Babysitting Amish Baby "Michael"

It was only for five minutes, but I was thrilled to have the opportunity to watch Michael while Marianne ran to the chicken coup to pick eggs on Friday.  It gave me a moment to reflect on Amish lifestyle and maybe apply some of their ways in my life.   Baby Michael was lying on the floor under the swing, just as happy as could be.  I talked and smiled at him and he smiled right back -- what a happy kid, I thought.  The living room was set up for practicality.  The couch, love seat, and chairs were all pushed flat against the outside walls with the window light shining in over the backs of the seats/chairs.  There was a bookcase with several children's books.  On the other side of the kitchen was the sewing nook with supplies and fabric.  In the middle of the house was the wood stove that likely kept the entire house warm.  The house was functional with a purpose. The kitchen/great room/sewing nook had linoleum on the floor and the living room had a hardwood floor with an area rug in the center.  Nothing fancy.  A plaque with the Lord's prayer was on the wall, but that was about it in terms of decoration.  No pictures, no family photos, no wreaths or dried/silk arrangements.  I liked it!  I thought how easy it would be to clean.  I imagined not worrying about how something looks: Do these curtains match?  Does the rug match close enough to the couch?  What sense does it make to waste time and money on making something match or stylish.  It doesn't.  My blue-plaid 80's couch and love seat are going to be around for many, many more years and I don't care much what people think of it -- it's saving me about $1,000.  At one point I wanted a new couch pretty bad because of the dated, 80's country look of it, but my mind has now changed and its a perfect couch -- you can sit on it and their ain't no torn or worn corners anywhere.  What else do you need?  Why spend money to keep up with what's in style this season.  In my mind (now), its clearly a waste of money,and spending five minutes with Michael solidified those thoughts.  I'm very grateful to have many classic, hand-me-down pieces of furniture that will never go out of style.  I guess I always had a little practicality in me after all.