Category Archives: Uncategorized

Beautiful Feet: A Day Spa for Your Soul

I’ve been working through a Bible study that has really helped me get back on track.  I want to share a little bit of each week’s chapter with you over the next five weeks.  Today, I want to share with you a summary of what I’ve gained through this study of Beautiful Feet: A Day Spa for Your Soul.

 

Beautiful Feet: A Day Spa for Your Soul

 

A Refreshed Spiritual Life

I’ve refreshed my dry spiritual life with a study that has helped me to do more than read the words in my Bible.  The questions in the study have caused me to re-read the words from my Bible and actually notice what is being said in Scripture.  As, I put my pen to paper to answer the questions, I was awakened to how little I pay attention to what I’m reading.

It is so easy to fall away from that special one-on-one time with our Savior.  Now, that I’ve back into an almost-daily time with the Lord, I am more at peace despite all that’s going on around me.

A New Prayer Journal

Each day, I was given a small step in creating my own prayer journal customized with a prayer page for each of my family members.  (I’ll show you a picture during the final week.)  I had to let perfection go on this one.  Each prayer page was created using pictures, paper, pen and markers, rather than creating printed pages from my computer — more personal that way.

A Real & Sincere Prayer Life

I’ve spent years trying to pray the right way, pray the right amount of time, pray in a way that would be pleasing to God.  I was missing the mark.  This study has really shown me how to pray using God’s Word.

Oh, I’m not saying I am the expert prayer warrior.  I am saying that I am praying and it is real this time around.  It is not a failed mission.  It is a daily adventure for me now.

In the Next Five Weeks

In the next five weeks, you’ll see a snapshot of the study and my walk through it.

  • Week 1 – Solve the Mystery, Find the Spa
  • Week 2 – Enter the Spa and Soak Your Feet
  • Week 3 – Exfoliate and Moisturize
  • Week 4 – Polish: Intercession and Petition
  • Week 5 – Put Your Shoes On

Enjoy!

 

Disclosure:  I received a ereview copy in pdf format from Hannibal Books in exchange for my honest review.

 

Commentary on the Psalms (Chapters 1-41) by Allen P. Ross

Study Psalms lately?  I recently used a new commentary in my study of Psalms.

 

This is a thick reference for the first 41 chapters of Psalms.  The table of contents provides a subject matter for each chapter of Psalms, making it easy to pick and choose what you study, or you can start at the beginning of Psalms and work your way toward.  For each chapter of Psalms, you’ll find about 15 pages of content to help you further your understand and application of Psalms.

For each chapter of Psalms, you will find:

Scripture Text Translated by the Author

While much of it remains the same, the variations include modern revisions, such as using “you” instead of “thee”, etc.  Also, some of the words and phrases have been altered, such as Psalm 31:4:

KJV – “Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; for thou are my strength.”

Commentary Version – “You will bring me out from the trap that is set for me because you are my refuge.”

While, you may prefer to use your favorite translation, such as KJV, the included Scripture translation is helpful in understanding the meaning of its content.

Footnotes Providing Definition and Explanation

Provided are definitions of the words in the Scripture that come from various resources, including, Greek and Hebrew manuscripts and several Bible translations.

Having definitions and explanations help with words and phrases not easily understood.

Composition and Context

The author points out various places in the Bible that relate or refer to this passage, as well as men of the Bible that have or may experienced this particular event.

There’s a lot of speculation, but it helps one to really think about what the Bible is saying.

Exegetical Analysis

This is an outline of the message, summarizing what the Scripture is saying.  You’ll find the subject matter easily divided by main points, such as Introductory Cry, Confidence, Lament, Petition Prayer, and Praise and Exhortation (Psalm 31) with it broken down to 1-2 verses.

Commentary in Expository Form

This commentary section provides applicable points of the passage.  Included are Scripture references that relate and support the main Scripture.  This is the part that would be most helpful to someone looking to understand the Scripture.

Message and Application

While the above is a applicable commentary for each part of the Scripture, this section is a summarized application for the entire chapter.

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While you may not use the entire contents, you will find the parts that are most helpful in what you are seeking out, whether it’s facts and corresponding parts of the Bible, understanding or application.   Psalms can be hard to decipher, so this makes a great tool in furthering your studies.
Commentary on the Psalms Volume 1

About the Book

 

For thousands of years, the Book of Psalms has been one of God’s people’s richest resources for expression of worship and development of the spiritual life. At the same time it is one of the more complex and challenging sections of the Bible for expositors. Pastors, teachers, and all serious students of the Bible will find this commentary invaluable for developing their understanding of the Psalms and for improving their ability to expound it with precision and depth.

For each psalm, Dr. Allen Ross guides the reader through a detailed exegetical outline, proposes a homiletical outline, and offers a summary expository idea of the message of the whole psalm.

The commentary includes discussion throughout of three primary challenges to understanding the Psalms:

  • Textual issues: Every major textual difficulty is addressed in order to help the expositor understand the interpretive issues and make decisions when there are multiple available readings.
  • Poetic language: The Psalms are full of poetic imagery, devices and structures. Ross discusses this “language” of Hebrew poetry in its context with each psalm, specifying the precise devices being used and how they work in the psalm.
  • The Psalms’ Hebrew grammar and syntax pose a challenge to many expositors, whether they are familiar with Hebrew or not. Thiscommentary illuminates Hebrew constructions word meanings in a way that is helpful both to readers who are comfortable with Hebrew and those who are not.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publication in exchange for my honest review.

