Planted with Hope Read Online Free PDF Page A

sweethearts.
    Even though it didn’t feel like New Years, Hope decided to spend time thinking about the year to come. One of the Englisch ladies she used to work for called her plans for the year her “New Year’s resolutions,” but Hope had decided to do something different. Instead of resolving to make lots of changes, she’d decided topick one thing to change and then do it. Last year she had decided to read one chapter in her Bible every day, and it was something she’d stuck to. But this year the decision would take more work to see it through. Hope pulled out a new notebook and turned to the first page. Then she wrote her goal at the top.
    â€œFind a job up north and a garden to tend.” Seeing it on the page caused her heartbeat to quicken.
    She threw a longing glance at the seed catalog at the top of a pile of mail on her desk, wishing she had a big order to put in. Wishing she had a plot to plan. She picked up her pen and wrote her first step on the next line: Write to cousins and friends and inquire about work as a maud and gardener.
    Her eyes welled up at the thought of leaving her family, but it was the right step. She’d been watching Lovina over the last six months. She’d seen Lovina blossom when she was doing the one thing that God had called her to do. Lovina had dared to take a step of faith and put all her eggs in one basket, as her grandma used to say. She’d risked her money, her reputation, and her dreams in opening a pie shop, and because Lovina was willing to take that step of faith, God opened doors that no one could have anticipated.
    Hope’s dream of just having a quiet place to garden, and maybe a family in a few years, seemed small in comparison, but the more she prayed about it, the more she decided that God could orchestrate a way for her to see her small dream fulfilled too. She didn’t need a bustling pie shop, just a small plot of land. Her dream was much simpler, but that didn’t make it any less important. Just as God created a variety of plants to grow in a garden, God had a variety of dreams He planted in hearts. She had no doubt a loving God had good plans—a fruitful harvest—for each person, whether big or small.
    Hope turned to the next page of the notebook and decided towrite her cousin Eleanor first. Eleanor was five years older than Hope, but she lived near their old home. Eleanor had three small children and a large home and garden to tend to. Maybe she could use help?
    Dear Eleanor,
    Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray the Lord is sending sunshine to your hearts even though I heard it is a hard winter in Ohio this time of year. I remember those days when it was below zero and howling around the corners of the house. I’d put on three layers of clothes just to go out in the buggy. Things aren’t this way in Pinecraft. In fact, early today I took a dunk in the creek. I didn’t mean to. A young girl was playing in a canoe and fell in. But I did jump in after her, and I did walk home dripping wet without so much as a shiver. The blanket a kind friend gave me to save me from embarrassment helped, but I still believe that the first day of the year isn’t a good time for a swim!
    Even though I enjoy the sun, I’m ready for a move. My dat is doing well, which I am thankful for. I’d love a chance to move back up north. I’m writing to see if you are in need of a maud. I do enjoy caring for children. I was caring for a young boy here for the last year until his family moved away. I also remember that you have a large garden plot. As you know, gardening is one of my favorite things. There is nothing more satisfying than harvesting a plot and then filling a basement with canned goods and winter vegetables: onions, potatoes, squash, carrots, and apples. There are other families I can contact, but since I always enjoy time with you I thought of you first. I was thinking of moving in May,