Word for the Year

A Word of the year is something that people do sometimes in lieu of New Years Resolutions.  They select a word to focus on that describes what they are hoping for in the coming year.  In 2018, I selected the word JOY. I saw that word everywhere and then, of course, it brought to my mind the desire for joy and the work needed towards achieving it.  In 2019 after a hectic year of joy, I longed for PEACE.  I wanted to work towards peace in my home, in my mind, in my life. I spent time reading and studying scriptures and grew in that area. Welcome 2020 and my realization that I need to be very careful as to what word to choose because I naively chose SIMPLIFY. My journal reports that I was “definitely thinking about simplifying and hoping to free myself from some things and decisions so I can spend time where I need to and want to. Just getting rid of stuff!” I wanted to “Simplify my belongings and my involvement in things.” Lastly, In early January I wrote, “Thank you for this new perspective about getting rid of stuff that doesn’t matter so I have time and space for what does matter.” A friend told me to be very careful when selecting my word for 2021 because apparently, the entire globe had to simplify in 2020 to help me with my goals. As I drank out of my “simplify” mug each morning, I was in awe at how my involvement in things had been simplified dramatically.

So, it’s 2021 and after some soul searching, I’ve decided to choose EXPLORE as my new word. I think it sounds fun and I think I can find ways to use it throughout the year no matter what happens. I was beginning to explore at the end of 2020 as I explored ways of celebrating the holidays differently and I hope to explore more options in the future. This year, however, I am prayerful that I will get to explore outside of my house too! I’m getting excited to explore.

Choose a word.  Choose it carefully and share it with others.  Happy 2021!

P.S. It’s beginning already….while writing this I saw the following icon and I clicked on it.  I still don’t know what it means, but maybe I will explore that later!

The Plans We Made – a Book Review

The Plans We Made by Kathryn Cushman & Lauren Beccue is a Christian fiction book that grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it for the entire 325 pages. As I begin to write this review, I find that this title is very difficult to summarize because there are multiple storylines and they are woven together so flawlessly that I don’t know which one to highlight.  This book covers the topics of family relationships and the corresponding complexities in ways that make even the most troubling event seem easy to manage. The subject matters of cancer, parenting, marriage, adoption, secrets, acceptance, and rejection are just a few of the hashtags that could be used for this book. I found all of the characters likable and I was rooting for them to work it all out and come to terms with their own unique pasts and hopeful futures. While these fictional characters were resolving the issues in their lives I found that the authors did an excellent job of making these individuals inspiring and informative and I hope that some of their advice comes to my mind when I am faced with a decision or similar situation in my own life.

When reading, I often think about who I will loan a book to when I’m finished and I found that this one was so diverse that parts of it would appeal to most people I know. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it to anyone looking for a good book to get lost in for a weekend; to anyone looking to be introduced to some new friends and for anyone looking for a happy ending.

Author’s Giveaway with Purchase

MAKE YOUR PLANS IN PENCIL!  Now, go buy your copy of The Plans We Made online or at a local bookstore, then be sure to head to Lauren’s website to claim your bonus freebie!  THREE CUSTOM PENCILS: Make Your Plans in Pencil The Plans We Made Proverbs 19:21 Just contact Lauren with your name, address, and where you purchased the book, and she’ll send you a set. That’s it! (US only and get ’em while they last.)

A Small Book for the Hurting Heart – A Book Review

A Small Book for the Hurting Heart by Paul Tautges is just that.  A small book that delivers large amounts of comfort and wisdom. Within the 50 devotions on loss, grief, and healing there are multiple other lessons directly from the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible.

When this book arrived in the mail, I was not suffering from loss or grief and didn’t know I was in need of healing.  However, shortly afterward, I lost my father in law and found each day’s lesson to be exactly what I needed to read.  In addition to the stereotypical loss of losing a loved one, I recognized that I indeed had suffered loss and needed healing even prior to my father in laws death.  We all suffer loss more often than we may admit.  This book covers all different types of loss and is applicable to many situations. The short chapters which are to be read daily give ideas for further action and study and quote many scriptures that can be studied on your own. Though each chapter is short in length, they are long in lessons and opportunities for growth and further discovery.

