 |
Jean is old order Mennonite from New York State. Jean and her husband David and family live on a dairy farm, and travel their community using horse and buggy. She tells her story exclusively on Amish Stories.
|
Jean is
now accepting more questions about her old order Mennonite lifestyle, so please
feel free to post your questions and Jean will answer them in future post's.
Thanks folks. Richard
I don't remember if I told you about our Ascension Thursdays or not, so I will in this post. Ascension Thursday is on the 40th day after Easter Sunday. We believe Ascension to honor Jesus rising into heaven. We do not do any work on that day except to feed the animals, milk the cows, etc.-work we must do. Michael was kept home from the public school that day. Susan's school is closed for the school year, but if it wasn't - it would be on that day.
We have a large
dinner on Wednesday evening. Later in the evening we have snacks. At prayers
David reads the bible about Jesus crucifixion-dying on the cross for us and his
rising from the dead. On Ascension Day David, I and now Michael , has also done
is, fast until our noon meal. Michael does not have to do this until age 15,
but he wanted to so we let him. On Ascension Thursday morning, we do what
chores we have to. I also feed Susan and David Jr. their breakfast. After that
we get ready to attend meeting (church).
Meeting and our
evening prayers are Jesus Ascension into heaven and that He will come again to
this earth. Also spoken of in meeting is that we also will be taken from this
earth and we must be prepared because we will not know the day, the hour or the
time when we will leave. That our stay on earth is only for a time. It is not
meant to scare us, but for us to think and pray about why we are here. Are we
doing as the Lord wants us to? Do we put our problems and questions in our
hands or God hands ? When someone passes (dies) we should realize that they are
going to be judged for their life and works on earth. We hope that God will see
to let them in heaven.
After meeting, we
went to David's parents, along with my parents, and many of my brothers,
sisters, and our nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. for dinner. After dinner the
children played baseball, some played other games as we adults sat and talked.
Some neighbors and friends came to visit us while we were there. On the way
home, we stopped to visit a couple of folks. With the big dinner that we had at
David's parents we had sandwiches and salad for dinner. During prayers that
evening David read in the Bible about we have no right to judge others as others
have no right to judge us-only God has that right. We should forgive when
others offend us, insult us, and alike. He explained to the children that we
must forgive others as we are also sinners
Since we had kept Michael out of school on Thursday, he thought it would be a good idea if we kept him off Friday. We did not agree, so he went to school on Friday. This is plowing and planting season and David could use the help, but Michael's education is worth more right now. As Michael is fourteen and we are adopting him we will try to see if this can be his last year of schooling, but it looks like we will have to wait until the adoption goes through before we can take him out.
Some of the
farmers, especially older farmers, feel that certain crops should be planted at
only certain times. Like some believe tomatoes should be planted only after
Mother's Day. Other crops should only be planted after Ascension Thursday.
Some go by planting of certain crops by the moon-but we don't.
Be with God, Jean
 |
Strawberry pie
|
1 1/2 c. water
3/4 C sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 (3oz) pkg Strawberry Jello
Fresh Strawberries (1 quart whole or halves)
Use baked 9 inch pie shell. Cook water, sugar and cornstarch until thick and clear. Add Jello, stir and pour over fruit in pie shell. Cool 2-3 hours. Top with whip cream when serving. Enjoy,Jean
