vacation

June 5, 2019 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

A Marvelous Journey with an Amazing God

Dear Montana, we’re coming for vacation soon … I can’t wait.

Seriously Montana is one of my favorite places on earth. We lived there for fifteen years, and I never took it for granted– its beauty, the people, the peace.

Ten years ago, I was a mom of three (nearly an empty nester), serving in church with my best friends, and writing books. I had no idea of the marvelous journey God had in store for us.

The Journey From Comfortable

The unsettling started in my husband first. He talked about moving somewhere warmer. (Montana winters are long. More snow is even forecasted for next week!) John also told me many times that he felt God had something in store for us–more for us to do. I nodded and smiled. I was perfectly CONTENT. I had a beautiful house in a beautiful place. I had my dream career. I was COMFORTABLE.

At the time I had no idea of this equation:

content + comfortable = complacent

I didn’t think I was complacent in life, or with my walk with God, but I was at the place where I didn’t seek Him much because I didn’t need him much.

Then, a series of events happened that changed everything. John and I heard about FamilyLife, and John was ready to move and serve. Around the same time we met a birth mom and were blessed with the opportunity to adopt her baby girl.

We left Montana behind. We left our home behind. We left our friends behind. We moved to a different place with a different culture. We joined an inner city church. And in the course of the next five years we adopted seven kids.

My peace was disturbed. My content life disrupted.

Montana is beautiful, and I’m excited to go back, but I’m thankful God moved me out of my complacency.

I’ve learned a new equation.

disturbed + disrupted = dependent

I need God more than ever now. I’m dependent on Him because I need Him
greatly. Friend, is God asking you to step outside of your comfort zone? It’s hard, I know, but don’t shy away from a marvelous journey with an amazing God. He’ll take you places you’ve never dreamed and your heart will be transformed along the way.

Do you ever wonder what God wants to do in your life? Walk through the story of how God moved in Tricia and John to adopt seven children and follow Him on the greatest journey ever!

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June 21, 2016 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

22 Great Summer Reads for Your Kids!

I’m a mom of ten kids and a book addict. This means we do a lot of reading! I’ve gathered a list of some of our favorite books. These are perfect for summer reading.

Boys ages 6–12

Henry Huggins Series by Beverly Cleary

Book 1: Henry Huggins
Book 2: Henry and Beezus
Book 3: Henry and Ribsy

Beverly Cleary was one of my favorite authors growing up, and I still love reading her books to my kids. This series is about a young boy named Henry and the adventures with his family, friends, and dog, Ribsy. The first book was published in 1950, and the series led to the Ramona Quimby books. The adventures are fun and my kids loved the trouble Henry often found himself in (but also got out of!).

Hank the Cowdog series by John Erickson

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog

A little bit of mystery, a little bit of fun, and a whole lot of humor is how I’d describe these books. Hank is a cowdog on a large range, and he’s clueless. It’s fun listening to these books on audio because I’ve found my kids shouting at the CD player as they try to clue-in Hank to what’s really going on.

Girls ages 6–12

The Betsy-Tacy Books

Book 1: Betsy-Tacy
Book 2: Betsy-Tacy and Tib
Book 3: Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown

I first heard about the Besty-Tacy books from two librarian friends. First published in the 1940s these books are the true-to-life stories of friends growing up at the turn of the 20th century. The books start when Betsy is 5 years old and meets Tacy, a new friend from across the street. The stories follow the girls from age 5 all the way to Betsy’s wedding! I’ve read these books to my daughters, ages 5 and 8, and my son, who is 5. They got wrapped up in the characters. We are currently finishing up the last book, and the girls have asked to start again! These books are delightful.

The Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Book 1: Little House in the Big Woods
Book 2: Little House on the Prairie
Book 3: Farmer Boy

These were my all-time favorite books growing up, and I’m still a huge fan! These books are different (even better!) than the television series that some of us watched as kids, and they are inspired by the Laura’s real life growing up on the American prairie.

Pre-Teen and Teen Girls

Katie Parker Productions by Jenny B. Jones

Book 1: In Between
Book 2: On the Loose
Book 3: The Big Picture

I read this series out loud to my preteen and teen girls, and we were all laughing hard! Memorable characters and strong Christian morals. The main character Katie is in foster care, and the books brought out a lot of wonderful conversations with my kids.

