Deborah Reed Boeken

"Ninety-five-year-old Violet Swan has spent a lifetime translating tragedy and hardship into art, becoming famous for her abstract paintings, which evoke tranquility, innocence, and joy. For nearly a century Violet has lived a peaceful, private life of painting on the coast of Oregon. The "business of Violet" is run by her only child, Francisco, and his wife, Penny. But shortly before Violet's death, an earthquake sets a series of events in motion, and her deeply hidden past begins to resurface. When her beloved grandson returns home with a family secret in tow, Violet is forced to come to terms with the life she left behind so long ago - a life her family knows nothing about. A generational saga set against the backdrop of twentieth-century America and into the present day, Violet Swan is the story of a girl who escaped rural Georgia at fourteen during World War II, crossing the country alone and with no money. It is the story of how that girl met the man who would become her devoted husband, how she became a celebrated artist, and above all, how her life, inspired by nothing more than the way she imagines it to be, will turn out to be her greatest masterpiece."--Provided by publisher.

Grief is something that cannot be described or understood at times. My father was a quiet but honest man. During his last days, he truly lived for God. When I was grieving during his last days, he truly lived for God. When I was grieving during his last days, God called me to express my sadness through sketches. I was uplifted and encouraged through Ecclesiastes 3:1-II while I grieved. Each sketch, inspired by these verses, drew me closer to God. For the following three months, God led my daughter, Tara, and me through a series of passages as well. Weeks later, my dear friend Heather Albrecht and my sister Fay Reed encouraged me to turn these sketches into a journal. I pray as you write in this book, that your hearts will also be inspired to truly understand how wonderful God is. As we travel through life, each season reflects how we are guided through sadness, joy, happiness, and fear. These emotions allow us to journey through secret passages of the heart while being comforted and healed by God's gentile hands.