Chapel Pike Book Signing

Yesterday I went to my old church, Chapel Pike Wesleyan, to be at their Thanksgiving lunch and sign books. It was so great to see everyone again!

Right now, they have to hold their all-church gatherings at an elementary school cafeteria, because the church doesn't have a room large enough to hold everyone. (Just explaining the decor you're about to see!)

This is my friend, Cheryl. She and her husband, John, did so much to help me when I was first out on my own! They were the first Habitat for Bekah crew! They helped me paint rooms and hang blinds and put together furniture. Never ever could have made it without them!

This is Karen and her daughter, Kaitlin. I met Karen when I taught the ladies Bible study at Chapel Pike. Kaitlin came with her sometimes. Karen told me Kaitlin bought the book with her own money!!

Kaitlin and her book! (And seriously...she's that tall next to me while I'm wearing HEELS???)

It was great to be in church with Faith again. We were pew buddies when I went there before, so I got to sit with her again. :)

Wanna hear a funny? The church bulletin said "His Advent: Still His Greatest Gift by Rebekah J. Freelan, is available in the foyer for $10." One of my friends told me after church that she was reading that announcement when she got distracted by something. She'd read just as far as the title before she got distracted, so when she resumed reading, this is what she saw: "Rebekah J. Freelan is available in the foyer for $10." I laughed so hard!!!

Ever the professional.

Here I am with Laura Plummer...who was one of my crafting buddies last weekend!

CAIL!!! (I got the wrong name on Facebook.) This is Miss Cail, who is my new buddy. She wanted to know why I was writing in books. :) Great. Hope I didn't start a bad habit.

The Birthday Boy! Mr. Joseph Holland is now FIVE years old. And when the kids shared what they were thankful for...you can know he was most thankful to have a birthday!

Joseph's sister, Jessica, took over my camera for a while....and she found Kaleb Hutchins. He's kind of shy.

No idea. I cannot explain myself.

Brian Holland! You made the blog! How do you feel? :) Pastor Brian has been an amazing support and encouragement to me...even talking me into teaching junior high Sunday School with him back in the day! And rumor has it that last weekend, while I was crafting with his wife, he texted her "Any word on the broccoli salad being at the Thanksgiving lunch next week?" So I hope you got some, Brian!

Pastor Brian's lovely wife, Jaye. We try to coordinate whenever possible. Yesterday we were hair twins, clothing twins AND broccoli salad twins!

Marty and Lori came to my signing at the Greentown Library...but they go to Chapel Pike, too, so we had another chance to have a picture!! I seriously do have to tell you that aisle runner story from their wedding.

This is one of my new friends, Lara. I've been attending Chapel Pike's ladies Bible study this fall, because they're doing a Beth Moore study and you know how I love me some Beth Moore. Lara started coming to church there since I left, so I'm only just now meeting her! She's a sweetheart.

Remember this cuteness? Last time I saw her, she was toothless! Man I've missed her. (I am aware that my arm is freakishly freaky in this picture. But we only had so much room to work with and my camera is big.)

And her brother...who is still a cuddler. I love that.

And her OTHER brother who is one and has no interest WHATSOEVER in sitting still. Even for pictures. Perhaps ESPECIALLY for pictures.

So that was my day with the Chapel Pike gang. Thanks so much for hosting me!! Miss you guys!

Thanksgiving Dinner

FIRST OF ALL...wanted to tell you that tomorrow, November 22nd, I'm going to be on the radio!! Oh goodness. I'm nervous!!! If you want to listen, here are the details:

Where: WBCL Radio in Ft. Wayne, Indiana (90.3 FM)

What: Mid-Morning Author! Author! program

When: The program airs from 9:05-10:00 Monday morning, and my spot is 9:45-9:55.

They do stream online if you're unable to hear it on the radio, and the Mid-Morning page does have an archive list of the shows, so if you can't hear it live and want to check it out later...that's where you can find me!

This concludes my public service announcement. :)

Since it's Thanksgiving week, and since I made broccoli salad to take to Chapel Pike's carry-in dinner today, I have been doing some thinking about Thanksgiving dinners. Our family is very small and very scattered, and I will be honest...I struggle with Thanksgiving. I hear people talk about their eating-all-day-while-watching-football bashes and I wonder what a gathering like that would look like! I don't often mind being the caboose of the family but when it means you miss out on family gatherings because there's no longer a family....it's kind of hard.

So.

If I were doing my own Thanksgiving dinner (yes, even for just one!), this is what I would make for my menu.

I don't actually like turkey all that well. It's kind of dry for my tastes. But it's not Thanksgiving without the turkey, so this is my favorite turkey. I know. It's probably all processed and not even real meat. But it's my Thanksgiving, so this is what I'd make. (And I did, in fact, purchase this one this week so I can have my own Thanksgiving dinner!)


