Planted with Hope by Tricia Goyer

preachers than she could count, and she’d seen her father and mother leading a simple faith, but she’d never heard him talk in such a way.
    â€œ Ja , I suppose that makes sense,” she finally answered.
    Hope wanted to ask her father about all the changes within him—with Lovina—but she held her words in. It seemed odd to talk to him about spiritual things. It was so much easier talking about gardening.
    She opened the first page of the seed catalog. “So what do you think I should plant? Maybe I should start by seeing what grows well in this zone, ja ? I’m sure the library has some books on gardening in Florida.” She again thought about her letter to Eleanor. Should she write her cousin another letter, telling her she’d had a change of plans? Ne . If Hope did get a job and decide to move, she had no doubt that her dat would be happy to take over the back-lot garden.
    â€œIt would be good to check out some books, just as long as you add strawberries sometime this year. There’s nothing as wonderful as plucking a fresh strawberry right off the vine. I’m looking forward to that.”
    â€œI have to admit that one of the things I’m most excited about is the peace and quiet.” She sighed. “There aren’t many places to find it around Pinecraft.”
    â€œ Ne . That’s the truth. But I doubt that even this big warehouse can block out all the noise.”
    â€œStill.” She smiled. “It’ll be a place just for me. When thepeople and the noise seem to press in I’ll have a place to go.” She clapped her hands together. “Oh, and I’d guess with the right soil we’ll have a wonderful harvest.”
    Another large group of customers neared, and soon all the tables around them filled. The noise of their voices caused the hair on Hope’s arms to stand. Hope pushed her pie plate back from her.
    â€œDat, you don’t mind if I go around the back to take a look, do you?”
    â€œ Ne , not at all. I’ll be back in a little while.” He winked. “Maybe if I sit here longer Lovina will offer me another piece of pie.”
    Hope rose and hurried out. The air was warm and humid, but it was much quieter—even with the traffic noise. As she rounded the back of the building, her heartbeat slowed. She took in the large grassy area separated from the buildings behind it by a tall fence. It was peaceful and quiet. Hope closed her eyes and pictured a garden there. She took in a deep breath that smelled of sun and grass, picturing small sprouts of new life poking up. And for the first time since they’d moved to Pinecraft, Hope had a sense of lightness in her chest. More than that, she had a glimpse of being home.
    Â 

    Cherry Pie
    2 Tbsp tapioca
    â…› tsp. salt
    1 cup sugar
    3 cups drained sweet or sour cherries, juice reserved
    Â½ cup cherry juice
    Â¼ cup almond extract
    1 Tbsp butter
    Mix tapioca, salt, sugar, cherries, juice, and almond extract together in a large bowl and let stand 15 minutes. Pour into 9-inch pie shell. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust. Seal edges and slice hole in top for venting. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350° for 50 minutes.

Chapter Eight
    If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put responsibility on their shoulders.
    A MISH P ROVERB

    I n just two days Jonas Sutter went from hearing about an idea for a garden from Clyde to discovering that one was going in at the pie shop. Jonas rounded the side of the building. Rays of the new dawn stretched down over the large grassy area. One never knew what a week would hold, he supposed.
    Last night, after he’d put Emma to bed, Jonas had heard his brother-in-law Clyde chatting with someone on the front porch. He’d planned on ignoring Clyde and instead finishing his lesson plans for the coming week, but then he heard his name mentioned not once or twice, but numerous times.
    Jonas had opened the