The Appeal of the Amish Way
I often hear from my readers that they enjoy reading my Amish-themed novels, and also the cookbooks with Amish recipes. Many times I am asked what appeals to me about the Amish way of life, and what made me decide to write about the Plain people. For one thing, I was, and still am, drawn to their simple lifestyle and the fact that they don’t put emphasis on worldly things. I also appreciate that my Amish friends put God first, and then their family. But it doesn’t stop there. In addition to their faithfulness to God and family, the Amish people I am privileged to know personally do a lot to help other people. When I’m with our Amish friends I see their family closeness, and my desire to be closer to my own family grows stronger. When I’m visiting our Amish friends I feel calm, relaxed, and closer to God. All of these things are why I write Amish-themed novels that I enjoy sharing with my readers.
How about you? What do you admire about the Amish way of life? What do you enjoy most about reading my books that are set in Amish country and reflect the Plain people’s simple way of living?
I appreciate their lifestyle. They follow certain guidelines to live their lives. The Amish are there for each other. They practice what they preach.
I absolutely love your books. I am entertained with no fear of being offended in any way. Thank you for that.
I admire the Amish for their simple life, they way they spend time with family and importance of church. Amish books allow me to be part of their community, as I read I can feel myself there.
Having grown up with Amish in my town, I have always wanted to learn more about them and their way of life. I have found through reading your books over the years, l have been able to learn more about them and to respect them even more. You have been able to increase my knowledge of them and I try to live more like them. They are always there for others in their community and beyond. Thank you for writing about the Amish and increasing my knowledge of them.
Your books are such a blessing and I look forward to your newsletters.
You greay-grandson Mordecai is just precious. God Has blessed you.
Looking forward to your next book release.
We have Amish neighbors and they are the most kindhearted friends. Truly great neighbors to have.
When we lost power for 21 hours recently due to storms, it occurred to me that it would be no problem for the Amish. Their self-sufficiency is to be admired. But their gentle, loving ways are most appealing.
I enjoy the talk of quilts, frolics, canning, and horse and buggies. It seems like the more simple the Amish live, the more appealing the faith they share. Too much chaos in our own lives drives readers like me to long for simple days of quiet contentment.
During a visit to Lancaster County several years ago, I met and became very close friends with an Amish girl and later with her family. We have a special way of encouraging each other and share Bible verses when we need to be lifted up or give praise to God for what He has done for us. Through our years of friendship, I have become more resourceful of the things I have instead of buying things to make life easier. I’m also cooking and baking “cleaner” and healthier. I feel so blessed that God put her and her family in my life.
I love everything about the Amish and have read and re-read all of your books. I look forward to going to Lancaster in July as my family and I have been going since 1969. My sons are now married and my grandchildren look forward to Lancaster for our annual family vacation.
Congratulations on your latest great grandchild. He is beautiful as is little Kira. What a blessed family you have.
Thank you for your books and thank God for your talent.
I admire the simple ways of the Amish people. They don’t have all the worries that we have because they don’t have all the worldly things that we do to worry over. I love their peaceful way of life. I do like my electricity and my inside restroom. I love their closeness with family. I have watched Amish families from a distance, and they seem to have a closeness that most families do not have. I guess that is why I love reading your books so much about the Amish. I agree with a lot of their ways but some I do not.
I like the Amish way of life because it is not hurried. It is calm and reassuring and everything seems to get done on time. No distractions with telephones and television.
I love reading your books because it gives me insight into the Amish way of life and it shows they are human just like everyone else. Also, I like to learn about other areas of our country.
I so enjoy the peace and simplicity. The Amish way of life has helped me with my sudden illness and partial leg amputation, relying on God and family and seeing life differently. Thank you for bringing this way of life to me.
Loved the pictures of your great grand babies. The little girl with her apron on was so cute!Love all of your stories on the Amish. Love how they live a simple life. Thank you for all of your stories on the Amish. Love your books.
When i read or visit amish country in lancaster it makes me feel closer to god. When reading your books it always amazes me how the amish takes care of their families. I believe this is what us plain people should be doing, taking care of our sick and aging parents. We are just so caught up in our own lives that we are missing out on what the amish have with spending time with family. I love reading your books because it helps me to enjoy the simple things in life.
