An Amish Kitchen~Three Stories to Nourish Your Soul by Beth Wiseman, Kelly Long, and Amy Clipston

 

This book contains three separate stories all set in Amish homes and cultures. This is a genre which I particularly enjoy reading, and these stories did not disappoint. Each of them are written by a different author, and yet they flow together pleasantly, with no jarring feeling of leaping from one to the next. This is the first book I have reviewed that I read in an e-book format. I was anxious to see how that would go for me (I read on a Nook). None of the formats would download correctly to my Nook, which caused quite a bit of frustration. I ended up reading them seated in front of my desk-top computer. Still, those frustrations aside, the book was a lovely quick read and a nice interlude in the peaceful lives of the Amish people in the stories. My favorite was the last story, A Recipe for Hope, by Beth Wiseman. It was a good story of tolerance and acceptance among family members.

A great addition to the book, that I really appreciated, was the large selection of Amish recipes included. I love that it included a glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch words also. Having them in the stories is a great help to creating the flavor of an Amish story, but I tend to forget what the words mean, so it was good to be able to look back to the glossary for help when needed. There is also a reading group guide, which I never use, but is probably valuable to many readers.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a light-hearted & quick read, with a definite Christian basis. I look forward to reading more from these authors!

This book was provided to me free by the publisher in exchange for a review.

Heaven Changes Everything-Living Every Day with Eternity in Mind by Todd Burpo and Sonja Burpo

 

 

Having loved the book, Heaven is for Real, by the same authors, I just knew I was going to love this devotional as well. It did not disappoint. The book is divided into 42 devotions, each one starting with an excerpt from Heaven is for Real. The topics cover grief & loss, parenting issues, and other issues people come up against, such as financial problems. In each section, the Burpos use illustrations from Heaven is for real to help the believer come to terms with the problem being explored. I did like that more information is given into situations that I read about in the first book, but it is not at all necessary to have read Heaven is for Real in order to make good use of this devotional.

With the climate of fear in the country (USA) today, with senseless murders and outrageous acts committed against innocent people, especially children, I think this book will certainly meet a need. In addition to fans of the Burpos first book, I think parents of young children, or parents who have lost a child, will find great comfort in this devotional. I'm sure, just as it is with Heaven is for Real, that this book will be a mainstay in my gift-giving for those who are grieving or dealing with tough circumstances in parenting.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Nook Cover DIY

For my birthday, my daughter gifted me with a lovely Nook Color (and then showed me how to use it, lol)  My sister-in-law had been bragging on her Kindle so much, saying I needed to try a reader also.  She dropped hers on a very hard floor, on the corner of the reader and it shattered.  She is sporting a new one now, this time in a protective cover.

I priced covers for my Nook at Best Buy ($39.99!), and on Amazon ($25.00 or so).  That seemed outrageous, so I made one that I really like a lot : )  First, I chose a book cover I really liked.  My mother read to me from books just like this one, and it is just the right size.

For the padding, I used a brand new lunch bag, a give away from somewhere, that is made of closed cell foam.

I thought I could use the strap and velcro also, even though pink wouldn't have been in the running for a color choice if I'd purchased the materials.  I removed the stitching from the lunchbox and cut it to fit the book, with small pieces for pockets also.  I sewed the pocket section together, with the softer section of velcro sewn onto the pocket.  That piece will be touching the Nook, so it shouldn't be the loop side of the velcro.

Then, I scrounged around for sturdy elastic about 3/4 inch wide.  I didn't have any, except a small section of buttonhole elastic saved from a pair of pants my husband discarded.  I sort of enjoy the buttonholes, but you can use whatever strikes your fancy.

 I laid it out to see how it would go together.  The loop side of the velcro goes on this piece before it is glued into the book.  Measure it around your reader, so you get just the right length to keep the reader held securely, and at a depth that is close to the original thickness of the book.  For mine, that was 2 1/2 inches plus extra length to sew it onto the back of the lunchbox fabric.

I covered the inside of the spine with a piece of ribbon.  If I made another one, I would not try to bind the cut edges of the foam fabric with lace.  It would look a lot better without that, I think.

So, here it is completed.  The velcro can also be used to hold the book cover open while you are reading.  When it is closed, the strap is hidden inside so it looks just like a book.  Very functional, fun to use, and better protected if I happen to fall asleep holding it, as my dear sister-in-law did.

