Mosie's Mom

My story, "Mosie's Mom," p. 65

Oops. I'd forgotten.

Then the book arrived. Imagine my surprise...

There, on page 65, was the story I wrote of my life with Mosie. He joined our family after he left his uber strict Swartzentruber order of Amish.

Last year, my colleague Nancy B. Kennedy had asked me to contribute a story of motherhood to her new book Miracles & Moments of Grace (Leafwood). I remember us talking about Leafwood because one of my other books is published via this terrific publisher. I'm honored to be among Nancy's top pick of 50 authors and professional women who write humorous, heartbreaking, or happy stories about one of the toughest jobs - motherhood.

No Holiday Sex for You!

My post title takes me to a Seinfeld episode with the Soup Nazi, "No soup for you!" Then he screams, "Next!"

I belong to an ex-Amish group [I'm not ex-Amish] and the myriad topics we discuss attract anger, angst, disagreements and - sometimes - dissension. More often, though, we laugh and learn from each another.

With more than 15 Amish orders, each with different rules and behavior, even within an ex-Amish group individuals say, "That wasn't my experience." Or they ask another, "Why'd you do that?"
Most of my experience and relationships are with the uber strict Swartzentruber Order. Ex-Amish from the higher - more progressive - orders learn about Swartzentrubers, when I jump in on a topic. "Why do they do that?" they ask me.

5 Tips to Help Ex-Amish Succeed

Having a place to go - is a home. Having someone to love - is a family. Having both - is a blessing. ~ Donna Hedges

When appropriate, I offer both to the ex-Amish who come across my path. Yet I'm the one who feels blessed! My expanding - ever changing - family has provided rich and rare experiences. Laughs. Merriment. Valued relationships.