An Amish Christmas Gift: Three Amish Novellas

AN AMISH CHRISTMAS GIFT: THREE AMISH NOVELLAS by Amy Clipston, Ruth Reed, and Kelly Irvin

Three short stories that are really great! This is a fun collection for a fan of Amish fiction to enjoy at the Christmas holidays or any time, really.

Amy Clipston's story, Naomi’s Gift is my favorite of the three of the three novellas. Naomi was so real and really pulled the reader into her story. It set the tone to feel empathy for Naomi, how she was and how she was misunderstood. Caleb and Susie were also great and realistic characters. The attraction and connection between Naomi and Caleb was perfect. I had not read the series that this novella is connected to, but did not have any problem following along in the story.

An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid was a very different read.  The story read more like a young adult novella and seemed a little jumpy at times.  I thought the growth of their relationship was sweet and fun and it was great to bring in the extended family members.  It could have easily developed into a novel.  I enjoyed reading about Micah’s changing feelings for Abigail. Things certainly change quickly at the story’s end!

Kelly Irvin's novella, A Christmas Visitor has great and complex characters.  The tension between Frannie and Rocky is great and the situation that they are in keeps the reader engrossed.  Frannie’s aunt adds plenty of extra tension to the situation, as well, with the way she wants to push Joseph and Frannie together. This novella can stand alone, but it is also connected to the Amish of Bee County series.  It is a great story!

I enjoy these Amish novella collections. If you do, too, then I definitely recommend An Amish Christmas Gift as a book you will want to read.

What is YOUR "Why?"

WHY?????

On January 7, it will be four years since Tash died.  I have spent much of that time asking "why." 

- WHY did she die?

- WHY was she sick?

- WHY wasn't I there when she died?

- WHY didn't I do things differently?

- WHY didn't I call her that day?

- WHY couldn't she have been born healthy?

- WHY couldn't we have found her a donor?

- WHY couldn't I save her?

- WHY WHY WHY????

Last year, I began asking other questions that began with "why."

- WHY did I continue to live when Tasha died?

- WHY did I survive?

- WHY am I here?

Yes, they all kind of sound alike.  But, there MUST be a purpose for me to continue to breathe.  So, I began digging - reading, talking through more things in counseling, writing, meditating - whatever I could think of to do to find my purpose. I am not there yet.  But, I am closer.

As the new year arrived, I began making a list of possible reasons why I am still here and Tasha is not.  None of them take the pain of loss away - but, they have begun to give me hope.  They have made me think - made me more excited to get out of bed in the morning.

And, I am thankful for another chance at finding my purpose - I will always be Tasha's mom - but, now, I am working to find out who I am on my own.

NAMASTE... 

Happy New Year...2016, what will you bring?

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM LONDON!

As some of you know and many of you don't, we moved to London last April.  I have called it my "great escape."  It has taken the pressure off me and my grieving process. This "great escape" has allowed me to really step forward in my journey to find happiness again. 

My life will never be the same - mornings will never be easy - but, I believe that it might be okay to be happy again.  Even as I write this, I feel a twinge of guilt.  But, still, "I rise..."

But, I know that living in the cloud of grief without at least making the effort to be happy again is also a disservice to Tasha and her memory.  It allows the day of her death to override all of the days she LIVED!!  She lived a little over 10,000 days - certainly not enough - but, her life is so much more than the one day she died.

SO.....here I am....welcoming 2016 and thankful for the opportunity to find some happiness in my life, while continuing in the discovery and search of my authentic self.

There are no people to judge my process here - no one to tell me to put my "big girl panties on" and get over it - no one to ask "how can you be happy?" - It's just me walking the line...looking up to the heavens, asking Tash if she is proud - to send me signs - to carve my own path in my life that continues without her, but, still honoring her life and memory.

I love London and while I have been writing for myself, I am ready to begin sharing again - this is a great country - a stoic country - a country that opens its doors to provide opportunities to so many - and now, it has given me the opportunity - to feel - to explore - to be more me than I have ever had the chance to be!

And, now, we have entered a new year...with more chances...and, I am ready to take them all...

