Just a reminder… If you’re curious about New Parish, I’m going to host a book club Q&A on Facebook next Saturday, October 20th at 1pm MST, on the Books by Julie Worthington page. I’ll be answering your questions and replying to your comments from 1 till 2. I’m very excited to chat with everyone!
October always brings that sweet release from the heat of the long, hot, grueling summer. To me, Fall is time of year for replenishing ourselves, harvesting our gardens and snuggling in to read a good book. Might I suggest New Parish for those of you who haven’t gone on that journey yet. New Parish has it all, romance, adventure, humor, all four seasons, rain, sleet, snow, and heat… New Parish is also full of happily ever afters. It’s different, be warned… but like the Fall, it presents a sweet release from the long grueling drought in Sarah’s life. It’s not exactly what she expected, but exactly what she needed to achieve her happily ever after… It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, (Sarah didn’t think it was her’s either), but even if it’s not your cup of tea I still think you’ll enjoy Sarah’s journey.
If you’re curious about New Parish, I’m going to host a book club Q&A on Facebook next Saturday, October 20th at 1pm MST, on the Books by Julie Worthington page. I’ll be answering your questions and replying to your comments for an hour on that day. I’m very excited to chat with you all!
Until then here’s a bit of New Parish for you:
Excerpt from New Parish:
“The wind blew hard, pummeling them with rain that felt like it had slushy ice in it, Sarah shivered and gasped for air.
“I’m calling Dad,” Mary shouted.
“There’s no phone service up here,” Albert reminded her.
“No cell service but Dad gave me a satellite phone just in case of emergencies,” Mary said pulling off her backpack and rummaging through it.
“Awesome!” Sarah said through chattering teeth.
“Here it is,” Mary retrieved the phone and turned it on.
She pushed in some numbers and held the device to her ear. After a few seconds she said, “Dad, we’re stuck up here in the storm. What? What? Okay. No I think we lost the trail a while back. What? Okay.” She turned to Sarah and shouted, “He’s sending someone to help.”
Sarah nodded, she was shivering too much, again, to talk.
“Who’s he sending?” Albert asked, sounding annoyed.
“He didn’t say,” Mary replied sounding annoyed back at him.
Sarah would have laughed if she could have, instead she made a mental note to laugh about their exchange later, when she could feel her feet and hands again. Sarah tried to busy her mind with thoughts of soaking in a warm tub, with the room all steamed up from the warmth of the water she was soaking in. She imagined the smell of sweet honeysuckle and roses permeating the warm room… the wind blew hard again and disrupted her thoughts. In an instant, her self-imposed delusion vanished and she was back standing under the small rock overhang with rain stinging her skin and her body shivering uncontrollably.
Sarah looked at Mary, her lips were getting a bluish tint to them, she tried to smile but wasn’t sure it had worked. Mary nodded and said, “It shouldn’t be too long,” through chattering teeth.
Sarah nodded back, knowing that talking was still beyond her capacities. The rain slowed but the frigid wind continued to blow through her as if she didn’t have any clothes on at all. She looked at Albert, he was leaning back against the side of the mountain with his eyes closed and arms wrapped around him in a sort of self hug. Sarah started wondering how long they’d been waiting, it seemed like an eternity. The not being able to feel her hands and feet was spreading, she was sure now that she couldn’t feel her knees anymore. She couldn’t understand how it could’ve become so cold so very fast. Her mind was pondering the morning, it was a bit chilly but not too cold, she remembered thinking that she would probably have to take off her coat in a while, now she felt like she might never be warm again.”
New Parish Available Now!
New Parish by Julie Worthington on Amazon.com –
Also available at:
Barnesandnoble.com
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-parish-julie-worthington/1129421210?ean=9781732224001
Bee’s Grocery (in Centennial Park)
Changing Hands Bookstores in Phoenix and Tempe AZ
Coming soon to many new bookstores!
