My friend and writing mentor, Dorcas Smucker, gave me a copy of her new book, Coming Home to Roost, when it released and said I could review it if I wanted to, but no pressure. That’s a nice kind of review to do and goes along with something I’ve appreciated about Dorcas in the years I’ve followed her blog and gotten to know her–she doesn’t pressure anyone to fit a certain mold or follow a certain pattern. I am okay being me, and you are okay being you.
Acceptance is a wonderful gift, especially when parents give it to their children. I always love hearing how excited and proud Dorcas is of the accomplishments and adventures of her six. Coming Home to Roost is the seventh and final of her books of family life essays. In this book, her children are flying the coop, but in an in-and-out-we-still-like-to-come-home sort of way. (At one point, Dorcas calls herself the keeper of the sleeping bags.) I found Coming Home to Roost, like all her books, easy to pick up and read. The short, often humorous essays were perfect for the flight home from Holland, when my brain didn’t want to tackle anything that required intense thought or follow-through.
Dorcas’s essays capture my attention, make me smile, and deftly slip in–like a last-minute addition to an envelope–practical yet deeply wise insights that help me approach and tackle issues in my own life.
I bought another copy of Coming Home to Roost so I could offer my readers a Mother’s Day giveaway. I’ve bundled the book with a pretty journal and a packet of zinnia seeds. I thought about gifting dahlia seeds, since dahlias are a theme in the book but–since it’s already late-ish in the season and dahlias are more typically grown from tubers instead of seeds–I decided this packet of dahlia-shaped zinnias will do just fine. Even moms with purple thumbs can grow a zinnia, so this packet of seeds guarantees her some colorful bouquets. (And BTW, the purple flowers in the photo are not part of the giveaway.)
If you would like to win this giveaway for your mother or a woman who has mentored you in some way, enter their name in the comments below. Then, share this post via social media or email. I won’t check to see if all those who entered have shared the post, but I would really appreciate your help in getting the word out! The winner of the giveaway will be announced Saturday morning, which gives me time to ship this gift in a timely way so that hopefully the woman you entered can receive her gift by May 14th. U.S. addresses only.
You can also order a copy of your own from the Muddy Creek Books website.
What a sweet giveaway! I’d love to gift it to my mother-in-law, Catherine.
My sister Jenny Zacharias 🌸
My mother, Mary Yoder.
My mom, Beverly
This is a lovely gift and, honestly, although I’m not a mother, I would love to keep it. I would give it to my sister, Sonya, who is a mother of two (who has a green thumb and also loves to read) and my very best friend.
My amazing mom, Arlene Esh :)
I would give this to my mom or to my sister Claudia
I would gift it to my mom Janet Boll
I love Dorcas books and would be honored to give this packet to my mother.
I would give this to my daughter !
My mom, Regina
I would love to gift this set to my mom, Alta, who raised a brood of 10!
I would love to gift this to a friend, Anna Stoltzfus.
I would love to give it to my mom, Sharilyn Martin
I would love to give this bundle to my Mom
And my mother-in-law, Marilyn
I’d love to gift this to my mom! She would highly enjoy Dorcas’s wisdom and humor!
I would love for this to go to Naomi Peachey
My sister Lucinda Steiner. I know she loves Dorcas’s writings!
I love this fun giveaway and all of Dorcas’s books. Thank you, Luci! I’d give this book to my dear mom, Faye Peachey.
I’d give it to my mom!
My mum, Davina
Dorcas has always been of such spiritual and heart warming support to so many for so long. I so admire her. She has helped me when I was volunteering for NAMI by speaking. I’d love to read her books and share with many
This book would be great to gift to my mother, Marian, who taught me to enjoy reading!
I would give it to my Mom, Julia Brubaker (and then I would borrow it when she’s done and read it myself.😌)
What a great gift idea! I’d give mine to my mom, Wilma Gingerich.
I would give it to my Mom– still one of my best friends even though we’ve lived hundreds of miles apart for years.
I would love to give this to my mom!!
I would like to gift this book to my mom, Rosemary.
I love this book!😍 I’d love to give one to my dear older friend Ruth.
I’d give this to my mother, Janice, who enjoys zinnias and Dorcas’ writing.
I would enjoy gifting this to my mentor and friend, Meg.
I’d gift this to my mom.
I’d give it to my mother, Marjorie Joy.
I’d give this to my mom. :)