A Promise of Hope (24 page)
A Gift of Grace
A Novel
Amy Clips ton
Rebecca Kauffman’s tranquil Old Order Amish life is transformed when she suddenly has custody of her two teenage nieces after her English sister and brother-in-law are killed in an automobile accident. Instant motherhood, after years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child of her own, is both a joy and a heartache. Rebecca struggles to give the teenage girls the guidance they need as well as fulfill her duties to Daniel as an Amish wife.
Rebellious Jessica is resistant to Amish ways and constantly in trouble with the community. Younger sister Lindsay is caught in the middle, and the strain between Rebecca and Daniel mounts as Jessica’s rebellion escalates. Instead of the beautiful family life she dreamed of creating for her nieces. Rebecca feels as if her world is being torn apart by two different cultures, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community, her marriage, and her faith in God.
ack:
Oh
aenti:
aunt
appeditlich:
delicious
boppli:
baby
bopplin:
babies
danki:
Thank you
dat:
dad
Dietsch:
Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish language (a German dialect)
dochder:
daughter
Englisher:
a non-Amish person
fraa:
wife
freind:
friend
freindschaft:
relative
gegisch:
silly
gern gschehne:
You’re welcome
grossdaddi:
grandfather
gut:
good
Gut nacht:
Good night
Ich liebe dich:
I love you
kapp:
prayer covering or cap
kind:
child
kinner:
children
kumm:
come
liewe:
love, a term of endearment
maedel:
young woman
mamm:
mom
mei:
my
mutter:
mother
onkel:
uncle
Wie geht’s:
How do you do? or Good day!
wunderbaar:
wonderful
ya:
yes
zwillingbopplin:
twins
T
his book wouldn’t have been created without the help of my fabulous plotting partner and best friend: my mother, Lola Goebelbecker. Thank you, Mom, for your patience with my incessant plot and character discussions. Also, thank you for all you do for our family. We would be lost without you, and we love you.
To my mother-in-law, Sharon Clipston: thank you for buying all the copies of my books in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and for sharing them with friends and family. I truly appreciate your support of my writing career. Thank you also for all you do for us.
Eric Goebelbecker is the coolest big brother in the world! Love you!
To my wonderful aunts, Trudy Janitz and Debbie Floyd: thank you for your love and encouragement.
Thank you also to my wonderful friends who were willing to edit, proofread, and critique for me—Margaret Halpin, Sue McKlveen, and Lauran Rodriguez. You all offered wonderful suggestions, and you cleaned up my endless typos. Love you!
There aren’t enough words to express how much I appreciate all that Sue McKlveen has done for me. You’re like a sister to me. Thank you also to Ruth Meily and Betsy Cook for their help with Lancaster County knowledge. I appreciate your friendship so much!
Thank you also Pastor Tim, PJ (Pastor John), and the rest of my wonderful church family at Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, North Carolina. Your encouragement, prayers, and love mean so much to my family and me. Thank you also for making my book signings such a great success!
Thank you to John and Carol Ionescu, who offered guidance on twin pregnancies. Congratulations on your two beautiful baby boys, John Cristian and Nicolae Daniel!
Thank you also to my Old Order Amish friend who continues to share her friendship and the details of her life in Pennsylvania. You and your family are in my prayers daily.
I’m more grateful than words can express to the Zondervan team. Thank you to my amazing editors—Sue Brower and Becky Philpott. I appreciate your friendship and your fabulous talent polishing my books. I’ve learned so much from you both. I am also thankful to the amazing marketing team, especially Karwyn Bursma and Jessica Secord. Thank you also to Joyce Ondersma and Jackie Aldridge for your support and friendship. I’m so blessed to be a part of the Zondervan family.
To Mary Sue Seymour—you are the best agent in the world! Thank you for believing in my writing.
Zac and Matt, you are the most amazing boys on the planet. I love you with all my heart. Thank you for bringing sunshine into my life. There’s nothing better than dancing in the garage to Michael Jackson and watching Disney Channel with you. And remember, the zombies in “Thriller” aren’t real. If they were, then they wouldn’t have any sense of rhythm!
To my husband, Joe: there aren’t words to tell you how much I cherish you. Thank you for putting up with my mood swings and crankiness when I’m burning the midnight oil and writing until 3:00 a.m. You’re my rock. Thank you for reminding me to always have faith. You handle your illness with more grace than I could ever fathom. I pray we have a matching kidney for you soon so you can get on with your life. You’re my inspiration; you’re my “Luke.” I love you. Always.
I’m also eternally thankful to my readers. I appreciate the wonderful emails you send me telling me how much you enjoy my stories. Thank you also for praying for my husband during his illness.
Thank you most of all to our Lord Jesus Christ for granting me the words and the opportunity to share my faith through my books.
Special thanks to Cathy and Dennis Zimmermann for their hospitality and research assistance in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Cathy & Dennis Zimmermann, Innkeepers
The Creekside Inn
44 Leacock Road—PO Box 435
Paradise, PA 17562
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