Have you ever heard the expression too many irons in the fire? Meaning too many things going on at once… I’ve always been a person who likes to keep busy. Not just busy, but busy doing things that I love to be totally engaged in. The New Parish books are one of my irons in the fire and the other is Brigham Tea Magazine. Those two irons keep me very busy and very engaged. I know you haven’t seen the magazine yet, but you’re all going to love it, when I get it up and running. There are so many articles about the west – histories of people that I’m trying not to let fade away for good, places that don’t need to be forgotten, and the awesome grandeur and beauty of the real wild west that still exists.
So, I thought I’d share a few excerpts today from all my Irons in the Fire. Hope you enjoy…
New Parish:
“Sarah thought about the day she’d been complaining about the poor dating prospects and her dream of being a mom floating away from her, when Mary revealed to her that in the community she came from, the people did plural marriages. So, any girl could get a good man and not have to worry about missing out on being a mom. Mary’s descriptions of her home made it sound like a little piece of heaven, where people lived happy lives, and found their happily ever afters.
Sarah sighed, thinking of the small rural community Mary had described, “Maybe…””
Return to New Parish:
“Hearing a light tapping on her door she pulled herself up from the sofa and walked to the door. “Hi,” Sarah said, entering the room, “I wanted to check in with you before I settled in for the night.”
“I’m good,” Hannah smiled at her sister who looked very tired, “go settle.”
“I will in a sec,” Sarah shrugged, “What did you think of things today?”
“It was all good fun,” Hannah shrugged back, then thinking of the guys she had met asked, “So what do you know about Daniel and Steve?”
“Um, not too much.” Sarah wrinkled her nose as if a bad smell had entered the room then asked, “Why?”
“Well they are cute eligible guys,” Hannah proposed, thinking Sarah had been out of the game too long.
Sarah laughed, “Oh, I see. Well all the guys here are eligible, but really those two guys are unproven. So I wouldn’t give them much thought.”
Hannah was shocked at Sarah’s comments, “Ah, I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way.” She felt a little weird with the new perspective Sarah had just put forward. It was slowly sinking in, but she knew this was going to take some time.
“You have that deer in the headlights look,” Sarah teased her.
Hannah laughed, “I suppose I’m allowed,” she defended, “I really hadn’t thought about that whole eligibility thing. What do you mean unproven?” she asked completely not understanding what her sister had said.
“They don’t even have one wife,” Sarah explained with her nose wrinkled again. “Max told me that he went on a work mission, then to college, then built a house and started a ranch and his electrical business before he got married. He said it gave him time to get his head on straight and mature some so he could appreciate having wives and all the opportunities of married life.”
“Oh,” Hannah said, feeling like the deer in the headlights look had returned to her expression.
Sarah smiled slyly at her and said, “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” Hannah chuckled as Sarah closed the door.”
Home to New Parish:
““So when’s your return flight?” Samantha asked entering Brenda’s bedroom and interrupting the moment of peaceful delight she was enjoying.
“It’s the same as I told you before, Mom, January 3rd at eleven in the morning,” Brenda returned in a we’ve already discussed this tone, and giving Wren a little scoot to get him on his way.
“Just checking,” Samantha said with raised eyebrows. “You know how I feel about you going out there.”
“Mom, I’m going to spend Christmas with my sisters, at one of my sister’s home. We’re going to have a wonderful time, and it’ll be good for the kids,” Brenda returned, trying to sound logical and ignore her Mom’s innuendo.
“As long as you and Beth come back with no plans of repeating what Sarah and Hannah did,” Samantha stated firmly.
“I’m over thirty and have four kids, Mom. Believe me, no one wants me, here or there,” Brenda sighed defeatedly and resumed packing.
“That’s not true,” Samantha stammered, looking awkwardly uncomfortable. “I’m sure you’ll find someone wonderful, here.”
“Really, Mom?” Brenda paused and looked at her mom with a very doubtful expression.
“Yes, really,” Samantha returned defensively.
