Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns
I heard this song on the radio a few days ago. It had been a while since I’d heard it, and I forgot how much I liked it. Seems appropriate when, for the last two days, I’ve been packing, repacking and organizing boxes in our attic, preparing for an eventual move. Most-often heard mutterings the last two days, “Really, Lisa? Really? Why? Why did you keep this?”
So, for anyone who’s carrying too much baggage — literally, spiritually, emotionally — this is for you. Travel light, friends.
… and the winner of Cindy Woodsmall’s The Scent of Cherry Blossoms is Amanda Fassler.
Amanda said this about Amish fiction:
I think Cindy Woodsmall is a great author. I haven’t read any other Amish fiction, but I read Wodsmall’s Sisters of the Quilt series and the Ada’s House series. I also have “The Sound of Sleigh Bells”, but haven’t read it yet. My grandma told me the same thing you mentioned about some Amish books getting a little repetitive, but she borrowed the Woodsmall books from me and seemed to enjoy them also. I would be thrilled to win a copy of this book because I know I will eventually want to add it to my collection.
Congratulations, Amanda! Send me an e-mail or Facebook message with your address, and I’ll send the book your way!
Ah, Petra.
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones never utters those words in his quest for the Holy Grail, but the stone city’s Treasury building plays prominently in the movie’s plot.
You know the place.
(courtesy Tracy Higley)
This was about all I knew of Petra until I read Petra: City in Stone by Tracy Higley. Higley is one of my new favorite authors, especially because her books open my world to times and places with which I’m unfamiliar and unknowledgeable. Hers are historical fiction set in the ancient world featuring Jewish characters and early Christians in settings of the Seven Wonders.
I haven’t disliked any of her books yet.
In Petra, a young poor woman named Cassia seeks a home for her son in the city where his father’s family lives. She and the boy travel to Petra with few clues as to how to find this family. Cassia’s expectations are shattered when she learns the truth about her son’s family and she finds herself fighting dark and powerful forces to save her son. But she doesn’t have to fight alone. Followers of The Way, an early name for Christianity, sacrifice to help Cassia rescue her son and overcome the city’s pagan worship.
If that’s not enough introduction, then check out the book trailer below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dErJ6gS1LD0&w=640&h=385]
As with most of Higley’s books, I get so caught up in the story and the setting that I can’t put the book down and when I do, I don’t want to leave the characters or the place. I’ve heard this is the key to success in novel-writing, and Higley is a master storyteller.
FAVORITES: Higley is thorough in her research, and I enjoy reading her travel journals and seeing pictures from her trips after reading the books. My faith is strengthened by these stories, which I consider in a class of their own when it comes to historical fiction. (And I love all kinds of historical fiction!)
FAULTS: They make me want to see the world, which is not really a fault. Reading Higley’s stories infects me with a travel bug that I can’t properly feed at this time. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop reading.
IN A WORD: Enriching. My faith grows, my world opens and I’m challenged. Higley’s books are a treat for the mind and soul.
Higley has a new book releasing in late spring/early summer this year, and I, for one, can’t wait. Meanwhile, Marduk’s Tablet is available here for the Kindle for 99 cents. Pennsylvania friends, you might find her books in the library, too, because she lives here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracy started her first novel at the age of eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. After earning a B.A. in English Literature at Rowan University, she spent ten years writing drama presentations for church ministry before beginning to write fiction. A lifelong interest in history and mythology has led Tracy to extensive research into ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome and Persia, and shaped her desire to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past.
She has traveled through Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Italy, researching her novels and falling into adventures.
Visit the author’s website.
Through a friend’s post, I recently was introduced to the Brave Girls Club. Check out the site. To tell you who they are and what they do and why they exist would take more words than I can write here. In joining this online community, you’re asked this question: “What does being brave mean to you?”
Simple question, right?
Not so simple answer, though I came up with something like “not being afraid to try new things and fail.”
Being brave — that’s not really my thing. Leaps of faith are rare in my life. My favorite hymn is “The Solid Rock.” Firm ground. Unchangeable truth. Solid. Safe. These are words I cling to.
The word “brave” for me evokes images of scaling a rock formation while wearing a harness or jumping out of a plane wearing a parachute or driving cross country with a map and no plan.
