Sunday Sentiments

 

It’s pastor appreciation month, which isn’t a new topic for me on this blog. I’ve shared before about some of the pastors who have influenced me over the years, but I’ve also learned from even more since the last time I wrote, so I’m returning to share my gratitude today.

            I was in upper elementary school when my childhood church brought in a new minister, and I loved him and his wife so very much. Their names were Fred and Naomi, and they felt like joy-filled grandparents. I remember such specific things about them…like how they requested a church directory before they even came and learned our names and faces. In the weeks leading up to their arrival, he sent audio greetings to be played in our services, so we could get used to his voice. And not too many weeks after they came, I fell off my bike and broke my leg. They were among my first visitors, bearing gifts and prayers. (They drove a good half hour to visit a sixth grader with a broken leg, and even then, that wasn’t lost on me.) They both became great encouragers in my life. Naomi nominated me for a youth award in our district, and I still remember her confidence in me! They moved out of state when they retired, but Mom and I had the privilege of visiting them in their home years later, when we were out visiting my sister in Kansas. It was a great joy to see them one more time.

            I was in college and mourning the slow decline of my childhood church when God led me to a new (to me) place of worship. I was excited to find a healthy church where I could learn and grow as I made my way into adulthood. Pastor Steve preached  wonderful sermons that taught me so much, but it was his friendship and personal investment in my life that meant even more. I had some turbulent personal years while I was there, and he sat with me, listening and offering wise counsel. I remember one time when he came to my defense and stood up for me in a moment when I felt so alone. His wife, Cheri, is still a dear friend, and I appreciated learning from and with her in women’s Bible studies and ministries. Both of them gave me such a strong foundation in my growing-up faith, and I am grateful. (I am not sure how I don’t have a picture with Pastor Steve, but here is one with Cheri!)

            When Ryan and I lived in Kokomo, we were thankful the Lord led us to the church we attended. So many great friendships – many that still exist today – came from that time.  I served on the staff at that church for a few months before we moved to Grabill, and that was when I really became close friends with Pastor Liz. She was the music minister and had been for many years. (She retired right around the same time we moved.) Ryan and I had served as narrators for her music programs while we attended there, and when I went on staff, I worked for her. She and I spent many hours talking, and I don’t know that I’ve ever met a wiser woman than Pastor Liz. She is grace-filled, careful to study and think through each thing, and she is also so funny! How we made it through staff meetings without getting in trouble, I’ll never know. We still text pretty regularly, and I am forever grateful for her investment in me…the non-musical one.

            And now, here we are at a church where we get to call our friend our pastor and our pastor our friend. Jonathan and Julie have been my friends for over 20 years now, and it is a great privilege to get to attend their church. I love learning from both of them, but I also love getting to live close to our friends again! I appreciate how they listen and pray and offer sound advice. I appreciate how they get to know their congregation and how deeply they love every single person in it. I love how fully they serve and how they inspire me to do the same. It is a sweet gift to sit under Jonathan’s teaching and to know that if we need prayer our counsel, he’s right there.

(The picture is old. Ryan's fine. LOL!) 

            Like I said, these are just some of the ministers who have influenced my life. I’m thankful for all of them. I’m grateful for each of these men and women who have helped shape my understanding of God!

Saturday Suggestions

 

Happy Saturday, my friends. Fall has settled in for real here, and I am soaking up every gorgeous color change on those trees out there. It's rained much of the week, and I've loved cuddling up at my desk with a blanket and my new fuzzy slippers! And while I did...I found some things for you to enjoy today!

ONE. 

I loved this piece about the gift of rejection. As a writer and speaker, I am quite familiar with the word “no,” but it’s still hard to hear. I have, with time and what I hope is maturity, learned to hear it without becoming entirely undone. But it still stings, and often to the point of tears. I really appreciated these words about how rejection can be a gift and can be productive. Even if you aren’t a writer, maybe these thoughts can encourage you in some way!

TWO. 

We can’t go on this trip – but maybe you can! I love Liz Johnson’s writing and the novels she has set in Prince Edward Island. She’s leading a trip there next year, and it looks like SO MUCH FUN!!! Love this idea so very much.

THREE. 