Brenda sighed, shook her head and once again resumed packing. Her cell phone rang cutting off her Mom’s inquiry.
“Hello,” Brenda answered, waving her mom off.”
Passion in New Parish:
Only in the planning stages – it’s Beth’s journey to New Parish.
Brigham Tea Magazine:
Tea Time
When the first pioneers moved west and settled along the Arizona Strip, rations could get a bit scarce. Some reports say that the Mormons learned about Brigham Tea from friendly Indians and that it was previously called squaw tea. I don’t have any concrete evidence of how they found out about it, just that they did, and they drank it.
In our day, there are so many teas to choose from, that everyone can find something they like. I think it’s good that we have a wide variety of tea to choose from, and a wide variety of people to get to know, and wonderful places to explore. I’ve found that people gravitate toward what they like, whether it’s tea, or friends, or places. There are times when we want what’s familiar and comfortable and other times when we want to try something else, that’s new or different.
Heroes of the Past
Jacob Hamblin Part 1
In researching the people who lived out here in the wild west, back when it was very wild, I’ve found that there were many who were real life heroes, who lived lives like Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett – they were true to life characters that John Wayne would have played in his best old cowboy movies.
One of the real-life heroes that made his mark on the Arizona Strip was Jacob Hamblin. Most of the research I’m using in this series of articles is from the man himself, through James A. Little. Little spent time interviewing Jacob Hamblin and recorded what he said in text form. I find Jacob Hamblin fascinating… He was born in Salem Ohio on April 6, 1819. When he was just a few months old his family moved to another county in Ohio, Geauga, and continued the family business, farming. When he was a young man, around 17 years old, his family moved again – this time to the Wisconsin Territory in Spring Prairie. He homesteaded eighty acres of his own land there, next to his father’s homestead of the same acreage.
Pipe Springs National Monument
A while back I visited an amazing place, not too far from where I live, called Pipe Springs National Monument. The discovery of Pipe Spring by the white man, happened when Jacob Hamblin and his group of explorers found it back in 1858. I could see why explorers in the desert would be drawn to this place. It was, and is literally an oasis in the middle of the desert. It has tall trees and lots of green around. The reason for the green is the natural spring that’s been quenching the thirst of the land, Native Americans, pioneers, and many a weary traveler for as long as recorded or verbal history can tell. It’s truly like stepping back, into the past.
The first actual settlers to the area were James Witmore and his brother in law Robert McIntire, in the spring of 1863. They lived in a small dugout house near where the fort was later built. They raised cattle, until 1866 when the settlement was ended with an Indian raid that took their cattle and their lives.
A Day in the Life of a Sister Wife
The moss ladened trees of Savanah strolled through Sarah’s mind as she sat on her balcony overlooking the mesas just past the desert prairie. Her new home in Arizona was a stark contrast to her old one in Georgia. Her new life was hugely different as well. If anyone had told her a couple of years ago that she’d be married to a cowboy who’d already been married twice, she’d have told them they were nuts. Sarah chuckled to herself thinking, “Yes, Max has been married twice. But, the thing is – he’s never been divorced.” Thinking back to the day she met her sister wives, Sarah remembered that she’d liked them instantly. That like had grown into a deep love and respect very quickly,” she smiled. “The like had taken a while with Max.”
The mug of hot chocolate warmed her as she braced for impact. She knew tomorrow would be a supreme test of her “mom” skills. Both her sister wives, Myra and Del, were going to be busy and gone all day, Myra had a meeting with a local art gallery and Del was going to her pre-natal checkup and then on to do some much needed shopping. So, Sarah would have her own baby, Parley (six months old), the family toddler Annie (18 months old), and two four year olds, Mia and Rosie to take care of, along with breakfast, lunch, and dinner to prepare for the whole family, which consisted of about seventeen people, if no one brought friends home for lunch. Sarah had always liked the fact that everyone came home for lunch, it was something she looked forward to each day, her feelings about tomorrow’s lunch held a little more stress.