Grief from losing a loved one is recognized and addressed in many articles and books, but I found this book to help me realize that I am currently grieving more than a loss of life.  Currently living in the time of the Covid-19 Pandemic has left me grieving for many losses and Paul Tautges has led me to many scriptures to help me address the loss of social outings, friendships, and even normalcy.  This book is written for times like these.

“This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. –Psalm 119:50”

“In the middle of your fog, you need the piercing light of divine truth to break through and speak words of grace and comfort to your hurting soul…When the trials of life seem to drain every bit of spiritual, physical and emotional energy from you, God’s Word will be your strength.”

Though Paul Tautges wrote this book, he urges readers to read “THE Book”…The Holy Bible.

NOTE: This book was provided to me free by New Growth Press and Net Galley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

A Book Review -Teaching Art in the Primary Grades

About the Book

Book: Teaching Art

Author: Jerry E. Twitchell

Genre: Nonfiction  EDUCATION/Teaching Methods & Materials/Arts & Humanities

Release Date: February 20, 2019

As Simple as 1-2-3

Everything needed to structure and teach an effective art program for grades one to three is made simple for the home-school parent or teacher.

This step-by-step process for teaching art is perfect for home-school teachers or parents with limited art skills or time to create their own programs. This system of insight, responses to judgments, ideas, and feelings aligns with public school and state visual arts requirements.

Teaching Art in the Primary Grades is designed to foster lifelong interest in the arts, provide a gauge of what can be expected of children at various ages and grade levels, and present a baseline for measuring growth and skill.

Lesson plans with goals, objects, time frames, techniques, steps, illustrated examples, and assessment of growth are included.

Click here to get your copy.

 

“Time for Art!”

Jerry E. Twitchell’s book Teaching Art in the Primary Grades does all the work for you so that you can simply say “Time for Art!” and dive right in. This 319-page book appealed to me from the moment I saw the cover and the simple structure.  The introduction prepares you to confidently teach art skills to your students. The grades are divided by units and lessons complete with goals, expectations, and ways to assess progress.

As a former homeschooling mom, I could envision my daughters completing each session.  While instructing on cutting, modeling, drawing, painting, and weaving,etc., Twitchell looks at so much more than simply the procedure. He adds important reminders regarding the child’s development, self-worth, and pride.  He reminds the teacher/parent to be aware of the differences in artistic abilities and achievements and also gives instances where the art project can be integrated into other academic subjects. He gives many examples of open-ended questions to ask the child so that you can encourage their creativity while furthering communication and understanding.

Though presented in an appealing simplistic way, it is not lacking in educational merit. It is full of concepts and terminology that were new to me. (I must admit that I didn’t know a weft from a warp, do you?) The author’s love of children and love of art is evident on each page and I believe that using this book as a curriculum will foster a love of art in all. I look forward to sharing this book with our school district’s art teacher!

About the Author

Jerry E. Twitchell, DEd, is a retired educational administrator and art and history instructor. With over thirty years of experience as a teacher and principal, Jerry has nurtured primary through secondary students to experience the excitement of art. In his work with parents, teachers, and especially children, he has sought to bring to life a love and passion for art.

More from Jerry

Ever since I was young, I have always loved art.  It was only natural for me to be teaching and sharing the love of art to young people. Over the years, a number of parents, students and fellow teachers and administrators suggested that I should write a book about teaching art, particularly to the emerging beginning artist.  This would hopefully help them gain confidence in themselves in return would flow into their reading and writing subjects. After retiring, pondering and headaches, I started putting it together and throwing around ideas to myself on what should be included and “Wala”…..here it is.

