“You’re right.” Timothy took a deep breath. “I never stopped loving you either. I was hurt and angry when you left, but I still loved you. Always.”
“Really?” Tears filled Miriam’s eyes.
“Ya.” He ran his finger down her cheek. “I dreamt of you nearly every night for a long time, and I’d think of you often. I’d see things that reminded me of you—like daisies. And whenever I had a crumbly peach pie I’d think of you because it was never as good as yours.”
Miriam laughed. “You always rated my cooking too high.”
He shook his hand and placed his hands on her hips. “That’s not true. In fact, I never cherished you enough. I took you for granted.”
“No, you didn’t.” She cupped her hand to his cheek. “I was young and stupid. I was so anxious to try out the English world that I believed lies too easily. I’m so sorry.”
“No, I am.” His eyes were serious again. “I was wrong to believe the lies.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers, sending the pit of her belly into a wild swirl. When he looked down at her, his gaze intensified. “I can’t lose you again. I refuse to let it happen.”
“It won’t happen,” she whispered.
“I need you by my side forever,” he said.
She swallowed a gasp, silently praying that his words meant what she’d hoped they meant.
“Will you start a new life with me by marrying me, Miriam Lapp?”
She squealed. “Ya! I would love to marry you, and I will truly marry you this time.”
“Wunderbaar. Your words are music to my heart, my soul, and my ears.” Leaning down, he kissed her again.
Closing her eyes, Miriam thanked God for second chances.
Apple Strudel
Line bottom of buttered baking dish with thick layer of apples and sprinkle with mixed cinnamon, sugar, and dots of butter.
Sift into mixing bowl:
1 – 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
Break 1 egg into above mixture; mix until crumbly. Put over apples and bake at 350 degrees until crust is brown. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
Discussion Questions
Miriam is devastated when she receives the call that her mother has passed away. When she arrives back in Lancaster County, she’s forced to face her family after nearly four years. Do you think she made the right choice when she left Lancaster County to avoid the criticism of her family? If you were in her situation, what would you have done? Share this with the group.
Miriam’s hurt and anger are deepened when she discovers her sister told the lies that broke up her relationship with Timothy. Were you ever betrayed by a close friend or loved one? How did you come to grips with that betrayal? Were you able to forgive that person and move on? If so, then where did you find the strength to forgive? Share this with the group.
Throughout the story, characters quote Luke 6:37: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” What does this verse mean to you?
Hannah finds herself caught in the middle between Miriam and the family members who are against Miriam, including their father, Lilly, and Gerald. Have you ever found yourself as the peacemaker due to a family, social, or work situation? If so, how did you handle the conflict? Did it turn out the way you’d hoped? Share this with the group.
When Miriam first comes back to Gordonville, she seeks reconciliation with her family, only to have her father, brother, and sister shut her out again. Think of a time when you felt lost and alone. Where did you find your strength? What Bible verses would help with this?
Timothy is determined to keep his promise to marry Naomi. Have you ever felt obligated to keep a promise even though you felt doubt in your heart? How did you handle the situation? Share this with the group.
Lilly truly regrets the lies she told to break up Miriam and Timothy. Do you think Miriam was wise to forgive her sister? Why or why not? Have you ever been asked to forgive someone whose actions changed your life negatively? Did you forgive this person? Why or why not? What Bible verses would help with this?
What are your feelings about organ donation? Have you known someone who was an organ donor or recipient? Share this with the group.
Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Miriam, Timothy, Hannah, Lilly, Zach, or Naomi?
Miriam feels that God is giving her a second chance with Timothy and that Lena Joy’s transplant will give her a second chance at life. Have you ever experienced a second chance? Share this with the group.
What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?
Glossary
ack: oh
aenti: aunt
appeditlich: delicious
Ausbund: Amish hymnal
bedauerlich: sad
boppli: baby
bopplin: babies
bruder: brother
bruderskinner: nieces/nephews
daed: dad
dat: dad
Dietsch: Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish language (a German dialect)
dochder: daughter
dochdern: daughters
Englisher: a non-Amish person
fraa: wife
freind: friend
freinden: friends
freindschaft: relative
froh: happy
gegisch: silly
Gern gschehne: You’re welcome
grossdaddi: grandfather
grossdochdern: granddaughters
grandkinner: grandchildren
grossmammi: grandmother
gschtarewe: dead
Gude mariye: Good morning
gut: good
Gut nacht: Good night
Ich liebe dich: I love you
kapp: prayer covering or cap
kind: child
kinner: children
kumm: come
liewe: love, a term of endearment
maedel: young woman
mamm: mom
mei: my
mutter: mother
naerfich: nervous
narrisch: crazy
onkel: uncle
Ordnung: The oral tradition of practices required and forbidden in the Amish faith
schee: pretty
schweschder: sister
Was iss letz?: What’s wrong?
Willkumm heemet: Welcome home
Wie geht’s: How do you do? or Good day!
wunderbaar: wonderful
ya: yes
zwillingbopplin: twins
Acknowledgments
To my best friend and mother, Lola Goebelbecker, thank you for your love, support, and encouragement. Our family would be lost without you. Thank you for enduring my constant chatter about my books. You’re the best plotting partner ever!
Zac and Matt, you are the most amazing boys on the planet. I love you with all my heart. Thank you for bringing sunshine into my life. And yes, Zac, I’ve finally named characters after you and your brother. I hope you like “Zach” and “Matthew” as much as I do.
