First and Last

This is fun for me. At about the same time I finish the last part of "An Amish Home", I get to re-visit the first chapter of my first story, "An Amish Journey".

"Rest on Grace" is the conclusion of "An Amish Home". Over the course of writing this, the story seemed to find its own direction. Everything kept coming back to the little girl, Ruth. We each have our own story of faith. This story was no different in that respect. The father, Allan, had his faith tested repeatedly and each time it became more difficult. I wish I had half the conviction that my main character does.

In Volume 8 –Rest on Grace, a life hangs in the balance. After the events of Volume Seven: The Fall, Allan Howarth faces the greatest test of his faith since coming to Karsten Field. In the end, it will all rest on grace and this Amish home will never be the same.

If you use Kindle, please have a look - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CBJCUII

It is also on Nook and Kobo.

While you are over on Amazon, please look at Volume 1 of "An Amish Journey". My publisher recently made it available on audiobook. Hearing it read gives the story a whole new life. I found a kind of energy that I don't get from re-reading what I have already written.

The audiobook can be found here - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C9DWJIM

Thanks for reading! Please visit me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/LaughingGeorge

The Fall, but it's not Spring yet

Sometimes, we are faced with the inexplicable. Sometimes, things do not go as we planned.

That does not mean that there is not something better waiting on the other side.

In "An Amish Home Volume 7 – The Fall", one of those things happens.

Young Ruth and her brother venture off into the woods for some innocent and much needed play time. What happens next is almost a tragedy and Ruth receives an ominous message from the mysterious figure that some have called her guardian angel.

If you would like to read "The Fall", it is available on Kindle, Nook or Kobo

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/An-Amish-Home-Volume-ebook/dp/B00BQL3HMU

Barnes & Noble – available soon

Kobo – http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/An-Amish-Home-Volume-The/book-FVORuHSS10-hJNbzE8Mjqg/page1.html


Come for a visit to Karsten Field with these Biblically inspired stories of home and family.

Best-selling author George Michael Loughmueller goes back to Karsten Field for a new serialized novel. Almost eight years after his journey began, Allan and Mary now have two children, Benjamin and Ruth, in their Amish Home.

In Volume 7 –The Fall, Ruth and her brother Benjamin explore the woods near their home. The short trip becomes a journey of discovery. Will it reveal Ruth’s connection to her mysterious guardian angel, Isaac, or will the journey end in tragedy?

For Allan, it may give him a new understanding of his daughter. But he also has his hands full with his good friend Ben Abrim. The octogenarian has a special announcement that surprises Allan and everyone in Karsten Field.

Does It Burn?

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

An Amish Home - Volume 6 - Touched by Fire

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B27L53Q

I felt like this was a good time to go back and visit Allan's oldest son Brett. If you recall, Brett did not remain with Allan in Karsten Field. He had his own path to follow. In following that path, Brett found success in the physical world, but that left him wanting in his spiritual life. I think it is all too common that we tip one way or the other. I wanted to give Brett a chance to find a balance both with God and man. I tried to touch on a hot topic and hope that I have shared some of my own values with this one.

Please visit me on Facebook and let me know what you think about it -

http://www.facebook.com/LaughingGeorge

Away in a Manger

From Matthew 1: 18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

Part of the theme of my series has to do with strangers coming to Karsten Field and finding it more of a home than the place they left behind them. There is a much more famous story about a family looking for someplace safe and from that, I borrowed some inspiration.

I want to wish all of my readers a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season!

An Amish Home - Volume 5: Away in a Manger is available now

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AOE8IIS

Come for a visit to Karsten Field with these Biblically inspired stories of home and family.

Best-selling author George Michael Loughmueller goes back to Karsten Field for a new serialized novel. Almost eight years after his journey began, Allan and Mary now have two children, Benjamin and Ruth, in their Amish Home.

In Volume 5 –Away in a Manger, The families of Karsten Field gather with their new English friends for a special Christmas celebration. Not everyone in this Amish Home feels the same about sharing such a significant day with outsiders, but Ben Abrim believes God brought them together for a reason.

The festivities are interrupted by the arrival of more strangers that bring a new understanding to the meaning of Christmas. 