I love the Amish for their simple way of life and their desire to sustain themselves without being of this world. I love their desire to stand for what they know is right. I visit Amish country here in Ohio as much as I can and even have Amish friends. Your newest great granddaughter is adorable and I am happy you get to spend time with all of your family and great grandchildren. There is nothing more important than God and family. I hope you are healing well from your injury as well as your husband. Wishing you many blessings in this new month of June. Your friend and reader, Vickie Bartosh. ❤️
I love the peacefulness and serenity that I get when I visit Amish. It excites me to visit more.
I admire their lifestyle and that everything is handmade and homemade from their foods(canning, breads, gardens) to their clothing and quilts.
Thank you for all the books you have written ♥️
I be love reading and learning about the Amish in your books!!
I love all of your books! I was gifted one of your cookbooks years ago for my birthday, it’s one of my favorites.
I really need to get some easy re wipes and cook for my husband that has dementia.
and healthy meals
Love your books 📚
Thank you
God bless you & your family
Susan E
What I find that I like the most about the Amish, is the sense of community. We have several Amish markets within driving distance- the closest being in Annapolis, Maryland.
Whenever I go there to shop, I immediately feel comfortable and calm after stepping through the entrance. Even though the market is very popular and usually very busy, the Amish who work there seem to be in tune with everyone else- smiling, bustling about, talking back and forth amongst themselves and with the shoppers- all while taking care of their businesses. It is just a very good feeling experience!
I just want to say I love all your books. Your new cookbook sounds amazing💕 I have been interested in the Amish since high school(years ago) when I went to Lancaster, PA on a camping trip!! They are so wonderful and inspirational💕
I love how they help each other in time of trouble. And the peaceful living growing there own food. I love reading each book you write it feels like I am inside the book.
I like that their life is simple and family is important. What I like most about your books are learning about their way of life.
I so appreciate their way of life. They look out for each other and are always helping others. Of course I enjoy their baked goods. I have one for rhubarb pie and jelly that I’ve used for over 10years now.
Enjoy reading your books and love trying Amish recipes . Reading your books is so relaxing for me especially your series books
I enjoy their simple way of living. There are times when I wish I could live as simply as they do! I do have a goal to be closer to God each day than the day before and commit to starting each day with Him. I enjoy how the families are close to each other and the way they don’t hesitate to help each other.
I appreciate their loyalty to family even during the hard times
I like that the Amish communities stick to traditional values, focus more on their families, and take their devotions seriously. In my readings of the Amish lifestyle, I enjoy the stories of their simplicity and how they interact with the modern world.
I admire the Amish for living their own simple lives and not being a part of all of today’s drama and chaotic society that we live in. I also enjoy reading in your books how they all work together as a family and willing to help others out when needed.
I also am fascinated by the amish and the simple way they live
I love/ admire the Amish life. They are hardworking, put God first in everything and relay on their faith. Whenever I visit Amish country, I always feel a sense of peace. Their life is simple. Their meals are homemade, homegrown and delicious, just like my grandma used to make and its always about family. I so love reading your books. I think I have read them all😊 I have learned so much about the Amish, their ways and their faith from reading your books. Thank you!
I like to read about the Amish because it’s something different than my life.
I very much respect and try to follow many Amish ways- I value their love of God and family. I value the “simple” life that puts, in my opinion, values where they belong. Materialistic things are just that-things. How much richer is one’s love of God, family, friends, and even strangers! Being around the Amish and reading your books calms my spirit and makes me a better person. There are no near communities of Amish where I live but I value those trips for visits. I also value your books that keeps me present in my mind’s eye. Thank you for these wonderful books
I love reading about the Amish because I like their simpler way of life and how their community is like family.
I love and have almost all ur books
I live in “Amish country” in my hometown. I love my Amish friends and neighbors. I admire the sense of family and community they have for each other.
I love how simple their lifestyle is and how they relay on each other. I love your books and how they tell accurate portrayal of the amish.
