“The Christmas Visitors”: For spirited Martha Coblentz and her twin
Mary, the snow has delivered the perfect holiday and birthday present to
their door—handsome brothers Nate and Bram Kanagy. But when unforeseen
trouble interrupts their season’s good cheer, it will take unexpected
intervention—and sudden understanding—to give all four the blessing of a
lifetime.
“Kissing the Bishop”: As the New Year’s first snow settles, Nazareth
Hooley and her sister Jerusalem are given a heaven-sent chance to help
newly widowed Tom Hostetler tend his home. But when her hope that she
and Tom can build on the caring between them seems a dream forever out
of reach, Nazareth discovers that faith and love can make any miracle
possible.
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About The Author
ABOUT CHARLOTTE HUBBARD
I’ve
called Missouri home for most of my life, and most folks don’t realize
that several Old Older Amish and Mennonite communities make their home
here, as well. The rolling pastureland, woods, and small towns along
county highways make a wonderful setting for Plain populations—and for
stories about them, too! While Jamesport, Missouri is the largest Old
Order Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River, other communities
have also found the affordable farm land ideal for raising crops,
livestock, and running the small family-owned businesses that support
their families.
Like my heroine, Miriam Lantz, of my Seasons of the Heart series, I
love to feed people—to share my hearth and home. I bake bread and
goodies and I love to try new recipes. I put up jars and jars of green
beans, tomatoes, beets and other veggies every summer. All my adult
life, I’ve been a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member,
and we hosted a potluck group in our home for more than twenty years.
Like Abby Lambright, heroine of my Home at Cedar Creek series, I
consider it a personal mission to be a listener and a peacemaker—to heal
broken hearts and wounded souls. Faith and family, farming and
frugality matter to me: like Abby, I sew and enjoy fabric arts—I made my
wedding dress and the one Mom wore, too, when I married into an Iowa
farm family more than thirty-five years ago! When I’m not writing, I
crochet and sew, and I love to travel.
I recently moved to Minnesota when my husband got a wonderful new
job, so now he and I and our border collie, Ramona, are exploring our
new state and making new friends.
You can visit her website at
www.CharlotteHubbard.com
Connect & Socialize with Charlotte!
My Review:
This is a bonus book with two in one. The first story is called The
Christmas Visitors, and involves a set of twin Amish woman, Martha and
Mary Coblentz, and a set of brothers Nate and Bram Kanagy. The couples
have a chance meeting when the boys arrive in Cedar Creek to pick up
their buggy and sleigh.
This is a tale, that will make you smile,
with the antics that only twins can produce. Will there be budding
romance here, but between whom? These young people belong to strong
Amish families, who stand behind them.
Enjoy immersing yourself in these young folks lives, a different kind of Christmas.
The
second book, with a really cute title, Kissing The Bishop, is just
that. This is a continuation of the lives of the Hooley family. We first
met Jerusalem and Nazareth when they arrived in Willow Ridge with their
nephews.
Now one or both of the sisters appear to have new loves. Is
it possible at their age. Tom Hosteler has an eye for Jerusalem, but
his wife left him, and divorce is not allowed for the Amish. When
several area Bishops arrive at Tom's place, they want him to become the
new Bishop of his district. The Hooley sister's are there to help and
cook for these gentlemen. One of the Bishops, Vernon Gingerich, a
widower, likes what he sees in Nazareth.
We find these older folks
out playing like children, so cute. You will love the sparking that goes
on between these couples. Their paths also cross with the Kanagy and
Coblentz couples.
This is a refreshing, enjoyable Holiday read. I really enjoyed it, and can't wait for the next book.
Also included is a plethora of wonderful recipes. Enjoy!!
I received this book through Pump Your Book Virtual Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
Excerpt:
Kissing the Bishop
By
Charlotte Hubbard
1
Tom Hostetler opened his mailbox out by the snow-packed road and
removed a handful of envelopes. A quick glance revealed a few pieces of
junk mail and a letter from an attorney whose name he didn’t recognize
before the clip-clop! clip-clop! of an approaching buggy made him look up.
