Amish Values for Your Family

I've been a huge Amish fan for quite some time and even my family knows if given the opportunity, I would gladly give up what I have now, and live the Amish lifestyle as difficult as it may be to leave technology and certain lifestyles behind.

I think the one thing I love most about their lifestyle over anything is their love for the community. Whenever anyone is in need, they don't turn the the government, they turn to their neighbors and no one is too busy to say no! They all work together to make their communities better, they don't believe they are owed anything except to be great stewards of the land God has given them. They are self sufficient and work hard. They don't have the issues we have in our society with our children being disrespectful or lazy, and they are up when most of us are still asleep to begin their days.

So when I was asked to review the book, Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher, I jumped at the chance. We were asked to go through the book and find one simple value in the book and share how it has impacted my family. It was difficult, not because I couldn't find anything to share, but because I had to pick only one, but it's the one profound one my family would say is one that stays on our mind all the time.

It's to put God first in our lives and I love the Amish proverb that accompanies the section titled, Our Daily Bread.

If God is not first in our thoughts each morning, he will be last in our thoughts all day.

How true, and how simple this truth is. Too often we have a tendency to bargain away our time with God over pressing daily issues, like our kids, chores, work, making dinner, dealing with issues with family and friends, that so often we only take the time for God when we are in crisis mode. We fail to thank him in the most simple of times, for the rising of the sun, the hot water for our showers, clean water to drink, a roof over our heads, because we are simply too busy.

But the first thing the Amish do before starting their days and ending their days is giving thanks to God for everything. For blessing their meals before they eat, to praying for a great harvest, for healing over sick friends and family and the best example of all, is even in accidents involving the Amish buggy's that claim the life of one of their children, they simply say it's God's will.

They don't sue the drunk driver that hit them because he shouldn't be driving, hoping it will at least compensate them for the loss of the child. They gather together as a family, as neighbors and as a community and work together to heal. That's what I respect the most and what my family is been doing differently these past weeks. The change has been extraordinary! By starting our day off with a simple Bible devotion and prayer, our days are more peaceful, less fighting, less stress and best of all, we are doing what is right and it shows.

We are laying down a solid foundation for our kids that is working. They can see the results. I would encourage you to go back to a more simple life. A life where neighbors unite, where communities are working together instead of simply waiting for what you feel you deserve.

This book is filled with amazing ideas to get back to simple basics and a much more peaceful life. I received this book compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and I refer to it each day along with my Bible to simplify my own life and set an example I hope my family will follow! Hands down this is an exceptional book and one I highly recommend! I award it 5 out of 5 stars!

If you would like to know more about the book, the author and where to pick up a copy and get started on what you can learn from the simple life, click on the links below:

Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher is thrilled to announce the release of Amish Values for Your Family, her latest non-fiction release. "It offers loving ways to bring your fractured home back to life-Amish style. Read it and apply generously! It’s a beautiful book-funny, charming, soulful, and beautiful." -Mary Ann Kirkby

Read the reviews here.

To celebrate the release of Amish Values for Your Family, Suzanne has teamed up her publisher Revell Books to giveaway a Kindle, and with Bill Coleman (the amazing photographer used on Suzanne’s book covers) to give away a signed Bill Coleman original.

One Grand Prize winner will receive an Amish Values Prize Package (valued at over $200) and includes:

* A brand new KINDLE
* A Signed Bill Coleman original
* Amish Values for Your Family (for KINDLE)




Click on one of the icons to enter. Winner will be announced on 9/2 at Suzanne’s blog. Be sure to stop by the blogs on Suzanne’s blog tour – many have copies of Amish Values for Your Family to give away.

But, wait there's more! Suzanne is running a Bill Coleman caption contest during the month of August on her blog. Title one of Bill’s gorgeous photos for a chance to win a print from Bill’s Amish Photo site and/or a copy of Amish Values for Your Family.