but guests at the royal wedding should be more distant.
"Never touch the queen. Never initiate conversation with her or any member of the royal family. They will do all that," said Hayward.
British citizens or members of the Commonwealth countries would traditionally curtsy or bow to the queen and her family. The royal family no longer insists that people do so, but most people still do bow or curtsy when meeting the queen.
"Nothing too theatrical," said Hanson. "Men should just bow from the neck -- a nod really -- and women should do a slight dip with their right foot behind their left foot."
source: Contra Costa Times, March 27, 2011
Assuming, of course, my invitation will be arriving soon.
On the other hand...after reading all of these rules, I think I'd be a nervous wreck up to, during, and after the event, convinced I will make a fatal faux pas.
Don't Tweet from the Church!
Don't give the queen a friendly hug and don't tweet from the church.
That's just the start of the advice being offered to those attending Britain's April 29 royal wedding.
St. James' Palace says the guest list is an eclectic mix of European royalty, military personnel, charity workers, diplomats and friends of Prince William and fiancee Kate Middleton. Some invitees will have been born into families that teach children to curtsy as soon as they can walk, but others may need a bit of help navigating the etiquette and protocol that such an important day demands.
Anyone who is invited to the royal wedding will be given detailed instructions on how and when to arrive at Westminster Abbey, where the wedding is being held.
The first rule: Don't be late.
"The queen should be the very last person to arrive at the church before the bride and her attendants," said wedding planner and etiquette adviser Sarah Hayward. "At most weddings, guests are asked to arrive around 20 minutes before the ceremony but the royal wedding will obviously have several important guests and very high levels of security, so give yourself plenty of time to get there."
Next, choose an outfit that blends in.
Women should wear a dress -- not too short, not too skimpy and certainly not white. Most British women will complete the look with a hat or a fascinator -- a small feathered or jeweled hairpiece attached to a clip or a comb.
"Never ever do anything to draw too much attention to yourself," says Hayward. "It's the day the bride shines."
Men in the armed forces should wear a military uniform. Male civilians are asked to wear either lounge suits -- business suits by another name -- or a morning suit, formal attire that includes a long jacket and a vest. A top hat should be carried, not worn, inside the church.
Couples should remember they will be seen together.
"Often you see a husband and wife who look like they are going to two different events," says William Hanson, an expert on protocol who gives lessons around the world on proper behavior. "One person will be in something that looks like pajamas and the other is in black tie. You don't need to be color coordinated but do think about how your outfits look together."
Guests may be asked by security to leave their cell phones outside the Abbey, but if they aren't, they need to make sure a ringing phone is not heard by millions during a service broadcast live around the world.
"The ultimate faux pas would be to have your mobile phone go off in the Abbey, even if you had 'God Save the Queen' as your ringtone," Hayward said.
Tweeting or updating your Facebook status during the day is also bad manners.
"It's a private occasion, and it would certainly be an abuse of the invitation to take photos or tweet during the ceremony or any point in the day," said Hanson.
After the morning ceremony at the Abbey, some 600 guests are invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace, where the food and drinks are sure to be amazing. Hanson advises guests to accept the offerings politely -- but don't gobble, don't gulp -- and for goodness sakes don't get drunk.
"Sip your drink, don't gulp it, and always be aware how much alcohol you can tolerate," said Hanson.
"Don't embarrass yourself (otherwise) for you can guarantee you will never be invited to this kind of wedding again."
Guests should also watch their body language. Michelle Obama put a friendly hand on Queen Elizabeth II's back during a visit in 2009. The queen didn't seem to mind -- she even put her own arm around Mrs. Obama's waist -- but guests at the royal wedding should be more distant.
"Never touch the queen. Never initiate conversation with her or any member of the royal family. They will do all that," said Hayward.
British citizens or members of the Commonwealth countries would traditionally curtsy or bow to the queen and her family. The royal family no longer insists that people do so, but most people still do bow or curtsy when meeting the queen.
