Parenting Reminder from a FIVE YEAR OLD: Don’t Spoil a Teachable Moment (TOOTH Edition)

As I recall, Miss A was five when she had her first experience with cavities. She needed two fillings, the dentist explained. They would use novocaine and it would be essentially painless. They’d done plenty of fillings with children her age.

Up until then, Miss A had been a cute and compliant patient. She sat still for brushings and opened her mouth wide when the dentist asked.  She brushed between visits and after each six month check up she always got to go to the treasure box—a much anticipated and loved reward.

I’ll never know exactly what triggered the incident. Perhaps they were a little slow and Miss A’s nervous anticipation got the better of her. Whatever the reason, once unleashed, Miss A’s crying and carrying on could not be assuaged. She didn’t want to open her mouth. She screamed whenever they got near.  I could hear this, but I’d been told to sit tight.  

After 20 minutes or so a completely perspiration-drenched and frazzled dentist came out and said they’d only been able to do one filling. Miss A would have to return for the second filling on a different day. She’d been very uncooperative and unconsolable.

A few moments later, the hygienist brought her out and in a very loud voice announced (both to her and to me) that she was not allowed to got to the treasure box.  Apparently, she and Miss A had already discussed this back in the examining room.

I was taken aback and the mama in me was about to protest. But a little voice inside me said, “no”, so instead I said “thank you”, made the second appointment, and took Miss A home.  Once home, she rested and the day went on as usual. I tried to put the incident out of my mind. And by the next day, it was done and over, and we just moved on.

But, as the date for the second appointment loomed ever closer, I broached the subject with my five-year-old. 

“How did you feel about not getting to go to the treasure box?”  I asked, trying very hard to keep my voice purposely neutral, even though, frankly, I was still miffed that they didn’t let her go.  After all, was that really fair if the reason she acted up was that she was scared?

Her answer stunned me. “Mommy, I didn’t earn the treasure box, because I made it hard for the dentist.  I didn’t cooperate.”  She accepted responsibility for her behavior!  

Still, not quite believing, I rephrased the question. “So, it’s okay you didn’t get to go to the treasure box?”

Miss A looked at me like I had two heads.  “Of course,  But I’ll get to got this time.”

“How do you know that?” I asked.

Miss A replied, “Because I will be brave and cooperate.”

And she was. From then on, do you know what else she was?  She was cooperative and brave, not only at the dentist, but for shots and throat cultures at the pediatrician’s office too! 

I’m glad I kept my mouth shut and let her turn that teachable moment into a life lesson learned on her terms.

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CHRISTMAS JOY: The Sharing of a SPECIAL BOX (and a Precious Memory)

This past Friday morning, I had the joy of gathering with over sixty or so women for a Christmas brunch organized by the wonderful women who lead the Friday morning  “Tapestry” Bible study at our church. As we were planning the event, we knew we wanted it to be a time of fellowship, caroling and feasting. We also needed a program. But what would it be? 

Well, a possible answer came as I was organizing my basement and discovered this shoe box from the early 1980s.  Judging from the size, it once contained sneakers for my dad, but those are long gone. Instead, on the top, in my mother’s neat printing, it says JESSE TREE. 

Seeing it made my heart lurch. Here’s why:

 I received this box from my mom 11 years ago, shortly after she was diagnosed with ALS and honestly I was so distraught over the whole situation (she passed away less than a year later) that I just stuffed it in the basement behind some other boxes. And I forgot about it—until now.  

Here’s the beautiful story behind this special box:

My mother came to her faith when she was in her thirties after someone invited her to come to a women’s bible study much like the one I now attend and help lead. We were living in Minnesota at the time and my mother was all in – following Jesus, digging into His Word and growing in her new faith. Then we got word that my dad’s job would be taking us to Paris, France. And while my mother was excited, the move also filled her with anxiety. Where would we worship? How would she continue to grow in her knowledge of Christ and His word? Would there be good Bible teaching and community?  

Well, God is good and he answered her prayers in a most delightful way. In the 1970s there were only two or three English speaking churches in Paris and the one God led my parents to was a little Baptist missionary church that met in what had formerly been a carpenter’s shop!  The sermons were grounded in Scripture, there was a vibrant Sunday school program and lots of opportunity for fellowship and growth. 

Here’s a snapshot collage from our time at the church. The upper left shows my dad with his Sunday school kids. (He taught the teens.) The next one and the one diagonal are snapshots from a retreat we took to the Vosges mountains. In the pictures we are strolling through Strasbourg and enjoying a picnic lunch on the hood of one of our cars. My mom is the one the right at the picnic and far left in the strolling scene. And I’m the squinty kid on the left at the picnic. The image on the bottom right is a snapshot of my sister’s Sunday school class. She ‘s cute one with the bangs and the white shirt.

