The Memory Jar (36 page)

“All stomping about?”

Patty shrugged. “Guess so.”

“And yer
mem
doesn’t holler at him?”

“
Ja,
of course she does, but
Dat
tells her that she’s growing boys who will be lumberjacks, not bankers
. Mem
doesn’t like it much when he says that.”

“And what about the girls?”

“Girl. I’m the only one.” Patty shrugged. “Sometimes I stomp, too, but
Mem
doesn’t seem to mind so long as she sees me doing girl things. That’s why I’m writing my own cookbook.”

“A cookbook? Really?”

Sarah thought about the cookbooks
Mem
had on the bookshelf back home. They were written by older ladies who knew what they were talking about. She rubbed her eyes
and stared at Patty, feeling like her friend was a woman in a girl’s body
.

“
Ja.
Most of them are things that
Mem
makes. I jest write them down. But I have a special section in the back.” Patty pulled a lined notebook off the shelf and opened it. It was filled with recipes in Patty’s handwriting. The pages were splattered with batter and one corner had an oil stain
.

“See back here?” Patty pointed. “These are my own creations.”

On the top of the page was only one word
. Cupcakes.
Sarah read down the list
.

Huckleberry

Lemon and Cream

Chocolate Chip

Raisin

Patty pointed to the bottom one. “Those didn’t turn out that
gut.”
She wrinkled her nose
.

Patty prepared to turn to the next page and then paused. “I have to know something, Sarah, before I show you the rest. You have to promise me one thing more than anything else.” Patty’s face was serious, and her dark eyes were fixed on Sarah
.

“
Ja,
what is it?”

“First, I don’t care if you use my recipes
. Mem
says that
gut
recipes should be shared. But if I share them, you have to promise me that every time you make them, you’ll think of me. That you’ll remember that I was the one who showed you all the best tricks, and when yer old and you have children, you’ll always tell them, ‘You can thank yer dear ole’ Aunt Patty fer this yummy dessert.’”

Laughter burst from Sarah’s lips and she nodded
. “Ja,
all right. I promise.”

“Gut!”
Patty pushed a chair over to the kitchen counter, stood on it, and took a mixing bowl from the cupboard. “Because if I want to be remembered for anything, cupcakes would be it.”

“More than helping people or serving the poor?” Sarah didn’t know why those two things popped in her head other than the fact that
Dat
had read the story about the Good Samaritan over dinner the night before and had talked about caring for those no one else would help
.

“Of course we should do that. But isn’t it lovely to spread a bit of happiness and beauty, too, jest like God does?”

“
Ja,
I suppose.”

“Sometimes God calls us to take big leaps of faith but other times …” Patty looked to Sarah with a twinkle in her eyes. “Other times he jest wants us to offer a bit of love in a way another will gladly accept it. You remember that, Sarah Shelter.” She waved her arm to the wildflowers that colored the field that had been frozen and dead just two months prior. “You remember that this moment is the most important one of all.”

  1. Sarah Shelter’s life is transformed after she loses her best friend, Patty. In what ways did Patty’s death change Sarah?

  2. Jathan Schrock is an Amish bachelor who has traveled to Montana to hunt — or so it seems. Even more than hunting, what was Jathan running to? What was he running from?

  3.
The Memory Jar
is set in a small Amish community in Northwestern Montana. How is this setting similar to or different from other Amish novels you’ve read?

  4. Sarah gets to know Jathan on a hiking trip. How did that trip change the course of their relationship?

  5. Sarah has a wonderful talent for making cupcakes, yet this becomes a conflict with other characters within the book. Why do you think some of the Amish community members reacted as they did?

  6. Throughout the book are flashbacks of times Sarah spent with Patty. In what ways did Patty’s influence impact Sarah even after Patty’s death?

  7. Jathan can’t forget a painful time in his past when his father’s words hurt him deeply. How did those words impact Jathan’s actions in the novel?

  8. When Sarah travels to Berlin, Ohio, she enters a community much different than the one she left in West Kootenai, Montana. Do you think the Berlin community had more influence on Sarah, or Sarah on the community?