"Nothing too theatrical," said Hanson. "Men should just bow from the neck -- a nod really -- and women should do a slight dip with their right foot behind their left foot."
source: Contra Costa Times, March 27, 2011
March 27, 2011
An Afternoon at the Circus
Yesterday afternoon, I had the great fun of seeing Cirque de Soleil "Quidam." So weird and wonderful and amazing! This is an overview of Quidam...
I have to admit...I didn't get a lot of that symbolism while watching the show. But the gymnastic/acrobatic skill of these young athletes was incredible! Their bodies are so beautiful--strong and muscular. As I was watching the show, I couldn't help but wonder how they ended up doing what they do. For example, the guy with the wheel...
I mean...how does a person take up the wheel sport? Wouldn't he get teased a lot?
Check out these girls' hand-eye coordination...
Ah-MAZ-ing!
I have to admit...I didn't get a lot of that symbolism while watching the show. But the gymnastic/acrobatic skill of these young athletes was incredible! Their bodies are so beautiful--strong and muscular. As I was watching the show, I couldn't help but wonder how they ended up doing what they do. For example, the guy with the wheel...
I mean...how does a person take up the wheel sport? Wouldn't he get teased a lot?
Check out these girls' hand-eye coordination...
Ah-MAZ-ing!
March 25, 2011
Author Spotlight: P.L. Gaus
Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We'll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.The winner from last week's Author Spotlight with Judy Christie is Shannon! Please email my assistant Amy with your mailing address. (amy@litfusegroup.com)
This week is Paul Gaus is in the Spotlight! To win a copy of Paul's latest book, Harmless as Doves, leave a comment on this post!
Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?I am married, with two grown daughters, Laura and Amy. I live in Wooster, Ohio, with my wife Madonna. For thirty-one years, I taught college chemistry, but now in retirement, I am a full-time writer. My six Amish-Country Mysteries have now been republished in paperback editions by Plume, a division of Penguin Group USA. The novels were first published by Ohio University Press, which will publish the seventh story in the series this summer as a new hardcover edition.
And share something about your writing. What's your genre(s), your areas of interest…
I write mystery novels about Amish and Mennonite people. The stories are set in Holmes County, Ohio, where the largest Amish settlement in the world is located. Each of my novels is an allegory for an important spiritual principal that guides Amish lifestyle and culture, and although they are murder mysteries, they are authentically Amish, with a recurring cast of English characters who work on solving the mysteries.
How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?
At the age of fifty, I found that I had things that I wanted to say about life, and I found that writing fiction was the ideal outlet for me. I had published numerous articles in professional research journals, and I am the co-author of a best-selling textbook on inorganic chemistry. But, it is fiction that proved most interesting to me, and I began to write mysteries about Amish society. Now there are six Amish-Country Mysteries in print, and a seventh will be published this summer.
After you started writing seriously--how long was it before you were published?
This took three years. Once the series was established, I wrote at a pace of six books total in ten years.
Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your "brain cylinders" firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?
I have usually thought about a new story, or a new chapter in a story, for several days (or even weeks) before I try to write it. I find that it is not productive for me to try to write at the same time every day. Instead, when I have thought about it long enough, I find that the writing happens very quickly. Then of course, I revise constantly. However, one of the things that I try to remind myself is that although I can never revise enough, I can revise too much.
What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers' conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?
My wife Madonna has been my greatest help. She reads everything, and I trust her instincts about the stories. Otherwise, family and friends are not particularly useful, because they always tell me that my writing is wonderful, very good, that sort of thing. I have not joined any writing groups, because I have always enjoyed a very singular and personal understanding of what I am trying to write, and mostly I find that I am not particularly adept at critiqing the work of other writers.
Is the "writer's life" what you thought it would be?
I had published enough as a chemist to know what the publishing world is like. But now, as a full time author of fiction, I find the life to be wonderful. It is the best of everything I dreamed it could be.
What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst?
Clearly the best event was when my stories were republished over the last six months by Plume, as trade paperbacks. This has brought national attention to my work, and Madonna and I have traveled all over the country to promote the series for Plume.
The worst moment was when I realized that the seventh story in the series would have to be entirely rewritten. I had a good story, but I made a mistake in trying to write with a different style. My editor convinced me to start again, and he was right.
