Tugging on her hand, he pulled her past the barn, back toward the pond to the south of the main house.
There, beneath the bare limbs of a giant oak tree sat a bench built into the shelter of a stand of trees. They were protected from the wind, and when they’d reached it, when they’d sat and nothing could interrupt them but the sound of the birds and the ice cracking out on the pond, he turned to her and reached into his pocket.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” he began tentatively, then added, “about what happened at the barn.”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“Ya, there is. Maybe I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what, Samuel?”
Instead of answering her, he stared out over the pond. “The day we returned from delivering Faith’s baby, we stopped at the top of the hill overlooking your dat’s place.”
“I remember.”
“The farms stretched out, reminding me of a quilt my mamm had made—a quilt I hadn’t seen in quite some time.” He pulled out a finely crocheted bookmark, with a cradle at the top and a cross at the bottom. Placing it in her hand, he explained, “Last night I found myself wanting, needing to read the Christmas story from my mamm and dat’s old family Bible. I keep it wrapped in that quilt, in an old cedar chest my dat made.”
His fingers caressed the bookmark’s delicate threads. “I unfolded the quilt and pulled out the Bible, and I came across this. I remember the year my mamm made it, how I used to keep it in my Bible, but I don’t remember why I stopped.”
“Samuel—”
“Maybe somewhere along the way, maybe after Mary and Hannah died, I stopped believing in God’s goodness. Maybe I stopped believing in the gift of Christmas, or that God had any gut thing left for me.”
Annie reached out and touched his face. “Samuel, that’s not true.”
“Ya, I know that now.” He smiled, and his smile did much to mend her heart. “I think I knew it last night when I found this old gift from my mamm. Maybe I knew it the first night I laid eyes on you, when you rushed into your dat’s room.”
“I don’t—”
“But I know I understood the goodness of God when Bishop Levi started preaching this morning, when he preached about grace and our need to accept it and offer it to each other.”
Annie sat frozen, her eyes darting back and forth from the cross in her hand to Samuel, trying to understand.
Samuel took her hand in his, gently placed the bookmark there, and closed her fingers around it.
“Do you remember when you told me Faith’s baby reminded you of the Christ child and the cross?”
She nodded, her tears now spilling.
“First Christmas isn’t our day for gift-giving,” she whispered.
“Let’s make an exception.”
Annie stared down at the bookmark, trying to make sense of all he was saying.
“So you’re giving this to me as a gift?”
“Ya, but I can’t be letting it out of my family.”
“Out of your family?”
Samuel smiled, reached forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. Annie thought she might have heard snow fall softly around them, or it might have been the brush of angels’ wings.
Or perhaps her heart took flight.
“I’m asking you to marry me, Annie Weaver.”
“What about—”
“Say yes or no. We’ll work out the rest later.”
“But—”
“Say what’s in your heart, Annie.”
“You’re in my heart, Samuel.”
He kissed her again, sent her heart rate into a quick double rhythm.
“Are you saying yes?”
“I’m saying yes.”
Samuel closed his hands around hers, which still held the crocheted heirloom, still held the cross. “Then you can keep the gift.”
Glossary
Ach—oh
Aenti—aunt
Bedauerlich—sad
Boppli—baby
Bopplin—babies
Bruder—brother
Daed—dad
Danki—thank you
Dat—father
Dietsch—Pennsylvania Dutch
Dochdern—daughters
Eiferich—excited
Englisch/Englischer—non-Amish person
Fraa—wife
Freinden—friends
Froh—happy
Gegisch—silly
Gelassenheit—calmness, composure, placidity
Gem gschehne—you’re welcome
Gotte’s wille—God’s will
Grandkinner—grandchildren
Grossdaddi—grandfather
Grossdochdern—granddaughters
Grossmammi—grandmother
Gschtarewe—dead
Gudemariye—good morning
Gut—good
In lieb—in love
Kaffi—coffee
Kapp—prayer covering
Kind—child
Kinner—children
Mamm—mom
Naerfich—nervous
Onkel—uncle
Rumschpringe—running around; time before an Amish young person has officially joined the church, provides a bridge between childhood and adulthood.
Schweschder—sister
Was iss letz—what’s wrong
Wunderbaar—wonderful
Ya—yes
Discussion Questions
1. When the Christmas season begins, Annie realizes how homesick she is. How do you feel when Christmas songs and decorations begin popping up the day after Thanksgiving? Do you think it honors God or detracts from the meaning of Christmas?
