Winter Wonderland at Whispering Woods
9/11 had a profound effect on the Baxter family. Phil, a distinguished young architect, and his wife, Cathy, a dynamic public relations and advertising executive, worked within blocks of the World Trade Center, and owned a multi-million dollar condo. Their businesses and their home were destroyed.
As Christians, understanding God’s sovereignty and recognizing Godincidences in their lives, they recognized the situation immediately as a life-changing event. Phil’s mentor, John Stewart Robbins, offered his 160 acre property for sale, serendipitously, on the evening of September 10, 2001. Not that the couple was looking to change their lifestyle. They seemingly had it all: multimillion dollar income, prestige, two beautiful children, a devoted nanny, bright futures. But, they discover Whispering Woods Estates, in need of a makeover, and purchase the property in Massachusetts.
Winter Wonderland at Whispering Woods recounts the first months of operation of the renovated property, the first guests, the staff, and brings to the reader stories of their new adventure. The property includes a newly refurbished Grand Lady Victorian Mansion, an Event Barn, equestrian stables, ski slopes and The Lodge, The Railroad Cottage, campgrounds, an adjacent organic farm, and a delightful retreat, a place of beauty and peace.
Several themes weave in and out of the story, keeping the reader turning pages, hoping to learn more. The nanny who raised Cathy and now is raising Michael and Kelsey, the Baxter children, writes cogent journals throughout this unique book, stories of the abduction of her daughter, Deirdre, the making of decisions alone as a recent widow, even possibility thinking as she finds romance and a second marriage. Environmentalists will appreciate “green technology” such as geo-thermal heating, organic farming, harvesting maple syrup, hydroponics, aquaculture, and forest management. Biblical students will notice that the whole enterprise and all decisions are bathed in prayer, and characters discuss childrearing, the Proverbs 31 woman, missions in Kenya, Indonesia, and other world locales, God-centered marriage, and the Baxters’ positive influence on the community as they run their business based on Godly principles.
To catch a glimpse of the story, the book trailer for Whispering Woods, the first book in this series, is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=Pz_MPtVkiKY. This second book, Winter Wonderland at Whispering Woods, brings staff, family, and guests together in this remarkable setting. Just as the retreat and resort property was in desperate need of an update and their careful designing and loving restoration, so the lives of these new friends may need rebuilding too. Blessings await those who visit Whispering Woods Estates, and this uplifting book will bring joy to the reader as well.
As an extra bonus, recipes by Andre and Jacques, dishes served in the Spreading Chestnut dining room and the exclusive Banyan Room are included in an appendix.
The author, Betty Whitaker Jackson, is a career English teacher who has taught seminars on writing, has published poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir and six books prior to Winter Wonderland. She expects to complete Splendid Spring at Whispering Woods in early 2016. Her own interests in home renovation, music, gardening, environmental issues, Christian lay leadership, nature photography, cooking and baking, child development, handicapping conditions and therapy, organic food issues, business management, and people-watching are all evident in the Whispering Woods series. She would love to own this place, but at least can do it vicariously through her writing. Her readers say: “ I couldn’t put this book down! A great story of how a couple trusts in God in spite of difficult circumstances. Can’t wait to read the sequel!” And ”Such an inspiring book written about down to earth situations/people. Felt I was living the scenes being told by the author.” Another: “The illustrations were vivid. I could almost see their apt before and after it was fixed up. Waiting for her next book.”
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