 

 

Don’t Panic ~ Quick, Easy, and Delicious Meals for Your Family {Sour Cream Cookies Recipe Included}

I had the opportunity to review a new recipe book that includes a variety for every course:

  • breakfast
  • appetizers and side
  • breads, soups and salads
  • pasta dishes, crockpot meals, and oven dishes
  • grills,marinades, skillets and sautes
  • and best of all — desserts

Make some Sour Cream Cookies with me!

Tag along as I make some cookies for my family.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. vanilla

Recipe Yield – 36 cookies

Prep Time – 20 minutes

Total Time – 45 minutes

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy.  Add sour cream and mix for 30 seconds.

Sour Cream Cookes - Add sour cream

 

Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.  Combine flour and baking soda and add to butter mixture, mixing just until combined.  Add vanilla and beat for 15 more seconds.

 

Sour Cream Cookies - Combine butter mixture with flour and baking soda

 

Drop by tablespoons onto baking sheet and bake for approximately 10 minutes.  Don’t allow cookies to brown; they should spring back when gently pressed in the middle.  Cool on wrie rack.

Sour Cream Cookies - Want a Bite?

Nutritional Information (per cookie):  Calories 116.0; Total Fat 4.4g, Cholesterol 27.3mg; Sodium 44.5 mg: Total Carbohydrates 17.5g (Dietary Fiber 0.3g); Protein 1.6g

I hope you enjoyed this how-to for making Sour Cream Cookies.  The cookies will make a good filler when the kiddos are hungry in between meals.  I thought about putting icing on them and my daughter told me they’d be better without the icing.

I found this recipe in Don’t Panic – Quick, Easy, and Delicious Meals for Your Family by Bonnie Garcia and Vanda Howell and Susie Martinez.   My hubby and I browsed the contents and are looking forward to making several recipes.

My husband is anxious to try the Cheesy Potato Casserole and Pina Cola Smoothies, while I’m looking forward to using the Basic Beef Mix for my tacos, enchiladas and spaghetti dinners.  The Ruth’s Hot Fudge Sauce reminds me of what my Grandma tops biscuits with.  Yum!

 About the Recipe Book

Great meals for your busy family!

We’re all busy, but that doesn’t mean we have to eat like we are. You don’t have to settle for feeding your family commercially packaged meals full of sodium and preservatives or fat-laced fast food. Quick and healthy meals from your very own kitchen are easy with delicious recipes like:

  •  Southwestern Baked Cheese Dip
  •  Thai Chicken Wraps
  •  Walnut Spinach Salad
  •  Homestyle Mac & Cheese
  •  Slow Cooker Pork Chops
  •  Oven Roasted Orange Chicken
  •  Grilled Flat Iron Steak Sandwiches
  •  Spicy Shrimp and Asparagus Stir-Fry
  •  Fruit Pizza
  •  Mexican Chocolate Mousse
  •  and many more

From quick meals made on the grill or in the sauté pan to crockpot dishes that require little prep and cook while you’re out for the day, the recipes in this cookbook are tasty and nutritious–and require less hands-on preparation than traditional meals. Easy appetizers and desserts; one-dish casseroles and pastas; simple soups, salads, and side dishes; and even fast breakfasts round out the selections. Meals that are freezer-friendly are marked for those who want to make ahead.
Give your family the best–the easy way!

 

Available April 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, whom I received a copy from in exchange for my honest review.

I Blame Eve: Freedom from Perfectionism, Control Issues, and the Tendency to Listen to Talking Snakes By Susanna Foth Aughtmon

 

Blaming poor Eve, like we wouldn’t do the same thing she did…

 

I know the Garden of Eden story.  I know all about sin.  Yet, the author gave me some ‘ah-ha’  moments as I read about Eve, the snake and how similar this ‘garden moment’ is to my present day experiences.

Eve and I are very similar.  No, I didn’t commit the first sin, but I am making poor choices that mirror the whole ‘apple incident’

Are you, possibly, a modern-day Even, also?  Do you find yourself:

  • Eyeing your forbidden tree, whatever craving you have that you think will be the answer at that moment?  This is not just food cravings, but cravings for more beauty, more riches, more approval, more… you name it.
  • Looking for a quick fix, all by your own doing?  Not relying on Him to help you with whatever is ailing or causing your grief at the moment?  Looking for a self-made peace?
  • Striving for a perfect day only to fail, instead of looking to the Perfect Savior for contentment?
  • Being a control freak even where you have no control instead of trusting God?
  • Getting stuck in the mistakes of your previous days and years instead of serving God fully in the now and present?

This book really showed me how Eve was truly a lot like me.  A woman with a sinful nature.  God didn’t share Eve’s experience with us to give us someone to blame.  He did let us come to know Eve so that we could learn from her and hopefully not choose to eat the fruit that will cause us problems.

This is my first time to read anything written by Susanna Foth Aughtmon.  I look forward to anything she writes in the future.

