A Wedding for Julia

by Vannetta Chapman

  The love she saw in his eyes reminded her of all she’d seen on the other side of the bridge. One day they would cross it—together or apart, she didn’t know—but they would meet on the other side. For this day, with Sharon weeping at her side, Ada’s prayers in her ears, and Caleb showering her with kisses, she was sure she’d made the right decision to come home.

  Epilogue

  Late December

  Caleb walked across the southwest corner of the roof of Tim’s new barn. When he’d reached the corner where Tim was perched, he sat beside him. They both looked out over the women and children—numbering more than a hundred—dashing back and forth in what remained of the December afternoon light.

  The day had been cool, but not as cold as some Decembers.

  Not as cold as that day in November.

  They had raised the barn the old way—wood and peg mortise. Caleb had been present when Tim met with Eli Stutzman, who served as the master Amish engineer on the project. Eli lived on the east side of Pebble Creek. He had told Tim they could use more modern methods, but Tim had wanted the old ways.

  “Looks gut.” Caleb picked up his hat and reset it to block out the westerly sun.

  “It’s twice as big as the one the storm took.” Tim shook his head. “I suspect it will last twice as long.”

  “Gotte willing,” Caleb said.

  “Yeah. God willing.”

  The small house Tim, Jeanette, and the children shared—what had once been the original property’s grossdaddi house—had been untouched by the storm. The barn, which sat only a quarter mile from the house, had been reduced to a pile of lumber—the parts they could find. Much of it was simply gone.

  In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Caleb, Julia, and Ada had lived with Tim and his family. Although many in their congregation had offered them a place to stay, it had made more sense to stay close. Because their properties bordered each other, it had been easy to share their resources. Sharon had traveled back to Indiana. Wess had slept on the couch, giving up his room to Caleb and Julia. A small bed had been moved into Jeanette’s office for Ada.

  Over the last six weeks the community had rebuilt each home, each barn, and each business that had been destroyed or damaged. Amish workers had come by the busload, week after week, until the work was finished. Donations had poured in from Amish communities through the United States, which hadn’t surprised Caleb—and from Englisch congregations, which had.

  Tim’s barn was the last structure to be rebuilt, erasing the final loss from the storm. Each time Caleb had broached the subject, Tim had explained he was waiting on his insurance agent to process his claim. He had finally given up on waiting and given the go-ahead for the project.

  “I saw you meeting with your agent after lunch.”

  “Russell? Yeah. He’s a friendly sort.”

  “Everything straightened out?”

  “Sure.” Together they made their way down two ladders that were propped side by side. “He finally brought by my check to begin repairs on the barn.”

  “You don’t say?”

  Tim’s grin spread from one wind-burned cheek to the other. “I signed it over to Bishop Atlee.”

  “Ya?”

  “And I canceled my policy.”

  Together they headed toward the two women waiting for them, walking past neighbors and friends who called out a word of greeting as tools were packed away and leftover food was carried through the cold to waiting buggies.

  “You canceled it?”

  “Yeah. I can find better places to put that money. A good friend once told me that God knows our past and our future. I believe I’ll put my trust in Him.”

  Caleb stopped and put one hand on Tim’s shoulder. “It’s a big step. Our ways are not for everyone.”

  “I know that. I’m still finding the answers that work for me and my family. Dropping the property insurance might be unwise somewhere else, but here? Here we know our neighbors, and we know they’re dependable, good people.”

  They both turned and looked back at the barn. The wood-frame structure, which had been completed in a single day, rose against a cloudless sky. A small crew of men would return the following week to help with finishing what needed to be done so Tim would be able to use it through the remaining winter months.

  Jeanette and Julia joined them as the workers began filing past. Words of thanks and gratitude were given and received—words of grace.

  Wess followed Zoey and Victoria into the house. The children had survived the storm unscathed, though Zoey still woke screaming in the middle of the night at least once a week.

  When it was only the four of them, Caleb twined his fingers with Julia’s right hand. Her left arm had required a long row of stitches, and she still saw a physical therapist once a week to ensure she would regain full strength in it.

  They walked across the pasture and down the path that led to their back porch—their new back porch.

  “How was Lydia today?” he asked.

  “Gut, and the baby is so sweet, Caleb. When I hold him, I think of our child and feel grateful.” She placed her hand on her stomach as she spoke, as if she needed to caress the child in her womb.

  “Ya?”

  “Miriam says Gotte gives us dreams for a reason. I’m so thankful we will have children in our home and that we were able to help Sharon.”

  They stopped at the pasture fence. Missy and Red trotted over to see if there were raisins. As Caleb reached into his pocket, he marveled that his family and horses had been saved. Structures could be rebuilt, but it was a gift beyond grace to still have each other and the animals they had depended on for so long.

