Review ~ The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

Paperback, 320 pages

Published April 3rd 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

Lena Rose Schwartz hadn't planned to leave her Old Order community in Centerville, Michigan. But then, she could not have foreseen the accident that made her and her siblings orphans. After her parents' funeral, her younger brothers and sisters are farmed out to various nearby relatives. But when the deacon in charge of the arrangements tells her there aren't places enough for everyone, she agrees to go live with her father's second cousin and his family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Beside the fact that Lena has never been more than a few miles from home, she's never met the family she will now be living with. But worse than that is the thought of being separated from her siblings. How will they manage without her to care for them--especially eight-year-old Chris? And what about Hannes Lehman, the beau she was sure would soon be asking her to marry him? It was true that he was not the man her father would have preferred for her. Maybe that was what the deacon was hinting at when he said "a fresh start might do you good."

It won't be forever, she consoles herself. I'll come back as soon as I can to take care of my family--and to make a home with Hannes. But doing so may prove far more complicated then she ever imagined.

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My Review

3 Stars

A tragic tale of loss and how ten Amish children, ages 8-18, are divided among district families, except the oldest, Lena Rose, who is sent far away to live with an aunt and uncle she has never met. Beverly Lewis has knowledge of the Amish community that is deep and detailed. The Road Home will settle in your soul, causing an awareness of all that is good and right about folks who love each other and are willing to open their hearts and homes to those in need. 

The characters settled down deep in my heart and I came to appreciate each one. While I did not find The Road Home to be a classic page-turner, it was satisfying and brought a few tears at one point. Lewis certainly knows how to entwine characters around my heart with gentleness and love. I hope there will be more stories about this family of orphans who forge ahead, making a life for themselves after a tragedy that most of us could never imagine. 

I received a copy of the book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received.

~Happy Reading~

Christmas Angel, and a Book Giveaway

I decorated our tree already. Usually I like to wait until around the 10th of December but my husband and son talked me into it early this year. I kept things rather simple and uncluttered, mostly because I don't have the gift of decorating. :-)

And it's a sad time of year for me. I miss my daughter Amy, and my mom whose birthday was Christmas Eve. Momma loved to craft and just about every ornament I unwrapped reminded me of her in some way. I treasure the memories but anyone who has lost someone will admit the holidays are difficult. Most of the time we just don't say anything. 

 The first Christmas without our daughter, I took our Angel topper out of the box and plugged her in but she didn't light up. New bulbs did not fix her. I searched every store in our area for a new one but no one carried the same kind anymore. She had been purchased the year our daughter was born so she was 28 years old. I was heart broken. 

So, that first Christmas after Amy's death, we didn't have a topper. Frankly, I didn't want another one but my family asked me to put something on top of the tree the next year so I bought a pretty dark haired angel that reminded me of Amy. 

This past summer I was at an estate sale and saw an angel topper with two lights. She was almost identical to the one we had before! I picked her up and asked the owner, an elderly lady, if I could plug the angel in to see if she worked and she did! I know it sounds ridiculous but I started to cry. The lady said, "Obviously there is a memory attached to an angel in your past." I shared with her the story I just told y'all and she started crying, enveloped me in a big hug and told me to take the angel. It was her gift to me. 

Isn't she lovely? I suppose I'm a sentimental old fool. I know it doesn't really matter which angel is on top of the tree or even if it is a bow, but every time I see this lighted Angel, I smile. And I think about the blessing that lady's gift continues to be which in turn causes me to think of the real gift of Christmas, Christ Jesus. ;-)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Do you have any ornaments or decorations that you're 'attached' to?
A special memory you would like to share?
If so, I would love to chat with you in the comments.

I'm giving away my copy of Colors of Christmas by Olivia Newport .
My gift to you for taking time to visit me here at Stuff & Nonsense. :-)
Be sure and leave an email address in a non-spam format so I can contact you if you win.
I have to limit the giveaway to US participants only, due to postage costs.

~Blessings, my Friends~

Abounding in Hope

This has been a tough month for our family. My father-in-law was admitted into hospice on June 6th and passed away on June 20th. I volunteered to sit with him each day and help out my mother-in-law during this time. I missed my husband and son during that two weeks but my life was enriched in the time I spent with my 'dad'. 