River of Time Series by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Book 1: Waterfall
Book 2: Cascade
Book 3: Torrent

My teen daughter seemed unimpressed by my collection of Christian fiction, yet when she scanned the shelves these books caught her eye. She’s not much of a reader, but she asked me to buy all the books on the series. Since then she’s moved on to other Lisa Tawn Bergren books!

Pre-Teen and Teen Boys

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Book 1: The Magician’s Nephew
Book 2: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Book 3: The Horse and His Boy

I can’t count the number of times John has read these books out loud to our kids. When each one gets around seven or eight we tell each other, “They’re old to start Narnia now!” They’re also wonderful chapter books for pre-teens and teens to read on their own.

Non-fiction

Prayers that Changed History by Tricia Goyer

As a homeschooling mom I loved coming across moments in history when something important was changed because of prayer. In 1999 I started collecting these stories. I added to the file through the years, and the book is finally published! InPrayers That Changed History, the stories of twenty-five notable people are presented along with how prayer changed their lives and changed history. Following each historical example is a biblical story that ties to that person’s life and actions, as well as ways children can use the power of prayer in their lives as well.

What about you? What’s on your summer reading list?

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Summer is officially here! Keep your kids reading with this great list from @TriciaGoyer

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June 7, 2016 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

FREE Summer Printables for Your Kids

Summer is here and one of my favorite things is spending time in nature and teaching my kids how to enjoy God’s creation. To do this better my daughter-in-law and I created some printables! You can download them here.

We’ve also created a large pack of printables that you can buy for $4.50.

This pack includes 27 printables to be used for creating and connecting with God’s creation this summer. These pages are mostly in black and white for cheaper printing (for mom) and because coloring is fun (for kids!).

Some of these pages can be laminated to be used over and over, such as the bingo or scavenger hunt cards.

The June, July, and August pages are “bucket” lists for your kids for that month, but feel free to be creative! For example, if you don’t live near a beach or a forest use your imagination to “pretend” you are doing these activities. Color in the ones you complete. The goal to to help children enjoy God’s creation.

This packet includes:

June, July and August bucket list activities
a word find
a natural journal sheet
color today’s weather sheet
outdoor counting sheets
color sheet
nature drawing templates
gratitude prayer sheet
cut, glue, and create scenes
nature scavenger hunt sheet
nature bingo sheet
word match
picture find
and Scripture color sheets

Here are a few sneak peaks at some of the printables:

I hope you and your kids will enjoy them!

In need of summer activity ideas for your kids? Check out @TriciaGoyer’s printables on @TpTdotcom

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May 4, 2015 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Count Your Blessings

Is there such thing as “too much of a good thing?” Yes! In fact that’s what my life feels like right now. There are a lot of good things happening:

I’m celebrating the 70th reunion of the liberation of Mauthausen camp during the whole month of May with a special WWII series hosted on my blog and social media. Stayed tuned for book giveaways, veteran interviews, WWII recipes, and more!
I’m enjoying homeschooling my three little ones. I’m especially excited because they are starting to grasp reading and basic math. (What a journey this has been with two kids who came from tough beginnings.)
I’m working on my next Pinecraft Amish novel. It’s due May 17. Why May 17? (See next point.)
On May 18th John, Nathan and I are flying to the Czech Republic for Leslie and Honza’s wedding. We return in time to set up her reception here in Arkansas! So happy for them!
I have another co-written book due in July, too! (Because, obviously, I have nothing else to do.)
Early June the girls that we are adopting will be moving in with us! We’ve been doing weekend visits and we’re excited to have them full time! (Prayers appreciated!)
Early June Cory’s family is planning to move to Hawaii. They are following God’s calling and desire to be in ministry to children and youth there. We’re proud of them, but we’re going to miss them!
I have two books releasing this summer. (More details coming soon.)

My grandson Clayton at the theme park with me.

Casey and Alyssa with their friend Donovan.

Daughter Bella pushing granddaughter Chloe on the swing.

Little kids, big kids, and new kids. A wedding and a moves. Books to write and books to share . . . it seems TOO MUCH at times. But I’m learning to count my blessings instead of items on my to-do list.

