Guest Blog Post from Suzanne Woods Fisher - Part One!

One of my favorite authors is Suzanne Woods Fisher. Her latest release is 'Amish Values for Your Family: What We Can Learn from the Simple Life,' published by Revell Books. I am happy to share Part One with you today, and Part Two tomorrow. On Monday, I will be sharing my thoughts on this new book.

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Five Things I’ve Learned from the Amish that Have Nothing to Do with being Amish and Have Everything to Do with being a Christian.

Being Amish is not a lifestyle. Life among the Amish has to do with faith. Faith can’t be squeezed to an hour or two on Sunday morning; it infuses their entire life like a teabag in hot water. What they do and how they do it is rooted in the spiritual question: What is pleasing to God?

Amish proverb: “Letting go of earthly possessions enables us to take hold of heavenly treasures.”

The Lesson: To pray about my day’s activities and offer them to God, first, for His purposes. And then trusting interruptions (seeing a friend in the grocery store, for example) or de-railings (those days when everything goes wrong!) to be God-managed.  

Cherish your family. A family that works together, grows together. Amish families spend a lot of time together and try to keep their work close to home. Children are valued as gifts from God, wanted and enjoyed. They’re included in all of Amish life—from barn raisings to three-hour church services. An Amish bishop once said, "We don't prepare our children for the future, we prepare our children for eternity."

Amish proverb: “Tomorrow’s world will be shaped by what we teach our children today.”

The Lesson: Involving children in chores and activities may not be the most convenient or efficient way to accomplish a task, but the benefits are long lasting. Look for ways to get everybody involved—cook together, sweep out the garage together, set the table together. And have fun while you’re doing it!

Draw a land in the sand. The Amish want to be good stewards of God’s resources—time, money, material goods. They know that convenience comes with a cost. They don’t want to be dependent on outside sources (such as electricity or gas!). Convenience means loss of something valuable. For example, fast food means less nutrition. More stuff means more maintenance. They’re willing to say no.

Amish proverb: “Things that steal our time are usually the easiest to do.”

The Lesson: Technology has its limits. And technology isn’t all good. Evaluate purchases more thoughtfully. Think of where a purchase or an added expense will lead your family. More time together or less? More stress or less? Reframe your view of time and money and goods as God’s resources.

Watch Your Words. The Amish continually stress the importance of filtering their speech.

Amish proverb: “Words break no bones, but they can break hearts” and “Mincing your words makes it easier if you have to eat them later.”

The Lesson: Say less. Prayer more.  

Nothing replaces face-to-face visits. Back in the day when telephones emerged on the scene, the Amish bishops made a deliberate decision to keep the telephone out of the house. They didn’t want to interrupt family life. But they drop everything for a face-to-face visit.

Amish proverb: “Use friendship as a drawing account, but don’t forget to make a deposit.”

The Lesson: Nurture relationships by investing face-to-face time in them. No technology can substitute for the real thing.

Honor the Sabbath. An Amish person would never think of working on a Sunday. But it’s more than that—they truly cherish their Sabbath. They spend time on Saturday to make Sunday a smooth and easy day.

Amish proverb: “Many things I have tried to grasp and have lost. That which I have placed in God’s hands I still have.”

The Lesson: Strive to make Sunday a different day than other days. A day of rest is important on so many levels—time to worship, time to reflect, time to re-energize. A re-charge your battery day.

  

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non-fiction and the host of a weekly radio program called Amish Wisdom. Her most recent book, Amish Values for Your Family released in August. The Waiting is a finalist for a 2011 Christy Award. Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World and Amish Proverbs:Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life were both finalists for the ECPA Book of the Year (2010, 2011). Her other titles include The Search, The Choice, and For the Love of Dogs. Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world.  When Suzanne isn't writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne's way of thinking, you just can't take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth. Keep up on Suzanne's latest news on Facebook, Twitter and on her blog!

‘The Search’ by Suzanne Woods Fisher – Book Review

In my excursion into the world of book reviews, one of my favorite discoveries is the books by the lovely Suzanne Woods Fisher, whose writings give us a glimpse into the culture of the Amish. I just had the good fortune to read the third book in her ‘Lancaster County Secrets’ series, ‘The Search.’

