She had knickknacks all over the living room and didn’t mind if Abra picked them up and looked at them. Taking her in for her first years, he eventually feels he must give her to another family from his church to raise. “She’s been after me for years. Rain pelted the roof and windows. It would only take ten minutes to walk to the bridge, less if he quickened his pace. It looks like we don't have a Synopsis for this title yet. Bridge to Haven (Audiobook CD) : Rivers, Francine : To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. The caseworker wants this to work. Dutch was with her, looking grim and worn. She liked the weight of flash and glory around her neck. | He’ll get over it. The story speaks volumes about the difficulties of life and how faith, hope, and love can indeed win out.” —Bookreporter.com, Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. Are there people in your life who love you in a godly way? Don’t cry.”, Abra clung to him, her heart thumping fast and hard as she listened to Mommy and Daddy arguing. It was her favorite thing to do. PSALM 71:6. She awakened when Mommy made an odd sound, a low groan, and muttered, “Not now, Lord. Eddie came to the front door. God put her in your arms, Zeke. To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Nine-year-old Joshua sat on the boards, holding them steady while Zeke sawed. Marianne had always yearned for more children, but the doctor had warned them that her heart, damaged by childhood rheumatic fever, wasn’t strong enough to survive another pregnancy. “You look awfully tired, Marianne.” “I’m going to go home and take a nice long nap.”, “You do that, dear.” Mitzi kissed her cheek. She’ll be in a crib, then a regular bed. Just go back to sleep.” She spoke in a strained voice, as though talking through her teeth. We’ll have to give Abra back.”. Abra liked spending time with Miss Mitzi. “How about a little honky-tonk?” She plunked down at the old upright piano and banged out a happy tune. Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million Bookshop ChristianBook.com Lifeway Parable Tyndale House Walmart, Apple Books ChristianBook.com Google Play Kindle Kobo Nook, Apple Books Audible Audiobooks.com ChristianAudio.com Google Play Kobo Libro.fm Nook Audiobooks. . Sunday was cold, but the rains had stopped. Zeke told him the lumberyard north of town was looking for a loader. Mommy lifted the covers. How much had she overheard? Bridge to Haven is replete with this theme of unconditional love meets temptation, trial, and failure. Did I misunderstand, Lord? Even fewer know the price she’s paid to finally feel like she’s somebody. The cold air made her shiver. The bridge came to mind, but it was in the other direction. Abra loved to play the piano. What advice would you give to a young person in Abra’s situation? “No. As he lifted her into the curve of his arm, her arms spread like a tiny bird attempting flight, and she let out a tremulous cry. Marianne looked wilted. Everyone called him Dutch, including his wife, who was in the hospital, suffering through the last stages of cancer. How did you handle it? Plot Summary | Add Synopsis. What would have happened to her if you hadn’t?” Marianne looked at him. A New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller! The book begins with Pastor Zeke discovering a little girl, just born, abandoned by the bridge into Haven. The insatiable führer continued sending planes west across the English Channel to bomb England while his troops stormed Russia’s borders to the east. Zeke thanked Eddie for the coffee and conversation and headed out into the dark again. Several had been around town long enough to have met Zeke before. Even fewer know the price she's paid to finally feel like she's somebody. “Give her back to whom? Mommy seemed better when they all sat down to dinner. “If you ever want to talk, Dutch, just call.”. But he isn’t able to persuade Abra to stay away from him. Zeke and his son, Joshua—Abra’s closest friend—watch her grow into an exotic beauty. His mouth twitched as he gave a sideways look at Mitzi. She found it on a corner table under a feather boa. Few know her real name is Abra. “Come on in, Pastor Zeke.”, Daddy took one look at Abra and his brows shot up. Bridge to Haven has been added to my Top Ten for 2014 and My All Time Favorites List. Sitting in a rocking chair, Marianne cradled the baby in her arms and fed her a bottle of warm milk. Is there someone in your life—a child or a young adult—for whom you can be a godly mentor? Mitzi came back into the living room. People often dumped unwanted litters along the road. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. “You two finish decorating the tree while I get a fire going.”, Mommy turned on the radio and found a music program. Summary: To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. Zeke knew every shortcut and was at Good Samaritan Hospital before the sun came up. When Joshua brings Abra home to Haven, Zeke is praying on the bridge, almost as if he is waiting for her. “Go hunting,” she told Abra. Groaning in pain, she bent and put her hand over her swollen belly. She’s not.” Unless there was a miracle, she didn’t have much time left. Menu. He prayed for each of the shopkeepers, the council members who had a meeting in the after- noon at the town hall, and the travelers staying at the Haven Hotel. The bridge to Haven figures prominently in the story: Abra is born --- and abandoned --- under the bridge. I’m surprised you’re still standing under all this weight. the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by air, President Roosevelt has just announced. When he came home one afternoon in June and found Marianne asleep on the couch while Abra, now four years old, dunked her doll up and down in the toilet bowl, he knew things were going to have to change. Mommy protested when Daddy carried her into the house. Even fewer know the price she's paid to finally feel like she's somebody. The lights were on inside. Mommy held her closer and rocked her in her arms. But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth have etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking charmer who … Shelve Bridge to Haven. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite little girl!” She whipped her shawl over her shoulder and held her arms wide. Joshua put his hands on the glass. The strength of the book lies in the many setting details of time and place. Bridge to Haven (Book) : Rivers, Francine, 1947- : Having been abandoned as a newborn and found and raised by Pastor Ezekiel Freeman in the small California town of Haven, Abra Matthews feels like she doesn't belong and at the age of seventeen runs off to Hollywood, becoming starlet Lena Scott. In truth, he was mad at God and didn’t want to give Him the time of day. Daddy prayed the blessing. Why or why not? “Look in the closet; check through the drawers, too. He wouldn’t have any peace unless he did. “I’ll have enough saved to pay for camp myself.”, After dinner, Mommy insisted on doing the dishes and told Daddy to go ahead and open the box of ornaments and get started on the tree. Others were strangers, men who looked tired and worn from crisscrossing the country, picking up odd jobs along the way, living hand to mouth. “You take care of the top branches, Son, and leave the bottom half to Abra.”, Something crashed in the kitchen. “Back to your own bed, Abra,” Daddy whispered. Jason sees a psychiatrist to work through is suicidal ideation. .” The voice on the radio sounded upset. A troubled young man sees a psychiatrist to work through his suicidal thoughts. “You look just dandy, sweetie pie.” She took her hand and went back into the living room. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks. The house felt cold and dark when he was gone, even with Mommy in the next room and Joshua out in his fort. Discuss the symbolism of the bridge to Haven. All of Marianne’s motherly instincts had kicked in, but each day wore her down a little more. What do I do now, Lord? “Marianne. “After you learn how to play Bach and Beethoven and Chopin and Mozart, I’ll teach you how to play the fun stuff.” Her hands flashed up and down. .’” She’d sleep for a while, and stir when Zeke stopped in at Eddie’s Diner or paused to talk with Dutch. She panted a moment, then smiled encouragement and set a beginners book on the stand. To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. The child was half-asleep, and Marianne looked too weary to rise. “An admirer gave me this when I was singing in a cabaret in Paris a hundred and fifty years ago.”. It was still dark when he walked along Second Street and spotted Leland Dutcher’s produce truck turning at the mouth of the alley alongside Gruening’s Market. He should have worn gloves this morning. Her husband had put up gates so their four-year-old, Penny, couldn’t escape the living room. TV Shows . “Well, I won’t speculate. “Mommy?” When she didn’t answer, Abra snuggled close, curling up beside her. Abra sat on the piano bench, swinging her legs and playing chords. 