Why I’m an Advocate for Blood and Organ Donation

I became a blood donor when I was sixteen. I remember my mother coming home with “Be nice to me, I gave blood today” stickers on her shirt. She donated blood for the boy who lived next door to us. His name was Jimmy, and he was diagnosed with leukemia when he was little. Tragically, Jimmy passed away in 1977, when he was only ten years old. I began to give blood in memory of him as soon as I was old enough to donate. I’m also registered to donate bone marrow in memory of Jimmy, and I hope someday I can help someone like him by giving my bone marrow.

I am a member of the blood drive committee at where I work, and I run blood drives at my church. My desire to promote blood donation goes beyond my memories of Jimmy; it’s also because my husband, Joe, has received two kidney transplants. In fact, I donated a kidney through a swap to help him receive his second transplant. On June 14, 2011, I donated a kidney to a woman, who was a stranger, and in exchange, her husband gave a kidney to Joe. We met the other couple after our transplants, and we’re now close friends.

Kidney disease has been a black cloud over our lives since Joe was first diagnosed in 2000. He spent a year on dialysis before receiving his first kidney transplant from his brother in 2004. Unfortunately, his first transplanted kidney only lasted four years, and Joe went back on dialysis in July 2008. Since he had rejected a kidney, his body had built up antibodies, making him difficult to match. My donating a kidney was his best chance of receiving one from a matching donor.

Joe’s illness was difficult for our sons, who are 13 and 8. There were days when Joe was too ill to spend time with them. Aside from the emotional toll of Joe’s illness, we also suffered from financial worries. Since Joe was only well enough to work part-time, I carried the financial burden by working full-time and also writing novels.

Donating a kidney was rewarding for me. Not only did I save Joe’s life and my recipient’s life, but it made an impact on our children. Once the surgery was over, the most exhilarating moment for me was when I spoke to my younger son on the phone, and without any prompting he said, “Mommy, I’m proud of you.”

While Joe was on dialysis and awaiting his second transplant, he was very ill, and he received six units of blood within six months. After his transfusions, I was inspired to share our story. I contacted a member of the blood drive committee at my job and asked if I could compose an email to share with all employees to recruit more people for the bi-monthly blood drives. Not only did I send out the email, but I also joined the blood drive committee.

Blood donation is one of my passions, along with organ donation. I’ve experience first-hand how blood donation can save a life, and I’m determined to encourage others to donate blood. I’m also sharing our kidney transplant journey in my memoir, A Gift of Love, which will be available in March 2014.

By advocating for blood and organ donation, I feel I’m illustrating one of my favorite scripture verses, Matthew 5:16–“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.

Did you know:

• The primary users of blood products are:  Cancer, Cardiac and transplant patients
• Cancer patients may use up to 16 units platelets each week
• Heart transplant patients may use 2-4 units of red blood cells
• Automobile accident victims may use 4-40 units red blood cells
• 37% percent of the population is able to give blood, but only 6% do!
• One pint of whole blood can help save as many as 3 lives
• There is NO substitute for life-saving blood; it cannot be manufactured or recreated
• Donating blood takes 30-45 minutes and saves at least 3 patients lives

Amy Clipston is the best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple best-seller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. In addition to her passion for writing, Amy is incredibly passionate about blood and organ donation. Her memoir, A Gift of Love, which details her journey as a kidney donor, will release in March 2014. She and her family live in North Carolina and are so grateful for their health and time together as a family. 

Fall Events

Happy September!

I blogged two weeks ago about how much I love the fall. Not only am I excited about the weather and the upcoming holidays, but I’m also excited to peek at my events page on Facebook and see all of the book signings that are coming up. I thought I’d share the list with you here.

I’ll be in Indianapolis next week for the American Christian Fiction Writers, and I will participate in two multi-author signings:

Thurs., Sept. 12, 6 p.m.
Family Christian
715 East Carmel Drive
Carmel, IN 46032

Fri., Sept. 13, 1-3 p.m.
Barnes & Noble @ IUPUI
Campus Center
420 University Blvd., Ste 155
Indianapolis, IN 46202

More upcoming events include:

Sat., Sept., 21, 10:30 a.m.
Amish Brunch with Amy Clipston
Montgomery County Public Libraries
215 West Main Street
Troy, North Carolina 27371

Thurs., Oct. 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ladies’ Tea: A Book signing and speaking engagement
Matthews Christian Library
116 N. Ames Street
Matthews, NC 28105

Fri., Oct. 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Ethel K. Smith Library
Wingate University
110 Church Street
Wingate, NC 28174

I hope to see you at a book signing soon!
Blessings,
Amy

Amy Clipston is the award-winning author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple best-seller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Her new novel, A Hopeful Heart, released June 2013She holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats.

What’s the appeal of Amish books?