I had a conversation with a friend this week – and she asked what I had been taught growing up about whether or not there was ever any rain before the flood. We had a good talk about it, but I did dig up this article from Answers in Genesis, and I found some perspective I’d not heard before, Just sharing it here today for your perusal!

FOUR. 

You know I love some organization in my life! Small kitchen appliances can be a beast to store (and easily access) if you don’t have a huge pantry space to keep them. This post has some great ideas for figuring out what goes where – and those cord keepers are pretty nifty! This is the first time I’ve ever seen them, but they appear to be perfect in functionality!

FIVE. 

If you are facing hard circumstances right now, I hope these words encourage you and bring some purpose to your pain. It’s not only beautifully written, but it also holds much truth!

SIX. 

I have shared before about Sara Jo from Bryarton Farm. I follow her on Instagram and love her heart and lifestyle. She and her husband have two biological daughters and have adopted two daughters from India. Both of their adopted children are blind, and I have learned so much from Sara Jo about life, hope, and adoption. Sara Jo is also a very gifted watercolor artist, and she has created a 2024 calendar that is breathtaking. She is using the sales of the calendar as an adoption fundraiser for another family bringing home a daughter from India, so the proceeds go to a great cause. I adore this calendar with my whole heart and wanted to share it with you!

Fun on Friday

 

It’s been a while since I wrote a “Fun on Friday” post, but I need a little extra dose of fun, so I’m going to do it today! I found a list of “unconventional” questions to ask someone to get to know them better, and I agree…they are unconventional! But they’re fun, so I will answer some today.

Do you believe in ghosts – why or why not? I don’t believe in ghosts in the way this question asks. But I do believe, because Scripture talks about it, that there are spiritual forces heavily at work in our world in ways we can’t see. I absolutely believe that, and I believe their ability to create chaos is very real.

Can you write in cursive? I can, and I still forget there are people who can’t! I remember one day early in our WillowBridge career, one of our tenants brought me a card she had received in the mail. She said, “Can you read this to me? I don’t know how.” I am not sure where schools stand on teaching cursive right now. I know it went away, but then I thought some of them brought it back. I would absolutely teach my kids to read and write in cursive – if I had kids!

If you could live in a movie, which one would it be, and why? Anne of Green Gables, of COURSE! Knowing my luck, I’d end up cast as Rachel Lynde, but that aside, I would dearly love to wear the puffed sleeves and live by the Lake of Shining Waters.

Do you sing in the shower? I do not, but I sing LOUD AND PROUD in the car. (Only when I’m in there alone.) The shower is my super quiet time. I do my best thinking in the shower, so I try not to have any music playing to distract me from my thoughts. But in the car? I am an award-winning artist.

How many hours do you get to the airport before a flight? Usually two and a half – for most airports. Things always go wrong for me, so I want to allow plenty of time for that to happen. I think the only two airports I’m comfortable with a closer arrival time are Fort Wayne and Wichita. Both are smaller airports. Having said all that, I still hate flying, so this isn’t something I encounter often. We are coming up on five years since our last flight.

What’s the first thing you do in the morning? See if I have enough time for one more snooze. I typically set my alarm ½ hour to 45 minutes ahead of my last-chance getting up time, because I have to wake up oh-so-slowly. When I realize I’ve snoozed my last snooze, I’m very sad.

What’s the last thing you do at night? Charge my Fitbit. Mine is pretty old and won’t hold a charge for a full day anymore. (It used to easily last a week.) So every night, when I know I don’t have any additional measurable steps in me, I take it off to charge it. I know I need to replace it, but I’d rather buy scrapbooks!

At a party, where can someone find you? Well, I don’t go to many parties, but if I did, you’d probably find me hanging onto Ryan, because when I get in very people-y rooms, my introvert comes out in full force. He’s a natural, so I stick with him.

Who would play you in the movie of your life? Reese Witherspoon, I hope!

What is your most controversial opinion about something mundane? I think Ryan would say it’s about backing into parking spaces. If you aren’t driving an ambulance, fire truck, or police car, I see no need to back in. I’ve been known to get pretty fired up about it. Ryan sees no reason (ever) to NOT back in, so this controversial opinion gets mentioned in friendly banter quite often.

