I have already started to make changes in my life that would reflect some of the things God has shown me through the Amish. Here are some of the changes that have been happening for the last month or longer...

• I have cut way back on outside commitments. God has called me to be a keeper at home, not a keeper at homeschool group or library or even at church. God wants me in my right place. To be honest, I have never been happier since I have limited my outside commitments. I feel so much joy and peace at home.
• I have begun sewing like crazy. Over the years I have gone back and forth about modesty and if that meant dresses all the time or not. At times I have been dresses only and at other times I have said that it wasn't really required. But you know what IS required? Obedience to my husband. I had been seeking the Lord and He answered my through my husband. I had turned a deaf ear to dh many times, but my loving husband said "I would love it if you and the girls would only wear dresses. I think you are all so beautiful in dresses. I can see Christ in you, in your attitude, in your activities when you only wear dresses." I have finally listened. I have felt so wonderful since I made the switch back. I know this was God's answer to me in my cry to Him.
• I have downsized our wardrobe in a big way. I have bags and bags of old clothes I have taken to the thrift store. The Lord showed me how these were a burden to us and not a blessing. It has been so freeing to know that I don't have 15 loads of laundry a week anymore. Each weekend I will be downsizing even more of ALL the rooms in our home.
• I have begun to make homemade bread and other items. I want to feed my family the best. The Lord has really showed me this is His will for me. Since my bread making has begun using whole wheat bread flour I have actually LOST WEIGHT! I realize that the Lord is show ing me in my faithfulness He is teaching me the best ways. I am going to be adding to my knowledge and supplies over time from www.urbanhomemaker.com I would love to get a grain mill and make my own bread flour.
• At the beginning of the summer I disconnected our TV and have LOVED our time without it. I do watch a movie every now and then, but we don't have the garbage of nightly TV in our home anymore. I have read more books this summer than ever before. I have learned so much. (PS I don't read fiction, unless I am reading a story to the kids)

I am going to keep making more changes as God directs. I would like to recommend some good books I have read this summer to you, these are some of the best of the best... (I'll add more later)

This is a wonderful children's book about the Amish. Click here to visit the authors website and do some fun activities. http://www.patriciapolacco.com/books/fancy/fancy_index.html