Unforgettable

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by my love for you, my precious husband. I sit in awe that you are mine, that you chose me to spend your life with, and that you can still cause butterflies to dance in my stomach with a smile or a wink.

If I live to be a hundred I will never unravel the mystery of our love that seems to grow exponentially with every day. How can I still have these giddy schoolgirl feelings come over me when my phone plays your ringtone? Why does the sound of your key in the door bring a huge smile to my face? When will I ever tire of hearing you call me Sweetpea? Will I ever get over the touch of your kisses or the feel of your breath on my neck?

In a way I feel like I wished away our time together by always looking forward to another anniversary, another year added to the length of our marriage. Always thinking that when we reach a magic number the fear of losing you would pass. Time spent wondering what it would be like to look into your eyes and see them surrounded by wrinkles and your hair a distinguished grey. Now I look around and it's here. Your hair is that grey I imagined and wrinkles are beginning to frame those beautiful eyes. 30 years have passed since our first date and still it's not enough. I remember the day I met you 32 years ago as vividly as if it were yesterday. I think a part of me knew then that you and I were meant to be. I laugh now at the naive young man who thought he'd never find one woman that he could spend the rest of his life with. God must get some big laughs out of His children when we say things like that especially when you say it to the very person you will spend your life with. I remember the exact spot we were when you told me that. We were just two young friends walking from one building to another while changing classes. We had no idea what God had in His plans for us.

Even though it seems such a short time it has been filled with lots of life. So many wonderful memories we have made. Such fun times we have shared. Miracles we have witnessed. Oh, how much I love you. My heart is filled to overflowing tonight as I marvel at the gift God gave me in you. You have such a servants heart; always willing to do whatever anyone needs. I'm sorry that I haven't always treasured that about you.

I thought I loved you with all of my heart on the day I married you, but I was so wrong. Each day I spend with you makes me love you more. I now know that I will never stop loving you. I will love you until the end of time. My soulmate, my love, my best friend.

Susanna's Christmas Wish

Title: Susanna's Christmas Wish
Author: Jerry S. Eicher
Post Date: September 12, 2012
Blog URL: http://sweetpea0944.wordpress.com
Review Link: http://sweetpea0944.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/susannas-christmas-wish/

Susanna's Christmas Wish was the first novel I have read by Mr. Eicher. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised when I sat down to write this review and found that Jerry Eicher is a man and not a woman as I had assumed. His writing is wonderful and he beautifully expresses the heart of the female character in this book. I found the book to be very enjoyable and finished reading it in one day.

Amish fiction is one of my favorite genres and this book addressed issues that I have never encountered in any other Amish literature. Susanna and Hermann are newlyweds and face the issues that come along with the joining of a couple and the traditions and ways that each bring from their individual families. The couple face some difficult situations as they begin their new life together but handle them with dignity and grace. I could relate to the problems the young couple encountered in blending their lives. Mr. Eicher gave me a new dimension of the Amish that I have never thought about before. I'm sure that there is some resistance in an Amish marriage just as in the English world. Individual families have their unique ways of interacting and have small differences even though they come from very similar backgrounds.

I give Susanna's Christmas Wish 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to reading more books by this wonderful author.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Susanna's Christmas Wish through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are solely my own and are unbiased.

Leaving Lancaster

 

Leaving Lancaster is wonderful story about how personal choices affect those close to us. A daughter chooses a path forbidden by her Amish culture and lives her adulthood plagued by guilt that prevents her from receiving the forgiveness her mother desires to give. The story is an example of how easy it is to repeat the patterns of our parents even when we determined to live our life differently. It is a wonderful story of forgiveness and grace.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to readers 14 and older.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

flag

Harvest of Rubies

Harvest of Rubies is the second book I have read from author Tessa Afshar. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the adventures of Sarah. I found myself imagining myself as a lowly Jewish girl living alone with a father whose work occupied most of his time and attention. It is difficult to imagine how limited women of that time and culture were in the path of their own fate. I felt angry toward the unfairness of the situations Sarah faced. Using the uncommon gifts God had blessed her with Sarah gained the favor of the queen which set her life on a different path than she desired. God used the situations in Sarah's life to show her the true value she held in simply being His child. As is often the case, the pressure of life transformed Sarah into the woman He created her to be.

Harvest of Rubies is a wonderful book that exemplifies God's sovereignty and grace toward His children.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free kindle edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Material Witness

Material Witness by Vannetta Chapman is set in the small Amish community if Shipshewana, Iowa. It is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery Collection although it is the only book in the collection I have read. I found the book to be worthy as a stand alone novel and had no trouble getting to know the characters. I'm sure reading the first two books in the series would, no doubt, have added more depth to the characters but Mrs. Chapman did a wonderful job of weaving details of the characters back stories to ensure her readers get a clear picture of her characters and the reasons behind their reactions to events in the book.

I read a lot of Amish literature and I found this particular book unique from any other I have read. It was a refreshing change and the author had me guessing until the end. Where most Amish literature focus around the family and life on the farm, this book focused on the work environment, friendships and mystery. Of course there was a romance involved but it was just a small part in the overall story. I appreciated the fact that one of the young Amish boys was born with a genetic condition which required him to use a wheelchair. My own son is very close in age to this character and he also uses a wheelchair due to a disability. I could relate to the child's mother in feeling the need to protect her son because he is medically fragile yet knowing he must be allowed to have real life experiences and responsibilities.

The double meaning of the title was a cleaver choice by Ms. Chapman. I suppose there was more than one mystery to be solved in this book. : )

This book gets 4 out of five stars. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, Amish literature, or Christian romance. You won't regret spending the time to read this book.

This review is also posted on Goodbooks and Librarything.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the ebook from Zondervan through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give an honest review and the expressed opinions are my own.