Saturday, April 16, 2011

Wondering

It has been quite a while since I did any question and answer posts. So today I'm giving you a chance to ask me anything you want to and starting on Monday I will begin answering your questions.
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35 comments:

  1. RebeccaSat Apr 16, 08:43:00 AM 2011

    Since leaving the Amish have you made a lot of changes in how you decorate the house?

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  2. EmilySat Apr 16, 08:48:00 AM 2011

    Do you homeschool your children? Will they go to school through high school? How do you feel if they chose higher education, or is that an option?

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  3. H.M.Sat Apr 16, 09:00:00 AM 2011

    I guess this is actually two questions, so feel free to only answer one! I read Beverley Lewis' novels of Amish life obsessively, and I was wondering if you're familiar with them and how accurate they are. Because they are my only real exposure to the Amish, I noticed that you use the names Mom and Daddy in your blog; her characters always call their parents Mamm and Dat. Is there a lot of variation from family to family or community to community in what children call their parents?

    Thanks, and God bless. I love reading this blog.

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  4. RitaSat Apr 16, 09:26:00 AM 2011

    I read many Amish books both fact and fiction. We have lived our lives plain in comparison to the average person. What are ways that you see that would benefit us that we could learn from the Amish ways.
    We want to have more friends and community, more peace and less drama in our lives. Can you list things that you see that some could change and make a better life for themselves. Thank you for helping.

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  5. BeccaSat Apr 16, 09:28:00 AM 2011

    I understand that there are a number of different groups of Amish with the majority affiliated with four orders: Swartzengruber, Old Order, Andy Weaver, and New Order Amish. Old Order Amish are the most common and Swartzengruber the most conservative. In which order were you raised, Mary Ann?

    Have your brothers left the Amish? They come for visits from time to time to see your family, so they must've left. Their clothing doesn't look Amish. Are they also being shunned by your parents?

    Do you or your daughters ever wear pants or shorts?

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  6. KarenSat Apr 16, 09:42:00 AM 2011

    I have so many questions that I would like to ask.

    1. What colors do Amish women wear?
    2. Do men have more options for colors than women?

    3. What books other than the Bible do the Amish read?
    4. Have you added a lot of new books to your home library since leaving the Amish?


    5. Do you ever miss the more simple life?

    6. How often do the Amish bathe?
    7. And how did it seem to be able to have a shower after leaving the Amish?

    8. What do the Amish eat for breakfast? Also lunch and dinner?
    9. What are some of your favorite foods?

    10. If you were ever to decide to rejoin the Amish, would you be welcome to do so?

    11. How did it feel to have to start paying taxes after leaving the Amish?

    12. Do all Amish burp to show their appreciation for a good meal?

    13. What food, other than the usual celery is served at Amish weddings?

    14. How old do you have to be before you are allowed to drive a horse and buggy?

    15. Do you still sew your own clothes?

    16. What was the hardest thing about leaving the Amish?

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  7. ElizabethdSat Apr 16, 10:00:00 AM 2011

    Mine is a simple question. I realise tradition is a huge part of Amish life. But I cannot understand the shunning of one who has left the order.
    Do you see your parents or family at all?

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  8. AnonymousSat Apr 16, 10:28:00 AM 2011

    It is interesting that people will often mistake us for Amish or Apostolic Christian or Mennonites and will stop us in the store asking why we dress the way we do. We tell them no we are not Amish or from any of those other denominations, that we dress this way because we believe it pleases the Lord. We know many plain folks and they too often get mistaken for Amish or some other such denomination. We have had people poke fun at us and mock us as well as want pictures of us. We decline only because they are being rude. It seems to me that for the most part most Christians who walk in the plain mindset do it for simplicity and the pursuit of it in order to please the Lord, not because of traditions or an denominational dictate. We have a small group of ladies that meet to encourage simplicity of life and centrality of service to God. We all have television, ovens, washer, dryer, etc. simplicity comes in the desire to not complicate the Christian walk not in denying the modern conveniences. We use to meet with a group that met in Indiana and they moved to Michigan then Wisconsin. We keep in contact with them but we did not move with them. How has all this change affected your children? We had one son that did not accept the simpler ways until he reached his 30’s, but our daughter embraced them from the beginning.
    Mrs. J.