It is 47 degrees and cloudy at my house today...a great day to snuggle up with my e-reader, and the sweet memories of my mother that the cover brings to mind.

Happy crafting!
Mary

Homemade Thieves-type Oil

Last night, my teenage daughter went to bed feeling feverish, congested, with a very runny nose and a terrible headache.  A bedtime dose of Ny-Quil didn't do a thing for her.  She woke up this morning feeling miserable.  I made her some hot tea with local honey, and went right to work on making a fresh batch of Thieves-type oil to rub on the soles of her feet.  I also mixed some of it with an alcohol/water mix to spray around the house to kill any germs that might be in the air.  Three hours later, her fever is gone, and she is feeling like she might actually live!

The legend of Thieves oil is that it was concocted in the 14th century to protect marauding thieves against contracting the plague when they robbed graves or stole from the sick or dying.  The concoctions can vary according to whomever is making them, but they generally all contain a few of the same anti-bacterial/anti-viral oils.  My own blend is:

Homemade Thieves-type Oil

4 Tablespoons sweet almond oil (any other good carrier oil would work just as well)
20 drops clove oil
20 drops lemon oil
10 drops tea tree oil
10 drops eucalyptus radiata
10 drops rosemary verbenon
5 drops sage oil
3 drops basil, holy

Mix these all together in a small glass bottle.  I used an amber bottle to keep light out.  Rub this oil on the soles of the feet to help speed the body's natural ability to fight off germs.  To make the disinfecting room spray, you can put the same ingredients, minus the carrier oil, in a base of 4 oz water/4 oz alcohol, in a glass spray bottle.  Spritz around the rooms in your home to kill germs in the air.

Be well!
Mary

Cute skirt upcycled from an old dress

My daughter and I love to snoop around in second hand shops to see what we can find.  A week or so ago, we found this dress

The fabric was so pretty, and crisp, too, like brand new.  We knew it was unwearable as a dress, with basically no top on it, and the skirt far too short for our liking, but we bought it anyway ($3.75) just for the fabric.

After thinking it over a while, I decided to make it into a cute summer skirt for my teenage daughter.
The bodice seemed like it would make a very nice wide waistband if I reshaped the front to match the width of the bodice back.

First, I cut the front even with the back, leaving a small seam allowance.  My daughter wanted a lining to give it more modesty, and a prettier drape, so I made a slip from an organic cotton muslin sheet I had in my fabric stash. The slip is nearly as wide as the skirt, but not quite, and it is 2 1/2 inches shorter than the finished skirt.  I attached it where the skirt joins the bodice, inside.

In order to get a nicer fit, I tapered the upper edges of the bodice so they angled slightly in at the top (like an "A", instead of out like a "V'), so they would fit a waistline. I did that by taking small darts along the side of the front bodice. The side of the dress already had a zipper, which I left intact. 

The top of the dress had very pretty tuck and embroidery detailing, which I think made a very nice waistband.  You can see that, as well as where I attached the lining (the row of stitching just above the gathers), on this photo:

All together, it took less than an hour.  The best part is, my daughter really likes it : )

Shoe-matoes : )

We love to raise all of the vegetables we possibly can in our small city yard, so we sometimes get creative in our planting.  Sometime I will take pictures of the recycled fun and useful items we have plants growing in, but for now, I will show you one of my favorites:

Shoe-matoes!  We have tomatoes growing so many places, including a hanging "Topsy Turvy" planter.  All of them are doing pretty well, except the ones I planted in a pair of garden shoes we had lying around outside this spring (nothing is safe from being used as a container! lol!).  That's ok with me.  I just love to look at them hanging on the fence so whimsically : )  I can see them from the house, and they make me smile everytime I look at them.

We put soil inside the Croc type shoes, and carefully poked tiny tomato seedlings in from the outside.   I think we planted yellow pear tomatoes in the shoes so the plants wouldn't get terribly heavy.  I'll take more photos if they do, indeed, set on fruit. 

Those are tomatillos, cucumbers, and green beans growing in the garden beneath the shoes, along with some strings tied so they can climb up the fence. It is our first year for tomatillos. Last year, we got some in a Bountiful Basket, used them to make salsa, and really liked the flavor. They have a ton of blossoms on them already, so we are hoping for a great crop.

Happy gardening!

Pineapple Jam...so delicious!

We participate in the Bountiful Baskets food program occasionally, and love the new things we get to try because of it.  Last Saturday's offerings included 19 pounds of fresh pineapple for $12.00; certainly too good to resist!