What’s too much for me is NOT too much for God! @TriciaGoyer

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I’m also thankful that what’s too much for me is NOT too much for God. He holds me up, strengthens me, and gives me wisdom. I’m thankful for ALL the good gifts that God gives to me!

Where do you need God’s help? What are you thankful for?

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November 12, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 24 Comments

Branson for Big Families (Plus a Giveaway!)

Big Family Holiday Vacation!

If you’re part of a big family you know how hard traveling can be at times. We love going on vacation with our six kids (ages 25, 22, 20, 7, 4 and 4.) We also have an amazing daughter-in-law, and two grandkids (ages 3 and 1). Big family vacations can be big fun, if you know where to look!

There is one challenge that comes with big family vacations: Finding activities where everyone enjoys themselves. Recently, we had the perfect vacation in Branson. We found a great place to stay and the perfect big family activities!

Welk Resort, Branson

Big Family Friendly Resort

Often when we’re traveling to Branson we go from show to activity to meal, and we barely have time to enjoy our hotel or resort. When I asked my husband John what he wanted to do on our family vacation he told me, “Find a nice resort and enjoy it.” We did exactly that!

Welk Resort Branson is near Tablerock Lake, within three miles of the 76 Strip and 8 miles from Silver Dollar City.

The rooms were comfortable and inviting. The staff was helpful, and they had the best breakfast buffet we’ve every had at a hotel: eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, and so much more.

There was miniature golf and awesome activities for families to participate in, like s’mores, tie dying, crafts, and games. We stayed two nights, but we could have stayed a week without getting bored.

The best part, though, was the indoor Splashatorium. It had an indoor/outdoor pool, an indoor waterslide, hot tubs, and outside water toys for kids. You should have see the kids’ eyes when we walked into the Splashatorium! They were ready for serious fun.

If you travel with a big family you know it’s hard to find activities that everyone can enjoy. With the hot tub, waterslides, and outside activities, no one got bored here.

The Welk Resort also has Special Packages for the holidays. For one low price you can get hotel reservations, meals, and tickets to some of your favorite shows.

Sight and Sound Theater

If your big family only has time to see one thing in Branson, check out Jonah at the Sight and Sound Theater. We’ve been to Disneyworld and Epcot. We’ve been to horse shows and theme parks, but our family puts Sight and Sound theater at the top of our favorites list.

First of all, we love dramatic presentations of the Bible. For fifteen years our family “acted out” the Bible for children’s church. Yet the Jonah presentation was over the top! The sets were amazing. The details blew our mind. And the actors did a fantastic job!

If you travel with a big family you know how hard it is to find an activity that everyone can enjoy. In Branson this means no fancy shows or comedians. Instead we try to find things that the littlest ones can do, and we make that out fun.

Yet at the Sight and Sound Theater, everyone fully enjoyed it. We talked about it in the car after the show, at the hotel, on the on the way home. I guarantee if I were to ask all the crew, from ages 3 to 47 years old if they’d like to go back and see it again, we’d get a resounding YES!

Leslie and Bella give Jonah “Thumbs up!”

For families with babies, there is a Family Room, too, which makes it nice. Although our one-year-old watched half of the show.

You can also eat in the theater, which is another bonus for families. You can bring your own treats, or you can purchase snacks there.

In addition to Sight and Sound Theater is in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, too.

If you want to take in a show, check the calendar for show times and availability. They do not perform on Sundays and most Mondays. There is also limit shows around Christmas. Children’s tickets are cheaper than adults, and there are group rates for more than 15 people.

Silver Dollar City

There is hardly a time we go to Branson that we don’t visit Silver Dollar City. It is a perfect theme park for big families.

We’ve been to Disneyworld, Epcot, Disney Animal Kindgom, Knotts Berry Farm and other theme parks, and we all agree that Silver Dollar City is the family friendliest. Why?

1. There are lots of rides for kids and adults. Neither the kids or adults feel as if they’re being left out.

2. The staff is super friendly. I was disappointed by a lot of the staff at Disneyworld last time we were there. It didn’t have the same “magical” feel. The staff at Silver Dollar City show Southern Hospitality at it’s finest!

3. It’s inexpensive. The cost of a ticket is far less than other theme parks, and the food and souvenirs inside are reasonable too. It’s easy to find a nice gift for each child to take home for less than $5.

4. It’s educational. There are real artisans who display their working knowledge. We love the glass blowers, the iron workers and the woodworkers. Our kids get to learn what life was like long ago, and we enjoy it too.

If you’re looking for a vacation destination for your large family, I hope you consider Branson. We’re going back sometime during the holidays to enjoy An Old Time Christmas, and the millions of lights that fill the park. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Already packing your bags, clearing your schedule, and planning a trip to Branson? You’re in luck! Welk Resorts is giving away a 2-night stay at Welk Resort, Branson!

Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win! The winner will be announced on November 26.

Can’t wait until then? From now until December 12, get 25% off your stay with the promo code TRICIA when you book your visit!

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Enter to win a trip to Branson from @welkresorts on @TriciaGoyer’s blog!

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August 18, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 15 Comments

Branson: Family Fun for Labor Day!

Want some family fun for Labor Day? Consider Branson, Missouri!

Looking for a fun family getaway over Labor Day? Consider Branson!

Branson, Missouri is one of our family’s favorite places to visit. In fact, after spending at TON of money going to Disneyworld earlier in the year my husband and I agreed, “Why did we spend all that money in Orlando when we could have just gone to Branson?”

There are a few reasons why we love Branson:

1. Old fashioned values.

Everywhere you go in Branson there is wholesome, family fun. Most of the shows are great for families. The service people there are friendly and courteous. And there’s a special, patriotic flare to the city that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

2. Awesome activities.

In Branson the question isn’t, “Is there anything to do?” Instead, we always ask ourselves, “What should we do this trip?” We previously enjoyed the Titanic Museum, shopping at Dicks Old Time 5 & 10, and visiting the Amish Country Store. Most of the time we just visit Silver Dollar City and then head back to Little Rock, but on our most recent trip we decided to enjoy a few more attractions. We also chose to stay in the hotel we’ve been looking at with longing since our first trip to Branson. (More below!)

3. Amazing lodging.

We’ve never had a bad stay in Branson. There are many places to stay at reasonable prices. We’ve enjoyed the The Suites at Fall Creek, and most recently we stayed at our new favorite place: Chateau on the Lake.

4. Price.

The hotels and attractions at Branson are a lot cheaper than Disneyworld, and personally we find them just as much fun!

Want to go for Labor Day? (Or anytime?) Here are my recommendations:

Chateau on the Lake

We fell in love with this Cinderella castle the first time we drove by Table Lake. The kids were so excited when they found out we were finally going to stay there!

We stayed for two nights and spent one whole evening in the pool. The water was perfect and the view was amazing.

The pool at Chateau on the Lake, Branson

The resort is just as beautiful in the inside as it is on the outside. The room with the double beds had plenty of room for us and our three little kids. (We had one bed and they had the other!)

My kids’ favorite part was the cookies and milk that was waiting for us in the room. We weren’t there when Mr. Teddy visited, but the kids were so excited about the treats!

Mr. Teddy delivers cookies and milk to children staying at Chateau on the Lake.

We had a busy day ahead of us in Branson, but with a view like this I found myself dawdling just a little. If only I could wake up to this every day!

The view from our hotel room was heavenly!

Our family highly recommends Chateau on the Lake. We didn’t get to enjoy the kids play area or the spa (yet!), but we want to make sure we do that next time we return.

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City is an amazing theme park. To me it’s Mayberry come to life, with some thrill rides thrown in for fun!

Silver Dollar City is comparable to Knots Berry Farm, but it has more unique details such as artisans who blow glass and who demonstrate how to make a log house. SDC has the same level of darling details as Walt Disney World, and it also has some amazing roller coasters that my husband and older kids love. (I love them, too, but I’m usually hanging out with the little ones.)

Silver Dollar City: The “American” experience you’ve always wanted

The lines at Silver Dollar City are FAR shorter than Disneyworld, especially if your visit starts in the morning. There is free parking and a shuttle, but we pay the minimal cost to park closer. (It’s a short walk from the paid lot.)

There are a half-dozen areas around the park that have kids rides and play areas, and we’ve never been able to do them all in one day. This is perfect place for those with kids of varied ages, like us. Our favorite things to eat are the ice cream with strawberries and the Barbecue was great, too!

Silver Dollar City has attractions for even the most reluctant riders

At Silver Dollar city the big ones don’t get bored either! They have some amazing roller coasters. There is even an app that you can download for your phone that will give you the wait times for the rides before you get in line.

Roller coasters ROCK at Silver Dollar City

We bought season passes to the park. Branson is a three hour drive from where we live in Little Rock, and we’ve discovered that if we go twice it pays for the passes!

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede

Have a group? Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede is a great place to visit! It’s a dinner theater full of great food, exciting action, humor and fun!

I have to admit I was blown away by the amazing horsemen and women at the Dixieland Stampede. I was expecting some prancing and dancing, but it turned out to be so much more! (Rings of fire! Aerobatics!)

For days (weeks!) after going to the Dixie Stampede my kids talked about the horses, the fire, and the races. They waved their flags and cheered on their favorites during the show and mimicked that when they got home. I was impressed by how much of an impression the show made!

Of course while we were watching the show we were also EATING. Below is a picture of all the food you get! There is far more than one person can eat, and they do pass our doggie bags for you to take your leftovers home.

Also, if you’re on a limited budget, small children can sit on their parents laps. With our group we had 5 adults and 5 lap sitters and everyone was happy and full!

New food shot — Food at the Dixie Stampede is delicious!

Also, before you go in to the show, you get your family photo photo taken. I love ours! I was also pleasantly surprised that the photo package wasn’t too expensive ($30). I gladly bought ours.

Even though we’ve been to the Dixie Stampede twice already, our kids can’t wait to go back!

Ride the Ducks – Branson

Our last trip, we wanted to do an attraction that we’d never done before. We picked Ride the Ducks. I like the idea that we’d be riding in an old WWII vehicle, and I knew my kids would love that their “bus” could go into the water.

Starting off, we bought all the kids a duck whistle ($3 each), and they loved them.

The kids smiles were huge as we rode through town. They loved waving and “quacking” at all the cars that we passed. They felt like we were in a parade.

Bella enjoyed “quacking” at the cars as we drove through Branson.

Before we went to the water, we went to a special exhibit of WWII vehicles. I’ve only included a few photos here, but they were cool! There were at least two dozen types of old military vehicles. Our driver was fantastic, too. He shared a lot of history about the various vehicles, with a touch of humor. No one was bored!

A WWII history buff, Mom’s favorite part was the antique vehicles from WWII!

After seeing the military vehicles it was time to head to the lake.

The view of Table Lake on our trip down to the water was amazing!

But as pretty as the view was, the best part was seeing my daughter’s glow as she drove the Duck in the water. In fact each of the children had a chance to be “captain” of the vehicle during our ride. That was a nice touch! And they were even able to print up a Captain’s certificate at the end of the ride.

There was also an awesome museum of military history when you disembarked. Because I had the little ones I didn’t get to look around as much as I would have liked. I’d love to go back!

If you’re looking for a place to go on Labor Day weekend–or another time during the year–I highly recommend Branson. In fact … we’re planning on heading up there over Labor Day weekend. Maybe we’ll see you!

For more information:

Visit the Explore Branson website

and like them on Facebook.

Labor Day Weekend Specials

See you there!

*This post was sponsored by Explore Branson, and I was provided compensation for this blog post. Thank you for supporting all my blog collaborations.

Tricia Goyer Books On Sale! — click here for more info!

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August 4, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Best Places to Spread Out a Summer Picnic

There is nothing more romantic than a summer picnic with the man I love. Maybe you feel the same?

Do you like the ocean or the mountains? Would you rather stretch out a blanket on a mountain meadow or on the sand?

Do you want to be in a locale where there’s lots of restaurants and shops to explore, or do you want to be in a small quaint town?

Dreaming about where you’d like to go is something you can do together. Dreaming is almost as fun as going—especially when you do it together. Take a little time this week to dream about where you’d like to go, then compare lists!

Consider these four locations as a starting point for finding your perfect picnic place!

Halstatt, Austria

I traveled to Halstatt with my husband, John, in 2002. It’s a picturesque village of less than 1,000 people in Austria. Halstatt is known for its salt mines, dating back to prehistoric times. John and I stayed in an old hotel overlooking the town square, and during our first moments we were able to watch a local celebration. The town square is a beautiful place to have your picnic, or there are numerous other places overlooking the lake. And after the picnic is done? Here are our top three things to do there:

Visit the salt caves. A wonderful gondola took us to the top of the mountain where we toured the caves. The tour was fantastic.
Visit the Beinhaus (bone house). Visiting a bone house might not be everyone’s idea of fun, but John and I love exploring local culture. There are more than 1,200 skulls in the bone house, 600+ which have been painted with designs. Since the cemetery is so small, without the possibility of expansion, and since cremations used to be forbidden, 10-15 years after a person’s death the skull and larger bones were removed to make room for the next occupants.
Museum Hallstatt. There are rooms filled with exhibits and information files in many languages, including English. The archeological displays were fascinating!

Crescent City, California

Growing up, one of our favorite things to do was “go to the coast.” Crescent City was about four hours away from our northern Californian home. There are wonderful beaches in Crescent City, and it’s not as crowded as many other places. Spread out your blanket to watch local surfers—and the seals that try to outdo them. Things you don’t want to miss:

The Redwoods. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State park is just one of the local places you can view these amazing redwood trees. There are wonderful hiking trails, and walking among the giants you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into another world.
Battery Point Lighthouse. To reach this lighthouse you have to go at low tide. The lighthouse itself is small and homey—it looks like something from a movie. This lighthouse is staffed by volunteers who stay in the lighthouse a month at a time. They keep the place tidy and conduct tours with the help of docents.
Beachfront Park. I have photos of myself playing here as a child. You can go from running in the grass to running on the beach in only a few steps. It’s a great place to collect sea shells!

Planning a last-minute vacation? Consider going to one of these locations (@TriciaGoyer):

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Lake Siskiyou, California

Lake Siskiyou is located in Mount Shasta, California, and I grew up just ten miles away. The best time to visit is for the 4th of July celebrate and parade in the town of Mt. Shasta. After the parade, go to the lake early to make sure you have a spot, because the beach gets crowded. The water from the lake is crystal clear, and the view of Mt. Shasta can’t be beat!

Other local places to visit:

Castle Crags State Park. The jagged peaks indeed look like a castle. There are 28 miles of hiking trails in a still wilderness area, not far from Lake Siskiyou.
Mt. Shasta City Park. Visit the city park and there you’ll find the headwaters to the Sacramento river. Mountain snow gushes from the ground and drops off small ledges. The park is a great place to run around and play like a kid.
McCloud Falls. The nearby town of McCloud hosts the Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls of the McCloud River. The road takes you to the Lower Falls and there you can climb up to the Middle and Upper Falls where you’ll also see a lovely view of Mount Shasta.

Glacier Park, Montana

I lived near Glacier Park for fifteen years, and even though I’ve traveled the world there was nothing more amazing that visiting this national park. Top three places you won’t want to miss:

Going-to-the-Sun-Road. I’ve driven this road dozens and dozens of times, and each time I’m awed by the beauty. It opens around June 21 . . . because it takes so long to clear the snow off these high mountain peaks! The road travels into the high mountains and has expansive vistas that will take your breath away. At the top is a visitor center where it’s common to be greeted by rams and mountain goats!
Lake McDonald Lodge. This beautiful mountain lodge is one of the finest Swiss Chalet hotels in the United States. The front of the hotel actually faces the lake because steamboats used to bring tourists over the water before the roads were built. Inside the lodge, balconies face toward the three-story lobby. If you know how to play, a piano in the lobby is open to talented guests.
Avalanche Lake Trail. This two-mile hike takes you to one of the most beautiful mountain lakes you’ve ever seen. If hiking isn’t your thing, stay on the cedar walking path below, which will take you to Avalanche Gorge. This walking path is perfect for children and is wheelchair accessible.

So how about it? Which location would interest you (and your man) most?

Where is your favorite place to spread out a blanket with the man you love?

Where is your favorite place to spread out a blanket with the man you love? @TriciaGoyer

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[This post was written for www.HappyWivesClub.com – Original post found here.]

Let’s play a game!

My book The Kissing Bridge is a featured item in Barnes & Noble through August 18th! Next time you’re at Barnes & Noble, snap a photo of the book and post it on social media with the hashtag #iSpyTriciaG – You’ll be entered to win a $25 Starbucks gift-card and 5-book prize pack!

Only those in the US are eligible to win. Keep your eyes peeled for the winner announcement on August 19th!

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May 26, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Happy Memorial Day!

Wishing you a blessed holiday surrounded by family and friends as we remember and honor those who’ve sacrificed for our freedom.

I have a few books on sale right now! Generation NeXt Marriage is $2.99. You can also get my four World War II novels in the Liberators Series for $13.99.

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May 2, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Best Places to Spread Out a Spring or Summer Picnic

I don’t know about you, but about this time of year, I am ready for summer. I’m ready for flowers to bloom, leaves on the trees, stepping outside and feeling the warm sun on my skin, wearing shorts and sundresses.

Do you feel the same way?

What’s my other favorite part of summer? Spending time outside, whether it’s a family vacation, a barbecue with my kids and neighbors in our cul-de-sac, or a date with my husband.

There is nothing more romantic than a summer picnic with the man I love. Maybe you feel the same?

One way to get past the winter blahs is to start planning for a summer picnic . . . today!

Even though the cold wind still blows outside, you can start planning the perfect summer getaway. Spend time with your spouse considering the perfect spot to get away.

Do you like the ocean or the mountains? Would you rather stretch out a blanket on a mountain meadow or on the sand?

Do you want to be in a locale where there’s lots of restaurants and shops to explore, or do you want to be in a small quaint town?

Consider these four locations as a starting point for finding your perfect picnic place!

Halstatt, Austria

Visit the salt caves. A wonderful gondola took us to the top of the mountain where we toured the caves. The tour was fantastic.
Visit the Beinhaus (bone house). Visiting a bone house might not be everyone’s idea of fun, but John and I love exploring local culture. There are more than 1,200 skulls in the bone house, 600+ which have been painted with designs. Since the cemetery is so small, without the possibility of expansion, and since cremations used to be forbidden, 10-15 years after a person’s death the skull and larger bones were removed to make room for the next occupants.
Museum Hallstatt. There are rooms filled with exhibits and information files in many languages, including English. The archeological displays were fascinating!

Crescent City, California

The Redwoods. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State park is just one of the local places you can view these amazing redwood trees. There are wonderful hiking trails, and walking among the giants you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into another world.
Battery Point Lighthouse. To reach this lighthouse you have to go at low tide. The lighthouse itself is small and homey—it looks like something from a movie. This lighthouse is staffed by volunteers who stay in the lighthouse a month at a time. They keep the place tidy and conduct tours with the help of docents.
Beachfront Park. I have photos of myself playing here as a child. You can go from running in the grass to running on the beach in only a few steps. It’s a great place to collect sea shells!

Looking to #travel this summer? Here are @TriciaGoyer’s must-see places:

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Keep reading to find out the other two must-see places!

I have a few books on sale right now! Generation NeXt Marriage is $2.99. You can also get my four World War II novels in the Liberators Series for $13.99.

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February 15, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

A Visitor’s Guide to Berlin, Ohio

I’ve been married to John for twenty-four years. Some women show their men they love them by providing a back rub or going on a hike. I display my love by bringing home cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. Thankfully, I found the perfect place to stock up when I visited one of my favorite places, Berlin, Ohio.

Heini’s Cheese Chalet is evidence of what can happen when a hardworking couple dreams together, and works together to see that dream fulfilled. Here is the story behind Heini’s:

“Our grandfather, John (Hans) Dauwalder, trained as a master cheesemaker in Switzerland and came to the United States in the 1920s to display his artisan talents in a growing cheese market. After several successful years at the Bunker Hill Cheese Co-op, John decided to return to his hometown in Switzerland to further his romance with Lili Mueller. The two fell in love and were married in 1933.

In 1948, John and Lili, together with their two children, Peter, our father, and Marguerite, our aunt, sold the family farm in Switzerland to join John’s Brother Crist in the United States. Crist had purchased Bunker Hill Cheese in 1935 and asked John to join him in building the family cheese business.

In 1962, our parents, Peter and Nancy, who were married in 1955, acquired Bunker Hill Cheese. The name was changed to Heini’s Cheese Chalet after our heritage.”

Heini’s cheese is some of the best I’ve ever tasted. My favorite was the Salzburg cheese, which reminded me of the cheese I found in Europe. At the cheese factory, large windows allow visitors to watch the cheese being made by master cheese makers. The cheese is made from milk that is hand-milked and delivered to the factory in traditional milk cans. Their success is the evidence of the power of relationships—between husbands and wives who dare to have a dream and between cheese makers and Amish farmers in a rural community.

Never been to Berlin, #Ohio? @TriciaGoyer shares where you should visit!

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If you find yourself in Berlin, stop by Heini’s, watch the cheese-making process, and taste the cheese. The samples are abundant and tasty. You can even have a free tour by an eighty-four-year-old Amish man named Atlee! And visit the coffeeshop and bookshop and pick up a CD or book from Lisa Troyer. Lisa’s a Christian author and singer whose parents own Heini’s. You’re in for a treat!

Read the original post on Happy Wives Club!

Did you hear the good news? My book The Swiss Courier (that I co-wrote with Mike Yorkey) is on sale! My new book Balanced is available now via Amazon and Barnes & Noble for only $2.99 (digital only)!

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November 2, 2012 by Tricia Goyer 3 Comments

West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery

Have you ever been to a place where you stepped through the door and knew you’d come upon some place special, knew you’d come back, and knew this place would be a forever deposit in your memory bank? That’s how felt when I walked through the doors of the West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery. It’s a store in northwest Montana not far from the Canadian border. It’s not some place you stumble on. It’s so far off the eaten path that you must make it a destination to get there. It’s a place centered in the middle of a small community that comprises of both Englisch and Amish. It’s part store, part bakery, part restaurant, and part giftshop.

Throughout the years this store has had a variety of owners, both Amish and English. When I set my Amish novels in Northwestern Montana, I crafted a ensemble of characters to fill the space—characters not unlike the real people who live there.

In my new novel The Memory Jar, the main character is Sarah Shelter. Sarah’s family has lived in the West Kootenai for years, and she’s grown up in the area. Her best friend, Patty—also Amish—leads her on many adventures through the mountain forests, and on their adventures they collect special items in their memory jars.

In my novel, Sarah is a baker at the West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery. The kitchen is open to the restaurant area, and she can often be seen in there baking her special creations.

Just a few weeks ago I visited the restaurant, and I found myself looking to the kitchen for Sarah’s face. Since she’s someone I crafted in my imagination, she wasn’t there, of course. But she’s real enough in my mind to cause me to look!

Another character in the book is one of the Amish bachelors, Jathan. If you’ve visited West Kootenai any time, you’ve no doubt heard about the bachelors. Every year, 30-40 Amish bachelors come from all over the United States to live in Montana for a time and gain their resident hunting license in order to hunt in the fall. It’s quite an adventure traveling from rural farms and factories in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and moving into the wild where the deer, bear, and moose still roam, and it’s a good possibility you could run into one riding your bicycle to work. (Work that might include felling trees, crafting log furniture or building mountain homes.)

For all bachelors, adventure in some sort or another is waiting in the area. For some, true love can also be found. More than one Amish bachelor has written home not only telling about his latest hike or hunt, but also telling about a pretty local girl who caught his eyes.

I thought about all these things as I ate lunch and pie at the Kraft and Grocery. I also thanked God that He brought me to this community and allowed me to be a tour guide of sorts to those who are unfamiliar with the Amish lifestyle in the area.

Isn’t that what authors are, tour guides? We invited readers into a special world and let them live there for a while, interacting with the characters through the pages of the book.

If you aren’t planning a trip to Montana anytime soon, Sarah Shelter welcomes you in the pages of The Memory Jar. If you do have Montana—the real Montana—on your agenda, check out the West Kootenai. Yes, it’s off the beaten path, but I guarantee it’s worth the trip. And when you’e there make sure you pull up a chair, stay a while, and enjoy a nice slice of Dutch Apple Pie.