15058 Ratings. Dutch rolled down his window. Bridge To Haven was a sweeping novel, the story of Abra Matthews, who was left under a bridge as an infant and found by a pastor. Did I allow Marianne to sway me when You had another plan for Abra? “Well, that’s the best we can do.” She tossed the washcloth aside, straightened Abra’s dress, fingered her hair here and there, and patted her cheek. Shelving menu. Abra soaked in the warmth and felt drowsy. She roused, but Daddy told her to rest; he’d fix dinner. I felt like I became friends with the characters. Pastor Zeke finds her there. Priscilla Matthews spoke to them one Sunday after services. Storyline. “You’re exhausted.”, “Abra can get into something faster than I can say, ‘Jack Sprat could eat no fat.’”, Others in the congregation noticed how tired Marianne looked and voiced concern. “It’s so big.”, Joshua came in the back door, his cheeks flushed from the cold, but eyes bright. He took her hand. Taglines The bridge to Haven figures prominently in the story: Abra is born—and abandoned—under the bridge. Though she looked exhausted, she couldn’t have been hap- pier. Few know her real name is Abra. “This is the best time to pray.”. Disappointed, Abra closed the lid on the piano and followed them out to the car. . “We should head home, honey.”. .”, “You love her as much as I do, Zeke. She pushed the covers off and tiptoed into Mommy and Daddy’s bedroom. Daddy was going over ser- mon notes in the small office off the narthex. Are you eager or reluctant to cross them? Daddy talked with the last stragglers. “Oh, God, no . Times two, that’s four dollars a month!” It sounded like a lot of money. Marianne was up every two hours, feeding the baby. Bridge to Haven (Book) : Rivers, Francine : Having been abandoned as a newborn and found and raised by Pastor Ezekiel Freeman in the small California town of Haven, Abra Matthews feels like she doesn't belong and at the age of seventeen runs off to Hollywood, becoming starlet Lena Scott. She kissed her on each cheek and ran her hand over her head as she straightened. Try on whatever you like.”. It’s one that will make you think; give you courage and hope, for no matter what you face. She needs a family.” “We’re a family.”, “You know what I mean.” He cupped Marianne’s cheek. Mitzi straightened. . “Sleep tight.”. You can sense the deep hurt on both sides, but also the … “I’ll bundle her up.” He folded a blanket into a triangle, plucked Abra from Marianne’s arms, tied it around his waist and neck, and straightened. A soft cry came, then a plaintive wail. You might cut yourself.” When she burst into tears, he pulled her close. “I told her to have at anything she wanted in my room while I called Marianne. “Marianne? Mommy apologized for being so tired, and Daddy said she’d be fine, just fine, with a few hours’ rest. Was I that little?” The tiny baby girl slept soundly in a small hospital bassinet. Will the psychiatrist turn out to be someone other than who she says she is? . Though Zeke was less than enthusiastic about his son moving into a narrow, converted-back-porch bedroom, Joshua loved his “fort.” His best buddy, Davy Upton, came over to spend the night, but the quarters were so tight, Zeke ended up pitching a tent for them on the back lawn. Did you have a mentor like that when you were growing up, or do you have one now? .” When they finished, he leaned down and kissed her. She corrected quickly, as the wheels shot pebbles like bullets into the park. When Marianne finished reading the story of David and Goliath, she pressed Abra closer. She heard sweeping and something being dumped in the trash under the sink. He couldn’t leave without going back to the nursery. You can sense the deep hurt on both sides, but also the … “This is another compelling and moving story by one of the genre’s most honored and talented writers. Zeke turned on the radio and went through the mail. One of the parishioners added wiring for electricity. The crickets in the tall grass and the hoot owl in a towering pine fell silent as a car pulled into Riverfront Park, stopping near the rest- rooms. “You’re supposed to be in bed, little one.” Tucking her in again, Zeke tapped her on the nose. I didn’t think you’d be here until after five.”, Daddy held out his hand. Francine Rivers has woven a deeply moving story with an adept hand that knows just how to layer humanity, in all its beautiful and ugly truth, into almost every individual who steps onto the page. Why. Bridge to Haven (Book) : Rivers, Francine : Having been abandoned as a newborn and found and raised by Pastor Ezekiel Freeman in the small California town of Haven, Abra Matthews feels like she doesn't belong and at the age of seventeen runs off to Hollywood, becoming starlet Lena Scott. “What is it, honey?”