A Life of Joy (39 page)
“Ya,”
he said with a sigh. “I just came out here to feed the animals. I better get back to work. You have a safe trip.”
“I will,” she said. “I can’t wait to see you and tell you about my adventures here.”
“I look forward to it,” he said. “Good-bye,
mei freind
.”
“Good-bye,
mei freind
,” she echoed before hanging up.
The following afternoon, Lindsay hugged Trisha and then hugged Frank while they stood in the parking lot at the bus station.
“Thank you for all you did to take care of me,” Trisha said. “I couldn’t have gotten through the past couple of months without you.”
Lindsay kissed her cheek. “I enjoyed being here for you. Maybe my friends and I can come for a visit sometime.”
“I would love that.” Trisha hugged Lindsay again and then wiped a tear from her cheek. “I love you, Lindsay-girl.”
“Love you too,” Lindsay said. She turned to Frank. “You take good care of her.”
He grinned and hugged her again. “Thank you. We enjoyed having you with us. Come back any time and bring your friends. We’ll have a good time.”
Lindsay nodded. “I know someone who would love to see the beach.”
“You better go,” Trisha said. “The bus is boarding.”
Lindsay hugged them once more and then hoisted her purse and tote bag onto her shoulder. She climbed onto the bus and took a seat near the back.
Settling into her seat, she smoothed the skirt of her plain purple frock. She then checked her tote bag and found her prayer covering. Once she got closer to Lancaster, she would fix her bun and then put her covering back on her head, where it belonged.
She leaned back and took a deep cleansing breath. Closing her eyes, she said a prayer for Rebecca, the one she’d recited over and over last night before she fell asleep.
The bus engine rumbled and came to life and more passengers took their seats.
Glancing out the window, Lindsay smiled. It was good to visit the place of her birth for a short while, but it wasn’t where she belonged. Tomorrow morning, she would return to her true home and the future waiting for her.
Zimmet Waffles
(Cinnamon Waffles)
½ lb butter
¾ cup sugar
2 – ½ tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup flour
Cream the butter and sugar; beat in eggs one at a time and add cinnamon. Work in flour making soft dough. Form into small balls. Place several in hot waffle iron, press down top, and bake until golden brown.
1. Throughout the book, Lindsay feels the pull of two worlds —her life in Lancaster County and her former life in Virginia Beach. By the end of the story, she decides that she belongs in Pennsylvania. If you were in her situation, which life would you have picked? Share with the group.
2. Rebecca is heartbroken when Lindsay decides to go to Virginia Beach to help Trisha heal from her accident. Although she wants Lindsay to stay in Bird-in-Hand, she lets her go, telling her to follow her heart. Take a walk in Rebecca’s shoes. Would you have encouraged Lindsay to go to Virginia Beach? Why or why not?
3. Throughout the story, characters quote Psalm 41:3 (print out the verse). What does this verse mean to you?
4. Lindsay is frustrated by her sister’s constant criticism of the choice she’s made to not continue her education beyond eighth grade. Have you ever been criticized by a close family member for a choice you’ve made? If so, how did you handle the criticism? Share this with the group.
5. When Lindsay first arrives in Virginia Beach, she feels like a misfit. She notices people staring at her clothing and she can’t relate to her former school friends who are excited to leave for college. Think of a time when you felt lost and alone. Where did you find your strength? What Bible verses would help with this?
6. Katie breaks a promise to Rebecca when she writes Lindsay and shares that Rebecca is suffering from complications
in her pregnancy. Have you ever felt obligated to break a promise even though you knew there could be negative repercussions for your actions? How did you handle this situation? Did it turn out as you’d hoped?
7. Elizabeth Kauffman recites Romans 5:3 – 4 (print out the verse). What does this verse mean to you? Share your thoughts with the group.
8. Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Lindsay, Rebecca, Katie, or even Jessica?
