Skye has allowed me three meetings with River so far. These have been closely monitored, and I don’t hold that against him in the least bit. The man who never wanted to be a father has turned into a protective daddy. I thank God for that.
River will be with me alone on Monday. My heart pounds, and I smile at the thought. I’ve bought a few things to make this a home for him when he comes. And if I have trouble being a mother, I’m sure the thirty girls in the house will give me pointers.
In less than a month, I will not only be a mom to my son, but a house-mother to the new generation of Emery Girls. It’s more than I can breathe in. It’s more than I thought I deserved. It’s a chance to have a family again in a way that doesn’t look traditional, but in the center of me, feels so right.
“We’re here,” Jenna yells from the foyer, and my heart races.
I jump up and run to the entryway, throwing my arms around the two of them.
Vicky is wearing jeans. I hold her back and check out the university t-shirt and tennis shoes.
“What?” Her face is bright with a smile that catches in her eyes.
“You’re as beautiful as you were in college, maybe more.”
A blush creeps over her face. “Whatever, you crazy hippie.”
Jenna sucks in a breath then bursts out laughing. “This is going to be just like the old days except now we have the house to ourselves. It’s a slumber party.”
“I have something.” I rush to the slots where the mail will be divided for the residents and pull out three worn envelopes. “Here are our letters. Em delivered them this morning. Hope had them all along.”
“What should we do with them?” Jenna holds hers to her chest. “All our secrets are out in the open.”
Vicky waves hers in the air. “I think we open them, and answer the same three questions again. Then we put them together in a new hiding place to be retrieved in twenty-five years.”
Where did you come from?
Where are you now?
Where are you going?
It’s agreed. And all the answers will be different this time.
Acknowledgments
A huge thank-you to my husband, Jason, who puts up with my endless string of what-ifs, encourages me to keep going, and tells me he’s proud of me. You’re the best man for me.
To my kiddos, thanks for being the crazy group of wildly individual people you are. I love each of you with my whole heart.
Thank you to my agent, Karen Ball, who is the one who reminds me why I write and never pushes me to write anything but what God puts on my heart. Karen, you’ve been a beautiful friend to me as well as a mentor. Thank you for giving me a chance and believing in my abilities when I didn’t.
I could not have asked for a better editor than Dawn Anderson. Dawn, you made the editorial process fun and easy. You made me a better writer, and I’m so grateful. Thank you!
Noelle Pedersen and the marketing team at Kregel made me feel welcome from the very beginning. Thank you for putting up with my newbie questions and caring about my book.
My endless love and thanks go to the sisters I gained through the writing journey. If I received nothing else from this career, it would all be worth knowing Jodie Bailey, Kimberly Buckner, and Donna Moore. A special thanks to Jodie for being my accountability partner. These words would not have been written without your encouragement and hounding.
To Marilyn Rhoads, Heidi Gaul, and Karen Barnett who tell me when I’m not making sense, when I’ve abandoned all commas, and when my writing becomes a long river of thats, verys, and justs. You three make me readable.
Deborah Raney was one of the very first people to read my fiction writing. From the beginning she has been an encourager and a positive presence. Deborah, you can’t possibly know how much your words have meant to me over the long years of trying, trying, and trying again. Thank you.
I have so many wonderful friends who’ve supported my crazy writing life with their patience, love, and support. Thanks to all of you.
Thank you, Erik Simmons, for sharing a wild story with me that sparked the idea for this book.
And most of all, thank you to God who put wonderful people in my path, gave me stories to write, and honored me with a life so wonderful and undeserved.
Discussion Questions
1. Vicky, Jenna, and Ireland are very different from one another. Whose personality traits are most similar to your own? In what ways do you relate to the life circumstances of the book’s main characters?
2. Vicky, Jenna, and Ireland allowed their friendship to fade away. These three women still needed each other in their lives, but some relationships only last for a season. Think of a friend you haven’t spoken to in years. Did the void occur suddenly or gradually? What would be the benefit of renewing that connection?
3. For each of these women, how is the way they parent influenced by their own upbringing?
4. How are Ireland’s passion for the environment and her relationship with God related? Are they in opposition to one other, or do they complement one other?
5. Ireland held to her commitment to vegan eating until they were in the barn. Was accepting milk a sign of weakness or of strength? Why?
6. Vicky was committed to her ministry … at the expense of her family. Has there been a point in your life where service for God interfered with your relationship with God? If so, what was the result? And how did that affect your other relationships as well?
7. Bridgett, the flight attendant, and Vicky are both blessed by their connection. Who do you think benefited more and why?
8. Jenna’s life was so patterned around her children’s lives that when they left, she didn’t know how to move on. Can you relate to being stuck in that kind of rut? If so, how did you get out?
9. Idolatry can be loosely defined as anything that takes precedence over God in our hearts and minds. Pick one of the three main characters and discuss any idolatry evident in her life.
10. This was not a particularly cozy trip for Jenna, Ireland, and Vicky. What would have been the most challenging aspect for you if you’d been with them?
11. Fighting for survival is a life-altering experience. What do you think each of these women took away from their time in the mountains?
12. After reading If We Make It Home, do you long for a week in the mountains or are you more committed to staying home? Are you more drawn to adventure or to security?
13. Consider each of these women. If they hadn’t been reunited and stranded in the mountains, how do you think each of their lives would have looked a year after the story opened?
14. Was there any way in which reading this novel challenged you to do life differently? Explain.
15. What is the purpose of “Christian” fiction?
If We Make It Home Page 27