What’s the weirdest thing you do when you’re alone? Read homeschool curriculum. I could seriously read it for days. The wannabe teacher in me has never ever gone away, and curriculum fascinates me to no end. I read through and pick what I would use if I taught. This actually gives me a great conversational skill when talking to homeschool moms, but they also think it's weird that I’m able to have this talk with them. (I am still pretty excited, though, that one of my friends ended up picking my top recommendation to homeschool her five children!)

What’s your opinion on modern art? I don’t usually understand it. I’m okay with that.

What’s the most ridiculous outfit you’ve ever worn? Ryan will crack up when he sees this one. Back in junior high, I went to a bridal shower wearing a cross stitched sweatshirt tucked into a denim skirt with a belt over it – and coral dress shoes that matched nothing else on the outfit. Is it any wonder I did not become a fashion influencer?

Would you rather have your dishes or your clothes be magically clean? Ha! Ryan I and I JUST talked about this! I haattttttttttttttttte doing dishes, and he doesn’t mind it, so he washes them. (I do unload the dishwasher most of the time.) I am always apologizing for my lack of dishwashing love, and this week he said to me, “Hey! Listen. Every time I open the closet and drawers, they’re magically full. I have magic drawers, and you have magic cabinets. We’re even.” I can live with that!

Do you like to make plans ahead of time or be spontaneous? While I don’t hate spontaneity entirely, I am a plan-ahead girl through and through. I have a lot of friends who plan last minute, and I always feel guilty for saying no, but it’s a documented fact that most of the time, we are booked three months out. Not every single day. But a lot of them!

If you had to wear just one color for the rest of your life, what would it be? Probably some shade of blue or teal. I find I wear a lot of it and like how it looks.

What is the weirdest encounter you’ve had with a celebrity? Definitely meeting Denise Jones (from Point of Grace) in a church bathroom while wearing a Mickey costume and holding his head in my hands.

What’s the worst haircut you’ve ever had? I’ve had a handful of them, but I had a super short and kind of spikey phase right after college. It wasn’t the greatest.

What kind of driver are you? The most conservative and rule-following ever. Basically, you’d hate being stuck behind me.

What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on? (Ryan said this should be hard for me to answer because I've been on a lot of bad dates...and that's true! Clarification: none were with him.) I don’t want to be too specific, since you never know who might read, but I was set up once with a guy I had nothing in common with, and I spent the entire date wondering why in the WORLD my friend thought this was a good idea. I’m pretty sure he was thinking the same thing. We both bolted from that restaurant as soon as we inhaled the last of our food.

 

Hope you had fun reading along. Any fun tidbits from this list you’d like to share??

I'm So Glad...

 

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” Anne of Green Gables said. I couldn’t agree more.

            Ours has been stunning, and in honor of that, I thought I’d share some of my favorite October pictures.

You sure are pretty, October!

Bekah's Bookshelf: My 2023 Reads...So Far

 

I made a goal to read more fiction starting this month. So many of my recent books have been for work or just on the weightier side of nonfiction, and I needed to escape into the pages of a story for a little bit.

            And of course, for the first round, I chose a 460 page book. Ryan about had to sit down when I walked in the door with it. As you might remember from way back at the beginning of the year, I picked some titles to fit in a book challenge. I am so far behind on completing this challenge in a year’s time (which was truly never my intention anyway) but I have appreciated its presence in my life, pushing me to try new titles. This pick came from the challenge and completes half the “fiction/nonfiction pairing” category. The creator of the challenge said the fiction and nonfiction pairing could take place any way that made sense to me. I wasn’t sure how I would go about fulfilling it, but then I discovered that Beth Moore has a novel called The Undoing of Saint Silvanus and a companion book called Undoing What Has You Undone that is nonfiction. YES!

            Beth published her novel back in 2016, so I am definitely behind in getting to this one. I knew about it, but I hadn’t read it. If you’ve read here for many years, you know I’ve done several of Beth’s Bible studies, like Breaking Free, Believing God, Daniel, and Children of the Day, and I’ve read many of her nonfiction books, like Audacious, Believing God, So Long Insecurity, Get Out of that Pit, Jesus the One and Only…and more. Her nonfiction writing skills are inspiring, and I was so curious to see if she could do just as well with fiction.

            (I learned the hard way in college that writing fiction and nonfiction are two wildly different crafts and I did not have the talent for fiction that I always hoped to have.)

