Favorite Quote
Even if I can’t say dumb bunny out loud, I can still think it inside my head. ‘Cause heads are silent. Which is what I like about heads.
-Junie B.’s journal
Favorite Quotes
“The early years of marriage are often hard. The key is to learn how to love. And for a woman, that means making her husband feel special, important.”
-Reagan’s mother, page 154
Always they’d told their children the same thing. Jeremiah 29:11 – God has plans for each person. Good plans. The key was to walk with Him, step by step, so the Lord could reveal those plans to each of them.
-Narration on John Baxter’s thoughts, page 165
Her shoulders sagged. “I’m not sure I even know where to begin.”
Landon’s eyes shone with love and understanding and strength. “Start where we always start, Ash.” He pointed up…
And of course that’s exactly what she would do. It was what she had been doing. Only most of the time throughout the day praying hadn’t felt like enough. But it was. It always would be. Peace stilled the rough waters in her soul, and she lifted her voice to God…
-Narration on Landon and Ashley Blake, page 230
Somehow everything would work out. God was always faithful, whether a person was in a season of blessing or a season of growing, whether in triumphs or trials. It was like her mother had always said: in the journey of life, it was a better ride if a person took the passenger seat and let God do the driving. Because along the way there were bound to be some unexpected turns.
And some turns only God could maneuver.
-Narration on Ashley Blake’s thoughts, pages 230-1
Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage – from Mom
1. God has you here to serve one another. Love acted out is serving.
2. Women need respect and nurturing. Love your wife so she knows you’d lay your life down for her. Continue to date her and admire her. Share a hobby – find something you can do to have fun together.
3. Laugh often.
4. Be patient. Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.
5. Spend more time trying to fix yourself than your spouse.
6. Keep short accounts. The Bible says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are angry.” Make it a habit to forgive.
7. Determine up front that divorce is not an option.
8. Learn the love languages. Not all people show love or receive it the same way. You want a back rub and your spouse wants a clean kitchen. The love languages are fairly simple: acts of service, time, physical touch, gifts, and words of affirmation. Learn them. Love is better received when it’s in the language that person speaks.
9. Words of affirmation are a love language for all men.
10. Men are born to be leaders. He cannot lead unless she gives him the confidence to do so. If you love your husband, build him up. Confident men do not seek love outside the home.
-A letter from Elizabeth Baxter, pages 238-240
We are always better to be patient and still, waiting on God…Praying, hoping, believing, letting go, and waiting.
-Karen Kingsbury, page 330
Favorite Quotes
“Moral failure begins with the smallest compromise.”
-Bob Asher, page 141
Family was what living was all about, wasn’t it? God created families so people would have a place of connection, a haven of rest, a group who would accept and love one another no matter what.
-Narration on John Baxter’s thoughts, page 260
And then John heard the answer. Son, this battle is not yours but God’s. Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.
-Paraphrased from chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles, page 261
John blinked back tears, amazed at his wife’s wisdom. So many young women struggled with a gift that came naturally to Elizabeth, the gift of building up her husband. She was forever complimenting him, telling him why she was grateful for him, how much she appreciated him. Even for the little things. In turn, he wanted to spend his life pleasing her. Many times he’d heard Elizabeth telling their daughters how important it was to encourage their men.
-Narration on John Baxter’s thoughts, page 266
God has put family members in your life for a reason. They may not all be lovable, but they all need loving. Sometimes getting past the hurts and strained relationships that can come up in families is as simple as making a choice to love.
-Karen Kingsbury, page 328
Favorite Quotes
“She was not frightened by what she knew but by what she didn’t understand. Why was it so? And did it have to stay that way, ever being afraid of what was beyond our understanding?”
-Cadi (narration), page 40
“Fagan tried to cheer me up on the long walk home, but some feelings have to ease on their own. You can’t talk them out or forget. Sometimes you can’t even make sense of them. You just gotta walk on through.”
-Cadi (narration), page 126
“Don’t matter though. No matter how deep the truth gets buried, it always comes to light.”
-Miz Elda, page 132
