Author Archive
Easter…
Back in AZ, we usually had Easter at our house. I have a huge storage bucket of plastic eggs to prove it! We would give each child a different color and fill dozens of eggs. There were baskets of candy on every table for the grown-ups (how I loved those baskets when I was a kid!), and I always made my special pistachio salad with the rainbow marshmallows. Of course, after it was over, I had way too much candy left & decorations to put away, but it was all worth it to spend the day with family.
This is my second Easter away from home and family. While not having to clean my house and organize a meal for 30+ people and prepare activities for 12+ kids under 10 does relieve a little bit of stress, it seems silly to put time and effort into making the holiday special for just our little family. An Easter egg hunt for just three kids?
So, what do we do when life changes and our old routines just don’t work any longer? We have to make a decision to change with it–to make new routines and traditions that make our new situation special, too. After all, Easter isn’t really about the food and the candy–it’s about celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and passing along the joy of this day to our kids!
This year we’ll start some new traditions that suit our new life better. What are some things you do to make Easter special for your family?
Karen
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Brush of Angel’s Wings
Brush of Angel’s Wings, by Ruth Reid, is billed as a combination of Amish and angel fiction. One reviewer compares Reid to Frank Peretti, which is why I decided to try this one out. Unfortunately, while Brush of Angel’s Wings is a cute story, it didn’t quite measure up to my expectations.
Rachel Hartzler has given up on marriage and is doing her best to fill her dead brother’s shoes. She figures that an Amish girl who likes to race buggies and can’t cook isn’t likely to find a husband anyway. And then Jordan shows up and begins to take her place next to her father in the farm chores. Despite the fact that he doesn’t want to be Amish and she doesn’t want to get married, the two find themselves drawn together. Jordan is drawn to the sense of community and the simple life of the Amish, and he pretends to like Rachel’s cooking.
In addition to their different personalities, Reid attempts to paint a picture of the spiritual influences on both Jordan and Rachel as they work to deal with the issues in their lives and with each other. It is interesting to think about how the unseen may be influencing and even guiding our lives. However, some of the instances in the book seem a bit contrived. I liked the story well enough, but it didn’t captivate my attention. If you like Amish fiction and you’re looking for something new, it may be worth a try.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
In Too Deep
I have to say that I am, in theory, a fan of Mary Connealy. Her books feature strong women with minds of their own and tough men with tender hearts–both of whom love God. Though the stories generally follow the same basic story line (unlikely match–attracted to each other–end up married), they each are unique in their own way. And every single one of her books has captivated me–they make me laugh out loud and keep me glued to the story and, of course, point the reader towards a relationship with God.
I have noticed lately that the books are becoming a little heavy on the romance, though. I love a good love story, especially one framed in historical fiction with a great adventure attached. However, even if they are a far cry from even tame secular novels, I wouldn’t recommend that young girls read these books.
In Too Deep, the sequel to Out of Control (the story of the oldest Kincaid brother), is characteristic of Connealy’s writing. The book, set in Rawhide, TX, after the Civil War, features three cowboy brothers–tough, great with guns, and protective of each other and their ladies, even if the youngest is a little bit crazy. Of course, we have the ladies–gals with minds of their own who may seem vulnerable, but are tougher than they look. We have a bad guy, out to get the ladies. And don’t forget the brewing romance.
Ethan Kincaid, the middle Kincaid brother, and Audra Gilliland get married mostly out of convenience. Audra’s husband has died, and everyone knows that a woman can’t survive alone in the wild west! Not to mention the fact that her no-good, dead husband has stolen a fortune from someone who is out to get it back from Audra, one way or another. Though the fortune is never found, the bad guys are brought to justice, Audra & Ethan find that they love each other after all, and Audra finds that she is stronger and braver than she thinks. And, through it all, they find that God is faithful.
The story is captivating, the characters are well-developed, and it left me wanting to read the next book in the series. After all, the youngest brother, Seth, needs to find his bride now! However, the references to pulling each other close and loving each other “passionately, deeply” might be a little too much for younger readers–even though that’s as far as the imagery goes.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
One small step…
Slowly, but surely, over the past several years, our family has been moving towards a healthier lifestyle. We’ve tried out raw milk, moved to eating only organic foods on the Dirty Dozen list, and bought grass fed, local beef and chicken at the local farmer’s market. I even tried out soaking grains and cooking with sourdough. We still prefer rice soaked for a few hours, but I gave up on the sourdough because I felt like I was taking care of a newborn! Lately, I’ve been trying to cook more vegetarian meals and use a little less meat.