 

About the Book

When our great-to-the-nth-degree grandmother Eve ate the fruit, we lost out on the perfect life. But that doesn’t stop us from trying, does it? In fact, we make trying to be perfect the focus of our entire lives! But what would happen if we stopped trying to be perfect and started trying to be his?

In this fantastically witty book, Susanna Foth Aughtmon helps women find out what it means to be honest about what we crave in life and let go of our deep need to be in control. Using Scripture and amusing personal stories, she shows women the freedom of embracing the unique path God lays out for each of us. Includes study questions to facilitate group or individual use.

When Eve ate the fruit, we lost out on the perfect life. But that doesn’t stop us from trying, does it? What would happen if we stopped trying to be perfect and started trying to be his?

In this encouraging book, Susanna Foth Aughtmon helps you find out what it means to be honest about what you crave in life and let go of your deep need to be in control. With a skillful blend of Scripture, insight, and humor, she shows you the freedom of embracing the unique path God has laid out for you. The study questions included will help you or your small group make the most of this fun and fascinating book.

About the Author

Susanna Foth Aughtmon is the author of All I Need Is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans and My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself. After pursuing various careers, including her own interior decorating business, she decided to stay home as a full-time mom. A pastor’s wife and mother of three, Susanna assists her husband, Scott, in various ministries at the church they planted in California.

Available April 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure:  I received this book from the Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.  This book may be one of the items given away to a faithful reader in the near future.  

 

Take a New Look at Your Mother – Daughter Relationship

 

There is not a perfect mother-daughter relationship. I have good relationships with my 70 year old mother and my 90 year old grandmother.  I also have a pleasant relationship with my 18 year old daughter. However, none of these relationships are perfect and all of them have a different dynamic.

Starting a ministry that was inspired by my relationship with my daughter, Inspired31.org, I have seen many mother-daughter relationships, which has confirmed that not one of them is perfect either. However, through my experience, I have learned three very important lessons about the mother/daughter relationship:

Guest post by Roxanne Packham, Author of Inspired Design

Do not compare.

This is the first, most important tip for you. Do not compare your relationship to that of another mother and daughter. This is a trap, set for you by the enemy, to steal your joy.  Instead use the scripture Philippians 4:8 as the lens through which you view your mother or daughter. Look for whatever is excellent or praiseworthy in them. Each woman/girl was created with strengths and weaknesses; concentrate on their positive attributes and encourage them with kind words of recognition and praise.

Celebrate her uniqueness.

Recognize your originality and that of your daughter’s.  Each of you is unique. Celebrate this by honing in on what makes each other special. Whether experiencing an interest or hobby together or by providing opportunities for the other’s uniqueness to shine. For example, if your daughter loves to cook, sign up for a cooking class together. If your mother is an excellent painter, show off her abilities to friends and family whenever possible. Be each other’s biggest fan!

Focus on God’s truth.

God is the author of both of your stories. He is the designer of your dreams. If both of you focus on His truths, you can have confidence in the creation of each other’s uniqueness and purpose in life and understand there is a divine plan for your relationship, which is a direct blessing from Him.

 

This Mother’s Day, focus on your mother/daughter relationship.

About the Inspired Design is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Our vision to inspire women to practice hospitality and celebrate their family legacy through books, speaking engagements and seminars illustrating the true beauty of the home. Inspired31.org is a mother-teenage daughter ministry whose mission is to teach girls to find & follow God’s path for their life. All proceeds from Inspired Design sales go to support Heart of Hope Ministries International, an outreach to orphans in Romania.

 

Interview with Kathy Macias, Author of Special Delivery

This is not my first encounter with Kathy Macias.  I read her novel Red Ink about human trafficking.  It opened my eyes to the reality of an evil in our world.  I look forward to reading Special Delivery.

669307: #2: Special Delivery

An Interview with Kathy Macias

Special Delivery is book two in the Freedom (human trafficking) series. For anyone who may not have read book one, Deliver Me From Evil, can you fill us in on the focus of the series in general, and Special Delivery in particular?
 
The Freedom series is a three-book fiction series built around the horrifying topic of human trafficking. People often ask me why I decided to write about such a dark topic. First, I explain that I’m not writing about a dark topic; I’m writing about the Light that shines in that darkness. And second, I believe the Church should be at the forefront of the modern-day abolition movement to set the captives (modern-day slaves) free. The three books in this series specifically follows the life of a young woman named Mara, who was sold into sexual slavery by her own parents in Mexico, and then smuggled across the border into San Diego by her uncle who then served as her pimp. A strong sub-plot throughout the series tells of two sisters in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, Chanthra and Lawan, who are also trapped in a brothel. Finally, a teenage girl named Francesca, kidnapped in Juarez, Mexico, and forced into prostitution, is introduced in book two. Special Delivery picks up two years after book one, Deliver Me From Evil, ends, and continues with the stories of Mara and Lawan, as well as others carried over from book one. Mara hopes she is finally free to pursue her own life because she was rescued from the brothel and her testimony helped lock up her uncle for life. But the man has underground connections and is driven by revenge to reach out from behind bars and deliver the ultimate punishment to his niece.

This isn’t the first fiction series you’ve written on nationwide and even worldwide social issues, the one previous to this being the persecuted Church. What draws you to these difficult topics?

