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31 Days: Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day

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5-minbread

Since all of us kids left home, my dad has discovered a new talent. He makes the most beautiful, and tasty whole grain breads and rolls you could imagine. I am convinced that he could be a pro if he wanted to. His precision and attention to detail make him an ideal candidate for taking up baking, and it pays off with almost always perfect looking products. Growing up, I was the family baker. While I am not as concerned with following the recipe to a T as he is, the love of baking is something we share.

For the past few birthdays, he’s picked out artisan baking related items for me. This year, he and mom bought me this hefty volume called Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I’ve been itching to try it out, and it just seemed like a good day to do it. It really does only take around 5 minutes to mix it up and set it aside to do its thing. Talk about appealing on overly busy days!

I think I’m going to work my way through the book and try out as many of the recipes as I can. Perhaps I’ll report about it here as I go.

 

31days

linking up with The Nesting Place with my take on October’s 31 days. This is day nine.

She’s Got Issues—a dvd experience [review]

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This spring,shes-got-issues-products1 I reviewed a book I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to like. In the end, I have been so glad that I picked it up anyway.

She’s Got Issues really spoke to me. It gave me a lot to chew on. And I’ve been revisiting  it again in the past few weeks, this time with a friend.

Reading She’s Got Issues with a friend has  been another challenging, wonderful experience. It has shown me a little more how important it is to be willing to be vulnerable and accountable. It’s not easy to open up and say, “Hey–I’ve really got issues. Want to stand with me and pray with me through them?” with someone. It’s easier to keep on a good face and pretend like I have it all together. But that’s the whole problem. We ladies would be a lot better off if we didn’t hold so many of these kinds of secrets from our trusted friends.

After reading the book,  Tyndale sent me an email asking if I’d be interesting in reviewing the new DVD that Nicole Unice was putting together as it’s companion. I  wholeheartedly jumped on the chance to read the book again and to preview the video.

The DVD

The DVD features six one-hour long sessions. It starts out with an interview with a ordinary woman like us. It is sort of like a mini counseling session that we get to listen in on. It’s a great way to see how there is a common thread between all of us as women and the things that challenge us.

In the second half of each session, there’s a group study going over a section of the book. In a way, you feel like you are sitting right there in the living room with the other ladies, journaling and reading your bible as Nicole shares honestly about her own struggles and about what she’s learned about letting go and letting God set us free from our own self-made chains.

The topics cover each section of the book, and each one I’ve gone through has been engaging, and relevant to my own life and experience. There are journaling prompts and a guide for participants and for leaders.

It is ideal for a small group or a few friends to go through together, and I can’t help but think how good it would be if our teen girls could start learning now how to not let their issues keep them from being all that God intends them to be. There are just so many ways I can think of to use this series, and I’m excited I got to have this chance to go through it—not only because I was encouraged, but because now I have another tool I can share with the women God brings across my path who are looking for something just like this. I think, if you all could come over this afternoon and watch it with me, you’d agree that this series is timely and such a blessing.

If you’d haven’t read the book yet, check out my review, and consider ordering it. You can see a bit of a preview of what the DVDs are like here on youtube.

a copy of this dvd was provided to me by tyndale free of charge in exchange for my honest review. all opinions stated here are mine.

Why Being A Writer Isn’t Easy

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One day I looked up from behind and between a myriad of mini piles of papers covered in words and realized that I’ve always been writing. I’ve always made stories in my head, written letters out in my mind when I was suppose to be asleep and composed poetry as I worked. I’ve scribbled ideas, and rhymes in the margins of my homework for as long as I was in school.

I’ve  always written, but I have never been brave enough to claim the title of Writer. I think I should tell you why: Really being a writer isn’t easy.

writing-easy

there is no pretending.

Not everyone who writes is a writer, plain and simple. I think that most real writers realize that in stepping up and saying “I am a writer”, it strips away any cloaks or any place to hide. You can’t pretend to be good. You either are or you aren’t, and people will judge you by what they expect a writer to be. Honestly, that can be scary.

it gets inside your head.

