The Beloved Christmas Quilt
Page 30
Grandma added, “I’d like a hot cup too, Seth.”
As Roseanna sat eating breakfast with her family, she could barely focus on the conversation. It felt like she was reliving the past. Well, at least Dad hadn’t spilled his coffee this time. And everyone seemed extra chipper. Soon Katie would arrive to help Roseanna prepare for her big day.
Mom and Grandma had made a couple of breakfast casseroles, as well as a bowl of fresh berries and cut-up fruit with yogurt and homemade granola mixed in it. Roseanna liked everything, but her nerves were challenging her appetite. After silent prayer, everyone dished up their breakfast, clearly enjoying their choices.
Roseanna took small portions of the fruit and a good spoonful of the casserole. “This is definitely one of my favorites. Thank you for making it,” she said to her sisters, Mom, and Grandma, signing it as well.
“You’re welcome,” they responded in unison, with Nancy Anne signing the same words.
Nancy Anne sat next to Roseanna and signed: “How are you doing this morning? Any butterflies?”
“I’m doing well, so far.” She smiled, placing one hand on her stomach. “My butterflies are doing good, too.” Roseanna talked with her hands.
Nancy Anne laughed along with her whole family.
“My daughter will do just fine today.” Mom beamed, and her eyes twinkled.
“You’re right about that,” Dad added.
“We’re so happy for you, granddaughter. What an extraordinary day this is.” Grandma reached over and patted Roseanna’s hand.
Roseanna watched Adam spooning more casserole on his plate. Her brother could put away huge portions of food, and it hardly showed on him. He looked over at Roseanna. “Since you aren’t eating much, I’ll eat enough for the both of us.”
“Just wait until it’s your turn,” Dad said. “Getting married can make anyone nervous.”
“I remember your father on our wedding day. He worried about whether his hair was sticking up,” Mom teased.
“I didn’t do that.” He looked at his wife and then her folks.
Their heads nodded as they chuckled over the memory.
“See, Adam. That just proved my point. Even I was a bit nervous on my wedding day.” Dad leaned back in the chair and brought his coffee cup up to his lips.
Roseanna finished the food on her plate. It was nice to have all her family here. Before noon today, she would be married and known as Mrs. John Beiler. She took a sip of her apple juice, staring out at a finch on the feeder.
“Rosey.” Her mother’s voice intruded. “Did you get enough to eat?” Mom got up from the table and put some of the food back into the pantry.
“Plenty.” Roseanna carried her dish and glass over to the sink. “I hope I didn’t eat too much. Otherwise I won’t be able to eat any of the meal after the wedding.”
Grandma Zook giggled. “We can’t have that now, can we?”
Roseanna rinsed her dishes and placed them in the pan of warm sudsy water.
“Don’t worry about the dishes.” Mom enveloped Roseanna in a warm hug. “You need to finish getting ready for the wedding.”
A knock sounded at the front door, so Roseanna went to see who it was. Katie stood there with her own dress. “Good morning, Roseanna.”
“Hi. Come on in. Are you hungry? There’s some food in the kitchen,” Roseanna offered her good friend.
“Katie, is that you?” Roseanna’s mother called. “If you’re hungry, come on in here and we can take care of you.”
“Well, okay. I barely ate a slice of toast this morning,” Katie admitted.
Roseanna took Katie’s dress and held on to it for her friend.
“Here’s a plate for you. We can’t have you passing out due to lack of energy,” Mom teased.
Roseanna watched Katie dish up a nice amount of casserole and heap fruit on her plate. “Should I eat right here?”
“No, take it upstairs with you so I can start getting ready.” Roseanna nudged Katie’s arm. I wish I had her appetite.
“Okay, thank you for this meal.” Katie smiled at Roseanna’s mom.
“You’re very welcome.”
“Let’s go up.” Roseanna hurried from the room, with Katie trailing along.
Leaves huddled around the outside of the tent and some skittered across the gravel, as Roseanna followed John. She couldn’t fight the urge to shiver when the breeze whirled through. It’s a lot colder than it was last year. Roseanna rubbed her arms to take off the chill.
“Are you nervous, Roseanna?” John sat down on the bench near the opening of the tent. Leaning slightly forward with one hand on his knee, he looked up at her.
“No. Well, yes.” Her face heated. “It was just a chill. It’s not exactly the warmest of days.”
“Yeah, true.”
Roseanna sat beside him. Her fingers tingled as she heard guests coming into the tent. “Are you nervous?”
“Very much.” He reached for her hand. “But I know I can get through it because I have you.”
Roseanna’s heart fluttered. It felt like butterflies were dancing in her stomach. The first hymn had begun, which meant it was time for her and John to be counseled by the ministers, so they got up and headed toward the house. John and I will make it through this. She looked over at him. I sure hope we can.
It seemed to take hours to finish the counseling. Her mind wandered into possible outcomes of the wedding. Either she would become John’s wife and have a future with him, or she was going to be disappointed again. Roseanna could see how her fiancé was different this time around. She could also see how much he cared for her, yet her fears still battled her hopes.
Roseanna tugged on her dress. I don’t want you to leave me again. I don’t want you to hurt me again. I couldn’t bear it.
She scolded herself. Is this the way someone of faith should think or feel about the one they love?
