


Wow--My girls and I (along with my neighbor Kim Nilson and her two girls) got back late last night from Amish Country and what a trip! We stayed with an old-order Amish family in Intercourse, PA and it was the experience of a lifetime. We rode in buggies, ate home-cooked meals (lots of carbs!), canned applesauce, gathered eggs, played in the hayloft, took pony rides, watched the fascinating process of cows being milked, and made new friends. We got to go to the kids one-room school house and learn about their educational system (they only go to school until they're 14). We also lived the Amish life and learned to appreciate things like electricity, taking photos and automobiles.
I shared Creating Keepsakes magazine with several Amish women and they were intrigued by the whole scrapbooking concept. They asked if they can scrapbook without photos (they don't believe in taking pictures but allowed me to snap some shots of their kids since they aren't baptized yet). Any ideas??. I think I'll start with cards!
All in all, a GREAT experience. I asked Kim on the way home, "What's the single most important thing you learned from the trip?" She said, "That people are the same everywhere you go." I agree--we all eat, sleep, care about relationships, make a living and try our best to live a good, productive life. The Amish people are no different. They just go about it a different way than the rest of us. And I have to let you know, I don't think I've ever seen a happier people anywhere. Their quiet, peaceful life is remarkable to observe. Mark Twain's quote is so true--"Whoever is happy will make others happy, too." I definitely felt that happiness last week.
Have a great night!
P.S. Living with an Amish family was on my "100 things to do before it's too late" list. Yahoo--I can cross it off!