An Amish Birthday

I am truely blessed to have such wonderful Amish friends!  They are true gems! 

Thanks for the kind comments.  I do feel blessed to be invited into my amish friend's inter circle.  They are kind people. 

I am back from Indiana after four wonderful days of spending some time with my amish friends.  On Saturday my mother and I attended my amish friend's 79th birthday!  Wow! There were over 250 people in attendance!  Only about 10 them were us "english"! :) There was a vast array of "vunderful gut" food such as fried chicken, pork kabobs, peas and gravy, fresh lettuce salad, baked corn, tons of noodles with brown butter and about 20 different types of deserts!  After the meal there was a family that sang a few songs in a perfect, angelic four part harmony that made the hair on your arms stand up!  :) 

Sunday morning we got an invitation to attend the 3 hour church service which was completely in German!  The service opens with a few songs. One hymn could take up to 20 minutes to sing it in it's entirety!  The pastor speaks for 45 minutes followed by another minister, deacon and the bishop.  After closing prayer and final songs the service is over.  Then like clock work the room is transformed in preparation for the traditional church meal.  This meal is consumed in shifts so that everyone may eat.  The menu is always the same in this church disctrict: Cheeses, church spread (peanut butter, Kyro Syrup, and sometimes marshmallow creme)beets, pickles, bread, and black coffee. 

Sunday afternoon is spent visiting and usually concludes with a picnic or a fellowship meal.