Patricia Johns

I love my potted flowers on my balcony. It’s just soothing to have something growing out there in the warm months. They become part of my morning routine when I go outside to water them. When the weather gets really hot, I do it again in the evening. But petunias are hardy flowers, and they seem to survive Alberta’s temperature fluctuations, strong winds, and… well… me! I’m not normally very good at growing things, but my petunias flourish, which does my heart good.

I find that with all the stress of world news that I need the reminders of simple beauty. No matter what is happening in politics, the sun rises and sets. Flowers bloom. Birds sing. It lowers my blood pressure.

I think that is one of the attractions of Amish fiction–it reminds us that no matter how crazy the world gets, there is beauty and goodness. There are people of character who leave a legacy of decency behind them, and we can be people like that, too, in our little corners of the world.

So in my corner, I water my flowers, I write my stories, I love my friends and family, and I remember the good and beautiful things.

Happy reading!