My Trip Back to Amish Country
As many of you know, I'm a bit obsessed with Amish Country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and have visited it often during the past nine years. The QVC studio is nearby, and I usually pop over to Lancaster just to drive the quiet roads, visit Old Candle Barn (a store owned by Missy Hurst, a scrapbooker and friend), visit my Amish friends and eat a soft pretzel in Intercourse.
Several of my QVC friends have teased me about my addiction to this area. I've wondered myself why I love it so much. I finally concluded that the Amish love for family, the simple life and strong values echo how I was raised and the way Steve and I hope to raise our children.
Five weeks ago, I was able to take my girls and some neighbors to Lancaster for four days. While there, we stayed with my friend, Barbara Fisher, an old-order Amish gal. You can read my blog to see how the visit went. The only word to describe it is "AMAZING!"
One week after I returned, I watched in shock, horror and dismay the events taking place in a one-room schoolhouse there. As you know, a gunman took 10 girls hostage (one escaped), tied them up, then shot the girls one by one before taking his own life.
I knew the scrapbook community would want to help comfort these dear people, so I posted a call asking scrapbookers to send cards to the victims. Missy set up a P.O. box and the cards came pouring in-from almost every state and even countries like England and France.
Pam Taylor, a friend in Utah, embellished pre-made boxes (see my blog), and on Monday, October 30, Missy, Jeanette (her husband is a state trooper and was the first on the scene), Ellie (my QVC rep), Ellie (a friend from Lancaster) and Barbara (my Amish friend) filled the boxes with cards and helped me hand-deliver them to each family involved in the tragedy.
Next to my wedding day and the birth of each of my children, this was the most significant, unforgettable, life-altering day I've ever had. What I saw at each home left me filled with wonder and awe.
Every family member had a smile on his or her face, a forgiving heart and was so appreciative for the cards from people around the world. I saw a people who have chosen to embrace life and all the good it can bring rather than dwell on the past. All of these families went to Charles Roberts' funeral. All have met with his wife, Marie. All feel that what happened was God's will and they don't ask why.
I met Rachel Miller, who lost both of her oldest girls. She was so full of grace and dignity and welcomed us with open arms. I spoke with Barbie Fisher (11), who had one arm in a sling and the other in a cast. Her right shoulder was completely gone, and pins held her left hand together. She was so darling and excited to go back to school. Her sister Emma (10) was proud to tell me that she was the only girl to escape from the school. Rachel Ann Stoltfuz, with a swollen side to her face and an ugly bullet mark on her left cheek, proudly held her box with the cards. You would have thought she'd won a million dollars—she was so excited.
I visited where the schoolhouse once stood—now an empty piece of ground with a couple of trees and some grass. I saw the new makeshift school—a three-car garage loaned out until a new building is erected.
The last stop was perhaps the hardest of all. I had one box left for Marie Roberts, wife of Charles Roberts. I was shaking as I approached her home. I wasn't sure how I'd be received. I'd read some very impressive things about Marie and how she's handled the events of the past four weeks, but I was still leery. Regardless, I wanted Marie to know that the world cares about her. Marie answered the door and was immediately very kind.
When I told her my name she said, "I get that magazine—I'm a scrapbooker!" She then invited me in to meet her three beautiful children and her parents. I got a picture taken with Marie and published it on my blog. You see, I want all of us to remember Marie Roberts as a strong woman who is lovingly reaching out to the Amish community (she recently had a meeting where she spoke to each person). She's trying to do the best she can after the poor decision by her late husband. I learned from Marie that bad things can and will happen to good people, and that God won't give you anything you can't handle. She, too, is doing her best to move forward with her life.
As you can see, God works in mysterious ways. It's no coincidence that I've been obsessed with Amish Country over the past nine years. It's no coincidence that I met Missy at her shop (she facilitated the day), Barbara Fisher in her home over a year ago (she got the names of the families) and recently met Jeanette, whose husband was at the scene. It's no coincidence Pam Taylor came into my life a month ago and found and embellished all the beautiful boxes. Also, what are the chances of Marie Roberts being a scrapbooker and knowing about Creating Keepsakes magazine?