2. By the end of the third chapter, we see that God is going to use Annie’s skills, which she acquired during her period of rebellion, to minister to her family and her community. How does this coincide with the Bible’s teachings of grace?
3. At the end of chapter 9, Annie’s mother reminds her of the Scripture found in Matthew 7:12—to treat others as we’d want to be treated. Annie’s claims that she knows the Scripture, to which Rebekah replies, “I expect you do. Most of us know it. The knowing is easy. It’s the doing that gives us trouble.” What response did you have to this conversation?
4. Chapter 11 is one of my favorite scenes, where Aaron and Faith have their child at home. My mother was born at home, so I very much enjoyed writing this. What was your reaction to this scene, and what are your thoughts on home-birthing in our age of modern medical technological advancements?
5. Samuel learns a young girl in their community, Sharon Smucker, is pregnant and will be needing medical care. Even the Amish community occasionally needs to deal with issues such as single mothers. What did you think about how this aspect of the story developed?
6. In chapter 16, Annie confesses to Samuel that she understood Bishop Levi’s sermon, even thought she’d taken it to heart, but then a few hours later all the peace had melted away. Have you ever had trouble holding on to a special, spiritual moment?
7. The Amish believe strongly in accepting Gotte’s wille and moving on with your life, even when tragedy strikes. Samuel has a bit of trouble with this, but he finally comes to the conclusion that he can honor Mary and still love Annie. What are some ways that we can honor those who have gone on to be with the Lord?
8. Samuel overreacts to what he thinks he sees in the barn when he encounters Annie and David there. His reaction was emotional, not logical, and reflected past hurts and present insecurities. In the end, God uses this misunderstanding to bring him closer to Annie. What is necessary for God to use our mistakes for our own good?
9. Annie wonders if she can really love Samuel, when they’ve only been re-acquainted for less than a month. What do you think? Does true love take time?
10. One of the themes of the book is forgiveness. Discuss a situation in your life where you have given, received, or need to offer forgiveness.
Dear Readers,
Are you part of a reading group or
book club? I adore meeting my readers. If you’d like to set up a book chat, or if you’d just like me to respond to some of your questions, email me at [email protected]. I can also be reached via my website http://www.vannettachapman.com, or you’re welcome to come and blog with me at http://vannettachapman. wordpress.com.
An Interview with Author Vannetta Chapman
Q: What inspired you to create the story of A Simple Amish Christmas?
Vannetta: Two things really. First, the idea that while there are many differences between the Amish community and the one where I live, there are also many things we share in common. I wanted to explore one of those commonalities—the need to fit into a community you love and find a way to use your God-given talents. Second, the more I learn about the Amish and the more Amish people I meet, the more I am inspired by their ability to keep the main thing the main thing—that being family and faith. What better way to discuss that than with a Christmas story?
Q: Are there any elements that readers may be able to relate to?
Vannetta: I think we can all relate to the need to slow down, simplify our lives, and spend time with the people we love. Whether it’s Christmas or summer vacation, life speeds by in the blink of an eye. Annie’s story reminds us that time doesn’t stand still, and we aren’t guaranteed to have those we love around us forever, so it’s important to appreciate every day.
Q: How do you as the author connect with your characters?
Vannetta: It’s very crowded in my little office with all of these characters milling around! Seriously though, I connect with my characters easily because they represent real people with real hurts and dreams. When I write a story, it might be shelved as fiction but it’s nonfiction to me in that I draw from past experience—both my own and that of other people. Then it’s only a matter of coloring in the details with my imagination.
Q: What do you think readers will enjoy most about the love story between Annie and Samuel?
Vannetta: What I enjoyed the most as Annie and Samuel’s story unfolded was the fact that they weren’t the “perfect” couple. They didn’t get along in every scene, and their relationship didn’t progress smoothly at every turn. Instead, like most of us, they had to work at it in a few places. They had to seek the advice of others, and they had to pray about what was the best direction to take. In the end, they had to trust their hearts and trust the Lord. I love this, because it’s a true life romance. In my opinion, those are the very best kind.
Q: Even though this is a seasonal story would you say that A Simple Amish Christmas can be enjoyed year round?
Vannetta: Absolutely! Now you knew I’d say that. Honestly, I think this story is less about a certain holiday than it is about a way of life and the paths of two people. When their paths cross, they have a few decisions to make, and it will change their lives as well as the lives of their families. Christmas is part of the setting, and it’s a fun element of the story, but Annie and Samuel’s story began before December 1, and it will continue past the new year. I think readers can enjoy it all year long as well!
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