There are many more irons in the fire for me. I hope you’ll all enjoy the ones I’ve shared…
New Parish Available Now!
New Parish by Julie Worthington on Amazon.com –
Also available at:
Barnesandnoble.com
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-parish-julie-worthington/1129421210?ean=9781732224001
Bee’s Grocery (in Centennial Park)
Changing Hands Bookstores in Phoenix and Tempe AZ
Coming soon to many new bookstores!
In a recent conversation with someone near and dear, we discussed the good and the bad of what I write about. Please don’t get me wrong, this was not an argument in any way. I know there’s some trepidation on the part of some people… So, I thought I’d share a few thoughts on this topic. As in all things there’s both good and evil, light and dark… In this conversation we both agreed that just like in Star Wars, there’s good and bad, and there’s a balance between the two. We have to have, the really good to make up for the really bad…
I think sometimes we hear so much about the bad in our world that we can forget to look for the good. We hear about the war, terrorism, the civil unrest (even in our own country) and we see the bad. I don’t like to think about the bad guys who’ve hurt people, like Jim Jones or Warren Jeffs, but they are there and they did what they did. I like to focus on the good guys like Mother Theresa, Elenore Roosevelt, Eliza R. Snow, Jacob Hamblin, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Joe Darger… the list goes on and on… people who live and lived as real heroes.
I’m a very Pollyanna kind of person – if you don’t know who Pollyanna is please google it – but in short, she’s the girl who always looks for the good in every situation. I see the bad just as much as anyone else, but I choose to focus on the good. I see people helping people, I see people standing up for what they believe in, I see people finding happiness in adversity. So, I write about the good things, I don’t focus on the bad, there’s enough people writing about and reporting that. I hope to be the balance and show the good in our world…
In my book New Parish Sarah finds a way to be happy while discovering a very different way to live… the dark side of things are discussed, but I focus on the good.
Excerpt from New Parish:
Chapter 2 – Undecided
“Later that night there was a knock on Sarah’s bedroom door, “Come in,” she said, but Hannah had already opened the door and was entering the room.
“Hey,” she said tentatively.
“Hey,” Sarah replied curiously.
“So, tell me about this New Parish place and plural marriage,” Hannah said, as she plopped down at the end of Sarah’s bed and sat with her legs crossed like an Indian – just like she used to do when they were kids.
“What do you want to know?” Sarah inquired with surprise.
“You’re not the only one who’s had “dating” experiences with guys who aren’t who you want to spend your life with. If this is a good thing, I might think about considering it too,” explained Hannah.
“Oh,” Sarah said, now in complete surprise. “Okay, well, what I’ve learned so far is that they have the same beliefs we were taught growing up in the church, except, they still have everything that was restored and didn’t give anything up, back in the day.”
“Okay, so how do they do it?” Hannah urged her sister on.
“They use an old traditional matchmaking system, but no dowries. The girls have freedom to choose and get out of the marriage if it’s not working out. Brother Michael, the church leader is so funny…”
Sarah spent over two hours explaining what she’d learned to Hannah. When Hannah finally left her room, Sarah felt like she somehow understood the whole thing better. As she lay there drifting off to sleep she thought, “Maybe explaining to Hannah clarified things in my own mind.” She felt very much at peace with things, and hoped she could stay that way.”
Find all the answers to Sarah’s journey in New Parish!
New Parish by Julie Worthington on Amazon.com –
Also available at:
Barnesandnoble.com
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-parish-julie-worthington/1129421210?ean=9781732224001
Bee’s Grocery (in Centennial Park)
Changing Hands Bookstores in Phoenix and Tempe AZ
Coming soon to many new bookstores!
True north has many meanings for many people. Ask some people and they’ll tell you it’s the point on a compass, others will tell you it’s somewhere around the North Pole. While others know it’s the place where you belong, or the person you belong with, or the thing you’re supposed to be doing. True north is always that one thing that keeps us going, or centered, or focused when things don’t work out exactly the way we want.