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  9. magnoliasnteaSat Apr 16, 11:12:00 AM 2011

    It's very kind of you to offer to take our questions. I have a question about preserving foods, which Amish folk would obviously be adept at doing. Would you mind giving a brief description of your method of making sauerkraut? (I am growing cabbages for the first time this year, and there are about thirty of them in the garden.)I have the Ball Blue Book, but I would like to learn how Amish folk put up kraut. Thanks so much!

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  10. UnknownSat Apr 16, 11:16:00 AM 2011

    I found your blog through forgot who now but love reading anything and everything about Amish life.
    I think my questions have been asked already so I will continue to read your blog ( started way at the beginning ) and see your answers next week,,,Hugs from Indiana...Birgit

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  11. UnknownSat Apr 16, 11:17:00 AM 2011

    Well addlebrain that I am you left a comment on my blog...lol....Hugs ..Birgit

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  12. SisterbrendaSat Apr 16, 11:26:00 AM 2011

    I do have a couple of question please..

    1-Do you still wear aprons or head covering?
    2- Do you bless the food silent with the head of the table clears his throat?Or do you all bless the food?
    Thank you I try to read your blog as much as I can I enjoy it..

    Thank you.. Blessings..

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  13. BarbaraSat Apr 16, 11:52:00 AM 2011

    I am wondering if the Amish have mirrors, because they do not like their photos taken for vanity reasons, so wondering if they look in the mirrow to see how they look, I reall like you blog, and have listed it in my favorite blogs too, thanks Barbara from
    http://bakinnbitsbarbara.blogspot.com/2011/04/just-in-time-for-resurrection-sunday.html

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  14. SisterbrendaSat Apr 16, 11:53:00 AM 2011

    Sorry have another question I was reading your blog on the wedding with six parts..
    Now that you have left Amish how does that leave you standing with a legal binding wedding? or how does that work ? Does it still get recorded through the State? or would one have to remarry again..
    thanks.. Blessings

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  15. PeggySat Apr 16, 12:21:00 PM 2011

    No questions! Just lots of admiration :-) Thanks again for sharing so sweetly with all of us.

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  16. Blessed TressesSat Apr 16, 12:51:00 PM 2011

    I read lots of Amish stories by Beverly Lewis as well and was wondering if you could explain courtship/dating? Most of the stories I have read say that dating takes place under the cover of night and nobody knows until the couple decides to publish that they will be getting married.

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  17. KarenSat Apr 16, 01:28:00 PM 2011

    I don't have any questions, but I am looking forward to reading your answers to many of the ones others have asked! ~Karen

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  18. KnitwitSat Apr 16, 02:42:00 PM 2011

    You really opened it up this time! LOL. I have 2 questions:

    1)What does "LV" stand for?
    2)The thing I seem to miss most in our modern church life is a sense of community and commitment. Do you find that's true? Obviously you miss the family and friends that you can no longer fellowship with, but have you found a close community of Christian brothers to replace the one you lost?

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  19. IrishladySat Apr 16, 04:16:00 PM 2011

    Thank you so much for your willingness to answer questions that so many have. I love reading your posts and am so thankful that I was led here. You write beautifully and have taught me a lot.

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  20. teacherpandaSat Apr 16, 06:35:00 PM 2011

    I noticed that somebody said something about shunning and if you can still see and talk to your parents. So, have you been shunned? Since you still have contact with your siblings, have they left the Amish as well?

    What do you miss the most from your Amish up bringing?

    I am also a big fan of Beverly Lewis.

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  21. dynnamaeSat Apr 16, 07:42:00 PM 2011

    Since reading your blog from the beginning, I know you have answered alot of the questions here. I just wanted to wish you a great weekend and thank you for sharing your life with us. I hope none of us offend you in our curiosity about the Amish. Blessings to you all.

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  22. KateSat Apr 16, 09:20:00 PM 2011

    I absolutely love logging on each day to see what you have written. I only found your blog 3 months ago and at the same time as I read your blog from start to present I was reading the Little House on the Prairie series. So many times I have had to remind myself that you and I are a similar age and that you are not living in the time of Laura Ingals Wilder.

    Your love story is so beautiful and so well written. Thank you for sharing it. I really enjoyed where you wrote of planting extra vegetables as you were to be married and would have to put up your own stores.

