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Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick

by Sarah Scales

July 22, 2012

@SarahCSS6

What a beautiful story of sharing beauty! “Beauty matters... God gave us flowers for a reason. I think so we’d pay attention to the details of creation and remember to trust Him in all things big or little, no matter what the challenge. Flowers remind us to put away fear, to stop our rushing and running and worrying about this and that, and for a moment have a piece of paradise right here on earth. God offers healing through flowers and brings us closer to Him.”

Where Lilacs Still Bloom is an historical fiction book based on the life of German immigrant, Hulda Klager. She is a farm wife with only an eighth grade education, but she sees plants, especially flowers, as they could be with “bigger blooms, hardier stalks, richer color, and finer fragrance.” Her father first sees her passion and encourages her. “Don’t deny the dreams. They’re a gift given to make your life full. Accept them. Reach for them. We are not here just to endure hard time until we die. We are here to live, to serve, to trust, and to create out of our longings.” Hulda tries to balance her love and commitment to her husband and four kids while she quietly strives toward her first goal of a better apple. However she realized that dreams are better when shared and there begins an amazing story of faith and family, losses and restoration... and a lilac with twelve petals.

I really enjoyed this book by Jane Kirkpatrick. She let us know right up front which characters where historical and which where there to let the readers see Hulda’s humble character, her compassion for people, and her pleasure at freely sharing her knowledge and her plants. There was so much in this book - beauty, pain, joy, loss with many lessons or advice tucked in between the stories told...

Life lessons: “God knew that we’d need beauty and fragrance to help us through the difficult days so He gave us flowers and let us learn on our own how their cycle of living and dying is like a garden rhythm, giving us hope each spring.”

Marriage advice: “A husband needs his partner to take pleasure in his interests, to know that he provides. Her generosity of spirit adds to his confidence and to her own security.”

Parenting advice: Kids need to know “that their parents love each other. The best gift we could ever give them... That and a good time with us all together in one place.”

Now enjoy an amazing story and be inspired to plant, cultivate, and nurture plants AND people in your life!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Blogging for Books, Waterbrook Multnomah Publisher’s book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.