We all have our own true north, the place we’re looking for, the place we’ve found, or the place we’re dreaming of… our true north, the thing, or place, or person that our needle will always point to.
True north can be in any direction – even west… In my book New Parish Sarah doesn’t give up on her true north. Her needle points passionately towards what she’s always wanted, but she finds her true north in a very different place and in a very different way than she’d ever imagined.
Excerpts from New Parish:
Chapter 1 – Bad Date
Sarah’s ponderings…
“Around lunch time she headed out to the children’s center. As she walked down the busy Atlanta sidewalks she looked around at the horde of people on their way to their next destination. She thought about when she’d first moved to Atlanta and how excited she’d been to be living in a big city with so much going on. She’d lost that excitement: it had turned into a tired frustration. The city hadn’t contributed to her dreams at all, her experiences there had diminished them. Her thoughts went to how much her goals and dreams had fragmented over the last few years. Her career was great, but she’d planned on being married and having at least three children by the age of twenty-seven. She sighed thinking, “I have neither a husband or children.” Her frustration on this was starting to grow beyond the normal parameters. Her thoughts turned to her job, “Right out of college, I got this great job, doing what I love, being a graphic artist for children’s books. I’ve worked hard, and now I’m the top artist in the company. I chose this career so I could be a stay at home mom. Sheesh! What’s a girl gotta do to make her dreams come true?””
Part of Sarah’s first conversation with Brother Michael…
““Now, about our community and how we live,” Brother Michael went on, “we do live plural marriage, which Mary said you’re interested in. Is that right?”
“Yes,” was all Sarah could say, she wondered if this guy would think she was serious or not, because she hadn’t been able to catch up to the conversation, the shock was slowing her thought processes down.
“Why?” he asked, waiting for her response.
“Honestly, I’ve always wanted to have a family, you know children… Well I’ve been trying to find a good man to do that with, and so far, I’ve had no luck at all,” Sarah felt dumb as she explained her dilemma, thinking, how could he take her seriously when she didn’t have a very significant reason for bothering him about this? It was an important reason to her but she felt like others might just laugh at her.
“I see,” said Brother Michael after a slight pause. “This lifestyle has some challenges that go with it. We, of course, do support big families and having all the children you want to have, but living the way we do is a huge commitment. Do you think that would really be something you could do?”
“I don’t know,” Sarah confessed, “I have a lot of questions.”
“Fair enough,” Brother Michael replied. “What questions do you have?””
Find all the answers to Sarah’s questions in New Parish!
New Parish by Julie Worthington on Amazon.com –
Also available at:
Barnesandnoble.com
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-parish-julie-worthington/1129421210?ean=9781732224001
Bee’s Grocery (in Centennial Park)
Changing Hands Bookstores in Phoenix and Tempe AZ
Coming soon to many new bookstores!
New Parish is the kind of place when you go there, you want to know more, stay a while longer, and meet more people. No, it’s not perfect, but it is a little piece of heaven…
Hope you enjoy the free book, and the journey to New Parish!
New Parish by Julie Worthington on Amazon.com – Ebook free Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th !
Also available at:
Barnesandnoble.com
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-parish-julie-worthington/1129421210?ean=9781732224001
Bee’s Grocery (in Centennial Park)
Changing Hands Bookstores in Phoenix and Tempe AZ
Coming soon to many new bookstores!
From days gone by there have been many different ways for a girl to get married. I think of Fiddler on the Roof and the Matchmaker who seems to be a busy body who gets into everyone’s business and does some gossiping, to the Native Americans and Islanders who got a horse, a cow, or whatever was available for the privilege of letting a man marry their daughter. There were of course large monetary dowries given in the high parts of our world… All through out history there have been arranged marriages, some as children, or before the children were born, some to merge families, or properties, or titles.