After the counseling ended, it was time to reenter the tent and sit down in front of everyone. Roseanna was nervous about who was watching and what they might say about her and John. Fortunately, most of the people in her community were caring and supportive. Rosanna prayed everything would go according to the Lord’s plan. Discreetly, she glanced over at John.
He scooted his chair forward, which caused a wave of anticipation to wash over Roseanna. She wished she could get his attention, and felt relieved when he relaxed against the back of his seat. Oh. He was just repositioning himself. She clasped her fingers together. I’m being too paranoid. Closing her eyes briefly, she prayed, Lord, I ask for Your perfect peace to wrap around me and John. Amen.
John’s eyes shifted to Roseanna, noticing how uneasy she looked. Roseanna probably thinks I’m about to run out on her like I did before. I understand why she would. He lowered his head. There’s no excuse for what I did to her. Don’t worry, Roseanna. I’m done running. I am committed to sharing our new life together. He closed his eyes. Lord, please allow my thoughts to concentrate on Your spiritual principles in the messages about marriage that will be given this morning, and let me remember these words of wisdom. Amen.
John’s jaw had been sore from being clenched, but he began to relax as he focused on the message one of the ministers was giving about the importance of honesty, communication, and commitment in marriage. The sacrament of marriage was not to be taken lightly.
When the first minister finished, there was a period of silent prayer. All those present turned around and knelt, facing their bench. After the prayer was over, the congregation stood, but still did not turn around. A deacon read a passage of scripture from the Gospel of Matthew. The congregation sat down.
As the bishop stood up to speak, John glanced at his betrothed. Her genuine smile removed all fear.
When the bishop finished his message, he announced: “We have two people who have agreed to enter the state of matrimony, John Beiler and Roseanna Allgyer.”
Roseanna and John rose from their seats, walked forward, and stood before the bishop.
John answered without hesitation: “Yes.”
After that, the bishop directed his words to Roseanna. “Can you confess, sister, that you accept this, our brother, as your husband, and that you will not leave him until death separates you? And do you believe that this is from the Lord and that you have come thus far by your faith and prayers?”
“Yes,” Roseanna replied with confidence.
After another quote from the bishop, he took Roseanna’s right hand and placed it in John’s right hand. Putting his own hands above and beneath their hands, he continued with a blessing. “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you together and give His rich blessing upon you and be merciful to you. To this I wish you the blessings of God for a good beginning and a steadfast middle time, and may you hold out until a blessed end. This all in and through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
At the name of Christ, all three bowed their knees.
“Go forth in the name of the Lord. You are now man and wife.”
As Roseanna and John returned to their chairs, she felt blissful and knew they would do their best to live according to God’s biblical plan for marriage. With every passing day and night, they would be together as one mind, one body, and one soul.
EPILOGUE
One year later
On the day for exchanging Christmas gifts, the snow had been falling lightly. Roseanna was surrounded by her family at her and John’s new home. They’d had a nice turkey dinner along with some tasty trimmings. The women had cleaned and put away all the dishes. Then they joined the men in the living room, where a warm fire burned in the fireplace. Adam had been chosen to pass out the gifts to the family members.
Roseanna and John had lived with his parents the first months of their marriage, putting money away toward a home of their own, which they had recently purchased. During the months that had passed since their wedding, Roseanna could see positive changes in John as his faith grew. She was excited to be living in the older home they’d bought, with all the new things they had added to it. Today’s gathering was a testament to how well everything was working out for Roseanna and John.
While exchanging gifts, Adam handed Roseanna a familiar package from her mother. Opening the pretty box, she pulled out the Christmas quilt she had refused to take when she’d been jilted by John. Roseanna looked up. “Mom, why didn’t you save the quilt for Mary?”
Mom smiled. “You’re the eldest daughter, so it goes to you. I have other special mementos for Mary and Nancy Anne when their times come.”
Feeling grateful for the family God had given her, and especially for John, Roseanna accepted the beloved Christmas quilt.
After all the gifts had been given out, the ladies went to the kitchen to get the desserts. There was plenty to eat and a couple of new things to try. About the time they’d finished their pies and cakes, everyone was ready to do some singing. What fun it was to be together enjoying one another’s company.
That evening after all the family had left and the house stood quiet as the soft falling snow outside, Roseanna examined the quilt, realizing the verse Grandma Zook had shared with her was the same one embroidered on the quilt backing. She read the verse silently. “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me”—Psalm 31:3.
As she held it tenderly in her arms, Roseanna looked forward to someday passing both this special Christmas quilt and the promise it contained on to her own daughter.
ROSEANNA’S PUMPKIN PIE
Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin, cooked
1½ cups coconut sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons coconut flour
4 egg yolks
4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 egg whites, beaten until stiff
1 (9 inch) unbaked pastry shell
Preheat oven to 375°. In mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, coconut sugar, salt, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and flour. Add egg yolks, milk, and vanilla to the dry ingredients, stirring until mixed well. Fold in stiff egg whites. Pour into unbaked pastry shell. Bake 1 hour or until knife inserted in pie comes out clean.
Richelle Brunstetter lives in the Pacific Northwest and developed a desire to write when she took creative writing in high school. After enrolling in college classes, her overall experience enticed her to become a writer, and she wants to implement what she’s learned into her stories. Just starting her writing career, her first published story appears in The Beloved Christmas Quilt beside her grandmother, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and her mother, Jean. Richelle enjoys traveling to different places, her favorite being Kauai, Hawaii.