Last night, on the recommendation of a friend, I watched Forks Over Knives (watch free on Netflix), which advocates an essentially vegan lifestyle–no animal products. There is no question that the people highlighted in the film are healthier after beginning this new diet. And I think that making small changes moving towards a more plant-based diet is a smart move. I don’t know that I would discount meat and dairy altogether, despite the benefits showcased on this film. I would like to see the studies discussed in the film replicated with meat and dairy produced outside of factory farms. Do people who eat grass fed beef and drink raw milk have the same issues? Many well-respected researchers, including Jordan Rubin of The Maker’s Diet
In the meantime, we are going to continue taking baby steps towards a healthier diet. I encourage you to do the same. Here are some easy steps you could take today (just choose one!):
1. Only purchase organic versions of the Dirty Dozen fruits and veggies.
2. Eat just one vegetarian meal every week. Or have fruit for breakfast instead of cereal just one morning.
3. Buy organic grass-fed beef instead of your regular hamburger.
4. Buy free-range organic eggs.
5. Cut down on the amount of meat/milk your family consumes. Try stretching a package of hamburger for two meals. Our family of five only consumes about a gallon of milk in a week–can you cut down on your dairy consumption?
6. Cut out one processed food–soda? chips? Or replace with an organic alternative. One of our favorites is “fizzy juice”–just mix half 100% juice and 1/2 carbonated water.
Remember, just one step at a time. It’s like building endurance in exercise. You start out with 2 lb weights, then move up to 5, etc. As you get stronger, you can handle the weights that you couldn’t dream of lifting at the beginning. It’s the same here–just take one small step. When that is easy, try something else.
You know, I was talking to my kids this morning–I want to be the 80 year old woman jogging through the park in the film. I want to be healthy and active–and I want the same thing for my kids. If making these changes will help me do that–for me and for them–then it’s worth the sacrifice. Now to watch Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead…maybe. :)
Tips for Business Cards
What’s wrong with this business card? It’s cute. It has my picture, so a person can easily remember who I am. It has my website and facebook link. The name of my business and what I do is clear. And if you actually were holding the card, you’d feel the quality of it. Many of you might point out that the obvious missing piece is my phone number. However, what many business owners forget to place on their card is even more important–their physical address. Nothing is more frustrating for me than having to chase down an address so I can send a thank you card.
Linda Hollander, author of Bags to Riches and founder of the Woman’s Small Business Expo, pointed out at a seminar that, while much commerce today is done online, a physical address gives a business a sense of permanence and credibility. Remember, people do business with those they know, like, and trust. It’s a lot easier to trust someone when you know where to find them!
Thankfully, my card has a back side that enables me to include all the necessary information, and it also allows me to represent both sides of my business.
Mercy Come Morning
Many women today struggle with self-worth. Krista is no different. She never knew her father, and, all her life, all she’s wanted is her mother’s approval. Now, her mother, who was once a vibrant woman with a talent for dancing, is in the final stages of Alzheimers disease and could die at any time. Out of duty, Krista returns to her home town to be with her mother in her final days. Mercy Come Morning, by Lisa Tawn Bergren, tells the story of Krista’s journey to forgiveness and peace.
Krista’s mother is housed in an unusual home for patients with this disease run by her old friend and first love, Dane. The patients here are loved and allowed to wander–to enjoy the life they have left in safety. This concept, in itself, caught my attention.
During her visit, uncovering an unusual journal that her mother kept allows Krista to revisit her memories, and she finds that perhaps she was not unloved after all. Krista’s journey home helps her to discover a peace and rekindle a romance that she never thought possible. It also gives her the opportunity to meet the mother she never knew.
I really enjoyed this book. The story and the characters are captivating. Not only that, but the story invites the reader to think about our own perceptions of our relationships–with the people we love and with God.
To read the first chapter, go HERE.
