His Love Endures Forever (38 page)

10. Forgiveness abounds in the book. Forgiveness of self and forgiveness of others. What are some instances when the characters ultimately forgive, and how does it benefit that person—and those they are forgiving? Or does it?

11. The Bible does not condone premarital sex, but Danielle sleeps with Matthew. Is she already on God’s path, even though she has gone against what we are taught? Or, as only God can do, does He constantly adjust our paths based on the choices we make in an effort to bring us to Him?

12. Emily and David are heading back to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, for a visit. What do you think will happen? There is a new bishop in Lancaster County who is stirring things up in the community. Emily is pregnant. David never wanted to leave Lancaster County in the first place. Are their roots in Canaan strong enough to keep David from wanting to move back to his hometown of Paradise?

  
Amish Recipes

Pickled Okra

3 lbs. small tender okra pods

1 small hot pepper, per jar

1 clove garlic, per jar

1 pint white vinegar

1 quart water

¼ tsp. pickling spice

Sterilize canning jars and lids. Pack okra pods into hot, sterilized jars just tight enough to have them stand upright. Put 1 hot pepper and 1 garlic glove in each jar. Combine vinegar, water, and pickling spice in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour boiling vinegar solution over okra, leaving ½ inch headroom. Seal with sterilized lids. Process in hot boiling water for 5 minutes.

Vera’s Stew

2 lbs. stew meat

¾ cup chopped onion

2 cups beef bullion

2 cups water

½ cup burgundy cooking wine

¼ tsp. paprika

¼ tsp. ground thyme

½ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. pepper

1 can cream of mushroom soup

¼ tsp. salt

7 small potatoes

Small jar mushrooms, including juice

Brown stew meat with onion. Add rest of ingredients and simmer on low until potatoes are done.

Lemon Pie

1 8-inch pie shell, cooled

1 ⅓ cup (15 oz.) Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

½ cup lemon juice

1 tsp. grated lemon rind or ¼ tsp. lemon extract

2 egg yolks

Put condensed milk, lemon juice, lemon rind or extract, and egg yolks into mixing bowl; stir until mixture thickens. Pour filling into cooled pie shell.

Meringue

¼ tsp. cream of tartar, if desired

2 egg whites

4 T. sugar

Add cream of tartar to egg whites and beat until almost stiff enough to hold a peak. Then add sugar gradually, beating until stiff and glossy but not dry. Pile lightly on pie filling and seal to pie crust all around. Bake at 325 degrees until top is lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool.

  
Acknowledgments

T
HANKS BE TO
G
OD FOR ALL THE LIFE EXPERIENCES
I have had up to this point. Although, during the dark times, it was often hard to see the light, and I was guilty of questioning His will. But I now know that those experiences were preparing me for a life of servitude to Him through stories of His grace and redemption.

As always, if this book changes one life or brings one person closer to God, then I have done my job for Him. Although, writing these books also ministers to my own soul, and with each story that God lays upon my heart, I know that He does this not just for readers—but for my own growth, healing, and understanding of the role He plays in my life.

Our lives are as perfect as the peace we feel in our hearts. God’s love will take you from the dark places, and when His light shines within you, others will see it and want it. Peace comes from sharing that light with others.

To my husband, Patrick, and my family and friends— this journey wouldn’t be the same without you all traveling along with me. With each new book, my sense of family is
nourished, bonds of friendship are strengthened, and I cherish even more my relationship with my husband. Thank you all. I’d especially like to thank two dear friends: Barbie Beiler for all her help over the past five years. And to Janet Murphy, my fabulous assistant—you’re the best!

Many thanks go to my publishing team at Thomas Nelson and my agent, Mary Sue Seymour.

An excerpt from need you now

D
ARLENE’S CHEST TIGHTENED, AND FOR A FEW SEC
-onds she couldn’t move. If ever there was a time to flee, it was now. She put a hand to her chest, held her breath, and eased backward, sliding one socked foot at a time across the wooden floor of her bedroom. She eyed the intruder, wondering why he wasn’t moving. Maybe he was dead.

Nearing the door, she stretched her arm behind her, searching for the knob. She turned it quickly, and at the click of the latch, her trespasser rushed toward her. In one movement, she jumped backward, across the threshold and into the den, slamming the door so hard the picture of the kids fell off the wall. She looked down at Chad, Ansley, and Grace staring up through broken glass, then hurried through the den to the kitchen. Her hand trembled as she unplugged her cell phone and pressed the button to call Brad. Please answer.