This is my favorite dressing/stuffing, which I make from scratch. (It's over on the recipe list if you need a recipe.) My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

I'd make broccoli salad because I would actually get to eat it. (When I take it to the carry-in, it's always gone. Sadness.) This recipe is over in the list, too.

I haven't made mashed potatoes in years. Literally years. But I love them. Extra butter, please.

Actually I probably would skip vegetables entirely because I don't like them. But for the sake of nutrition and color, I would do cooked carrots. I really do love them.

Macaroni and cheese. HAS to be Paula Deen's recipe. My favorite.

And for dessert? Pumpkin cake!! (Recipe in the list.)

Bought this today too - my favorite thing. Sparkling grape juice.
So that would be my favorite meal. What is yours?

Just a Dose of Reality

I really do try hard to not be Eeyore.

Nobody likes an Eeyore.

And I have to say that this week has held some truly beautiful moments. I had the greatest, most unexpected evening spent hidden away with the Lord on Monday and I still shake my head when I think about it. I can't believe He planned it all out like He did. (Sometime I'll have to tell you about it.)

Had a great time Wednesday night with the Bible study group at church...some great thoughts, they had!

The book signing was, as you saw, SO much fun. So thankful for that.

But there have been....other moments....this week as well.

I was Rudolph's twin at work yesterday - sporting my not-so-subtle red nose. The week just got me, y'all. It did. I'm assuming most of this is something God is up to...doing a work, teaching me, stretching me, molding me. But it HURTS. And quite frankly, I don't always like it.

Yesterday at lunch, I went out on my driving path because I was so confused and I needed to get out there where I can think and hear better. And I did hear...and it was wonderful...but it's still not a cure-all for the pain.

I think ahead to the holidays and I think this is not how they were "supposed to be." And yet I know God will be faithful to bless them because He's good. When I think about decorating the house or wrapping the gifts or doing the baking...I think...do I have it in me this year? Can I do this? I don't know. I really don't. One day at a time...I'll work through it.

And you know how things go when you start worrying about this and that...then everything overwhelms you. The final straw yesterday was when I mis-alphabetized a loan packet at work (by one spot in the folder) and I thought...you know, if I can't even alphabetize correctly, forget it. I'm resigning from the day. Thankfully there were only about five minutes left in the work day at that time. :)

So this is my Eeyore post. Thank you for reading it. I'll be chipper-er tomorrow. I'll be just fine. I know that. I read an email devotion that reminded me of the verse "They that sow in tears will reap in joy." If that's the case, I'm due for some SERIOUS joy! :)

Greentown Book Signing!!

Had a great time last night at the Greentown Public Library book signing. Embarrassingly enough, I think this was my first time back in the library since the days of term papers and group projects. We won't mention just how many years ago that's been. :)

I was there for just an hour and got to see so many people I'd not seen in forever. Thought I'd take a minute to share them with you, too!

This is one of my very best friends from high school, Amber. (Amber was my Hershey, PA traveling buddy a summer ago, too...you might remember her from those pictures.) Amber is one of those friends that you know God plopped down in your path very much on purpose. Our lives have traveled very similar paths in some ways and it's been great to have her as a friend on those journeys. Amber is also the talented artist who drew the picture I have in my living room that I showed in the post a few weeks ago...and she came to my signing to take pictures for me there.

This was my very first visitor. I'd never met her before, but she was one of Dad's former students. (That's a sentence that can be said OFTEN. He has lots of them!) It always surprises me when complete strangers are willing to read something I've written...so this was a great surprise and treat for me that she came to the signing!

This is my "big brother," Barry. He and I met through work, sort of...our jobs crossed paths. Along the way, he figured out I was Dave Freelan's daughter, and wouldn't you know it...he'd been a student of Dad's too. So we struck up a friendship, and he took me in as a sister. I have really appreciated him! He's listened to LOTS of Bekahdrama.

And now we don't get the chance to talk as often, which is sad, but I REALLY appreciated that he took the time to come out and see me!

It's so weird for me to call former teachers/school workers by their first names!! Here I'm talking to Margie Bontrager, who worked in the library when I was in school, and Sheryl Dean, who was the high school secretary. (And they both still do those jobs!) Sheryl's son was in my class, too. Anyway, I was so thankful they took time to come out and see me...

When I was growing up, this sweet lady lived next door to us. She and her husband, Bob, were great sources of encouragement to me. Bob died a few years ago, and Donna ended up moving away from my parents' neighborhood, but she saw in the paper that I was going to be at the library and she surprised me!

My friends Marty and Lori and their two kids were among those in attendance as well! Marty and I met in college (had some classes together) and then he was part of the invitation committee for me to attend Chapel Pike for the years I was there. Lori was already attending Chapel Pike and they ended up getting married. (It was at their wedding that I fell through the aisle runner. Yes THROUGH the aisle runner. Great story.) Now they have these two great kids and we run into each other now and then at work or at birthday parties. I was excited that they came over!