Now days we seem to have just one system for a girl to get married. Well, one that’s predominant – dating. In New Parish, Sarah gets very frustrated with that system and decides to try something old… As she begins to explore this old system she get some sage advice from the Church leader.
Excerpt from New Parish:
Chapter 4 – Girl Talk
“Brother Michael cleared his throat and said, “I wanted to take a few minutes before you go, to talk seriously with you about the decision you’re thinking about.”
Sarah nodded and sipped her hot chocolate waiting for him to continue.
“As you’ve seen here plural marriage can be done successfully, but I want you to know that there can, and have been problems in the system. This is a very serious commitment for a person to make whether that person is a man or a woman. Everyone in a man’s family have to be willing to accept each other, as is, without thinking they have the right to change the other people involved. I’ve had to work with lots of women, over the years, who think it’s their right or responsibility to “help another wife” to change into what that wife thinks the other wife should be. You have to go into this willing to accept everyone, as is. Please think about that and give it some serious thought.”
“Okay,” Sarah said as he paused.
“Next I want you to spend some time thinking about the process of match making and guidance that we do here. For this to work you need to be committed to working with the church leaders and doing a lot of your own prayer and soul searching. This is not the easy thing that some might think it is. We want to do what Heavenly Father wants us to do, so we put all the effort into it that this process requires of us all. We don’t have a list of men who have paid us to get them a wife, nor do we even listen to them if they come to us with admonitions to give them a wife. This is done with and through the woman’s permission and choice. We guide, she chooses, if we get an impression that maybe this man would be a good husband for her and she doesn’t agree, the process continues until everyone is in agreement. The other church leaders and I will do the work for this to happen for you, if you will agree to do the work with us.”
Sarah nodded again, listening intently to what Brother Michael was saying.
“The last thing I want to suggest to you is to take some time to ponder and pray about this decision. This is your life. Is this really what you want for your life? This lifestyle has many blessings but it can also be considered a curse to those who don’t have the capacity to accept it in all its varied and sometimes complicated components. I want you to understand that I only want the best for you. If this is truly what you want to do, then I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen for you. But, if you have doubts about it, then take the time to find the answers you need to put those doubts to rest, before you make your decision. Okay?”
Still nodding Sarah said, “Yes, and thanks for helping me, and for letting me come out here and stay in your home, with your family.”
“You’re very welcome,” Brother Michael said with a smile and a wink, “I’ve got nothing to hide… really.””
There’s a special going on now, so, if you buy the paperback you can get the ebook for free.
New Parish by Julie Worthington on Amazon.com
Also available at:
Barnesandnoble.com
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-parish-julie-worthington/1129421210?ean=9781732224001
Bee’s Grocery (in Centennial Park)
Changing Hands Bookstores in Phoenix and Tempe AZ
Coming soon to many new bookstores!
Have you ever looked off into the distance and wondered what was out there? Or have you ever seen an airplane flying far up in the sky and wondered where it was going and what things would be like when it got there? I have… I look at the distant mountains, vast prairies, the infinite sky, and wonder… I think that’s how New Parish was born. The main character, (Sarah), in New Parish not only has this wonder, but is also driven by her desires for a life that fulfills her completely.
Sarah travels to the distant mountains, over the vast prairies, and into the infinite sky to discover what’s there. Along the way she finds lifelong friends, cowboys, and eventually a way for all her dreams to come true…
Excerpt from New Parish:
Chapter 2 Undecided
“The frustration of it all boiled over in Sarah’s mind so she decided to go for a walk to try and clear her head.
The cool air and busy sidewalks were almost enough to distract her mind from the pervading thoughts of how much this plural marriage thing could go wrong. She wanted to believe that things could be as wonderful as Mary said they were, but she knew how people could be, especially men… Her thoughts went to, “Maybe I should just drop the whole thing.” Then the idea of dating again entered her thoughts, which almost made her nauseous. Then the thought of giving up on her dream of having kids and a family came to her mind. A tear rolled down her face, which she quickly brushed away, that thought was the saddest one she’d ever had…
Sarah looked up at the sky and saw a plane flying west, she knew she would be on one soon… flying west. She breathed out a sigh and with a new resolve, walked back to her apartment.”