As a Christian, I believe I am compelled to use my God-given gifts to honor God in all I do—and that includes exposing the deeds of darkness, calling sinners to repentance, and taking a stand for righteousness by doing all I can to help rescue those who are suffering. I dare not turn my back on “the least of these.” I also believe that God placed this sort of burden on my heart even before I became a Christian at the age of 26. I’ve always been a champion of the underdog, a “soap-box” preacher, if you will. When I met Jesus, I simply redirected that passion toward His people, realizing I couldn’t effect real change in my own strength anyway.

With your obvious passion to right social and moral wrongs through the power of the Gospel, how did writing and speaking enter into that?

I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since I was a child—never wanted to do anything else. When I was a teenager I told my then boyfriend (now husband) that I was going to be a writer one day. What a blessing that God allowed me to fulfill that dream! After becoming a believer and growing in my faith, it was natural to take my passion to fight for others and incorporate it into my writing. Speaking, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. I was terrified of public speaking when I was young, and the day I received Christ I made a “bargain” with God, promising to do anything He asked of me—so long as it didn’t include public speaking. (Does God have a sense of humor or what???) Now, when I stand in front of audiences where I believe God has called me to speak (and actually find myself enjoying it!), I tell my listeners that if God has called them to do something and they feel it’s impossible, they can consider me their “visual aid” that NOTHING is impossible with God IF we will simply take that first step of obedience and let Him fulfill His purpose in and through us.

With the topics of the worldwide persecuted Church and human trafficking under your belt, what other issues are you dealing with in your writing?

My Christmas 2011 book, A Christmas Journey Home, dealt with the immigration/border problem, and my Christmas 2012 novel,Unexpected Christmas Hero, will be about homelessness in America. The next issues-related fiction series I have on tap—which I am just starting to write, by the way—is called the “Patches of Courage” series and will begin releasing in late January 2013. Book one is The Moses Quilt, based on the life of Harriet Tubman, and will be followed by The Christmas Quilt and The Impossible Quilt. This series of books will highlight historical American women whose Christian faith enabled them to walk in great courage and make a difference in the lives of countless people.

 

 

Where can people find out about you and your books/speaking/appearances?

They can go directly to my website (www.kathimacias.com or www.boldfiction.com) or my Easy Writer blog:http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, and various other social sites. Would love to hear from all of you!

Where can people find out about free book giveaways on this blog tour?

The blog tour host is giving away a set of two books from the Freedom Series -  Book 1 (Deliver Me From Evil) and Book 2 (Special Delivery). Also, readers can follow @ChristianSpkrs on Twitter or follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CSSVBT.TheFreedomSeries for more book giveaway locations on the tour.

 

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I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (http://ChristianSpeakersServices.com).

Just a Minute: In the Heart of a Child, One Moment… Can Last Forever

How many times have you had the opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life, but walked the other way?  Maybe those times weren’t even apparent to you - at least they weren’t to me.

After reading this book, I realized that I need to be careful with every word and even say a word when it’s most inconvenient.  I may touch a child’s life in a way that will affect him or her greatly – and not even know it.  That affect could be positive or negative – my choice.

So many people shared their stories in this book and they came to life as I imagined the child hurting or soaring, all because of another person’s hurtful or helpful words.

There are children hurting, not just in foreign countries, but here in our own neighborhoods.  Maybe it’s even one of our own children?  I know I am gruff with my children sometimes, and I plan to change that.

I encourage all adults to read this book, even adults who have no children directly under their feet.

404725: Just a Minute: In the Heart of a Child, One Moment Can Last Forever

About the Book

How long does it take to make a difference in the life of a child? For good or for ill, individual moments in a young person’s life can make all the difference in their future. It may be something said or done by an adult who hardly thinks about it: a hug, a compliment, an intriguing question, a sincere applause. But in that moment, the child discovers who they are, what is important to them, why they matter, and sometimes even what their destiny will be.

Most of us want to help encourage and build into this next generation, most of us see the need all around, but most of us also have no idea where to even begin. Now, with this book, you know where to begin and you know that it only takes Just a Minute.

Follow along as Dr. Wess Stafford, president of Compassion International, shares stories and experiences to introduce you to the difference you can actually make anywhere on the spectrum of child development. From helping meet physical needs to breaking emotional barriers and from discovering latent talents to equipping with spiritual insights these pages will be a catalyst for action. You don’t have to be a teacher, a parent, a pastor, or a doctor to make a difference in the life of a child. You just have to be willing.

About the Author

Dr. Wess Stafford is president and CEO of Compassion International, the world’s largest Christian child development organization that releases children from poverty through one-to-one child sponsorship, and the author of Just A Minute (Moody Publishers, Jan. 1, 2012).

 

Disclosure:  I received a copy of Just a Minute: In the Heart of a Child, One Moment Can Last Forever in exchange for my honest review.  Affiliate links included.

The Heart’s Frontier by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card authors are:

and the book:

Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2012) 

***Special thanks to Karri | Marketing Assistant | Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori Copeland is the author of more than 90 titles, both historical and contemporary fiction. With more than 3 million copies of her books in print, she has developed a loyal following among her rapidly growing fans in the inspirational market. She has been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, The Holt Medallion, and Walden Books’ Best Seller award. In 2000, Lori was inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame. She lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband, Lance, and their three children and five grandchildren.

