But she had, and here her dreams were coming true— dreams of having a husband, having children who loved her, and having a writing career as well.
Her life was nearly perfect.
Nearly.
Sighing, she got up from the table. Nearly was a lot better than what much of the world has. She knew that better than anyone after her job as a TV news reporter.
Every time her own family gathered around this big wooden kitchen table and she saw how healthy and happy they were, how they had so much abundance of food and love and security, she made sure she thanked God.
Spring was coming. The cold of the winter had passed and she'd seen little green buds on the trees around the house that morning when she said good-bye to her family as they rushed off to work and schul. That was probably why her thoughts had turned to new life.
She was only in her early thirties and had years to have a baby, her doctor told her. Women could have them safely into their late forties, he'd told her.
But though she tried not to worry about internal injuries she'd suffered from the car bomb, there was still that little niggle of doubt in the back of her mind each month she didn't get pregnant.
Determined to push those thoughts aside, to remember to be grateful for what she had, she put away her writing things and changed to "mamm mode" as she called it.
Supper went into the oven—Matthew's favorite ham and scalloped potatoes. She'd endured a lot of teasing the first time she'd made it. Microwaved food had been her specialty before she became an Amish fraa. Now she cooked from scratch with recipes her grandmother handed down to her.
She turned from the oven when she heard a commotion at the door. The Bontrager children were sweet as can be, but when they came in the door after schul, they sounded like a herd of buffalo.
They swarmed into the kitchen and engulfed her in hugs.They charmed her into giving them the cookies she'd baked earlier that day along with big glasses of milk.
"Three? They're small," said Annie, giving Jenny her most charming smile.
"Two," she said. "They're big."
Seven-year-old Annie normally talked so much no one else had a chance to talk for a few minutes at the end of the schul day, but with her mouth stuffed with cookies, Joshua and Mary were able to talk.
"I helped Leah with John and Jacob today. They're still having trouble with math. It was fun."
"Maybe you'll be a teacher one day."
Mary smiled. "Maybe."
Jenny looked at Joshua. "And what did you do today?"
"I got a 100 on my science test."
"Very good. All your studying paid off." She knew to be careful with praise. Hochmut—pride—wasn't encouraged here.
Joshua didn't do as well at school as the girls. Annie had decided she wanted to be a writer like Jenny and Mary enjoyed teaching the younger children, so they both worked hard at lessons.Joshua liked working with animals and with his daedi in the fields and didn't think schoolwork was all that important.
The snack finished, the children got up, put their plates and glasses in the sink, and set about doing their chores. Mary began mixing up a bowl of cornbread, and Joshua went to help his daedi in the barn.
Jenny glanced out the window as she washed up and set the plates and glasses in the drying rack. She hadn't seen Phoebe all day. Usually she came over in the afternoon to have a cup of tea and a visit.
Wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, she turned to Annie who stood on tiptoe to get dishes out to set the table.
"Would you go over and see if Phoebe would like to have supper with us?"
"Ya!"
"And don't charm her into giving you more cookies."
Annie's face fell. "Not even one?"
Jenny's lips twitched as she tried to keep a straight face."Not even one. We'll be eating soon."
"Okay." She dragged her feet out of the room and left the house. But when Jenny turned and looked out the kitchen window, she saw her race across the field that separated the two houses.
A few minutes later, Annie slammed the front door and rushed into the kitchen.
"Whoa, a little quiet—" Jenny started to say and then she saw Annie's face.
"Mamm, I can't wake Phoebe up."
A chill ran down Jenny's spine. "She's taking a nap?"
"On the kitchen floor! I think she's sick! I think she's sick!"
Jenny reached over and turned the oven off, then called to Mary.
"Come help me see what's wrong with Phoebe. Annie, you go get your daedi. He's out in the barn."
Jenny lifted her skirts and ran across the field with Mary in tow, praying that nothing was seriously wrong with her grandmother.She had looked a little tired when she visited the day before but insisted she was fine when Jenny asked her.
But then again, Phoebe always acted like she wouldn't let the passing years slow her down.
"Phoebe! Phoebe!" she called as she ran into the house.
Just as Annie had said, Phoebe lay on the floor in the kitchen.
Amish Peanut Butter Spread
This spread is a favorite for after worship services in the Amish community. Enjoy it on bread, especially homemade bread.
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup water
2 cups peanut butter
1 pint marshmallow creme
¼ cup dark corn syrup
Bring the sugar and water to a boil. Cool. Mix in the rest of the ingredients with a mixer.
Recipe by Mary M. Miller, Sarasota, Florida
~ From Taste of Pinecraft . . . Glimpses of Sarasota, Florida's Amish Culture and Kitchens by Sherry Gore. Pinecraft Press. Used with permission from the author.