Here is the synopsis of this book:

When worlds collide, can the truth set two women free? As a child caught up in a crisis, Lainey O’Toole made a split-second decision with far-reaching effects. Fifteen years later, when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge – the very town in which that decision was made – she is forced to face the past and discover how her decision has impacted so many.

Bess Riehl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm helping her intimidating grandmother Bertha recover from surgery. It doesn’t take long for Bess to realize that her grandmother coaxed her to Stoney Ridge for an entirely different reason. But once Bess meets hired hand Billy Lapp, the summer starts to hold some promise.

Lainey’s and Bess’s worlds are about to collide, and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.

Beautifully written, The Search is a skillfully woven story that takes you through unexpected twists and turns on the long country road toward truth. Immerse yourself in this heartwarming – and surprising – tale of young love, forgiveness, and healing.

Here is the biography of this author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice and The Waiting, the first two books in the Lancaster County Secrets series. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

Suzanne is also the author of Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, a finalist for the ECPA Book of the Year award, and Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life. She is the host of Amish Wisdom, a weekly radio program on toginet.com. She lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay area and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Here is the very well done book trailer for this amazing book:

And here is an excerpt from the Oasis Audiobook:

There are several storylines happening at the same time – the evolution of Lainey O’Toole moving from one lifestyle to another, the maturation of Bess Riehl, and many other relationships that are developing. In addition, all of the characters are fully formed. Here is an exchange between Bess’s grandmother, Bertha, and Billy Lapp, who is employed by her to help out at Rose Hill Farm; it is a fine example of Suzanne’s comedic touch and attention to detail:

Bertha was always threatening Otto [a fourteen-year-old leghorn rooster] was going to end up as Sunday’s stew, but Billy knew better. Bertha Riehl was all bluff and bluster. Well, mostly bluff and bluster. He couldn’t deny she had a way of intimidating folks that was a wonder to behold. It had happened to Billy only once, when he made the mistake of asking her if she was six feet tall. Bertha planted her fists on her deluxe-sized hips and narrowed her eyes at him. “I am five feet twelve inches.” Then she stared him down until he was sure he had shrunk an inch or two, right in front of her. (p. 11)

Bess’s first encounter with Bertha – whom she called Mammi – also gave us a great picture of both ladies:

Mammi didn’t offer up another word. She ate with the fork in one hand, the knife in the other, polished off her two cherry tarts and then eyed Bess’s. Bess quickly stuffed it into her mouth. It was the finest cherry tart she had ever tasted, with a crumbly crust and cherries that were sugared just right and still tart. Soon, Mammi was ready to go, and she looked at Bess pointedly. Bess guessed that when Mammi was ready, she’d better be.

That was another odd thing about Mammi – as big as she was, she could move like greased lightning. In a twinkling, she was at the door, pointing at Lainey. “Sunday noon, then.” It was a statement, not a question.

The bakery lady looked a little pale but gave a nod. (p. 19)

Bess’s first impression of Billy is also sweet:

Billy Lapp looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. Man-sized. When he stood and his eyes met hers, Bess felt her heart give a simple thump. Clearly Amish by his clothes and haircut, he was tall, broad-shouldered, with curly brown hair and roguish eyes rimmed with dark eyebrows. Hands down, he was the best-looking boy Bess had ever laid eyes on. Her heart was beating so strangely now, she thought she might fall down and faint.

Things were looking up. (p. 25)

Bess was well aware that her father, Jonah, was a highly sought-after bachelor:

          Mammi raised an eyebrow. “Our Jonah is a catch.”

Bess knew that. Her dad was a fine-looking man. Even her friends said so. And he was young, only thirty-five. He was well thought of in their community, by men and women alike, and nearly every single female in their district – plus two neighboring districts – had set their cap for him. Cookies and pies, invitations to dinner and picnics, one father even boldly hinted to Jonah that his dairy farm would be passed down to his only daughter if Jonah married her. But Jonah never took the bait.

