Just Like Pioneers

Their skirts swished around their ankles and boys grinned beneath peaked caps. It was a day to play pioneers and to appreciate the Mennonites who still live like pioneers. My sister took it to the extreme, as usual, burning a kerosene lantern and turning out the power in their house for nearly two weeks. Her children completed schoolwork in a one-room school house (her photography studio, converted) and played baseball at recess. They were allowed to choose two outfits only, and the rest were packed away. They ate what Amish and Old Order Mennonites eat and gathered around the table to play games by a homemade tin candlelight, in the evening. Without the Wii and television, the children searched for ways in which to entertain themselves. It was a challenge, but I have a sneaking suspicion, they won't forget this adventure.

They gazed upon twelve newborn puppies and helped groom and ride the horses. Then all those pioneer children shook ice and sugar, salt and milk, until it turned into ice cream. They swung high in the barn loft and played hard till it was time to go home. At the end of the day, after we commented that we didn't know where the time had gone, we saddled up our Honda and headed down the dusty road to feed our Pa... just like pioneers.