Plighted by uncaring parents, a car accident, and unemployment, Jenny
Bell needed help. Normally a positive person, keeping her faith was becoming
difficult. She was in danger of becoming bitter. Holding fast to her faith
and friends, she makes a valiant effort to move forward with her life.
Jinxed from the age of five when his mother died, Al Shepherd was afraid of relationships. Realizing fear and faith didn't go together prompted him to make some changes. Will his fears keep him from exploring the possibility of love? By helping Jenny will he find the faith he needs as well?
Two people looking for God’s guidance ...most of the time.
My desire is to give an opportunity for relaxation as well as inspiration. I find that in using the creativity God has given to each of us we can mirror the Creator. Therefore my books often show different ways of being creative.
The struggles and challenges that the characters meet as they grow in relationship with God and each other in the process of building in one instance a home and in another a retirement center.
“Hope you don’t mind, but over breakfast Jenny mentioned wanting to explore the area. I think she was planning on shopping. I was afraid she’d get Iris to go with her, spending all my hard-earned money.” He chuckled. “I told her I was going to show you around if she wanted to join us. She’ll be out in a minute. She insisted on helping Iris with the dishes again. She seems to be a good girl, that one.”
“Sure, she can come.” Like I have a choice. How am I supposed to concentrate now?
Then, there it was—that tinkling laugh that sent tingles up my spine. It was almost like I could feel her hands tickling my back with every laugh. It was terrible and wonderful at the same time. “Hope you didn’t have to wait too long, but I almost had to wrestle the dishcloth from Grandma Iris before she let me help.”
“No problem. I was just telling Al I‘m up for a walk. He seemed worried these old bones might need the help of a vehicle.” Harvey slapped his legs to prove they were sturdy.
“Now as I mentioned yesterday, we have the old stone barn my great-grandfather built. We mostly use it for storage now. It got too small for his needs when he had more land. After my father took over and bought newer farming equipment, he built the larger barn. My father ended up selling about half this land behind us to the city. That’s where all our new neighbors live, at least fifty homes. So now I have two barns, and I only need half of one for what I’ve got.”
“Have you considered renting one out? Maybe some business needs storage or something.” I asked. He should be able to bring in income with all of his resources.
“You sure do see a lot of storage units popping up like textbooks on a college student’s floor these days. People buying too many things, and they don’t even have room to keep it all in their own homes.” Jenny said, with criticism in her voice. I didn’t think she had it in her to see the bad in anything. Wait—wasn’t she the one Harvey waylaid from shopping just a short while ago?
“I don’t know. Never liked the thought of strangers wandering around on the place. I guess it just feels like I’d be giving up the farm if I let it turn into a storage business.”
“You wouldn’t have to stop farming. It would just be a side business to help support what you really want to do.” That’s how I see this job, after all. Just a stepping stone to get where I really want to be.
We arrived at the old stone barn first and Harvey got out a rusty skeleton key. “Well, we’ll see what the future holds. Let me show you this barn first. I’ve got most of my great-grandfather’s machines in here for now. Thought I might donate them to a museum. I’ve heard there are a few that could be interested in this kind of old junk.” Harvey kicked an old plow.
“This stuff is great. You should sell it on the internet. I bet you could make a bundle from collectors down south and in the west.” Jenny walked around touching all the ancient machinery.
“Maybe I’ll have a look into it someday when I have the energy. For now, it’s not in anyone’s way.” Harvey sounded a bit discouraged.
It couldn’t be easy getting older and not having the energy to move forward. Like Harvey said, he was already phasing out this stage of his career.
“If it were me, I’d turn this barn into a house and live in it. The stone and the beams have such charm. I’ve seen a lot of shows on TV where they remake barns into houses. I’ve always thought it would be so fun to plan and do.” Jenny smiled and rubbed her hands together like she was ready to get started.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea. That way the place would be used, but I wouldn’t have to put up with tons of strangers coming and going if it were a storage unit. What do you say, Al?”
How did Jenny do it? She turned Harvey from slightly depressed to hopeful in two minutes. “Sounds great if you think the renter wouldn’t mind having your barn next door to them.” That could be a problem. The yard would be dusty and muddy at times. Not everyone would appreciate that.
“Well, if you’re still planning on working for me, I can’t see how you would mind being so close to your workplace.” Harvey looked at me as if I was the one he planned to rent to.
“I’m not sure I’m following you. Do you mean you would let me rent the barn and use it as a home?” I just wouldn’t believe it until he told me straight out.
“Al, I couldn’t think of a better solution. I know you don’t mind staying with Bob and Phyllis, but their place is so small with only two bedrooms. Their son Henry practically lived over at our place when he and my George were young. There wasn’t enough room for them to romp around like they could in our rambling old farmhouse.”
Jenny had wandered off to the other end of the barn. I was grateful she understood that this was something between Harvey and me.
“But Harvey, how would my living in your barn be a benefit to you? It’ll make a large home, but it will take a lot of money to make it one. There’s no way I could afford to renovate such a place.” I could always ask dad for help, but that would be my last choice.
“Well, I haven’t had much time to think of details. Work with me here. I feel in my bones this idea Jenny planted is from God. I’ve been stressing over what to do now that I’m older. My wise Iris told me to pray about it. I’ve been praying, and this is the first time I’ve felt any inclination to go in a certain direction. My daughter’s husband is a farmer over in the Springfield area. She isn’t interested, and her kids will have enough to do on their own farm. George is a carpenter and never had an interest in farming. Maggie is the only one of his three kids that’s been interested, and she’s in Africa.”
“Okay, listen, if you feel it’s God leading you this way, then I’m sure he will help you find a solution. I don’t want to take advantage of you, but I just don’t know how I could afford a place like this. I know my father is willing to help me financially, but I would prefer to stand on my own two feet.”
“Now, son, don’t let pride get in the way of God’s plans. I’m not saying for certain this is God’s will, but my gut says it is. And if so, maybe he wants your father involved for the better good. We’ll pray about it for a while and see. There really is no hurry to decide, but for the first time in a long time, I feel like there could be hope for my future.”
You and me both, Harvey. You and me both.