Bøger af Joyce Crawford

The Warehouse, spanning nearly 100 years weave the lives of families and communities together. There are stories of dreams and ambitions, war and blood, tragedy and death, and even romance and fantasy. To be certain, they are the stories of the blood and guts of pioneers that gave the Warehouse her substance and of the many lives She touched. In the days after God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden, His fairies, Faith, Hope, Serenity, Passion, and little Curiosity, were concerned about Him being sad and lonely. Upon meeting The Creator in the Garden's morning mist, the fairies asked if they could find Him new friends. God chuckled at the fairies' concern and offered an alternative. "Would you like to find people to build a storehouse in which I can keep My unclaimed gifts and blessings?" With great delight, the fairies began their task. In 1863, Leo Bates was ten-years old when he watched his father, Fred Bates, suffer a tortuous death from a rattlesnake bite. The only possessions Fred left his son was a strong faith in God and a sawmill. After Leo's mother died and his siblings settled with their families, Leo Bates and his wife, Susan, left the family home in Georgia. The young couple did not intend to make a home in the wild, unsettled territory of Florida. However, when their wagon hit a gopher hole and shattered a wheel, Leo proclaimed in his strong, yet gentle manner, "Well, Susan, honey, this must be where God wants us to be." After the Civil War, a young John Wilkins left his Missouri home in 1873. He was only nineteen and desperate to leave behind his heartbreak of losing his first love, Miss Ann Marie. With his golden mare Biddy, as his only companion, John traveled through Kansas, Arkansas, and Louisiana to the Bayo country. While in the swamps, John worked for Henri Dubose, a Cajun timberman who had a strong faith in God and a heart as big as he was. When John contracted malaria, Babette, Henri's Cajun-Choctaw daughter, nursed John through his illness. Later, John thought his happiness was complete when he married Babette and had a son. However, they lost their son to smallpox. Though it broke his heart, Henri encouraged his children to leave the Bayo to escape their pain. After many tiring weeks of travel, John and Babette stopped by a riverbank. Looking into the blue Florida sky, Babette listened. The pine trees seemed to whisper, "Welcome Home." Thus, Leo Bates and John Wilkins, with their families, established the Christian community later known as Graceton. Little did Leo and John know how their sawmill and their faith in God would touch the life of a great-great granddaughter.

As naughty as Thelma was in Book Two, she redeems herself in Book Three. She admits to Cory Crow that she was unkind to him and apologizes. Cory graciously accepts her apology and they become fast friends. Cory said, "So now we are five. Five best friends."Thelma and her friends, Beetle, Bunny, Cory Crow and Adam Mouse, meet Rudy Raccoon. However, the initial meeting is not a happy one.

Like most crows, Cory is very intelligent and self-confident, which causes great conflict for Thelma Thistle.Adam Mouse is meek and trusting and adds his own qualities to the friends. These qualities will be even more evident in following books.Thelma does not take such an active part in this adventure; after all, she cannot walk.This story addresses the emotions of fear, mistrust, disgust, jealousy, courtesy and embarrassment, just to name a few.The story also introduces children to where forest animals live. Mother Rabbit dug a burrow and lined it with her own soft fur and other materials she found in the forest. Beetle's mom and dad found a fallen tree and made a comfy nest in the decaying vegetation and fungus. Both Beetle and Bunny are safe and loved in their burrow and fallen log. Cory Crow finds happiness and purpose in his new home with new friends. He decides he is going to like it here. Of course, this will lead to many new and exciting adventures and learning opportunities.The other new character introduced in this book is Adam Mouse. Adam is meek and trusting and brings his own special skills to this and following books. It is the author's hope that these books entertain, educate and make children laugh and learn.

Thelma and her friends watch wide-eyed as the Molly, the little girl next door has a birthday party. Thelma wants a birthday party, but Mother said thistles do not have birthday parties, only people have birthday parties. Thelma is heartbroken.Thelma's friends, who love her very much, decide they will give Thelma a birthday party. But what does a Bunny, a beetle, a crow, a mouse and a raccoon know about putting on a birthday party.Read how the friends evaluate the challenge, organize and rise to the challenge through problem solving and teamwork.

The nativity story as told from a surprise eyewitness.