Homespun

I’ve been interested in the Amish and Mennonite communities for a long time now. I admire their dedication to hard work and family, and quite honestly, to “the old ways.” Although many do have telephones these days (and some, especially those with health conditions, actually do drive cars) they are still very much dedicated to a life held over from the past.

I’m typing this on my laptop to later post on my blog, but still I consider myself to be fairly old-fashioned too. I don’t have cable or Internet, washed my laundry by hand for years, make my own hand soap and shampoo, garden, make it myself quite often. I’m big on family values, I’ve never had a Tinder account, I don’t know what “ghosting” or “orbiting” are, and I don’t really believe that YOLO because, well, I’m born again. Twice.

When I got an email about Homespun, a collection of essays by Amish and Mennonite women compiled by Lorilee Craker, I knew it would not disappoint… and it definitely did not. Some stories are humorous, some are poignant, and some are a little bit of both.

I can honestly say that I liked all of the essays but my favorites were Love Begins in the Kitchen and White Space.

“It’s easy to be enamored by something fancy or elaborate. But to find beauty in something plain and simple requires a sense of contentedness and often a deliberate resolve to find beauty in everything around you.”
“Clear the clutter in your home and in your heart so you can have room to grow, change, and improve your life and purposefully serve where God has placed you.”
(both from "White Space," by Bethany Hege) 

If you're one of the many people out there who love Amish fiction, Homespun might be a great nonfiction fit for you. 

*I received a free copy of this book through Read with Audra in exchange for an honest review.