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12

Mary Hake, September 12

A Baker’s Perspective, September 13 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 14

Kathy Anderson, September 14

Vicky Sluiter, September 15

Lis Loves Reading, September 16

Creating Romance, September 17

janicesbookreviews, September 18

Texas Book-aholic, September 19

Quiet Workings, September 19

A Reader’s Brain, September 20

Older & Smarter?, September 21

Inklings and notions , September 22

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, September 23

The Artist Librarian, September 23

For Him and My Family, September 24

Beck To Basics, September 24

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Jerry is giving away Gift basket with Basic art Supplies, Stack Card and a Athabascan People of The North coloring book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ec3a/teaching-art-celebration-tour-giveaway

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

A Book Review- Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue

About the Book

Title: Guide your Mind, Guard your Heart, Grace your Tongue

Author: Carol Burton McLeod

Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian Living

Release Date: April 3, 2018

Every single one of us with a beating heart has spoken words “under the influence” of warped feelings and slurred thinking. And we soon wish we had the magical power to take those words back. We especially regret the hurtful words we have spoken to those we love the most and know the best. This book may just be the solution.

Carol McLeod reveals that before the words are spoken, they brew in our hearts and are formed in our minds. It’s our thoughts and emotions that determine what words come out of our mouths. Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue is an innovative blueprint that will enable you to take control of your thoughts and feelings in order to grace your tongue. You won’t find pat answers here, but rather powerful strategies based on the Word of God to reroute disordered thinking and cure rotten emotions so your words can be humbly grateful instead of grumbly hateful.

Click here to purchase your copy!

I’ve Got Some Work To Do!

After reading Carol Burton McLeod’s book on Guiding your Mind, Guarding your Heart and Gracing your Tongue, I realize that I have a lot of work to do!  This topic has been on my heart for a long time and Carol does an excellent job of helping me study scriptures that attack this problem.  Her light hearted stories and examples create a nice balance between enjoying the book and actually working through the book.  I found that I was able to do both.  She encourages, relates and teaches, but also delves deeper to formally instruct and convict you to do more to reap the benefits of all that God has created for you to do and be.  Recognizing the complexities of the mind that God gave us and the realization that sometimes I put garbage into that mind will make me more aware of my thoughts in the future.  Also, the wisdom of remembering that your mind was made to worship – not to worry, should bring much peace into my day.

Carol gives practical tips and suggestion for maintaining an intimate relationship with God and experiencing His peace with thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter.  I look forward to doing more than reviewing this book, I look forward to reading it, studying it and reading it again.  It would make a great Book Club or Small Group book to discuss. Though I received this copy for free (Note below), I will be purchasing more copies in the future.  Great book that I would recommend to anyone!

But the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.  — Romans 8:6

About the Author

Carol Burton McLeod is a popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats through her ministry, Just Joy!, and is the author of a number of books. Carol hosts a daily radio show, “Defiant Joy! Radio,” which is broadcast in major markets across America. Her blog, “Joy for the Journey” (formerly “A Cup of Tea with Carol”), has been named in the Top 50 Faith Blogs for Women, and her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart won a Telly Award for excellence in religious programming.

Enjoy the Book Video

 Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 17

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 17

Genesis 5020, April 18:

Moments Dipped in Ink, April 18

Just the Write Escape, April 19

Mary Hake, April 19

Multifarious, April 20

Bigreadersite , April 20

Bibliophile Reviews, April 21

Carpe Diem, April 22

Power of Words, April 23 (Spotlight)

Among the Reads, April 23

A Baker’s Perspective, April 24

Resolved for Christ, April 25

Beck to Basics, April 26

Artistic Nobody, April 26 (Spotlight)

Inklings and notions, April 27

Jeanette’s Thoughts, April 27

proud to be an autism mom, April 28

Janices book reviews, April 28

Texas Book-aholic, April 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 29

Simple Harvest Reads, April 30

A Greater Yes, April 30

Giveaway

 

To celebrate the tour, Whitaker House is giving away the following prizes:

Grand Prize: A copy of Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue, “Grace” teapot from Christian Arts Gifts, Whitaker House/Anchor adult coloring book.

