by MarianBeaman | Apr 27, 2022 | blog, book review, Coming of Age, Literature, meditation, Memory, Quotations
My Review “Mister Mitch?,” Chika asks. ”Why didn’t you have babies?” I pause. “What do you mean?” “You said people brought you their babies, but you and Miss Janine didn’t have babies.” I’m writing your story, Chika. What does that have to...
by MarianBeaman | Apr 20, 2022 | blog, book review, Cliff Beaman artist, Easter, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, meditation, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Uncategorized
Excerpt from “Easter and Politics,” chapter 24 in Mennonite Daughter: The Story of a Plain Girl Two doors led into Grandma Longenecker’s kitchen. On this particular Sunday, we aimed for her back door. After Daddy parked our car alongside the back porch,...
by MarianBeaman | Mar 23, 2022 | blog, book review, Literature, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, popular culture, Quotations, Uncategorized
Sociology professor receives a dire diagnosis He is stopped in his tracks He is also a Mennonite pastor How can he find a path forward? These four lines describe pastor and professor Conrad Kanagy, a Mennonite author who lives with his family in my childhood...
by MarianBeaman | Mar 2, 2022 | blog, book review, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, Kiev Ukraine, Mennonite History, Quotations, Travel, Ukraine, Uncategorized
I received a copy of Elfrieda Schroeder’s memoir, Ellie’s World, about a month ago. Though eastern Europe was rumbling louder in the news in early February, I had no idea how timely her story would be considering the horrific events of this past week....
by MarianBeaman | Dec 8, 2021 | blog, book review, Quotations, Recipes, Uncategorized
A few weeks ago, I took another trip to Fernandina Beach, Florida. This time with my friend and walking partner, Barbara. The historic district was dressed for fall, the temps cooler. A calm ambiance prevailed on Centre Street until we approached The Book Loft where...
by MarianBeaman | Oct 20, 2021 | Amish, blog, book review, Coming of Age, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Lucinda and Her Books I’ve featured Mennonite author Lucinda J. on my blog a few years ago. When her first book came out in 2017, the memoir Anything but Simple, her name was Lucinda J. Miller. You can read that post here. A few years ago, she married Ivan and changed...