A Gentle and Quiet Spirit



I took this picture last October from our back yard.

Every day I am called out by one challenge or another. Whether I read an article online, watch a television show, see a Facebook status, stand in line at the grocery store, listen to the radio, glance at a bumper sticker, overhear a conversation or even go to the doctor's office, I am given the chance to put up a fight or engage in a debate.

At home my children challenge me all day long. In my marriage I am challenged to be selfless. In my community I am challenged to fight for growth and change. In my church I am challenged to see things through others' perspectives. In my friendships I am challenged to step out and help. In my writing I am challenged to think and grow beyond my comfort zone.

It doesn't matter where I turn, there is an opportunity to raise my boxing gloves and put up a fight.

When everything within me wants to go to battle, how do I not rise up to the challenge?

In 1 Peter 3:4-5 I find the answer. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves." (Italics mine)

Some people look at this scripture and suggest that a woman must not wear makeup or jewelry or fine clothing - but I believe Peter's intent was to show that true beauty doesn't come from these outward things, instead true beauty is found under the surface, in the inner self, the unfading beauty that comes from a gentle and quiet spirit.

True beauty isn't what we look like, it's how we act and respond to life's challenges.

For each challenge I am presented with, I am called to answer with a gentle and quiet spirit. That doesn't mean I should let others walk all over me and it doesn't mean I should refrain from voicing my thoughts and opinions (this post is a good example of that).

Whether I'm dealing with my children, or a controversial topic, I need to keep my emotions at bay (as best as I can!) and respond calmly. I've learned that my children, and those I engage in a healthy debate with, will be more inclined to listen to me when I respond this way.

Daily, I seek to live out 1 Peter 3:4-5. I don't always succeed, but I keep trying because I know it is of great worth in God's sight.

Beyond my culture, my family and my friends there is One I strive to please above all others. God doesn't look on my outward appearance - what He sees is my inner self and He's calling me to show others who I am within; who He created me to be, especially when I am being challenged.

What about you? Do you put on your boxing gloves often or does a "gentle and quiet spirit" come more easily to you?

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

I love these bars! They are moist and delicious and way too easy to make. They're especially good heated up. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (for a gluten free approach you could use oat flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
3 cups oats
12 ounces (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Cream butter, sugars, egg and vanilla with an electric mixer on high.

2. Mix separate and then stir in: flour, oats, salt and baking soda.

3. Add chocolate chips.

4. Press cookie dough into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden and bars are set in the middle.

6. Cool for 20 minutes and cut into 24 squares.

Friday Fun: Stepping Back in Time

I just finished reading Julie Klassen's The Maid of Fairbourne Hall set in England during the year 1815. When I closed the book I thought to myself the same thing I think every time I read a good book: I would love to live in that time period! I love the formal meals, the dancing, the etiquette, the large homes, the servants -- maybe I should clarify, I would love to be the Lady of the manor in 1815 and not the servant, definitely not the servant.

When I read Laura Frantz' The Colonel's Lady I wanted to live during the Revolutionary War on the Kentucky frontier. When I read Lynn Austin's Candle in the Darkness, I wanted to go back in time to the Civil War Era on a southern plantation. And when I read my all time favorite series by Maud Hart Lovelace (Betsy Books) I dreamt about living in a Minnesota town during the Turn of the Twentieth Century - if only for a day.

The beauty of a book is that it transports you to a different time and place, without the discomforts of reality.

To be honest, I like the idea of living in those time periods, but if push came to shove, I'd probably stay where I am.  Because who would have chosen to live through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars when our country was being ravished and lives were being torn apart? And who would want to live during the Turn of the Century when there were no microwaves or dishwashers? Although, I think I could have managed if I had a servant.



Hindsight (and the skills of a talented writer!) can make any era look attractive over time. Who knows, maybe someday people will wish they could have lived during 2012. Maybe.

 

The closest I'll ever come to
living during the Turn of the
Twentieth Century. This is a picture
of me reenacting Evangeline
Lindbergh in 1917 at the
Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site.


If given the chance to go back in time, I would choose to live during the period between 1890-1915. What's not to love about this time? It was a fun and exciting period in America History. Inventions were making life easier for the common man and allowing people the freedom for leisure activities. Clothing was beautiful, automobiles were all the rage, singing and dancing around the piano on a Saturday night was the norm and attending a movie matinee on Sunday afternoon was a weekly occurrence. Not to mention, servants were abundant! Side note: what ever happened to servants???

What about you? Have you ever read a book and wished you could step into that time and place? If you could choose one era to visit for a day, which would it be and why?

It's My Birthday!

I turn thirty-two on April 25th! I've never been shy to proclaim my birthday; it's my favorite day of the year and I love to celebrate it.

This year I received an early unexpected gift. I won lunch for me and three friends at my FAVORITE restaurant, Ciatti's Ristorante, for Monday, April 23rd. My name was selected from amongst 476 other fans on Facebook! I didn't even know there was a contest. :)

The hard part was figuring out which three friends to bring with me (how do I choose?) and finding a babysitter to come and watch my kiddos for the afternoon. Thankfully my Aunt was available to stay with the kids and I invited my mom, my mother-in-law and one of my sister-in-laws. All three were able to come on short notice.