1st Place: A copy of Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue, Abba Jerusalem 6” Scented Pillar Candle

2nd Place: A copy of Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue, and Whitaker House/Anchor adult coloring book.

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cd18/guide-your-mind-guard-your-heart-grace-your-tongue-celebration-tour-giveaway

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

Notes on A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller

If you are like me, you have stacks and stacks of books in your house.  I have books in every room and many I haven’t read and those that I have, I probably will not read again.  However, there are pencil underlines, notes in the margins, lessons attempted to be learned in their pages.  I’ve decided in an attempt to get the books off my shelves and into the hands of others who may benefit from them that I will make notes in my blog and maybe some of them will touch you….then, the book moves on!

Notes on A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller

• Prayer is meant to be the conversation where your life and your God meet.
• When we slow down to pray, we are immediately confronted with how unspiritual we are, with how difficult it is to concentrate on God. We don’t know how bad we are until we try to be good. Nothing exposes our selfishness and spiritual powerlessness like prayer.
• Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy.
• Instead of fighting anxiety, we can use it as a springboard to bending our hearts to God.
• At some point, each of us comes face to face with the valley of the shadow of death. We can’t ignore it. We can’t remain neutral with evil. We either give up and distance ourselves, or we learn to walk with the Shepherd. There is no middle ground.
• Learned desperation is at the heart of a praying life.
• If you are going to enter this divine dance we call prayer, you have to surrender your desire to be in control, to figure out how prayer works.
• Don’t just ask for spiritual things or “good” things. Tell God what you want. Before you can abide, the real you has to meet the real God. Ask anything.
• Why do we have to spend our lives striving to be something that we would never want to be if we only knew what we wanted? Why do we waste our time doing things which…are just the opposite of what we were made for?” — Thomas Merton
• Guidance means I’m driving the car and asking God which way to go. Wisdom is richer, more personal. I don’t just need help with my plans; I need help with my questions and even my own heart.
• Until you are convinced that you can’t change your child’s heart, you will not take prayer seriously.
• I prayed because I was weak. I wasn’t trying to control God. I certainly wasn’t in control of (my child). I was simply praying God’s own heart back to him. I couldn’t imagine him not answering such a prayer.
• If the miracle comes too quickly, there is no room for discovery, for a relationship.
• When we suffer, we long for God to speak clearly, to tell us the end of the story and, most of all, to show himself. But if he showed himself fully and immediately if he answered all the questions, we’d never grow; we’d never emerge from our chrysalis because we’d be forever dependent.
• Living in our Father’s Story: To live in our Father’s story, remember these three things;

1. Don’t demand that the story go your way. (In other words, surrender completely.)
2. Look for the Storyteller. Look for his hand, and then pray in light of what you are seeing. (In other words, develop an eye for Jesus.)
3. Stay in the story. Don’t shut down when it goes the wrong way.

• I want success, he wants authenticity.
• If we pursue joy directly, it slips from our grasp. But if we begin with Jesus and learn to love, we end up with joy.
• When we understand the story, it quiets our souls. It’s okay to have a busy life. It’s crazy to have a busy soul.
• Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don’t matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?

May God bless the author and the reader of this book and may God bless you, the reader of this blog!

 

 

 

 

Life in the Desert

I hope that the following may speak to someone as it spoke to me when I read it in July of 2016.

Excerpts from A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller:

Life in the desert: The hardest part of being in the desert is that there is no way out. You don’t know when it will end. There is no relief in sight.

Thriving in the desert: God takes everyone he loves through a desert. It is his cure for our wandering hearts, restlessly searching for a new Eden.

The still, dry air of the desert brings the sense of helplessness that is so crucial to the spirit of prayer. You come face to face with your inability to live, to have joy, to do anything of lasting worth. Life is crushing you.

You stop caring about what people think of you. The desert is God’s best hope for the creation of an authentic self.

You have no idea you are changing. You simply notice after you’ve been in the desert a while that you are different. Things that used to be important no longer matter.

Oh God, you are my God earnestly I seek you; my soul thirst for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1) — He finally gets your attention because he’s the only game in town.

