Life can be a bit upside down in the Smuckers' Oregon farmhouse. Dorcas Smucker, mother of six, writes thoughtful essays about muffins on the floor, orange dots on the kitchen ceiling, and the footprint that began their journey. Daffodils, blackberries, independent kids, and a yowling kitty--they're all here too. Should they cut down the pine trees? Why does a yellow teapot mean redemption? How can a dedicated mom let go? Find out for yourself, and recall all the unexpected endings of your own. That Dorcas Smucker has found an impassioned following in a time and place taht often clash with her farm-rooted values is a glowing testament to what may be her greatest attribute as a writer: her ability, with words, to transcend politics, geography, and lifestyles and connect with something far more important. Her readers' hearts. Smucker is unpretentious, genuine and sneakily funny. She is that rare writer who eschews the cultural flow, a true nonconformist in a world of wanna-bes. A quiet spirit who dares to teach us lessons we didn't realize we needed until they've already settled deeply into our souls. --Bob Welch, author and inspirational speaker Dorcas Smucker's knack for storytelling and her way of gleaning wise insights from daily experiences always touches my spirit--both uplifting and challenging me to gain more from my own life. No matter how many times I read her tales, they're always fresh and enjoyable. I cannot recommend them highly enough. --Mary Hake, past president of Oregon Christian Writers Dorcas Smucker is a Mennonite minister's wife, mother of six, columnist, blogger, and speaker from Harrisburg, Oregon. distributed, novels