It was tax time, so every CPA at her husband’s office was working long hours, and for these last weeks before the April deadline, Brad was hard to reach. She knew she wouldn’t hear from him until after eight o’clock tonight. And she couldn’t go back in her bedroom. What would she have to live without until then? She looked down. For starters, a shirt. She was later than usual getting dressed this morning and had just pulled on her jeans when she’d noticed she wasn’t alone.

She let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her forehead. Brad answered on the sixth ring.

“Bradley . . .” She only called him by his full name when she needed his full attention.

“What is it, babe?”

She took a deep breath. “There is a snake in our bedroom. A big black snake.” She paused as she put a hand to her chest. “In our bedroom.”

“How big?”

She’d expected a larger reaction. Maybe her husband didn’t hear her. “Big! Very big. Huge, Brad.”

He chuckled. “Honey, remember that little snake that got in your greenhouse when we lived on Charter Road in Houston? You said that snake was big too.” He chuckled again, and Darlene wanted to smack him through the phone. “It was a tiny little grass snake.”

“Brad, you’re going to have to trust me. This snake is huge, like five or six feet long.” A shiver ran down her spine. “Are you coming home or should I call 9-1-1?”

“What? You can’t call 9-1-1 about a snake.” His tone changed.

“Darlene, don’t do that. Round Top is a small town, and we’ll be known as the city slickers who called in about a snake.”

“Then you need to come home and take care of this.” She lifted her chin and fought the tremble in her voice.

Deep breath on the other end of the line. “You know how crazy it is here. I can’t leave right now. It’s probably just a chicken snake, and they’re not poisonous.”

“Well, there are no chickens in our bedroom, so it doesn’t have any business in there.”

“Chad can probably get it out when he gets home from school. Maybe with a shovel or something, but tell him to be careful. Even though they’re not venomous, it’d probably still hurt to get bit.”

Darlene sighed. “Our girls are going to freak if they come home to find a snake in the house.” She turned toward a sound in the entryway. “I’ll call you back. There’s someone at the door, and I’m standing here in my bra. I’ll call you back. Love you.” She clicked the phone off, then yelled toward the door, “Just a minute!”

After finding a T-shirt in Ansley’s room, she pulled it over her head as she crossed back through the den toward the front door. This was the first visitor she’d had in the two months since they’d moved from Houston. She peeked around the curtain before she opened the door, realizing that her old city habit would probably linger for a while. Out here in the country, there probably wasn’t much to worry about, but she was relieved to see it was a woman. A tall woman in a cowgirl hat. She pulled the door open.

“Your Longhorns are in my pasture.” The woman twisted her mouth to one side and folded her arms across her chest.

“This is the second time they’ve busted the fence and wandered onto my property.”

Darlene thought this cowgirl could have walked straight off the set of any western movie. She was dressed in a longsleeved denim shirt with her blue jeans tucked into brown boots. She was older than Darlene, possibly midforties, but she was gorgeous with huge brown eyes and blond hair that hung in a ponytail to her waist.

“I’m so sorry.” Darlene shook her head. Brad should have never gotten those Longhorns. Neither she nor Brad knew a thing about cows, but Brad had said a move to the country should include some Longhorns. Although it didn’t make a lick of sense to her. She pushed the door wide. “I’m Darlene.”

The woman shifted her weight but didn’t offer a greeting in return. Instead, she stared at Darlene’s chest. Darlene waited for the woman to lock eyes with her, and when she didn’t, Darlene finally looked down. Her cheeks warmed as she sighed.

“Oh, this is my daughter’s shirt.” Don’t Bug Me! was scrolled across the white T-shirt in red, and beneath the writing was a hideous picture of a giant roach. Darlene couldn’t stand the shirt, but twelve-year-old Ansley loved it. “Do you want to come in?” She stepped back.

“No. I just wanted to let you know that I’m going to round up your Longhorns and head them back to your pasture. I’ll temporarily repair the fence.” The woman turned to leave, and it was then that Darlene saw a horse tethered to the fence that divided their property. She stifled a smile. This woman really was a cowgirl.

“Know anything about snakes?” Darlene eased onto the front porch, sidestepping a board she knew was loose. The porch was on their list of things to repair on her grandparents’ old homestead.

“What?” The woman turned around as she held a hand underneath the rim of her hat, blocking the afternoon sun.

“I have a snake in my bedroom.” Darlene shrugged. “Just wondering if you had any . . . any experience with something like that?” She padded down two porch steps in her socks. “I’m not sure I got your name?”