Until now. (p. 29)

I loved this paragraph further on in the book; I am hoping to remember its sentiment daily. The person in the scene is Billy:

He took a bite of Lainey’s blueberry peach pie, then another. It was delicious, that pie. It struck him that Bertha had done the same thing with her roses: took something old and made it new. Maybe that’s what life was all about – taking the lot you were given and making it better, he thought, finishing off the rest of that pie slab in two bites as he hurried down the street. (p. 234)

One of the characters who seemed closest to God is Lainey. Here she is explaining to Jonah how she could forgive Simon, who’d hurt her deeply as a child:

Lainey lifted her head to the sky. “For a long time, I felt abandoned. And so lonely. I still do, at times. I think it will always be my Achilles heel. But a few years ago, I went to a church service and the pastor happened to be preaching on the difference between divine forgiveness and human forgiveness. I knew I couldn’t forgive others without God’s help. He said that we fail in the work of grace and love when there is too much of us and not enough of God. That thought stayed with me. Too much of me and not enough of God. Once I understood that and asked for God’s help, I was able to forgive Simon and stop condemning him.” (p. 237)

 Bess also had a godly worldview; here is an observation she shared with Billy:

She turned her face to the sky, like a flower, and smiled softly. “Billy, isn’t it a wonder? That the crow is here? God made nature so things can get fixed again.” She turned to him. “Blue Lake Pond will have birds and fish again.”

He’d been so relieved that Bess was where he thought she’d be, he hadn’t even given the appearance of the crow a second thought. “Why, you’re right.” He scanned the lake and heard a woodpecker somewhere, hard at work, hammering a tree. He smiled.

“God does it with people too. Makes it so that they can find their way back to him.” She rested her chin on her knees. “You know what I love about looking up at the sky? It helps me to remember that I am so incredibly small and God is so immense.” She lifted her face to the sky. “Behind those clouds is an ocean of stars, limitless in its infinity, so large, so large, that any of our problems, even the greatest of them, is a small thing.” (p. 265)

This book has lots of wonderful surprises; I will not be revealing any here! You absolutely have to read this book!

I have had the joy and privilege of reading three books by Suzanne - Book One in the Lancaster County Secrets’ series, ‘The Choice’ (you can read my review here), Book Two, ‘The Waiting’ (you can read my review here) and ‘Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life’ (you can read that review here). As has been the case with every one of Suzanne’s books, I absolutely loved ‘The Search’! Suzanne is a masterful storyteller; she weaves stories in an incredible way. She writes with a sweet, gentle, and loving style. I am not one to watch a DVD over and over, or read a book more than once, but I want to return to Suzanne’s writing in the future.  It is a genuine pleasure to read her work, and I can’t wait to read whatever is next in her catalog!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. I am happy to be participating in the blog tour for this book through the LitFuse Group along with these other bloggers.

‘The Waiting’ by Suzanne Woods Fisher – Book Review

One of my favorite book genres is Amish fiction. I have been an admirer of the Amish culture since I was a child. The latest book I have read, ‘The Waiting’ by Suzanne Woods Fisher, gives me more insight (albeit fictional) into their world.

Here is the synopsis of this book:

She was waiting for love – and found it in the most unexpected places. Jorie King’s life is on hold. She has been waiting for Ben Zook to return to Lancaster County. Waiting for him to settle down and join the church. Waiting to marry him.

But when news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie is devastated. She finds unlikely comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. Friendship ripens into love, and two broken hearts plan for a life filled with the promise of a fresh beginning – until their worlds are turned upside down.

With her realistic characters whose weaknesses develop into strengths, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers a reading experience that rises above the others. You will love growing in spirit with these complex people living the simple life as The Waiting transports you into a world where things aren’t as simple as they seem.

Here is the biography of this author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the author of The Choice, the first book in the Lancaster County Secrets series. Her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Her interest in living a simple, faith-filled life began with her Dunkard cousins.

Suzanne is also the author of Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, a finalist for the ECPA Book of the Year award, and Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life. She is the host of “Amish Wisdom,” a weekly radio program on toginet.com. She lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay area and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne’s way of thinking, you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth.

Here is an excerpt from the audiobook version of this wonderful book:

This book is set in 1965, at the peak of the Vietnam War. One of the main characters in this book, Benjamin Zook, is deployed there – despite the fact that the Amish do not believe in war and are usually classified as conscientious objectors. Benjamin has always had a bit of a rebellious and adventurous streak, so he took advantage of the opportunity to travel outside of his community and his hemisphere.

I really was intrigued by how Suzanne handled the issue of war in general and its effect on the psyche of a person, and how he or she can be rehabilitated back into society. The love of a family is often more effective than what the medical industry can come up with – and such was the case  in one of the storylines in this book.

