An Amish Kitchen

This is a book with 3 different stories by 3 different authors. I have enjoyed previous books that Beth Wiseman has joined in with to write short stories. These stories are all very uplifting by reading and getting to know the characters in the story. One thing that I really enjoy about these books are how they are intertwined even though the authors are different, you will at least see the names of the people from the previous stories, as these stories take place in the same town. There is also 45 recipes at the end of the book. I loved the first story on how Fran used nature’s herbs for remedies for small illnesses. It reminds me of what our great grandparents used to use. Each story in the end shows how God has all things in his hands and plans we don’t understand always works out for our best. I would recommend anyone to read this book. Each story is easy to stay interested in! This book was provided to me by the Booksneeze program & Thomas Nelson for my honest review.

Heaven Changes Everything by Todd & Sonja Burpo

It is true when I read a sales advertisement that said “Their book offers insights into what God might be doing with the interruptions He allows, and how to keep the hope of heaven alive in our lives.” I would say this would be good before or after reading their 1st book, but would really say read that one first. I love the way they put that book into this one and give more insight on their feelings as parents and how they relate to how this world is just temporary and we have a heavenly home that seems to great waiting for us! Both books are such a blessing to read if you have a sick loved one or one that you have faith that has passed on to such a great place. It offers great peace in knowing that there loved one is in such a better and happier place. Thank you to the booksneeze reading program and Thomas Nelson for providing me this book for my honest review. I love each verse after each short chapter that emphasizes something Colton had said. Over all I believe every believer and non believer should read this book! I'm thankful I have had the opportunity to read the Burpo's books. This is a very quick read and not a book that on a shelf with only reading 1 chapter at a time.

The Month of Being Thankful! 1-10

Everyone is on FB daily telling what they are thankful for,  it gives a good glimpse into each one of my friends. Here are some of mine:

1.        I’m thankful for a heavenly Father that is always watching over me, protecting me, and blessing me.

2.       I’m thankful for my blessings of my youngest. He keeps me smiling and has such a big heart for Jesus. I pray that I can be the best parent to lead him to Jesus daily so that he will always have that heart for the Lord.

3.       I’m thankful for my difficult but very special to me stepchild who always keeps me on my toes!

4.       I’m thankful for my husband. It is good to know that I have one that I can trust and will always be there for my children.

5.       I’m thankful for my parents, step-parents, and grandparents… They have laid the foundation of who I am today!

6.       I’m thankful to have a job that will help provide for my family.

7.       I’m thankful for a good cup of coffee! Never know how good a hot cup is until you can’t drink one.

8.       I’m so thankful my youngest can go to a school that encourages and teaches him about Jesus!

9.       I’m thankful to have a job like I do. Though there are days I would love to be a stay-at-home mom, I am thankful I do have a job that helps me provide for my family.

10.    I’m thankful for my sister who is more than a sister to me. Siblings are a blessing!

Week 1 – Making Your Home a Haven

Week 1 – Making Your Home a Haven

Proverbs 14:1 says: “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

Courtney writes: You have the power – as the woman of the home – to effect the mood of your home.  Your home can feel sterile and cold or warm and inviting.  It can feel chaotic and unstable or subdued and managed well.  It can feel like a cold shoulder or a warm hug.

But simply lighting a candle is not enough to change our homes.  We must be women of prayer – praying for each individual that finds refuge under our roof.  It’s easy to get busy and distracted and forget to pray for those we love most.

So let’s begin.  Light a candle and begin praying over your home every time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye.  Pray for peace.  Peace with each other and peace within your soul.

Billy Graham said, “The happiest Christian homes I know are those given to hospitality, where neighbors feel at home, where young people are welcome, where the elderly are respected, where children are loved.”

I think my ongoing goal is best spoken by Billy Graham. I honestly let life get the best of me, being tired by the time I get home after working 8 hours, and getting started on my daily chores of supper, picking up, and clothes washing. I forget to focus on spending special moments with my children. I will catch myself and stop to enjoy them. I want to get better that this. When they say, “LOOK,” I want to be able to stop and give them that attention to make memories with them.

I have my candle already out, and of course it is pumpkin scented right now! I look forward this challenge to pray for my family as I catch it lit throughout the afternoons. I also pray I don’t leave it lit all night since I don’t use candles much these days!

I love my home. I am one of those people who enjoy spending full days at home just piddling and playing with my kiddos. I love coming home to a clean house at least 1 day a month. It seems no nice to have everything picked up and cleaned at 1x, even if it isn’t near as pretty the next morning after life has happened to it! I love the sounds of my kids giggling and playing together. I love when my family comes over to visit, and we can stop and just visit.

I pray that during this week I can pray for more peace through the house, more teamwork, better attitudes, and hopefully make more family memories by trying to come up with family fun at least a few nights during the week.

I am so very thankful God has given me the family he has given me. Even coming from a split home, I have great memories which include just being in the homes provided by my parents. Each place has great memories, and I pray to leave my children with memories that happen in our home.

A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall

A Season for Tending

Amish Vines and Orchards, Book 1

By Cindy Woodsmall

A great story line:

This was the first time for me to read a book by Cindy Woodsmall. Knowing it was a series made me a little hesitant to go ahead and read since I like to have all of a series when I read so I don’t have to wait. I really enjoyed the book. It had good reading, and even though it left you wanting to know more of the story, enough of it was told to say it was a good book with a good story. Although I will have to keep my eye out for the 2^nd book b/c I will want to see the next phase of this story. The plot kept you going at many different angles so it kept you interested throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the plot of Rhoda the best. Her world fascinated me on how well she gardened, canned, to moving past a tragic lost that she kept herself at fault, even though it wasn’t. There wasn’t much of a devotion to learn or bible verses that this writer concentrates on, but the Amish’s simple life was enough for me for this story. It did show that their are many seasons a person must go through in life. This book was given to me by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.

Being thankful for what we do have!

My youngest is all about Toysrus right now. They have all the toys and he doesn’t have them all. I am trying my best to make him realize all that he has been blessed with by all the mounds of toys he already has. But he is focused right now on all the info commercials and toysrus! It really didn’t help that we got the big book of toys from ToysRus yesterday.

When we relate this to our relationship with Jesus, it makes me see that if we constantly ask for more without being appreciative for what we have and the blessings we do get – WHY would God want to bless us with more? If we really aren’t thankful. Just something to think about while I try to work with my lil’ one about learning this.

Review: Prayers of a Stranger: A Christmas Journey

Prayers of a Stranger: A Christmas Journey

by Davis Bunn

This was a great inspirational book. The main characters have suffered a great loss in life and the future doesn’t look much promising, still they hold to their faith. It was an uplifting story about how God places people in our life to support us during our time of need and how God places us in situations where we can use our past to help others. We might not know how many people are out there praying for us and lifting us up, but we should place our trust in God’s hands and watch his story unfold. There were many side stories in the main story of this book, but one special one to me was being able to forgive and accept back a special person in ones life even after damage has been done. I love reading books where you see God’s will working in the lives of not just one, but how one or two people can make such a difference in this world that we may thing is so big.

This book was given to me by Thomas Nelson though the Booksneeze program for my honest review. I would strongly recommend everyone reading this book, but be sure to keep a tissue close by because it hits the heartstrings a few times, in a good way.