People ask me why I write Amish romance novels. While my ancestors weren’t Amish, my father was a German immigrant, who came to the United States along with his parents and siblings in 1929. He once told me the Amish speak a dialect that is similar his German relatives. That connection resonated with me, and after visiting Lancaster County as a child, I felt that loose connection strengthen. I love the culture and the people.

Our modern world is full of distractions. Each day our time is ruled by cellular phones and email messages. Most of us rush off to work in the morning and find ourselves trapped in traffic jams. When we get home at night, we again hurry through the motions of the daily routine before going to bed. Many of us are not able to spend much time with our families due to the demands of our careers.

I believe most of us secretly crave the romanticized view we have of the Amish life since their lives are focused on their families and faith. They chose to live simply and without the conveniences that have taken over our modern lives. The Amish have more time to spend with their families, and their lives revolve around their children, not stressful jobs. The Amish novels are an escape from our crazy lives, and the stories transport us to a simpler way of life. By reading about the Amish, we feel a closer connection to God and we refocus our lives toward what really matters.

One of my Amish friends helps me with my novels. She reads my manuscripts before they are published, and she also answers my questions. I learned more about the Amish life while working on my latest book, A Hopeful Heart, the first in my new series, the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel. I’ll share some of what she told me below.

Games

My characters play games in a few scenes in my new book. I knew the Amish played Scrabble, but I was surprised when my friend told me they play many of the games I loved when I was a child. Some of those games include Monopoly, Uno, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, and Pictionary.

What’s shunning?

Since shunning is an integral part of A Hopeful Heart, my friend explained the issue to me. When a member of the church is shunned, he or she cannot do business with any members of the community until the shunned member confesses to the congregation and is forgiven. This means no money can exchange hands. If a shunned member rents a home from another church member, the shunned person must move out. My friend’s sister was shunned and tried to buy something in an Amish store. When her sister went to pay, the cashier refused her money. The cashier told her to take the items without paying, and her sister was very embarrassed. Family members also aren’t allowed to eat at the same table as someone who is shunned.

Youth Groups & Not-So-Youthful Groups

If you’ve read Amish books, I’m certain you’ve heard about the youth groups and the “singings” they attend. Through my research for A Hopeful Heart, I found adults who are single in the Amish community also have get-togethers. They might sing for a family who has faced a tragedy or they may sing for an elderly member of the community who is homebound. Many single adults attend these gatherings as a way to mingle with members of the opposite sex.

What do you love most about the Amish culture? Leave a comment below.

Amy Clipston is the best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series.Her novels have hit multiple best-seller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Her upcoming release, A Hopeful Heart, is set to release in June 2013. In addition to her passion for writing, Amy is incredibly passionate about blood and organ donation. She and her family live in North Carolina and are so grateful for their health and time together as a family. 

Photo Shoots & Transplanted Kidneys

Last week my husband, Joe, and I traveled to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to visit my publisher (Zondervan) and also do a photo and video shoot for my upcoming memoir, A Gift of Love, which will be out in February 2014.  The memoir details my husband’s fight with kidney disease and our participation in a “kidney swap.” On June 14, 2011, I donated a kidney to a stranger, and, in return, her husband donated a kidney to Joe.

Kidney disease has been a dark cloud over our lives since Joe was diagnosed in 2000. Joe spent a year on dialysis before receiving his first kidney transplant from his brother in 2004. Unfortunately, his first transplanted kidney only lasted four years, and Joe went back on dialysis in July 2008. Since he rejected a kidney, his body built up antibodies, making him difficult to match. My donating a kidney was his best chance of receiving one from a matching donor.

Becoming a kidney donor was a natural choice for me. Watching my husband suffer with an illness was heartbreaking, and I sobbed the day I found out I wasn’t a good match for him. The disease was also difficult for my sons, who are 12 and 8. There were days when Joe was too ill to spend time with them.

I’m honored that I could donate a kidney and help a family who had suffered like ours. After surgery, the most exhilarating moment was when my then 6-year-old called, and without any prompting, said, “Mommy, I’m proud of you.”

I’m excited about the memoir, and I pray our story inspires folks to donate blood or possibly even get tested for someone who needs a transplant. I pray our story gives hope to folks who are suffering with chronic illnesses or those caregivers in their lives.

On Saturday my family and I are participating in the National Kidney Foundation Walk as Team Clipston. I’m so thankful Joe is healthy and can be at my side while we walk to raise awareness and money for the Kidney Foundation.

Below are a few photos that were snapped with my iPhone during our memoir photo shoot. Enjoy!

Amy Clipston is the best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series.Her novels have hit multiple best-seller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Her upcoming release, A Hopeful Heart, is set to release in June 2013. In addition to her passion for writing, Amy is incredibly passionate about blood and organ donation. She and her family live in North Carolina and are so grateful for their health and time together as a family. 