Cheeseburger Soup
½ pound ground beef
4 tablespoons butter, divided
¾ cup chopped onion
¾ cup chopped carrots
¾ cup diced celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
4 cups diced potatoes
¼ cup flour
8 ounces Velveeta cheese
1½ cups milk
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup sour cream
3 cups chicken broth (note: canned is fine)
Brown ground beef; drain and set aside. In a 3-quart or larger saucepan sauté onions, carrots, celery, and spices in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender. Add broth, potatoes, and beef. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. In a small skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Add flour. Cook and stir for 3-5 minutes.Add to soup and cook 2 more minutes. Reduce heat to low; add cheese, milk, salt, and pepper. Heat until cheese melts.Remove from heat and add sour cream.
Recipe by Mrs. Henry N. (Edna) Miller, Fredericksburg, Ohio and Miriam Good, Elida, Ohio
~ From Taste of Pinecraft . . . Glimpses of Sarasota, Florida's Amish Culture and Kitchens by Sherry Gore. Pinecraft Press. Used with permission from the author.
Amish Starter
1 package active dry yeast
½ cup warm water
2 cups warm water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Mix yeast with the ½ cup warm water and sugar. Set aside for 15 minutes. Mix in 2 cups warm water and flour, cover and set in warm (not hot) place. Stir several times for several days.Starter should smell sour and have bubbles on the surface. It will take 5 to 10 days (fewer if it's warm weather, more if it's cool). When it's ready, put in a jar. Refrigerate.
As you use the starter, add ¾ cup each warm water and flour and 1 teaspoon sugar. Must be kept refrigerated.
This is a simple starter that is quick to make and which will keep on providing starter (as you replenish) for delicious rolls.
Recipe can also be used to make Cinnamon Bread by placing the rolls in three greased loaf pans.
Amish Cinnamon Rolls
It might surprise you to find that using the Amish
starter (often used to make Friendship bread) does not produce a sour baked product. These cinnamon rolls are sweet and tender and will become a favorite.
Rolls
1 cup starter
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
½ cup vegetable oil
1½ cups hot water
½ tablespoon dry yeast
6 cups flour
Cinnamon filling
½ cup cinnamon
1 cup sugar (light brown sugar will produce a warm, dark filling)
2 sticks butter, melted
Glaze
4 cups powdered sugar
½ cup cream or milk
Mix ingredients for the rolls, cover the bowl with a cloth, and allow to rise in a warm but not hot place for at least an hour (two hours is even better). Turn out on flour-covered surface, sprinkle with a little flour and then pat or roll to a thickness of about ½ inch. Spread with melted butter, then mix the cinnamon and sugar and spread that on top. Roll the dough up and then slice into 2-inch pieces. Place into greased baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.After baking, spread glaze on top and eat!
Breakfast Casserole
1 pound bacon (1 pound of sausage may be substituted)
1 onion
8 eggs, beaten
4 cups frozen shredded hashbrown potatoes
1 cup Swiss cheese
1 cup cottage cheese
2 cups cheddar cheese
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Dice bacon and onion and sauté in a skillet until bacon is browned. Drain. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Pour into a greased 13-inch x 9-inch x 2-inch baking dish; add bacon. Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes, then cut into portions. Serves 12.
An Interview with Author Barbara Cameron
Q: What inspired you to create the Quilts of Lancaster County series?
Barbara: I have loved learning about the Amish since I took a trip to Lancaster County years ago. They inspire me with their desire for a deeply spiritual, simple way of life. For the Quilts series, I wanted to explore how a young woman who was in love with the life and with a young man could adapt to that life after a devastating injury that affects her belief in God.
Q: Is there anything specific about the titles you chose?
Barbara: I wish I could take credit for the titles. My wonderful editor, Barbara Scott, read the first manuscript and saw that I mentioned Ecclesiastes ("a time to love, a time to . . .") and wanted to change my titles. She was very sweet in her e-mail, saying sometimes authors get attached to their titles. Well, we do sometimes but not when someone else comes up with something so much better! Then she said the editorial committee discussed how quilts were used in the book (Jenny wakes in the hospital covered by a quilt made by her grandmother).Barbara said each of them had memories of quilts—even the sole male committee member—and it felt like everything fell into place.
Q: How much research did this series take?
Barbara: Tons! I wanted to make certain that I caught the way of life, the search for a deeper meaning to life, not just the focus on ourselves and the endless search it seems the Englisch, as the Amish call us, seem to have for things. In my research, I met an Old Order Amish woman who would graciously agree to read my work. I wanted to make sure I didn't offend the Amish, or make a mistake—readers who like Amish fiction know a lot about them. When she called to tell me that it was obvious I loved the Amish, that she had enjoyed the first story I sent her, I sat down and cried. I felt like I'd done the job I hoped to do.