I'm honored to be surrounded by amazing women in my life and these three are no exception. We enjoyed visiting on the way, while we ate a scrumptious lunch and later as we shopped and then drove home.

While I listened to my mom and mother-in-law talk about their childhood and their extended families, I was reminded that one day it will be me telling the stories. I'll be talking about these women and the memories we made together. I'll have good stories to tell my children and grandchildren about their matriarchs and the legacies they handed down.

As another year in the story of my life unfolds, I look forward to seeing what God has in store. I'm blessed beyond words and so thankful for the gifts of family and friends. I have a rich life!





Mother-in-Law, me, Sister-in-Law & Mom



A Challenge...

Judah & Asher

Today our pastor gave a heartwarming sermon on the blessings of children. He encouraged us to look at our children as an inheritance from the Lord and not to hinder them, but to get on their level and really listen to them because they are full of pure joy and love and they have so much to teach us. At the end of his sermon he prayed for the million+ babies whose lives have been ended by abortion in our country in the past year and he told us to thank God for our children and give them an extra hug before we left the sanctuary.

Tonight, before bed, my seven year old daughter asked me what the word abortion means. I wondered in the wisdom of telling her, but I wanted her to hear it from me before she heard it somewhere else and I wanted to give her only the barest facts, without too many details.

I challenge any adult in this world, who believes abortion is a valid choice, to be the first person to tell an innocent seven year old girl the truth. What they will see in her big green eyes is first confusion, followed by a look of unbelief, which is quickly replaced by a half smile as she searches your face to see if you're joking and when she sees the pain and tears in your eyes, you will then see pure horror on her face as her own eyes fill with tears. Your heart will then break to know that you just told her a harsh reality about the world in which she lives.

If a child, whose heart is pure and unsullied by opinions and debates and reasoning, who has never been told how to believe or been manipulated by millions of dollars being pumped into one campaign or another, and who has no understanding of partisan platforms or popular opinions, can look at you and tell you in a matter of seconds that abortion is wrong, than you can know, without a doubt, that it is.

Ravioli Soup Recipe

Before I started blogging some of my recipes, I hadn't realized how many "go-to" recipes I have. As a mother of four little ones, my recipes need to contain three important aspects: my children need to like it, it needs to be healthy (proteins, grains, veggies and dairy) and it has to be a recipe with ingredients I can keep on hand, things that freeze well or keep well on the shelf. I hope you enjoy this recipe today, it has all three!

Ravioli Soup

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained

3/4 tsp. onion salt

1 tsp. garlic, minced

1 T. olive or vegetable oil

1 1/2 c. onion, finely chopped

1 (24 oz.) can Italian style or plain crushed tomatoes

1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste

1 (14 oz.) can beef broth

1 c. water

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves

1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves

1/4 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped (or 1-2 Tbsp. dried parsley leaves)

1 (16 oz.) pkg. plain cheese filled raviolis without sauce (found in the freezer section)

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese (as garnish)

Combine all ingredients together, except frozen ravioli and Parmesan cheese. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook ravioli according to package directions. Drain ravioli and add to soup. Serve with Parmesan cheese, sprinkled on top.

Meeting Beverly Lewis

Tonight I met Beverly Lewis, one of the biggest names in Christian Fiction today.

Beverly was warm hearted and soft spoken as she shared her passion for writing, music and her family. Her current book, The Fiddler, combines all three of those passions. I can't wait to read it!

When she spoke about her writing, my heart was tugged and I found myself close to tears. I love hearing authors talk, whether in person or online, and hear them echo the same words that are in my heart. Before I started pursuing this dream, I had never met anyone else who I could relate to on such a heart level. Now I realize I am not alone on this journey. There are countless others who have the same calling on their life. It encourages me to keep looking for connections and to build relationships with other authors.

After she spoke about her work she opened up for questions. I sat there wondering what I could ask. I have a thousand questions burning in my mind, but I know I can only ask one. Which one is more important than the others? So I raised my hand and simply asked: "What is your best advice for an aspiring author?"

Beverly thought for a moment and then she gave me five tips:

1. Read and write as much as you can.
2. Join a critique group.
3. Attend a conference, meet editors and find out what they are looking for.
4. Write from the heart.

5. Spend a great deal of time in prayer.

When she mentioned prayer, it struck a cord with me. I can never attempt to follow a calling on my life if I don't first bathe it in prayer. Writing a book is not for the faint of heart, nor should it be taken lightly. Words are powerful tools and should be chosen with great care. This is a piece of advice I will always remember.

I was one of four people whose names were drawn to win a free book! I won the first book in Annie's People Series and I had Beverly sign it for me. When it was my turn in line she asked me about my writing and I became star struck! I couldn't believe it. I was nervous to talk with her face to face. I haven't been that nervous since speech class in high school! :) I did manage to choke out a reply and she smiled and asked my name so she could sign my book. She said she loved my name and it will be perfect on the cover of a book.

Tonight was more than I expected. I'm so happy I was able to meet Beverly Lewis and get a glimpse into her life and her writing. She is a sweet woman who has used her gift to bless thousands of people throughout the world. Amazing. It was an experience I will never forget.