I’ve done a few brave things in my life. Leaving the country for a semester in college to study in England and travel in Europe was brave for a girl who hadn’t been on a plane since she was 2 and had only barely been into Canada and Mexico. I once drove myself from my hometown in northern Illinois to North Carolina to attend my first ever writer’s conference by myself without a clue as to why I was there or what I would experience. I have other similar stories. For some reason they all seem to involve travel.
That’s part of what has me thinking about bravery again. We’re about to take our first family vacation in a couple of weeks. The four of us are driving to Florida to meet my parents for a beach/Disney trip. We’ve traveled long distances in the car with the kids many times, but this will be our first trek into new territory with hotel stays and new driving routes.
I’ll admit it: I’m part excited; part scared. I’m a constant worrier about what could happen (bad) and ever fearful that I will not be able to enjoy the trip until we arrive safely in Florida and I won’t be able to really breathe and relax until we’re back home in Pennsylvania. (I would have made a terrible pioneer.)
See, I feel like I left the smidgen of “brave” I had behind when I had kids, although maybe some would say having kids is also brave. Some days, just leaving my house with two kids to run errands seems brave.
So, what’s your definition of “brave” and how has that changed?
I’d also like to compile a post of “the bravest thing I ever did” stories. Want to participate? Send me an e-mail: lmbartelt[at]gmail.com with a story about the bravest thing you’ve ever done. Put “Bravest Thing I Ever Did” in the subject line. I’ll keep your name confidential, and I’ll publish the stories in a future post.
Let’s encourage each other to do something brave.
Ready? Me, too.
If you look forward to these posts, then I’m sorry you had to wait a day. Several busy days in a row hit our house and I needed a break from anything requiring my brain.
So, here we are on Sunday (not the first time this has happened) with my weekly list of smile-makers.
First place goes to my son’s understanding of theology. Many times this week I’ve heard him saying, “Remember, Jesus loves you. Remember, Jesus loves Izzy. Remember.” And during our mealtime prayers, he’s gotten in the habit of praying, “Thanks for God.” I love hearing how our faith is translated to preschool minds.
Corban also made me laugh with some adult (not profane) language. We were talking about barbecue chips and how they’re not my favorite and I don’t prefer them but it’s okay for the kids to eat them. Corban declared, “Well, they’re my favorite. Really, I just prefer them.” Conversation over.
This week’s smiles are part looking back, part looking ahead. We have family coming to town this week, which means help is on the way and I may be able to leave the house by myself once or twice this week. Hooray!
And in just a few weeks, we’ll be on our way to Florida. My husband has been joyfully and carefully planning our trip there and back. I love this about him. He will make the trip interesting and adventurous. Hotels are booked. Now, we just have to pack. (Packing does not make me smile.)
We also saw the arrival of March this week. Even though March’s weather is unpredictable, just the word “March” brings a sense of relief. Winter is almost over. Spring will be here soon. Oh, spring, how I love you.
Took the kids to Hobby Lobby (or in Corban’s words, “Hobby Wobby”) to buy some supplies to finish a project. We went down the sticker aisle. “Stickers! Stickers!” They want stickers wherever we go. I think maybe more than candy. I’m totally willing to buy them stickers, especially if it creates a love for paper projects, as it seems to be doing.
The list could go on. Here’s a sampling:
Oh, and the one I almost forgot. I lost another pound, bringing me to a total of 13 pounds lost since the beginning of the year. My pledge for women and orphans in Liberia is adding up.
As we learn from the musical Annie, “you’re never fully dressed without a smile.” Here’s wishing you a week of fully dressed days!
My husband stumbled onto this song recently and played it for me a couple of times. I can’t get it out of my head, and every time I hear it, my soul responds with a feeling of freedom and release.
There’s a lot in this song that I don’t get, but I’m okay with that because I want to understand it, which means I have to listen to it more.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYGccOizj7I]
I’m interested in hearing more. Their music is influenced by literature, which ranks high in my book.
Check it out. See what you think.
When we first moved to Amish country, I was entralled with Amish fiction, hoping to glean some understanding about a people with whom I was previously unfamiliar.
I’ll admit it: I got burnt out. I felt like I was reading the same plots with different characters.
I’ve been reluctant to pick up another one in quite some time, but I found a pleasant surprise in Cindy Woodsmall’s The Scent of Cherry Blossoms. Though the story was slow to start, it soon picked up speed, and I was fully invested in the Romeo-and-Juliet plot set in the Plain community.