You can’t get away from words as a writer. You will forever be haunted by the mental pen and paper that composes, takes notes, and writes, always writes no matter where you are or what you are doing. It won’t take consideration for your need to concentrate or for the fact that it will be hours before you have a chance to write. It will just string together words incessantly, and usually it’ll come out pretty good.  None of these compositions, however, you are likely going to be able to recreate quite as well when you actually do have time to write.

writing isn’t always glamorous.

That image of a writer sitting at a well organized desk, cup of tea, and a beautiful view outside the window? That’s perhaps 1% of a Writer’s Reality. Put together or not, organized or not—beautiful words often have unglamorous beginnings that those who read them never see. The writer is forever bogged down with loads of papers and drafts that are the beginnings of stories or are memories that can’t be thrown away. There are sticky notes stuck in odd places, and poetry written on the backs of old envelopes and receipts. There are ink stained fingers and eyes that are too tired from staring at the screen for long periods of time. And that desk? It may or may not exist.Then there is that over-sized purse for holding the essentials: a notebook, several pens (in case one dies, of course) and the latest inspirational read (or two). Hopefully you can find your keys in there and maybe you’ll have room for your wallet if you are lucky.

there is no magic involved.

At least not in the writing. The idea that all beautiful writing flows effortlessly like poetry from a Writer’s fingertips—that’s another myth.  Ninety-nine percent of the time, the magic is in the fact that it actually got written at all. Behind almost every good bit of writing are bits of sleepless nights, frustratingly long blank pages, lots and lots of deleting, some sweat and likely even a good deal of tears. In other words, writing takes work. Except for that one percent of the time when it doesn’t.

perfectionism will attack.

A writer should always strive for greater perfection, but should never allow perfectionism turn to fear or allow it keep them from writing what needs to be written. But because a writer writes things that other people will read, it is easy to forget that the reasons why you write aren’t to be perfect, but to share.

it makes you vulnerable.

A writer can craft a picture of their world through the words they write. To some extent they can control the vision of who you see when you read their words. However, a real writer’s words are often deeply personal. No matter how hard you may try, a little bit of your heart always spills out into your words. To send them out into the public eye is like like opening a door to your heart and to let yourself be vulnerable in a way that those who don’t write may never understand. It be hard to stand behind your words as the author, and not be moved a little bit by praise or by censure.  This is certain: to write is to risk being hurt. It is to open your heart to rejection and criticism (because you can be sure once you are really writing, it’ll happen) and yet not be afraid to keep on writing.

From the middle of those papers that day, I realized what I was afraid of.

I realized that it wasn’t the work, or the vulnerability. I don’t mind my piles of paper (though I do try to keep them neat and tidy!) and I’m only a little sorry that there’s not magic wand for writers.

The reason I’ve never felt brave enough to call myself a writer is because I am afraid of one thing:

Failure.

It is a hundred times easier to be an obscure little scribbler of words than to call yourself writer and make silly typos and write things that don’t always sound beautiful where the world can see your blunders.

It is easier to craft words and hide behind an excuse than to write and maybe be the writer who failed.

But today, I want to say that I am a Writer.

I see this world through a filter of words and sentences and through lines of poetry.

It was infinitely easier to write when I started this blog years ago and no one was watching than it was the day I stumbled across the “followers” page and saw that scary number looking back at me. When I realized that others were watching, I felt like I had to live up to something big and accomplished, instead of just writing because head is always filled with words.

I constantly remind myself that success is not measured by outward things or by the acceptance of the World Wide Web at large. Success for me is writing, just writing because this is what I was meant to do.

I am not a perfect Writer, and I may never write a best seller or have a blog read by thousands. But this isn’t why I write, anyway.

I write to share a story of God’s faithfulness. I write to share my journey, and I want Him to be honored and glorified by this record of my life.

I write because when I do, I feel that I am doing what I was meant to do: to be a writer of words just because.

I am a Writer. And by His grace, I will keep writing, even when it isn’t easy.

simple secrets of a happy life—a book review

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_240_360_Book.592.coverI am passionate about taking joy in the simple things of life. I believe in contentment and in discovering beauty in ordinary days. I think that is why the title of this eBook, Simple Secrets to a Happy Life, caught my eye.

Luci Swindoll writes from her life experience of 80 years and shares a lot of little tips and memories from her own life. She shares the reasons behind her life philosophies in a very simple way. The book itself is divided into five segments, each emphasizing sub categories under some of the things that Luci feels are the basis of living well, and living happily.

