All Things Amish–Menno-Hof in Shipshewana

When you visit Shipshewana, one of the first things you notice is the big red barn on South Van Buren as you’re driving through town. The Menno-Hof was actually built in a traditional barn-raising with the help of local the local Amish and Mennonite communities. I was in Shipshe the last 2 summers to research my books, Falling to Pieces, A Perfect Square and Material Witness. What better place to start, than an interactive museum?

See where the Anabaptists had their beginning in a Swiss courtyard and how they were persecuted for their faith in the dungeon. Travel with the Anabaptists down the cobblestone streets of Holland and board a 17th century sailing boat on a journey to America and freedom.

Now that’s a new kind of museum, and yes .. my husband and I learned a lot. I hope if you’re in Shipshe, you’ll stop by. And if you’re NOT in Shipshe, click over to their site. A virtual stop is the next best thing. 

V~

I wanted to share with you the following releases by authors associated with American Christian Fiction Writers. This is the 1st half of the list. I’ll post the other half next Wednesday. More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Halflings by Heather Burch — One girl. Three half-angel guys. And the fate of the world. (Young Adult from Zondervan).

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot — Stagecoach robberies and a certain lieutenant make Abigail Harding’s summer at Wyoming’s Fort Laramie unforgettable. (Historical Romance from Revell).

The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden — Libby Sawyer’s quiet, respectable life in Colden, Massachusetts is shattered when a bold stranger from Romania invades her world. Fascinated by this enigmatic man, Libby uncovers layers of mystery surrounding Micahel Dobrescu’s amazing past…and his plans for the future in which she plays a startling role. (Historical Romance from Bethany House).

Injustice for All by Robin Caroll — Who can you turn to when everything you believe in is shattered? (Romantic Suspense from B&H Publishing).

A Life of Joy by Amy Clipston — Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you’ll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman’s story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams … and secrets. (Romance from Zondervan).

An Amish Family Reunion by Mary Ellis, — As Phoebe embarks on a new romance and an unlikely career choice for someone Amish, the Miller family tries to put aside differences long enough to attend a joyous family reunion. (Contemporary Romance from Harvest House).

The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher — Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding–again–she knows who is to blame. (Contemporary Romance from Revell).

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter — Two high-school sweethearts, a wedding reenactment, and one absent-minded preacher. Is it a recipe for disaster or a chance for a new beginning? (Contemporary Romance from Thomas Nelson ).

Happy reading!

~V

How about a PLAYFUL Monday inspiration? You might have seen this video floating around the net or maybe on Facebook. I had it emailed to me by my editor at Harvest House (thank you, Kim). It made me smile.

I’ll admit. I do like reading on my iPad, and I gave my Kindle to my hubby. But we both still enjoy a good BOOK now and then. So which is it for you? Or does it matter? Words are words, after all. And a good story is still just that. right?

Happy Monday, ya’ll.

~V

Thank you to everyone who entered this week’s contest. You all make me smile! You’re doing an awesome job getting the word out about this blog, and I appreciate it! This week’s winner … chosen by my random number generator … was Dar Frigo Guidry. Congratulations, DAR! (Please email me at VannettaChapman@gmail.com with your mailing address.) I’ll have another contest SOON, and I’ll continue with our Amish cooking theme … since it’s cold and cooking is such a good thing to do when the weather keeps us inside. Everyone have a blessed week. V~

When I visited Shipshewana, one of my favorite spots was Morton Street Coffee. I’ll admit, I have a slight caffeine addiction. But that’s not why it was a fav spot.

It’s a cozy place with awesome coffee and really good food. That’s one reason I liked it. Plus, Lynn Bontrager, the owner is a super-sweet person. I snagged this photo off her facebook page (be sure and LIKE her page if you have a moment). She’s on the Shipshewana Town Council, she runs a shop, she has a family, and she STILL makes time to answer my questions about Shipshe. She also finds time to read my books, and to offer to promote them in her store!