We turned most of it into pineapple jam, using a very simple recipe from the Ball canning book:

1 quart of finely chopped pineapple
2 1/2 cups of sugar
1/2 lemon, very thinly sliced
1 cup water

Cook until sugar is melted, then boil gently until it is gelling.  Pour into small jars, and water bath process for 15 minutes.

Of course, we had to open a jar this morning and try it on bagels and toast : )  It is so delicious!

The pineapples we got were small, so it took about three of them to get a quart's worth of chopped fruit.  Each recipe makes about 3 1/2 pint jars.  We made two recipes and still had fresh pineapple to eat.  Not a hardship, let me tell ya : )

Cute Cello Video : )

This so reminds me of my youngest daughter! She would never agree to this much cello abuse, but she certainly does love her cello this much.


Enjoy!

The American Patriot's Bible

First let me say that I am quite impressed with this Bible. The American Patriot's Bible is superbly put together. In the beginning of the Bible, there are quite a few pages for the recording of things like family events, ancestors of note, and periods of military or public service.



I especially love the nice large print size that can be easily read and the comfortable size that is easy for arthritic hands to hold. The paper is fairly durable, but not so thick that it makes the overall weight of the Bible unwieldy. Words of Christ are not in red, which may not be a problem to some. Also, this Bible is very appealing to the eye. The dust jacket is quite nice, a good deal more artful than most Bibles. This Bible would make a nice conversation piece on a coffee table.



Inside, there are many wonderful, informational features, including "The Seven Principles of the Judeo-Christian Ethic", several snippets on character qualities, with Scriptural examples, and many quotes from people of historical and political significance. You will also find quite a few pieces on important events and biographies, including pictures, of patriots of our history. I think it would be a great resource in many homes, but especially for use by homeschoolers due to the wealth of historical background information.

　

This Bible is a wonderful gift Bible. It is perfect for a history teacher, veteran, pastor, or fan of history. I believe it is geared a bit more towards men than women, but that may be just my age or experiences showing (I personally know many more military men than women). I am planning on giving a copy to a patriotic, homeschooled, young man at our church who will be graduating this year. I’m quite sure he and his family are going to be very happy with it!

I am very pleased that I had the chance to review this Bible and I highly recommend it to all.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Are you rich?

As I was clearing out clutter from my desk today, I came across this lovely little story and thought I should post it here.  It is such good inspiration and encouragement to keep our needs simple in order to be able to give of our resources to help others.

The Rich Family in Church  by Eddie Ogan (click here for author's original)

I'll never forget Easter 1946. I was 14, my little sister Ocy was 12, and my older sister Darlene 16. We lived at home with our mother, and the four of us knew what it was to do without many things. My dad had died five years before, leaving Mom with seven school kids to raise and no money.

By 1946 my older sisters were married and my brothers had left home. A month before Easter the pastor of our church announced that a special Easter offering would be taken to help a poor family. He asked everyone to save and give sacrificially.

When we got home, we talked about what we could do. We decided to buy 50 pounds of potatoes and live on them for a month. This would allow us to save $20 of our grocery money for the offering. When we thought that if we kept our electric lights turned out as much as possible and didn't listen to the radio, we'd save money on that month's electric bill. Darlene got as many house and yard cleaning jobs as possible, and both of us babysat for everyone we could. For 15 cents we could buy enough cotton loops to make three pot holders to sell for $1.

We made $20 on pot holders. That month was one of the best of our lives.

Every day we counted the money to see how much we had saved. At night we'd sit in the dark and talk about how the poor family was going to enjoy having the money the church would give them. We had about 80 people in church, so figured that whatever amount of money we had to give, the offering would surely be 20 times that much. After all, every Sunday the pastor had reminded everyone to save for the sacrificial offering.

The day before Easter, Ocy and I walked to the grocery store and got the manager to give us three crisp $20 bills and one $10 bill for all our change.

We ran all the way home to show Mom and Darlene. We had never had so much money before.

That night we were so excited we could hardly sleep. We didn't care that we wouldn't have new clothes for Easter; we had $70 for the sacrificial offering.

We could hardly wait to get to church! On Sunday morning, rain was pouring. We didn't own an umbrella, and the church was over a mile from our home, but it didn't seem to matter how wet we got. Darlene had cardboard in her shoes to fill the holes. The cardboard came apart, and her feet got wet.

