As The Lilacs Bloomed

On June 1, 1945, Anna Molna'r Hegedu's sits in her hometown of Szatma'r, Hungary to write her story. She has survived the ghetto, Auschwitz, the horrific Schlesiersee camp, and a death march. Separated from her daughter, during the march, she waits desperately for Agnes's return.

One woman, an impossible dream, and the faith it took to see it through, inspired by the life of Hulda Klager German immigrant and farm wife Hulda Klager possesses only an eighth-grade education—and a burning desire to create something beautiful. What begins as a hobby to create an easy-peeling apple for her pies becomes Hulda’s driving purpose: a time-consuming interest in plant hybridization that puts her at odds with family and community, as she challenges the early twentieth-century expectations for a simple housewife. Through the years, seasonal floods continually threaten to erase her Woodland, Washington garden and a series of family tragedies cause even Hulda to question her focus. In a time of practicality, can one person’s simple gifts of beauty make a difference? Based on the life of Hulda Klager, Where Lilacs Still Bloom is a story of triumph over an impossible dream and the power of a generous heart. “Beauty matters… it does. God gave us flowers for a reason. 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.”

Is it ok to question God, His existence or His ways when tragedy strikes? How do people of faith continue to believe when bad things happen to them, or is there ever a moment when they waiver? In 2001, Stephanie Hensley and her husband Jimmy were anticipating the arrival of their second daughter. Their oldest daughter had a visitor in the night who carried a message for the family that would prove to be a message leading to the ultimate pain this side of heaven, the loss of a child. When the Lilacs Bloom tells the powerful story of one family's journey through the loss of a child, financial ruin and real marital struggles that would test anyone's faith. This story takes you through their path of loss, grief, bitterness all while finding faith in the midst. They discovered life isn't about what gets handed to you but what you do with it. Who was this visitor? What did he look like? What was his message? As you read their story, you will learn not only what his message was for their daughter, but for them and everyone who learns their story.

The end of slavery is no guarantee of freedom. When Clayton McGhee journeys north with his parents and grandparents in search of a new life, they must build a homestead with their own labor and defend their right to own land from deep-rooted prejudice. Thirty years later, Clayton is still forced to defend his livelihood and his family's safety from racism and greed. But life is more complex now. When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed is a riveting adventure story about fathers and sons, and the difficult moral choices that resound down the generations as America moves slowly towards freedom and equality after the death of Lincoln.

This is the tale of two sisters, taking place in the late 1970's in the small community of Clarke's Head, Newfoundland. It is a peaceful, picturesque community, or is it? Laura and Della go through many unexpected changes in their lives, but it is the surprise from Grandma's grave that floors them all. Secrets are revealed and the truth is unveiled! When Laura sees Wade Rogers for the first time, something stirs inside her she never experienced before. Their love will be like no other, but there are complications that Wade was not expecting. Will their new found love survive all the drama? There is no love like the love between two sisters. The heartbreak of one can be healed by the love of the other.

Mary Kate is a serious young girl who has dreams of becoming a teacher. She comes from a large family and is closest in age to her brother, Hen and her sister Lottie. Lottie is Mary Kates exact opposite. She is a boy crazy flibberty gibbert and talks about nothing except boys and Uncle Edwards coming home from the marines and the gifts he will bring them. Hen talks about nothing except joining the Navy worrying Mary Kate tremendously. It is l9l6 and war has started in Europe. Their best friend is their cousin Maria Schmidt who is the daughter of her mothers oldest brother Adam and his wife Hilda. Aunt Hilda is a little stuffy and Mary Kates father John is not too crazy about her, but he loves his brother-in-law Adam. Their father, John, drives a horse drawn hearse, for a living. He has developed a cough, and has been losing work days pretty often. Mother, Catherine, works as a cook to supplement his salary, and as a cleaning lady at the girls Catholic school, to help pay their tuition. After Johns cough worsens and he starts spitting up blood, Mother calls the doctor. He diagnoses T.B. and notifies the Board of Health since it is highly contagious. The Board of Health orders the house quarantined and tells Catherine, the girls mother, that the children must be removed and sent to foster homes. Uncle Edward comes home to find all is not well. When Catherine decides to keep her family together, she seeks Edwards aid in setting up a separate home for her children in a nearby cottage. One night after father has gone to bed, Catherine calls the older children and Uncle Edward together to discuss her plans with them. They are all heartbroken at the thought of leaving their parents, but take it well. Hen is working as an apprentice carpenter, he will help out financially, Mary Kate will have to quit school and stay home and be Mama to the little ones and Lottie will quit school and go to work in a local factory as a seamstress. Uncle Edward and Hen work on cleaning up the cottage and the girls help furnish it. Lottie gets a job at Kleinerts factory and they settle in. Mary Kate learns that taking care of a two year old and an eight year old, as well as keeping house and cooking is a full time job. Mary Kate grieves that she cannot finish high school since she is a senior and has only a few months to go. Their parish priest, and family friend, comes to call and tells Mary Kate that she can graduate with her class if she will study at night. He insists that Hen and Lottie can help with the little ones in the evenings. Time passes and Mary Kate studies and worries about her fathers illness and Uncle Edward going overseas. The time comes and Uncle Edward must leave. They have a tearful parting. Mary Kate not knowing how she will cope without her Uncles guidance. Lottie and Hen are both doing well at work. Once day a young man calls on Mary Kate to discuss Lotties future. Mary Kate offers him coffee and cake. She thinks he wants to marry her young sister because of the approach he uses and the fact that Lottie told her sister she met the man she would someday marry. Finally he explains that he wants to send Lottie to a special school in Canada. It is run by nuns who specialize in making lingerie and embroidering. Mary Kate has to decline. She says Lottie is needed at home but hopes he will ask again. As he leaves, Mary Kate gives him a slice of cake for his father because Daniel said it tasted like his mothers and his father would enjoy it. One day in May, Papa dies. Mama is heartbroken and has to tell the children. Uncle Edward comes home for the funeral, but has to leave soon after. Mama has to make some more decisions once her family comes home. Mama calls a family meeting and surprises the children by including Father Emil. She informs Lottie she is to go to Can

This book will surprise some, anger some, rekindle the human spirit in some, re-establish partnerships of the sixties and seventies, and make some laugh, but its main point is to get you to talk to your Black friends at work, politicians in your cities and your neighbors to dispell the myth that there is no race problem in America anymore. What you are seeing today is the shaking off of the "chains of intimidation" of Black people who are now speaking out. You are about to witness the rebirth of the Civil Rights Movement all over again. Where do you stand?