The Christmas Quilt is a complex story that centers on the birth of twins to a young married couple. There are also many interesting side stories woven into the novel.

At the beginning of the book, there seems to be strife and discord in the relationship of Leah and Adampossibly brought on by her pregnancy. Leah and Adam, both young and immature, are just beginning to know each other as husband and wife, when their relationship is complicated by Leahs pregnancy.

Perhaps God arranged for additional complications in their young lives to give both Adam and Leah an opportunity to grow spiritually and also to grow in their love for one another before their family expands. Whatever the reason, we soon find the couple attempting to deal with a crisis they dont expect and arent prepared for. Through it all we see how their friends, family members, and community rally to support them.

I enjoyed seeing the growth and change of several of the characters, especially Leah and Adam. I love the way that the making of the quilt is tied in to their spiritual growth.

If you like books about the Amish, quilting, or Christmas, I think you will enjoy The Christmas Quilt by Vannetta Chapman. It is a very satisfying read.

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Annie Yoder did something different during her rumspringa, she went into the English world and became a nurse. Upon her return she married herbalist, Samuel Yoder, who took care of the local Amishs basic medical needs. As the story opens they are expecting their first child and her brother, Adam and his wife Leah are expecting for the first time too. Leah is carrying twins. The two women are very close. Annie wants to make Leah a special quilt for the babies. Thinking she has time to spare, (Leah isnt due for two months), Annie gets a late start.
Leah unexpectedly goes into early labor, endangering her life and the babies. She is must be taken to a hospital in Philadelphia where she and the babies can be cared for. Annie agrees to stay with her until the babies are born.
Adam and Leah have been having struggles in their marriage since Leah became pregnant. Neither knows what the problem is and the distance grows between them. The sudden separation they experience while Leah is in the hospital causes both of them to view their marriage through different eyes.
Annie and Leah work on the quilt together and to pass the time share stories that illustrate the nine fruits of the spirit from Galatians chapter 5, one for each quilt square.
The community pulls together to have an auction to help pay for Leah and the babies hospital stay. Adam is overwhelmed by their love and generosity.
While this book would be a great read anytime, it is especially so for the Christmas season. Not because the story takes place around the holiday, but because of the many lessons associated with Christmas that can be learned from it.
Adam and Leahs marital problems stemmed from losing focus on what was important. Adam was worried about finances and being a new father. Leah focused on her pregnancy discomfort and began to be selfish and ill tempered. When faced with the possibility of losing one another their priorities became very clear. I was reminded of how we lose focus of Christ, during the Christmas season. He is the true reason to celebrate, yet people caught up in buying gifts, decorating, preparing special food; everything except the Child that was the greatest gift of all. He should always be our priority and focus.
Annie made a great sacrifice to stay with her sister in law. She spent man

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This is a wonderful book to read during the Holiday season! Its filled with warm characters and traditional values. Annie starts to make a crib quilt for her sister-in-law and wants to finish it before the babies arrive. Leah is expecting twins before Christmas and Annie is also pregnant.
Leah and her Husband Adam are going thru some difficult times in their relationship, and while Leah and Annie work on the quilt, it helps Leah understand her relationship with Adam better, while learning to put her trust in God for their relationship.

Leah and Annie look forward to their time working on the quilt together, as they tell stories while they are working and learn more about each other.

I love quilts, and really enjoyed the parts of the book describing the quilt and how it is put together, - the descriptions of the different fabrics and colors is really interesting.

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