The Healing (44 page)

“When he came for Titus and Suzanne’s wedding, I could tell that he liked it here, but I never expected he would move. With the way Hannah’s tied to her mamm’s apron strings, I’m surprised he talked her into it.”

“Are you sure she’s in agreement with this? Timothy didn’t say so in his letter.”

Samuel stroked his beard thoughtfully. “You’re right about that, but I don’t think he’d up and move unless she’d agreed. Timothy’s always done pretty much whatever Hannah wanted.”

Esther placed her hand on Samuel’s arm. “I hope it works out for them as well as it has for you.”

He nodded and clasped her hand. “I came here and found healing for my broken heart when I met you. I wonder what Timothy and Hannah will find.”

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, beating until fluffy. Sift flours and add to creamed mixture. Fold in oatmeal, peanuts, and carob chips. Drop by teaspoon 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes. Yield: 7 to 8 dozen cookies.

1. When Samuel Fisher’s wife died, he was so deeply grieved, he could barely function. After a short time he made a hasty decision to move to Kentucky where his younger brother Titus lived, hoping to leave the past behind and heal his broken heart. How long do you think someone who has lost a loved one should wait to make a major decision such as moving to another location?
   

2. Besides getting a fresh start, another reason Titus encouraged Samuel to move to Kentucky was because there were fewer tourists in the area near Hopkinsville. How do you think the Amish who live in the larger tourist areas cope with the curious stares and questions from people wanting to know more about the Amish way of life? What are some ways tourists can learn about the Amish without infringing on their privacy?
   

3. When Esther Beiler’s parents sold their store and moved to Pennsylvania, Esther made a decision to stay in Kentucky. Even though she had no other family living there, she didn’t want to leave her friends or the area she had come to know as her home. How would you feel if you needed to move, and your only daughter chose to stay behind? Would you try to convince her to move with you, or allow her the freedom to live where she chose?
   

4. As soon as Esther met Samuel, she was attracted to him, but she kept her feelings to herself, knowing he was still grieving for his wife. She tried to help Samuel through his grief by caring for his children and being his friend, even when Samuel didn’t reciprocate. What are some ways we can help someone going through grief?
   

5. During Samuel’s time of grieving, he often ignored his children and was sometimes short-tempered with them. How can a person who has lost a loved one cope without letting it affect their relationships with family or friends? How can we help the children of a grieving parent deal with their loss and not feel rejected by the remaining parent?
   

6. When Esther saw Samuel neglecting his children, she became concerned. Without being pushy, what are some ways we can help a grieving parent let their children know that they still love them?
   

7. When Samuel and his children first moved to Kentucky, they lived with his brother Titus. After awhile, this caused a rift between Titus and his girlfriend, Suzanne, because Titus spent so much of his time with Samuel and ignored her. Suzanne was also concerned that when she and Titus got married they’d have to share their home with Samuel and his family and wouldn’t have the privacy a newly married couple needed. Is it ever a good idea for more than one family to live in the same house for an extended period of time? If so, what are some ways they can learn to cope?
   

8. When Esther believed that Samuel was interested in Bonnie Taylor, the English woman who ran the bed-and-breakfast in the area, she became jealous. How can a person deal with jealousy and not let it affect their friendship?
   

9. Samuel’s step-mother, Fannie, became concerned when she heard that Samuel had been spending a lot of time with an English woman. She was afraid that if Samuel became romantically involved with Bonnie, he might leave the Amish faith. When a parent has concerns about one of their children’s choice for a mate, what is the best way to deal with it?
   

10. How would it have affected Samuel’s Amish family living in Pennsylvania if he had married an English woman and left the Amish faith? If Bonnie joined the Amish faith and gave up her modern way of life, what challenges might she face?
    

11. After reading
    The Healing
    , did you learn anything new about the Amish way of life? What differences did you notice between the Amish living in Christian County, Kentucky, and the Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
    

12. Were there any spiritual applications from
    The Healing
    that helped you deal with a difficult situation? Which verses of scripture in the story spoke to your heart?
    

K
ENTUCKY
B
ROTHERS
S
ERIES
The Journey

I
NDIANA
C
OUSINS
S
ERIES
A Cousin’s Promise
A Cousin’s Prayer
A Cousin’s Challenge

B
RIDES OF
L
EHIGH
C
ANAL
S
ERIES
Kelly’s Chance
Betsy’s Return
Sarah’s Choice

D
AUGHTERS OF
L
ANCASTER
C
OUNTY
S
ERIES
The Storekeeper’s Daughter
The Quilter’s Daughter
The Bishop’s Daughter

B
RIDES OF
L
ANCASTER
C
OUNTY
S
ERIES
A Merry Heart Looking for a Miracle Plain and Fancy The Hope Chest

S
ISTERS OF
H
OLMES
C
OUNTY
S
ERIES
A Sister’s Secret
A Sister’s Test
A Sister’s Hope

B
RIDES OF
W
EBSTER
C
OUNTY
S
ERIES
Going Home
On Her Own
Dear to Me
Allison’s Journey
White Christmas Pie
Lydia’s Charm

N
ONFICTION
The Simple Life
A Celebration of the Simple Life
Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Cookbook
Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Cookbook, Vol. 2

C
HILDREN’S
B
OOKS
Rachel Yoder—Always Trouble Somewhere Series (8 books)
The Wisdom of Solomon

W
ANDA
E. B
RUNSTETTER
is a bestselling author who enjoys writing Amish-themed, as well as historical novels. Descended from Anabaptists herself, Wanda became deeply interested in the Plain People when she married her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. Wanda and her husband live in Washington State, but take every opportunity to visit their Amish friends in various communities across the country, gathering further information about the Amish way of life.

Wanda and her husband have two grown children and six grandchildren. In her spare time, Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, reading, stamping, and having fun with her family.

In addition to her novels, Wanda has written two Amish cookbooks, two Amish devotionals, several Amish children’s books, as well as numerous novellas, stories, articles, poems, and puppet scripts.

Visit Wanda’s website at
www.wandabrunstetter.com
and feel free to e-mail her at
[email protected]
.