It was a miserable, snowy, cold, cold day. It was so cold that the frost blossomed like lace on the bare tree branches and on the barbed wire fences. The animals didn’t want to leave the barn, and the cattle the normally braved whatever weather befell them, came to stand at the back door of the barn, waiting to come inside.
Amelia brought Brigette with her to do some chores outside, because George really did need the help. It was so cold that no one could stay outside very long. So Amelia and Brigette stood in the barn looking out the window at the falling snow.
“When I was a little girl,” Amelia told her froglet, “I lived in a city. We drove in a car, and we bought our milk at the supermarket. In fact, I didn’t even really know where milk came from when I was little. I’d never seen anyone milk a cow.”
In fact, it wasn’t so long ago that Amelia, George and baby Brigette lived in a snug little apartment in a lovely little town, and on a, cold, blowing, miserable day like today, Amelia missed it dreadfully.
Living Amish was not easy, and she had been told by the Amish people she met that “not easy” was the whole point. They said there was value in hard work and simple pleasures.
But today was the kind of winter day where Amelia was going to have to look a little closer to find the beauty in Amish simplicity.
“But we can do it,” she told Brigette seriously. “If Mary Lapp can do it, so can we.”
When George came back to the barn after finishing some outdoor chores, the barn phone started to ring.
Now one thing that Amelia was having a hard time getting used to was having the phone in the barn, but this was an Amish custom. Many Amish folks had to use the phone shanties along the side of the road, but sometimes an Amish family would have a phone in the barn. It was a way to keep the phone away from the house, away from disturbing the family, but close enough to be useful.
So when the phone rang, Amelia picked it up. It had been a long time since they’d gotten a phone call.
“Hello?” Amelia said.
It was Patricia Johns! Amelia and Patricia had not had a good chat in such a long time, and there were things that just couldn’t be written down in an email. Not very well, at least.
“I’ll just take Brigette back to the house,” George said, waving to Amelia. “Say hi for me!”
Amelia settled down next to some hay bales, and she enjoyed a good chat with Patrica. Patricia was working on a new book–like always–and she had some funny stories about her mom and dad, and about her squawky parrot.
“What about you, Amelia?” Patricia asked. “How is it living in Amish Country?”
“Can I be honest?” Amelia asked.
“Always!” Patricia replied.
“It’s a challenge,” Amelia said. “It’s so very different, and all the chores are so much harder. Even the phone is the barn–that’s where I am right now.”
“That’s why you never answer…” Patricia murmured.
“That’s why,” Amelia said. And she explained how Amish living was lovely, but it was difficult. “But I’m learning a lot! In fact, I think I’m becoming more practical. But days like today, I miss coffee shops on the corner, and a library down the street. And I miss you terribly.”
But Amelia immediately felt bad for complaining.
“Don’t feel bad,” Patricia said. “I’m glad you miss me! It’s good to be missed. I’m going to send you a package. That will cheer you up.”
And looking forward to a package WAS rather cheering!
That evening, after dinner was eaten, dishes were done, Brigette had been tucked into her crib upstairs, Amelia and George settled in to read. Outside the snow was still blowing, and there was a low, mournful howl to the wind.
Just as soon as they got comfortable, the power went out with a pop, leaving them in darkness.
“Oh, dear,” George mumbled. “Well, Mose showed me where the kerosene lantern is, and he told me how to light it. Let me see what I can do…”
With some limited electricity in their B&B, they had never used the lantern before, but once George got it lit, it cast a nice warm glow around the room.
“Oh…” Amelia said softly. “That’s actually quite nice.”
“It’s relaxing, isn’t it?” George asked, and they settled back down, looking at the bright, cozy lantern. For a few minutes they sat in silence, just enjoying the warm light.
“I wouldn’t mind using kerosene light instead of the electric ones,” Amelia said. “There is something so reassuring about it.”
“It makes a winter evening a little cheerier, doesn’t it?” George asked.
And Amelia had to agree.
“Amish life is harder,” Amelia said. “We have to work harder to get results. Lunch takes two hours to cook. Chores take all day. And even a cozy evening requires cleaning up, getting our daughter to bed, and lighting a lantern. But I find that tonight after having a cold and miserable day, that something as simple as this lantern makes me ever so happy.”
“It makes us stop and appreciate the little things,” George agreed.
That was what it amounted to. They appreciated the little things, like a lantern, and a before-bed snack of leftover roast beef sandwiches, and some warm milk warmed on a big wood stove in the kitchen. With love and roast beef sandwiches, there was very little else a frog could ask for.
If you enjoy learning about the Amish way of life, you’ll enjoy my Amish romances. Life is not easy in an Amish community, but it is incredibly rewarding. The little things do matter more in an Amish world.
I hope you’ll take a look at my newest books–you just might find your next read!
Happy reading!
❤
Patricia Johns 
Your comments make me feel warm and fuzzy. Seriously!