Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Archives for August 2011

I let the kids run wild to finish this book

Reading is a dangerous hobby for me. It always has been. I can lose myself between the front and back cover of a book in no time, oblivious to the real world around me.

It happened again today while reading Francine Rivers’ Her Daughter’s Dream. I’ve waited two months to read this second installment of the Marta’s Legacy series. (Click here to read my review of the first half of the series, Her Mother’s Hope.)

And it was worth the wait.

The series spans four generations of women who’ve been hurt, and who hurt others. Who love deeply and passionately, but sometimes wrongly. Who aspire to great heights, and fall to great depths. Her Daughter’s Dream is a fitting conclusion to this saga, bringing me to tears at times. That’s one thing I love about Rivers’ writing. It is moving but not manipulative. I don’t feel like she’s setting me up for a good cry. She’s writing about real stuff that really hurts and whether I’ve experienced it or not myself, I weep. Rivers holds nothing back, and in her characters I see the potential to err in my own life, with my relationship with my daughter. I was most affected by the themes of unforgiveness, miscommunication and bitterness, all of which lead to broken relationships and stand in the way of healing and wholeness.

When I’m in the middle of a good read, I’m drawn to the book, no matter what else is going on. I read while the kids played in the wading pool and dumped rocks and sand into the sandbox. I read while they destroyed my parents’ house from top to bottom, littering it with toys and food. I think my son ate grass, chapstick and maybe even some dog-slobbered crackers while I was engrossed. Not my best parenting day by any standard, but nobody got hurt, everyone had fun and tomorrow is another day.

All that to say, if you’re like me and you can’t put a good book down once you’ve picked it up, you might want to save this one for a long car ride or a late night or a vacation. It’s compelling, distracting and engaging.

Faith-building, as well.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I haven’t read a Francine Rivers book yet that I haven’t enjoyed.

Take a look at the book trailer for Her Daughter’s Dream.

I’m almost sad to leave these characters behind. They were beginning to feel like family.

Her Daughter’s Dream is part of the Tyndale Summer Reading Program, which I wholeheartedly recommend for next summer. I’ve read some great books that I otherwise might have missed.

What have you been reading this summer?

 

Introducing our kids to our old stomping grounds

We’re back in Illinois for two weeks. Our kids are growing up fast. And while we love the abundance of new and exciting adventures available to us in Pennsylvania, sometimes a little taste of nostalgia is needed.

Our mornings are pretty much our own these couple of weeks. Just because we’re on vacation doesn’t mean everyone else is. So, Tuesday my husband had the brilliant idea to take the kids on a hike. It’s one of our (his and mine) favorite activities and the couple of times we’ve taken the kids, they’ve enjoyed it too. Our hometown area offers all kinds of natural scenery and organized parks from which to enjoy the beauty. It was hard to pick one place to go, so we went with location. Closest to my parents’ house won.

We packed a bag and headed out to Franklin Creek State Natural Area. We passed the Franklin Creek Grist Mill on the way. Unfortunately, it wasn’t open. I haven’t been there since probably middle school. Both of our families spent significant portions of our childhood at Franklin Creek. It’s a simple yet beautiful area, and the day we went, it was almost deserted.

Here’s one little explorer who is ready to go. Both kids insist on carrying maps with them. Isabelle likes to follow along.

Franklin Creek is home to a spring, so we planned to hike at least to it. One of the nice things about this part of the park is it’s handicapped accessible with a nice paved walkway to the spring. So, the kids could run mostly free for the beginning part of the hike.

We also discovered a lookout area near one of the ponds in the park. We tried to capture a nice family photo of our hike.

What we got instead was more the reality. Oh well. At least it’s us to a T.

The walk to the spring isn’t long and we had all morning to kill, so we decided to trek on. The kids were in good spirits, we had snacks and drinks. The weather was perfect: cool, breezy and clear.

So, one by one (sort of) we crossed the spring and set off to explore more territory.

Corban blazes a trail and sometimes wanders into the weeds. Isabelle likes to dawdle and look at flowers, plants, trees and bugs, if we can see any.

The trail was full of obstacles in the form of downed trees and limbs, which was like a playground for the kids.

Little miss kept saying, “I have to go first because I’m the sister bear.”

So, she’d get a leg up and swing it over and climb down the other side. Not to be outdone, her almost 2-year-old brother would try, too. Unfortunately for him he’s been “gifted” with the long torso, short legs from his father’s side of the family. But it was funny to watch all the same.

I kept saying they’re going to be ready for boot camp. Just kidding. I think.Limbo, anyone? Sometimes over just wasn’t good enough. Pretty sure they wanted Phil and me to go under it, too.Overall, it was a blast. Our summer has been so packed with Phil’s schooling (last summer of seminary … what?!?!) that I feel like we’ve forgotten to have fun. So, I’m glad that we could have this little bit of family fun in the midst of our visit home to see family. Few things fill my soul like spending time with my three great loves. And it ended up being a 2-and-a-half hour hike. More than I’d planned on but fun just the same.

Hiking plus family equals satisfaction. I never really liked math, but this is one equation I could get used to.