Eyes of Justice
Eyes of Justice begins with the murder of one of the main characters of a series of murder mysteries written by Lis Wiehl and April Henry featuring the Triple Threat. Cassidy, a reporter, Nicole, an FBI agent, and Allison, a federal prosecutor, have worked together on cases for 6 years. So, when Cassidy is murdered in her home, Nicole and Allison determine to find the killer and bring him to justice.
Cassidy’s ex-boyfriend, a Portland police officer, is their first suspect. Cassidy exposed him for his abusive behavior on the news, and they figure he would be angry enough to kill, especially when they find that Cassidy may have had evidence that he was covering up unethical practices.
But something just doesn’t add up. And when Allison’s sister Lyndsey is shot in a bank robbery, she tells Allison before she dies that the shooter thought she was Allison. With the help of an odd private detective, Ophelia, Nic and Allison finally figure out who the killer is.
The book has a lot of action and a believable story line for the most part. However, when the girls get a clue that Cassidy’s ex-boyfriend was drugged by another man, they don’t follow up on that clue. It doesn’t make sense that they wouldn’t ask who him who he was with. Though the beginning was a little slow, the story overall was interesting, even though I haven’t read any of the other books.
Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for my fair review.
Evangelism is like…Network Marketing???
Last week, I read chapters four and five in David Platt’s Radical. In these chapters, he reminds us that our purpose, regardless of who we are or where we are, is to “go out and preach the gospel to all nations.” God has a global mission for the church–and that is to reach the 4.5 BILLION people in the world who have never heard the gospel. And yet, as Christians, we so often focus on what’s best for “me” and “my family.” We hide behind our “calling,” or lack thereof. Platt isn’t saying that we need to give up our careers and/or nice houses–and he isn’t saying we have to move overseas and become a missionary. But he is saying that we should be willing to. We should be willing to lay down our lives for the sake of the cross.
So, what does this look like? Maybe it means that you use your resources to finance missionaries. Maybe it means that you and your family serve at a local homeless shelter. Maybe it means that you teach recovering addicts business skills so that they can get back on their feet. If you don’t know what your gifts and purpose are, you might want to read The Cause Within You by Matthew Barnett. Some people may be asked to literally go to another country and be missionaries. Others may be asked to give up a job to serve. But the key is to make it a habit to constantly think about how you can serve God right where you are.
One woman gave a great example–if you knew that you had the cure for cancer, would you keep it to yourself? Or would you be out, sharing it with as many people as possible? We have something so much more valuable, and yet we keep it to ourselves. Platt, in chapter 5, lays out a very simple plan for sharing the love of Christ with others. It’s not the “normal” outreach, where you gather as many people as possible, stick them in a room, and teach them. Instead, he says, as we live our lives, we should do so with God’s purpose in mind, thinking about how we can share with others His love for them. One on one. And create relationships.
After all, this is what Jesus did. He spent his entire ministry here on earth cultivating a relationship with just 12 guys–and he left 11 who were expected to continue what He started. Yes, Jesus spoke to large crowds, but He asks us to go out and make disciples–gather people to us and teach them to walk as we do. We can’t do the one and not the other.
The philosophy Platt shares sounds a lot like Network Marketing to me. One of the slogans we hear a lot in our industry is “each one, reach one. Each one, teach one.” That’s it. You find one person, share with them your product/service, then teach them to do the same. It doesn’t matter what you know–whether you are brand new or a veteran, the process is the same. You go out, tell people about what you’re doing, then teach them how to do the same. Along the way, you read personal development books and go to seminars to get better and better at what you do. But it’s all about taking consistent action and constantly improving yourself.
This is what we are to do as Christians. Just as we listen for the need for our product/service as we develop relationships, we need to listen for people’s need for Christ. When we hear that need, we can respond by introducing them to Him. At that point, they make a decision–they accept, reject, or ask for more time. If they accept, then we walk with them. Bring them with us to events. Teach them how to walk the Christian life–what do we read? How do we pray? etc. If they say no–well, then, you continue to develop a relationship with them. Because every good network marketer knows that “no” really means “not now.” :) And if they ask for more time, you keep following up–by inviting them to live life with you.
It’s all about building a relationship. It’s about one on one interactions with people. Getting to know them. Listening for their needs and meeting them with the gifts and resources God has blessed us with.
