Book Review: Seasons of Tomorrow by Cindy Woodsmall

Seasons of Tomorrow , Book 4 in the Amish Vines and Orchards series, by Cindy Woodsmall, was a good finish to all the threads of people’s lives and conflicts that we have been following through the previous three books in the series. 

I am happy to report that each of the main characters (Samuel, Rhoda, Leah, and Jacob) and others grew in their relationship with the Lord and resolved the conflicts with each other.  Any time there are non-Amish intimately involved in Amish family and business, there is conflict, and this book reveals that clearly.  It also discloses the ability of some to love deeply enough to let others, however different, into their hearts.  I am saddened that some of the relatives were willing to rigidly cut off fellowship for the sake of tradition and rules that I personally have never found in the Bible.

I enjoy reading Amish books, because they are wholesome, but sometimes the culture really frustrates me.  I love it when some of the characters in this series believe deeply in obeying God’s Word more than obeying man’s words.  It is painful to do, because of the conflicts that it causes in families, but it is the right thing to do.  This book closes with Samuel, Rhoda, and Jacob purposefully choosing to support Leah in her walk with God even though they know they will be shunned again.

If you have read the other three books in the series already, please read this one for closure on all your favorite people!  I would not recommend reading it as a stand-alone, as you would miss too much of the context provided previously.  There were times when this book moved too slowly for me, especially with too much construction information or orchard tending information, but it was all needed for the occupations of the characters.

I received my free copy of Seasons of Tomorrow from Waterbrook/Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

New Albertson Granddaughter!

Jewelyn Alice Albertson was born to Randy and Joy Albertson on April 26, 4:48 p.m. MDT, at home.  She weighed 8#, 2 oz., and measured 20.25 inches long.  Jesus kept His loving hand over her birth, so that she is healthy, and we are so blessed to have her join our family! 

Her names are special:  Jewelyn is an original name, coming from her Great-Grandma Scoles (Wanda Jewell), and Alice is from her Great-Grandma Albertson (Alice Louise).  Alice has also been a favorite girl name to Quil and Micah.  Alice means Noble, Truth, and Jewel means Joy, Precious Gem.  

Quil, Micah, Jonathan, and Joanna (Joy's sister) came to our house to stay on the birth day, so when we went down to Federal Heights on Sunday morning, the boys got to see their new sister for the first time.

 Now Jonathan is no longer the baby and he looks huge beside his little sister.  He couldn't help having a big grin on his face when he looked at her.

                                   Grandma Albertson is quite thrilled with Jewelyn.

                                                Grandpa Albertson is pretty proud of her too!

                                 There's a kiss Great-Grandma Scoles said to give her...

                                   The boys loved getting to hold her.  They took turns very nicely.

                     Jewelyn already knows what to do when she has a swaddler on:  time to go to sleep!

                                                 She is picture perfect!

                                                  We took her socks off to look at her feet.

                                                              Quil holding Jewelyn

                                                             Micah having his turn

                                                           Jonathan loves her, too.

 Aunt Emily loves having a new baby to hold.  This is the first grandchild born close enough that we can participate in the spoiling training from the start!

Interesting trivia from our family that matches Jewelyn's birth:  We had three boys, then got our first girl Beth.  Beth was born with the cord around her neck; so was Jewelyn.  Both of them were born on the 26th; Beth in September, Jewelyn in April.

New Quilts Finished

This first quilt is for Beth to take to college next semester

                                          This is a quilt for Charissa, our granddaughter.

                                       Both quilts are twin size and were completed on April 19.

Ready for the new baby

Any Day Now...

Garden of the gods with Quil and Micah

Rowen, Janet, Randy, Quil and Micah went to Garden of the gods on Saturday afternoon, April 12.  Everybody else wanted to take a nap.  There was a parking space available (you can see our van in the distance) so we grabbed it, even though it was not by the normal trails or features you think of when you think of Garden of the gods.  So we found our own features on the little hike that we took!  In this one, we are holding up the balanced rock :)

 The boys were kind of scared of standing on the ledge, so Grandma held them on.

