Los-Angeles-Times-farmingonfaith

Amy Knackstedt hopes a new start in Weaverly, Kansas, will help heal the pain of losing her husband and provide a better future for her three children. But her new neighbor, Tim Roper, is not pleased to have an Old Order Mennonite family living next to his apple orchard. Tim left the Mennonite faith years ago and doesn't want any reminders of his former life.
Yet when circumstances throw Amy and Tim together, they form a friendship that surprises them both. Will past hurts always be a barrier between them, or will this tentative relationship blossom into something more?

It has been a while since I have had a "Grammy Moment"  My little Boston is getting so big. He calls me his friend Grammy. I will be heading out for his third birthday soon. 

I was reading my devotion this morning about Heaven and the song~  Where I Belong  ~keeps playing in my head. It is Boston's favorite song and sometimes I am lucky enough for him to sing it to me on facetime. 

We can discourage and depress ourselves just by the words that come out of our mouth~ as well as depress or discourage those around us who have to listen to our words. Our words have the power of life or death and here in verse 20 it says we have to eat our words.

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Oh my stars~ I had the best day yesterday. The weather was breezy and cool and my friend~ Pam and I headed to Jamesport, Mo to visit our Amish neighbors. We left bright and early to make it to the auction. There was a sea of orange when we pulled into the parking lot. We were in "Autumn Decorator's Heaven" for sure. There is nothing like seeing those Amish horses and buggies with their cute little trailers pulling through the Auction floor.

Each morning when I get up the sun peaks over the trees in my backyard filling my kitchen with a sunny glow. It is a nice warmth that greets me each morning. My kitchen has windows all along the eastern side facing my backyard. I start the coffee and just as the sun starts peeking at me through the trees I begin to see every speck of dust on my counter and my wood floor. So each morning I sweep the floor and dust the counters~ every single morning. Many mornings I have to give it all a swiffering.

Surely I am not the only one that does this. My type- A personality can't stand seeing tiny or not so tiny dust particles anywhere. It really does not not take me too long but it is my morning routine while the coffee is brewing. I have been tempted to put up blinds and turn a blind eye to it a time or two......but please don't tell anybody!

Are those tiny dust particles just waiting for me to finish to replant themselves to pester me or are they always there and only come to light in view of that bright shinning light? (sorry about the run-on sentence but it just fits)

As I was doing my crazy dusting job once again this morning I begin to think about my life. Today marks the one year anniversary of my father's death. He was planning on a fishing trip but instead he took the trip of a lifetime. This year has revealed much to me. As always when someone dies we are reminded once again just how short life truly is. There were many hard days this past year but God used troubles and trial in my life to reveal some dusty particles of dirt in my heart and soul. It has been the hardest year of my life~ I still have not stopped crying.

We think we are doing so well in our Christian walk. I mean we dress right, read our Bible and attend church. We become real good at being a "christian." (in our eyes anyway)  We know all the verses and can finish the preacher's sermon.

Yet~ what about when we compete as women ~ have envy or jealousy? How about when we are strong-willed and try to control and manipulate to get our own way? How about when we judge other people? How about when we have an acid tongue and wound people?  After all~ we have a right to express ourselves~ or do we? How about when we go to church and smile to only go home and devour  our fellow brothers and sisters in the family of God?   How about when we discipline our children out of anger and frustration while ignoring the fact that almighty God in Heaven sure gives us grace an mercy. How about our selfishness? When it is more important to have and buy than to sacrifice for a need on the mission field? How about when we are greedy and only give God what is left over in our time, money and devotion?

You see every day I wake up I have dust particles in my heart and soul and they need a good swiffering. We either allow God to do some dusting in our lives or we pull the blinds and turn a blind eye.

We just moved my mother and the new house has set empty for several years. Yet~ there is still dust,  the carpets need cleaned, the windows need cleaned~well it all needs a good scrubbing. You know what? The dust just piles thicker and thicker if we ignore it.  So it is in our spiritual life~after time we have hardened our heart all while looking good on the outside.

Have you had a good swiffering today?

http://ow.ly/dihgn 

About the Book: 

Michigan, 1883

In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?

Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer’s assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan–and the sights of Connell McCormick.

Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he’s living an upright life, that’s what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye.

Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell’s help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what’s right cost them both everything?

Meet Jody: 

Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of "The Doctor's Lady" and "The Preacher's Bride". She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog.

Visit her website: http://jodyhedlund.com/

I just love Fall! Each year at this time I start making candles. Saturday I had Frosted Pumpkin, Cranberry~Orange, Maple Sugar, Grandma's Clothesline, Hot Apple Pie, Apple Jack-n-Peel and a few others brewing. My house smelled heavenly.

My candle making started one year at J.C. Penneys. I bought my sister an Apple Jack candle in a small jelly jar. It is still my favorite scent to this day. I paid $12.00 and that was about 17 years ago. I said to myself, " I bet you can figure this out." I did research upon research. It was not as easy as today. I had a hard time getting wholesale prices. I also had a hard time figuring it out. In those days I would buy paraffin and mix my own concoctions until it was the nice consistency I wanted with a good scent. It consisted of Crisco, vybar, chevron's white cream and many others. Of course~ that was before we all went more green~ha!

Today it is easy~ peasy to make your own candles. Here is my simple recipe!

I buy all my ingredients from Nature's Garden Candle Supply on the internet. They have the most wonderful blends of waxes already mixed for you. Shipping is high but it is still cheaper than buying candle.  I have sold them, given them as gifts and even done some fund raisers.

• ·          Heat wax in a double boiler or wax pouring pitcher. Heat on medium heat until wax reaches 190 degrees. Add candle color. (I use the color blocks and slice small slivers with a sharp knife to desired color. Do a color check on a paper towel and remember it always dries a lighter color.)

