As it turned out, Morgan and Daniel ended up beating us to the altar. They were married in the spring. She sent a detailed letter of the event, a letter I kept in my apron pocket and took out the week after, reading it over again. The pastor from the Langnau Mennonite Church, their place of worship, performed the service. She said God had done an amazing work in her and that her father, on occasion, even joined them for church. Daniel would start classes at the university in the fall, and she and Oskar were expanding the shop at Amielbach to represent even more area artists and to sell Amish quilts from Lancaster County. She was working with my mamm on that project.
Leah Fisher resigned from her teaching job right after her wedding, and Will and I decided it would be best for me to take it, at least until my own wedding—best for me and for Christy.
I made a point of talking with Will in detail about my blood disorder. I explained it was hereditary and any children we might have could be at risk. He looked at me intently and said, “Ada, you’re having a good life, right, regardless of your disorder?”
I assured him I was.
“Then what’s the problem?”
I decided there wasn’t one.
Alice rallied, not enough to help Will with the kids, but she said she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon when life was so exciting. Between Will and me shuttling Mammi and Alice back and forth, the two friends saw each other more often than ever. Their joy about Will and me marrying was endless, and they marveled that after more than a century, the two families would be legally united. They were sure Elsbeth and Marie were rejoicing in heaven.
I joined the church in October, and our wedding was in November. We said our vows in Mamm and Daed’s house in the living room and celebrated with three hundred guests, including Lexie and James, who came from Oregon. Of course, Ella and Lexie couldn’t stand beside me as that wasn’t our way, but they were in the second row with all of my family. Lexie had come out a week early, and in many ways it was the best week of my life, so far. I had a sister. I was marrying Will Gundy. I was going to be a mother to three beautiful children I already knew and loved. All of my dreams had come true.
I also had a place in a community that was truly home. I had a mamm and daed who, just as they had seen to the details of raising me, now saw to all the details of my wedding, ensuring that our guests would be well fed and taken care of. Ella actually helped with that by making the cakes and dozens and dozens of cookies. My Plain cake wasn’t as fancy as Lexie’s, but it tasted just as good.
We invited Giselle to join us, praying she would. She wrote back, sharing our joy, but said she wasn’t ready to visit—yet. She hoped we’d understand.
During the ceremony, Will’s three girls were in the first row, sitting beside Alice. When Bishop Fisher instructed Will and me to kneel and clasp hands, Mel and Matty managed to escape their chairs and join us. Everyone laughed, and I turned and motioned for Christy to come forward too.
Will and I each wrapped an arm around the girls as Bishop Fisher blessed our family. Then he said, “Go forth in the name of the Lord. You are now man and wife.”
Man and wife. Just hearing the words filled my heart with such joy I could barely contain it.
As the five of us stood, now united as one family, a saying of Mammi’s came to mind: Sometimes God calms the storm, but sometimes God lets the storm rage and calms His child.
My new husband and his children had certainly been through some storms. Lydia’s death. Financial hardship. I had been through storms as well, those of growing up and breaking free and somehow finding my way to adulthood. I had known the heartache of a love I thought would never be returned to me, and I’d born the grief of knowing I might never teach, might never have children.
But whether in storms or calm, God had been with me every step of the way, growing me through it all. What I learned was that His plan for me—and His timing—were far better than anything I could ever have imagined for myself.
Now, as I reached out and took the hand of my new husband, our eyes met, and I could see so much love there it made me shiver. As Will gazed at me, I finally understood that I really was beautiful after all, but not because of face or figure or demeanor. I was beautiful because I’d been made in God’s image. How could I not be so?
“Congratulations, Mrs. Gundy,” Will whispered, his lips curving into a smile.
Eyes brimming with tears, I squeezed his hand and smiled in return, knowing that I had finally, truly come home.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Ada often feels invisible and unremarkable. She also frequently compares herself to other women she considers far prettier than she is. Why do you think she does this? Do you feel that she has changed in this somewhat by the end of the book, and if so, what causes the change?
Ada has an “inner teacher.” What are positives and negatives about this? Are you this way, or do you know anyone who is like this?
Out of the blue, Morgan shows up to stay with Ada and her friends at Amielbach. Why do you think she does this? Do you think her gesture of bringing them food (mutual aid) indicates a change in her feelings about the Amish? If so, what brings about this change?
Why do you think Giselle is so cold and unreceptive to Ada’s presence at first? Did you expect this, or did you think she would welcome her with open arms? Was her character consistent?
When Daniel declares his intentions to court Ada and presents his plan for her to be an authentic tour guide, how does Ada react? Do you think his idea would have turned her identity into a caricature of an Amish woman? What would you have said in the same situation?
Because Daniel and Ada grew up with stories of martyrs, they aren’t emotionally affected by the stories the same way Morgan is. Why do you think Amish and Mennonites focus so strongly on their history of persecution? Why doesn’t Christy want to hear about the violence or death in her ancestors’ stories?
In his attempts to keep Elsbeth from becoming a Mennonite, Abraham brings heartache to himself, his daughter, and others—leaving him bitter and isolated for many years. What finally allows him to seek Elsbeth’s forgiveness?
Before going to Europe, Ada thinks, I wanted the full knowledge of what was out there, of who I might be. What are some things Ada discovers about herself during the journey to Europe? Have you ever traveled somewhere and returned with new insights about your life?
At the end of the book, Giselle gives Ada a message for Klara and Alexander, saying, “Tell your parents they did a wonderful job raising you.” Do you think this sentiment is true to the character of Giselle? By calling Klara and Alexander Ada’s “parents,” what is she trying to say? Do her words provide a sense of closure?