Visit the author’s website.

Virginia Smith is the author of more than a dozen inspirational novels and more than fifty articles and short stories. An avid reader with eclectic tastes in fiction, Ginny writes in a variety of styles, from lighthearted relationship stories to breath-snatching suspense.

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:


An exciting new Amish-meets-Wild West adventure from bestselling authors Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith weaves an entertaining and romantic tale for devoted fans and new readers.

Kansas,1881—On a trip to visit relatives, Emma Switzer’s Amish family is robbed of all their possessions, leaving them destitute and stranded on the prairie. Walking into the nearest trading settlement, they pray to the Lord for someone to help. When a man lands in the dust at her feet, Emma looks down at him and thinks, The Lord might have cleaned him up first.

Luke Carson, heading up his first cattle drive, is not planning on being the answer to anyone’s prayers, but it looks as though God has something else in mind for this kind and gentle man. Plain and rugged—do the two mix? And what happens when a dedicated Amish woman and a stubborn trail boss prove to be each other’s match?

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Product Details:
List Price: $13.99

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736947523
ISBN-13: 978-0736947527

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Apple Grove, Kansas
July 1881
Nearly the entire Amish district of Apple Grove had turned out to help this morning, all twenty families. Or perhaps they were here merely to wish Emma Switzer well as she set off for her new home in Troyer, fifty miles away.
From her vantage point on the porch of the house, Emma’s grandmother kept watch over the loading of the gigantic buffet hutch onto the specially reinforced wagon. Her sharp voice sliced through the peaceful morning air.
“Forty years I’ve had that hutch from my dearly departed husband and not a scratch on it. Jonas, see that you use care!”
If Maummi’s expression weren’t so fierce, Emma would have laughed at the long-suffering look Papa turned toward his mother. But the force with which Maummi’s fingers dug into the flesh on Emma’s arm warned that a chuckle would be most ill-suited at the moment. Besides, the men straining to heft the heavy hutch from the front porch of their home into the wagon didn’t need further distractions. Their faces strained bright red above their beards, and more than one drop of sweat trickled from beneath the broad brim of their identical straw hats.
Emma glanced at the watchers lined up like sparrows on a fence post. She caught sight of her best friend, Katie Beachy, amid the sea of dark dresses and white kapps. Katie smiled and smoothed her skirt with a shy gesture. The black fabric looked a little darker and crisper than that of those standing around her, which meant she’d worn her new dress to bid Emma farewell, an honor usually reserved for singings or services or weddings. The garment looked well on her. Emma had helped sew the seams at their last frolic. Of course, Katie’s early morning appearance in a new dress probably had less to do with honoring Emma than with the presence of Samuel Miller, the handsome son of the district bishop. With a glance toward Samuel, whose arms bulged against the weight of holding up one end of the hutch, she returned Katie’s smile with a conspiratorial wink.
Emma’s gaze slid over other faces in the crowd and snagged on a pair of eyes fixed on her. Amos Beiler didn’t bother to turn away but kept his gaze boldly on her face. Nor did he bother to hide his expression, one of longing and lingering hurt. He held infant Joseph in his arms, and a young daughter clutched each of his trouser-clad legs. A wave of guilt washed through Emma, and she hastily turned back toward the wagon.
From his vantage point up in the wagon bed, Papa held one end of a thick rope looped around the top of the hutch, the other end held by John Yoder. The front edge of the heavy heirloom had been lifted into the wagon with much grunting and groaning, while the rear still rested on the smooth wooden planks of the porch. Two men steadied the oxen heads, and the rest, like Samuel, had gathered around the back end of the hutch. A protective layer of thick quilts lined the wagon bed.
Papa gave the word. “Lift!”
The men moved in silent unity. Bending their knees, their hands grasped for purchase around the bottom edges. As one they drew in a breath, and at Papa’s nod raised in unison. Emma’s own breath caught in her chest, her muscles straining in silent sympathy with the men. The hutch rose until its rear end was level with its front, and the men stepped forward. The thick quilts dangling beneath scooted onto the wagon as planned, a protective barrier from damage caused by wood against wood.
The hutch suddenly dipped and slid swiftly to the front. Emma gasped. Apparently the speed caught Papa and John Yoder by surprise too, for the rope around the top went slack. Papa lunged to reach for the nearest corner, and his foot slipped. The wagon creaked and sank lower on its wheels as the hutch settled into place. At the same moment Papa went down on one knee with a loud, “Ummph.”
“Papa!”
Ach! ” Maummi pulled away from Emma and rushed forward. Her heart pounding against her rib cage, Emma followed. Men were already checking on Papa, but Maummi leaped into the wagon bed with a jump that belied her sixty years, the strings of her kapp flying behind her. She applied bony elbows to push her way around the hutch to her son’s side.
She came to a halt above him, hands on her hips, and looked down. “Are you hurt?”
Emma reached the side of the wagon in time to see Papa wince and shake his head. “NoA bruise is all.”
“Good.” She left him lying there and turned worried eyes toward her beloved hutch. With a gentle touch, she ran loving fingers over the smooth surface and knelt to investigate the corners.