Aden and Annie, the love protagonists, are separated by their faith communities, one Old Order Amish, the other Old Order Mennonite, and though they work side-by-side and have been friends for years, their relationship is not permitted to progress beyond a working one. The plot is almost frustrating because the line separating the two groups, from the outside, seems almost negligible. Woodsmall, however, writes from personal knowledge — friendship with an Old Order Amish woman — which lends credibility to the story and its characters.
FAVORITES: Likable characters. Enchanting setting. Compelling story.
FAULTS: Aden stutters, and Woodsmall writes that into his dialogue. It’s an important part of his character, but it’s hard to read at times. Distracting, almost. But I don’t know how else you convey a stutter on the printed page. Also, the ending felt abrupt. After all the build-up, I thought, “that’s it?” It wasn’t a bad ending; the story just concluded hastily, I thought.
IN A WORD: Redemptive. It’s Christian fiction, so it ought to be, right? For me, The Scent of Cherry Blossoms redeemed Amish fiction. Maybe I’ll try another one soon.
How about you? Interested in this book? I’d like to give it away.
Click here to read the first chapter.
Leave a comment here on the blog about why you love Amish fiction, or why, if you don’t, you’d be willing to give this one a try.
Want extra chances to win? Share this post/giveaway on Twitter and/or Facebook, then come back and leave another comment letting me know you did one or both of those things. Three chances to enter and win in all.
I’ll pick a winner this time next week and announce it on Wednesday’s blog (March 7.)
And if you liked this review, take a moment to rank it on the Waterbrook Multnomah Blogging for Books Web site below. You could have another chance to win a copy of the book.
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/ranking/16430
Our daughter, the almost 4-year-old, loves books. When we walk out of the library every 3 weeks, our bag is loaded with books. A few months ago, she discovered Where’s Waldo? and other seek-and-find sorts of books.
Confession: I kind of hate these books. If I can’t easily find Waldo or characters from the Lion King within a few minutes, then I’m ready to turn the page and move on.
Isabelle still needs help finding the hidden pictures, so I can’t exactly leave her to herself with these books. What’s interesting, though, is that after we’ve been through the book once and found the pictures, finding them gets easier. She usually can pick out what we’re looking for without help after a couple of times through, and I start to remember where we looked to find the pictures.
This is somewhat like faith in Jesus. Although the apostle Paul writes in a letter that “what may be known about God is plain to them” and “God’s invisible qualities … have been clearly seen” (Romans 1:19-20), finding God in our lives, in our world, can be like looking for a hidden picture. If He’s not obvious, we might want to give up. If there are too many things blocking our view, we might get frustrated.
On the other hand, if we keep seeking, we will find Him. Jesus said “seek and you will find” (Matthew 7:7). When you start looking for God, and you find glimpses of His presence — in people, in nature, in circumstances — finding him the next time gets easier.
But it all depends on what you’re looking for.
Our Sunday School class at church is watching a video series about John’s Gospel from the point of view of where he wrote those words — in Ephesus, modern Turkey. Yesterday’s lesson focused on Jesus’ first words to John, as recorded in John 1: “What are you looking for?” (also translated “What do you seek?” or “What do you want?”).
Some people look for a moral teacher when they look for Jesus. Or a miracle maker. Or a magician. Or a genie to grant their every wish.
Others seek Him as the answer to their greatest need. As a deliverer or rescuer from themselves and evil. Some see Him as a servant. Or a king. As God. Or as a man.
Those aren’t all bad things. What you find when you encounter Jesus, when you look for evidence of God, depends a great deal on what you’re looking for in the first place.
So, what are you looking for?
Sometimes we need a little help finding Him, until we learn to look for His presence and working in our lives and others’ lives.
The more we look for Him, the more we’ll find Him.
Years ago, I was part of a Bible study that met once a week, and every week, we were asked the same question to start our sharing time: “What’s God been doing in your life?” The first time I had to answer that question, I was stumped. It’s not that God wasn’t doing anything in my life, but I wasn’t looking for Him. As the weeks went on, and I expected that question each week, answering it became easier.
As we continue in Lent, these questions can guide us in reflecting on our faith:
Jesus’ answer to the disciples when they answered his first question was “come and see.”
Seek Him. He won’t stay hidden.
Come and see what Jesus is all about.
