A closing season

This place holds many memories for us.

Only two months before my husband and I married, his parents left the Amish church and moved to this valley. It was awesome to see his Dad become a born again Christian, something his Mama had been praying about for years. God answered that prayer.

Becoming a Christian in the Amish church and being verbal about your beliefs is a big deal. When you decide to leave the Amish church after you are baptized and are a member, you are shunned. So people have huge consequences from their choices. The ban in my opinion, has kept many people in the Amish church. For some, the price of losing family and friends is too much.

Shunning is wierd to me in the fact that when eating together, those in the ban must eat at a separate table. That table can be a card table or smaller table pulled right next to the large table with the others. Just as long as it's a different table you're ok. Weird, yeah. And usually family members can't drive with family or anyone who is in the ban. But you can hire any ungodly taxi driver you want. Just as long as you don't drive with someone who used to be in your church or was Amish. Some Amish don't understand that, either, but who's going to change all those traditions? It's easier to be in the ban and leave the church in peace.

I want to point out that there are those in the Amish church who are born again Christians. There's no question about that. But I am speaking of the majority of the Amish in PA. Amish cultures in other states do vary slightly.

My husbands parents have been blessed. They have maintained a close relationship with family members. And in recent years, many of Mom's family have become Christians. Most stayed in the Amish church, but some left. I'm very glad the sisters have a better relationship than they ever had before. Somehow it seems that the passing away of parents draws the family together. I know it can also work the opposite.

But in both of our parents' cases, the family drew closer together.

My Dad and Mom were never in the ban because they left the Amish when there was a split.
Yes, I am thankful for our culture. The best thing my parents taught me was to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. My dad was a rock in our home. We rarely missed a day of family devotions and prayer. I praise the Lord for Godly parents.

And I praise the Lord for wonderful in-laws. I can say that I never had issues with my mother-in-law. Never! Those mother-in-law jokes never applied to me. She never meddled with my husband and my relationship. I've got a lot to be thankful for. I know.

Before my husbands parents moved from Lancaster, Merv and his Dad and brothers did extensive remodeling to this house along with building an addition. Throughout the years, they repaired the barn and built a veal barn. Then Dad dreamed about building a house across the street on top of the hill.

Over five years ago, that dream became reality. They sold half the property and built a smaller house. Now this place is being sold the end of this month.

The couple of days we spent here was a closing season for us as it's the last time we got to stay at this place.

We enjoyed the pretty spring flowers. I dug quite a few perenniels to add to my garden at home.

 

We spent lots of time in this kitchen. Allison has always loved to work with her Grandma in the kitchen. Grandma also showed Amber new techniques for whole wheat bread with a different recipe than ours.

We brought the boat home. It was a gift from his brother, and he got it for either free or cheap from a friend. It needs some work done to it before we can go out fishing.

The men took time helping their Dad clean up and gather stuff for the junk, while we packed a few boxes in the basement. Allison helped her Grandma price stuff for a yard sale.

Life is full of changes, and this will certainly be a big one for us. We adapt very easily to changes, though.