. When Abra reached her, they held hands and went off to their class. She put on a wide-brimmed hat with a big red bow and found a black shawl with embroidered flowers and a long fringe. Daddy put away the shiny brass candlesticks and offering plates. Only way I’ll go is if I’m carried there in a pine box.”. Miss Mitzi said without the heater up and running properly, “the church smelled damp and moldy as a graveyard.” Abra told her she didn’t know what a graveyard smelled like, and Miss Mitzi said, “Well, don’t look at me like that, missy. Pastor Zeke finds her there. He passed by Eddie’s Diner, the students’ favorite hangout place. “Want help unloading the truck?”. . Mommy shifted and raised her head. As soon as they got home, Daddy turned on the radio. Mommy kissed the top of her head. He could see a campfire and approached the men sitting around it, asking if they minded if he joined them. “Let me tuck her in tonight.” He lifted Abra away from Marianne’s side. “I think it’s time to go home.” He put an arm around Mommy and drew her to her feet. “The Japanese bombed one of our Naval bases in Hawaii!”. Even fewer know the price she's paid to finally feel like she's somebody. What would that involve? She had. “No, Son. Let me do it. But Zeke repeatedly tells him that maybe the best thing he can do is let go of her. When Abra reads the Gideon Bible in her motel room at Agua Dulce, she seems only able to focus on the verses that confirm her guilt and sin. Few know her real name is Abra. He sat with her in their bedroom for a few minutes. He took off his suit jacket and hung it on the back of a kitchen chair rather than put it away in the bedroom closet the way he usually did. But unfortunately Bridge to Haven is a definite fail. “We can be foster parents. During summer months, he often crossed over to Riverfront Park, especially when the camp was full of visitors living in pitched tents at the small adjacent campground. “We’ll need to save money so we can add another bedroom. There’s nothing wrong with me that a good night’s sleep won’t cure.”, Zeke knew that wasn’t true when she started to rise and swayed slightly. She wanted to cover her head and forget everything that had happened, everything she had done wrong. Daddy untangled and strung the lights on the tree. He walked quickly across the bridge and cut across the grassy knoll to the parking lot. Surging to his feet, Zeke yanked open his jacket, popping shirt buttons so he could tuck the baby against his skin. The radio had nothing but bad news. Giggling, Abra hugged her. . Convinced that God has refused to answer her prayer, she turns her back on Him for many years. He felt a jolt of misgiving. Who—or what—is the bridge? Waving her hands around her face, Abra said she was fine and dandy, and headed for Mitzi’s closet. How does his emotional state affect him when he returns home? Francine Rivers has woven a deeply moving story with an adept hand that knows just how to layer humanity, in all its beautiful and ugly truth, into almost every individual who steps onto the page. “Time to go, Abra.”. “Put the blame on my account, Zeke.” She grinned. He kissed each cheek and her forehead before he left the room. Zeke came back to the hospital in the middle of the day to see Sharon. There is one bridge that we will all cross. Joshua had gone off in his Boy Scouts uniform to sell Christmas trees on the town square. Can you point to an instance in your life like that— something that was so coincidental you couldn’t help but see the hand of God at work? I’ve got to get you cleaned up before he gets here.” She laughed as she whipped off the big hat and sent it sailing into the closet. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. What are some bridges in your own life? This story is masterfully written, with clear, consistent characterization. Will he act on it and jump off a bridge? Rivers knows how to keep you turning the pages, and overall, I enjoyed the actual reading of this novel. In what ways were those things fulfilling? He waited another moment and then turned away. “She’s so little, Daddy. Was half-asleep, and later to return a corner table under a feather boa for no what! 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