Love your books.
For me, I really like being taken back to when life was much simpler. In today’s world, so much is put on material things. Its very refreshing to be taken to a world where that isn’t the case. Life seems to be moving at a slower pace in the Amish books as well. I do appreciate the Amish lifestyle and really enjoy reading the stories for a relaxing escape from this hurried, hectic world.
I love reading your books about the Amish. They bring me a sense of happiness and peace and envy for their love of family and most of all love of God. Even though I am not Amish, I think often about your books and the various characters and it has helped me slow down, focus on my family, my blessings, and my faith. I live just a few hours from Lancaster and plan to make a visit there next month to ride my bike through the beautiful Amish countryside. Thank you for the joy I have immersing myself in your many books.
I love learning about the Amish and their lifestyle. Your books are the best. And I love your cookbooks. I also enjoy reading about you and your family.
Best Wishes
Hi Wanda, I also have some Amish friends in NY and I appreciate their simple lifestyle. I appreciate how they put God first, family second and community third. If only the whole world lived like that. Wouldn’t our world be so peaceful? I enjoy reading your books. Thank you.
I love the simple way of the Amish and their deep devotion to our Lord! I love their Faith, the recipes, the hard work, the values. My Grandfather was Swiss-German and had many Mennonite relatives and I just love learning about the “Plain People”!
The books about the Amish are pure and feel-good 🙂
I like the way the Amish care about their family and friends and are always willing to help everyone in their community. I have read all of your books and started reading them over 25 years ago.They bring a sense of peace and calmness to my life,
The Amish have a strong love for God and they work with their hands instead of using electric appliances. Hard working folks.
I’m not sure I could sit on a backless bench for a 3 hour church service. I definitely admire that.
Your books are my favorite in the Amish genre. I’ve learned a lot from reading them and also growing a stronger faith.
I admire that family and faith come first before anything. I love reading Wanda’s books because they are clean and faith based.
Hello, I enjoy how they seem truly thankful for everything. They are hard workers& peaceful. I have Amish friends so I see first hand when we stay on the property. They are so sweet. They bake us bread, cookies, leave us sausage and eggs. They come over and chat with us. It is so neat to see how they live & the true peace they have.
I love to read your books because you capture the way Amish live. I feel like I can put myself in your stories. What a true blessing.
I love reading about the Amish and their way of living because I feel drawn to them because of their old ways of living, simple ways, and yet we know that simply is hard work. Their way of living reminds me somewhat of the stories my mama told me of her growing up. No she wasn’t Amish, she grew up in the 1930’s in the country, living off the land kind of way. making homemade lie soap and picking cotton. Simpler times when the moto was, use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
Thank you so much for the book I received in the mail. I look forward to reading it, once I finish reading the current book I’m going through. Choices, choices. Often there are so many choices before each of us. Thank you for encouraging us to keep our priorities straight.
Your books all give a sense of a breath of fresh air. I so admire the Amish with their commitment to family and community. Thank you. You are my number one author.
I love the simplicity of their lives. There’s not a lot of clutter. Only what they need. We need to learn from that!
I, too, love the simple way of life that the Amish live. However, it seems that the more they learn about the conveniences that we take for granted, they want to live as we do.
Congratulations on your new family member!
My number one reason for reading your books is because they are clean. There’s no profanity and no explicit scenes. There are a lot of Amish where I live and they are friendly, loving people. The Amish, while having a different lifestyle than the rest of us are still people, human. They face the same trials and conflicts we all face. They are not exempt from tragedy, or the evils of this life. They experience joy and triumph along with sadness and trials like the rest of the world. There’s a simplicity in the Plain life that you can’t find on social media, or the internet, or the fast paced life of mainstream America with everyone chasing the next big thing. You bring those stories to life and that is another reason why I enjoy reading your books.
