Robot Dog

Imagine raising six spirited kids on a grass farm. Today. Thatrsquoll test anymamarsquos strength. Dorcas Smucker and her brood live out their days in fullview ... » 

Imagine raising six spirited kids on a grass farm. Today. Thatrsquoll test anymamarsquos strength. Dorcas Smucker and her brood live out their days in fullview in this collection of musingspicking blueberries while watching for bearshoping for angels driving off the nearby freeway moving into theldquothousandstory houserdquo enduring 15yearold Mattrsquos lecture onrespect while captive in the car. Then there was the fourweek road trip whichDorcas says ldquoMy sisterinlaw warned me would be like putting your wholefamily in a bathroom and staying there for three days.rdquo Dorcas and herhusband Paul are purposeful parents. But they arenrsquot perfect. Dorcaswonders if their marriage can endure when she and Paul canrsquot ever figureout what gifts to give each other. She tries to navigate her milddaughterrsquos development into a very certain self wondering ldquoWhen do Igive in and when do I stand firmrdquoThere are no recipes here. But there isstory upon story. Dorcas has three daughters and three sons. And she has avoiceencouraging doubting entertaining but never taking herself too seriously.Often slightly offstride and with disarming humility Dorcas keeps findingresource in her life at home ldquoOften the things we donrsquot know we needcome into our lives without knocking.rdquo «