But we sat in church proudly. I heard some teenagers talking about the Smith girls having on their old dresses. I looked at them in their new clothes, and I felt rich.

When the sacrificial offering was taken, we were sitting on the second row from the front. Mom put in the $10 bill, and each of us kids put in a $20.

As we walked home after church, we sang all the way. At lunch Mom had a surprise for us. She had bought a dozen eggs, and we had boiled Easter eggs with our fried potatoes! Late that afternoon the minister drove up in his car. Mom went to the door, talked with him for a moment, and then came back with an envelope in her hand. We asked what it was, but she didn't say a word. She opened the envelope and out fell a bunch of money. There were three crisp $20 bills, one $10 and seventeen $1 bills.

Mom put the money back in the envelope. We didn't talk, just sat and stared at the floor. We had gone from feeling like millionaires to feeling like poor white trash. We kids had such a happy life that we felt sorry for anyone who didn't have our Mom and Dad for parents and a house full of brothers and sisters and other kids visiting constantly. We thought it was fun to share silverware and see whether we got the spoon or the fork that night.

We had two knifes that we passed around to whoever needed them. I knew we didn't have a lot of things that other people had, but I'd never thought we were poor.

That Easter day I found out we were. The minister had brought us the money for the poor family, so we must be poor. I didn't like being poor. I looked at my dress and worn-out shoes and felt so ashamed—I didn't even want to go back to church. Everyone there probably already knew we were poor!

I thought about school. I was in the ninth grade and at the top of my class of over 100 students. I wondered if the kids at school knew that we were poor. I decided that I could quit school since I had finished the eighth grade. That was all the law required at that time. We sat in silence for a long time. Then it got dark, and we went to bed. All that week, we girls went to school and came home, and no one talked much. Finally on Saturday, Mom asked us what we wanted to do with the money. What did poor people do with money? We didn't know. We'd never known we were poor. We didn't want to go to church on Sunday, but Mom said we had to. Although it was a sunny day, we didn't talk on the way.

Mom started to sing, but no one joined in and she only sang one verse. At church we had a missionary speaker. He talked about how churches in Africa made buildings out of sun dried bricks, but they needed money to buy roofs. He said $100 would put a roof on a church. The minister said, "Can't we all sacrifice to help these poor people?" We looked at each other and smiled for the first time in a week.

Mom reached into her purse and pulled out the envelope. She passed it to Darlene. Darlene gave it to me, and I handed it to Ocy. Ocy put it in the offering.

When the offering was counted, the minister announced that it was a little over $100. The missionary was excited. He hadn't expected such a large offering from our small church. He said, "You must have some rich people in this church."

Suddenly it struck us! We had given $87 of that "little over $100."

We were the rich family in the church! Hadn't the missionary said so? From that day on I've never been poor again. I've always remembered how rich I am because I have Jesus!

Then Sings My Soul Book 3
by Robert Morgan

I was delighted to receive a copy of this book to review. I own the first two volumes as well, and have enjoyed them greatly. It saddens me to know that this will be the last book in this series. I really enjoyed the additional historical information and background given for the hymns in this book. It is so nice to have the sheet music for the hymns included also. It makes the reading so much more enjoyable to have all of the words and the tune accessible while reading the story that goes with each hymn.

This book would be enjoyed by anyone interested in traditional Christian music. It is so inspirational to read about the trials that brought about many of the most beloved songs we sing. I think my favorite story in the book was that of Susan and Anna Warner. Anna penned the words to "Jesus Loves Me". These two sisters were born into a prosperous family that tumbled into poverty in the early 1800s. They also lost their mother when they were very young. The sisters committed their way fully to the Lord and endeavored to "give their lives without reservation to the Lord Jesus Christ" and to do whatever they could to keep their family home, and to provide for themselves and their father. It was such a joy to read their story and see God's hand of provision at work in their lives. By simply being doing the tasks set before them, and being open to the will of God, they were able to touch countless people with the love of Christ.

