Marian Beaman
Memoir Author & Storyteller
Stories of faith, family, and a life that moved from Plain to Fancy.
Welcome — this is a place my memories find meaning. I spent my first 24 years as a Mennonite girl in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (the Plain), before moving south to Charlotte, North Carolina, and eventually settling in Jacksonville, Florida (the Fancy).
Every other Wednesday I post a new story about faith, nostalgia, and the family ties that bind us together.
Marian’s Memoirs
Mennonite Daughter:
The Story of a Plain Girl
This is where it all starts — a childhood shaped by tradition inside a strict Lancaster County Mennonite community. It’s an inside look at what that world actually felt like: the expectations, the faith, and the quiet work of figuring out who you are underneath the plain dress and the plain rules. Stories with treasured family photos and a family tree shape the memoir.
My Checkered Life:
A Marriage Memoir
Built around a quilt metaphor, this book looks at what fifty-plus years of marriage actually looks like up close — culture clashes, a travel trailer disaster, tight money, and learning how to fight fair. There are old diaries in here, family recipes, restored photos. It’s as much a love story as it is a record of two people figuring out how to build a life together.
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Latest Reflections & Reviews
Two Fun Facts, a Moment of Ecstasy, and Seven Cups of Thankfulness
Two Fun Facts Not long ago, I took a closer look at my library card as I checked books out of the library. I gasped when I saw the expiration date on my card--the length of two lifetimes. December 2099. Well, I never . . . ! Apparently, the Jacksonville Public Library...
Autumn Leaf, Gray Beret, and Smoke
Have you ever looked for one thing and found something else as you searched? Found something unexpected, maybe even something quite special?
7 Flashes of Memory
“Sometimes a note in the mail triggers memories. In this case, it was a letter from long-time friend Hazel Charles’ “snail mail” she sent to me recently.”
About Marian Longenecker Beaman
I’m a writer, a former teacher, and a speaker. I love words— and especially the connection they make possible. Whether you’ve been reading for years or just found me today, I’m glad you’re here.
Got a story of your own, or want to set up a book club talk? I’d love to hear from you..