Our hearts are heavy with grief over losing such a sweet and godly man from our lives while at the same time rejoicing that he now lives cancer free and in eternity with our heavenly Father! 

This quote from Corrie ten Boom speaks truth. Even in the 'pit' of grief, God reaches down 
'deeper still' with his comforting Holy Spirit and loves on us. 

Praise God we have hope through our Savior Jesus Christ that we will be reunited one day, not only with our loved ones but with our heavenly Father too! 

Romans 15:13 (ESV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
  

6 Months ~ Where I am today

Today marks 6 months since I said goodbye to my sweet girl, Amy. On the one hand, I can't believe it. On the other, it seems like forever. These months have been fraught with so much pain and so many tears. There have been times I thought I would be just as happy to lay down and die. That's just the honest truth, folks.

Thankfully, those moments didn't last long and were replaced with a knowledge that I am needed here. God isn't finished with me yet; no need to rush things along no matter how sad or depressed I may be at any given moment in time.

How did I overcome those thoughts and feelings? Prayer, plain and simple. I have asked  my family and friends time and time again for prayer, and I know that each one has been heard because there is a determination in me to survive. The only way that is possible is through Christ and his strength overshadowing that of my own. That's just what Philippians 4:13 says ~ "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" That is Truth! I am weak but He is strong!

I know there are challenges to come - Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's Day, the 1 yr anniversary of her death - and I will probably still be asking for prayer, but I have gotten to a place where I can pray too. For a time, I couldn't. Words would not come. But my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ stood in the gap for me, and for that I am so thankful!

My heart still aches and my arms feel empty as I travel this road of grief. After all, she was my 'baby' for 28 yrs. I know it will be a lifetime before complete healing takes place but as time goes by the days get more bearable, more joyful, and more anticipated!

At times, we all need encouragement. I don't know what you might be going through but in hopes that one of these songs will touch a chord in your heart and soul, I want to share the music we played at Amy's memorial service (ok, we didn't play the videos, just the songs) and explain why we chose what we did. First off, she loved music. I mean really loved music. All kinds too! She had lots of cd's from all genres; Country and Contemporary Christian being her favs. So with that in mind, we chose two songs from her favorite artists - What a friend We Have in Jesus by Alan Jackson and In Christ Alone by The Newsboys. The final song we played was Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin because her chains are gone and she's been set free! Amen & Amen!!!







On a side note: I know my heart is healing because for months I couldn't listen to these songs. The first few times I finally did, I bawled...buckets of tears. For the first time this week I didn't shed a single tear. Oh, I got choked up but no tears fell. I was able to smile and sing through each song, and raise my own hands in praise to Him who sits on the throne of Glory!


And I just had to share this:

~ Willow Tree Angel ~
Bringing a triumphant Spirit,
inspiration and courage

My sister Susie, along with our precious friend (Aunt) Bonnie, bought this lovely angel from Willow Tree to sit on top of the wooden urn that was fashioned beautifully by my brother, Gene.

Why this particular angel you may ask? Because they imagined Amy throwing her arms up in praise and shouting I'm here! JOY overflowing!!!

Pretty cool, huh?



Have a great day in the Lord!


The Angel image is from Willow Tree. Just click on her to go there. 
Videos are on YouTube. No infringement intended. 
Images of Amy are mine, Please don't take them or pin them.
Thanks!

Rambling or Reflecting, I know not which

Peace. It's something we all strive for. True peace can only come from God; whether it is inner peace or world peace. By reading and studying Scripture I am assured that if I focus on Him I will have peace because GOD WILL GIVE IT TO ME.


The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace. ~ Psalm 29:11


Trust. It's not easy. It's like any other relationship; it takes time to build. But by staying in His Word, praying and being still long enough to hear His voice and feel His Spirit in me, it becomes easier. Almost second nature. 


You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. ~ Isaiah 26:3 


Never have I been so challenged as the last 5 1/2 months. I know I've said this before and many of you (maybe all of you) might be tired of hearing it but I can't say it enough. Without knowing Christ and fully, 100% trusting in Him, I would have gone crazy since my Amy's death. 


