“If you were a plant, you would be a thistle ~ Caleb”

“Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”

“Caleb is a pretty nice guy."..."Why would he marry a girl like you?”

“Bitterness is like a weed. Remember how hard it always was to pull out thistles once they root? Remember how deep those roots grow, and how if you just snapped off the end of it, the plant would grow right back? You have to dig down deep inside. Let God search your heart. Let Him show you what's there and help you root out all that bitterness. Then you can pray for forgiveness.”

“Where you tend a rose my lad, a thistle cannot grow.”

“Caleb came to his mother's side and helped her to her feet. "Besides, if you rest, then I am free to make love to Jacqueline.""Caleb!" Jacqueline had been worried she would say the wrong thing. Instead, Caleb had put his foot in it.But obviously all the cliches she'd ever heard about Italian sons were true. He really could do no wrong, for Mrs. D'Angelo shook her finger at him--but she said indulgently, "You are incorrigible.""Ma, I'm just trying to get going on those grandchildren you want.”