2016...the year of simple abundance...the year of exploration...the year of love...

There is no better gift I can give my husband, family and friends than myself - a me comfortable and at peace with myself.  This is the year I continue letting go of what and who doesn't work for me any more...it is an opportunity to celebrate the life I have left!

While continuing to miss Tasha every day of my life, I will continue toward happiness...I will choose joy!

So, watch out, 2016...here I come!

Cheers!

THE BIG HOUSE ON ADAMS STREET by Alberta Sparks

Fritz, a child born because of a horrific act, finds himself seeking a different kind of life for himself as an adult, rather than the one that was planned for him.  Leaving Germany on a quest to find family and build a different kind of family, Fritz builds a special house upon arriving in America.  Gathering people from here and there, those often considered "undesirables," a new kind of family does emerge.  The house becomes a kind of utopia - filled with happy people willing to contribute for the good of all.

Although the premise of the book was promising, it was often jumpy and disjointed.  Fritz, the main character in the book, is the only character truly fleshed out. The other characters left the reader with vague impressions and full of questions.  Perhaps, with fewer characters or more chapters, it would have been more of what I was looking for after reading the title. 

It is a good book - a good story - but, perhaps, a good edit or partial rewrite could make it a great book!

Some days, the pain is stronger than the will to keep going is...

I am still here....

It's been months since I have published anything personal.  I continue to write daily, but when I read back over what I have written, I often see it as too personal to share - too depressing to share.  But, I am still here.  I am pushing on after a rough couple of months.  But, YES, I am still here!

It's been 199 weeks, 4 days, 19 hours and 53 minutes since my daughter took her last breath.  We are getting close to four years - and, I have said it before - feels like yesterday - feels like 100 years ago -

But, as the holidays get closer, I would just like to encourage those who know a grieving parent to reach out to them...make a phone call...send a card...invite them to lunch...JUST REACH OUT!!!  There is nothing that means more than another human reaching out to you when you are grieving your child.  I have been blessed by incredible friends and family who have never left me alone.  But, then there are those who turned their backs and/or walked away.  It has been amazing to see who has stepped into their places and carried me through some of the worst days of my life.

I know in our society we do not often know how to acknowledge grief - it makes us uncomfortable, as if it might be contagious.  But, the expectation of a grieving parent is low - all it takes is a kind word, a free ear and/or a hug to remind them they are still vital and there is still purpose.  This is especially true of as we often lose our purpose when we lose our children.  I was always Tasha's mom - and a teacher - those are the two things that defined me.  I know I am still Tasha's mom - but, without her here, I realized I had no thought of who else I might be and I am still figuring it out.

SO, as we enter the holiday season, remember the grieving parent - she/he is often wearing a mask with a smile - trying to make others feel comfortable - while screaming with pain on the inside.  Please be patient with us - we are fragile - our wings have been broken.  Make that call - extend that hand of friendship - you will not be sorry, for a grieving parent never forgets the kindness from those who reached out ---

NAMASTE

BATHSHEBA: Bathed in Grace BY Carol Cook

Carol Cook provides new perspective from eight women in the Bible.  Using God’s forgiveness and grace as a central theme, Cook retells the stories of “scandalous” women.  Giving thoughts and motives to their actions, the reader sees the women in a new light.  One example is Eve – Cook, in providing her way of thinking shows Eve as the true innocent she was.  She also provides the story of how the suffering God promised is fulfilled through childbirth to the death of one of her sons.  But, she never gives up on her relationship with God, as it carries her through the settlement outside of Eden through the birth of more sons.  A new dimension is added to the women so many thought of as bad or scandalous.

This book was a good read and a new perspective on stories that I have heard and read most of my life.  I enjoyed this insight to these women.  This would be a great book to introduce to a Bible study.  It is a wonderful addition to the stories that so many have heard and passed judgment on in previous readings.  I really liked it and would love to read more stories like this and share them with those who struggle with the reading of the Bible – to add a personal touch to and ease the reading for many.  I look forward to reading more stories like this in the future – I really enjoyed Carol Cook’s interpretation of the stories of these eight women from the Bible.