WELCOME, MARTHA BACK !!!!!

I am so happy to be back, but I am sorry for the circumstances.  As we are a Foster Home, our children including Kevin and Bridget had to go for physicals.  Poor Bridget this was hard on her, as she is shy - even though we got her a woman doctor.  We are not going through as much as Jean, David and Sarah and family as we presently don't have any Foster Children at our home.  They are checking all our records.

 All of us feel that this is God's will and we are going through this for a reason.   We do not believe in physical punishment.   When a child does something, we explain what they did wrong and why we do not allow it.  After that we give them punishment which could be an extra chore, not allowing them to be with their friends that day, sending them to their room or more and.  For example, we told the children not to play baseball at one location near our house.  They did not listen and hit a baseball through a window in our house.  As the children were working on the farm of a near by neighbor picking strawberries-when we got the window replaced, we showed the children the bill.  Each week we took ten percent out of their pay until the window was paid for.  As there were ten children, it didn't take long to pay for it, but they never played baseball there again.  Erin has a way with horses that some people much older than himself doesn't.  He can take horses that no one can train and train them.  When he was much younger, we got a horse and told him to leave it alone.  One day, we thought he was doing chores in the barn, but he decided he could ride the horse.  He got just outside the barn door and the horse threw him.  Erin got a few cuts, bruises and a bump on the head.  While he was in his bed, he wondered what his punishment would be.  Joseph and I talked.  We told Erin, we felt that the pain he was suffering was punishment enough.  We also sold the horse.  Erin has never had a horse before or since that he could not handle like that one. So, as you can see, we do not use physical punishment. Jean and David use the same punishment as we do.

As Marilyn already told you, one of our Amish man neighbors has volunteered to post on New York State of Mind.  His name is Elmer, and his wife, Anna.  They have been a great help while Kevin and Bridget were on mission in Oklahoma.  Both of them helped both at Kevin and Bridget's and our farm.  Elmer, David and others also built Kevin's tool room.  Also, Elmer, David, Joseph, Kevin, other Amish and Mennonite men have rented a driver to go to hunting or fishing places together. Elmer also volunteers, at our local Fire Department as do David, Joseph and Kevin.  Anna has come to our cannings, cleanings and quiltings.

Elmer can be serious, when necessary.  He can also see the light side of some dark times.  Also, Elmer likes to read books, when he has the time.  Of course he reads his Bible, but also reads on religion, animals, birds, computers (no he does not own one), farming, flowers, and much more.
In his readings computers fascinate him, even though he can not own one.  So he thought that doing a post on a blog. might help cure his curiosity.   When he heard about Jean not being able to post, at this time, he volunteered.  Marilyn spoke with him on the phone and has him posting on July 8th.  I think you will enjoy him, very much.

Be With the Lord,
Martha

NEXT WEEK ELMER WILL BE ON, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WITH A POST ABOUT WHY THE AMISH DON'T HAVE ELECTRIC.  PLEASE WELCOME HIM.