In short, I loved this book, and I think a great many others will love it also. The only criticism I have of the book is the paper on which it is printed. The pages have uneven edges, like handmade paper or torn paper. I have read other books bound with this style of paper also, such as the Jesus Freak books by Toby Mac and Michael Tait, and I have the same complaint about those books. For people such as myself with arthritic hands, it is quite a lot more uncomfortable to hold and read books with this kind of paper. I do think the torn edging gives a pretty look to the book, sort of like an antique, but it makes reading them less comfortable. That is the only drawback I find to this wonderful book. I highly recommend it to all!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice

By David Teems

I found this book to be awe-inspiring! It makes me want to live my life more courageously as a Christian. Even though sections of the book were quite difficult for me to get through in terms of readability, I learned so much about this incredible saint of the church. Because of his drive to translate the Bible into the English language, he lived in a continual state of being hunted, hated, exiled, and deprived of comforts. As the author puts it, "His life was reduced to a kind of living martyrdom." As a homeschooling mom, born-again Christian, and a student of the Bible for the past 34 years, I have read about, and taught my children about, the bravery of William Tyndale. Yet, it has been mainly his translation of Scripture and his martyr's death that I have known about. His life, choices, and bravery are presented in such a way as to make the reader feel they really know and understand William Tyndale and the pressures and persecution he lived under. God had so wonderfully prepared and placed this man to do this work. He was an English speaking scholar of Latin and Hebrew in the Medieval years, an oddity in itself.

In addition to giving the King James Bible much of the lyrical beauty that makes it so easy to memorize, William Tyndale also had an incredible impact on the English language in general. There are lists in the book of the incredible amount of words in our language to which we owe gratitude to Tyndale (including Godly, sanctified, chastening, zealous, and so many more). William Tyndale was a contemporary of William Shakespeare. A valid and thoughtful point that the author makes is that we (English speakers) speak much more 'Tyndale' than we do 'Shakespeare', and yet it is Shakespeare who is studied and credited as a great writer. I was brought to a deep awareness of my great debt to William Tyndale for spending his life making the Holy Scriptures accessible to me. The author does an excellent job of describing the medieval times and the fear that was used then to try to control the thoughts and actions of 'heretics' to the Catholic church.

The author has painted a very complete picture of the pressures put upon Christians in the Medieval era. We see Tyndale through the words of others who knew him, such as Desiderius Erasmus and Thomas More. The book contains exhaustive references to works of the time. One of the major detriments to me in reading this book was the use of the original texts in Old English. It is a very scholarly work. I have a master's degree in education. I am no stranger to scholarly texts. Having said that, let me confess that I lost my concentration in certain deeper segments of the book, since, as a wife and mother, my life is subject to frequent interruptions and demands on my thought processes! I had expected and hoped that this book would be more accessible to the average reader. Still, I think it is good that it is written at a more demanding level. The more distracted or casual reader will certainly come away much richer for having read it, and those with more concentration will take away even more.

The peace and resolve that Tyndale showed in the face of his imprisonment, sentencing, and death are awe-inspiring. I am so grateful to this man, and even more so when I read of the calm, kindness, and care for their salvation, that he showed to those who imprisoned him and forced him to suffer such hardships, cold, indignities, pain, and terrible death. His final words were: "Lord! Open the King of England's eyes."

No matter that some of the book is so deep that I will have to read it again to uncover more of the facts, I still have come away from this book better for having read it. I am much more knowledgeable about the path of peril that brave men took to bring me the King James Bible I read daily. It is rare that I finish a book, already having made the decision to read it again (and again), but that is how I feel about this book. There is much inspiration to be gained by studying the lives of the martyrs. This book on William Tyndale is a most excellent place to begin, or continue, to study.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Heaven Is For Real--DVD Based Conversation Kit

I was so anxious to receive this set, hoping to use it in small group
settings with other believers. I had read the book (twice!) and absolutely LOVE
it! This kit is such a disappointment to me. There is not nearly enough of
Colton in the DVD sessions. It was enjoyable to see him 'in person' on
the DVDs, but there was far too much extraneous stuff, and not enough just
hearing what Colton had to say. Now, I thought that the section on the DVD with Sonja, Colton's mother, talking about babies who die through miscarriage was absolutely wonderful, very full of hope for those who have suffered through this. One of the aspects of the book that offers such hope for hurting people is the description of Colton meeting his sister who had died in a miscarriage before Colton was born. The DVD does do this justice, I think. I am so happy to have this to share with women, and families, who have suffered miscarriage. The study guide doesn't seem to be geared to adults, or to born again believers as I hoped it would be. I suppose it is a good point that the questions range over a large spectrum. If you want to pick
and choose in the contents of the conversation guide, you will find questions
geared toward children, casual seekers, etc. Some of the questions seem so
air-headed, or wishy-washy that it is distracting to have to read through them.
Possibly this was done purposefully, so the set would be applicable to a wide
range of people. In my opinion, it detracts from the usefulness, or even the
pertinence of the set to the people I hoped to use it with...born-again
believers, middle school age through adult.
The bottom line, in my opinion, is that the book itself is wonderful, I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone, but this DVD and conversation guide set just doesn't live up to that standard at all (sadly). It would be better to just stick with the book, and let the book itself generate any discussion in small
groups.

