Quotes About Family

SO FOUR DOGS AND A CAT

Patricia MacLachlan

Beatrice," said Grandfather softly. "Don't really see how Beatrice can have a name when her mother doesn't have one." "I think her name is Beatrice's Mother," said Mama. "What kind of a name is that?" asked Grandfather. "It's what we've got," said Mama with a smile.

I'm not sure sheep are known for their good sense," he said. "Beatrice is unusual," I said. The goslings saw Mama and ran over. "Madeleine, I believe you're going to be the largest of the three of you," said Mama. "And you, Margaret Louise, will always be the runt." "Small and lovely, you mean," said Grandfather.

You know," said Mama, "I'm going to go inside and rest. I feel tired." "I'll come in, too," I said. "I'll be in the barn," said Grandfather. "I'll come in later for a piece of cake." "Cakes don't last forever," said Mama. "Not with Grandfather around," I said.

I want most of all for you to forgive Grandfather. I want you to forgive Grandfather so I can grow up and be just like you.

There is a joy...in creating surprising insight into a character. The characters in my books become, for me, good friends, extended family members, or the brothers and sisters I never had. Books affect lives, especially children's lives, because children have a genuine belief in the truth of stories, the ultimate gift for the writer. It's a shared gift—from writer to reader and back again.

A son will always be a son, they say. But a girl is like a goat. Good as long as she gives you milk and butter. But not worth crying over when it's time to make a stew

A son will always be a son, they say. But a girl is like a goat. Good as long as she gives you milk and butter. But not worth crying over when it's time to make a stew.

Four other babies were born between me and my brother. There are no notches for them.

I nod yes-no-yes-no and run back to Ama, afraid to tell her about this new auntie who smells of amber and jasmine and possibility.

Inside my head I carry: my baby goat, my baby brother, my ama's face, our family's future. My bundle is light. My burden is heavy.

Ama wipes her hands on her apron, looks up at our old roof with new eyes, and lifts the baby from his basket. She twirls him in the air, her skirts flying around her ankles the way the clouds swirl around the mountain cap--her laughter fresh and strange and musical to my ears.

Back at the hut, all my sister, they start to cry. "No crying," my aunt says, very strict. "You cry only in your mind." But later, when everyone else asleep, I hear my aunt, her tears, they fall like rain.

No you haven't, or you would never have been persuaded by anything your father and I and Grams Brennan ever said.

Each summer, with Kendra and Grif joining Amy and Luke in living at the ranch while their friends Dale Sinclair and Ellyn Neal spent more time here than at their homes in town, Far Hills Ranch was nearly what Marti had always dreamed

I had always known that I came back from the stars to pick my Mom. But Harlan had reached out to the stars to pick me.

You'd have to go through at least four different hugs to get from the kitchen to the front room. Those relatives!'.

What I loved most about our family was that we could all speak our hearts. We never measured words.

You're Joe Spain's beautiful daughter. That's why you came back home- to finally discover every part of that truth.

You are the heart of this family," she said, "with your songs.

The stakes are high. One sound before we escape and we're stuck with our five-year-old brother, Steadman, for the rest of the morning. Steadman has a mouth that closes only to chomp down on chocolate bars and potato chips.

You can't go taking the law into your own hands, Cade. Think about Lily." "I am thinking about Lily. If I weren't thinking about Lily I'd be out of here now, chasing Satan back where he came from.

They see me as being this Super Mom on TV who also can more than handle a difficult husband, and they assume I'm going to be just full of wisdom as a mother and wife myself.