 |
| Whitefish Point Lighthouse* |
This past week my family went on vacation to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have been there many times in my life since my aunt owned a cabin on Lake Superior and for years we used to spend a month during the summer there.
My Coastie son is stationed in the UP right now, and my new series of Amish books are set there and they are both really good reasons to go to visit.
We enjoyed our time there, introducing our three daughters to the Soo Locks, Lake Superior, St. Ignace, White Fish Point Bay and Lighthouse, Tahquamenon Falls, Mackinaw City, and of course, Mackinac Bridge. Unfortunately, we were unable to go to Mackinac Island.
However, we did “stalk” Amish, both in the area of my new series, the Amish of Mackinac County and in Sault Ste Marie where we even saw Amish at Walmart, driving the city streets in their buggies, and visiting the Soo Locks.
We saw Amish in Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula, visiting the lighthouse and the historical Army Fort located on the straits of Mackinac. I also have heard from people who’ve seen them on Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls playing
tourist.
As a writer, this provided such scope for the imagination. I can have fun with my Amish characters letting them experience life as I see it, as I know it. They are faced with the same struggles, the same heartbreak, the same problems as the rest of us, and yet they, too, take time out to have fun. That is something you don’t see much of in Amish novels.
When a people who choose to be set apart can interact with the world as tourists and members of a community and yet still maintain their individuality and reputation as a member of the Amish community, how much more so should we as Christians be able to live among the world as members of the Kingdom of Heaven and yet not become part of the world.
Let us strive to live in the world as members of a Heavenly community. To be separate, and yet still part of this world, so that we can be witnesses of Christ.
Lord, help us to be witnesses unto you as we live in this world but are not of it. Amen.
Award-winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.
See below for information on Laura's latest, The Christmas Admirer. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.
Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/
Love by the Numbers
After her fiancé dies in a buggy accident, Lydia Hershberger is invited to Jamesport to manage her Mennonite aunt’s gift store while her aunt and uncle are on a mission trip. While there, Lydia gets acquainted with her aentie’s best friend, Bethel Bontrager, and her grown son, Caleb. Lydia is surprised to find herself drawn to the handsome clockmaker, Caleb Bontrager. But in spite of an instant flame of attraction between them, he doesn’t seem interested. In fact, pesky Caleb treats her like he doesn’t even like her.
Bright and sparkly. That’s Caleb’s first impression of Lydia. He’s always been attracted to sparkly things. In fact, his affinity for those things, and the trouble they can cause are exactly why he’s determined to change his ways and settle down. With Lydia’saentie gone, he is handling the books for the gift shop and is forced to spend too much time in her presence.
When God offers Lydia a second chance at love and family, will she take it? Or will the secret Caleb harbors cause her even more heartbreak?
*Whitefish Lighthouse image by Jubileejourney [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons
My Coastie son is stationed in the UP right now, and my new series of Amish books are set there and they are both really good reasons to go to visit.
We enjoyed our time there, introducing our three daughters to the Soo Locks, Lake Superior, St. Ignace, White Fish Point Bay and Lighthouse, Tahquamenon Falls, Mackinaw City, and of course, Mackinac Bridge. Unfortunately, we were unable to go to Mackinac Island.
However, we did “stalk” Amish, both in the area of my new series, the Amish of Mackinac County and in Sault Ste Marie where we even saw Amish at Walmart, driving the city streets in their buggies, and visiting the Soo Locks.
We saw Amish in Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula, visiting the lighthouse and the historical Army Fort located on the straits of Mackinac. I also have heard from people who’ve seen them on Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls playing
 |
| Two Amish girls watching a parade. |
As a writer, this provided such scope for the imagination. I can have fun with my Amish characters letting them experience life as I see it, as I know it. They are faced with the same struggles, the same heartbreak, the same problems as the rest of us, and yet they, too, take time out to have fun. That is something you don’t see much of in Amish novels.
When a people who choose to be set apart can interact with the world as tourists and members of a community and yet still maintain their individuality and reputation as a member of the Amish community, how much more so should we as Christians be able to live among the world as members of the Kingdom of Heaven and yet not become part of the world.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (KJV)Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Let us strive to live in the world as members of a Heavenly community. To be separate, and yet still part of this world, so that we can be witnesses of Christ.
Acts 22:15 (KJV)
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Lord, help us to be witnesses unto you as we live in this world but are not of it. Amen.
 |
| About the Author |
Award-winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.See below for information on Laura's latest, The Christmas Admirer. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.
Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/
Love by the Numbers
After her fiancé dies in a buggy accident, Lydia Hershberger is invited to Jamesport to manage her Mennonite aunt’s gift store while her aunt and uncle are on a mission trip. While there, Lydia gets acquainted with her aentie’s best friend, Bethel Bontrager, and her grown son, Caleb. Lydia is surprised to find herself drawn to the handsome clockmaker, Caleb Bontrager. But in spite of an instant flame of attraction between them, he doesn’t seem interested. In fact, pesky Caleb treats her like he doesn’t even like her.
Bright and sparkly. That’s Caleb’s first impression of Lydia. He’s always been attracted to sparkly things. In fact, his affinity for those things, and the trouble they can cause are exactly why he’s determined to change his ways and settle down. With Lydia’saentie gone, he is handling the books for the gift shop and is forced to spend too much time in her presence.
When God offers Lydia a second chance at love and family, will she take it? Or will the secret Caleb harbors cause her even more heartbreak?