The best gift of the desert is God’s presence.

You cry out to God for so long and so often that a channel begins to open up between you and God.

Watch for the story God is weaving in your life. Don’t leave the desert. Corrie ten Boom’s father often reminded her, “The best is yet to come.”

If you dear friend, find yourself currently in a desert, take comfort in knowing that you are not alone there and you have the best companion anyone could ask for….God. May you feel his presence!

 

A Book Review – The Christmas Admirer

 

About the Book

Name of book: The Christmas Admirer

Author: Laura V Hilton

Genre: Amish Romance

Release Date: September 5, 2017

Amish romance fans will love this heartwarming holiday story, perfect for gift-giving.

Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but when his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, he was now the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters. What woman would want to put up with that? Still, against his better judgment, he can’t help leaving her a gift now and then, anonymously addressing her name in big block print, just to catch a smile. Roses one month, maple syrup candy another; and maybe this time, something special for Christmas.

Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, but now the clock is ticking. Her father is selling his glass-blowing business, remarrying in January, and moving to Iowa with his bossy wife-to-be. Angry and frustrated, Susanna realizes she’s left with three options: one, go with Daed to his new home with a new mom; two, stay in Jamesport, Missouri, as an old maid; or, three, the best yet, flush out her mysterious secret admirer. But how could she be with anyone else when her heart is still with Benaiah?

Click here to purchase your copy.

Review

(I received this book for free from Celebrate LIt Bloggers, CelebrateLit in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

Laura Hilton’s The Christmas Admirer is a Christian Fiction book set in modern day Amish country. Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for a long time and in these small, close-knit communities, it’s obvious from the beginning that this couple will probably remain a couple until the end, though there are some obstacles in the way of their true love.  Though the story is predictable at some points, isn’t that the kind of read we are looking for when we want to simply relax with a good book? The author did an excellent job of incorporating Amish terms and phrases and even gives a glossary at the beginning of the book to help the reader out. Though the Amish ways are uniquely theirs, the contemporary setting made me consider the Amish life in today’s society in a new way. The mention of cell phones and use of internet make the Amish characters more relatable and not simply a representation of the past. The author’s understanding of scripture is evident in her main character’s name.  Benaiah.  Why isn’t that a more popular baby name? The author’s choice of name made me dig through my Bible to learn more about this name and the references the character made. It’s always good to grow and learn and this name made me do just that.

I enjoyed this book though a few times I thought the author’s attention to passion and temptations (they never gave in to it fully) were not needed for the storyline.  I truly appreciated the “magic potion” myth associated with Gingerbread houses and thought it was fun to imagine Amish women buying into it even if only for fun.  The author even gives us a recipe to try on our own! I look forward to putting what I learned about faithfulness and responsibility through the friends I met in the book into practice.  And, I look forward to reading more from this author and maybe even baking some gingerbread soon!

About the Author

Amish fiction lovers responded positively and immediately to Laura V. Hilton’s debut novel, Patchwork Dreams, when she burst on the scene in 2009 with her unique series, The Amish of Seymour, set in the tiny town of Seymour, in Webster County, Missouri. Fans of the genre immediately recognized Hilton’s insider knowledge, not only of the Webster County community, but Amish culture in general. Her natural speech and writing patterns, she says, are uniquely “Amish,” acquired from her Amish maternal grandparents. The Amish of Seymour, includes Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. Her second series, The Amish of Webster County, is comprised of Healing Love, Surrendered Love, and Awakened Love. A stand-alone title, A White Christmas in Webster County, was released in September 2014. The Amish of Jamesport includes The Snow Globe, The Postcard and The Birdhouse. In spring 2016 she released The Amish Firefighter with the setting in Jamesport, MO, the same as for The Amish Wanderer.

Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer. Laura and her husband, Steve, have five children, whom Laura homeschools. The family makes their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas.

