The story of Plain Values
About Us
Plain Values Magazine was created to offer faith-centered, simple living content for the whole family. Our mission is to foster community and share stories that inspire and connect readers from all walks of life.
OUR STORY
Chosen Paths & Embracing Life
After getting married and walking the infertility path for five years, my wife and I completed our home study to begin the adoption process. Today we have 4 children. One child is on the Autism spectrum, two have Down syndrome, and the fourth has Mosaic Down syndrome. Over the years, folks have asked us all sorts of questions from “Are you sure you want to spend your whole life caring for your kids?” to “Did you know they had special needs?” And we have a simple answer every time… We asked the Lord to bring us the children He wanted us to have, and He did just that… and that’s good enough for us! We are a noisy tribe at times and most likely you will be wished “Happy Birthday” at random times or even sung to if you happen to run into us.
THE MAGAZINE
The Expansive World of Plain Values Magazine
Ten years ago, we started publishing a print magazine that stands on a few pillars: sharing the gospel with the Amish across the country, the beauty of adoption, and shining a light on the dignity of kids with special needs. Over the years, we have welcomed many “non-Amish” folks to our passel of readers, and we added more of ourselves into Plain Values, including homesteading content. At times, folks ask us “what is Plain Values all about?” I think they ask because we have such a wide variety of topics inside our pages. We do that purposefully because we want to be well-rounded, well-read, and deeply thoughtful people. Our favorite people are those who have walked sections of life’s road that are bumpy and hard and have not given up on God’s purpose for their lives. We believe it makes us deeper, more soulful, and if we let it, wiser for the road ahead.
Subscribe Today!
1-YEAR PRINT + DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
$29
Grab our next 4 issues both in print and digitally! The current digital issue will become available right away. New issues are released each quarter starting in 2025. Your first print issue should arrive in your mailbox in June 2025.
JOIN US
Porch Time
We work in a pre-Civil War stone house. It was renovated in the early 2000s and became our office in 2014. We would absolutely love to show you around and take some time to sit on the porch visiting. Every third Friday afternoon of each month, we are opening the office from 1:00-4:00 pm to host Porch Time. You are invited to stop by, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and relax on the porch as you delight in meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. We welcome you to join us as we strive to live in authentic old-fashioned community. See you soon!
Our Team
Marlin
Miller
Publisher
Matt
Yoder
Sales Advisor
Aaron
Stutzman
Sales Advisor
Sabrina
Schlabach
Copy Editor
Seth
Yoder
Production Designer
Mocca “Mo”
Master
CEO (Chief Energy Officer)
“I love Plain Values. The morning I received my very own first issue in the mail, I sat and read three articles consecutively. I rarely ever sit in the mornings after I’ve started my day on the farm. Y’all do an incredible job choosing the most dedicated and thoughtful authors for your line up. I just wanted to say, thank you!
In this world of distraction (mostly via technology), it is so delightful to just sit, paper in hand, thumbing through a wholesome “plain” compilation of safe stories for my mind and heart to take in. There are no agendas, sales pressures, or facts to checks—just real people, real life, in real time. It’s hard to wait an entire month for the next issue, not gonna lie!
The authors not only bring us truth and knowledge in each issue, they take up residence in our hearts and minds, causing a forever change in the way we see the world. We fully support your endeavor and the challenge to be still, read and enjoy the benefits that plain values bring.”
~ April
JUNEBERRY HILL
All her life, Lisa has loved one-room schoolhouses.
In fact, for eight years, she taught first grade classes in our public school district in a historic two-room schoolhouse. While homeschooling has been a great choice for our family, after reading about the schoolhouse Rory Feek built on his farm for his daughter, Indiana, it gave us a vision for what school could look like for our family. In 2023, we will be busy bringing two one-room schoolhouses from the 1800’s back to life, rebuilt together as one bigger one-room schoolhouse. Juneberry Hill Schoolhouse is reimagining education for our family and other children in the community by creating a multi-age, all-ability–included rural school on our homestead.
