by MarianBeaman | Jul 18, 2015 | Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Purple Passage, Quotations, Uncategorized
Calm Thoughts, Relax Here Where we relaxed at the home place, counting cars on a Saturday night, swinging on the porch and eating watermelon! * * * Be grateful for calm skies . . . Forever is composed of nows. (# 690) Emily Dickinson * * * I’m going to enjoy...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 15, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations, Uncategorized
Did you grow up country? Can you picture a Dad, brother, or uncle toiling under the torrid July sun in the wheat field? If so, you know that farmers always wore hats with brims. The ruddy-faced farmers I knew in the fifties probably didn’t use Coppertone or any...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 8, 2015 | Coming of Age, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized
His yellow tag says: Cheeno Duncan – Host Family: Ray & Ruth Longenecker How would you feel if you were an 8 or 10-year-old from New York City and after a 3-hour train ride landed you in the farm pastures of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, lush but...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 1, 2015 | blog, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Travel, Uncategorized
Gladys asks me, “Would you like to drive up to Cataloochee National Park to see the elk sometime this week? We have to go at dusk because that’s when they come out to feed.” I’m quick to respond: “Sounds good to me.” I’ve...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 24, 2015 | blog, Coming of Age, Education, Gratitude, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Travel, Uncategorized
Lacing a belt of green and yellow gimp in crafts class Trips to the snack shop for an orange Nehi Bible study on the rocks, girls like us with braids, some with prayer caps These are my sharpest memories of Girls’ Week at Laurelville Mennonite Camp just off the...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 20, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Lists, meditation, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized
March 1986: Mom and Dad Longenecker visit the families of my sister Janice and me in Jacksonville, Florida. We all enjoy Epcot in Disney World, Dad’s chance to see a faux version of the Switzerland he never actually visited but planned to some day. My...