Guest Post from Laura V. Hilton

Glass Blowing and The Christmas Admirer

Right before my youngest son joined the Coast Guard we went on a short mini-vacation to Springfield, Missouri, actually going farther north almost to Kansas City to see another Amish community near there in Osceola. There is a cheese factory there and my son wanted to try some of their cheeses – such as a ghost pepper cheese. Too spicy for me.

But upon the return to Springfield, Steve read about a glass blowers shop in the downtown area. We found the address and went to visit it. It is owned by an older gentleman and his son. They had a display area set up where people could see their wares and buy them and then a work area where the son mostly worked, and talked about how the fire needed to be so hot, and showed us how he worked and made things. As we watched, he made a lovely flower, a lily, in different colors of glass, green, white, pinks.

It was fascinating.

And I got to thinking what if…

So I did some more research. Asked questions. Probably drove them nuts. But when Whitaker House indicated they’d be interested in a Christmas novel, I proposed one about a glass blower.

The story is set in Jamesport, Missouri, and while completely stand alone, it does have some continuing characters from other books I’ve written set in Jamesport. If you are interested, the books set there are:

Amish Books set in Jamesport, Missouri:

The Snow Globe

The Postcard

The Birdhouse

The Amish Firefighter

The Amish Wanderer

The Kissing Bridge (part of Springs of Love collection)

The Christmas Admirer

Gingerbread Wishes (part of A Plain Thanksgiving collection–November 2018)

Love by the Numbers (February 2018)

I haven’t read any books about an Amish glass blower, but that’s not to say they aren’t out there. I haven’t read all the Amish books available. Jamesport is an area that is more tourist-oriented than the books set in Seymour / Webster County Missouri. They give buggy tours, have bed and breakfasts, open their homes for visitors to eat supper with them, and have businesses.

All Amish districts are different and the rules vary depending on the bishop and preachers. Some are more liberal and some more conservative. Some keep themselves distant and don’t welcome attention from non-Amish and some embrace it. While Jamesport is not as touristy as some districts in Lancaster Pennsylvania or in Ohio, it is much more so than others.

Susanna’s Cranberry Salad

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (thawed), chopped
• 1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 medium apple, chopped
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix the first six ingredients until blended. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
2. In a large bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Just before serving, fold cream and walnuts into cranberry mixture.Makes 16 servings.

Susanna’s Cranberry Sauce

For on top of turkey sandwiches as Becca requested

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (thawed), chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water or orange juice

Directions

In colander, rinse cranberries. In sauce pan, add water or orange juice and sugar, boil until sugar is dissolved. Add cranberries and return to a boil. Lower to simmer and cook about 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries had burst. Let cool.

Susanna’s “Love Portion” Gingerbread

Ingredients

• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 T baking powder
• 1 T ground ginger
• 1 t ground nutmeg
• 1 t ground cloves
• 1 t ground cinnamon
• 1 cup shortening, melted slightly
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ c water
• 1 egg
• 1 t vanilla

Directions

Shift together flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Set aside.

In mixing bowl, mix shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg and vanilla until smooth. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until they are absorbed. Divide dough into three pieces, pat down until about 1 ½ inch thickness, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for three hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut in desired shapes. Place cookies about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 – 12 minutes in preheated oven. Cool on wire racks. When cool, decorate as desired.

Giveaway

In honor of her tour, Laura is giving away

Grand Prize Package: The Christmas Admirer, “Unto Us a Child is Born” painting on decorative serving plate by Donna White, The Hearthside Collection, Inc., and commemorative Whitaker House/Anchor Distributors coloring book (not in photo).

1st Place Package: The Christmas Admirer and The Very First Christmas by Juliet David with interactive illustrations by Pauline Siewert (children’s book).

2nd Place Package: The Christmas Admirer and “The Woman Who Honors The Lord Shall Be Praised” myrrh-scented candle from abba Jerusalem!

Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c16f

 

Blog Stops

ASC Book Reviews, November 9

Books n Baubles, November 9

Janices book review, November 9

Avid Reader Book Reviews, November 10

Have A Wonderful Day, November 10

A Greater Yes, November 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 11

God’s Little Bookworm, November 11

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 11

Eat, Read, Teach, Blog, November 12

A Holland Reads, November 12

Simple Harvest Reads, November 12

Reading Is My SuperPower, November 13

Beck To Basics, November 13

Carpe Diem, November 13

Christian Bookaholic, November 14

Blossoms and Blessings, November 14

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, November 15

Reader’s cozy corner, November 15

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, November 15

Baker Kella, November 16

Quiet Quilter, November 16

Karen Sue Hadley, November 16

Pause for Tales, November 17

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, November 17

Pursuing Stacie, November 17

For The Love of Books, November 18

Blogging With Carol, November 18

Pink Granny’s Journey, November 18

Bigreadersite, November 19

Vicky Sluiter, November 19

SusanLovesBooks, November 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 20

Moments Dipped in Ink, November 20

New Horizon Reviews, November 20

The Fizzy Pop Collection, November 21

A Simply Enchanted Life, November 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 21

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 22

Daysong Reflections, November 22

Splashes of Joy, November 22

 

Wacky Cake & Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast

Wacky Cake is one of the first recipes I remember my mom teaching me to make.  I had forgotten all about baking Wacky Cake until I read Twice Loved by Wanda & Brunstetter that mentioned the recipe.  The story is set in 1945 and celebrates Christmas.  At the end of the novel, there is a section on Wartime Recipes.  I had no idea two of my favorite comfort foods actually were aimed to stretch food rations.  Though I didn’t have to worry about rations when I was growing up, I’m glad these recipes stood the test of time!

WACKY  CAKE (My Mom’s recipe)

1 C Sugar

3 TBS Cocoa

1 1/2 C Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 pinch Salt

1 C Cold Water

6 TBS Vegetable Oil (original recipe says “Salad Oil”)

1 TBS Vinegar

1 TBS Vanilla

Sift dry ingredients together into an ungreased 8×8 baking pan. Make 3 holes in dry ingredients. Put Vinegar in one hole; Oil in one and Vanilla in one. (Mom thinks this might have been just to keep kids busy when they were helping.) Pour cold water over all and stir until moist. Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Leave in pan & frost.

FROSTING

1 C Powdered Sugar

2 TBS Cocoa

2 TBS Melted Butter

2 T Cream or Evaporated Milk

1 pinch Salt

 

CREAMED CHIPPED BEEF ON TOAST (from Twice Loved by Wanda & Brunstetter)

2 TB S Butter

1 (4 oz) package of chipped beef (can be rinsed to reduce the salt), chopped or shredded.

2 TBS Flour

2 C Milk

Pepper

Melt butter in A saucepan over medium heat. Add beef, stirring to coat in butter. Add flour, stirring to coat beef, and cook for about 5 minutes. Slowly add milk, stirring continuously as it comes to a boil and thickens. Pepper to taste. Serve over toast.

Proverbs

Many of us are not Bible scholars and we even struggle with what to read in the Bible when we do get the notion that we should.  Where do we start?  Many people suggest reading the gospel of John where you’ll find the message of salvation. Others suggest Genesis.  It’s at the beginning which is usually a really good place to start & many of the beloved Bible Stories from your childhood are there.  Very interesting.  So, no matter what else you may want to start to read, I’d like to suggest the book of Proverbs as a way to get yourself into the Bible.  This book is unique in that it has 21 chapters of useful information.  One chapter for each day.  So, simply put, you can read Chapter 1 on the first day of each month.  If you skip your Bible reading for a few days, just pick up on the chapter that corresponds with the date.  Easy.

These wise sayings that help us in everyday life, offering us advice on how to behave in various situations.

• A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 17:22
• There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. 29:20
• Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. 21:19
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 3:5
• As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. 26:11
• Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. 22:6
• A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; 27:15
• He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. 28:27

Solomon gave us these proverbs and many wise suggestions for our daily living.  May I suggest we read them and heed them?  Let me know how you make out.

 

Proverbs 27:15-16 (New Living Translation)
A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands.