{AMISH COMMUNITY NEWS} Vol. 5 No.15
Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year! Christmas Past By Rachel Miller I remember when I was younger and the children were young school age, we were out to my parents in Atlantic. They had a long hill and I took a sled ride. It was really slippery and I went down fast … right into the barb fence at the bottom. (I should have turned.) Anyway, that was my last sled ride there. I decided I’m better off making a snowman.
Christmas Stories By William Bender I have to remember 60 years back. That was one morning we didn’t need an alarm clock; Dad did not have to call us; it didn’t matter if the stove wasn’t fired up. We didn’t get much, not like today. A lot of the time brother and I did some things together. We still had to do our chores. Most of the time we went somewhere for our Christmas dinner. When we got to the house, there were not enough chairs; we children sat on the floor. And the rule was that little children should be seen and not heard. Our uncles talked abut their childhood. That was something we didn’t want to interfere in. And, if we would get a look from Dad, we knew we had to be quiet. For presents there might be a wind-up train … the next year a farm set or maybe a sled. We learned at a young age to share. We always had a program at school, a highlight for us school children. It took Christmas a long time to get here. The girls were always singing Christmas Carols. Today, it is just Anna and I and, all at once, it is the day before Christmas. Just like now, 17 days ‘til Christmas and we are not ready. We still have a lot of shopping to do.
Dec 18, 2013
Christmas By Katherine Detweiler, age 13 It’s more or less the end of Fall. Merry Christmas to you all. Christmas Programs will soon be here, And then the start of a brand new year. Presents, candy and little toys, Lots of things for girls and boys, Decorations around the house, There’s enough confusion to confuse a mouse. Christmas dinners are oh so good, I’d steal some bites if I just could. But Mom just shoos us all away, And tells us to go out and play.
A Celebration of the Star A true Christmas story by Sarah Miller She was a small girl standing on the sidelines. As the other children took turns to try whacking down the piñata, her fingers nervously twisted a corner of her dress. It was the PTA’s annual Christmas party. The woman had chosen a star shaped piñata and stuffed it with candies, whistles, snappers and plastic trinkets. “Don’t you want a turn?” she asked the little girl, gingerly urging her forward. “I’ll go with you.” But the child only stood there. After a series of hefty whacks, the star crashed down and split open. Candies and trinkets gushed out to squeals of delight as the children scampered across the playground. Suddenly, without warning, the girl darted across the grass. From a far corner where it has been carelessly kicked, she picked up the broken star. Clutching it to her heart, she shouted, “Look, I got the star!” She had left the trinkets and treats for the others. That star endured, perched on one of her bedposts for several years. This Christmas let us make the star a celebration of joy. When we awaken, let us put our trust in Jesus, the Morning Star, our guiding light. At night, let us call on Christ, our Evening Star Whose Presence will light the darkest darkness.
Next issue Plain Country – Wed., Jan 22 . Submission deadline–Mon., Jan 10. Advertising deadline – Fri. Jan 10. Please send the information to share to Plain Country, P.O. Box 626, Middlefield, OH 44062, or call 440-632-0782 or fax to 440-834-8933. Subscriptions are available for $48 per year.