Table
of Contents:
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Our
Story
"The Sojourners"
Appendix
A Listing of Abundant Change Books and Recordings
Music-Outreach Nostalgic & Uplifting Books & Recordings
by Michael D. Purvis
Excerpts
from Book:
Introduction
On
how life changes, how we are constantly surprised by the
shifts, endings and new beginnings fate brings our way.
But if we change, grow and roll with the changes of life,
what a journey it can be. We can evolve, and life will never
be boring if we remain green and growing inside.
Yes
there will be difficulties and sorrows, and goodbyes, but
hellos and new beginnings come after these. We truly are
sojourners, travelers - this is what life is all about.
This
all sounds a bit like a platitude, yet how true it is. Witness
this in our story "The Sojourners" and see how
two boys experience this for themselves, as the world they
treasure is turned upside down, and they are given the gift
of the journey of a lifetime…the journey which is their
life time, their own sojourn.
Thrill
to your own memories of setting out to start your life if
you are older, or imagine what it will be like if you are
younger.
Either
way…please enjoy "The Sojourners."
-The
Author
Chapter
One
James
and John lived a wonderful life as boys, and much of this
was due to their delightful parents. Their parents were,
you see, rather unusual sorts.
The
mother of the family was a writer and an artist. This made
her an especially sensitive and unique mother, who had keen
powers of observation and who promoted this in her children.
The
boys' father was a kind of renaissance man, a "man
for all seasons," many said. He had been a cowboy in
his youth and a rodeo rider. After his wild west days, he
had for a large part of his life been a journalist who traveled
all over the world. Finally, though, he settled with his
beautiful artist-writer wife on a farm where this kindly
and accomplished duo proceeded to make a rather idyllic
life, publishing books and a newspaper together amongst
other activities.
They
loved their life on the farm, this unusual couple. They
loved it all: riding horses, writing and publishing, growing
their own organic food, and even running a small greenhouse
which contained rare, hard to find plants. They were such
interesting people and had many friends.
Many
people came to visit with the young couple and to hear the
stories of the very full life they had led. They came to
feed the horses lumps of sugar, to have delicious organic
dinners, to see the fascinating plants in the greenhouse,
and to admire the lovely paintings of the mother. They left
with armloads of wonderful bread that the man and his wife
had baked (which could be smelled from miles around when
it was bread-baking time. They left, too, weighted down
with armloads of wonderful herbs and plants, which they
took home and planted in their gardens.
It
was thus that this couple nourished the small community
in a beautiful way. And though they tended to be a little
outspoken in their views on life and the world, they were
greatly loved by all. So it was that when the mother had
two boys in short succession, it was a matter of great interest
for their small town. They were a special family indeed.
©2005,
Michael D. Purvis
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