Disclosure of
Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the
BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive
review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

 

 

Review of :

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

This book is just the most incredible story. It is a very quick & enjoyable read, too. You won't be able to put it down. Colton, is the 4 year old son of a pastor, who has a near death experience and, over time, begins to tell his parents small bits of what he experienced. The writing completely captures the sweet innocence of the little boy who seems to believe that his experience it not out of the normal at all. His parents, of course, are quite at a loss with what to do with Colton's new knowledge. Without letting him know they are fishing for information, and without feeding him leading questions, they begin to piece together the whole story.

Colton is able to describe deceased relatives he had never met or even heard about. One very moving part of the story involves his parents' quest to find out what Jesus looks like. His father begins nonchalantly showing Colton each photo of Jesus he comes across. All of them are dismissed by Colton as being all wrong for various reasons. Then, his father comes across the drawing of Jesus done by a Lithuanian-American young girl named Akiane, the daughter of athiests, who begin having visions of Heaven at the age of four. With her phenomenal artistic talent, she was able to translate her visions into paintings. This picture of Jesus, Colton pronounced as being exactly right. I now have that photo, by Akiane Kramarik, displayed in my home. It is just unbelievable to me to think that I am able to know exactly how Jesus appeared to these two little children! One of Colton's pronouncements about Jesus was that He "really, really, really loves children!" and He must indeed to make Himself so tangible to these two small children, and to all others now who read this book.

 

You will have chills when you read the descriptions of Heaven and Jesus as related by this innocent little boy. He tells of a horse that only Jesus can ride, and describes Jesus' garments, as well as angels. Colton is able to come up with details about people he has never met or heard about, but that his parents can personally verify, and all in the sweetest child-like way.

I plan to give this book as a Christmas present to anyone on my list who has not yet read it. It is THAT good! Do yourself, and anyone you love, a big favor and buy this book. You won't be disappointed!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Wonder of Your Love

by Beth Wiseman

I can't wait for the third book in this series.   This was such an enjoyable book. It had its moments of predictablility, but the sweet love story made it all worthwhile. The book pulled me in from the very first sentences with a very surprising and un-Amishlike beginning, and then provided such an engaging read for the two short days it took to finish it. The book is set in Caanan, Colorado, in a small, insular Amish community. The main character is Katie Ann Stoltzfus, she is an older woman who has been married for quite a few years, and is tragically widowed before her first child, Jonas, is born. She is asked to defer her own very human feelings in order to help someone who has wronged her. She has suffered several terrible hardships leading up to that point, that left her feeling very hesitant to place her trust in people, especially men.   

I loved the parts of the story line that involved Katie Ann being an older first time mom, in new surroundings and having lost her mother, and finding herself being wronged by her husband, whom she thought she could trust. I think this book will speak to a great many women in ways that will stay long after the novel has been finished. Seeing Katie Ann go through her struggles and then come through them better and happier gives the reader hope in the midst of her own struggles. While it doesn't always seem like it, God does provide a way through all the circumstances He allows into our lives. Katie Ann's answer in part comes in the form of Eli Detweiler. He is in a very different season of life and of parenthood than Katie Ann. The first time Eli sees Katie Ann with her tiny son, he is convinced she is the boy's grandmother since he has grandchildren about that age also. Eli is much more outgoing and gregarious than Katie, which also bothers her. The two meet by chance at an Amish wedding. There are sparks of attraction right away, but both of them have reasons to hold themselves back. Eli has been widowed for many years and his children are all grown, so he isn't really interested in starting over with young children. After all that Katie Ann has been through, she is very hesitant to give her heart, or her trust, to any man.    

This is the second book in Beth Wiseman's Land of Caanan series. The reader will have no trouble starting right in with this book, but will probably find herself wanting to read book one immediately following finishing this book to find out more about the characters. I can't wait for more in this series to find out what happens next. The characters are well-developed enough that you feel like you 'know' them, even the secondary characters like Katie Ann's outspoken non-Amish friend, Martha. I haven't found one of Beth Wiseman's books that disappointed me...this one certainly didn't! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction, and a good, uplifting love story, too.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The gift apron is a perfect fit!