To my mother-in-law, Sharon Clipston, thank you for sharing my books with friends and family. To my wonderful aunt and godmother, Trudy Janitz, thank you for spreading my books to your friends and customers. Love you both!
I’m more grateful than words can express to my patient friends who critique for me —Sue McKlveen, Margaret Halpin, and Lauran Rodriguez. Thank you for always volunteering to read my books and offer your opinions.
Special thanks to Jerome Menendez, nurse pr
actitioner at the Transplant Center in Levine Children’s Hospital. Your guidance was invaluable. I can’t express how much I appreciate your help researching liver transplants and Crigler-Najjar Syndrome (CNS). In my opinion, you are a superhero!
I sincerely appreciate Dr. George Mazariegos, director of pediatric transplantation at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who took time out of his busy schedule to help with my CNS and liver transplant research. Also, thank you to Caroline Morton, with the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, who also patiently answered my questions. Without Dr. Mazariegos’ and Ms. Morton’s help, this story wouldn’t be complete.
I’m very grateful to my special Amish friends who patiently answer my endless stream of questions. Your friendship means the world to me. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes.
Thank you also to Katie Martin, whose personal stories of her journey with two CNS children helped shape this story. Your book, God’s Golden Children, is full of information about CNS and also is an inspiration and a blessing for family members caring for loved ones with medical issues.
Thank you also to Ruth Meily and Betsy Cook for their continued help with Lancaster County research.
Thank you to my wonderful church family at Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, North Carolina, for your encouragement, prayers, love, and friendship. You all mean so much to my family and me.
To Mary Sue Seymour—you are the most amazing agent in the world! Thank you for believing in my writing.
I’m more grateful than words can express to the Zondervan team. Thank you to my amazing editors—Sue Brower and Becky Philpott. I’m so blessed to be a part of the Zondervan family. Special thanks to Lori Vanden Bosch for editing this book and giving the story more depth, and to Emma Sleeth for your help and insights.
To my readers—thank you for choosing my books. I also appreciate the wonderful emails and your prayers for my husband. Please, if you are physically able, become an organ donor and also donate blood. By giving the gift of life, you can help someone like my husband.
Thank you most of all to God for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify You. I’m so grateful and humbled You’ve chosen this path for me.
Special thanks to Cathy and Dennis Zimmermann for their hospitality and research assistance in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Cathy & Dennis Zimmermann, Innkeepers
The Creekside Inn
44 Leacock Road
PO Box 435
Paradise, PA 17562
Toll Free: (866) 604 – 2574
Local Phone: (717) 687 – 0333
The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge the following resources that were used to research information for this book:
Richard A. Stevick, Growing Up Amish (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007).
Donald B. Kraybill, The Riddle of the Amish Culture (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989, 2001).
Also by Amy Clipston
A Gift of Grace
A Promise of Hope
A Plain and Simple Christmas
Kauffman Amish Bakery
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Rebecca Kauffman’s tranquil Old Order Amish life is transformed when she suddenly has custody of her two teenage nieces after her English sister and brother-in-law are killed in an automobile accident. Instant motherhood, after years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child of her own, is both a joy and a heartache. Rebecca struggles to give the teenage girls the guidance they need as well as fulfill her duties to Daniel as an Amish wife.
Rebellious Jessica is resistant to Amish ways and constantly in trouble with the community. Younger sister Lindsay is caught in the middle, and the strain between Rebecca and Daniel mounts as Jessica’s rebellion escalates. Instead of the beautiful family life she dreamed of creating for her nieces, Rebecca feels as if her world is being torn apart by two different cultures, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community, her marriage, and her faith in God.
Available in stores and online!
Kauffman Amish Bakery
Series
A Promise of Hope
A Novel
Amy Clipston
In A Promise of Hope, the second installment in the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, best-selling author Amy Clipston compellingly unfolds the tensions, loves, and faith of the inhabitants of an Amish community and the family bakery that serves as an anchor point for the series.
When Sarah Troyer tragically loses her husband, Peter, she is left to raise infant twins alone. Overwhelmed and grieving, she lives with her parents in the Amish community of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Sarah is taken completely by surprise when a stranger arrives claiming connections to Peter’s past—Peter had told her he was an orphan with no family. From Luke, she learns her husband hid a secret life, one with ramifications that will change her own.
Sarah’s family, concerned for her and the future of her twins, encourages her to marry again. It should make sense … but Sarah’s heart says no. She feels trapped. Should she marry a man she doesn’t love? Or discover if her growing interest in Luke can be trusted?
A Promise of Hope is filled with surprising twists that will grip you to the very last words.
Available in stores and online!
Copyright
ZONDERVAN
A Place of Peace
Copyright © 2011 by Amy Clipston
This title is also available as a Zondervan ebook. Visit www.zondervan.com/ebooks.
This title is also available in a Zondervan audio edition. Visit www.zondervan.fm.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.
EPub Edition © NOVEMBER 2010 ISBN: 978-0-310-41305-9
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
* * *
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Clipston, Amy.
A place of peace / Amy Clipston.
p. cm. - (Kauffman Amish bakery series; bk. 3)
ISBN 978-0-310-31995-5 (softcover)
1. Amish —Fiction. 2. Amish Country (Pa.) —Fiction. I. Title.
PS3603.L58P55 2011
813′.6 – dc22
2010034654
* * *
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