And of course, the recipes are always a bonus. Recipes are an important part of our heritage. Recipes create family meals; family meals have a story to tell. Both the stories and the recipes can be passed down from generation to generation. When you make that special meal, it can bring back special (and sometimes sad) memories. A couple of years ago, I came across a handwritten recipe for what appeared to be cookies. There was no title to the recipe. Since my grandmother had given me the recipe box, I called her and asked her about it. I sent her a picture of the recipe card, and it was a hand written recipe from her mother who passed away in 1968. What a treasure that I now own. With the internet at our fingertips, it is so easy to look up whatever recipe we want, but the internet doesn’t have the memories of recipes passed down through the family for generations.
The Amish always appear to be God honoring and family focused. Their simple lifestyle is to be admired. Reading about the Amish from your perspective is quite enjoyable and relaxing. I look forward to reading more of your books.
I feel the same way about the Amish as you do, the calm, and how peaceful their life seems. We have an Amish community about 2 hours where I live and I love to go and visit them about once a year. I just take a deep breath and soak it all in.
I love the way the amish are very family oriented and for them it’s not what they don’t have there is great fullness on what they do have nothing is high society it is plain they are great full for anything they can make from love of their hands to a plate of food. and they do not waste they use everything in some way
I admire the Amish for their dedication to God and family. They don’t concern themselves with electronics, the newest hairstyle, or the finest car! Keeping up with the Joneses is nothing to them. Taking care of their family is first and foremost following their relationship with God and that is not seen as much with the “English”. Sad that we’re not as dedicated as they are.
I think the most special appeal of Amish life is their emphasis on being in touch with God at all times, ie. their “prayer without ceasing” attitude, which is taught from birth. It is something I think we lose at times in all the hustle and bustle of modern life and in the “gadgets” we own and use.
When life gets easy there is a tendency to forget God. This was a problem over and over in the Israelites lives, which God took them to task over. Also, when Paul had the ‘stitch’ in his side, it reminded him he needed God.
Thank you for your books. At present I’m reading “The Forgiving Jar”. Excellent so far!
God bless,
Kathy
PS. Sorry if I rambled!
I Love making New Recipes please enter me in this newsletter contest And Congratulations on your Great Grandson he is adorable Many Blessings coming!
I enjoy there simple life.
I enjoy all your books. I like how the Amish are doing things we don’t do quilting frolics etc.
I’ve been reading Amish fiction for the past 20 years or so. I enjoy reading about their simple lifestyle. It’s my “go-to” genre. About 10 years ago, I had the privilege of visiting an Amish bakery inside an Amish family home in Missouri. Outside their home was a building that the grandfather had set up his basket shop. He made different sizes of baskets. I purchased one of his baskets and will treasure it always. Driving down the road, the folks working in their fields would wave to us as we passed by.
God bless!
I have always admired the Amish way of living. It seems to me their lifestyle is completely different from my own. I admired their willingness to step in and help one another in a crisis. When we travel north from Alabama heading to my home state of Illinois I enjoy going through Ethridge, Tn. Riding in the horse pulled wagon and going to different Amish homes is a special treat. One place that is dear to my heart is Pembroke, Ky. is like stepping into one of your books. I was just mesermized.
I enjoy reading/listening to your books as I admire the Amish God-focused lives and simple way of living. As I think of reading your books, I love the happy endings and then the desire to read the next story. Then I think of reading the Bible and God’s story to us and how it gives us the hope of a happy ending that will never end by His mercy and grace through Jesus.
The picture of your dear great-granddaughter is precious with here “cooking apron” ready to cook up some of the recipes in your recent outdoor cookbook
I agree with the simplicity, faith in God, and family. Also the Amish food is good.
I love watching the Amish and Mennonite work in there fields/gardens. I love going to there greenhouses and shopping for flowes. and stopping at there roadside stands for bake goods. Where I live we have both of them around me. Their way of life seems so peaceful.
I had the Amish put a new roof on my house last year and they did a great job .
I love reading your books they are wonderful stories.
I was blessed to visit some Amish country last year and the beauty of the land and the faithfulness of the people are so inspiring. I read your books to learn more of the way they live and the encourage me to live God first and all the rest will fall in place. You bless me with your writing so much.
Anita Smith
Hi Wanda,
I live in a small town in Indiana and live about 30 minutes away from the Amish in Parke County. I absolutely love going to their places for flowers, produce and their baked goods. I am so fascinated with their way of living and their beliefs in God. I love reading your stories about their lives. Sometimes I feel jealous, wishing I lived the way they do.
