Let the words of my mouth, and the mediation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. ~~ Psalm 19:14 (KJV)
Welcome to my February newsletter! Today I’m sharing last summer’s encounter with Yellowstone wolves and why there is a connection with the book I’m reviewing this month. Plus, I’m serving our simple Valentine’s Day treat, plus giving you a glimpse of our amazing Arizona wildflower hiking season.
After reading An Echo of Courage, by author, Heidi Ennis, I reflected on an encounter my husband and I had last summer while on a backcountry trail in Yellowstone National Park. After passing some geysers, we came upon a meadow where we saw a group of wolves on the hillside near us. Remembering our wilderness training, we immediately froze, just watching the animals’ activity. They were aware of us, but continued trotting into the forest. Whew!
We hiked further down the trail and stopped for a lunch break a few minutes later. As we ate, we were surprised to see two young wolves heading toward us. They stopped maybe twenty yards from us. They were curious and seemed almost playful as they explored the area. Again, we didn’t move or make any startling noises. We just waited. After ten minutes of watching their frolicking, they turned back to head up the mountain.
This experience changed my opinion of wolves. They are not as frightening as I’d expected. (However, I definitely remain cautious!) So when I learned Heidi Ennis’ new book featured a wolf, I was especially interested. An Echo of Courage is a fascinating story with occasional viewpoints from Essa, a wolf. (At the end of this post, I’ll include the fascinating details about this pack I learned from AI Gemini. I’ll also post the video I took of the wolves on my author Facebook page and Instagram accounts.)
MY REVIEW OF AN ECHO OF COURAGE BY HEIDI ENNIS
A unique and engaging Christian romance book about found family! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In the 1880’s, Swedish immigrant, Pauel Oman, travels with his new friend, Rye, to search for his sister, Johanna. They must travel across the Atlantic Ocean and the North American continent to the Pacific Northwest where Johanna had gone to claim land their father purchased. There are many heart-pounding dangers as the search for Johanna goes through rough pioneer towns and the wild, yet beautiful, terrain of the mountainous Columbia River area. Various complications arise during their journey, but the two friends help each other through the many challenges.
Along the way, Pauel meets Penny, a young woman trapped in a difficult situation. As Pauel protects her and attempts to rescue her, a sweet love develops between them. The theme of found family is expressed so well. The characters are all interesting. I admired them as they encouraged and fought dangers for each other….just like the bonds of family. Also, the theme of overcoming trials and trusting the Lord, even in uncertainty, is strongly expressed.
This is an epic story with a unique voice. The addition of a wolf, Essa, provides an interesting point of view throughout this Christian book. Through her thoughts, Essa gives us insights into the Great Creator. The animal is an important source of companionship, emotional support, and survival for many of the characters. Also an earlier timeline is threaded through the pages featuring Essa and Taymema, a man of the native people of long ago. These additional characters add to an engaging tale.
This is the second book I’ve read by author Heidi Ennis. Both stories are set in the stunning Pacific Northwest. The first was A Father’s Dream, and I just finished the second in the series, An Echo of Courage. Each is definitely a stand alone, but I felt a deeper connection to the characters because I’d read the first one. I highly recommend both books if you’re looking for an engaging historical adventure!
Favorite quote: The Lord sends people and animals, sunsets, mountains, and infinite night skies into the paths of His children just at the time when they need something, when they need to see or feel His presence.
For more information about the author, please check her website. https://www.atthefootofmountains.com
TEATIME TREAT-VALENTINE DONUTS
Today I’m serving the treat we had for Valentine’s Day….my husband’s favorite…chocolate frosted donuts. Simple, but perfect to celebrate the month of love with my sweetheart.
Thank you for joining me for my teatime book review and treats. I’ll end with a few of my trail views from February. This is certainly the perfect month to walk among the Arizona wildflowers. I pray you have a lovely season of God’s blessings along the path. What little sparkles of joy have you treasured this month?
With prayers, Sherida
As mentioned, here is a bit more I discovered about the wolf pack by researching with AI. I uploaded the video I took of Yellowstone wolves to Google’s Gemini. The information received said this pack was most likely the Wapiti Lake Pack which roams in the area where we saw the wolves, particularly using this spot as a rendezvous during the month we viewed them. The information about the black and white coloring of this pack fits the description of the wolves we saw. I was amazed to see a white wolf in the distance. Historically, the Wapiti Lake Pack had been led by a white alpha female. Her genetic mix carries on today, as we saw. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us….a blessing to see His creations in this unique setting.
Sherida Stewart 