Kaleb, their son, may be the greatest kid conversationalist I've ever met - and has always been that way since he could talk. He was perusing my picture on the back cover and decided he liked the necklace I was wearing.

Signing...signing....signing...

Talking and signing. Oh yes. I'm a multi-tasker.

This is my good friend, Sarah. Sarah was a couple of years behind me in school, but she was a sweet friend and we enjoyed hanging out outside of school, too. Thanks to the beauty of Facebook, we've been able to stay in touch in more recent months as well. She's still a beautiful and fun friend!

Of course...Ronda!! I was so surprised to see her...didn't know that she would make the trek over just for that. I'll tell you what...this one will have a few hundred extra stars in her crown for the way she's stuck by me this year.

I did some signing...did I mention that?

And last but not least...a picture with Stefanie. She and I met during a summer when she was also a student worker in Financial Aid. She married a Greentownian and even though we don't life all that far apart...I never get to see her. I was so excited that she made it out to catch up for a few minutes!

There were others that came out as well...and I appreciated every single one so much. This, I think, is my favorite part of the whole thing. I love meeting people and seeing those I've not seen forever. So much fun!! Thanks, Greentown!

Well Here's a Nice Surprise!!

If you're a Greentownian...or any of its suburbs (HA!), I just wanted to let you know that I'll be at the Greentown Public Library tonight from 7-8 p.m. to sign books. (I'll have a stash of them with me too, if you don't have one and want one.) I'd love to see you if you're in the area - even if you don't want a book! Just stop by and say hi! The library is in the high school - in case you need to know.

That, by the way, is not the nice surprise. That's just an announcement.

HERE is the nice surprise.

My Dad, as you may or may not remember, is pastoring a little church called Hazel Dell Friends. I spoke there a couple of months ago and had some pictures of it. Anyway. Mom said they're reading through the first chapters of my book for Christmas this year, and last Sunday, a sweet man from the congregation asked her to give this gift to me:

He MADE it! I'm beyond impressed. Since I have a tree in every room of my house...there will definitely be a place for this! I love it - and I really appreciate his thoughtfulness! My first book present! :)

Wilderness Wednesday: Learning REALLY Begins

TONIGHT is night two of studying the Advent book at my church. If you're in the area and want to join us - feel free! We'll meet at Sycamore Friends at 7 p.m. and we'll be talking about Joseph.

I had a question last week from someone who wanted to know if I was not writing as much about the desert because I was trying to get out of what God assigned me to do. Nope - not trying to get out of it. Just trying to be able to enjoy writing about present day life without getting bogged down in the past. So desert posts are on Wednesdays only now.

In today's desert post, I am writing from my vacation to Tennessee with Faith and her daughters. It was during that vacation that God made a change in my heart. A painful change. And it began on the day you're about to see.

This particular morning, Faith wanted to take the kids to a little beach near our condo. So while she got the kids ready to go, I sat in the living room and journaled:

Kari sent me this verse this morning, and I am so thankful because I’m struggling and flailing in my trust today: Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Precious Savior – give me the grace to wait in You. To trust in You. To love You and worship You in the waiting. How I long to be found faithful. And I know it’s going to hurt.

Wow. Streams. “The real work of God for the children of Israel did not happen when they awoke that morning to find they would cross the Red Sea, but it occurred ‘all that night.’ There may be a great work occurring in your life when things seem their darkest. You may see no evidence yet, but God is at work. God was just as much at work ‘all that night’ as He was the next day when the Israelites finally saw the evidence. The next day simply revealed what God had done during the night. Are you reading this from a place in your life where everything seems dark? Do you have faith to see but are still not seeing?...You may not see it yet, but through the night of your life, as you trust Him, He works.”

We drove to the little beach and Faith, Hannah, and Kaylah played in the water. I sat on a lawn chair in my swimsuit, writing some more: Sweet Savior of my soul, fill me with You. Cause me to love You more and more and trust You for the fulfillment of these dreams.

Father, hold me now. Help me to find joy in this time. Help me to hold to the knowledge that You’re working the night shift.

Jesus, I still choose You. Even though it hurts. I choose to trust You even though I don’t understand what You are doing in me.

Oh my sweet Father – calm and soothe my soul – please? Jesus, it aches and hurts. I’m not sure how to have hope right now. Please put hope in my heart. Although hope kind of hurts because it makes me remember what I had and lost.

You told me to trust YOU for deliverance and redemption. Redemption is not mine to pursue. It is Yours to give. And I guess You long to give it to me in a beautiful way. You said part of my redemption is the waiting for the pursuit. And part of his redemption is being able to come for me. Oh Jesus. I really don’t want to mess it up. I really don’t. Help me to be faithful to Your process.