I enjoy reading your books. I never have to worry about bad language or inappropriate scenes. I enjoy the Amish way of life and I usually learn something I did not know from your books. You are a gifted writer and I always look forward to your upcoming books.
I love how they live without the things the some of us think we have to have. They are really nice people. I grew up close to Middlebury Indiana so we would see a lot of them. I wonder sometimes how it would be to live like they do. I absolutely love your books . They make me feel like I am there them. I am waiting patiently for your new ones to be released.
I too like the closeness of their families and to God and how they grow their own food and how they are quick to help those in need. And how I feel such peace and restfulness when I read about them through your books. Even though they go through a lot of some of the same things we do, they don’t seem to have the stress that we do. One thing I do not agree with their ways is shunning their family when they do wrong. Instead of shunning them, they should show God’s love and show compassion to them. That is one thing that I do not agree with their way of life. I agree that we have too many worldly things and our focus in on the wrong things in this life. I am in the process of trying to get rid of a lot of these things. They are just things, and they don’t mean a lot to me anymore. I just love reading your stories about the Amish. I love the quilts that they make, they are absolutely beautiful.
Wanda – I absolutely love your books. they remind me of what is important in life. I find myself slowing down and looking & listening for God in my daily life. Thank you for writing your books!
Lerryn Meza
Lerryn18@gmail.com
I admire the way they live and the way they treat others . Your books reflect on their way of living and some people live life just the opposite. Their way of living is the way I’d like to live , taking care of one another and just being together as a family .
Amish families seem to be very close. Reading Amish Christian Fiction is interesting as it teaches about Amish lifestyle. Planning and organization are important when living a
“simple life.”
I really enjoy the quiet simple lifestyle. Putting God first and focusing on family. In our world today it’s easy to get distracted with so many other things that aren’t always good things. After doing my Bible study (which helps me start my day right) and my work for the day is done, reading one of your books helps to relax and quiet my brain from all the anger going on in the world today. My whole family is enjoying The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits. They have me read it out loud when I sit down to read it. Lol. So thank you for all your wonderful stories. I had the great privilege of meeting you at the Joy Book Store in Schaeferstown, PA. That was a fantastic day!
Tina387
In the Shopkeeper Daughter, Zach was kidnapped. Seems I read in a later book a story of a child kidnapped and had the blanket and he went back to this hometown to find out the rest of his story.
If that’s actually Zachs story please remind me the name of that book. I want to re-read it Thanks so much. I love your stories of life of the Amish.
I too admire the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle. We had the opportunity to meet a young Amish girl at a roadside stand while traveling through Pennsylvania some year ago. She was very polite and humble. We asked if she made the shoofly pie we were purchasing and she simply said, “neighbor lady did”. You know the Bible says we will have to answer for every idle word we say, so we need to follow the practice of this young girl, keep it simple.
The sense of community, closeness of family & sense of simplicity draws me to the Amish lifestyle. I appreciate how your books share faith & love of God.
The Amish life appeals to me in that they are always close to one another. They help each other. And the way the do their baking and quilting. The way the father for a barn raising event. And the way they memorize Bible verses and apply them to their life events. How they find joy in little things.
I admire the Amish for their faith. The stand together, helping each other, in times of need. I love that they grow their own produce, preserve what they can and share amongst others.
Such a great read. Your books have always made me feel warm inside. I hope you keep writing quite a long time. You have much to offer. God bless you always.
My dad was Amish but left and his friend found out his wife worked with my mom. They went on a date and the rest was history. I was born 8 yrs later and sadly he was killed when his car was hit by train he was 3rd person killed at railroad crossing then they put up signal lights. I turned 7 the next month and my brother was born that month. He never met our dad we lined in Illinois but moved back to Lancaster PA 5 mo later. My dad was a deacon at church in Illinois and I miss him still I’ll be 77 this December and mom died of cancer at 62 I love reading Amish books I read a book at least one a week! Love your books my maiden name was Yoder.