Today life is very different for me. I live in a small community in northwestern Minnesota with my husband and two children. Currently I have a full time job to help my husband support our lifestyle. I really enjoy spending time with our children, camping, biking, and walking. Other hobbies I will engage in when possible is knitting and crocheting, sewing, gardening and canning, and volunteering my time to help out in our church and local community.
Although we live with all the modern conveniences that America has to offer today, I also implement as much of the simple lifestyle as possible. I always have plenty of canned goods stored away. Every summer at strawberry harvest time I will make enough jam for another year. I love preparing food for my family just as I did while growing up. The only difference today is that I only prepare food for four people instead of twelve. I had to learn to prepare small amounts of food.
My greatest passion is to share my experiences to help others. I have spoken to thousands of people of all ages. Many questions have come my way and I have had to do research to get some of the answers because it wasn’t something that was talked about in my childhood home or community. For example: Someone asked me “What nationality are you?” I was not sure until I did some research and finally had a chance to talk to my father about it. Then I found out I is not German…..I am Dutch and Swiss. Most people would guess the Amish to be of German descent and some probably are but not in our family.
I have developed a home-study course and personal coaching program to assist people in using the tips and strategies that I implemented to overcome my obstacles. I asked myself this question many times: “Where do I belong and why am I here on earth?” and I am sure many still do. Because of my experiences I now understand and these programs are designed to help you define this question.
I am also writing my next book where I will be talking about the transition years and what kind of mindset it took for me to go against every belief, understanding, and right thing I had ever known so I could live the lifestyle I had dreamed of.
All of this information is available from her website at www.GrowingUpAmish.com
Growing up Amish meant that we didn't have any technology at all and that is what is so unbelievable to me today. How I have come from having no knowledge of technology to this is pretty amazing. As I think back and I remember all the things that I wanted to do but never thought it would be possible. I cannot believe some of the things that I am doing today.
Some people might say or wonder how I was able to do all the things that I am doing today coming from an Amish background where grew up without TV, electricity, radio, not knowing how to drive a car, or any of those modern conveniences that we all take for granted. But I truly believe that anybody can have or do anything that they want. Its just a matter of wanting it bad enough. When your why it's big enough anything is possible.
When I was in my early teens I watched the neighbor lady go to work every day. I day dreamed of going to college so that I could have a carrier or a business of my own. I remember the one time I got to go to a bigger city, seeing the business women on the street, wishing I was allowed to learn a trade and work in the city. I just had a big passion to go to college and to learn all the things that I felt that these business women knew.
I used to spend hours dreaming about what it would be like to know how to use a computer. To be able to type 60 words a minute. I must say that a lot of my time was spent dreaming about what my life could be like if I hadn't been born Amish. These types of thoughts didn't come in and start just before I left the Amish. They started a many years before I actually left. I would say most of my teenage years I had those types of thoughts in my mind. My passion and dream was so big that it consumed most of my thoughts when I had time to think to myself.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is….find what you want to do find what drives your passion and let it consume you. I mean obviously not to the point that it you neglect your children or your daily life but grow your passion big enough so that you can find it and take a few steps every day towards that passion.
If I can go from having $12.65 when I turned 21 two leaving the culture attending college twice and living my passion for the past 15 years, which is helping others and teaching the Amish culture, than anyone can do it. I cannot think of a reason for anyone not to live their own passion and what they like to do. If your current job is not what you like to do than find your passion find a way to work towards your passion.
For much more information on my life and what I do, visit my website at: www.GrowingUpAmish.com
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