A mock-stern voice behind Emma held the hint of a chuckle. “Trappings only, Marta Switzer. Care you more for a scratch on wood than an injury to your son?”
Emma turned to see Bishop Miller approach. He spared a smile for her as he drew near enough to lean his arms across the wooden side of the wagon and watch the activity inside. Samuel helped Papa to his feet and handed him the broad-brimmed hat that had fallen off. Emma breathed a sigh of relief when he took a ginger step to try out his leg and smiled at the absence of pain.
“My son is fine.” Maummi waved a hand in his direction, as though in proof. “And so is my hutch. Though my heart may not say the same, such a fright I’ve had.” She placed the hand lightly on her chest, drew a shuddering breath, and wavered on her feet.
Concern for her grandmother propelled Emma toward the back of the wagon. As she climbed up, she called into the house, “Rebecca, bring a cool cloth for Maummi’s head.”
The men backed away while Katie and several other women converged on the wagon to help Emma lift Maummi down and over to the rocking chair that rested in the shade of the porch, ready to be loaded when the time came. Maummi allowed herself to be lowered onto the chair, and then she wilted against the back, her head lolling sideways and arms dangling. A disapproving buzz rumbled among the watching women, but Emma ignored them. Though she knew full well that most of the weakness was feigned for the sake of the bishop and other onlookers, she also knew Maummi’s heart tended to beat unevenly in her chest whenever she exerted herself. It was yet another reason why she ought to stay behind in Apple Grove, but Maummi insisted her place was with Emma, her oldest granddaughter. What she really meant was that she intended to inspect every eligible young Amish man in Troyer and handpick her future grandson-in-law.
Aunt Gerda had written to say she anticipated that her only daughter would marry soon, and she would appreciate having Emma come to help her around the house. She’d also mentioned the abundance of marriageable young men in Troyer, with a suggestion that twenty-year-old Emma was of an age that the news might be welcome. Rebecca had immediately volunteered to go in Emma’s place. Though Papa appeared to consider the idea, he decided to send Emma because she was the oldest and therefore would be in need of a husband soonest. Maummi insisted on going along in order to “Keep an eye on this hoard of men Gerda will parade before our Emma.”
As far as Emma was concerned, they should just send Maummi on alone and leave her in Apple Grove to wait for her future husband to be delivered to her doorstep.
Rebecca appeared from inside the house with a dripping cloth in hand. A strand of wavy dark hair had escaped its pins and fluttered freely beside the strings of her kapp. At barely thirteen, her rosy cheeks and smooth, high forehead reminded Emma so sharply of their mother that at times her heart ached.
Rebecca looked at Maummi’s dramatic posture and rolled her eyes. She had little patience with Maummi’s feigned heart episodes, and she was young enough that she had yet to learn proper restraint in concealing her emotions. Emma awarded her sister with a stern look and held out a hand for the cloth.
With a contrite bob of her head, Rebecca handed it over and dropped to her knees beside the rocking chair. “Are you all right, Maummi?”
Ach, I’m fine. I don’t think it’s my time. Yet.”
Emma wrung the excess water from the cloth before draping it across the back of Maummi’s neck.
Danki.” The elderly woman realized that the men had stopped working in order to watch her, and she waved her hand in a shooing motion. “Place those quilts over my hutch before you load anything else! Mind, Jonas, no scratches.”
Papa shook his head, though a smile tugged at his lips. “Ja, I remember.”
The gray head turned toward Emma. “Granddaughter, see they take proper care.”
“I will, Maummi.”
Katie joined Emma to oversee the wrapping of the hutch. When Samuel Miller offered a strong arm to help Katie up into the wagon, Emma hid a smile. No doubt she would receive a letter at her new home soon, informing her that a wedding date had been published. Because Samuel was the bishop’s son, there was no fear he would not receive the Zeungis, the letter of good standing. Rebecca would be thrilled at the news of a proper wedding in tiny Apple Grove.
But Emma would be far away in Troyer, and she would miss her friend’s big day.
Why must I live there when everything I love is here?
She draped a thick quilt over her end of the hutch and sidled away while Papa secured a rope around it. The faces of her friends and family looked on. They filled the area between the house and the barn. She loved every one in her own way. Yes, even Amos Beiler. She sought him out among the crowd and smiled at the two little girls who hovered near his side. Poor, lonely Amos. He was a good father to his motherless family. No doubt he’d make a fine husband, and if she married him she wouldn’t have to move to Troyer. The thought tempted her once again, as it often had over the past several weeks since Papa announced his decision that she would live with Aunt Gerda for a while.
But she knew that if she agreed to become Amos’s wife that she would be settling. True, she would gain a prosperous farm and a nice house and a trio of well-behaved children, with the promise of more to come. But the fact remained that though there was much to respect about Amos, she didn’t love him. The thought of seeing that moon-shaped face and slightly cross-eyed stare over the table for breakfast, dinner, and supper sent a shiver rippling across her shoulders. Not to mention sharing a marriage bed with him. It was enough to make her throw her apron over her face and run screaming across Papa’s cornfield.
He deserves a wife who loves him, she told herself for the hundredth time. Her conscience thus soothed, Emma turned away from his mournful stare.
“That trunk goes in the front,” Maummi shouted from her chair on the porch. “Emma, show them where.”