I also loved how each character in this book is unique. Often when you read Amish fiction, the characters are one-dimensional. In this story, the characters are multi-dimensional, and they are just as flawed as the rest of us. That is a comfort to me. In the past, I have placed the Amish on a pedestal, expecting that they have less stresses than those of us on the outside – ‘The English,’ as they call us. But Suzanne shows that they are just as human as we are.

A subplot in this book is the arrival of a new veterinarian in the community – one who happened to be African-American. Again, this book’s setting is 1965, at the height of the Civic Rights movement. Several of ‘The English’ in the community were not too happy about his and his family’s arrival, and the hardware store owner, Ron Harding, approached Cal to try to get the Amish to their way of thinking:

“All that I wanted to say is that you folks have enjoyed your way of living out here, set apart, and able to mind your own business. We want to keep things that way. But there’s a fellow trying to buy a house in this town. He’s not our kind of man. If he buys in Stoney Ridge, we’ll all lose. Others will be coming in right behind him. That’s the way it works with those people. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Our land values drop and before you know it, we’re looking like Philly or Camden. No townsfolk will sell to him, I made sure of that. So I’m thinking he might try next to find something out in the country. So I’d like you to talk to your people and make sure no one sells to him.”

Cal looked at Ron Harding as if he was speaking Chinese.

“A fellow named James Robinson.”

“The veterinarian that’s buying Doc Williams’s practice?” Cal asked. “We need a good vet. Doc Williams said he’s never seen a young vet as capable as James Robinson.”

Ron snorted. “Well, we don’t need that one.”

Cal looked at him, puzzled.

“This one is a colored man.” (pp. 45-46)

Suzanne is not afraid to tackle two of the most divisive issues in the United States in the 1960s – the Vietnam Conflict and the Civic Rights movement – and she handles each of them with compassion and dignity.

Another thing I loved about this book is the godly example of Caleb Zook. Here is an exchange between him and his brother, Matthew:

          “Cal, we all count on you. Who do you count on?”

Cal’s eyes turned to the ridgeline that defined Stoney Ridge. “‘I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.’ If the Lord God is wise enough to manage this world, he knows enough to help me through these troubles.” (p. 69)

This book has several love stories of different varieties (agape love and filial love, for example). I found all instances to be true to life and heartfelt.

I have had the pleasure of reading two books by Suzanne - Book One in the Lancaster County Secrets’ series, ‘The Choice’ (you can read my review here) and ‘Amish Proverbs’ (you can read that review here). I love the Amish community and I love Suzanne’s writing style, so I was not surprised by how much I loved ‘The Waiting’! This book stands alone from 'The Choice,' so the first book does not need to be read prior to reading this book. However, I heartily recommend that you read both books at some point in time!

I will always have a special place in my heart for the Amish. In fact, one of my longtime dreams came true earlier in the year when I was able to purchase an Amish quilt sampler, which hangs right next to my bed (if anyone knows the names of the quilt patterns, I would love to know!). That beautiful handiwork reminds me of their simple way of life, and, at the same time, how hard they work. Judging Suzanne by her heritage, it is clear to me that hard work can be genetic! I thank Suzanne for once again writing a terrific book celebrating the Amish and their faith in God.

The next book in the 'Lancaster County Secrets' series is 'The Search,' which will be available from Revell on January 1, 2011. 2011 can't come soon enough for me; what a way to celebrate the New Year! This book cover alone would draw me to read it - never mind the fact that it is another Suzanne Woods Fisher title! 


Please accept my apologies for gushing! :  )

You can order this book here.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This book was provided by Revel for review purposes.

The Winner of Suzanne Woods Fisher's 'Amish Proverbs' is.....

The Random Number Generator has been a trooper again, and has chosen another winner - this time, for 'Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life,' the awesomely beautiful and wise book from Suzanne Woods Fisher.


Without further ado, the winner is......


Bakersdozen!


Congratulations - I will be contacting you via email for your mailing address!


For those of you who did not win this gorgeous gift book, you can order it here. It makes a terrific gift (Christmas will be here before we know it!).


Thanks to everyone for entering. And please come back soon, as there will be more blog posts and giveaways to come!


And thanks again to Revell for providing this book for giveaway purposes. 

‘Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life’ by Suzanne Woods Fisher – Book Review and Giveaway

The Amish community has been an interest/passion of mine since I visited the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area as a young person. So when I am near an Amish community or have the opportunity to learn more about them, I take advantage! One of my favorite new authors, Suzanne Woods Fisher, has just released a beautiful new book, ‘Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life.’ Favorite author + Amish community = I’m there!

Here’s a synopsis of this lovely book:

          Simplify your life with Amish wisdom.

Through firsthand research and personal relationships, Suzanne Woods Fisher has collected more than 200 proverbs that cover the rich heritage, folklore, faith, values, history, and essence of the Plain People. These proverbs serve as teaching tools and maxims for practical living – but they’re not just for the Amish. They’re for anyone who seeks God’s wisdom and truth for everyday circumstances.

Ranging from the simple to the profound, from the serious to the humorous, these sayings will stick with you through life’s joys and sorrows. With beautiful full-color photos throughout, Amish Proverbs is the perfect gift for any occasion.

Here is the biography of the author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher first became interested in the culture of the Plain People through her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She had a warm relationship with her Dunkard cousins and asks them many questions, which they patiently answer.

Fisher is the author of Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World and the bestselling novel, The Choice, the first in her Lancaster County Secrets series. Her work has appeared in many magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman, Worldwide Challenge, ParentLife, Christian Parenting Today, Marriage Partnership, and many others. Suzanne  lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay area. She loves to hear from her readers.

In the Introduction, Suzanne explains that we all need wisdom:

These sayings and proverbs, dear to the Amish, can help the English (non-Amish) better understand them. For example, here are two proverbs that reveal how the Amish value the virtue of patience: “Only when a squirrel buries and forgets an acorn, can a new oak tree come forth,” and “Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.”

Proverbs are just as useful in our life today as they are to Old Order Amish families. They’re just as relevant to us as they were to the Israelites in King Solomon’s day. They help point us toward wisdom, toward good judgment, towards God’s teachings. To please God, we must know what he values; what does he care about? What does he love? What does he hate? Proverbs teach us about God. (p. 13)

This book is divided into several categories: Time, Money, Faith, Children & Family, In Word & Deed, Work Ethic, Handling Adversity, Education, Community, Character and Just for Fun.

Here are a few from the Faith section:

·         Bibles that are coming apart usually belong to people who are not.

·         It may be difficult to wait on the Lord, but it is worse to wish you had.

·         He who bows lowest in the presence of God stands straightest in the presence of sin. (p. 47)

And here are a few from the ‘In Word & Deed’ section:

·         All that you do, do with your might. Things done by halves are never done right.

·         Swallowing words before you say them is so much better than having to eat them afterward.

·         When you speak, always remember that God is one of your listeners. (p. 86)

And these are from the Community chapter:

·         It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.

·         Swallowing pride rarely gives you indigestion.

·         Many things have been opened by mistake, but none so frequently as the mouth. (p. 180)

And, finally, from the Just for Fun chapter:

·         Every family tree has a little sap.

·         Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

·         Those who have no children know best how to raise them. (p. 197)

This is the second book from Suzanne that I have read; the first was ‘The Choice,’ Book One in her Lancaster County Secrets series (you can read my review here). Book Two in the Lancaster County Secrets series is ‘The Waiting;’ I am waiting until it releases on October 1, 2010!

I appreciated the fact that Suzanne and the publisher honored the wishes of the Amish, who do not believe in having their faces photographed. There are many photos in this book, but they all show the Amish from the side or back views.

I highly recommend this book. It is full of wisdom, and so beautifully written and designed! It would be perfect for a gift for anyone for any occasion – everyone needs more wisdom!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Revell Publishers and provided by them for review and giveaway purposes.

_______________________________________________

I have a copy of this absolutely beautiful book that I would love to send along to one winner! 

There are several ways to gain entry:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, sharing with us a proverb that has reverberated in your family. Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com.

2) Follow me on Twitter; I will more than likely follow you back!  If you are already a Twitter follower, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

3) Follow me as a Google Friend on this blog; if you are already a Friend, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

4) Become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

5) Follow this blog as a NetWorked Blog Follower after you’ve become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

So there are five chances to enter!  Please limit one entry per option.

This giveaway is for U.S. residents only.  The deadline for entry is Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 and will be contacted via email.  The best to all of you!