                                 We could see Kissing Camels at a distance.

 The boys went clear to the edge of this formation.  We got them to come back to a safer place for the picture.

                                   Randy watching to see what the boys would do

                                 Quil was pretty proud of himself getting to this place all by himself.

 Here is what it looked like from where we were.  He had to go around behind and climb up there.

                                 Of course, Micah had to go up there too to be with brother.

                                    They came down the slip and slide way.

We had a fun little hike and taught them about prickly pear cactus, yucca, and lichen and told stories of their daddy in the mountains when he was a little boy.  I hope it was as special for them as it was for us.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

It had been almost 25 years since we had been to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, so we decided to take Emily, Quil, Micah, and Joanna there on April 11 afternoon, while Randy and Joy were in a meeting.  Janet's favorite part was the Sky Line that took us up the mountain.  There wasn't much to do after we got up there, a play area for kids, but the ride up and back was relaxing and enjoyable.  We rode it up and down two times, first thing and last thing.  There were lots of things to look down on and talk about with Quil and Micah on the way.

One of the trips, we only had Micah with us, and Quil went with the girls.

                               This is one of the sights we saw from above!

This picture was taken up on top.  You could look out and see Colorado Springs!

This is not a real giraffe, but a fun one to take pictures with!

The giraffes are one of the main animal attractions of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  There are a lot of them, and they are very used to people feeding them romaine lettuce, so they hang out where the people are, hoping to get fed.

Micah was really scared of them, because their tongues are very long and they take the food right out of your hand!

This picture is the same time as the one above, with a different person's camera.

Giraffes' tongues are purple-blue.

This is not a real elephant, either, but Quil wanted to sit on it.  At the admission gate, Quil asked if there were elephant rides available.   He was told that the elephants here are African, not Asian, and they are not used to people, so there are no elephant rides.

We only saw these two that were out in the yard.  We elected not to go in their house, in case it was stinky, and there were so many other animals to see (and miles to walk before we were done....)

                               I thought this peacock's tail was pretty.

                               These were obviously "love birds."

                               Here is the same tiger that we had seen from above.

                                Such neat poses Emily caught!

We have pictures with Randy and Tim on this same carousel 25 years ago, so we had to take Quil and Micah on it with Grandpa standing by, as Grandpa Albertson had for Randy. (Sometime we will scan that picture and add it on to this post.)

The boys had a fun time at the zoo.  Grandpa and Grandma were tired at the end of it! :)

Arms Around the World Conference April 10-12

We decided to go down to Colorado Springs and stay in a motel so we could get in on all of the services of the Arms Around the World Thursday night through Saturday night.  We did come home late Saturday night to be in our regular Sunday services.  There were workshops in the mornings, with different missionaries speaking.   Below are Randy and Sharona Dimmitt and a couple of Navajo ladies who sang How Great Thou Art in Navajo before Randy Dimmitt spoke about ministering to the Navajo, and also their plans to go to Papua New Guinea later this year.  The angle of the picture does not show the other lady.

 Emily sneaked this picture during the singing of Uncle Alvin, Rowen's cousin Katie, and Ralph and Eunice Gault, dear friends of ours.

 Another workshop service where Jonathan Lucas spoke about his construction trips with Mission Helps.  His family sang a song together before he spoke.

 Our son, Randy Albertson, spoke about outreach to inner cities, using a prayer stand and tracts, and sketchboard messages.  This is his family.  We are expecting a little girl to join their family any day now...

 A picture of Katie and Janet together.  Katie is very dear to us.  We had a meal with her and Uncle Alvin on Friday evening.

                                 Emily and Katie

 Pastor Marvin and Cheryl Mosley, Michael and Charisse. They have been in Colorado for nearly two years, but are moving back to Pennsylvania to pastor there.  We will miss them.

 John and Karen McDonald.  Brother McDonald spoke in a workshop and every evening service.  They sang every evening, and he skillfully played his guitar for offertories.

We felt the conference was very refreshing to our souls and were thankful we got to attend.