Emma shrank against the gigantic hutch to give the men room to settle the trunk containing all of her belongings. An oiled canvas tarp had been secured over the top to repel any rain they might meet over the next week. Inside, resting on her dresses, aprons, bonnets, and kapps, was a bundle more precious to her than anything else in the wagon: a quilt, expertly and lovingly stitched, nestled within a heavy canvas pouch. Mama had made it with her own hands for Emma’s hope chest. The last stitch was bitten off just hours before she closed her eyes and stepped into the arms of her Lord.
Oh, Mama, if you were here you could convince Papa to let me stay home. I know you could. And now, without you, what will happen to me?
Yet, even in the midst of the dreary thought, a spark of hope flickered in the darkness in Emma’s heart. The future yawned before her like the endless Kansas prairie. Wasn’t there beauty to be found in the tall, blowing grasses of the open plain? Weren’t there cool streams and shady trees to offer respite from the heat of the day? Maybe Troyer would turn out to be an oasis.
“Emma!”
Maummi’s sharp tone cut through her musing. She jerked upright. Her grandmother appeared to have recovered from her heart episode. From the vantage point of her chair, she oversaw every movement with a critical eye.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Mind what I said about that loading, girl. The food carton goes on last. We won’t want to search for provisions when we stop at night on the trail.”
An approving murmur rose from the women at the wisdom of an organized wagon.
“Yes, ma’am.” Emma exchanged a quick grin with Katie and then directed the man carrying a carton of canned goods and trail provisions to set his burden aside for now.
A little while later, after everything had been loaded and secured under an oiled canvas, the men stood around to admire their handiwork. Samuel even crawled beneath the wagon to check the support struts, and he pronounced everything to be “in apple-pie order.”
Emma felt a pluck on her arm. She turned to find Katie at her elbow.
“This is a gift for you.” Her friend pushed a small package into her hands. “It’s only a soft cloth and some fancy-colored threads. I was fixing to stitch you a design, but you’re so much better at fine sewing than I am that I figured you could make something prettier by yourself.” She ducked her head. “Think kindly of me when you do.”
Warmed by her friend’s gesture, Emma pulled her into an embrace. “I will. And I expect a letter from you soon.” She let Katie see her glance slide over to Samuel and back with a grin. “Especially when you have something exciting to report.”
A becoming blush colored the girl’s cheeks. “I will.”
Emma was still going down the line, awarding each woman a farewell hug, when Bishop Miller stepped up to the front of the wagon and motioned for attention.
“It’s time now to bid Jonas Switzer Godspeed and fair weather for his travels.” A kind smile curved his lips when he looked to Maummi and then to Emma. “And our prayers go with our sisters Marta and Emma as they make a new home in Troyer.”
He bowed his head and closed his eyes, a sign for everyone in the Apple Grove district to follow suit. Emma obeyed, fixing her thoughts on the blue skies overhead and the Almighty’s throne beyond. Silence descended, interrupted only by the snorts of oxen and a happy bird in the tall, leafy tree that gave shade to the porch.
What will I find in Troyer? A new home, as the bishop says? A fine Amish husband, as Papa wishes? I pray it be so. And I pray he will be the second son of his father so that he will come home with me to Apple Grove and take over Papa’s farm when the time comes.
A female sniffled behind her. Not Katie, but Rebecca. A twist inside Emma’s rib cage nearly sent tears to her eyes. Oh, how she would miss her sister when Rebecca left Troyer to return home with Papa. She vowed to make the most of their time together on the trail between here and there.
Bishop Miller ended the prayer with a blessing in High German, his hand on the head of the closest oxen. When the last word fell on the quiet crowd, Maummi’s voice sliced through the cool morning air. “Now that we’re seen off proper, someone help me up. We’ll be gone before the sun moves another inch across the sky.”
Though she’d proved earlier that she could make the leap herself at need, Maummi allowed Papa and the bishop to lift her into the wagon. She took her seat in her rocking chair, which was wedged between the covered hutch and one high side of the wagon bed. With a protective pat on the hutch, she settled her sewing basket at her feet and pulled a piece of mending onto her lap. No idle hands for Maummi. By the time they made Troyer, she’d have all the mending done, and the darning too, and a good start on a new quilt.
Emma spared one more embrace for Katie, steadfastly ignored Amos’s mournful stare, and allowed the bishop to help her up onto the bench seat. She scooted over to the far end to make room for Papa, and then Rebecca was lifted up to sit on the other side of him. A snug fit, but they would be okay for the six-day journey to Troyer. Emma settled her black dress and smoothed her apron.
“Now, Jonas, mind you what I said.” Maummi’s voice from behind their heads sounded a bit shrill in the quiet morning. “You cut a wide path around Hays. I’ll not have my granddaughters witness the ufrooish of those wild Englischers.”
On the other side of Papa, Rebecca heaved a loud sigh. Emma hid her grin. No doubt Rebecca would love to witness the rowdy riots of wild cowboy Englischers in the infamous railroad town of Hays.
Papa mumbled something under his breath that sounded like “This will be the longest journey of my life,” but aloud he said, “Ja, Mader.
With a flick of the rope, he urged the oxen forward. The wagon creaked and pitched as it rolled on its gigantic wheels. Emma grabbed the side of the bench with one hand and lifted her other hand in a final farewell as her home fell away behind her.