Now Harmless as Doves is what it always should have been, and it will come out in a hardcover edition this summer.
What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?
Mostly, I find that I don't like waiting for the royalties. Best of all is the satisfaction of seeing the first printings of a new story arrive in the mail. A close second is seeing the books on the shelves of a fine bookstore.
What advice would you give to new writers?
Put your novel in a drawer, and write another one with the same theme or characters. This is the most instructive thing a writer can do. If you are paying attention when you do it, you'll be vastly better at revising the first story.
Pretend I'm a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.
If you would like to know and understand what it is like to live as an Amish person, then these books are for you. If you also like a good mystery, then these books are especially for you.
What's on the book horizon for you?
I will attend two conventions of mystery writers this year. The first is Malice Domestic, in Bethesda, Maryland, and the second is Bouchercon in St. Louis.
Last question, how can readers find you and your books?
On my website (www.plgaus.com), I have listings and links to some of the better places to buy my books. Barnes and Noble stores have been especially good at keeping my books in stock, but there are plenty of other places, too, for instance Poisoned Pen, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Thank you for sharing your writing life with my bleaders! (blog + readers = bleaders)
March 23, 2011
Happy Dance!!!
I found out today that Amish Proverbs is a finalist for the ECPA 2011 Christian Book Awards in the inspirational category. WOO HOO!!!
Doing the happy dance!
Doing the happy dance!
Thursday on Amish Wisdom: Wanda Brunstetter is back!
Tune in on Thursday at 4:00 pm Central! To listen in - go here and just click on the player in the top right corner.
Don't miss Amish Wisdom this week. Wanda Brustetter will be back on the show talking about her latest series, The Kentucky Brothers. The first book in that series releases in April, The Journey. Leave a comment in {HERE} for a chance to win a copy.
More about Wanda: Award-winning, bestselling author, Wanda E. Brunstetter and her husband live in Washington State, but take every opportunity to visit friends in Amish settlements throughout the country.
Visit Wanda's website at www.wandabrunstetter.com for more information about her or her books.More about The Journey: Titus Fisher has often made poor choices. When he lived in Pennsylvania he chose the wrong girl, who broke his heart. When he moves to Kentucky, he finally discovers that he possesses woodworking skills, will he stick with it or return to the old comforts of his life ion Lancaster?
Suzanne Yoder's talents don't lie in the traditional Amish kitchen, but she suppresses talents that are frowned on by those in her community who believe a woman's place is in the home. Will Titus be impressed or upset when he learns the secrets she hides?
March 22, 2011
Dancing with the Stars
Did you happen to see "Dancing with the Stars" last night? I have to say...Kirstie Alley was a huge surprise! I didn't expect to enjoy her--yet she was funny, self-depracating...and a darn good dancer! She is SIXTY YEARS OLD! Woo hoo! I'm a new fan...
March 21, 2011
A Young Girl's Journey to become Amish (Part 4)
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Kate is a 17-year-old young woman who is planning to become Amish. She has graciously offered to write some Monday guests posts for my readers and has kindly answered many questions (left as comments), too. This is Kate's last blog entry for us. It's been interesting and educational to read about Kate's journey. I know she's appreciated the warm comments and encouraging words. Please keep Kate in your prayers as she finishes up high school and prepares to become baptized into the Amish church this summer. She's a very special young woman!