            I was thrilled to find that I love Beth just as much as a novelist as I do as a Bible study writer. I could hear her voice as I read (so yes, I read the entire book in a southern accent) and loved her word choice from start to end. I was actually sad I’d borrowed the book from the library, because I wanted to underline phrases on almost every page.

            The novel tells the story of Jillian Slater, a young adult who has lived most of her life on the west coast with her mother. She receives word that her estranged father has died in his hometown of New Orleans. Jillian returns for his burial, mostly because she’s offered a free trip.

            Jillian’s grandmother, who isn’t the friendliest lady in the world, owns and lives in an old church converted into an apartment house. Jillian discovers that she has no idea she’s been invited to the burial and isn’t warm toward her presence at all. And the apartment house seems to have stories and secrets that both beg to be discovered and to remain hidden. And then her father’s death turns out to not be natural after all. Jillian’s previously common and uneventful life suddenly spins with events – some dark and spiritual and some physically dangerous.

            Even thought the book is long, I sped through it, captivated by the storyline and the characters. I loved how even in a work of fiction, Beth incorporated a clear Gospel message.

            And I loved reading at the end of the book about Beth’s journey as a novelist.  She said, “I have zero interest in wasting time on something of little eternal value. I asked God over and over to please dry up the story if it wasn’t something He could bless.” She also said, “The story line is fictional, but the Savior is not. I have experienced no greater reality in all of life than Jesus Christ.”

            I am so glad I read the book and would happily read more novels if Beth ever writes any. (I am also looking forward to reading her memoir.) Now to find the companion book to finish out this category.

A Year of Home

 

A year ago today, Ryan and I parked our car in the driveway of this lake house, walked inside, and signed the papers to make it ours.

            The gentleman who sold us the house was here too, and as we signed, I watched him walk slowly from room to room, taking one last look and saying whatever silent goodbyes he needed for closure on a dream. He was a quiet sort of man, and aside from this transaction, we didn’t know him, so I didn’t ask questions about how he felt on that day. If I had to guess, I’d call it a mixed bag of relief and grief. Relief to be set free from a dream that hadn’t panned out the way he hoped and grief over letting go of a dream that hadn’t panned out the way he hoped.

            He handed us the keys, walked out the door, and Ryan and I were left with this house that felt cold (because it was cold) and echoed it emptiness. We made our own slow pilgrimage through the rooms, realizing that the work was now ours to do. How does work multiply so quickly when ownership is attached?

            We didn’t start making lists that morning. We waited one whole day for that! The first morning was all about absorbing with wide-eyed wonder.

            The chilly fall day and emptiness of the house made me wonder what it would be like when the dreams in our minds were reality before us. What would the house feel like? Would it be warm and cozy? Would it truly have our personal stamp on it? Would it be home?

            This past Sunday night we baked a loaf of bread with our freshly milled flour, and the beautiful aroma permeated every inch of the house. When it had finished baking, it sat in all its golden-brown beauty in front of the little lamp in the corner of the kitchen. I looked at that little vignette, inhaled deeply, and said, “Oh yes. This is home.”

            Last night I had to work late and when I finally arrived home, I changed into jammies and crawled under my favorite blanket. Ryan watched football from the other end of the couch, Lexi snored in between us, and my coffee cooled faster than I could drink it. The walls in front of us are crisp white, our beloved curtains hang at the windows, and our nautical lamps from about 6 years ago fit here better than any other room they’ve ever been in. It’s home.

            We know the spots where the floors creak. We’ve met most of the neighbors. The sunsets have not gotten old. It’s home.

            It’s been quite a year. It’s been defining in many ways. Maybe I should redo this picture today – with touches of home all around.

The Privilege to Serve

 

This is pastor appreciation month, as you may or may not know, and as a tie-in to what I want to share today, I have to say how much I love and appreciate our dear friends, Jonathan and Julie, who serve at our church. He is the pastor, and she leads worship, but both of them do so much more than that. They serve in tandem in so many ways, and it is such a gift and joy to be part of the local church they lead. They put hours of thought and soul into everything they do, and it shows in the best ways.

            They had a family wedding to attend this past weekend, so it was a privilege and joy for Ryan and me to be able to serve our church so they could have a break.

