by MarianBeaman | Oct 7, 2020 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized
Ian Christopher Beaman Born in 2007 2 pounds, 5 ounces Now age 13 Strapping young man, full of vigor, praise God! A precarious beginning, indeed Our fourth grandchild appeared unexpectedly in early October, on his mother’s birthday, not as anticipated in early...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 30, 2020 | blog, book review, Cliff Beaman artist, Conflict, meditation, Nostalgia, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
The book promotion part of my life started out robust in early 2020. My calendar was chock full of goodies, bulging with Ways to engage with readers and market Mennonite Daughter. Here is what January looked like . . . Then came February . . . How...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 23, 2020 | blog, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Recipes, Uncategorized
The tradition of Sunday dinner with guests, thriving in our Mennonite (and larger) community as late as the early 1970s, was an expression of a communal spirit. It was an equally culinary and sacramental Sabbath experience. Now, except among the Plain...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 16, 2020 | blog, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia
Great Grandpa Sam, born in 1863, was honored with a party for his 80th birthday. My great grandfather Samuel Brinser Martin’s birthday party was even written up in the Middleton (Pennsylvania) newspaper. I don’t know whether my family was invited to the...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 9, 2020 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, neighborhood, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
“Uh, oh, look here.” Husband Cliff was perusing local news online in our city newspaper. “Here’s a photo of Kitty and Karl Ellison’s house. A big, old live oak fell on their roof yesterday!” I shivered as I glanced at the disturbing sight. Seconds later, I felt a...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 2, 2020 | blog, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia
At Rheems Elementary School in Pennsylvania, classes began right after Labor Day, just like clockwork. My aunt was my teacher in the first four grades, the charms and challenges of which I describe in my memoir. Miss Longenecker, aka my Aunt Ruthie, taught...