The Saturday Six

One.

Just a quick PSA: Father's Day is tomorrow!!! If you forgot to buy a card, HURRY!!! If you forgot to buy a gift, this is a great (and quick!) DIY. It's supposed to be from kids, but I honestly think the sentiment of it can fit any age.

Two.

Do any of you do online grocery shopping? I've never tried it, but I have several friends (moms and single friends alike!) who use it and love it. If you've never tried it, check out this post to learn more. (Admittedly I'm not a huge Wal-Mart fan, but the process is likely similar to anywhere else.)

Three.

You know I'm a huge fan of Katie Farrell at Dashing Dish, and she wrote a post this week that I wanted to share. Katie's daughter turned a year old this week, and the post is about what it was like to transition back to her pre-pregnancy weight. While this isn't something I need to know personally, I know I have a lot of friends who wrestle with that, so if you're one of them, you might find some comfort and wisdom in the words. I am, however, someone who wrestles eternally with weight issues, so I found things I could relate to in the big picture, even though I've never had a baby. So if you have weight issues, take a read just in case you find something you can use!

Four.

I don't own these t-shirts, but I sure do love them!

Five.

A random fact about me: I have a weird fascination with A-Frame homes. Anyone else? Just me? Well, if you have one too (or if you want to understand weird Bekah a bit more) here's an article about the unique features of an A-Frame! Now, if you'll pardon me while I go hunt for some...

Six.

Source

SO excited that my friend Jody Hedlund has a new book out! Together Forever is the second book in the Orphan Train series, set back in the mid 1800's. I read the first book several months ago and couldn't wait for book two!

As I've told you before, Jody is extremely attentive to historical detail, so I always learn a lot when I read her novels, but it doesn't feel like learning, because it's all hidden in a story! The first book in this series (With You Always) focused on the events of America's economic crumblein the 1850s that led so may people to push westward in search of hope. Many children were sent westward by train too, to be adopted by families and hopefully have a chance at a better life than they could have had on the streets in New York.

This book continues that general setting, but the focus of this book is much more on the agents who traveled with the children to help them find new homes. What a heart-rending job! Marianne Neumann is the main character in this story, and we met her in the first book when her older sister, Elise, traveled west on a train in search of a better life. In the time that has passed since Elise moved away and got married, Marianne has gotten separated from their younger sister, Sophie, and she is desperate to find her.

Hoping that Sophie was sent west on an orphan train, Marianne takes a job with the Children's Aid Society as a placing agent. She hopes the job will give her access to records and travel opportunities that might lead her to be reunited with her younger sister.

Paired with agent Andrew Brady for the first trip west, Marianne has her hands full keeping track of over thirty children in need of new homes. The two find a rhythm of working, disciplining, comforting, and leading the children, and along the way, they find a bit of friendship for themselves. As Marianne wrestles with her growing attachment to the children, she also wrestles with a growing attachment to Andrew.

As they begin to place the children in homes throughout Illinois, they face a tragedy that threatens everything: their jobs, their friendship, and their future.

I loved the story of this book, but I also loved learning more about the people who worked as placing agents. Perhaps some did it just as a job, but I'm sure many were like Marianne: tender-hearted souls who ached for the little charges in their care.

I'm see there's a promise for book three for this series!! Loving it!