I want to start out by thanking you for all the emails and comments you've given me. They've truly blessed me in ways you'll never know. I do want to make sure I say that all the 'credit' or any type of glory goes to God. I don't want any admiration or anything like that because without God none of this would happen. I am simply following Him where He is leading me and serving Him the only way I know how. Therefore…He gets all the glory :-) With that said…here's my last post I think (not sure but I think I'm out of ideas!). My spiritual journey to the Amish is, to me, the most important part of the journey. There is no point to living the Amish life without a Biblical foundation. The Amish life is all because of the Bible. They live the way they do because they have the conviction from God's Word. I never understood people that said they'd like to join the Amish but weren't Christians or close to God. How? Why? I desire an Amish life because I want to follow my own convictions and please Him. I'll do this post as more of a spiritual timeline about how I came to the conclusion that the Amish faith was right for me, and the Old Order specifically. I was raised in a somewhat Christian home. Up until the age of 6 or 7 we, as a family, had gone to church and been taught to love Jesus. In 5th grade I accepted Jesus as my personal savior and became a daughter of the King. After I was saved I began to want to serve Jesus more. For some reason my love of the Amish was increasing. This is when I wrote a letter to the Amish family, which is something way out of my character so I look back and know it was a step led by God. Once I started going to Amish church services I really began to want to serve my Lord. I saw the Amish doing things different and living differently than anyone I'd ever seen. It was then that I started asking questions about the many why's bubbling in my head. This was the little start of my convictions that would later develop. So I knew a little bit of why the Amish did what they did but I hadn't dug deeper into it to find out more. Ninth grade found some major changes in my life. God had got a hold of my life after a year of not really growing in Him. I asked my Amish "Mom" why the ladies wore a head covering. She led me to 1 Corinthians 11 and I spent weeks studying those verses. After praying about it for a long time God convicted me to begin covering. Soon after that I asked about dresses and being simple. "Mom" directed me to another passage and I began to get convicted about dressing more modestly. This wasn't totally new to me since I have Baptist cousins who dress in only skirts. God really worked in my heart and I began dressing in skirts and dresses. Can you imagine walking into *public* high school doors wearing a covering and jean skirt? I lost some "friends" and realized those who were truly my friends. I was known as the girl who wore skirts & had the funny bun (there were actually 2 other girls who only wore skirts which was a blessing!). It was *hard*. I began to stray from those things because I was feeling different. By this time the Lord was really directing me towards the Amish and it was scaring me. I mean it was something I wanted but yet it was so different! I started telling God "no" and started wearing pants and going uncovered again. This is something I regret deeply now but there's nothing I can do about it now. What changed me? I can't exactly say. But eventually I was tired of being unhappy and trying to fit in when I knew it wasn't right. I re-surrendered my life and future to God. At this point, when I gave my future to Him, I felt utter peace that I hadn't felt in a long time! It was an amazing feeling. I again began to feel God saying "Kate, I want you to join the Amish church. I am asking you to do this and I know the plans I have for you! Don't be scared I will give you the strength" and this time I trusted Him. Ever since that day I have felt unwavering peace about my future and life, when it's in His hands. I've also been completely sure that He wants me among the Amish church. Whenever I begin to question that I immediately get unrest and quickly give the "pen" of my life story back to the Author of life. This time of waiting has proven to be a blessing as well. While sometimes I find it so hard to wait to become Amish and follow that calling, I have grown so much in my faith during this trial. Even my Mom's disapproval can be counted as a blessing because I know that if I am faithful to God good will come. I am striving to be content and it's a battle I fight every day. Being in the Will of God has made all the difference in my life! I am so excited to live out my convictions with others who also share them, Mom makes it hard to live those out right now but I do try. I know that this won't be a perfect, cookie cutter, life but I know that with God I can withstand anything! I am not fooling myself into believing all will be well once I'm Amish because I know I will still have struggles. But I know that if I am following God and His will for my life that I will never be lost. I hope you've enjoyed learning more about my journey and that you will continue to follow it. My only prayer for the blog is that it will help someone, anyone, on their own personal walk with God. I don't do it for my own glory but for His! Thanks for being such a wonderful encouragement and thank you, Suzanne, for allowing me this pleasure. Through Jesus Christ our Savior,Kate
Kate is a 17-year-old young woman who is planning to become Amish. She has graciously offered to write some Monday guests posts for my readers and has kindly answered many questions (left as comments), too. This is Kate's last blog entry for us. It's been interesting and educational to read about Kate's journey. I know she's appreciated the warm comments and encouraging words. Please keep Kate in your prayers as she finishes up high school and prepares to become baptized into the Amish church this summer. She's a very special young woman!