  9. Bev Troyer is an expert gardener, but she cannot cook. Why do you think it’s easier for us to point out other people’s faults rather than their gifts?

10. How did Jathan’s reconciliation with his father impact his other relationships?

11. What do you think is the underlying theme of
The Memory Jar
? How does this theme play out in the lives of the main characters of the novel?

12. At the end of the novel Sarah is given a great gift. Why did this gift mean so much to her?

13. Are you like Sarah? Do you have a dream that others are trying to squash? How can you follow God’s dreams for your life? What is God asking you to do?

ach
— an exclamation

appeditlich — delicious

bensel — silly child

blappermaul — blabber mouth

brieder — brothers

bruder — brother

brutzing — pouting

boppli — baby

danki — thank you

dat — dad

dawdi house
— grandparents’ house

demut — humility

guder mariye — good morning

gut — good

in lieb — in love

ja — yes

kapp — head covering

kind — child

kinner — children

maut — hired girl

mem — mom

ne — no

oma — grandma

opa — grandpa

Ordnung — unwritten set of rules and regulations that guide everyday Amish life. Meaning “order” or “discipline”

Rumspringa — running around. A time when Amish youth are encouraged to experiment and explore.

wonnernaus — a polite way of saying “none of your business” wunderbaar — wonderful

I
am thankful for my friends who have shared the Amish lifestyle with me:

Thank you to Amy Lathrop and the Litfuze Hens for being the best assistants anyone can have. Many people ask how I do it all … Thankfully, I don’t have to do it all with you on my team!

I also appreciate the Zondervan team, especially Sue Brower, Alicia Mey, and Tonya Osterhouse. Your insight, help, and enthusiasm have been amazing! I also send thanks to all the managers, designers, copy editors, sales people, financial folks, and everyone else who make a book possible!

I’m also thankful for my agent, Janet Grant. Your wisdom and guidance has made all the difference.

And I’m thankful for my family at home:

John, it’s amazing that we’re about to celebrate twenty-three years of marriage. I can honestly say I love you more and more each day. I’m so thankful for a husband who believes in me, supports me, cheers me on, and brags about me to anyone who will listen.

Cory, Katie, and Clayton … living so far from you is hard, but love expands across the miles. Cory and Katie, God gave you the gift of love in each other. You’re an amazing couple and great parents! Clayton, you bring such joy to your papa and me. I’m excited to see who God created you to be. God has good plans for your family, and I’m eager to see what they are.

Leslie, I love your heart for God and your heart for others. You’re the first to volunteer and give and serve! You are an example to the young people you mentor, and you’re a model to me. When I get busy with life, hearing you play the guitar and worship reminds me what’s important. I can’t believe you’re almost a senior in college. Time has passed quickly, but I’m thankful that you’ve allowed yourself to be molded and fashioned by God.

Nathan, it’s amazing how much you’ve changed in just the last six months. You’ve grown into a man before my eyes, and it’s wonderful to watch. Your love for God is matched with a servant heart and a gentle attitude. You aren’t one who wants to be noticed, but I see — and God sees too — how you care and serve.

Alyssa, what a bundle of joy you are! Every day is brighter since God brought you into our lives! At two years old, you’re my little companion during the day, making me smile and causing me to remember that laughter is just as important as any to-do list.

Grandma Dolores, I know not many people have the
chance to spend so much time with their favorite grandparent. I am a blessed woman. At eighty-two years old, you keep me on my toes with your wit and surround me with your prayers. Thank you.

And to the rest of my family … I appreciate all of you! I’m so thankful you’re in my life! God gave me the gift of you!

TRICIA GOYER
is the bestselling author of thirty-two books, including two novels that have won ACFW’s Book of the Year award. Her coauthored novel
The Swiss Courier
was also a Christy Award nominee. Tricia loves to travel and research for her fiction and believes real life inspires great fiction. Tricia and her husband, John, live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have four children ages two to twenty-three years old.

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