What I liked about this book is that it was simple. It encouraged making the most of what we already have, instead of looking for happiness somewhere else. I appreciated some of the little tips and some of the experiences that Luci shared. It was like a mini course on everything from organization to supporting the community you live in.

I’m not sure if it was the writing style or the format or just my own preconceived expectations: but I have to say I didn’t really find this book as inspiring or as motivating as I’d hoped. It felt a little bit broad and like it tried to take on too much at once. Sometimes it felt like the basics were drawn out too long to fill a chapter, and other things were skimmed over more than I would have liked. While I took away good thoughts and encouraging tid-bits, I felt like it would have made a better extended blog series than a book.

Don’t get me wrong. I did  enjoy portions and even a few chapters of this book! I think that there is almost always something good about every book out there, and the good thing is there are as many types of readers as there are authors. So while this eBook wasn’t really one that I personally enjoyed wholeheartedly, or would be enthusiastic about sharing or buying, I am sure that it meets a need and is a blessing in its own niche.

If you would like to read it for yourself, you can purchase it both as a paperback or as an eBook from Amazon.com. If you’ve already read it, I’d love to hear your perspective!

this book was given to me in exchange for my honest review by booksneeze. all thoughts are mine entirely.

she’s got issues [a book review]

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978-1-4143-6510-7I don’t think of myself as a control freak. I don’t feel like I’m stressed out about life all of the time. Overall, I like to think that I have it mostly under control. (ha. Control.)

I have my issues, don’t get me wrong. I have a list of insecurities and fears long enough to keep two people busy, and I’m not immune to stress.

But when this book arrived in the mail, I really didn’t think I’d like it very much. The cover didn’t appeal to me at all, and I didn’t know if it would be relevant to me. That’s why I hadn’t requested it from Tyndale when I had the chance. That’s why I wasn’t sure I was excited when She’s Got Issues showed up on my door step anyway.

I decided to read it anyway. After all, I already had it and hadn’t started anything else yet. And I have to say, once again, you just can’t judge a book by its cover. I think God might have orchestrated this little computer glitch just for me.

I had to read this one at a much faster pace than I wanted to, but I gleaned so many tidbits that hit me square on the head of my own “ordinary issues”. I realized maybe I was a little more of a control freak than I thought I was, and that perhaps I wasn’t as stress free as I wanted to believe. I was reminded how easy it is to put on a face and to act like “everything is normal” and play Christian, and yet not have victory in the small areas of our lives. Looking good, and being good are two different things. Pride can put on a great act, but at the end of the day does all the acting get us anywhere? Nicole came straight to the point when she asked the question: “Am I changed because of Jesus?”

She’s Got issues talks about plastic women—the women we tend to try to be, and about the real and beautiful woman that God wants to make us. She gives a real, candid look at the 5 1/2 “issues” that we likely all deal with every day. She speaks courage, and strength that trying to “fix it” ourselves will never bring us. And that’s the grace of God and His power to transform us, right down to our most ordinary issues.

In short, I came away from my reading inspired, convicted and encouraged to keep letting God peel away the plastic me, and keep molding the real version.

Each chapter ends with questions for personal evaluation, and a link to a video clip you can view online and hear Nicole share some of her personal greatest issues and the changes God is doing in her life. It almost feels like you are sharing the journey with her.

I’m now reading the book through at a little slower pace. Hopefully I’ll assimilate more and come away with a deeper feel for what all the book is getting at.

But I’m glad that I “accidentally” got a copy. I’m glad that I read it. I’m glad that no matter how messy  and deeply rooted our “ordinary issues” are, God already has a solution, and the way to real joy and peace mapped out for us. And I’m thankful that He chose to remind me how much I need Him through this book this month.

If you are looking for some inspiration and encouragement to step out of the comfort zone of excuses and want to take a good look at your own issues, consider picking up a copy of She’s Got Issues. I’m pretty sure you’ll be glad you did.

Oh, one more thing: If one of you wants to get a hold of a copy of She’s got Issues and read it along with me and go through the end-of-chapter questions, I’m looking for a reading partner. Let me know?

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