Chapter 7 The Flight
“The plane entered the air without a bump. Sarah was immediately in awe at the scene below her. The inner wows were boiling up for Sarah, the breathtaking vistas as the plane turned, almost made her lose her resolve to stay calm in the presence of the cowboy.
Brother Michael played tour guide, telling them about the areas below, and what they were called by the locals, “Okay we’ll get a good look at New Parish, then go over the Ridge and the Gap so we can show our new friends the area.”
Do you want to find out for yourself what happens to Sarah in New Parish? New Parish is available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and barnesandnoble.com
Simply search New Parish by Julie Worthington or follow the links below…
Amazon.com – Buy the paperback and get the ebook for free!
Barnesandnoble.com
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-parish-julie-worthington/1129421210?ean=9781732224001
New Parish is really going places too! It’s available at Bee’s (in Centennial Park) and Changing Hands Bookstores in Phoenix and Tempe AZ – coming soon to many new bookstores!
New Parish is now available in ebook! All the great adventures, discoveries, and sitcom moments are ready to go with you wherever you want to take them.
Over the past couple of years, writing New Parish, the characters have become my friends. So now being able to share this amazing journey with everyone is a wonderful dream come true… I’m writing again, the third book is well underway and has loads of surprises, a few tears, and of course sitcom moments. The edits for book two are coming along nicely as well, the book cover is in the planning stages – it’s going to be beautiful, stunning, and quite insightful. Hopefully next year will bring “Return to New Parish” to everyone…
But until then…
Do you want New Parish in paperback? Do you want New Parish on ebook? Either way I hope you enjoy your visit…
There’s a special going on now, so, if you buy the paperback you can get the ebook for free.
New Parish by Julie Worthington on Amazon.com
Family means many different things to many different people. Some people think of groups of friends they belong to as family, others think of simply those they have a blood relationship with as family. Families come in all shapes and sizes, whether they are created by blood or other bonds… Families can have a single parent or many parents. Either way, family is always the place we call home, family is the place we find shelter from the storms of life, and family always include the people we love and who will be there for us. I think of it as an unwritten code – they don’t have to help you or be supportive… they just do.
My book New Parish is all about family… Sarah grows up in one kind of family, and decides to enter into another kind of family. This change creates a whole new dynamic for her old family and her new family… in the end they do what families do… they just do.
Excerpt from New Parish:
Chapter 6 – The Return (Sarah and her parents arriving in New Parish)
“Laden with luggage they all entered Brother Michael’s house, “Sarah! Oh it’s so good to see you again, Sweetie!” Susan came running up and gave her a big hug. Then shouted, “Sarah’s here!” toward the hallway in front of the entry.
It looked like the house had began to ooze people, they poured in from every direction. Sarah was busy getting and giving hugs when she noticed her mom’s expression, it was one of sheer terror.
Sarah suppressed a giggle and said, “Everyone, this is my mom and dad.”
“Here,” Brother Michael said placing the bags he had on the floor and taking charge, “Let me introduce you to my wives and you’ll catch the kids names eventually. This is Marla, Michelle, Lisa, Karen, Susan, Sharon, and Ann. Ladies this is David and Samantha Nichols.”
Sarah almost burst out laughing when she looked at her dad’s expression, he was at another cross, this one was a cross between amusement and disbelief. Her mom looked even more traumatized, but graciously shook hands with each of Brother Michael’s wives as she was introduced.
They were given a tour of the house, and shown the bedroom where Sarah would be sharing with Mary. All the while Sarah was suppressing giggles, her mom’s look of shock and her dad’s look of amusement was totally entertaining her. After the tour her dad was taken outside to see the huge pond where Brother Michael was encouraging wild geese and other migratory birds to stop over – and Sarah’s mom went up to her bedroom to help unpack her things.
