the STRUGGLE (45 page)

Hannah’s gaze went to the field where Timothy had been working all morning. She didn’t see any sign of the horses or plow, so she figured he must have stopped to take a break. She glanced toward the kitchen and chuckled. Even the scratches on her new stove made her smile, remembering how it had happened all those months ago. She’d been upset about it at the time. Now Hannah couldn’t believe she had let something so trivial bother her. She saw the mishap with the stove as a reminder of how hard her husband and his brothers had worked to turn this house into a real home. It had also become a good conversation topic when friends or family came to visit. The story of how the stove fell halfway through the floor always gave everyone a good laugh.

Hannah’s thoughts took her back to the day they’d brought Timothy home from the hospital, two days after he’d fallen from the roof of their barn. Hannah had seen that he was settled comfortably on the sofa and then gone to the kitchen to prepare something for supper. Going into the utility room to get a clean apron, she’d been surprised to discover Mindy’s doll on a shelf. When she’d asked Timothy about it, he’d explained that he had found the doll lying on the path leading to the mailbox. Hannah couldn’t have been more relieved. After that, she’d taken the doll and tucked it safely away. One day she would give it to Priscilla Joy and let her, as well as Peter John, know all about their sister, Mindy.

Hannah had struggled with discontentment and bitterness when they’d first moved to Kentucky, but now she saw the Bluegrass State for its beauty and peacefulness and was happy to call it her home. She was thankful for English friends like Bonnie, whose baby girl, Cheryl, had been born two weeks before the twins. Things were going well for Trisha, too. She’d sold her condo in California and was planning to marry Bonnie’s dad in June. Hannah had also established a closer bond with Suzanne and Esther. Suzanne’s baby, Abe, was growing like a weed, and Esther had told her the other day that she and Samuel were expecting a baby in October. The Fisher family in Christian County, Kentucky, was definitely growing, and Hannah was happy to be part of their clan.

Hannah sighed contently. Everything seemed right with the world.

“Are you wishin’ you were outside working in the garden on this nice spring day?”

Hannah smiled at the sound of her husband’s deep voice as he came up behind her. “I guess you are taking a break. I didn’t think I’d see you until suppertime.”

“The horses needed a break more than I did, but I used it as an excuse to come up to the house.”

Hannah heard the laughter in Timothy’s voice and knew even before she turned around that there must be a smile tugging on his lips. “I’m glad you came in.”

“Me, too. I decided while the team rested I’d spend a few minutes with my fraa and bopplin, which is where I’d rather be, anyway.”

Hannah gently squeezed his arm. “The babies are sleeping right now, but you’re just in time to have a piece of the Kentucky chocolate chip pie I baked this morning.”

“Mmm…that sounds good.” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully. “But aren’t you worried that it’ll spoil my appetite for supper?”

She shook her head. “Supper won’t be ready for a few hours yet. By then, I’m sure you will have worked off that piece of pie and will be good and hungry.”

He grinned and nuzzled her cheek with his nose. “You know me so well, Hannah.”

“That’s right, I do. I know and love you, Timothy Fisher. And you know what else?” she asked, tipping her head to look up at him.

“What’s that?”

“Despite any struggles we may encounter, I know in my heart that we can make it through them because we’ll have each other.” She stepped into her husband’s embrace. “And most importantly, we’ll have the Lord.”

“That’s right,” he agreed, brushing his lips across her forehead. “For as we are reminded in Psalm 71, He is our rock and our fortress.”

H
ANNAH’S
K
ENTUCKY
C
HOCOLATE
C
HIP
P
IE

Ingredients:
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup nuts, chopped
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In small kettle, melt the margarine and set aside. In bowl, beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Add chocolate chips and nuts and stir. Add margarine and beat well. Put in unbaked pie shell. Bake for 50 minutes or until done.

D
ISCUSSION
Q
UESTIONS

1.   Hannah had a hard time accepting her husband’s decision to move from Pennsylvania to Kentucky because she knew she would miss her family, especially her mother. What are some things people can do to accept a move and adjust to their new surroundings?

2.   Was there anything, other than moving, that Timothy could have done to improve his marriage and help Hannah realize that she was too close to her mother?

3.   What are some things that parents can do to help their grown children who are married not to be so dependent on them and to cleave to their mates?

4.   When Timothy and Hannah were forced to live with Timothy’s brother Samuel for a time, it put further strain on their marriage, and it became difficult for Samuel and his future wife, Esther, to continue with their plans to be married. What are some ways a family can deal with having other people living with them for a time?

5.   When a tragedy occurred in this story, Hannah blamed her husband and pulled away from him emotionally as well as physically. What are some ways we can work through a tragedy without blaming someone else?

6.   Bonnie felt guilty for something she’d done when she was a teenager and was afraid to tell Allen about it. Is there ever a time when we should keep information about our past from a loved one?

7.   Allen had a hard time forgiving Bonnie for not telling him about her past. He not only felt betrayed but wasn’t sure he could trust her anymore. How can being unwilling to forgive others affect our relationship not only with that person, but also with God? What does the Bible say about forgiveness?

8.   The Amish believe strongly that once they are married, God wants them to stay together until death separates them. What impact do you think it would have on an Amish community if one of their members left their spouse and perhaps even got a divorce?

9.   What differences did you see in this story between the Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the Amish who live in Christian County, Kentucky?

10.  What verses of scripture did you find the most helpful in this story? In what ways might you apply them to your own life?

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR

Wanda E. Brunstetter is a
New York Times
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 now 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, beach-combing, 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]
.

Other Books by Wanda E. Brunstetter

K
ENTUCKY
B
ROTHERS
S
ERIES
The Journey
The Healing
The Struggle

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

Amish White Christmas Pie
Lydia’s Charm
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club

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
Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Cookbook: Desserts

C
HILDREN’S
B
OOKS
Double Trouble Series—Mattie & Mark Miller
The Wisdom of Solomon
Rachel Yoder—Always Trouble Somewhere 8-book Series

W
HEN A
Y
OUNG
A
MISH
C
OUPLE
F
ACES
I
NSURMOUNTABLE
O
DDS
,

Wanda E. Brunstetter is back and better than ever with an exclusive 6-consecutive-month release of her brand-new Amish serial novel, The Discovery.

The Discovery

Will the faith and love shared by this Amish couple be enough to bring them back together again, against all odds? You’ll need to read all 6 serial novels to discover if Meredith and Luke’s love will survive.

STARTING FEBRUARY 2013