When I first got started in my company, making those calls was really hard. What if I was rejected? What if people didn’t like my product as much as I did? But as I forced myself to step out in faith, as I built up my own knowledge and belief about my company and my industry, it became easier and easier. It takes walking forward day by day and slowly, but surely, changing your mindset about what is important.
I believe that the same is true for witnessing. At first, it will feel uncomfortable. We’ll be afraid of rejection. People will laugh at us. But if we continue to grow in knowledge and increase our belief through study of the Word and getting to know other believers, it will become second nature. We will see a need and meet it–and as we become willing to be used by God, He will show us, day by day, how to use our gifts and resources to reach those 4.5 billion people in the world who have not heard of His grace and love for them. The first step is to be willing to do whatever it takes.
The Wedding Dress
I just finished reading The Wedding Dress, by Rachel Hauck, and I LOVED it. Charlotte Malone’s gift is finding the perfect dress for each bride–the dress that fits her character and melts her heart. The problem is that Charlotte is getting married in two months, and she hasn’t found her own dress yet. This has left her with doubts–is she marrying the right man?
To seek a little bit of solitude, Charlotte retreats to her favorite place, the old Ludlow estate, where her mother used to take her for picnics before she died when Charlotte was just 12. On this day, though, the normally quiet estate is buzzing with the activity of an antique auction. And, somehow, Charlotte ends up paying $1,000 for an antique trunk that is sealed shut.
When she finally gets it open, Charlotte finds an amazing wedding dress–one that is supposed to be 100 years old, but that was actually worn 3 times. As she traces the dress back to its original owner, Charlotte learns about herself and about God, discovers the truth about her relationship, and also finds a connection to a family she never knew she had.
What really struck me about this story is actually the story of the third bride, Hillary, who got married to Joel Miller in 1968–right before he shipped out to Vietnam. Joel was killed just 6 months later–and that’s when Hillary welded her dress and his dog tags inside the trunk. When Hillary finds out from the second bride, Mary, that the dress had been left for her when she was just 10 years old, a gift from Mary, her first thought is one of anger. How could God will that a 10 year old would marry a man who would die just 6 months later? Charlotte’s response is one of compassion–and a perspective that we don’t often hear. “What if it wasn’t about you, Hillary–what if it was about him?” What if the marriage was to give Joel that last bit of happiness, those letters from his bride to comfort him in the battlefield?
And, that made me think about my Dad, who died 15 years ago today. We always talk about how thankful we are that we had him for as long as we did, but, still, the question lingers–why? Why did he die at just 49 years old? Today I thought…what if it wasn’t about us? What if it was about him? What if it was about Dad having a wonderful family and years of happiness with us. You know, he didn’t have the best childhood. He didn’t ever know his real dad. And his step-dad was an alcoholic. Dad had a hard youth, filled with sickness and hurt. Maybe it wasn’t that we had him, maybe it was that he had us. It just turns a lot of things upside down.
The Wedding Dress is a great story on its own, and I love the way the author weaves the tales of the brides together with the way that God works in our lives, sometimes mysteriously.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of this book from Booksneeze in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Business Building Stategy for Busy Moms
My friend and business partner, Kristi Lee, shared a great business building strategy for busy moms on our group call last week. Most moms I talk to feel torn between their families and their business. They want to spend more time building their business, but then they feel guilty for neglecting their families. Or they want to spend more time with their kids, but then feel guilty for neglecting their business! What often happens is that these moms just give up.
At a Real SavVy Success seminar last fall, several of the speakers shared their perspective on the other side of building a business with kids. When they started, their kids were little and they often felt torn between their business and their family. Now that their kids are grown, they have amazing stories about the adventures they are able to take with their kids, traveling all over the world with no worries about finances or schedules. The bottom line is that building a business is worth every minute.
So, how is a mom to navigate between her kids and her business? Try Kristi’s strategy and spend just 1 hour a day on your business. In that hour, really focus your time. For example, do a dialing for dollars on Monday–call as many people as you possibly can. On Tuesday, follow up with your prospects. On Wednesday, go out and meet new people. Etc. As you focus your activities each day, you’ll find that you feel accomplished in your business–and content with the time you have with your family.
As you learn to schedule your time and be diligent and focused, your kids will learn valuable lessons about hard work and discipline. And you’ll be teaching them to value financial freedom, too.