“Morning to you, Tom. And Happy New Year,” Jeremiah Shetler called out
as he pulled his Belgian to a halt. “Enos isn’t far behind me. Saw him
coming up the highway from the other direction as I turned down your
road.”
“Glad to see you fellows, too,” Tom replied as he stepped up into the
carriage with the bishop from Morning Star. “Who could’ve guessed Hiram
would disrupt Miriam and Ben’s wedding? He’s set Willow Ridge on its
ear—not to mention throwin’ my life into a tailspin—now that we’ve excommunicated him.”
“Never seen the likes of it,” Jeremiah agreed. He drove down the snowy
lane past Tom’s house to park beside the barn. “I still feel God’s will
was done, though. Hiram brought this whole thing on himself when he
didn’t make his confession. The rumors are flying about that town he’s
starting up, too. What’s he calling it?”
“Higher Ground,” Tom replied with a snort. “But we’re pretty sure he’s
got the lowest of intentions, after his dubious ways of raisin’ the
money for it. A real sorry situation, this is.” He looked up to see Enos
Mullet, the bishop from New Haven, turning his buggy down the lane.
“Vernon Gingerich is drivin’ in from Cedar Creek, too.”
“The four of us will figure things out. Wherever two or more gather in
the Lord’s name, He’ll be present.” Jeremiah gazed steadily at him as
they paused in the dimness of the barn. “I’ve prayed over this a lot,
Tom, and I believe God’s ushering in a new Heaven and a new Earth here
in Willow Ridge. And He’s prepared you to handle whatever comes along,
my friend.”
Tom raised his eyebrows. As one of the two preachers for the Willow
Ridge district, he was a candidate to become its next bishop . . . a
huge responsibility for a man who milked a dairy herd twice a day. “Hope
you’re right, Jeremiah. A lot of fine folks are dependin’ on what we
decide today.”
Tom walked out of the stable, noting the gray clouds that gathered in
the distance. When the approaching buggy stopped, the man who stepped
down from it looked pale. Enos Mullet seemed to get thinner every time
Tom saw him, too, what with taking chemo treatments after a nasty bout
of cancer. “Enos, it’s gut of ya to come ,” he said as shook the
bishop’s bony hand. “You fellas will be glad to hear the Hooley sisters
have been helpin’ me get ready for ya. The kitchen smells like they’re
cookin’ up something mighty gut for our dinner.”
“Well then, we certainly won’t starve!” Enos remarked. “Seems like
they’ve fit themselves right in amongst you folks. Nice addition to your
town.”
“That they are.” Tom smiled to himself as they led Enos’s Morgan into a
stall. He didn’t let on to folks, but Nazareth Hooley had been a lot of
company to him this winter, and it was too bad she couldn’t become more
than his friend. His wife Lettie had divorced him last Spring, and Old
Order Amish couldn’t remarry until their former spouses passed on.
But his spirits lightened as they stepped into a kitchen filled with
the aromas of the fresh pastries and cookies Nazareth and Jerusalem had
baked early this morning. As Jeremiah and Enos greeted the sisters and
accepted hot coffee and treats, Tom was glad he’d asked them to hostess
for him today.
“Here comes Vernon,” he said, pointing toward the road out front. “And
would ya look at that sleigh he’s drivin’, too! You fellows make
yourselves comfortable in the front room, and we’ll be right in.”
What was it about a sleigh that made him feel like a kid again? Tom
hurried outside again, delighting in the merry jingle of the harness
bells and the proud way Vernon’s Percheron pulled the vehicle.
“Whoa there, Samson,” the bishop called out. “And gut morning to you, Tom! I’ve had a fine ride, even if those clouds make me think more snow’s on the way.”
“Jah,
I’m glad you’ve come to visit for a day or so. We’ll get right to our
business so the other two fellows can be safe on the roads.” Tom stroked
the horse’s black neck, grinning. “This looks to be a fine old sleigh,
Vernon. Brings to mind the one my dat got from his dat, back when we kids prayed for snow so we could ride in it.”
“This one’s of the same vintage. And thanks to our James Graber’s way
with restoring old vehicles, it’s a beauty again.” Vernon patted the
deep maroon velvet that covered the high-backed seat. “Three of the best
pleasures in this life are spirited horses, fine rigs, and a gut woman—not necessarily in that order. Guess I’ll be happy with having two of the three.”