• ·          Remove from heat and allow wax to cool to 180-170 degrees.

• ·          After the wax has cooled to this temp~ add your scent. (One ounce of scent per one pound of oil)

I made some little wax chunks for candle warmers using these art paint pallets. They are really inexpensive and worked great. I wiped each little circle with a little olive oil to keep them from sticking and they popped right out after they set.

Women In  High Def is written by Diane Markins with a number of wonderful contributing writers. It is written in a devotional type style and I have so enjoyed hearing the life stories, struggles and victories of each of these ladies. It is such an encouragement to hear women be real with the trials and troubles of this daily life we all live. I so enjoyed this book. I tend to devour devotionals in bite size pieces and use them over and over again. Each chapter deals with a topic such as Beauty and Health, Humor, Security and so all. At the end of each section is a bible study type question and answer section.

“ Women in High Def will remind you that when God writes your story, you are in for the adventure of a lifetime! Diane Markins has written a book addressing topics women deal with on a day-to-day basis. If you are looking for a contemporary, captivating read filled with practical advice that will give you insight and wisdom for daily decisions, this is it!”                            ~ Carol Kent, Speaker and Author  Between a Rock and a Grace Place (Zondervan)

About the Book: (Check out the Website) Women are as unique as snowflakes or butterflies, but after surveying hundreds of them, writer and radio host Diane Markins learned that the top needs they feel are the same. She also began hearing a recurring theme: I want more! I want to be better! I want to be bold! Women in High Def aims to propel women out of a low-def, foggy life of going through the motions in a blur. The profound stories, intercessory prayer prompts and coaching elements work together to catapult women into living fearlessly for God…being bolder moms, having purposeful passions, pursuing marriage excellence, loving themselves with gusto, laughing with abandon, transforming mistakes into blasts of blessings and bravely seeking the Lord in all His majestic glory. The bonus Bible study at the back of the book points them to scripture to gain Biblical insight and direction for each need and role they play. It can be used alone or in a group. Women in High Def is not passive reading. It cries out to the spirit of readers to be unafraid as they actively reach for clarity, vibrancy and intensity in all the meaningful areas of their lives. About the Author: Diane Markins has always aspired to live in High Def. She uses her radio show, writing and speaking to inspire women to transform their lives from mediocre and complacent to bold and vibrant. She settles for nothing less in her own life as a wife, mom, grandmother, friend and colleague. Diane writes two blogs,WomenInHighDef.com and WordsInHighDef.com, is a regular contributor to the Presidential Prayer Teamwebsite and CBN.com. She and her husband of 33 years work and live close to their children in Arizona. Falling Down Gorgeous (Excerpt from Women in High Def: Boldly Living Your Purposes with Vibrant Clarity) Time takes its toll on all of us. Parts of me that were once up here are now down there. My face, once smooth and fresh was becoming a bit weathered and wrinkled. Other areas that used to be firm are now wiggly. As I turned fifty I began to notice that I was becoming invisible, based on my appearance. That’s a big fat horse pill to swallow for my ego. But that’s okay. The good news is that when people start to see less of me, they see more of Jesus. He’s much more appealing and has no hidden agenda. I hate to admit it, but I still enjoy being noticed on occasion. My husband and I went on a date to a very fancy mountaintop restaurant overlooking the city. I dressed for the occasion in my fitted black slacks, silky blouse and high heels. I followed the maitre de to our table, my husband right behind me. I was feeling pretty good about myself and strutted a bit as we crossed a large open expanse of the room. As my stilettos went from carpet to wood floor something strange happened…I began to skate, stumble and flail about, for what felt like ten excruciating minutes, before finally landing flat on my keister. For endless moments all sound ceased except the quiet music in the background. Diners, servers and kitchen staff gaped at me, frozen in mid-action. Graciously, I was helped up, escorted to and seated at our table, where they elevated and iced my swollen ankle. Then—to my horror—the paramedics arrived, causing an even bigger stir. Servers and managers came by frequently to check on me. Finally, our fellow diners made their way to our table as they departed to share their own “fall down” tales. Earlier that evening, I had hoped for a little extra attention. But this wasn’t what I had in mind. Now I was just grateful I hadn’t chosen the skirt I had considered that was still hanging on my closet door. My experience that night was a great reminder that the only beauty that matters is what the Lord puts in our hearts. Everything else “falls” short in the end. Why Bold is Better by Diane Markins “Your dress has really bold colors.” Does that sound like an insult in any way? How about this one: “That was a really bold choice.” Would you consider this criticism? I hope not! I’d never wear something that would melt into the background of a beige room. I’d hate it if someone said, “You made a very safe, easy choice.” Being bold means taking risks, not fearing failure or rejection and requires intentional thinking. When we live boldly for God we have empowerment and passion to make our boldness meaningful. Settling for mediocrity in marriage, as parents, in careers, friendship, faith or ministry is not bold. God wants us to pursue everything we do with intensity and decisiveness. This means we are frequently checking the pulse of our pursuits and rapidly responding when we get a distress signal. Is your marriage (especially in bed) ho-hum? Find some bold ways to rev it back up. Are your kids struggling? Don’t just shrug and follow the “traditional wisdom,” think creatively about taking brave actions no one else would. Do your prayers feel more like talking to the ceiling fan than conversations with a wise, cherished friend? Do something wild and new to transform. Don’t confuse boldness with arrogance or recklessness. When your bold actions are paired with love, respect and clarity the results will translate as conviction with complete humility. Jesus has a bold message and He is asking you to not only share it, but live it! Bold is truly better. This book was provided to me by Choice Books for my honest review.