A Hopeful Heart

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by Amy Clipston


  “You’ve made me the happiest man on the planet.” He leaned down and kissed her lips. “I will do my best to give you all of the happiness you’ve brought to me. I love you, Hannah. I will cherish you and your children for the rest of my life.”

  “I love you too, Trey.”

  He opened his arms, and she stepped into his warm embrace. Closing her eyes, she thanked God for bringing love back into her life and giving her a second chance at happiness.

  Group Discussion Questions

  1. Hannah finds love in an unexpected place. Although she’s always felt at home in her Amish community, she considers following her heart and leaving. Have you ever longed to make a big change in your life? If so, did you follow through with that change? How did your family and friends react? What Bible verses helped you with your choice? Share this with the group.

  2. Amanda finds herself caught between two worlds. Although she loves her family and her community, she feels drawn to the possibility of getting her GED and going to college. She keeps her aspirations a secret until later in the story. Have you ever faced a crossroads in your life? If so, which road did you choose? Share this with the group.

  3. Ruth quotes Colossians 4:5–6. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your converstaion be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” What does this verse mean to you?

  4. Lillian struggles with where she fits in the family when she learns that both her mother and sister are considering leaving the church. She has to find her own path and follow her heart despite what her family members choose to do. Take a walk in her shoes. What path would you choose?

  5. Josh dreamt of having a romantic relationship with Hannah and taking care of her children after his brother died. He’s heartbroken when he learns Hannah is falling in love with Trey. Although he’s angry, he can’t deny his love for Hannah. Think of a time when you felt lost and alone. Where did you find your strength? What Bible verses would help with this?

  6. Gossip, even in a community that is supposed to be Christlike, can hurt people and lead to misunderstanding. Do we do this in our own church communities—judge and gossip about our fellow Christians without considering the consequences? If so, why do you think that is?

  7. The verse Ephesians 4:32 is mentioned in the book: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” What does this verse mean to you? Share this with the group.

  8. Lillian is convinced that her mother is being selfish and is betraying her by leaving the Amish community. Do you agree with Lillian’s feelings or do you believe Hannah is justified in her decision to leave and pursue a new life outside of the Amish faith? Share your thoughts with the group.

  9. Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Hannah, Trey, Amanda, Lillian, Joshua, or even Andrew?

  10. What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?

  Note to the Reader

  While this novel is set against the real backdrop of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the characters are fictional. There is no intended resemblance between the characters in this book and any real members of the Amish and Mennonite communities. As with any work of fiction, I’ve taken license in some areas of research as a means of creating the necessary circumstances for my characters. My research was thorough; however, it would be impossible to be completely accurate in details and description since each and every community differs. Therefore, any inaccuracies in the Amish lifestyle portrayed in this book are completely due to fictional license.

  Glossary

  ach: oh

  aenti: aunt

  appeditlich: delicious

  Ausbund: Amish hymnal

  bedauerlich: sad

  boppli: baby

  brot: bread

  bruder: brother

  bruderskinner: nieces/nephews

  bu: boy

  buwe: boys

  daadi: granddad

  daed: dad

  danki: thank you

  dat: dad

  Dietsch: Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish language (a German dialect)

  dochder: daughter

  dochdern: daughters

  dummle!: hurry!

  Englisher: a non-Amish person

  fraa: wife

  freind: friend

  freinden: friends

  freindschaft: relative

  froh: happy

  gegisch: silly

  gern gschehne: you’re welcome

  grandkinner: grandchildren

  grank: sick

  grossdochdern: granddaughters

  grandkinner: grandchildren

  grossmammi: grandmother

  Gude mariye: Good morning

  gut: good

  Gut nacht: Good night

  haus: house

  Ich liebe dich: I love you

  kapp: prayer covering or cap

  kichli: cookie

  kichlin: cookies

  kind: child

  kinner: children

  kumm: come

  liewe: love, a term of endearment

  maed: young women, girls

  maedel: young woman

  mamm: mom

  mammi: grandma

  mei: my

  mutter: mother

  naerfich: nervous

  narrisch: crazy

  onkel: uncle

  Ordnung: The oral tradition of practices required and forbidden in the

  Amish faith.

  schee: pretty

  schtupp: family room

  schweschder: sister

  schweschdere: sisters

  Was iss letz?: What’s wrong?