Seriously? It’s Saturday again already? Time seems to be flying in our house right now. Which reminds me a little of those movie scenes where an airplane is flying directly toward a mountain and everyone thinks .they’re going to crash until the last minute when the plane makes a sharp turn or narrowly crests the mountain without a problem. That’s kind of how life feels for us right now. Not exactly something to smile about, I guess, unless you believe that God is good and you aren’t going to crash and burn and even if you did He’d have a plan for that.
Anyway, on to the weekly smiles.
How can you not smile at the first sign of spring? This yellow crocus, poor confused little flower, appeared in our front yard this week. With temps in the low to mid 50s part of the week, I can understand why nature might think spring is approaching soon. It is approaching soon, but I’m afraid the little crocus won’t survive unharmed till then.
The library. Even though I’m not checking out books right now because I have a backlog of books in the house to read, I still have an “I’m home” moment when I walk in. And I love that Isabelle can pick out no less than 15 books every three weeks to take home, even with a library of her own at home. Hello, we’re the Bartelts and we have a book addiction.
While at the library this week, I was reminded that three weeks from now, we’ll be on our way to Florida and halfway through the seminary semester. Crazy.
The time bake feature on our oven. I made these in the afternoon, then the kids and I took a long walk around the neighborhood. When we returned, it was ready to come out of the oven.
Last Sunday, the kids sang in church. Isabelle hasn’t quite been brave enough to do any actual singing since the kids have made regular appearances, but this time, she sang a little bit AND performed hand motions. Way to go, girl!
Making decisions as a mom. This week, it was little stuff, like making a dentist appointment for Isabelle (her first) and signing her up for soccer. I procrastinate and second-guess myself on decisions, so to have made two tangible ones for the well-being of my children this week feels great.
Isabelle’s starting to recognize and learn how to write letters. I’m not a teacher, so maybe this is old news for other parents of almost 4-year-olds, but it’s exciting. She can write her name and with a little direction copy letters and fill in crossword-type puzzles. Seeing her correctly identify letters that aren’t in her name makes me believe that yes, she will learn to read.
Corban’s terrible twos are turning ornery in the cute-but-naughty sort of way. He giggles and runs away when he needs a diaper change or takes something from his sister. I have to say here that it makes me smile because I can’t let him see me smile in the moment. It is sort of funny. But I know I have to lay down the law. He giggles about other things, too. While singing to him for naptime this week, I picked the hymn “Trust and Obey.” He repeated the words as best he could, then nodded his head and said, “I like it” followed by a giggle. It was enough to make me crack up during the song, too. Oh, the joy.
He also does stuff like this.
Friends, new and old, who keep me sane and encourage me.
Playtime at the park.
Making up after a fight.
Winning a license for a writing software I can’t wait to play around with.
Taking action toward meeting a writing goal.
So, what’s bringing a smile to your face these days?
Happy Saturday!
You know how when you’re reading a book and you have to put it down for whatever reason and you’re disappointed and you say, “Oh, man, I was just getting to the good part!”
A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh is like that from page 1. The good part — that’s the whole thing. Seriously. I started reading it while my son took a nap on my lap and two-and-a-half hours later I was more than 200 pages into the story. I finished it later that night because I just couldn’t wait.
Before I go too much further with this review, I should tell you Courtney and I went to high school together, though one of us graduated before the other one did, and I won’t say which of us it was. We later worked together at our hometown newspaper and reconnected on Facebook years later (doesn’t everybody?). And we had lunch last fall in a cafe dangerously close to a talking moose.
OK. On with the review. And stick around to the end for a Q & A with Courtney about the book.
A Sweethaven Summer brings friendship, scrapbooking, family secrets, forgiveness, and even a little bit of romance together. Please don’t let the “romance” word scare you. It’s part of the story but it’s not over the top or in your face. Subtle is how I’d describe it. The main character Campbell isn’t on a quest for love, at least not the handsome fella, sweep you off your feet kind. After her mother’s death, she sets out to find the father she never knew and along the way discovers a mother she didn’t know as well as she thought she did either. Scrapbook pages bring old friends together in their former summer community of Sweethaven, Michigan. She also meets Luke, a local who helps her with her search.
A Sweethaven Summer is the first in a three-book series, and I, for one, can’t wait to read more about these characters.