  David’s place, though close to the cabins, had not even been touched.

  Amish Anthem sustained only moderate roof damage. In fact, most of downtown was spared.

  Many of the families on the east side of town, both Amish and Englisch, had suffered some damage. The homes with more complete destruction, like Caleb’s and the Aaron’s cabins, tended to be on the east side. And yet there had been no loss of life. Injuries, to be sure, but those folks would heal with time.

  Caleb squeezed her hand. They had been through so much together in the first few months of their marriage. He was sure she was right. God was in control of their lives.

  They were nearly at the house when she said, “We received a letter from Sharon today.”

  “Ya?”

  “I didn’t even have to walk to our mailbox. The letter carrier knew how I’d been watching for word from her, so he brought it over.”

  “Nice of him.”

  “I think he actually wanted a closer look at the barn raising.” She lingered on the back porch watching Pebble Creek, but he pulled her inside, out of the cold.

  “I have warm tea ready for both of you,” Ada called from the kitchen.

  “Danki,” Caleb answered.

  After removing her coat, Julia sat in the chair he pulled out for her, unwinding her scarf but fiddling with the strings of her outer prayer kapp.

  “So what did it say?” He pulled the kapp loose, kissed her cheek, and sat down next to her.

  “She wrote she was having a wunderbaar visit with her family, and that Gotte is still working with her dreams and her fears…” Julia hesitated.

  “Any word about the trial of the men who tried to abduct her?”

  “I didn’t understand all of it, but there will be no trial. There was plenty of evidence against them, and three eyewitnesses from three separate incidents, including Sharon’s. The men pleaded guilty in order to receive a reduced sentence.”

  “So she won’t have to testify?”

  “Nein. She sounded relieved about that.”

  When she stopped and glanced up, he was surprised to see tears in her eyes. “And she’d like to come back in the spring.”

  “We’d be happy to have her. Ya?”

  “We would. I’ve missed her, and I know mamm has as well.”

  Caleb heard Ada pouring the
tea in the kitchen. He stood to go help her but then turned back, ducked his head, and kissed Julia quickly on the lips.

  “What was that for?”

  “Can’t a husband kiss his fraa for no other reason than he loves her?”

  “I suppose he can.”

  As he clomped into the kitchen, his muscles already stiffening from the long day of work, he realized he was happier than he’d ever been. And although the storm had taken more than was fair—in lives, in property, and in moments of fear—it had also given them much.

  Those moments by Julia’s side, when he’d thought he had lost her, were the longest of his life.

  He’d seen then, seen as crystal clear as he’d ever seen anything, exactly how precious each moment and each person was.

  “The Lord is gut,” Ada murmured as she set sugar and cream on a tray to be taken into the sitting area—their new sitting area. The home was one story now, with the café in a separate building attached by a breezeway. They would reopen their business the first week of the new year.

  “Indeed He is, Ada. Indeed He is.”

  Author’s Note

  I would like to thank my friend Bonnie Hinman for being an inspiration to me. She survived the EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, in May 2011. The building she was in collapsed on top of her, but she emerged unscathed. Her courage and faith were in the front of my mind as I wrote the final scenes of this book.

  The weather described in the last chapters is based on an actual historical occurrence. On November 11, 1911, the Great Lakes Region and Upper Midwest experienced extraordinary weather events. Record highs and lows were broken on the same day. The storm system produced F2, F3, and F4 tornadoes. Rock County, Wisconsin, endured a blizzard within one hour of being hit by an F4 tornado. Many towns were affected by that day’s weather. Nine people died in Janesville, Wisconsin, alone. I would like to offer a special dedication to the towns, victims, and survivors of that long-ago storm.

  I also would like to note that the recipes included in this story were patterned after recipes included in a very old cookbook from the Nappanee, Indiana, area.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Ada shares the Psalms, but she doesn’t always quote them word for word as we would find in the Bible. It seems as if she is reminding her family of the psalmists’ words more than she is quoting them. It’s as if she is sharing words from a friend. What has been your experience with the book of Psalms?

  2. In chapter 6, David says, “You don’t truly know someone until you share your mornings and your nights with them.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?

  3. Bishop Atlee explains to Julia, “You are still a child to your parents no matter how old you become.” Recall a time you have experienced this sentiment with your own children or from your parents.

  4. Chapter 7 contains a conversation between Caleb and his dad. This is very different from the typical view of marriage. What is your response to it?

  5. In chapter 14, we see Julia’s wedding day. As she waits in her room, she runs her hand over the double wedding ring quilt and recalls that “It had gone in the blanket chest at the foot of her bed, buried there with her hopes and dreams.” But on this day, God is giving her the dream she’d long ago forgotten. What dreams in your life has God fulfilled?