I still cry and at the stupidest things! Last night we watched an old episode of Doctor Who; the final one with Rose. When they were separated by that white wall in the end, both of them with their faces pressed on opposite sides as if they could feel the others presence, I thought of my sweet Amy and the tears that had been slowly trickling down my cheeks became a gushing waterfall. 


For me, this world is my white wall; all that separates us. I close my eyes and I can feel her. She's just on the other side. And here I am, grieving the separation while at the same time feeling at peace, trusting my Lord, confident in knowing that I shall be reunited with her one day.


Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ~ John 14:27 



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(All you Doctor Who fans know the episode I'm talking about. If you don't, you can find them on Netflix)

Good News

One of the many photos taken on a day trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains - a time of refreshment and renewal - during some extremely difficult days. 

Always remembering that My God Reigns and my daughter is rejoicing in the arms of Jesus!

I'm linked with 

Scripture and A Snapshot

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Word-filled Wednesday

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Rural Thursday

Scrapbooking Challenge ~ Peace

I set out to make a paper crafted memory album about my daughter Amy but I only have the first page done. As I was searching for inspiration, I joined the Scrapbooking Your Faith group on Facebook, hosted by Courtney Fassler Walsh, who is an amazing crafter, writer and blogger mom. She put out a challenge a couple of weeks ago, maybe more, to scrap a time when your faith was being challenged. I decided to use the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software to create this layout about my daughter Amy, who passed away in May; Our Loss is Heaven's Gain.

Mother's Day, May 13th, 2012

In the top photo, my daughter Amy was still on the BiPap machine at this point. It was fairly early in the afternoon. She was aware of us (me) and I was reassuring her that I would not leave her and that Jesus was waiting on her with open arms, to not be afraid. (I think on some level I was reassuring myself.) I tried not to let her see my tears and not to project any fear. I really didn't want her to be afraid. I wanted her to know how much I loved her and would miss her. How we all would. I wanted to instill confidence in her and to reassure her that she would soon have a new body, a healed body, and be in her new home, living with Jesus and her Mimi. 

In the bottom photo, it was late afternoon. The BiPap machine had been removed and we had gone to comfort measures. She was no longer awake but I know she was aware of my presence. I quietly spoke to her and lay on the bed with her, holding hands (as you can see here), loving on her and cradling her until she passed from my arms to His.

I cling to Phillipians 4:7, which is at the bottom of the layout: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Peace is the key here. It can only come from God. Despite this being the worst day ever, and grief still rearing its ugly head, I am at peace knowing that she is at peace. No more pain, no more suffering, no more tears! I will see her again, and together we will rejoice!

I sincerely hope no one is offended by these photos. It's not my intent to shock or repulse anyone. Amy was alive in both photos. I only want to show that with God all things ARE possible. You CAN face the challenging times, but I believe only with HIM! 

Images are mine. Please don't take them!

Our loss is Heaven's gain!

My precious daughter, Amy, has gone home to be with Jesus. She is free now to walk and run and talk and sing, and I cannot adequately express the joy that is felt in knowing that her heavenly Father heard her first words while she ran into His arms with abandon! My heart, at the same time, hurts so badly, feels such sorrow that on this side of Heaven I will never hold her hand, hear her giggle, or give me a choke hold hug again.

I appreciate prayer for my family. God has placed so many wonderful people in our path this past week and I have every confidence that He will continue to do so. But for the time being, I am going to stop posting and concentrate on my husband and three remaining children.

May God bless each of you!

http://www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/GreerM1/obit.cgi?user=633066Payne#

Our loss is Heaven's gain!

My precious daughter, Amy, has gone home to be with Jesus. She is free now to walk and run and talk and sing, and I cannot adequately express the joy that is felt in knowing that her heavenly Father heard her first words while she ran into His arms with abandon! My heart, at the same time, hurts so badly, feels such sorrow that on this side of Heaven I will never hold her hand, hear her giggle, or give me a choke hold hug again.

I appreciate prayer for my family. God has placed so many wonderful people in our path this past week and I have every confidence that He will continue to do so. But for the time being, I am going to stop posting and concentrate on my husband and three remaining children.

May God bless each of you!

http://www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/GreerM1/obit.cgi?user=633066Payne#