Q: What elements do you think readers will find they can relate to even if they're not familiar with the Amish culture?
Barbara: Reading is a very individual experience so there may be different things that resonate for different readers. One thing I know for certain is that I have found it easier to trust God's will, something the Amish feel is an important part of their spiritual life.
Q: How do you as the author connect with the characters in the series?
Barbara: I didn't base Jenny on me, but I was able to use my experiences with wondering what God wanted me to do with my life when I experienced a big change in it. And oh, did I ever relate to her struggles with physical therapy because I'd had an injury the year before and dealt with it. I also loved to write about the children in the story as they grow and become even more dear to Jenny and the family.
Q: Do your characters begin to take on a life of their own as you write?
Barbara: They sure do! My daughter came home from school one day to find me sitting and crying at my computer. I told her that so-and-so had died. She said she didn't know I had a friend with that name. It was a character. (I can't tell you the name of the character—spoiler alert!)
Q: Can you give us a teaser as to what we can expect in the future?
Barbara: There are three books in the Quilts series but who knows . . . maybe there will be more. And my editor has also bought Stitches in Time, a three-book Amish series (one of the books is set in an unusual location . . .).
Q: What message would you like your readers to take away from A Time to Heal?
Barbara: Maybe the first and most important is that there is always hope—hope that we will grow even closer to God through any time we experience when we feel alone with a challenge. And we never know when and where we may find love.
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Be sure to visit Barbara Cameron online!
www.BarbaraCameron.com
www.AmishHearts.com
www.AmishLiving.com
If you missed the first book of
the heartwarming Quilts of Lancaster County series,
enjoy this excerpt from A Time to Love
War correspondent Jenny King thinks she's just a temporary guest in her grandmother's Amish community while she recuperates from the devastating injuries sustained in a car bomb attack that changed her world. But when she meets Matthew Bontrager, the man she had a crush on as a teenager, she wonders if God has a new plan for her. Jenny has emotional and physical scars. Though she feels she has come home to this man and this place, she's not sure she can bridge the difference between their worlds.
A Time to Love, Barbara Cameron
Available now from Abingdon Press
www.Abingdon Press.com/fiction and bookstores everywhere
Bonus chapter from Book 1 in
the "Quilts of Lancaster County" series
A Time to Love
1
Jenny woke from a half-doze as the SUV slowed to approach a four-way stop.
"No!" she cried. "Don't stop!"
"I have to stop."
"No!" she yelled as she lunged to grab at the steering wheel.
David smacked her hands away with one hand and steered with the other. The vehicle swerved and horns blared as he fought to stop. "We're in the States!" he shouted. "Stop it!"
Jenny covered her head and waited for the explosion. When it didn't come, she cautiously brought her arms down to look over at David.
"We're in the U.S.," he repeated quietly. "Calm down. You're safe."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she whispered. Covering her face, she turned away from him and wished she could crawl into a hole somewhere and hide.
He touched her shoulder. "It's okay. I understand."
Before he could move the SUV forward, they heard a siren.The sound brought Jenny's head up, and she glanced back fearfully to see a police car.
"Pull over!" a voice commanded thr
ough the vehicle's loudspeaker.
Cursing beneath his breath, David guided the SUV to the side of the road. He reached for his wallet, pulling out his driver's license.
A police officer appeared at David's window and looked in. Jenny tried not to flinch as he looked at David, then her."Driver's license and registration, please."
David handed them over. "Officer, I'd like to explain—"
"Stay in your vehicle. I'll be right back," he was told brusquely.
When the officer returned, he handed back the identification."Okay, so you want to explain what that was all about —how you started to run the stop sign and nearly caused an accident?"
"It's my fault," Jenny spoke up.
"Jenny! I—"
"Let her talk."
"You can't stop at a four-way," she told him in a dull voice."You could get killed." She drew a quilt more tightly around her shoulders.
"You look familiar," the officer said, studying her face for a long moment. "Now I got it. You're that TV reporter, the one who was reporting from overseas, in the war zone—" he stopped. "Oh."
He glanced at David. "And you're that network news anchor.What are you doing in these parts?"
"Taking her to recuperate at her family's house."
The officer glanced back at Jenny. "Didn't know you were Amish. Thought they didn't believe in television."
Jenny fingered the quilt. "It's my grandmother," she said, staring ahead. "She's the one who's Amish."
She met the officer's gaze. "Please don't give David a ticket.It was my fault. I freaked and grabbed the steering wheel. I didn't want him to stop. But it won't happen again."
The officer hesitated then nodded as he touched the brim of his hat. "I have friends who've been through the same thing.Be careful. You've been through enough without getting into a car accident."
She nodded. "Thank you."
After returning to his patrol car, the officer pulled out on the road and waved as he passed them.
A Time to Heal Page 22