A heartwarming tale of longing and hope in Lancaster by bestselling author Linda Byler Elsie is desperate for a horse of her own, but her family barely has enough money to get by as it is—she knows they can’t afford to buy a horse, never mind pay for the grain and hay to keep it fed through the winter. With her father injured, it’s up to Elsie to help earn money for the family—while going to school and helping Mam with the other kids. So she buries herself in the daily tasks at hand and tries to forget her longing. But when her classmate Elam invites her to visit his family’s horse farm one afternoon, she willfully forgets her responsibilities at home and follows him. Exhilarated by the strong, sleek Morgans and the musty smell of the barn, her passion for horses is reignited. As Elsie spends more time at Elam’s farm, it becomes harder and harder to be the responsible young woman her parents expect her to be. Why should she have to work as a maud to earn money for her family when Elam gets to spend every afternoon riding? It isn’t fair, and to make matters worse, now she’s expected to go to singings and play games with the other youth who are old enough to start dating, when all she wants is to be out riding. It’s a waste of time, she figures—it’s not like any of the boys will want a poor, rebellious girl like her anyway. As she struggles to reconcile her anger and frustration with the obedience her Amish faith requires, she also starts to have confusing feelings for Elam. She’s determined not to like him in that way. After all, he only sees her as free labor, someone to muck out stalls and work the horses. Doesn’t he? When tragedy strikes in the Amish community, Elsie is forced to let go of her teenage angst and grow up quickly. But sometimes letting go of one’s desires has a way of allowing one to accept something even better. A tale of longing, desperation, and finally hope, this is a heartwarming Christmas tale to be remembered.

I have had many questions about my faith, who the spirits are, and how the messages that they bring come to me. I believe that too many people worry about what everyone else thinks. I do not believe you should go around insulting anyone. But when it comes to talking about our spiritual 'higher power,' there are so many beliefs. When people write or talk about the 'higher power,' they walk on eggshells, afraid of turning people away. I would like share some of my life stories.InThe Promise, Robert Welch continues his testimony that began in his first book,Reaching Out. The Promise takes a closer look at the spiritual awakening that Rob has undergone, particularly the messages that he has received from heaven, his personal beliefs, and the promises that God makes to each of us. Rob's life has undergone remarkable changes since the release ofReaching Out. His touching stories of faith, mental healing, and the role of God in each person's life will truly show youThe Promisethat God has in store for all of his children.

We are a shadow in the darkness. A whisper in the wind. So writes Elsie, looking at the world and her place in it with the angst-ridden intensity, confusion, hope, despair and naivety of a teenager giving her thoughts and opinions on the world as she sees it. With help from the literary greats, in these pages the eloquent young woman covers love, friendship, life and death, among other subjects, with the passion of youth and the earnestness of someone trying to work out who she is, what the future is, and what her part in that future might be. You are your own destiny, your own saviour and your own problem, use your life to find your own solution… --- Now in her early twenties, Doncaster-based Louise Kirk recently graduated from the University of Hull with a first-class degree in psychology. Louise currently works as a support worker for young people and adults with autism, and is also a befriender for the Alzheimer's Society.