More Birthday Wishes from Lovina’s Children

To mark Lovina’s 52nd birthday on May 22, each of her children have contributed these short reflections in her honor. Last week we shared the first half of them, and this week we’re sharing the second half. Benjamin, 23 As a young boy, I would scare Mom a lot and find it funny. I would crawl out … Continue Reading ››

Lovina’s Children Wish Her a Happy Birthday!

To mark Lovina’s 52nd birthday on May 22, each of her children have contributed these short reflections in her honor. We’re sharing the first half of them today, and will share the second half next week. Elizabeth, 28 There are many stories I could write about my mom. I’ll try to keep it short. As a school-age child, … Continue Reading ››

Lovina Enjoys Mother’s Day and Looks Ahead to an Eventful Week

May 18 is daughter Lovina’s 19th birthday. It is unbelievable at how fast time seems to go. She only has one more year of being a teenager. Her birthday is also on Ascension Day this year. This Amish community keeps this day as a holiday. We have a fast and prayer day until lunch time, … Continue Reading ››

Lovina Enjoys Birthdays and Fun with Family

Today—May 10—is grandson Isaiah’s (Ervin and Susan) 5th birthday. It would also have been my sister Susan’s 47th birthday if she was still here. We miss her! Rest in peace, dear sister. May 11 is son-in-law Ervin’s birthday. He will be 29. Happy birthday to Ervin and Isaiah! Our family night will be held at Ervin and … Continue Reading ››

Lovina Explains an Amish Communion Service

We are already into the fifth month of the year—May! Hopefully May will bring warmer temperatures again. The gardens are really wet yet from all the rain we had this past week. It was a cold, rainy day on Sunday when communion services were held at Dustin and Loretta’s. It was a challenge to keep the … Continue Reading ››

Spring Cleaning, Family Night, and an Encouraging Update from the Doctor

Our thermometer shows 28 degrees this morning. We were spoiled by the nice, warm, sunny days in the upper 70s. This weather is a challenge for anyone with sensitive plants. We still haven’t planted our sweet onions. We’re waiting until it dries up, and the temperature gets a little warmer. We have had quite a … Continue Reading ››

Lovina Remembers a Fond Childhood Memory

It is already mid-April. Yesterday, I put a letter and card out in the mail for sister Leah and Paul. They had their forty-second anniversary on April 16. I was a third grader when they were married. I still remember sitting beside my mother as they were getting married and seeing her crying. I couldn’t … Continue Reading ››

Lovina and Her Family Celebrate Easter

I need to write this column this morning before I leave. Sisters Verena and Emma, nieces Elizabeth and Emma, Crystal (nephew Benjamin’s wife), daughters Elizabeth, Susan, Verena, Lovina, and I are going to daughter Loretta’s house to clean today. Walls, ceilings, windows, furniture, floors, etc. will be cleaned thoroughly. It’s always a good feeling once … Continue Reading ››

Lovina Meets Old and New Readers at a Book Signing

It’s 5 a.m. here at the Eicher house. All is quiet. My husband Joe and son Joseph left for work already. Son Benjamin is working in Ohio. He’s been gone since Monday morning. The house seems empty without him around. Sister Verena came here last night and stayed the night. They were calling for storms, and … Continue Reading ››

Lovina Enjoys Lots of Time with Children and Grandchildren

This column will wrap up March 2023 and another month down in history. It’s unbelievable how fast time goes. We moved to Michigan from Indiana in March 2004, which is 19 years already. Lots of changes in those 19 years. Our oldest child was 9 when we moved, and we only had our six oldest children. … Continue Reading ››