Having guessed at the right size to make this little apron for the little daughter of a friend, I am so happy to find out that it is a perfect fit in all ways. She loves it! I wanted to show the photos I received today of little Michala wearing her apron made of vintage sheets. I'll be making more of these, for granddaughters and other little girls we know.

Little Girl's Apron Made From Vintage Sheets

I can't wait to show the project I've been working on this week. It took me most of an afternoon what with making the pattern from scratch, but it had no cost investment at all. A wonderful friend of mine who happens to be our former pastor's wife, mentioned to me that her sweet little 6 year old daughter wanted an apron. Well, an opportunity like that just doesn't come along every day!





I went right to work looking at photos of children's aprons and drew up a muslin pattern of what seemed to be an apron of about the right size. It retrospect, the circular ruffle could have been a bit more full.

For a couple of months I have been collecting vintage bed sheets, hoping to use them to make quilts for all of my children and grandchildren and some other special people for Christmas 2012. With the help of my teenage daughter who is blessed with lots of creative ability, I chose three of the sheets that looked cute together to use to make the apron. I also chose ones that were pretty much 'new' so the material would have more body. I couldn't resist making a little potholder to go into the apron pocket. I even quilted a little heart into the center of it. Then, we added a couple of fun cooking extras to make it even more exciting for her. In trying to get the lighting just right on this cold, wet day in the Midwest, I took photos in a couple of different locations in my house.

The apron is going in the mail today to the sweet little recipient. I hope to get a photo of her wearing the apron to add to the blog at a later time. Almost immediately after seeing it finished, I thought of several other little girls in the family who are certain to be needing a cute apron, so I guess I'll be making several more. I'm just thrilled with how it turned out, and I hope my friend and her daughter will be also.

Not really sure how to do this, since I've never tried it before, but I'm going to try to link this post to The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday link party, and Made By You Mondays at Skip to My Lou. Wish me luck with that : D

A perfect book for gift-giving, although you will want to keep it for yourself!

Right From the Heart
Turning Your Day Toward God
By Bryant Wright

First of all, let me say that I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of this devotional on a number of fronts. I have read a great number of devotional books, including the ones that I give away long before the book is finished. The content of Right From the Heart is meaty enough to satisfy even one who has been a Christian for quite a long time. I do believe it would be just as helpful for a new Christian, and not intimidating in its content at all. Doctrinally, I was quite satisfied also, although I found the use of such a large number of Bible translations for the daily verses to be distracting and the least pleasing part of the devotional for me.

While it may seem trivial to mention, since I am supposed to be reviewing the content of the book, the tactile and aesthetic quality of the book are lovely. The cover is just beautiful, and the paper used is very nice quality. Even the font seemed to add to the 'ambiance' of the book (can the word even be used that way?) It has a feeling of luxury and permanence about it, like an heirloom book would feel. This would be such a fine gift book for a beloved teacher, mentor, friend, or relative.

Obviously, I didn't read the devotional the way it is meant to be read, a page a day. I think it would be a very pleasant way to start one's daily devotions. The author likens the reading of a daily devotional to the warm up exercises done before physical activity. They limber the athlete and ready him or her to get the most out of the workout, just as reading a daily devotional puts one in an excellent state of mental readiness for ones daily Bible reading. I do think this volume would be excellent to use as a family devotional as long as the children were middle elementary and up in age, in order to have the lessons understandable for the children.


This is a book that will be remaining in my personal collection. I have made a note on my Christmas planning list that this would be a great gift for several of the people on my gift list. I give the book 5 out of 5 stars, and wish a higher rating was possible!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Thought provoking quote

It has been my blessing and privilege to homeschool each of my 5 children at some point in their school years. My first year of homeschool was 1985, with 4 students. It doesn't seem that long, but it has been 26 years! I am still homeschooling my youngest daughter. I know firsthand, as do so many other parents, how much time, energy, dedication, and commitment are required to homeschool, so when I saw this quote, it really spoke to me:

“Home schooling is a very old way of doing things. If you look at any of the bills in your wallet or the coins in your pocket, they all have a picture of a homeschooler on them.”

William Lloyd

That puts the efforts into perspective, doesn't it? That is just the thought I need to start this new school year with fresh energy to give my best to my student each and every day!

