become committed to their careers.
Rosemary leaned closer to Ken. “Are you sure you’re okay with the idea of me moving to Ohio? I still feel bad about leaving you and Sharon.”
“It’s okay, Mom. I want you to be happy. If moving back to your birthplace does that, then you have my blessing.”
Rosemary touched his shoulder. “Thank you, Ken. It means a lot to know I have your support.”
“Of course,” he added with a chuckle, “that doesn’t mean I understand your desire to leave the modern world behind and live among the Plain people.”
She rapped the back of his head lightly with her knuckles. “I’m not leaving the modern world. I just feel the need to be near my Amish family. They’ve gone through some rough times lately, and I can’t offermy complete support if I’m living in Idaho.”
“I understand, Mom.” Ken remained silent for a time; then he glanced in the rearview mirror and said, “Are you thinking about becoming Amish again?”
Rosemary pursed her lips. She’d thought about it, but she’d been English too long and didn’t think she would feel comfortable wearing plain clothes and driving a horse and buggy again.
“Mom? Does your silence mean you’re considering joining the Amish faith?”
“Oh, I don’t think so. But I do plan to live a simpler life and keep my focus on God, family, and friends, not all the fancy, modern things the world has to offer.”
He shrugged. “You will come to visit us, I hope.”
“Of course, and I’d like you and Sharon to come visit me whenever you can, too.”
“We’ll make a trip to Ohio at least once a year,” he said.
Rosemary smiled. She was thankful for her son and glad he hadn’t turned out like his father.
Martha had just stepped out of the barn when she saw a minivan pulling into the yard. She didn’t recognize the driver, but when the back door of the van opened and Aunt Rosemary stepped out, she knew the driver must be Aunt Rosemary’s son.
Martha sprinted across the yard and raced up to the car. “Aunt Rosemary! It’s so good to see you!”
Aunt Rosemary held her arms out and gave Martha a hug. “It’s good to see you, too, sweet girl.”
“We hadn’t heard from you in a while and didn’t know for sure when you’d be coming.”
Aunt Rosemary smiled. “We wanted to surprise you, and I thought it would be nice if we could celebrate Thanksgiving together.”
“I’m glad you’re here, and I know Mom and Dad will be, too.” Martha gave Aunt Rosemary another hug. “Did you have a good trip?”
“Yes, and we saw lots of interesting sights along the way, which was one of the reasons I suggested we drive rather than fly.” Aunt Rosemary motioned to the young man with wavy blond hair, and the woman whose dark brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. “Martha, I’d like you to meet my son, Ken, and his wife, Sharon.” Smiling at the couple, she added, “This is my niece Martha. She’s Roman’s youngest daughter.”
Ken was the first to extend his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Martha.”
“Same here.” Martha shook Ken’s hand then turned to his wife. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Sharon smiled, although it appeared to be forced. Her gaze traveled slowly around the yard as though she was scrutinizing everything.
Aunt Rosemary gave Martha’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “How’s your kennel business doing?”
“Heidi had another batch of puppies a few weeks ago, and Polly just had a litter of seven pups.”
“I always wanted a dog when I was a boy, but my dad never let me.” Ken chuckled. “I’m making up for it now, though. Sharon and I own two dogs—a beautiful black Labrador retriever and a frisky cairn terrier.”
Martha glanced at the minivan. “Did you bring your dogs along?”
Ken shook his head. “We thought it would be an inconvenience, so we boarded them near our home.”
“I’d like to be able to board dogs someday,” Martha said wistfully, “but I’m not set up
Rosemary leaned closer to Ken. “Are you sure you’re okay with the idea of me moving to Ohio? I still feel bad about leaving you and Sharon.”
“It’s okay, Mom. I want you to be happy. If moving back to your birthplace does that, then you have my blessing.”
Rosemary touched his shoulder. “Thank you, Ken. It means a lot to know I have your support.”
“Of course,” he added with a chuckle, “that doesn’t mean I understand your desire to leave the modern world behind and live among the Plain people.”
She rapped the back of his head lightly with her knuckles. “I’m not leaving the modern world. I just feel the need to be near my Amish family. They’ve gone through some rough times lately, and I can’t offermy complete support if I’m living in Idaho.”
“I understand, Mom.” Ken remained silent for a time; then he glanced in the rearview mirror and said, “Are you thinking about becoming Amish again?”
Rosemary pursed her lips. She’d thought about it, but she’d been English too long and didn’t think she would feel comfortable wearing plain clothes and driving a horse and buggy again.
“Mom? Does your silence mean you’re considering joining the Amish faith?”
“Oh, I don’t think so. But I do plan to live a simpler life and keep my focus on God, family, and friends, not all the fancy, modern things the world has to offer.”
He shrugged. “You will come to visit us, I hope.”
“Of course, and I’d like you and Sharon to come visit me whenever you can, too.”
“We’ll make a trip to Ohio at least once a year,” he said.
Rosemary smiled. She was thankful for her son and glad he hadn’t turned out like his father.
Martha had just stepped out of the barn when she saw a minivan pulling into the yard. She didn’t recognize the driver, but when the back door of the van opened and Aunt Rosemary stepped out, she knew the driver must be Aunt Rosemary’s son.
Martha sprinted across the yard and raced up to the car. “Aunt Rosemary! It’s so good to see you!”
Aunt Rosemary held her arms out and gave Martha a hug. “It’s good to see you, too, sweet girl.”
“We hadn’t heard from you in a while and didn’t know for sure when you’d be coming.”
Aunt Rosemary smiled. “We wanted to surprise you, and I thought it would be nice if we could celebrate Thanksgiving together.”
“I’m glad you’re here, and I know Mom and Dad will be, too.” Martha gave Aunt Rosemary another hug. “Did you have a good trip?”
“Yes, and we saw lots of interesting sights along the way, which was one of the reasons I suggested we drive rather than fly.” Aunt Rosemary motioned to the young man with wavy blond hair, and the woman whose dark brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. “Martha, I’d like you to meet my son, Ken, and his wife, Sharon.” Smiling at the couple, she added, “This is my niece Martha. She’s Roman’s youngest daughter.”
Ken was the first to extend his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Martha.”
“Same here.” Martha shook Ken’s hand then turned to his wife. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Sharon smiled, although it appeared to be forced. Her gaze traveled slowly around the yard as though she was scrutinizing everything.
Aunt Rosemary gave Martha’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “How’s your kennel business doing?”
“Heidi had another batch of puppies a few weeks ago, and Polly just had a litter of seven pups.”
“I always wanted a dog when I was a boy, but my dad never let me.” Ken chuckled. “I’m making up for it now, though. Sharon and I own two dogs—a beautiful black Labrador retriever and a frisky cairn terrier.”
Martha glanced at the minivan. “Did you bring your dogs along?”
Ken shook his head. “We thought it would be an inconvenience, so we boarded them near our home.”
“I’d like to be able to board dogs someday,” Martha said wistfully, “but I’m not set up
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