Cool lady? Yeah, I’d say so. If you’re in town, please stop by and check out her place. You will be so glad you did. And if you read Falling to Pieces carefully, you’ll notice that CALLIE spends quite a bit of time in the Kaffi Shop (aka, Morton’s)!

~V

I am oh-so-happy to spotlight the newest release of my friend, Mary Ellis.

An Amish Family Reunion is delightful! Yes, I have a copy. Ha ha. That’s mean of me, isn’t it? : ) I’m laughing because I’m in the middle of it as I type this blog, and I do love the characters. I’ll admit that I haven’t read the previous books in this series … but I still completely understand what’s going on! (One mark of a good author.)

2012 Give-away #3

It’s still cold. It’s still January. And we’re still cooking! This picture is a cake my son gave me celebrating the release of Falling to Pieces. Is he a sweetheart or what? Fits right in with our prize, which is–

• a 32 pg Amish cookbook,
• a small 2012 calendar and
• a Falling to Pieces notepad
• A cross-stitch kit

In order to enter this contest, you need to leave a comment below on this blog. And remember,  you have the opportunity to enter the contest more than once. Let’s keep it simple.

• Share this contest on your Facebook page
• If you don’t have a Facebook page, email someone and share this contest.

If you choose to do either of the tasks listed above, please leave more than one comment below and tell me which task you completed.

I’ll draw a name and post the winner at 6 p.m. Sunday evening, 1-22-12. I will contact you so I need your mailing address. If I don’t hear back from you in 24 hours, I’ll keep pulling names, so please check back on Sunday evening or Monday morning. (Or sign up to receive these posts by email so you don’t miss it!)

I hope you enjoy my Tuesday contests, because I enjoy sharing all things Amish with you all. And I LOVE reading your comments!

Hugs,

Vannetta

This Monday I thought I’d share with you the words of Matt Redman’s praise song, The Heart of Worship. On today, Martin Luther King day, I think our nation can use a heart of worship, a time of turning to God. You can listen to the song and view the video below–it’s absolutely awesome. I hope it blesses your day.

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come;

Longing just to bring, something that’s of worth, that will bless Your heart.

I’ll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself

is not what You have required.

You search much deeper within, through the way things appear;

You’re looking into my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship,

and it’s all about You, all about You, Jesus.

I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it,

when it’s all about You, all about You, Jesus.

____

Blessings,

~V

A big thank you to everyone who entered this week’s contest. You all are awesome. You’re doing a great job getting the word out about this blog, and I appreciate it! This week’s winner … chosen by my random number generator … was Jerri Reynolds. Congratulations, Jerri! (Please email me at VannettaChapman@gmail.com with your mailing address.)

I’ll have another contest beginning Tuesday, and I’ll continue with our Amish cooking theme … since it’s cold and cooking is such a good thing to do when the weather keeps us inside.

Everyone have a blessed week.

V~

On Saturdays, I’m sharing some of my favorite spots in Shipshewana, Indiana … the setting for Falling to Pieces and my upcoming release, A Perfect Square.

We don’t think of an Amish community as being the home of Native American Indians, but Shipshewana was the name of the Chief of the Potawatami Indians who had settled in the area. In Falling to Pieces, I wrote a scene where Callie is sitting on a hill (with her head between her knees) as she looks over at the coffee shop. Anyone remember that scene? She’s close to the monument in this picture, though it’s not actually on a hill. I needed it to be a hill so she could see what’s happening! : ) Here’s what the website says about the name SHIPSHEWANA:

Shipshewana/LaGrange County was once home to the Potawatami Indians. The first white settlers came from the east to establish communities in this Midwestern wilderness in the early 1830’s. Howe, the former county seat, was settled in 1834 as Mongoquinong, and later Lima. The town’s name was eventually changed to Howe in honor of John B. Howe, one of the founders of the community’s first bank. Mr. Howe’s mansion now houses the rectory and administration building for Howe School.

You can learn more about the history of the town here, but of course the best way to learn is to visit. : )

V~

ps – you still have time to enter last Tuesday’s contest. I’ll draw a name tomorrow evening. Just click back to Tuesday’s blog post using the back arrow at the top of the page.