family | Love, Laughter, and Life

May 14, 2026
by Angie 10 Comments

Cover Reveal: What is a Church? by Angie Quantrell and Gayle West

Despite my recent lack of much blogging, I have been filling my days with words and more words and even photos and illustrations! Most of the words have been in my head, at my fingertips, scribbled on paper scraps, sitting in Notes on my phone, and spread throughout various Word docs filling my computer. Haha!

I’m excited to announce the cover reveal of my newest picture book, What is a Church?

Published by Woman’s Missionary Union (2026), What is a Church? has been beautifully illustrated with a variety of photos from around the world! Gayle West did an amazing job turning photos into painting-like images.

What is a Church? is written with preschoolers in mind. As the youngest audience for books, preschoolers enter the world of “church” with few preconceived understandings of church, other than they go with their family, they see (eventually) familiar faces, and spend time playing, singing, and hearing Bible stories. What is a Church? will help preschoolers understand that church is a happy place and going to church is a part of God’s plan for their lives. Not only that, but preschoolers can begin to understand that they can go to church and be a part of the church too! Because church is not just a building. The church is made up of people-the family of God!

As one can imagine, there were all sorts of readers and comments and revising and updating. It truly takes a community, and I have a fabulous community to walk beside me. Here’s a giant THANK YOU! to everyone who contributed or assisted in any way to help bring What is a Church? to life!

What is a Church?

Written by Angie Quantrell

Illustrated by Gayle West

Woman’s Missionary Union, 2026

Drumroll please!

Without further ado, here is the beautiful cover!

February 11, 2025
by Angie Leave a comment

Book Share: A Gift for Nai Nai by Kim-Hoa Ung

A Gift for Nai Nai

Written and illustrated by Kim-Hoa Ung

Feiwel and Friends, 2023

This adorable (and on a scale of adorable, it’s a 12) picture book is a delight to read. With much thanks to Jena Benton and Kim-Hoa Ung, I was gifted a copy of A Gift for Nai Nai. Thank you!

The beautiful illustrations pulled me in, and the special relationship between the little girl and her Nai Nai – which, thanks to the short glossary, I now know means paternal grandmother – added heart and love.

This picture book reminded me of my own mother who loved to crochet. She spent hours, days, and weeks creating gifts and clothing not just for her own family, but so many others in her circle of family and friends. I read this book with a large dose of nostalgia.

I enjoyed not only the crochet connection, but also seeing through the illustrations that Nai Nai uses a wheelchair to get around. My mother-in-law was limited to a wheelchair after breaking her hip. Despite losing some of her mobility, Nai Nai continues to create a beautifully crocheted hat she gives to Lyn Lyn each year. Framed photos on the wall showcase a few of the fun hats.

Nai Nai has a birthday coming up, so Lyn Lyn decides she wants to learn to crochet. The struggle is very real (my own mother tried to teach me to crochet). With an AWW-some ending, A Gift for Nai Nai is a satisfying and warm-hearted read.

I had to share the “undie” from A Gift for Nai Nai. An undie is the cover beneath the paper book jacket. Sometimes illustrators create new scenes on the undies, just like Kim-Hoa Ung did for this picture book. Love it!

Plus! Kim-Hoa Ung included directions for making a simple crocheted hat similar to the one Lyn Lyn made for Nai Nai. This picture book is colorful, engaging, and filled with all the coziness of a warm fire on a snowy day.

This pink Easter egg ducky is a gift my mother crocheted for me many years ago. The egg is resting on blanket squares I crocheted (cough cough) several years ago. They wait for me to connect them. This is about the limit of my crocheting abilities.

August 12, 2024
by Angie 4 Comments

Who is the winner of Laura Sassi’s My Tender Heart Devotions?

Last week, Laura Sassi visited my blog and shared about her new book, My Tender Heart Devotions. Everyone who commented on that post had their name put in the hat – er, pretty purple bowl – and I closed my eyes, spun them around, and pulled out the winner.

The winner is . . .

KIM A LARSON!

Come on down, Kim! Congratulations! Please message me with your mailing address so Laura can send you a copy when My Tender Heart Devotions comes out on October 1!

Thank you, everyone, for your kind comments and for visiting this blog. If you did not win a copy, you can find it at Paraclete Press, Amazon, and other places where books are sold.

If you missed out on the author interview, you can read it here.

Thank you, everyone! And thank you, Laura, for sharing your new book with us! Congratulations!!

