Amish Country

We had a most glorious day! The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have had Christi with us! Amish Country is a place I know Christi would have loved; however, due to her carsickness, it was a place we never could take her. Today, when I was wishing she was with us, I just reminded myself that she couldn't have gone anyway.
My deepest thanks to mom and Joe for driving the two hour jaunt over to Holmes County, Ohio - home of the world's largest Amish settlement. Grandma Nonee and Paw Paw Joe treated us like princesses.....at least I felt that way as we slept in the backseat while Paw Paw safely drove us back home. He is amazing!
Shayla "horsing around" with her sweet grandpa in a store in Amish Country.
In addition to purchasing those wonderful Amish yummies and Shayla'a show boots for the fair (yippee I don't have to run to Toledo tomorrow to get them, whew), I also bought the book "The Happening: Nickel Mines School Tragedy" by Harvey Yoder. Those innocent five Amish girls were shot at the hands of a madman a couple of weeks after Christi died in early October 2006. I remember at that time thinking how horrible those Amish families must feel not knowing their daughters' deaths were coming and how lucky we were to know, to say goodbye to Christi and to have let her live the life she did. I am hoping this book helps me come to grip with things I still struggle with. Unfortunately, anger still sometimes washes over me and I know anger is a terrible thing. I'm anxious to read how these Amish families learned to find peace because I must admit, I'm not there yet.
We toured an Amish home today, complete with Alma baking cookies in the kitchen. Ahhhhh, Heavenly!!
This is a zorse (a zebra and a horse). We were amazed!
As always, Paw Paw asks the questions to the Amish when Shayla's too shy. He agrees with Shay Shay in that Skeeter's shoes are not being put on good enough and she should bring Skeeter over there where they do it right. (too funny)
Shayla helped feed the animals. So special!
We couldn't believe how HUGE this horse was.
She loved the petting zoo at the Amish farm we toured.
Who is in the buggy?
These used buggies are for sale - about $500 to $600. A new one will be nearly $4,000.
Yeppers, she even found a puppy for sale! I did let her hold it. What a cutie!
We all enjoyed our buggy ride with the very kind Amish gentleman this afternoon.
An incredibly yummy lunch. Yeppers, that's right you are seeing noodles over mashed potatoes on our plates. It was GREAT!!! I guess my diet starts tomorrow (smile)!
This was the highlight of Shayla's trip. On our buggy ride, the gentleman let her drive. It was so special! (But I did have to wonder what would have happened with TWO girls in the front seat. Sisters! Hee hee!)

We are already looking forward to our trip next year and with the good Lord above willing, we will do that! Praise be to God!! We are so blessed!

Now it's back to that paper! Trust me, it is going VERY WELL, or I never would have taken off today like I did. It's due Friday at midnight and I think the 20-30 page paper will be about 42 pages. I've nearly finished it and today's cultural break was an incredible blessing!