FAVORITES: No word is wasted. I’m kind of a skimmer when it comes to novels. I don’t get caught up in endless paragraphs of description. I linger over dialogue, wanting to get to the action to find out what happens. (Although I will NOT read the end of the book before I read the rest of it.) I tell you that so that when I tell you I read every word of this book, you’ll understand how rare that is. Courtney uses words wisely to both set the scene and move the plot along. I didn’t feel bogged down at all.
FAULTS: Related to what I liked best is what I liked least: it was over too soon! Now I have to wait a few more months for the story to continue. OK, that’s not really a fault. I feel like I’d be nitpicking to mention anything. I want to say that Luke seems too good to be true, but I like his character. Maybe there’s more to discover about Luke.
IN A WORD: Sweet. Not the sick-to-your-stomach-after-eating-too-much-candy kind of sweet. More like a delicious and satisfying slice of your favorite pie to top off your meal.
Courtney was kind enough to grant an interview during her busy book launch schedule. Read on for her thoughts about family, writing and who would play her lead characters in a movie.
So the book is out, people are reading and reviewing it, the launch party’s over… are you still pinching yourself about being a novelist?
Ha. I think at this point, the “work” of it takes over. Marketing your book is a huge part of the process, so I haven’t really stopped and thought “Hey! I wrote a book!” yet. I’d like to you…you know, eventually. 🙂 I did have a sort of surreal moment when I saw it in Barnes and Noble though…that was the moment where it all kind of came together for me!
What has surprised you most about your first novel (the process, the editing, the reaction, etc.)?
The whole process and the amount of work involved was very surprising…and still is! I don’t say that as a bad thing–I actually LOVE the whole process, but I was maybe a bit naive as to what it really took to write a novel! It’s a lot of writing and then rewriting and “cutting your darlings” as my editor says…but I also think I am surprised at how incredibly volatile it feels to have it out there, for people to read. I keep saying it’s like running across the stage naked with a follow spot on you. And it really is! (And, friends, that’s just not a pretty picture!)
How do you make writing a priority with a busy family?
I have an amazing husband. When we lived in Illinois, my mom came up once a week and kept my youngest (who is still at home.) But then we moved to Colorado. One of her attempts to keep us in Illinois went something like this: “You’ll never have time to write now without me there to watch Sam.” She almost got me on that one! It’s VERY challenging at times, but I’m so fortunate that my husband is supportive. He will give me a day away (or just locked in my office under the headphones) without any question. He doesn’t even ask me to make him dinner. I love that man. 🙂
Also, now, I pretty much only write on the weekends…I find that having a set time with a word count goal in mind really helps me.
The women in Sweethaven tackle some pretty serious issues: being raised without a father, unforgiveness, infertility, broken family relationships (and others I’m probably leaving out!) … how did you choose these themes for your novel?
Gosh, if I told you that the characters kind of told me their stories would you suggest I voluntarily check myself into a mental hospital? Because, truly, these women became so real to me, I really didn’t “dream up” stories for them…they sort of just unfolded while I wrote them. The unforgiveness thing probably comes from my own struggles, but everything else, I really feel like they fit in with the lives the characters lived.
And on a totally less serious note, if Sweethaven was turned into a movie, who would you want to play Luke and Campbell? (Or any other characters you’d like to cast.)
Oh, this is my favorite interview question of all time. ever.
Don’t think I haven’t thought about this. Until recently, I had NO one pictured for Campbell, but then my sister and I were talking about it and she found an image of Carey Mulligan. And it was like, “YES!” That’s her! To me, Luke has always been Scott Speedman from Felicity, still one of my all-time favorite shows. Wouldn’t they be so cute together? (It probably wouldn’t work anymore age-wise, but I can dream…)
I’m still thinking of the other parts…but Adele was inspired by Paula Deen. I don’t care how much butter she uses, I love that woman! 🙂
What’s next for you?
I just finished Book Two and am almost done with Book Three, which will be released at the end of summer and late Nov/early Dec. of this year…beyond that, I’ve got some things in the cooker but I’ve already made plans to take a month to really focus on finishing some projects around the house! I can’t wait to clean/purge and decorate! 🙂
Connect with Courtney on Facebook, Twitter (@courtney_walsh) or on her blog http://www.courtneywalsh.typepad.com. Courtney also is the author of two scrapbooking books, Scrapbooking Your Faith and The Busy Scrapper. If reading A Sweethaven Summer has you itching to dive back in to scrapbooking, like it did for me, then check out her other books as well.