Tom laughed. “Jah, that’s how we have to look at it sometimes.”
As they stabled Samson and then entered the warm kitchen, Tom felt
better about their morning’s mission: Vernon Gingerich was known for his
down-to-earth faith and simple wisdom, and his sense of humor made even
the most difficult tasks easier to accomplish.
“My stars, I must’ve stepped into Heaven,” the bishop from Cedar Creek
said as he inhaled appreciatively. “Don’t tell me you baked the goodies on this sideboard, Tom!”
“The credit for that goes to Nazareth and Jerusalem Hooley,” Tom
replied as he gestured to each of the women. “Two more generous,
kind-hearted gals you’ll never find, Vernon.”
As the women greeted their final guest, Jeremiah and Enos replenished
their plates and made Vernon welcome, as well. It did Tom’s heart good
to hear these voices filling his kitchen, to feel the presence of
friends who would put their faith and best intentions to work today in
behalf of Willow Ridge. Living alone this past year had taught him to
appreciate the company of those who had seen him through some rough
months.
As
Vernon chose from the array of treats, Tom closed his eyes over a
pastry twist that oozed butterscotch filling onto his tongue. When he
looked up again, Nazareth was beaming at him, pouring him a mug of
coffee. “It’s going to be a gut morning for all of us, Tom,” she
assured him. “If you fellows need anything at all, we sisters’ll be
right here in the kitchen.”
“Denki for all you’ve done,” he murmured. “Couldn’t ask for better help, or a better friend than you, Naz.”
Her
sweet smile made Tom wish the snow would pile up around the doors so
they couldn’t get out for days—after Enos and Jeremiah had gotten safely
home, of course. But he set such wishful thinking aside and led the way
into the front room. It was time to determine who would lead Willow
Ridge into the New Year . . . into a future no one but God could
foresee.
“Have
you ever seen blue eyes that twinkle the way Vernon’s do, Sister?”
Jerusalem whispered. She peered through the doorway at the four men who
sat around the table where Tom usually carved and painted his Nativity
sets—except she and Nazareth had cleared the wooden figures from it
earlier today. Jerusalem ducked back into the kitchen when the
white-bearded bishop from Cedar Creek smiled at her.
Nazareth laughed softly. “Seems like a nice fellow, Vernon does. A far cry from the sort of man Hiram Knepp turned out to be.”
“Jah, you’ve got that right. I’m thankful the gut
Lord opened our eyes to his underhanded ways before I let myself get
sucked in.” Jerusalem stirred some barley into the pot of vegetable beef
soup on the stove. Truth be told, she had been attracted to Hiram Knepp
from the moment she’d set foot in Willow Ridge last fall—and he had
taken to her right off, too. But as time went by, she’d realized the
bishop was more interested in having her keep track of his four younger
children than he was in hitching up with an outspoken maidel who’d become set in her ways . . .
Is it too late for me, Lord?
Jerusalem watched the emotions play across her sister’s face as she set
places around the kitchen table: it was no secret that Nazareth and
Preacher Tom were sweet on each other despite that fact that they
couldn’t marry. Surely there must be a fellow who would appreciate her
own talents for cooking and keeping up a home . . . a man who could
tolerate her tendency to speak her mind and do things her way. Was it
such a sin to be competent and efficient enough that she’d never needed a
husband?
“What
do you suppose they’ll decide on today?” Nazareth asked as she took six
soup bowls from the cabinet. “What with Preacher Gabe havin’ poor Wilma
to look after while he’s gettin’ so frail himself—”
“Jah,
I thought it was the wise thing for him to tell Tom, right out, that he
couldn’t handle bein’ the new bishop,” Jerusalem agreed. “That leaves
Tom as the only real choice, because I can’t see folks wantin’ a totally
new fella from someplace else to take over. Tom’s perfect for the job,
too.”
Nazareth’s
brows knit together. “It’s a lot to ask of a dairy farmer who’s got
such a big herd to milk, especially since his kids all live at a
distance and he’s got no wife. Some districts back East wouldn’t even
consider a divorced man.”