This Mom’s Review:

I wasn’t sure what I would think of “Cowboy Meets Amish Girl” simply because I didn’t think the two worlds could mix easily. It may have not been a smooth ride, but it was an enjoyable one as I encountered badly behaved cowboys, Amish sisters who contrasted in personalities and a grandmother {Maummi} who made her impression on everybody. There were some sad events in the book, but that made it even more believable – Who wants a unrealistic sappy story? I found myself admiring a few of the characters for various reasons – steadfast beliefs, love for family and hearts to help others in danger.

If you’ve never read any Amish Proverbs, you’ll get a good dose of them from Mrs. Switzer in this book!

From Blah to Awe by Jenna Lucado Bishop

This book is written with the pre-teen and teen girl in mind.  I read it with my 13 year old daughter in mind.  The author sometimes has you thinking she is a teeny bopper herself by the easy way she talks to you throughout the book.  I believe teens would easily connect with her.  She’d make a great youth teacher.

The topic of faith is written in a manner that is teen-friendly and I’m hoping my daughter will read this book now that I am through with it.

Even though it is written for teens, I got some ‘awe’ of my own from the book.

Enjoy!

Book Description

Have you ever felt bored with God?

Everyone, especially teenagers, struggles with being bored with God from time to time. Sometimes church services and Bible reading don’t seem that exciting, and it’s easy to get busy and not make time to pray . . . but when this happens, we are missing out!

Jenna Lucado Bishop shares her testimony and others’ stories to see what a radical, living relationship with God looks like. But this book is not just based on feelings. The Bible gives steps that will help girls hunger and thirst for more of God.

This book will not only offer girls a fresh perspective, but it will also help them do a little soul-searching and discover where they are in their own lives. Plus, it will let them in on the world’s greatest secret—that the Creator of the Universe loves and cherishes them deeply and that a fulfilling relationship with Him is the most exciting they will ever have.

I received a copy of From Blah to Awe from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review.

88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates: Fun, Easy & Creative Ways to Build Memories Together

We are a family of four – Dad, Mom, Son & Daughter.

When we don’t do anything as a family, my daughter often migrates to my bedroom or where ever I happen to be, simply because she has more in common with me.  Dad won’t sit down to watch a girly movie with her, like I will.  Yet, I know they need some time together – fun relationship building time.  At times I feel like they have more squabbles than they have dad-daughter laughs.

Although my husband probably won’t ever read this book, he will still get the information.  That’s where I come in!  I’ve found several ideas to share with him.  Many of these ideas can even be used for the whole family or for mom-son time.

I love the Grab, Go and Grow theme of this book.  Not only will Dad & Daughter spend some time together in an activity, there will also be some growing going on.

The Top Date Dad & Daughter Will Enjoy:

#36 – Creative Cookies

My husband does most of the cooking.  Mention cookies and he’ll make some with a smile on his face.  He enjoys the kitchen more than tired ol’ mom does.  My daughter has an interest in cooking, too.  She’ll give a hand anytime, until it’s time to do the dishes and then she disappears.

This activity also includes nudging Dad to list some ways his daughter is sweet to others.  This will be good for both of them – Dad as he sees his daughter in a positive light and Daughter as she hears some positive remarks about her character.

720331: 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates: Fun, Easy & Creative Ways to Build Memories Together

About the Book

Build Strong Relationships & Lasting Memories with Daddy-Daughter Dates

A Game Plan for Creating Affordable, Fun & Creative Dates With Your Daughter

There’s no denying the importance of a relationship between a dad and his daughter.  Girls gain a sense of self-worth from their fathers.  From little girl to young woman – a dad can make all the difference in how a girl sees herself, the world around her and the man she’ll eventually choose to be her husband.  While understanding the importance of establishing and growing that relationship, many dads are overwhelmed when it comes to actually finding the time and creating ways to “date” their daughters and help them become the strong, confident young women they want them to be.

88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates: Fun, Easy, & Creative Ways to Build Memories Together (Paperback ISBN:  978-0-8007-2033-9, 192 pages, March 2012, $10.99) offers dads a wide variety of fun ideas for spending quality time with their special girl.  Authors Rob and Joanna Teigen offer help and encouragement to dads who want to make that all important difference in their daughter’s life.

Each date tells dad what to grab (any needed supplies), where to go, and how to grow together while having a blast and making great memories. Also included are Scripture and questions for each date to get the conversation flowing.  From bird-watching and making paper airplanes to bowling and photo scavenger hunts, there’s something for every dad and every girl ages 6-12.

She’ll be your daughter for life.  But she’ll only be your little girl for awhile.  Make the most of this special time with the help of 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates.

Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the Author

Rob Teigen has been a publishing professional for more than fifteen years. The author of Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids (under the pseudonym Rob Elliott), Rob met his wife, Joanna, when they were students at Moody Bible Institute.  Joanna Teigen is the mom of their teenage son and three younger daughters. The Teigens enjoy church, foster parenting, books, music, and laughter. They live in West Michigan.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

Disclosure:  I received a copy of 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates: Fun, Easy & Creative Ways to Build Memories Together from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.  Affiliate links included.