A Son's Vow (22 page)

Letter from the Author

Dear Reader,

Have you ever been to Charm, Ohio? My first experience in this little hamlet was when I drove home from Sugarcreek the first time by myself. Maybe I was singing along with the radio a bit too enthusiastically. Maybe I was too caught up with looking at all the haystacks dotting the fields. Or maybe my terrible sense of direction came into play. In any case, one moment I was where I was supposed to be and the next? Well, I was lost in Charm.

As you might imagine, my feeble attempts to get back on my way didn't end up with much success. After a good thirty minutes, I finally pulled to a stop in front of an Amish farm. There I was, attempting to make sense out of my written directions and wondering why my Garmin wasn't working, when a farmer wandered down to greet me.

I got out, told him where I'd come from and where I was trying to get to. He listened with a serious expression on his face, then pointed to the road I'd been driving on. “Just keep going. Before you know it, you'll be on your way in no time,” he said.

Of course, that sounded a bit too easy. However, it also made a lot of sense. Because of that, I did as he suggested . . . and yes, before I knew it, I was back on my way home again. I've often thought about that advice the farmer gave me. Actually, in some ways, I think it might be some of the best advice I've ever been given! Don't we all need to just keep going, no matter what might be happening in our lives?

Because of that experience, I've always yearned to set a series of books in Charm. To me, Charm is more than just rolling hills and acres of farmland. It's more than farmers raising goats and sheep and cows. It's even more than cheese shops and lumber mills and quaint stores. It's a place where I got lost, met a kind man with good advice, and eventually found my way home again.

I hope you will enjoy this year's series, The Charmed Amish Life, as much as I am enjoying writing it.

And if by chance you ever find yourself lost in Charm? Simply keep on going! I promise that sooner or later you will eventually get where you need to be.

With blessings to you, and my thanks.

Shelley

P.S. I love to hear from readers, either on Facebook, through my website, or through the postal system! If you'd care to write and tell me what you thought of the book, please do!

Shelley Shepard Gray 10663 Loveland Madeira Rd. #167 Loveland, OH 45140

Questions for Discussion

   
1. When the book opens, Darla and Lukas are attempting to repair a broken friendship. As people grow and change, this no doubt often happens. Have you ever had a broken friendship that you've attempted to repair?

   
2. Each character in the novel is grieving in a different way. If you've lost an important family member, how did you cope?

   
3. What do you think about Lukas Kinsinger? What are his strengths? What are his weaknesses?

   
4. How did you like Hannah Eicher's story line? What do you think will happen to her with Rob and the Ross family?

   
5. The theme of family runs through the novel. Both Lukas's and Darla's families are struggling to rebuild themselves without parents. What do you think constitutes a family? How does one strengthen it?

   
6. Aaron Kurtz was a character filled with pain. What do you think he needs to do next in order to heal and find redemption? What do you think Hope should do?

   
7. The Amish proverb I used for the novel is the following:
Reach up as far as you can. God will reach the rest of the way.
How do you think it fits with this novel? Do you find it has meaning for you as well?

   
8. The scripture verse from Matthew 6:14 felt particularly meaningful to me while I wrote this book. “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” How have you practiced forgiveness in your life?

   
9. I enjoyed exploring Charm when I researched the novel. Have you been to Charm before? What do you like about exploring Amish communities?

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

1 cup diced dried cranberries

2 cups hot water

¾ cup butter, softened

1½ cups brown sugar

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 eggs

1½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a medium sheet pan and set aside.

In a small bowl, rehydrate the dried cranberries by combining with hot water. Allow to sit for one minute, then drain.

Cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix. Fold in the cranberries and white chocolate chips. Evenly press the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes until the top is a light golden brown. Allow to cool for 20 minutes, and then cut into squares.

Taken from
Country Blessings
Cookbook
by Clara Coblentz. Used by permission of the Shrock's Homestead, 9943 Copperhead Rd. N.W., Sugarcreek, OH 44681.

A Few
Charming
Facts from Shelley Shepard Gray

   
1. Charm is located in the heart of Holmes County, home to the largest Amish and Mennonite population in the world.

   
2. The actual population of Charm is only 110 people.

   
3. One of the public schools in Charm is actually called “Charm School.”

   
4. Charm was founded in 1886. It was once called Stevenson, in honor of a local Amish man, Stephan Yoder and his son.

   
5. Charm also has a nickname that some locals still use. The name is “Putschtown,” which is derived from the word “putschka,” meaning “small clump.”

   
6. The annual “Charm Days” festival is held in the fall every year. The highlight of the festival is the “Wooly Worm Derby.”

   
7. The largest business in Charm is Keim Lumber Company. Located on St. Route 557, it has a large retail showroom and website and is open to the public.

A Sneak Peek

from the Second Book in Shelley's New Series, The Charmed Amish Life,
A Daughter's Dream

Coming May 2016 from Avon Inspire

K
EEPING TWENTY-FIVE
schoolchildren reasonably happy and on task for a solid hour was harder than it looked.

As Rebecca Kinsinger stood at the front the classroom and eyed the group of students staring right back at her, she realized she had seriously misjudged her ability to manage small children.

In the last hour, the twenty-five students, all ranging in ages five to fourteen, had decidedly taken the upper hand. They'd talked to each other. They'd ignored her wishes. They didn't seem all that interested in the work their usual teacher had assigned them to do.