“Everyone
knows it’s not Tom’s doing that he’s alone.” Jerusalem held her
sister’s gaze for a moment. “Not that he’s really by himself, what with
you helpin’ him every chance you get.”
“Folks
might frown on me spendin’ so much time here, after he’s ordained,”
Nazareth replied in a shaky voice. “Bishops are expected to walk a
higher path. Can’t appear to live outside the Ordnung—especially after the way Hiram went rotten on us.”
Jerusalem
set down her long-handled spoon and placed her hands on her younger
sister’s shoulders. Nazareth was slender and soft-spoken; had chosen a
brilliant green cape dress that looked especially festive today. But her
quivering chin told the real story, didn’t it? “So you’re worried that
if Tom’s to be the new bishop, he’ll have to forget his feelings for
you? I don’t see him doing that.”
“But—but
we’re to devote ourselves to God first and foremost,” Nazareth reminded
her. “No matter what Tom and I feel for each other, we’re to follow the
Old Ways. I’d begun to believe that God had led me here from Lancaster
to find him. . . to be his helpmate someday. But now—”
Chairs
scooted against the floor in the front room. The men’s louder talk made
Jerusalem embrace her sister quickly and then step away. “It’s in the
Lord’s hands, Sister. Let’s not worry these molehills into mountains
before we see what comes of today’s meeting.”
“Jah, you’re right.” Nazareth swiped at her eyes and began taking food from the fridge. “I’m just being a silly old maidel.
Until we came to Missouri, I’d been so certain God meant for me to be a
teacher rather than a wife, so maybe I’m just confused.”
Silly?
Confused? Those were hardly words Jerusalem associated with her sweet,
hard-working sister, but she certainly understood Nazareth’s sentiments.
She, too, had spent her adult life believing she had a different
mission from most Plain women. If Hiram hadn’t upset her emotional apple
cart, why, she would still be staunchly convinced that teaching—and
then coming to Willow Ridge with their three grown nephews—was what she
was meant to do. Now she had a bee in her bonnet and she buzzed with a
restlessness she didn’t know how to handle. And her longing wouldn’t
disappear just because Hiram had.
As
the four men entered the kitchen, however, Jerusalem set aside her
worrisome thoughts. “You fellas ready for some dinner? It’s nothing
fancy, but we thought soup and hot sandwiches would taste gut on a winter’s day.”
“Ah, but fancy isn’t our way, is it?” Jeremiah quipped. “You’ve had my mouth watering all morning.”
“The
snow’s startin’ to blow, so we decided Enos and Jeremiah should be
gettin’ on the road as soon as we eat,” Tom said. “We’ve pretty much
settled our business for today.”
As
the men took places around the table, Jerusalem opened the oven to
remove the pan of open-faced ham and cheese sandwiches, which looked
like little pizzas. She had picked right up on the fact that Tom hadn’t
said Vernon was heading back. Although Cedar Creek was a lot farther
away than Morning Star or New Haven, he wore an unruffled expression, as
though driving home was the least of his concerns. Nazareth dipped up
big bowls of the steaming soup, chockfull of vegetable chunks and beef,
while Jerusalem set butter and jelly alongside a basket of fresh
whole-wheat rolls.
“Looks like a feast,” Enos said in his raspy voice.
Jerusalem
took the empty chair across from her sister, wishing she could feed
that poor man enough to fill out all his hollows. They bowed in a silent
prayer and then Tom passed the platter in front of him. “You fellas are
gettin’ a real treat here,” he remarked. “Naz and Jerusalem made the
cheese on these sandwiches from their goats’ milk.”
Vernon’s face lit up as he took two of them. “So those goats in the stable are yours? They seem right at home among the horses.”
“Oh, jah,”
Jerusalem replied, “goats and horses are natural companions. We brought
those four from Lancaster with us, well . . . as a gift to the bishop.”
She paused, wishing she hadn’t gone down this conversational path. “But
when we informed Hiram we wouldn’t be joining him in Higher Ground, we
took them back.”
“And
Preacher Tom’s been kind enough to let us keep them here,” Nazareth
continued. “Our does will be havin’ kids this spring, and we couldn’t
take the chance that they’d not be properly tended.”