  6. In chapter 17, Sharon leaves her home upset, confused, and convinced her family doesn’t love her. Have you been through any situations like this? How did God convince you that you are loved?

  7. In chapter 19, Ada prays over Sharon with the words of Psalm 23. Have you read that psalm lately? Think of a time in your life when this portion of God’s Word ministered to you.

  8. I love the scene in chapter 26 when Julia and Caleb have their first big spat. What is causing Julia’s short temper? What about Caleb? How does his attitude make matters worse? How could they both have avoided the entire misunderstanding?

  9. In chapter 29, we learn that Wess is growing his hair out so he can donate it to Locks of Love. Discuss this or another charitable program you have been involved with.

  10. Ada describes what happened in Wisconsin on November 11, 1911. This was an actual event that included the tragedy described in the following chapters—record high and low temperatures, storms and tornadoes, followed by a blinding blizzard. All occurred within a 24-hour period. How does God use such events in our lives? How does it change the lives of Ada, Sharon, Julia, and Caleb?

  Glossary

  boppli

  baby

  bruder

  brother

  dat

  father (informal)

  danki

  thank you

  dochder(n)

  daughter(s)

  eck

  corner table

  Englisch

  non-Amish

  Englischer

  non-Amish person

  fraa

  wife

  freind(en)

  friend(s)

  gelassenheit

  humility

  gem gschehne

  you’re welcome

  Gotte

  God

  Gotte’s wille

  God’s will

  grossdaddi

  grandfather

  grossmammi

  grandmother

  gudemariye

  good morning

  gut

  good

  in lieb

  in love

  kaffi

  coffee

  kapp

  prayer covering

  kind

  child

  kinner

  children

  mamm

  mom

  narrisch

  crazy

  onkel

  uncle

  nein

  no

  rumspringa

  running-around years

  schweschder

  sister

  Was iss letz

  What is it?

  wunderbaar

  wonderful

  ya

  yes

  Recipes

  Apple-Cinnamon Pie

  1 unbaked pie crust

  1 cup sliced apples

  ½ cup sugar

  ½ cup brown sugar

  2 Tablespoons flour

  1 cup cream

  cinnamon or nutmeg, optional

  Place the apple slices in an unbaked pie crust. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the sugars and flour and then sprinkle over the apples. Pour the cream over the pie filling and sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg if desired.

  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, and then turn heat down to 350 degrees and bake another 40 minutes.

  Buttermilk Cornbread

  2 eggs

  1½ cups buttermilk

  3 Tablespoons melted lard (or shortening)

  1½ cups corn meal

  1 teaspoon salt

  1 cup flour

  ¾ teaspoon baking soda

  In a large bowl, combine the eggs, buttermilk, and lard/shortening. Add the remaining dry ingredients and pour into an 8 × 8 pan.

  Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

  Chicken Casserole

  ½ lb. uncooked spaghetti noodles

  1½ cups cooked chicken, diced

  2 eggs, beaten

  1½ cups milk

  Salt and pepper to taste

  Cook the noodles in salted boiling water until soft.

  Pour the noodles into colander, drain, and rinse. Then alternate layers of noodles and the diced chicken into a well-greased, ovenproof casserole dish. Mix the eggs with the milk and then pour over the noodles and chicken. Add salt and pepper if desired.

  Place the casserole dish in a pan of water and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

  Chicken and Dumplings

  1 cup milk

  2 cups flour

  2 eggs

  1 teaspoon salt

  1 chicken, cooked and deboned


  2 quarts water or meat broth

  Slowly add the milk to the flour, stirring constantly to keep mixture smooth. Adding 1 egg at a time, continue beating the mixture. Sprinkle in salt.

  Cook the dumplings in boiling salted water or meat broth by tilting the bowl of batter over the pan of water/broth and slicing off portions with a sharp knife. Dip the knife in the hot liquid before each cut to prevent sticking.

  Add the chicken and simmer until desired thickness is reached.

  Cinnamon Flop Cake

  1 cup sugar

  2 Tablespoons lard (or shortening)

  1 egg

  1 cup sour milk (or buttermilk)

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  2 cups flour

  2 Tablespoons cinnamon

  1 teaspoon nutmeg

  Cream sugar and lard together, and then add the remaining ingredients. Beat until smooth.

  Pour the batter into a greased and floured round cake pan or 8 × 8 pan.

  Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

  Guey Louie Sandwiches

  2 lbs. big bologna (or hot dogs)

  1 small onion

  ½ lb. cheese of your choice

  8 medium pickles

  1 Tablespoon prepared mustard

  3 Tablespoons mayonnaise

  1 package of hot dog buns

  Grind together the bologna, onion, cheese, and pickles. Add the mustard and mayonnaise. Mix well and the fill the buns.

  Wrap each sandwich in tinfoil and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

  Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake