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We were created to live in community with others—with our families, friends, and neighbors.
Maybe that’s why family stories are so captivating. I always savor the chance to follow along with a family through the ups and downs of life, through adventures and hardships, through growth and change.
And one of my favorite family stories that I’ve read recently is The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (Amazon Affiliate Link) by Jeanne Birdsall.
We get to follow the Penderwick family for five wonderful books, and throughout the course of the series, some characters grow up while others are born. We truly get to watch the Penderwick kids age and mature, which is different from many other family-based series I’ve read, but so much fun. While I loved every book in the series, the first was my favorite.
The Penderwick kids we meet in the first book—Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty—are distinctive, adventurous, and thoughtful. The series opens with a summer trip to a magical place called Arundel, where they meet a boy named Jeffrey Tifton who joins in with their fun. The story reminds me of a modern-day Little Women, another beloved family narrative.
The Penderwicks go from one adventure to the next, trying to avoid Mrs. Tifton, Jeffrey’s mother and the owner of Arundel, and trying to make the most of every moment.
And maybe that’s what I love most about the Penderwicks. They take no moment for granted.
They’re always looking for ways to enjoy their time. And they do it all together.
I’m thankful that, like the Penderwick kids, we have the chance to live each moment with joy and passion. We can choose to make the most of every moment. We can choose to cherish the time God has given us with our family and friends.
So let’s live like the Penderwicks. Let’s thank God for each opportunity and choose to enjoy each moment.
If you’ve never met the Penderwicks, I’d encourage you to start with book one and then keep going!
And if you have read and loved the Penderwick series, I also highly recommend the Vanderbeeker series—they’re another delightful family that feels more real than the pages of the books where they live. Here’s my review for the first book in that series!
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And never forget… you are wonderfully created.
Love,
Becca