            When we were first married, Ryan was on the worship team at the church we attended, but for one reason or another, it’s not worked out for him to be part of the teams at any of the churches since then…until now. I have loved watching him live out that passion of his heart during the months he serves on that team. And yesterday, I got to watch him lead the group – and I was so proud of him for how seriously he took the responsibility. As with everything he does, he served wholeheartedly. 

            And then I had the chance to share the message with the congregation, which is also a responsibility I don’t take lightly. I had something different planned, and a couple of weeks ago, God put a whole separate thought on my heart and I switched my topic completely.

            The closer we got to yesterday, the more passionate I felt about that message, and though I had (and still have) no idea what all God plans to do with the words, I’ve entrusted them to Him and believe He will do something meaningful in His way and time.

            It was a sweet Sunday for us. Serving together is one of our favorite things to do, and to be able to do it while providing a way for our friends to have time away was extra meaningful for us. It was a really wonderful start to our week!

Sunday Sentiments

 

I’ve been working so hard on my study of Leviticus, but I have paused it momentarily to study in Psalms. I felt weighed down by law-study and needed something that soothed my soul a bit more intently. That’s how I landed in Psalms…119 to be exact. Yes, I picked the longest one.

            Last night I read a commentary over one of the early sections of that psalm and explored some of the phrases in deeper detail. 

            With my whole heart I seek you, verse 10 says. We use that phrase “whole heart” in our home quite often, usually in relation to Lexi’s undying devotion to us. After she loses her mind with delight when Ryan comes home from work, I’ll ask her, “Do you love him with your whole heart?” And sometimes when she’s working her gaze to get what she wants, I’ll tell her that I love her with my whole heart.

            When I think about how much that sweet little girl loves us and how much we love her…how intense that is…I have to ask myself if I am seeking the Lord with that kind of intensity. Am I running after Him with my whole heart? Do I seek Him with inexplicable joy?

            May the Lord find my heart…my whole heart…excited to seek Him!

Saturday Suggestions

 

Hey friends! It’s fall break around here – so if you’re enjoying a little time off, please do enjoy it to the fullest! I’ve rounded up a few things for you this week – hope you find something fun in here!

ONE. 

You know what one of my favorite things is about all kinds of style right now? (Personal, home, you name it…) It’s okay to love what you love and not worry about it if it’s “in style” right now. I love our home the way it is, and it doesn’t bother me a bit if some (or all!) of what we have isn’t trending these days. But I do like to read about what is or is not current, based on what experts say. (Who are the experts, anyway?) We’re breaking a few of the design rules in our home according to this – but we love it, so it’s staying!

TWO.

Did I have Christmas movies playing in the background while I worked yesterday? You bet I did! Here’s the list of movies on Great American Christmas from TODAY until Christmas. Yes, today! (It’s okay if it’s too soon for you – but I’m ready!)

THREE.

I would be lying if I said I’ve read each of the links in this post, but I’m so fascinated by it that I just had to share. I’ve written (multiple times) about planners I’ve used over the years and what I’ve loved and not loved about different options. This blogger tried 52 planners/planning styles in 52 weeks! WHAT?!!! I want to delve into all of these, but even though I haven’t yet, I just had to share it. Impressive!

FOUR. 

If you have 2.4 million in pocket change, you can snag this house in Minnesota. From the hot tub to the home theater to the workout space to the pizza oven in the kitchen, you’d really never have to leave to go anywhere else! (Oh, and did I mention the view of Lake Superior?)

FIVE.  

This post has great advice on dresses (colors and styles) to wear/avoid wearing at a wedding. I never thought about how colors even in the background of another photo could impact the picture! It’s a fast read with good advice – especially if you’re in a season of life full of weddings.

SIX.

I haven’t done it for several years, but I used to take a vacation day every December to bake all the goodies all day long. Then I would give them away for gifts! This shows a cute way to package cookies for giveaway. If you’re planning a gift-baking day this year, check it out!

They've Got Personality

 

Yesterday at work, we took personality tests…and when I read the results to Ryan, he said it was almost scary how accurate mine was! It said I’m a Defender.

            Here are some paraphrases of my results:

I’m hardworking and devoted and feel a deep sense of responsibility to those around me.

