A Summer Read-A-Long!

"The kind of ancestors you have is not as important as the ones your children have."  ~ Amish Proverb

Welcome Back!  Oh, how I have missed you!  Thanks for joining me on the summer read-a-long.  I am very excited to get started on Amish Values for Your Family.

The month of June was so busy for my family it will be a welcome respite to delve into a book about slowing down and keeping family close.  Over the next four weeks we'll take a peek into the Amish and Mennonite (Anabaptist) lifestyles and how we can embrace some aspects of the simple life.  Our author, Suzanne Woods Fisher, writes both fiction and non-fiction books, has a website click here to go to her site, and hosts a blog click here.  She and her family also raise puppies for Guide Dogs!  Her website & blog are wonderfully inspiring.  You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter!  Kind of ironic considering she writes about a lifestyle that avoids or limits modern influences :)  But, I am glad she is so connected and accessible!  I hope you will visit her sites or follow her, if you are on Facebook or Twitter, and read some of her novels.  And be sure to Comment about what you're reading!  I'd love to hear about her other works.

Each of the four sections has a theme and is filled with short stories (3-4 pages) around that theme, starts with an Amish Proverb (my personal favorite), includes some advice on how we can incorporate an Amish value into our busy lives, and ends with "In their own words...", quotes from The Budget, a weekly newspaper for the Amish-Mennonite community.  It's a quick, easy read that will enlighten and inspire - perfect for summer reading!

The first section, Children Are Loved but Not Adored, includes memories of Amish childhood and what made it so special.  Being inspired by that, please share in the comments something that made your childhood special.  It might be a particular family tradition, a one-time summer trip, or quiet time with family.  To take it one step further, ask your children what favorite memory they have from their childhood.  Whether they are still in their childhood or grown, you just may be surprised at their most beloved memories!

I look forward to reading your special childhood memories!

"The best things in life are not things."  ~ Amish Proverb

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly
Warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24