When Mary stepped out for a moment to go get something Samantha said, “I honestly thought you were joking about him having that many wives.” She looked at Sarah with uncertainty in her expression and continued, “I could just pinch your father! He thinks it’s all uniquely charming. He’d better not get any ideas!””
Chapter 12 – Home (Part of the Thanksgiving gathering for both of Sarah’s families)
“The next morning Sarah was up early so she could make her grandmother’s cinnamon rolls with Hannah and so she could get a hot shower before everyone got up and pilfered all the hot water. The kitchen was quiet when she entered but Hannah arrived soon after, they started the Christmas playlist – which always had to be playing when the family was preparing Thanksgiving food. Then they began rolling out the yeast rolls and preparing them for the sprinkling of yummy stuff.
“So I met this guy,” Hannah smiled slyly at Sarah. “He’s got promise, I think.”
“Awesome! Tell me all about him!” Sarah demanded.
Hannah giggled and said, “He’s a returned missionary, attending BYU like me, and he’s taking some programming classes with me. He’s really smart, and gets almost as good of grades as I do.”
“He sounds okay,” Sarah smiled, “What’s he like? You know, sense of humor, common sense, financially responsible? That sort of thing, oh yeah and is he gorgeous?”
“He’s very gorgeous!” Hannah smiled. “He’s got a good sense of humor sometimes he thinks he’s funnier than he is, but it’s good though, he’s cute and can pull it off.” She shrugged and continued, “I don’t know about common sense or finances yet, I only met him a couple of months ago.”
“Ah, still in the early stages huh? Well make sure you be careful,” Sarah said in a big sisterly way.
“Of course,” Hannah smiled and intentionally bumped Sarah’s arm to make her spill the cinnamon, “You too.”
They both laughed and continued to sprinkle the rolled out yeast rolls with sugar and cinnamon. Not long after the cinnamon rolls were in the oven, there was a trickle of family invading the kitchen, the trickle soon turned into a flood with everyone present. The aroma of the cinnamon rolls had emanated from the kitchen and called the family together. As they began indulging in the wonderful treats, they were given their assignments for the day. There was so much food to be prepared for tomorrow’s feast that it would keep everyone busy, all day.
The work began even before the cinnamon rolls were eaten. Most of the workers were holding a cinnamon roll in one hand, (or in their mouth), and doing the food prep single handedly. As the day went on they all were snacking on the food they were working on, so there was no reason to make lunch. It was a just grab something and keep working sort of thing, which was their usual for this day.
Sarah noticed her mom enjoying the fact that there were thirteen more kids calling her, Grandma. She thought that maybe her mom was beginning to soften on the plural marriage situation, maybe. She decided to test the waters by asking, “So, how do you like being grandma to a bunch more kids?”
Samantha smiled, “Oh its nice.” She paused letting the thick syrup she was pouring over the sweet potatoes drizzle into some areas that were not as drenched with the stuff then continued, “They’re really sweet kids, and so beautiful.” She looked at Sarah and asked, “How do you like being a mom?”
“I’m loving it!” Sarah replied enthusiastically.
“Are you still wanting to have a baby?” her mom inquired.
“Yes,” Sarah answered reluctantly. “It just hasn’t happened yet.”
“Oh,” Samantha looked concerned. “I didn’t know you were already trying.”
Sarah shrugged, not really wanting to talk about this bit of sore frustration in her life.
“Sometimes these things take time,” her mom consoled. “It’s easier to make a baby by accident than to plan on it.”
Sarah smiled and admitted, “Max said I should try to chill about it. But I really want a baby. I’m a bit frustrated over it, and can’t really find a way to chill.”
“It’ll happen,” her mom smiled at her.”
Do you want to find out for yourself what happens next? New Parish is now available on Amazon.com
Simply search New Parish by Julie Worthington or follow the link below…
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