My Second Amish Buggy Ride

My first Amish buggy ride was in an open buggy. If you click those highlighted words you can see pictures.

This time, I was privileged to ride in the typical two-seater black, enclosed buggy. 'Surrey' is the proper name. Here's a close-up of the small foot step.

Also note, the steel wheel. The Swartzentruber Order of Amish prohibit rubber tires on buggies. Bicycles are also prohibited as "worldly."

Only Positive Please

I belong to a group where people can ask questions about the Amish. Most of our group members are former Amish from a variety of orders. A few members are English drivers for the Amish. I'm a "mom" to ex-Amish, helping many who are transitioning to the forbidden English life.

One day, a lady asked our group the question about how Amish parents discipline their children. Well, that's a loaded question! There was a firestorm of answers and stories.

Amish Olde Christmas

Greetings! I hope you enjoyed a meaningful and memorable Christmas. Reading my last post and seeing the family pictures, you can see that we did!

Did you know some Amish observe January 6 as Olde Christmas? This day is respected by rest, fasting, solemnness and, for the strict Swartzentruber order, no sex between married couples. Seriously. It's part of their Ordnung.

Amish businesses are closed, and their workers as well as scholars (school children) have the day off.

How in the world did this date get its name? Well, a bit of history explains -- January 6 was the old-calendar Christmas. In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII lopped off

Christmas with Ex-Amish

Having a place to go-is a home. Having someone to love-is a family. Having both-is a blessing. ~Donna Hedges
What a blessed Christmas celebration with family and extended family!

Our daughter and son-in-love ~ Lynsey & Harvey ~ Josh, Sarah, and Monroe arrived at 6 PM for Christmas Eve dinner. Lasagna. Ham. Green Beans. Cottage cheese & homemade Applesauce (two Amish staples), followed by my homemade zucchini bread and brightly colored Christmas cookies. Other than desperately missing our daughter, Laura, who is overseas, it was a fun-filled - and fattening - meal. After eating we scrambled downstairs to our family room's Christmas tree.