Table of Contents
Acknowledgments 9
Introduction: The Disappearing Childhood 11
Section 1 Children Are Loved but Not Adored 15
The Rabbit Hutch 19
The Mud Hole 22
Workshop Raising 26
Family Vacations 30
Too Much Money 34
Christmas Day 38
Bill Coleman and a Quilt 41
Mothers-in-Law 46
The Christmas Bird Count 50
Section 2 Great Expectations 55
August Pies 58
Laundry Day 61
How to make a Marriage Last 65
A Teacher's Viewpoint 69
Snow Day! 73
Little Boys and Eggs 77
The Do-Over Boys 80
The Girdle 84
Amish in the City 87
Read, Read, Read 92
Interlude: A Year in an Amish Family 97
Section 3 Daily Bread 103
God doesn't Make Mistakes 106
Gas Thieves 110
Sitting on the Front Bench 113
Calvin and Goliath 117
Widow Maker 120
Northern Lights 123
A Rare Bird 127
Seventy Times Seven 131
The Miracle of the Neighbor 136
Section 4 Letting Go 141
Bear! 144
Chain Saws and Worries 147
Pastimes 150
A Dog's Life 153
Chuck and Henry and Two Eagles 157
Rumspringa 161
Singing to Cora 165
Wedding Season 168
An Early Good-bye 173
A Circle of Life 177
Epilogue: An Evening of Trivial Pursuit with the Amish 181
Recommended Reading 185
Notes 187
