At last....
"The Twig that would not Bend"
Approx. 12-13 years ago my Dad began to write his life story. One of his dreams was to see it printed.
Taking all his manuscripts I typed it on the computer for him. Every winter we would spend time working on his manuscripts...adding, critiquing, correcting,
looking for more information and details,
editing out things we didn't want after all, etc...
About five years ago I decided to play with his story and see how it would sound in story form (third person) instead of first person (I).
We all kind of liked it so on we went.
As a story it needed more details and more information
so each year we would try to add more.
Every person really should have their life story written.
We each live such unique lives and have things of interest that the future generations should know about.
Here are some interesting facts about my dad:
He was born into an Amish home as the youngest of six children. His father was an Amish minister and died when Dad was six years old. His family house and barn burned to the ground one year and the fire threatened to burn down the entire town nearby.
Dad was drafted into the army, registered as a
Conscientious Objector to war but it was not accepted.
He served two years of a five year sentence in state prisons.
Pleasant experience? No, but beyond price now.
He and Mom were married at ages 32 and 29
and welcomed eight children into their home.
He sometimes worked two jobs to provide for his family.
Our family lived in ....Hillsdale/Jerome, Michigan...
Seymour, Missouri and Faiview, Michigan.
(If you are from any of these areas you may be familiar with some happenings and people mentioned in the book.)
May I present to you.....
Last summer Dad spent a week in the hospital and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Nagging my mind were the thoughts of how near we were to being finished with his book and how sad if he would pass on to glory before he saw it completed.
I know in glory none of this matters anymore
but those of us left behind would regret it.
I determined that by the power and grace of God
we would try to bring it to a close when they were here this winter.
This past winter was an exceptionally busy winter but before they left this spring.....we declared it finished!!
Dad and Mom don't know a whole lot about computer language but when they found out the files had been emailed to Carlisle Printing
they were quite happy and all of us breathed a sigh of relief and almost pinched ourselves to believe that it was actually happening.
Mom put alot of time into this book, too.
Writing, editing, remembering, etc.
His dream had become our dream and
has now become a reality!
Carlisle Printing from Sugarcreek, Ohio
has been a joy to work with.
They treated Dad and Mom with utmost respect
and were very interested in Dad's story.
The books are available for $5.00 each if you pick them up directly.
It will cost an additional $3.00 to have one mailed.
There is a limited supply of them
and they are available through:
Aaron & Sylvia Yoder (pick up only)
941.356.5573
Fairview, Michigan
(until Sept. 1st)
Brenda Troyer (pick up only)
Holmes County, Ohio
330.276.9100
To have books shipped or for pick up:
Mary Ann Weaver
2513 Wells Ave.
Sarasota, Fl. 34232
941.356.0641
text, call, email, or facebook
We experienced several obstacles in actually getting the books sent down here and it was an emotinally moving experience for me to actually see and hold this book that we had invested so much in.
Dad sent us a personally autographed one.
This will hopefully be a family heirloom
for future generations in our family.
Dad and Mom's legacy will live on...
It was also moving because....
I have a dream, too!
Someday I hope to write a series on the
"DAUGHTERS OF AARON"
...beginning with my story!
I have had such an interesting life so for years
I periodically record interesting happenings in journals,
hoping to someday put them into story form.
and then maybe someday beyond that I will write the
"SONS OF AARON"
series!!
For now though...
it's just a dream!