    I cannot imagine a young woman here in Australia doing any such thing.

    Thank you for sharing your life with us.

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  23. Meghan DurstSat Apr 16, 10:08:00 PM 2011

    I've heard rumors about these two things and wonder what the true answers are.
    Do Amish people wear deodorant? If not, why?
    And do Amish women wear bras?

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  24. Saloma Miller FurlongSat Apr 16, 10:54:00 PM 2011

    Thank you for taking our questions, Mary Ann.

    Mine has to do with your earlier post about the "trustee" who came to your house and made your business his... it sounds like you were expected to tithe? To me that sounds like a worldly idea. Was this an expectation in your church?

    In our church district, we were expected to give something during each communion service, but there never was any pressure about how much that should be.

    Big chuckle on how that cat wouldn't leave him alone... animals have no problems acting on their instincts... since that trustee had walked all over LV, why shouldn't the cat return the favor?

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  25. Linda from KYSat Apr 16, 11:21:00 PM 2011

    I also have wondered if you've ever read Beverly Lewis' books and how you feel about that. Truly, a lot of the things you described from your growing up years, courtship and wedding reminded me of things I've read in Beverly Lewis' books. If you have never read them, will you promise not to judge her books by the movies that are only based on her books?

    Thank you for being willing to answer our questions. Blessings!

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  26. NellSat Apr 16, 11:42:00 PM 2011

    I would love to know more about you as a person:

    If you were stranded alone on a deserted island, and you could only bring 5 things, what would they be? (No people. Ha Ha!)

    What is your favorite tool or kitchen gadget?

    What is your most favorite meal? (including beverage, main dish, and dessert)

    What is your favorite song?

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  27. VilisiSun Apr 17, 05:18:00 AM 2011

    Hi, thanks for the opportunity to ask a question. I'm wondering ...what is one thing (if anything) that you miss the most about the lifestyle you left behind? Thank you.
    God bless. :)

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  28. AmritaSun Apr 17, 08:18:00 AM 2011

    Do Amish churches have denominations ?

    Which version of the Bible do they read?

    Amrita from India

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  29. acreasy1Sun Apr 17, 09:42:00 AM 2011

    Hi there! I was just wondering if you folks had indoor plumbing. I believe that my Amish neighbors in Crawford County, PA do not...but I know lots of others do. Also, did you folks have windshields or rear-view mirrors in your buggies? Were BBQ grills permitted?

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  30. AprilSun Apr 17, 11:00:00 PM 2011

    My grandparents were Amish, but left the church when they married in the late 1890's. My father has passed down some interesting stories he learned from them.

    I would like to know, the secret to growing celery. My celery growing attempts in the garden have not been too successful. Our family still serves it at weddings, something his grandparents and parents did, and it has just stayed in the family.

    Also, how do the Amish keep their stock tanks and chicken waters from freezing in the winter, without the aid of heatlamps and water heaters??? We farm, and loose power every winter and struggle over this one. We can keep the house warm, cook with wood, heat with wood, but can't seem to figure out how to keep the horses, live stock and chickens in water.

    Love your blog!

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  31. UnknownSun Apr 17, 11:40:00 PM 2011

    Hi.
    I just wanted to say Good Luck with all the questions. Looking forward to seeing how you answer some of those.
    God Bless you and your family.
    Your sister-in-law.

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  32. KarenMon Apr 18, 09:07:00 AM 2011

    Did you have a time of "rumspringa?" And if so, what did you do?

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  33. JulesMon Apr 18, 09:25:00 AM 2011

    You have said that 2 of your brothers have left the Amish, as well as yourself. How many siblings do you have? How about your Husband's family. Have any of them left?

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  34. AmericanBridget (Jones)Mon Apr 18, 10:26:00 PM 2011

    I don't have a question per se, but goodness that is one CUTE picture of a little beagle. I'm a beagle fanatic and just adopted my 2nd one in January. I have two now and just love them to pieces. They are so family oriented and so good with kids and the elderly.

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  35. Prairie RoseTue Apr 19, 02:05:00 PM 2011

    Enjoying reading everyones questions and your answers.
    Thank you for this opportunity!
    I have to agree with the above commenter, Your Beagel is DARLING!

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.

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