Ada desires to become an independent adult. What actions and thoughts signify this desire? Do you feel she has achieved this goal by the end of the book?
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
The Amish Nanny is Mindy Starns Clark’s sixteenth book with Harvest House Publishers. Previous novels include the bestselling The Amish Midwife (cowritten with Leslie Gould), Whispers of the Bayou, Shadows of Lancaster County, Under the Cajun Moon, and Secrets of Harmony Grove, as well as the well-loved Million Dollar Mysteries.
Mindy lives with her husband, John, and two adult daughters near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Leslie Gould, a former magazine editor, is the author of numerous novels, including The Amish Midwife, Beyond the Blue, and Garden of Dreams. The Amish Nanny is her second book with Harvest House.
Leslie received her master of fine arts degree from Portland State University and lives in Oregon with her husband, Peter, and their four children.
For detailed family trees to the characters in the Women of Lancaster County series, visit Mindy’s and Leslie’s websites at www.mindystarnsclark.com and www.lesliegould.com.
A POCKET GUIDE TO AMISH LIFE
by Mindy Starns Clark
“I cannot imagine being any happier than I am now.”
—An Amish Man
As
Amish fiction continues to appeal to a huge audience, A Pocket Guide to Amish Life gives you a glimpse into an obscure, fascinating world—what the Amish believe and how they live. Full of fun and fresh facts about the people who abide by this often-misunderstood faith and unique culture, this handy-sized guide covers a wide variety of topics, such as:
• beliefs and values
• clothing and transportation
• courtship and marriage
• shunning and discipline
• teens and rumspringa
• children and the elderly
• education and work
Presented in an easy-to-follow and engaging style, this pocket guide to the Amish is a great resource for anyone interested in Amish life.
SHADOWS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
by Mindy Starns Clark
What Shadows Darken the Quiet Valleys of Amish Country?
Anna Bailey thought she left the tragedies of the past behind when she took on a new identity and moved from Pennsylvania to California. But now that her brother has vanished and his wife is crying out for help, Anna knows she has no choice but to come out of hiding, go home, and find him. Back in Lancaster County, Anna follows the high-tech trail her brother left behind, a trail that leads from the simple world of Amish farming to the cutting edge of DNA research and gene therapy.
During the course of her pursuit, Anna soon realizes that she has something others want, something worth killing for. In a world where nothing is as it seems, Anna seeks to protect herself, find her brother, and keep a rein on her heart despite the sudden reappearance of Reed Thornton, the only man she has ever loved.
Following up on her extremely popular gothic thriller, Whispers of the Bayou, Mindy Starns Clark offers another suspenseful standalone mystery, one full of Amish simplicity, dark shadows, and the light of God’s amazing grace.
SECRETS OF HARMONY GROVE
by Mindy Starns Clark
What Secrets Lurk Deep Inside Harmony Grove?
Philadelphia advertising executive Sienna Collins learns she is under investigation by the federal government for crimes she knows nothing about. Suspecting the matter has something to do with one of her investments, the Harmony Grove Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster County, she heads there only to find her ex-boyfriend dead and the manager of the B and B unconscious. As Sienna’s life and livelihood spin wildly out of control, she begins to doubt everyone around her, even the handsome detective assigned to the case.
As Sienna searches for the truth and tries to clear her name, she is forced to depend on the faith of her childhood, the wisdom of the Amish, and the insight of the man she has recently begun dating. She’ll need all the help she can get, because the secrets she uncovers in Harmony Grove are threatening not just her bed-and-breakfast, but also her credibility, her beliefs, and ultimately her life.
Following up on her bestselling Amish romantic suspense, Shadows of Lancaster County, Mindy Starns Clark returns to Pennsylvania to offer another exciting standalone novel, one full of mystery, hidden dangers, and the life-giving truth of God’s forgiveness and grace.
THE WAY TO A MAN’S HEART
by Mary Ellis
Can a Loving Amish Woman
Be a Refuge for a Wounded Soul?
Leah Miller, a talented young woman in the kitchen, is living her dream come true as she invests in a newly restored diner that caters mostly to locals. Jonah Byler is a dairy farmer with a secret. Having just moved to the area, can he persuade this quiet young woman to leave her adoring fans and cook only for him? Once she discovers what he has been hiding from others, can Leah trust Jonah with her heart?
Working at the diner introduces Leah to both Amish and English patrons. Though maturing into womanhood, rumschpringe holds little appeal to the gentle, shy girl who has never been the center of attention before. When three Amish men vie for her attention, competing with Jonah, Leah must find a way to understand the confusing new emotions swirling around her.
A captivating story that lovingly looks at how faith in God and connection with family can fill every open, waiting heart to overflowing.
THE HOMESTYLE AMISH KITCHEN COOKBOOK
by Georgia Varozza
Let a Little Plain Cooking
Warm Up Your Life
Who doesn’t want simplicity in the kitchen?
Most of these delicious, easy-to-make dishes are simplicity itself. The Amish are a productive and busy people. They work hard in the home and on their farms, and they need good, filling food that doesn’t require a lot of preparation and time. A few basic ingredients, some savory and sweet spices, and a little love make many of these meals a cook’s delight. And if you want something a bit more complex and impressive, those recipes are here for you too.
Along with fascinating tidbits about the Amish way of life, you will find directions for lovely, old-fashioned food such as
• Scrapple
• Honey Oatmeal Bread
• Coffee Beef Stew
• Potato Rivvel Soup
• Snitz and Knepp
• Shoo-Fly Pie
Everything from breakfast to dessert is covered in this celebration of comfort food and family. Hundreds of irresistible options will help you bring the simple life to your own home and kitchen.
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