This year, Americans spent a record 52.4 billion dollars more than Black Friday Weekend. Cyber Monday exceeded industry expectations, generating 1.2 billion dollars in on the internet sales. Amidst the money flow reports of Christmastime, it really is easy to forget the true meaning of the season.

One particular culture immune to the commercialization of Christmas is the Amish. In the course of these hectic days, they pledge allegiance to their core values, which includes household, gratitude and enjoy.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a town identified for its Amish community. The new fiction book, A Lancaster County Christmas is an enjoyable read that embodies the essence of the season:

Twenty-5-year-old Jaime Fitzpatrick visits the doctor to renew a sleeping pill prescription. She’s been despondent since her mother’s death last summer, killed by a drunk driver.

In the waiting room, she befriends six-year-old Amish boy, Danny Riehl. He’s there with his father, Solomon (Sol), and mother Mattie (Mathilda Zook Riehl) for Mattie’s stick to-up exam following suffering her miscarriage.

Leaving her appointment, the doctor asks Jaime to deliver Danny’s forgotten wooden toy whistle, to the Riehl farm. She agrees.

It’s two days ahead of Christmas, and Jaime and her husband C.J. (Charles Joseph), are preparing to travel to New York City. There they’ll board a flight to Miami to join Jaime’s elusive, smooth-talking father on a Caribbean cruise. He’s lured them there with his “surprise” announcement.

Throughout heavy snowfall, the couple (along with Tucker, C.J.’s beloved yellow Labrador retriever) is driving in Jaime’s fire engine red convertible. They’re en route to present Danny’s toy whistle, just before departing Stoney Ridge in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Tucker bounds out of the automobile to comply with Jaime as she delivers Danny’s whistle. C.J. runs soon after Tucker, as the vehicle’s tail end slides into the nearby pond. The Fitzpatricks’ remain with the Riehls’, while they ponder a way to retrieve their auto from the water. What follows is an expose of human emotions, such as jealousy, lust and ultimately, joy, as the characters rediscover the accurate which means of the season.

Meeting Mattie, Jaime learns that she recently miscarried and yearns for much more young children. Jaime longs for her mother’s presence, which she knows is not doable.

Jealousy befalls both women for distinct reasons. Mattie shamefully finds herself envious of her friend, Carrie Miller’s newborn daughter. “The child was even named Mathilda right after Mattie-and however she felt one thing close to bitterness toward Carrie.”

Jaime is positive C.J, (a middle school math teacher), is cheating on her with a woman at work, named Eve. She bakes brownies for C.J. and stays late for right after school conversation: “Jaime took a deep breath. “She was glad she wasn’t facing him. “And Eve? Do you enjoy her too?”

Zach is Mattie’s seventeen-year-old nephew staying with her family since Mattie’s brother ousted him for not picking the church after experiencing his Rumspringa (the a single-year Amish tradition for teens when they encounter contemporary-day life just before deciding if they’ll perpetually join the community).

Hiding an old auto for transportation and engaging in Fancy folk traditions, such as drinking, Zach realizes he’s attracted to Jaime. Sol warns Zach about his lust for their houseguest: “He saw Zach’s eyes follow Jaime as she walked into the darkness. “Zachary,” he stated firmly. “No.”

Sol also fears Zach’s influence on Danny, who adores his cousin and spends considerably time with him.

Throughout the Fitzpatrick’s check out, Danny and Tucker go missing amidst the cold, darkening, snowy day. What follows is each character reexamining their existence, acceptance of God’s will, and authentic appreciation for the season of Christmas.

For all issues Amish, check out: http://amishliving.com.