Jeremiah
helped himself to the hot sandwiches. “You folks are in the prayers of
all the districts around you,” he said in a solemn voice. “Enos and I
suspected, back when Hiram confessed to us about his car, that other
issues might come to light someday. We can only trust that God has a
reason for all the trouble Hiram’s caused.”
“We
also believe, however, that Willow Ridge will be in capable,
compassionate hands with Tom as its spiritual leader.” Vernon took a big
bite of his open-faced sandwich and then closed his eyes. “My goodness,
ladies, what a treat you’ve blessed us with today. I’m ready to buy
myself a few goats so I can enjoy more of this marvelous cheese.”
Jerusalem’s
heart fluttered. “Thank you, Vernon. It’s been our pleasure to provide
you fellas a meal while you’ve been here on such important business.”
“So it’s settled then?” Nazareth asked. “Preacher Tom is to become the bishop?”
“It’s what our prayers and discussion have led us to, jah.”
Jeremiah smiled at the man who sat at the table’s head. “What with you
folks needing two new preachers now, we feel Tom will provide the
continuity—the leadership and spiritual example—to bind up the wounds
Hiram has inflicted. It’s not the usual falling of the lot, the way we
Amish let God select our bishops, but in your case it’s the most
practical solution.”
Jerusalem
noted the way her sister nipped at her lower lip before biting into a
roll she’d slathered with butter and jam. Well they knew the blessing
Tom Hostetler had been to them and to this entire community, even if it
meant Nazareth must put aside her hopes for romance. And while Tom’s
expression suggested he had his share of doubts and questions about the
role he would assume, he was accepting this new wagonload of
responsibility as God’s will for his life.
Tom’s faith—his willingness to serve without complaint or question—will be an inspiration to us all, Jerusalem thought. Give me the grace to follow where You’re leading me, as well, Lord.
When
Jerusalem looked up, Vernon Gingerich was studying her, and he didn’t
lower his eyes for several seconds. It felt unseemly—downright brazen—to
return his gaze, yet she indulged herself in this fascinating man’s
silent attention anyway. Hadn’t Tom mentioned that the bishop of Cedar
Creek was a widower?
The
conversation continued along the lines of farming, shepherding of human
flocks, and other topics of common interest as Jerusalem refilled soup
bowls and Nazareth brought the goody trays to the table. What a blessing
it was to be surrounded by the wisdom and experience these three
bishops had brought with them . . . a balm to her soul, after the way
Hiram had condemned them when they hadn’t followed him to Higher Ground.
It was such a delight to watch the men devour the cookies they’d baked,
too. All too soon they were scooting back from the table.
“Can
we send goodies home with you fellas?” Jerusalem asked. “It’d be our
pleasure, after the help you’ve given our district today.”
Jeremiah’s dark eyes flashed with pleasure. “Jah, I’ll take some! Not that I promise they’ll all make it to Morning Star.”
Enos
laughed until his bony shoulders shook. “You’ve got a bottomless pit
for a stomach, Jeremiah. These days nothin’ I eat seems to stick. But
I’d be happy to relieve Tom of the burden of having to force the rest of
them down.”
“None
for me, thanks,” Vernon said as he slipped into his coat. “Tom invited
me to stay over, and by the looks of those huge snowflakes he’s a pretty
fine weather forecaster. I’ll be back in a few, so don’t put those
cookies away yet.”
A
schoolgirl’s grin overtook Jerusalem’s face. Vernon was staying over!
And wasn’t that the best news she’d heard in a long, long while?
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Mykah has written two Christian themed books, the first, I Am Because She Was, is being made into a movie. The second, “The Little Girl Who Wanted A Tail, coupled with its theme song, “DIFFERENT”, was inspired by her lovely daughter Mylaan.
Sometimes kids feel like they can't be real, and who they are inside, they often try to hide it. This was true for a little girl named Millicent, who learned that being different, is alright. As a matter of fact, the only things that make us the same are our differences.
Two-time
winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award (2005 & 2006),
Jennifer’s weekly humor column appeared in The Kansas City Star for over
four years, until she gave it up to be a full-time young adult
novelist.
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