Lissa

“He’d thought he was being a good parent. By giving Sean room to learn about life on his own, when Julie rode him about taking on adult responsibilities. By cutting Rachel slack when Julie nitpicked her over her attitude and schoolwork. He’d even told himself Ben had been unaffected by the atmosphere in their home. He’d prided himself on his patience. His ability to wait and “hang in there” and approach life from a slower pace, and let Julie wear all the “bad guy” hats of discipline and planning and the tasks that came with running a household. Yet he now saw patience was simply the label he had used to cover the truth. He’d never been engaged with his family. Never been active and intentional. Before Ben he’d coasted because life had been easy, and after Ben he’d just maintained the fringes, justifying his inaction with Julie’s behavior. He’d lived reacting.”
― Shellie Arnold, Sticks and Stones

“This was what the absence of tension felt like. This was how it felt when she wasn’t frustrated, wasn’t striving, wasn’t pushing at her family because of her own unhappiness and stress and workload.”
― Shellie Arnold, Sticks and Stones

“She wanted her words to her family to come from a pure heart, rather than bitterness and anger. To come from His work in her rather than hurt she carried and frustration she’d hidden inside.”
― Shellie Arnold, Sticks and Stones

“He grabbed her arms to steady her. "It's ok, Sophie. I'm here to help you. We've been looking for you for twelve years.”
― Shannon Messenger, Keeper of the Lost Cities