  Wie geht’s: How do you do? or Good day!

  Willkumm heemet: Welcome home

  wunderbaar: wonderful

  ya: yes

  zwillingbopplin: twins

  Acknowledgments

  As always, I’m thankful for my loving family, including my mother, Lola Goebelbecker; my husband, Joe; and my sons, Zac and Matt.

  I’m more grateful than words can express to my patient friends who critique for me—Stacey Barbalace, Margaret Halpin, Janet Pecorella, Lauran Rodriguez, and, of course, my mother. I truly appreciate the time you take out of your busy lives to help me polish my books. Thank you also to Bobbi Kendrick for her help with the horse research.

  Special thanks to my special Amish friends who patiently answer my endless stream of questions. You’re a blessing in my life.

  Thank you to my wonderful church family at Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, North Carolina, for your encouragement, prayers, love, and friendship. You all mean so much to my family and me.

  To my agent, Mary Sue Seymour—I am grateful for your friendship, support, and guidance in my writing career. Thank you for all you do!

  Thank you to my amazing editors—Sue Brower, Becky Philpott, Jean Bloom, and Becky Monds. I appreciate your guidance and friendship. I’m grateful to each and every person who helped make this book a reality.

  To my readers—thank you for choosing my novels. My books are a blessing in my life for many reasons, including the special friendships I’ve formed with my readers.

  Thank you most of all, God, for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify you. I’m so grateful and humbled you’ve chosen this path for me.

  About the Author

  AMY CLIPSTON is the author of A Gift of Grace and four additional novels in the best-selling Kauffman Amish Bakery series. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled-rotten cats.

  Acclaim for Amy Clipston

  “Authentic characters, delectable recipes and faith abound in Clipston’s second Kauffman Amish Bakery story.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4-STAR

  REVIEW OF A PROMISE OF HOPE

  “[A]n entertaining story of Amish life, loss, love and f
amily.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4-STAR

  REVIEW OF A PLACE OF PEACE

  “This fifth and final installment in the ‘Kauffman Amish Bakery’ series is sure to please fans who have waited for Katie’s story.”

  —LIBRA RY JOURNAL REVIEW OF A

  SEASON OF LOVE

  “[The Kauffman Amish Bakery series’] wide popularity is sure to attract readers to this novella, and they won’t be disappointed by the excellent writing and the story’s wholesome goodness.”

  —LIBRA RY JOURNAL REVIEW OF A

  PLAIN AND SIMPLE CHRISTMAS

  “[I]nspiring and a perfect fit for the holiday season.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4-STAR REVIEW

  OF A PLAIN AND SIMPLE CHRISTMAS

  Also by Amy Clipston

  THE KAUFFMAN AMISH BAKERY SERIES

  A Gift of Grace

  A Place of Peace

  A Promise of Hope

  A Life of Joy

  A Season of Love

  A Plain and Simple Christmas

  Naomi’s Gift

  Roadside Assistance (young adult)

  Reckless Heart (young adult)

  ZONDERVAN

  A Hopeful Heart

  Copyright © 2013 by Amy Clipston

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan e-books.

  EPub Edition © APRIL 2013 ISBN: 978-0-310-41311-0

  Requests for information should be addressed to:

  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

  * * *

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Clipston, Amy.

  Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel / Amy Clipston.

  pages cm. – (A Hopeful Heart ; Book 1)

  Includes bibliographical references and index.

  ISBN 978-0-310-31998-6 (trade paper : alk. paper)

  I. Title.

  PS3603.L58H43 2013

  813’.6–dc23 2013002810

  * * *

  All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

  Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

  13 14 15 16 17 18 19 /RRD/ 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  About the Publisher

  Founded in 1931, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Zondervan, a division of HarperCollinsPublishers, is the leading international Christian communications company, producing best-selling Bibles, books, new media products, a growing line of gift products and award-winning children’s products. The world’s largest Bible publisher, Zondervan (www.zondervan.com) holds exclusive publishing rights to the New International Version of the Bible and has distributed more than 150 million copies worldwide. It is also one of the top Christian publishers in the world, selling its award-winning books through Christian retailers, general market bookstores, mass merchandisers, specialty retailers, and the Internet. Zondervan has received a total of 68 Gold Medallion awards for its books, more than any other publisher.

 

 

 


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