Happy Friday, readers!

The week has flown by. It always seems to when I'm doing a lot of writing. No matter how much time I get to write, I always want more. A friend once told me if I got to write for fifteen hours a day I'd still say I want more. I'm so enjoying working on the second book of Quilts of Lancaster County for Abingdon Press. The first book, A Time for Love, releases in September. (The beautiful cover is featured on this page.)

I want to thank you, dear readers, for being so supportive of both An Amish Christmas and An Amish Gathering. AAC is #7 on the CBA Fiction Bestseller list for February! And readers have been saying wonderful things about the second novella collection, An Amish Gathering, which came out last month. Thank you. Beth, Kathy, and I are humbled by how you've responded to both books.  

Now, to switch gears, I want to say how thrilled I am that so many people in our country are showing their sense of community and compassion and donating so much money and pouring out so much love to Haiti. Have you heard the latest figures for what Americans have donated? I'm afraid to say how much here because it's changing so quickly...but it was awesome, with more to come from tonight's telethon on all the major networks. And countries around the world have been responding just as generously.

It made me think about what happens in the Amish community when there's a need. The Amish don't collect Social Security or have health insurance. Instead, they take care of their own and help each other. A recent British documentary showed two young men who broke with some traditions and rules in their Old Order Amish community. "Witnessing" is just not done by this group and yet the young men had felt compelled to do it. Church officials decided to be forgiving and they not only did not vote to shun the two families, they simply asked that the men not do things that were in conflict with their beliefs -- in other words, they were asked to not drive cars or do other such obvious "outside world" things. And then one of their children became very seriously ill. Church members paid the medical bills from the community fund. 

In the same way, we've seen people from so many countries giving their time and money -- sometimes risking their lives to help the Haitians who are suffering so. The world is coming together as a community to help this poor, desperate country. As someone who recently donated to UNICEF, the UN's agency which cares for children, I was delighted to receive an update showing child care workers trying to connect children with their parents and supplying vital water and food. (Please remember to donate to organizations which have the experience to deal with disasters such as the International Red Cross, too, won't you?)

I hope that you have a community of people who care for you and you show them how much they mean to you. Mine has been so wonderful to me for the stressful last month or so!  

Blessings,

Barbara