On the subject of modesty:

I came across the letter below on the topic of modesty, written by a young man who didn't want his name used. It is so good, I have to re-post it. What a wise young man!

A Letter to the Girls I Know:

Dear Girls,

There are two kinds of men: Godly men, and worldly men. What kind of man do you want? I’m betting most of you said “a Godly man.” Someday, you want to marry a man who loves God with every fiber of his being because he will be an excellent husband and father. He will honor and be true only to you. Most women want a Godly man or at least think they do. Well, I think I have found a way to tell you exactly what kind of guy you will get. I don’t even have to know you! All I have to do is look at you. The kind of guy you want or will get is advertised by the clothing you wear. I know what men want. Trust me, I am a guy. I know more guys than you do and I know them better. I know what we think, what we talk about, what we want, and what we look for, and it is different for each one of us depending on our relationship with God. I’m sure you already know this, but men were created differently than you. We have different desires and priorities. Our eyes and minds react very differently to some things than yours do. It isn’t disgusting, perverted, or wrong; it is wonderful and good! It is how God made us. It’s how we handle these differences that separate a Godly man from a worldly man.

A worldly man doesn’t control himself, rather, he looks at anything that attracts his attention or gets him excited. A worldly guy has no problem when girls wear clothes that show off skin, like boxers, high or low-cut shirts, low-rise jeans, and “cute” little swim-suits. He’s a fan of tight-fitting shirts and pants that show off your form, he thinks they’re fine! Worldly guy watches a lot of TV and R-rated movies, isn’t really offended by sexual content or nudity and secretly dabbles in pornography. He’s a “Christian” and makes up a significant portion of your church and youth group. He’s a really nice guy and sees you mainly for your body. If you were to marry worldly guy, he’d bring lots of baggage into the relationship, have intimacy problems, entertain thoughts of other women, and possibly cheat on you.

A Godly man is in control of his drives and desires. He constantly seeks God and reads his Bible. He “walks in the Spirit” and isn’t set off by everything he sees. When immodestly-dressed girls, magazine covers, or risqué advertisements come into view, Godly guy quickly “bounces his eyes” away from the image. He’s constantly guarding his thoughts and what he allows into his mind. He hates being around girls that disrespect him and his struggles by wearing inappropriate attire. Godly guy doesn’t watch much TV and is selective about the movies he sees. He views you as a person, knows you and respects you. He has your best interests in mind and guards against inappropriate thoughts of you. If you were to marry Godly guy, he would give you the emotional attention you need, he would ignore other women and remain faithful to you no matter what.

Unfortunately, there are more worldly men than Godly men. And to make matters worse, to the untrained eye, a worldly man can look a lot like a Godly man. So what can you do to only attract a Godly man? An important way of delineating between them lies in how you dress. As mentioned before, the clothes you wear advertise what kind of guy you are looking for. If you dress immodestly, you will attract worldly guys and scare away the Godly ones. It all comes down to the kind of man you want to spend your time around and eventually marry. You cannot afford to be complacent in this area of your life! You will pay the price someday.

This issue isn’t limited strictly to you and your future relationship. The way you dress directly affects other men and women and their relationships. You don’t see the struggles, the pain, the tears and the sin that you cause, but I can promise that you would be shocked if you did! Ask any Christian young man; we’ve all seen it. It’s kept hidden but it is definitely there. By dressing immodestly, you effectually spit on the struggles of our weaker ranks, appearing to care more about toying with us than helping us. You’ll never know how many broken relationships and lifestyles of sin you’ve contributed to simply by the way you dress. You want to marry a Godly man someday, well so do many other women. Don’t just help yourself and your future, help all women and their relationships by showing discretion in your dress.

Of course, I understand the desire to look stylish, attractive, and “cute.” It’s important to fit in and get attention. Trust me, it can be done modestly! I also understand that it is easier for some girls to find stylish and well-fitting clothes than it is for others. This is an area where guys really don’t understand what you are up against. But just remember, for every sacrifice you make to honor God with your image, Godly men are making sacrifices in their lives that are just as hard, if not harder! They will and do respect you so much for choosing to be modest! A real lady is conscientious of the image she presents, and real men want a real lady. And you can forget about any guys missing out on how attractive you are because you don’t wear revealing clothing. You could wear a circus tent and we would still know; it’s a gift we have.

And so the question still remains: What kind of man do you want? Answer me with your clothes.