In honor of Pioneer Day yesterday, a state holiday in Utah, I’m blogging about the pioneer life. (You can see my previous blogs about Pioneer Day here. It’s so cool that once we got to actually be at a real pioneer place, Cove Fort, on Pioneer Day years ago when all my children lived at home.) We had a great celebration last night at my brother’s house with my parents, 3 out of my 4 siblings, and most of their descendants. I was so pleased to hear that my grandson won the watermelon eating contest for his age group at the This is the Place State Park. I love that place! We’ve been a few times and even had a Hilton family reunion there. I want to go there every year on Pioneer Day but don’t so I’m glad my daughter and her little family got to be there with her in-laws.

Today I’m sharing this book, A Lantern in Her Hand, by Bess Streater Aldrich for my mama book of the week. This isn’t a true story, but it’s worth reading! It’s historical fiction. I love that it shows the devotion of a mother who gives up her own comfort to support her husband in his dream of living the pioneer life on the frontier of Nebraska.

Here’s what goodreads.com says about it:

“Perfect for fans of Little House on the Prairie: In the late 1800s, married couple Abbie and Will live as pioneers on the American frontier. Together they face the Nebraska plains, determined to build a house and a life for themselves…

“The classic story of Abbie and Will Deal—pioneers who left everything behind for a new life on America’s frontier.

“Abbie Mackenzie dreamed of becoming a fine lady like her aristocratic grandmother, devoting herself to music and art. But at eighteen Abbie found a different dream, turning away from the promise of a comfortable life as a doctor’s wife to marry handsome, quiet Will Deal. Together, they eagerly accepted the challenge of homesteading in Nebraska territory, where the prairies stretched as far as the eye could see, and only the strongest survived for long.

“For over 90 years, people have cherished Abbie’s story—an inspiring story of struggle against unexpected perils, of love, of the land she helped nurture, and the family she raised.”

We read this book in my homeschool group for the moms’ class last year and then discussed it. It was such a pleasure to read it. It’s as much about the pioneering spirit as it is about the heart of a wife and mother and the beauty of how much she sacrifices for her husband and children. I almost cried when it was over, just because I was sad that I couldn’t read it any more. Goodreads.com, however, says it’s part of a series, so I can’t wait to read the next one, Song of Years, although the cast of characters involved in the synopsis of the second book looks completely different. I remember my sister telling me about this book years ago. I’m sad that I took so long to read it, I was really missing out. Reading it helps me to continue to hold onto my dreams through the trials. If you are a fan of mothering and pioneering, you will love this book! It’s probably at your local public library, as well as in everand.com so you can read it today. (Go here to learn more about everand.com, it’s the most fabulous resource for every bibliophile.)