Lancaster County Prayer Coverings & Colorful Dresses

Did you know that different Amish communities have different prayer coverings?  The prayer coverings the women wear in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, are heart shaped in the back. You won’t see prayer coverings like this in Indiana or Ohio. The prayer coverings are more circular shaped in those states. When you see Amish women out in public, they normally wear white prayer coverings. When it’s cold, you may see a black bonnet over their prayer covering.

When I attended a church service at my Amish friend’s house in Pennsylvania, I was surprised to see her daughter and other teenage girls wearing black prayer coverings instead of the usual white. I asked her daughter why they were wearing black coverings, and she explained that it was tradition for her church district. She told me that many years ago, the young women would arrive at church on horseback, and their coverings would turn black from the ride. As a tradition, the teenagers often wear black prayer coverings to church. Isn’t that an interesting tradition for her community to keep?

I’ve also found that Amish women and girls don’t always wear their prayer coverings. Sometimes, they wear bandanas or kerchiefs instead. When I first met my Amish friend, we sat in her kitchen for two hours and talked. I was surprised she was wearing a kerchief on her head and tied under her chin. She was also wearing a black button-down sweater over a black dress. I had expected to see her in the usual plain dress and bib apron that I had seen in books and on the Internet.

I didn’t have the opportunity to see my friend wearing the regular prayer covering and dress until my editor and I took her out to eat at a restaurant the second time I met her. She was wearing a beautiful purple dress that was made out of special material she’d been given as a gift. She looked lovely in her special dress and prayer covering. It was then that I realized that the traditional prayer covering is worn during special occasions and church. When they are working at home, Amish women may wear something like a kerchief.

When I took my Amish friend and her sons to spend the day at a lake in Maryland, she stowed her prayer covering in a large Tupperware container that she left under the seat in the van and wore a bandana when she wasn’t swimming.

I learned more about Amish dresses when I attended the service at my friend’s house. I was surprised to see the young ladies in bright colors. I spotted bright pink, teal, and purple. I always believed the young women wore the same darker colors that their mothers and grandmothers wore. Another Amish woman explained that women wear brighter colors until approximately 10 years after they’re married. After 10 years of marriage, they wear the darker blues, purples, and reds, and greens.

Young women also wear white capes and aprons to church. I was struck by how beautiful the light pink dresses looked with the white lace capes and aprons. Pink has always been my favorite color, so I was drawn to the pink Amish style dresses.

I’m fascinated by how the Amish women dress. I hope you found this information interesting too!

Amy Clipston is the best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. She holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats.

Amish Paintings

Hi everyone!

This week I wanted to share some of the artwork in my house. I’m a huge fan of the painter Nancy Noel’s Amish collection, and I have her work in my family room, kitchen, and my office at work.  My collection began when my neighbor gave me a few of the paintings before she moved. I then purchased and framed a few more for my house and office. I would love to own all of her Amish paintings.

Below are a few of the paintings I have in my home.  What do you think of them?

This painting is called “My Calf.”

This is “Delicate Cap.”

This is “Faith.”

This is “One Upon a Cat and Crow.”

Praying for God’s Blessings . . . Without Guilt

By Tricia Goyer

One of the special treasures of an Amish family is their prayer book, Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht. Its earliest printing was in 1708. Can you imagine that thousands of families who have prayed the same prayers over the centuries?

Amish author Beverly Lewis compiled many of the prayers in the small book, Amish Prayers. I gave a copy to my grandmother one Christmas, and she loves it!

Here is one of those prayers:

The eyes of all believers are on you, Lord God and Heavenly Father, since you are the Provider for all. Open your gentle hand and pour out your gracious blessings over those who hope in you and open their eyes to you. Give us, Lord, spiritual eyes trustingly directed toward you. May we graciously enjoy the blessing and benediction of your divine grace, and may we take in moderation that which you have given to us, and use it to honor you and fulfill our needs. Above all else, nourish our souls unceasingly with the bread of your holy Word, through through dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

“The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore I will hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh Him.” Lamentations 3:24-25

Do you ever think about praying for God’s blessing in your life? If so, do you feel guilty about doing so? I know I do.

A few years ago Bruce Wilkinson wrote a short book called The Prayer of Jabez. It was a huge hit, and personally I loved the book. In it, the author dared us to pray for God’s blessings. After all, Jabez did. His prayer went like this:

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” 1 Chronicles 4:9, 10 NIV

God isn’t a magic genie, but He does want us to look to Him. He wants us to expect good things from Him. He wants us to remember His goodness . . . and expand our territories so we can have a greater impact for Him!

Solomon prayed for wisdom. Hannah prayed for a son. Jehoshaphat prayed for Deliverance. Jesus prayed for God’s kingdom to come.

What will you pray for today? God longs for you to turn to Him with a trusting heart . . . and without guilt in doing so.

And as you pray today, friends, may the Lord grant your requests!

*Photo credit: Image courtesy of ba1969 / stock.xchng

(See the original post here.)