9. Print out the verses Hebrews 12:1 – 2. Discuss with the group what this verses means to you.
10. What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?
Ach
— oh
aenti
— aunt
appeditlich
— delicious
Ausbund
— Amish hymnal
bedauerlich
— sad
beh
— leg
boppli
— baby
bopplin
— babies
bruder
— brother
bruderskinner
— nieces/nephews
bu
— boy
buwe
— boys
daadi
— granddad
daed
— dad
danki
— thank you
dat
— dad
Dietsch
— Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish language (a German dialect)
dochder
— daughter
dochdern
— daughters
Dummle!
— hurry!
Englisher
— a non-Amish person
fraa
— wife
freind
— friend
freinden
— friends
freindschaft
— relative
froh
— happy
gegisch
— silly
gern gschehne
—you’re welcome
grandkinner
— grandchildren
grank
—sick
grossdaddi
— grandfather
grossdochdern
— granddaughters
grossmammi
— grandmother
Gude mariye
— Good morning
gut
— good
Gut nacht
— Good night
haus
— house
Ich liebe dich
— I love you
Ich hap schmatza
— I hurt myself
Kannscht du Pennsilfaanisch Dietsch schwetze
— Can you speak Pennsylvania Dutch?
kapp
— prayer covering or cap
kind
— child
kinner
— children
kumm
— come
liewe
— love, a term of endearment
mammi
— grandma
maed
— young women, girls
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
schtupp
— family room
schweschder
— sister
Was iss letz?
— What’s wrong?
Wie geht’s
— How do you do? or Good day!
Willkumm heemet
— welcome home
wunderbaar
— wonderful
ya
— yes
zwillingbopplin
— twins
I
’m so thankful for the people who shower me with their unending love and support, especially my mother, Lola Goebel-becker; my husband, Joe; my sons, Zac and Matt; my mother-in-law, Sharon; and my precious aunts, Trudy Janitz and Debbie Floyd.
I’m more grateful than words can express to my patient friends who critique for me—Sue McKlveen and Lauran Rodriguez. Thank you for always editing and proofing my books and offering your suggestions to improve the stories. Stacey Barbalace was integral in helping with the authentic Amish details in the story. Thank you for your help and your wonderful friendship!
Special thanks to my dear friend Kim Moity, who helped with the medical details in the book. I wish you much luck and success in your nursing career.
I’m very grateful to my special Amish friend who patiently answers my endless stream of questions. You’re a blessing in my life.
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 my agent, Mary Sue Seymour — I am grateful for your friendship, support, and guidance in my writing career. Thank you for all you do!
Thank you to my amazing editors — Sue Brower and Becky Philpott. I appreciate your guidance and friendship. I also would like to thank Alicia Mey for tirelessly working to promote my books. I’m grateful to each and every person at Zondervan who
helped make this book a reality. I’m so blessed to be a part of the Zondervan family.
Thank you to Barbara Michels for the delicious Amish Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
To my readers —thank you for choosing my books. As always, I appreciate the wonderful emails and your prayers for my family.
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 resource that was used to research information for this book:
C. Richard Beam,
Revised Pennsylvania German Dictionary
(Lancaster: Brookshire Publications, Inc., 1991).
AMY CLIPSTON
is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery novels. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and currently works for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. Amy lives with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled-rotten cats.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
A Gift of Grace
A Place of Peace
A Promise of Hope
A Plain and Simple Christmas
Naomi’s Gift
Roadside Assistance
(young adult)
W
hile this novel is set against the real backdrop of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the characters are fictional. There is no intended resemblance between the characters in this book and any real members of the Amish and Mennonite communities. As with any work of fiction, I’ve taken license in some areas of research as a means of creating the necessary circumstances for my characters. My research was thorough; however, it would be impossible to be completely accurate in details and description, since each and every community differs. Therefore, any inaccuracies in the Amish and Mennonite lifestyles portrayed in this book are completely due to fictional license.
A New Curtain Rises in the Heart of Lancaster County’s Amish Country.