I want to start out by thanking you for all the emails and comments you've given me. They've truly blessed me in ways you'll never know. I do want to make sure I say that all the 'credit' or any type of glory goes to God. I don't want any admiration or anything like that because without God none of this would happen. I am simply following Him where He is leading me and serving Him the only way I know how. Therefore…He gets all the glory :-) With that said…here's my last post I think (not sure but I think I'm out of ideas!). My spiritual journey to the Amish is, to me, the most important part of the journey. There is no point to living the Amish life without a Biblical foundation. The Amish life is all because of the Bible. They live the way they do because they have the conviction from God's Word. I never understood people that said they'd like to join the Amish but weren't Christians or close to God. How? Why? I desire an Amish life because I want to follow my own convictions and please Him. I'll do this post as more of a spiritual timeline about how I came to the conclusion that the Amish faith was right for me, and the Old Order specifically. I was raised in a somewhat Christian home. Up until the age of 6 or 7 we, as a family, had gone to church and been taught to love Jesus. In 5th grade I accepted Jesus as my personal savior and became a daughter of the King. After I was saved I began to want to serve Jesus more. For some reason my love of the Amish was increasing. This is when I wrote a letter to the Amish family, which is something way out of my character so I look back and know it was a step led by God. Once I started going to Amish church services I really began to want to serve my Lord. I saw the Amish doing things different and living differently than anyone I'd ever seen. It was then that I started asking questions about the many why's bubbling in my head. This was the little start of my convictions that would later develop. So I knew a little bit of why the Amish did what they did but I hadn't dug deeper into it to find out more. Ninth grade found some major changes in my life. God had got a hold of my life after a year of not really growing in Him. I asked my Amish "Mom" why the ladies wore a head covering. She led me to 1 Corinthians 11 and I spent weeks studying those verses. After praying about it for a long time God convicted me to begin covering. Soon after that I asked about dresses and being simple. "Mom" directed me to another passage and I began to get convicted about dressing more modestly. This wasn't totally new to me since I have Baptist cousins who dress in only skirts. God really worked in my heart and I began dressing in skirts and dresses. Can you imagine walking into *public* high school doors wearing a covering and jean skirt? I lost some "friends" and realized those who were truly my friends. I was known as the girl who wore skirts & had the funny bun (there were actually 2 other girls who only wore skirts which was a blessing!). It was *hard*. I began to stray from those things because I was feeling different. By this time the Lord was really directing me towards the Amish and it was scaring me. I mean it was something I wanted but yet it was so different! I started telling God "no" and started wearing pants and going uncovered again. This is something I regret deeply now but there's nothing I can do about it now. What changed me? I can't exactly say. But eventually I was tired of being unhappy and trying to fit in when I knew it wasn't right. I re-surrendered my life and future to God. At this point, when I gave my future to Him, I felt utter peace that I hadn't felt in a long time! It was an amazing feeling. I again began to feel God saying "Kate, I want you to join the Amish church. I am asking you to do this and I know the plans I have for you! Don't be scared I will give you the strength" and this time I trusted Him. Ever since that day I have felt unwavering peace about my future and life, when it's in His hands. I've also been completely sure that He wants me among the Amish church. Whenever I begin to question that I immediately get unrest and quickly give the "pen" of my life story back to the Author of life. This time of waiting has proven to be a blessing as well. While sometimes I find it so hard to wait to become Amish and follow that calling, I have grown so much in my faith during this trial. Even my Mom's disapproval can be counted as a blessing because I know that if I am faithful to God good will come. I am striving to be content and it's a battle I fight every day. Being in the Will of God has made all the difference in my life! I am so excited to live out my convictions with others who also share them, Mom makes it hard to live those out right now but I do try. I know that this won't be a perfect, cookie cutter, life but I know that with God I can withstand anything! I am not fooling myself into believing all will be well once I'm Amish because I know I will still have struggles. But I know that if I am following God and His will for my life that I will never be lost. I hope you've enjoyed learning more about my journey and that you will continue to follow it. My only prayer for the blog is that it will help someone, anyone, on their own personal walk with God. I don't do it for my own glory but for His! Thanks for being such a wonderful encouragement and thank you, Suzanne, for allowing me this pleasure. Through Jesus Christ our Savior,Kate