May 12, 2024
by Angie 5 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day!

This is my mama Bonnie holding me when I was 5 weeks old. My mama and me, we go way back.

If you share about moms and how hard they work, my mama did all that. Six of us to care for on a regular basis (plus the extras who showed up), in addition to an always odd and crowded collection of pets, animals, and plants. Canning, sewing, crocheting, cleaning, cooking, shopping; repeat. But also loving, guiding, correcting, teaching, caring (and dare I say, on occasion, threatening us with “you better behave or else,” we were afraid of the “or else”).

Sending Mother’s Day wishes, hugs, and love to everyone who has a mother. (I hope you all raised your hands.) And to all the moms who have children, have lost children, who have children going through tough times, who have furry children, who have grandchildren-all the loves to you!

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” -Philippians 1:3 NIV

My mama and me.

Kevin and his mama Carole. My mom too!

February 5, 2024
by Angie 6 Comments

The Birthday Girl = Breakfast and Thrift Stores

Happy birthday to this beauty! Jamie Lee!

My annual tradition is to take my grands on a birthday date. We enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This year I decided I wanted to take my adult children out on a birthday date as well. Because. Well, they are pretty important to me and we never get the chance to just visit. Plus. Heh-heh. I get them all to myself!

We kicked off our date with a delicious breakfast at the White House Cafe in Yakima. I’m telling you, the special touches were so adorable! The whole house is currently decked out with hearts. And all things white. So many sights to see and enjoy.

Even the water glasses were delightful. Look at those little heart-shaped cranberry ice cubes with a wedge of cucumber. Mmm.

Of course we went for breakfast. Because of their tasty hashbrowns (among other treats). We had to have the special, which had so much food, we were glad we followed the advice of our server and split the meal. Some of everything. Plus half of a ginormous cinnamon roll! Which we could not finish. Scrumptious.

Don’t worry. I didn’t just take food pictures. I was there. Enjoying the company and ambiance.

Just look at those old windows and lights! They were everywhere. Perfectly my style.

I’d love to show you pictures from the rest of the day, but we were too busy treasure hunting through many thrift stores, a fabric/craft store, and even an estate of sorts. We wore ourselves out. But you will be happy to know that several treasures were rescued to go home with us.

I’m leaving you with a strawberry heart and 1/2 of a huge, yummy cinnamon roll. FYI, they make these every Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks for being my birthday date, Jamie Lee!

December 11, 2023
by Angie 8 Comments

Tree Hunting ’23

Ah, the good old family tradition of going tree hunting. That’s what we like to call it here in the northwest. After purchasing forest permits, we loaded up and drove to the nearby mountains to hunt down our tree. We found this fun creation. Not sure about the purpose, but it was great for photos. And possibly, with additional brush and a campfire, it might be quite cozy!

Poor people. They just have to put up with my attempts at taking pictures! As the almost shortest member with arms just as short, selfies are often quite comical.

Dogs (3, but never in the same picture), adults, and grands had a great time. A heavy blanket of snow added Christmas cheer and plenty of opportunities for the dogs to race, roll, and rumble. Snow gear was welcome in the often up-to-my-knees snow.

The Bachmeiers and Aucutts, plus Bear and new canine member Timber, crowd into the tree shelter. I mean, look at that! The dogs are facing forward and almost everyone is looking AT the camera. It’s a Christmas miracle.

The Quantrells also get a gold star (even grinning Ginger) for faces forward, eyes on the camera. Two Christmas miracles in one day!

The senior Quantrells took their turn in the tree shelter with all the grands. All eyes on the camera! Whoohoo! In the category of who is taller than Nana, the answer is nearly 50%.

My partner in life, love, and crime. We wish you all “Happy Christmas!”

November 23, 2023
by Angie 2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Ones,

Happy Thanksgiving! May the Lord bless you, your family, and your friends as you remember and give thanks for what He has done.

Sending peace, beauty, love, and grace.

XOXO

Photo by Angie Quantrell

Assisi, Italy

October 1, 2023
by Angie 2 Comments

Sunday Joy

Photo by Taylor Quantrell

Ocean Shores, WA

April 26, 2023
by Angie 2 Comments

Happy 7th Birthday, Autumn!

Seven years ago today, a mom and a dad, two grandmas, and various medical helpers watched baby Autumn make her appearance. Babies are special and sweet, and oh what a delight to watch them grow and develop their own personalities!