During this month of thanksgiving, count your many blessings like my Amish friends continue to do. Like them, you'll find a happier you and help us all feel more peace on earth!
Several of my QVC friends have teased me about my addiction to this area. I've wondered myself why I love it so much. I finally concluded that the Amish love for family, the simple life and strong values echo how I was raised and the way Steve and I hope to raise our children.
Five weeks ago, I was able to take my girls and some neighbors to Lancaster for four days. While there, we stayed with my friend, Barbara Fisher, an old-order Amish gal. You can read my blog to see how the visit went. The only word to describe it is "AMAZING!"
One week after I returned, I watched in shock, horror and dismay the events taking place in a one-room schoolhouse there. As you know, a gunman took 10 girls hostage (one escaped), tied them up, then shot the girls one by one before taking his own life.
I knew the scrapbook community would want to help comfort these dear people, so I posted a call asking scrapbookers to send cards to the victims. Missy set up a P.O. box and the cards came pouring in-from almost every state and even countries like England and France.
Pam Taylor, a friend in Utah, embellished pre-made boxes (see my blog), and on Monday, October 30, Missy, Jeanette (her husband is a state trooper and was the first on the scene), Ellie (my QVC rep), Ellie (a friend from Lancaster) and Barbara (my Amish friend) filled the boxes with cards and helped me hand-deliver them to each family involved in the tragedy.
Next to my wedding day and the birth of each of my children, this was the most significant, unforgettable, life-altering day I've ever had. What I saw at each home left me filled with wonder and awe.
Every family member had a smile on his or her face, a forgiving heart and was so appreciative for the cards from people around the world. I saw a people who have chosen to embrace life and all the good it can bring rather than dwell on the past. All of these families went to Charles Roberts' funeral. All have met with his wife, Marie. All feel that what happened was God's will and they don't ask why.
I met Rachel Miller, who lost both of her oldest girls. She was so full of grace and dignity and welcomed us with open arms. I spoke with Barbie Fisher (11), who had one arm in a sling and the other in a cast. Her right shoulder was completely gone, and pins held her left hand together. She was so darling and excited to go back to school. Her sister Emma (10) was proud to tell me that she was the only girl to escape from the school. Rachel Ann Stoltfuz, with a swollen side to her face and an ugly bullet mark on her left cheek, proudly held her box with the cards. You would have thought she'd won a million dollars—she was so excited.
I visited where the schoolhouse once stood—now an empty piece of ground with a couple of trees and some grass. I saw the new makeshift school—a three-car garage loaned out until a new building is erected.
The last stop was perhaps the hardest of all. I had one box left for Marie Roberts, wife of Charles Roberts. I was shaking as I approached her home. I wasn't sure how I'd be received. I'd read some very impressive things about Marie and how she's handled the events of the past four weeks, but I was still leery. Regardless, I wanted Marie to know that the world cares about her. Marie answered the door and was immediately very kind.
When I told her my name she said, "I get that magazine—I'm a scrapbooker!" She then invited me in to meet her three beautiful children and her parents. I got a picture taken with Marie and published it on my blog. You see, I want all of us to remember Marie Roberts as a strong woman who is lovingly reaching out to the Amish community (she recently had a meeting where she spoke to each person). She's trying to do the best she can after the poor decision by her late husband. I learned from Marie that bad things can and will happen to good people, and that God won't give you anything you can't handle. She, too, is doing her best to move forward with her life.
As you can see, God works in mysterious ways. It's no coincidence that I've been obsessed with Amish Country over the past nine years. It's no coincidence that I met Missy at her shop (she facilitated the day), Barbara Fisher in her home over a year ago (she got the names of the families) and recently met Jeanette, whose husband was at the scene. It's no coincidence Pam Taylor came into my life a month ago and found and embellished all the beautiful boxes. Also, what are the chances of Marie Roberts being a scrapbooker and knowing about Creating Keepsakes magazine?
During this month of thanksgiving, count your many blessings like my Amish friends continue to do. Like them, you'll find a happier you and help us all feel more peace on earth!