I wonder, now, how the weeks to come would have been different if I actually had submitted to this. If I hadn’t grown impatient and kept pursuing him out of desperation. And I wonder how the weeks would have been different if Isaac had handled his half of the journey differently, too.

That afternoon, Hannah and I made some jewelry together, and then that night we all went putt-putting together. When we came home, Faith filled the massive whirlpool tub full of water and we all got in our swimsuits and sat in the hot tub.

I journaled, I never expected it to be so hard to crawl in that hot tub tonight. I almost couldn’t BREATHE – thinking of the wish list with Isaac and how WE are supposed to be in Tennessee on vacation in a hot tub. This isn’t fair – but I still choose to trust You, my loving Jesus.

30 Days of You and Me: Day Six

What? Another one?

I know. Call it an uncreative week for Bekah. (Actually call it insanely busy.)

Today you're supposed to share your favorite music video.

I'll pause right here for you to laugh at the mere thought of me and a music video in the same sentence. I actually kind of shuddered when I read this on the list because this past weekend at the craft hideaway, guess what I listened to for probably a good 12 hours on Saturday? 80's music. Of course it was all brand new to me since I didn't listen to it in the 80's. Or 90's. Or any year since. But all the girls were just jammin' and singing along as they scrapped. Now and then I'd recognize a song (primarily from The Wedding Singer - HA!) and the whole time I wondered when the David Phelps palooza would start.

Note: it never did.

Anyway.

So when I see "music video" - I think bad 80's music and I cringe.

So what I'll share is a video I love to watch on YouTube when I need a good laugh and a bit of inspiration at the same time. I've shared this video on here before but it's been a while. This is my friend, Brent, who travels the country and sings all year long. In this video, he's attempting to share a (wonderful) song about how the Lord keeps dreams alive in our hearts. Unfortunately he's got some background vocalists in the form of some dogs. They just want to help...but um...it's funny.



So tell me...what is your fave that I should watch?

30 Days of You and Me: Day Five

Well...today you're supposed to share your favorite quote.

I'm not sure I have a favorite quote. I'm not one of those people who runs around quoting movie lines with any particular fervor, and while I'm an underlining and requoting (in print) fool when it comes to reading books...I don't typically share quotes of wisdom out loud on a regular basis.

But I'll share this quote from Scripture that I used in teaching last Wednesday night at church, and God has brought it back to me over and over this week. I think I'm supposed to be learning from it. (Probably faster than I am.)

The verse is Luke 1:38, where Mary responds to the angel's news that she is to be the mother of the Messiah: I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said.

Every year, I choose a verse (after praying for God to guide me in that) to be my “verse of the year.” Several years ago, Luke 1:38 was my verse. After Mary asked her one question to the angel, she offered this simple answer. That was her response to God’s call on her life.

No press release. No speech. No complaining about the change in her own life plans. No conditions or counter-offers. Just simple acceptance.

Mary had a lot to fight. What God asked of her could have cost her her marriage, her family, her friends…and it probably did cost her some of those things. But she chose to accept what He asked.

This summer while in my desert, I wrote in my journal one night, You have chosen Isaac and me for this journey. Chosen. Our hands did not go the highest, but You chose us anyway. And maybe that is your story right now too. Your hand did not go the highest, but God has chosen you for a path. Imagine what could happen if you looked to the Lord and said, “I am Your servant. May it be to me as You have said."

So that is my quote and what I am pondering from it. What about you. Favorite quote? Movie line? Something your mom said to you every day when you were growing up?

And The Weekend Held....

The beginning, middle, and end of the Christmas card palooza! Here is your sneak peek at this year's Christmas cards.
I took Friday off work and headed over to the best crafting haven on earth...Cherished Moments Craft Hideaway! I went with the main intent of making my cards, and I got them done, people! All 130 of them!


When I wasn't card making, I was hanging out with this very fun crew:

We enjoyed delicacies like this (which was actually the only dish I allowed myself to eat the whole thing...)

...and meals like this....

...and a little more of this...

...all to provide the energy to do this for hours and hours and hours...and hours.

Sarah Rife and her "cute as a button" Christmas card...

Angi Spangler and her pile of shrinky dink presents for her cards...

Speaking of the shrinky dink...it was quite popular. Sarah's husband, Joe, stopped by to deliver cookies and he took a turn with it.

Because Sarah had so much fun with it!

Sarah and Faith even created the Shrinky Dink Dance.

Eating with Sarah.

Laura made some super cute Christmas gifts - SUPER cute.

Jaye was hard at work on her daughter's scrapbook...

And of course- Faith and I established another weekend of being mistaken for sisters. Probably didn't help that we both wore brown. Great minds think alike!

Great friends and successful card making...it's a good weekend folks. A good weekend. Thanks, Cherished Moments, for taking such good care of us!