by MarianBeaman | Sep 9, 2015 | blog, Conflict, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized
Nuns live in convents. At least that was true in America in the1960s. Strictly speaking I was not an actual nun, a Catholic sister with a habit like Karen Leahy, who left her convent at Mount Maria to pursue a literary life and experience more freedom. (My review of...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 2, 2015 | blog, Education, Literature, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized
A toy train and a baby doll. That’s what these brother and sister pairs are exchanging with each other. Trading is fun among friends, no matter what their size. Big or little, old or young – most people like to exchange gifts, conversation, sometimes even big ideas....
by MarianBeaman | Aug 19, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Literature, meditation, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Purple Passage, Quotations, Reflection, Uncategorized
A Short Story Once upon a time seven children from three different states came to visit their family in Pennsylvania. Some came from far away in a car, plane or train so they could see each other and get to know their grandparents and great-grandparents, who lived in...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 12, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, meditation, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Uncategorized
My Mennonite Aunt Ruthie Longenecker is elderly now. She has always loved art and is still producing beautiful things nearing age 97. Like Mary Delany, known for her exquisite scissors art, age is no hindrance to creativity. Note the red and teal crayons in...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 1, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized
When we cleared out Mother’s house last year, we set aside some of her treasures to be passed down to the next generation. This month we are labeling these items with specific names to avoid mix-ups. One of Mom’s prized and most used wedding presents was...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 22, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, meditation, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations, Uncategorized
This week our family remembers the fourth week of July 2014. Last year Mother observed her 96th birthday on July 23. She died unexpectedly on July 28, five days later. This post will commemorate this milestone in two ways: cards sent to me along with images of...