I meet deadlines, uphold traditions (YES!!!!!), and often operate behind the scenes.

I’m sensitive and caring and have an eye for detail.

I’m loyal and don’t love change.

I’m meticulous to the point of perfectionism (YESS!!!!!!!) and take my responsibilities personally.

I’m supportive, reliable, and sometimes overcommitted.

Yep, Yep, and Yep!

            Ryan wanted to take the test too, so he took it last night, and it turns out we’re pretty much polar opposites. He’s 74% extraverted (which I find to be a conservative estimate) to my 83% introverted (which feels a little high to me, though I am more introverted than most realize). His type was Consul. 

He’s caring, social, and always eager to help (TRUE!!!)

He’s attentive and people-focused.

He’s generous, reliable, and hospitable.

He’s a servant who does the right thing. (YES!!!)

He’s loyal, warm, and connects well with others.

            The part that made me laugh was the part at the end, where they gave examples of people with these personality traits. I laughed because many of these I would never call similar with each other, but…are you ready?

            My personality is like: Queen Elizabeth II, Vin Diesel, Halle Berry, Kate Middleton, Anne Hathaway and…Bree Van de Kamp from Desperate Housewives. (Never would I liken Bree to Kate Middleton in personality!)

            As for Ryan…he’s like: Taylor Swift, Jennifer Garner, Steve Harvey, Jennifer Lopez, Sally Field and…Monica from Friends. (He does clean that thoroughly!)

            So there you go…we’ve got personality, and when you add us together, we have ALL the personality!

All By Myself

 

When Ryan and I married, we made a choice to do life together. It reminded me of my grandparents, who did everything together for as long as I could remember. I was excited about the idea of sharing everything – from the mundane to the grand – after so many years of being on my own.

            Some people celebrated that desire with us and others told us we were ridiculous. Spend time apart, they’d say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. But we always knew our choice was to forge a life together. It suits us, and we embrace it.

            And so we’ve done just that. We grocery shop together, cook together, do housework together, watch TV together – even when we don’t always choose the same shows.

            Over the weekend, Ryan wasn’t feeling well, so I ventured forth to do a little shopping on my own. It wasn’t the same kind of fun I would have had with him, but it was fun, just the same. I lingered in a thrift store, revisiting the same shelves over and over, making sure I really didn’t leave any regrets behind.

            Also recently, he had to work longer into the evening than he normally does. Lexi and I stared at one another, trying to figure out what to do with all this extra time! I read in my novel, and she sat on my feet in support. We cooked and cleaned and tried to get everything looking shiny for his return home. (Well, I cooked and cleaned. She watched.)

            It made me think about the things I do enjoy working on when I have some extra time to myself.

I get lost in books.

I write for hours.

I scrapbook.

I plan vacations.

I scour Pinterest.

I brainstorm projects in my mind.

            I will always choose time with Ryan over anything else, but when I have time alone, I do enjoy the opportunity to dig into some of my favorite things. How about you? What’s your favorite thing to do when you have time to yourself?

Forever Friends

 

I want to start today by wishing my dad a happy 91^st birthday! That is such an incredible milestone! Hope you have the best day!

            (Here is a picture from his 90^th birthday…when he saw our lake house for the first time!)

            A couple of nights ago, I received a group text, completely out of the blue, from one of my friends from elementary/junior high/high school. Back in those days, there were three of us who were pretty inseparable. In our tiny little school in a tiny little town, in our tinier-yet little class, the three of us formed a friendship that carried us through all the years of teenage angst and turmoil.

            When she sent the text, she thanked the two of us for being such a great friend to her through all those years. As she now navigates parenting her own teenage daughter, she realizes what a rare gift it is to have deep friendships that are true and long-lasting.

            Our conversation was brief, but it left me once again so grateful for these friends God arranged for me so many years ago. Had I been one grade ahead or behind, I would have missed out on those friendships.

            It’s also not lost on me that they are still my friends all these years later. I am thankful they have been willing to continue our friendship even after the obligatory years of high school.

            But you know what meant the most to me? She acted on the thought. She thought of us and was thankful for our friendship – and she took the time to say so. How many of those moments do we allow to slip through our hands every day?

            Do you have a friendship you’re grateful for? Have you said it out loud? This would be a great day to do it!