The Christmas Quilt

The Christmas Quilt by Vannetta Chapman

Synopsis:

Babies have their own schedule. But so does God.

Annie’s life is deliciously full as the Christmas season approaches. She helps her husband, Samuel, attend to the community’s minor medical needs. She occasionally assists Belinda, the local midwife, and most days, she finds herself delivering the buggy to her brother Adam. Annie’s sister-in-law Leah is due to deliver their first child before Christmas morning, and Annie is determined to finish a crib quilt before the boppli arrives. With six weeks to go, she should have no problem . . . but God may have a different plan. Leah is rushed to the English hospital when the infant arrives early, and Annie discovers the Christmas quilt may hold a far greater significance than she ever imagined.

Thoughts:

In The Christmas Quilt, we revisit the characters and community first introduced by Vannetta Chapman in A Simple Amish Christmas.  I loved returning to Mifflin County, Pennsylvania and catching up with this special Amish community! 

Samuel and Annie Yoder continue to help the community with their medical needs.  Expecting their first child, they are eager to share the experience of parenthood with Annie’s brother and sister-in-law, Adam and Leah Weaver.  Leah is pregnant with twins and due to deliver before Christmas. 

While Annie pregnancy has been a smooth experience, Leah has experienced some emotional and physical difficulties.  When Leah goes into early labor, Annie hurries to her side and convinces her that going to an Englisch hospital is best. 

As they wait for the arrival of the twins, Annie and Leah begin working on a nine-patch crib quilt for the babies.  As they work on each square, they pray together and share stories inspired by the fruits of the Spirit.  What started as way to fill the time begins to hold a far greater significance! 

The Christmas Quilt is a wonderful story of faith and beautifully illustrates the fruits of the Spirit.  I love The Christmas Quilt and would love to visit the residents of Mifflin County again!  

Vannetta has graciously answered a few more of my questions.  Please read the interview below.

1.  In The Christmas Quilt, we return to Mifflin County and catch up with Annie and Samuel and the other residents, whom we grew to know and love while reading A Simple Amish Christmas.  Do you enjoy revisiting characters when you are writing?

Yes, especially since there was a 3 year period between the two books. This was a wonderful chance for me to show how my characters had changed, grown closer in some instances, and encountered problems in others. Through it all, their faith is a major component.

2.  I love the significance of the Christmas quilt and its squares.  Are you a quilter and/or do you have any quilts that are meaningful to you?

I am a beginning quilter, which means that I’m doing wall hangings and lap quilts at this point. I love doing it. On days when I finish my writing early, I reward myself with an hour of two of quilting. As far as special quilts, I have several. One is the nine patch quilt a friend made for me as I wrote The Christmas Quilt. She pieced and quilted it by hand, and I definitely treasure it. I also have quilts that were my grandmother’s and her mother’s. These are a sweet connection to our ancestors.

3.  Can you share with us one of your favorite Christmas memories?

My husband had a torn retina a few years ago. It required surgery, and then several days lying horizontal, and then when he was up and about still no driving. So I took him to see Christmas lights. I look at Christmas lights at the same speed I go through a museum–rather quickly. We were zip zipping around the lighted neighborhoods in our town, when Bob finally admitted he was getting dizzy. Oh we laughed about that, and I slowed down a little. But it’s a good reminder of my need to enjoy the moment a little more, especially at Christmas time. 

4.  What can we look forward to reading from you next?

I actually have two books releasing in March. Murder Simply Brewed is book one in my new Amish mystery series and will be set in Middlebury, Indiana.  Where Healing Blooms is part of a novel collection, An Amish Garden. You can view both of these on my Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=vannetta+chapman&sprefix=Vannetta+chapman%2Cstripbooks%2C235

As a special treat, Vannetta has shared a character post with us.  The following is an interview with Annie Weaver Yoder. 

1. What is the most interesting things about you?   Some might say that the most interesting thing about me is that I’m a nurse, and I’m Amish. Those two things don’t usually go together – but I earned my high school equivalency and nursing certification while I was living with my aunt. I suppose you’d say I was on my rumspringa then. Actually, I was just following my heart, and soon my heart led me home. I think the most interesting thing about me is that I’m surrounded by a loving family, including my  husband, Samuel.  

2. What do you do for fun?   I love to quilt! I’m not the best quilter in my family—that would be my mamm. I love to do it though, and when I’m not helping Samuel with his patients, cooking, or cleaning then I am quilting. Right now I’m working on a nine patch crib quilt for my brother’s wife, Leah.

3. What do you put off because you dread it?   I will admit that I dread going to visit Rachel, Samuel’s sister-in-law. She is a sad, bitter woman and try as I might we’ve yet to become friends. When I’m with her, I’m at a loss for what to say, and when I leave, I wish that I could have thought of some way to brighten the situation.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?   I think the natural answer would be death—but after working in the hospital I know that death is a part of life. Perhaps I knew that even before I pursued my nursing certification. Since we are Amish, we believe that each person’s life is complete when they die, that God is all-knowing. Sometimes I think about my father’s accident, and how I wasn’t here to help him. Then I grow afraid that something similar could occur again. When those thoughts plague me, I know that praying is the only thing that will ease my heart.

5. What do you want out of life?   To be with my family—all of my family. Samuel and I are expecting a boppli, so this is a very exciting time. What I want more than anything is for our child to be raised in this circle of love that includes my parents, brothers and sisters, and friends.

6. What is the most important thing to you?   My faith. I know that without my faith I would be floundering through life. The scripture is what guides me. I’m grateful that I was raised in a house of faith, and that each day brings me a little closer to my Lord.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?   I do read—a lot! I read all sorts of things—nursing books and articles, quilting books (even Amish enjoy new patterns), and I also like to read a good fiction book. We visit the small library in our town quite often.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?   I’ve been trying to learn to slow down. Now that I’m 23 and expecting a child, I shouldn’t run around like a small child. I’m trying to remember to measure my steps and think before reacting. That’s hard for me, as I become caught up in whatever is occurring and my first reaction is to act—not always the best thing.

9. Do you have a pet? if so, what is it and why that pet?   We do not have pets in the traditional sense, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Samuel purchased a hunting dog. He’s been looking at them lately, though he thinks I don’t know that. I suppose our horses are like pets though, as we spend a lot of time caring for them and we depend on them for transportation. My mare’s name is Beni. She is a quarter horse, 14.2 hands high and  6 years old, sorrel colored.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?   I would go to the night of my father’s accident, when his buggy was hit by a car. I would be with him, to care for him as he lay in the snow. But I can’t go back, and I’m grateful that Gotte used that incident to bring Samuel and me together.

 Thank you so much, Vannetta!  Happy holidays to you and your family!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Abingdon Press.  All thoughts expressed are my own and no monetary compensation was received.

Tags: Amish Fiction, Christian fiction, Christmas, Quilts of Love, The Christmas Quilt, Vannetta Chapman