Amish hats and the effect of "being"

Recently I listened to a broadcast that referenced the Amish "Rumshpringa" as inspiration for a couple who, before they married, wanted to experience life they feared they were missing out on since they had been together their entire adult life. 

I don't think it's a surprise to say they didn't come back together after their wandering days were through.

 I could elaborate on this a lot more but perhaps i'll save it for another time since, in my short duration here, i've already wrote the majority of my posts on marriage. It's an endless subject i tell you!

My reason for writing this particular thing today is for the purpose of emphasizing the effect that we all have on each other.

"No man is an island, entire of itself; 

every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." -John Donne

I'm sure the Amish have no idea how far the idea of their rumshpringa has spread, inspiring the world in ways they couldn't imagine. I know there are many in the community who are saddened by the practice and do not condone it.

On the flip side, there is an enviable simplicity of the Amish lifestyle and the way they take care of each other that i believe also impacts people.

Negative or positive, we all impact each other. 

We got to see a lot of Amish hats this week in Lancaster at a draft horse sale.

(He didn't ask if he'd be in the photo so i didn't tell him... shhh..)

 On a personal level, over coffee this morning Husband pointed out some ways our friend Chris has influenced how we desire to live.
We pulled a trailer full of his horses up to sell and he wasn't worried about the price they'd bring or if they'd be the best horses there. "I love what i do", he says. "I don't do anything i don't wanna do."
(do i really need to clarify that saying that doesn't mean you get out of all life's dirty work? i don't think so)

Every day he wakes up and gives thanks, just for being alive.

Monday to him is just as good a day as Friday because he loves what he's doing.

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While we were in Lancaster we also got to spend some time with the Leathermans. We first met doing recovery work after wildfires stormed through Southern California. I was single and a few years younger; they were newly married and doing a year of volunteer work with a disaster relief program.
This was the first time i stayed with them since i'm married and i realized more then ever how being able to share life with them has had an impact on my own view of marriage.
. They have greatly enriched my life, just by being.

 They now have a beautiful little family, a sweet girl (who is in love with horses!), a son, and a brand new baby girl.

If i hadn't stopped to think about it, i may not have noticed the great and subtle ways
they have changed my life. 

Who are the people that shape your perspectives and add value to your life? Who are you impacting? It's happening, even today, whether you realize it or not.

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My sweet Mother... continues to impact me with her love and cookies that arrived in a lovely little package in my mailbox.

xoxo