As the large clock above the door ticked on, Rebecca was coming to the conclusion that the only thing they did seem rather excited about was the approach of the end of the school day.

In fifteen minutes' time, to be exact.

She was starting to get excited about the end of the day, too.

As the low murmur of voices grew louder by tiny degrees with each passing minute, Rebecca decided that she didn't blame Rachel Mast, the students' teacher, for taking her time to return to the building. Being alone with this bunch for eight hours at a time would make anyone yearn for a break.

As two sweet-looking girls sitting in the middle of the first row started giggling with each other, Rebecca knew that it was time to regain control. Otherwise, Rachel would never let her help out in her classroom again, and Rebecca really wanted to learn how to be a good teacher.

She clapped her hands lightly. “
Kinner
, please. All of you have assignments to complete. It is time to get busy and work on it.”

After a pause, about half of them quieted and got to work. Two of the oldest boys, however, merely stared at her.

When it was apparent that neither of them was in any hurry to mind her, she wove her way through the line of desks until she stood directly in front of them. “I was talking to you boys as well.”

The sandy-haired boy smirked. “Oh. I wasna sure, 'cause no one's called me a child for well on two years.”

“You might not be a small child but you are certainly not a grown-up.” She placed her hands on her hips and fastened her eyes on him. “Now, get busy.”

The boy picked up his pencil, but his friend, who Rebecca knew to be Peter Beachy, folded his arms in front of his chest. “I'll do it later,” Peter said. Then he lifted his chin, practically daring her to argue with his pronouncement.

Ack, but this was terrible! How
come all the men at her family's lumber mill were always polite and amiable to her, but these . . . these
kinner
were not?

Attempting to look far more sure of herself than she felt, Rebecca said, “Peter, you'd best get to work. I know Mrs. Mast expects you to do it now.”

“I'll talk to her when she gets back.” With a shrug, he added, “I'm almost done with school, anyway. I'm fourteen. I'm already working part-time at the mill, you know.”

Oh, she knew. Rebecca figured everyone in Charm knew of Peter Beachy. He'd been a handful when he was five and the last nine years hadn't changed him much . . . unless he was at the mill. There, he became a completely different person. He was respectful and hardworking. Polite and modest.

Lukas loved him. Lukas's best friend Simon did, too. They were constantly teasing Peter or giving him some kind of special errand to do because he was such a hard worker.

But here at school?

She had yet to see any of those qualities.

Perhaps it was time to try a little less patience and a little more steel. Straightening her backbone, she said, “Peter, you might be all of fourteen but you are still a student in this class. That means you need to be respectful and follow directions.”

But instead of being cowed, Peter got to his feet. Even at fourteen, the boy was several inches taller than she was. “
Jah
, but you ain't my teacher, Miss Kinsinger. Only my boss's sister.”

At a loss for words, Rebecca blinked. His harsh tone took her aback. Just as she was debating whether to remind him that she would not hesitate to tell on him to Luke, the door opened.

“That's enough, Peter,” Rachel said sternly as she walked down the center aisle of the one-room schoolhouse's grouping of chairs. “Sit down and apologize to Miss Kinsinger.”

Peter complied immediately. “I am sorry, Miss Kinsinger.”

It was hard to come to terms with the immediate transformation that had taken place before her eyes. Peter's cocky bravado went into hiding. All at once, he looked exactly like he did at the mill. A strong boy who'd grown up doing chores and had a lifetime of hard work awaiting him at the lumber mill.

“No harm done,” she said weakly.

“Hmph,” Rachel said. Standing in front of her students, she placed her hands on her hips. The room went silent. “Scholars, I am most displeased by this behavior. I expect you all to behave much better when Miss Kinsinger is here.”

All the students looked shamefaced.

Rebecca was so amazed by their reaction, she moved to stand against the wall and simply watched as Rachel competently walked up and down the rows, reviewing homework assignments. Every so often, she would touch a child's shoulder or point to the paper he or
she was working on. She never raised her voice. She was gentle and kind, yet firm.

She was a marvel.

As she spoke, children wrote notes in their assignment booklets, gathered papers and textbooks, and generally acted like every word she said was the most important thing each had ever heard.

When she returned to the front of the classroom, Rachel smiled brightly. “
Kinner
, it's time to go home. Gather your lunch pails and backpacks, stack your chairs, and line up.”

Again, each task was done immediately and with care. Five minutes later, Rebecca watched Rachel walk to the door, open it wide, and dismiss the class.

She smiled at each one, gave a couple of the little girls hugs, and spoke softly to Peter.

When the last of the students were gone, Rachel turned to Rebecca and smiled. “
Danke
for helping me today, Rebecca. You were a lifesaver.”

The praise was as embarrassing as it was unwarranted. “I don't think that was the case at all, Rachel. I tried my best, but chaos reigned. I don't know what happened—I was sure I would have been able to manage things easily for an hour.”

She chuckled. “Don't fret. You did fine. It's simply children's natures to stretch their boundaries. They like to push a bit, just to see when someone will push right back.”

“Well, they certainly pushed.” They also won. Again, Rebecca wondered how it was possible for her to work so well with hundreds of grown men at the lumber mill but be putty in twenty-five children's hands? “I see I have a lot to learn about managing a classroom.”

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