The same, but different

"An Amish Home - Volume Four - Life on Canvas"

is available today and I wanted you to know I did something a little different.

In my stories, one of the things I focus on is how outsiders can spiritually benefit from the Amish. "An Amish Journey" was about Allan Howarth giving up everything to move to Karsten Field, which literally set him free. With "An Amish Home", I am exploring some different interactions with Englishers through the eyes of Allan's five-year-old daughter, Ruth. She is still at an age where she does not see all of the differences that might keep adults from avoiding each other.

"Life on Canvas" is the fourth part of the story and focuses on Margaret, a recently widowed home-maker. She makes a discovery in her attic that forces her to ask where God is in her life. Taking some inspiration from the story of Abraham and Isaac, Margaret must decide what she will sacrifice. The people of Karsten Field may help her answer that question.

Please give it a read - http://www.amazon.com/An-Amish-Home-Volume-ebook/dp/B00A1SR180

Find It Here

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."  - Luke 15:4-6

And that is my sole inspiration for An Amish Home - Volume 3: The Lost Sheep. I started these stories, not quite knowing which way I was being guided. I do often rely on Divine Intervention in my writing and sometimes do not discover the story I am telling until it is told.

An Amish Home, as it turns out, is the first part of the story of Ruth, Allan Howarth's youngest daughter. In this series, she is five years old. That alone provides a real challenge for me. Trust me, I know plenty behaviors of a five year old girl. The challenge is seeing the world through her eyes. I have to tell the story through that unique viewpoint, but still be relatable. I have to share her thoughts and feelings without making her too old, too mature. I hope I have captured some of her sense of wonder for you.

What I have done in The Lost Sheep is expanded the story of Ruth. First, there is a brief retelling of the first two stories through her eyes. Then the precious little sheep literally gets lost.

I also introduce Ruth's special friend. I believe children are blessed with a sight (and foresight) that we sometimes lose as adults. She has been given a gift, which will be explored as the series continues.

As always, please come to my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/LaughingGeorge). Please post on my wall and share your thoughts and feelings - about my stories, or whatever is on your mind. I am happy to share prayer requests amidst posts of me rambling about my stories.

Here is the link for An Amish Home - Volume 3: The Lost Sheep  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009LSSI7O 

 If you notice on the left of my blog posts, an author friend of mine helped make those nice spinning things where you can get all of my stories. Please click on them too!

Don't Get Lost

That is important to me. It really is.

When you have a child, that is something you think about a lot. As a parent, we have to plan, prepare and teach our children everything we can to protect them. Sometimes, that is all we can do and sometimes that is not enough.

I have probably always known this, but becoming a father has reinforced it. There is one thing more, and it should be the first thing. Trust God.

I could put bars on the windows and my daughter on one of those child leashes, but the main thing is to believe God will be all the protection I need. In my writing, I refer to His plan. I could hire armed guards, but if that is not His plan, then it would not matter.

That brings me to the latest story in my series “An Amish Home”. This story is called “The Lost Sheep” and, by now, you probably can guess the premise. I thought when I wrote the first two “Amish Home” stories that they were not connected. Maybe they would be some nice stand-alone short stories. What I realize now is that they are Ruth’s stories.

Ruth is the five-year-old daughter of Allan and Mary Howarth, the main characters of “Set Free: An Amish Journey”. In my new story, we get to look back at the first two stories and see the events through her eyes. That will bring us up to the point of “The Lost Sheep”. It is going to be a little scary for me to write that part of the story. We don’t want to think about something bad happening to our children, but sometimes we can’t help it. 

As a storyteller, I have the opportunity to deal with thoughts and feelings through my characters. I can explore those ideas and find peace in imagining what God has in store for me. Instead of wasting time thinking about the negative, I can devote myself to the positive.

With God as my shield, I am a happy man.

Now, if you haven’t already, I invite you to come meet young Ruth –

An Amish Home – Volume 1 - The Flood - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008OAFO04

An Amish Home – Volume 2 – Attainable - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0091N9IOG

An Amish Home – Volume 3 – The Lost Sheep is coming soon

Also, I would love to hear from readers on my Facebook page –

www.facebook.com/LaughingGeorge