Now fast forward to 2023 and the box. When I opened it, there sitting on top of the tissue paper was a note from my mom! It read:

“When were were living in Paris, our pastor’s wife made the ornaments for a Jessie [sp] Tree. Almost a whole service was planned around it. I loved it so much that I went home and made one too.  Later, at our church back in Minnesota, they decorated the tree in front of the sanctuary with two sets that I made out of special paper and foam core.  Here they are now, for you, along with the handouts that I made explaining each one.”

Wow! It was like receiving a message from her after all these years — and sure enough, right under the note were copies of the handout she created and nestled in tissue, were the ornaments. 

The JOYFUL CHRISTMAS takeaway:

My mother’s Jesse Tree ornament collection is a testament to how much coming to Jesus transformed her.  Coming to Jesus can transform us too!  Like these ornaments, which, once re-discovered, begged to be shared, my mother didn’t want to keep her new found faith tucked away. No, she wanted to share that faith Christ with others.

So, now, without further ado, here are the nine (out of her thirteen) that I shared at our program on Friday along with scripture citations if you’d like to look them up for yourselves as part of preparing your heart this Christmas.  And—full disclosure— one ornament was missing, the star.  So instead, I have substituted the ninja star ornament that my son made for me when he was 10.  I’m sure my mother would approve! Merry Christmas all!

The evergreen represents the genealogy of Christ, beginning with “the root of Jesse” and ending with Christ, “the morning star”.

Isaiah 11: 1-2

The star represents Jesus, our savior and Lord.

Numbers 24:17   

Revelation 22:16

The Ark of the Covenant represents the new covenant in Christ and is a symbol for Christ.

Hebrews 10:16-18 

The Tablets of Law remind us that Christ fulfilled the law.

Matthew 5:17-18

The lamb represents Christ “who taketh away the sin of the world”.

I Peter 1:18-19

Jacob’s Ladder represents Christ reuniting humankind with God.

Genesis 28:12

John 1:51

Bethlehem represents the birth of Christ.

Micah 5:2  Matthew 2:3-5a

The Cross and Serpent represent Christ lifted up on the cross that those who look on Him may live.

Numbers 21:9 

John 3: 14-15

The Crown and Scepter represent the reign of Christ.

Isaiah 9:6-7

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FROM MY HEART TO YOURS: Hope in the Midst of the Poison Ivy

Have you been through dark seasons in your life? Perhaps a season of illness or joblessness. Perhaps a season of infertility or loneliness or grief in the death of a loved one. I’ve been through several, but something stands out with each. Looking back, I can see how God has used each to grow me, not only by bringing me closer to Him, but also by showing me how I can use those trying times as a connection point to come alongside others as they go through similar situations.

One of our scariest seasons was when our son, who turned twenty-three this year, was born 16 weeks early. Weighing in at 1 lb. 9oz, he still had membranes over his eyes and his skin was translucent. He was weak and sick and spent 105 days in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). Those days were so difficult — facing the unknown, wondering if he would be okay and what the future might hold. Here is a collage showing that time:

But God is good and He used, not just that time, but subsequent dark and scary seasons to reveal He loving presence and the hope and light found in Jesus. This hope that is not grounded in the moment, but rather in His saving grace—grace that lasts an eternity.

All this to say that this week, in recognition of National Prematurity Awareness Month, and inspired by this sign, which my son and I spotted on a family hike, I am guest blogging over at Praying Through Ministries, with a message of hope and faith. Will you take a moment to read it? And, afterwards, please share it with with others, for whom it might be just the word of encouragement they need today.

I’ll make it easy for you. Here’s the link: https://www.prayingthroughministries.org/post/how-the-nicu-is-like-poison-ivy

Blessings, all!

APPLES AND CHEESE: A Trick-or-Treat Memory from Paris

The fall I was eight my family moved from suburban Minnesota to Paris, France.  Shy and a little nervous at first, I nonetheless adjusted fairly quickly to life in a foreign land. Indeed, that first fall I remember doing gloriously special things with my mom, dad, and little sister like admiring the fountain fish in Tuileries gardens (see picture), touring Notre Dame and watching passers-by on the Champs-Élysées (see picture).

We lived in a large apartment complex just a few blocks from our new school and I soon made friends from all over the world including Sweden, Norway, Pakistan, Scotland and, of course, France. Here I am with my sister standing in front of our building on the first day of school.

All was going swimmingly until Halloween. Granted, I was only eight and had only gone trick-or-treating three times previously. All three times I had dressed up as a goblin. My mother had very efficiently made my sister and me spacious poncho style costumes with pointy-eared hoods so we we would never outgrow them.  And I couldn’t wait to trick-or-treat again this year. I loved everything about it!  

However, unlike 2023 where Halloween celebrations span the better part of the month, back in 1970s Halloween was a one-day affair. And, to my dismay, trick-or-treating was not part of 1970s Parisian culture. I was forlorn, mopey, despondent. 

Then, I had an idea. It was already late afternoon on October 31st, so there wasn’t much time. Still, with our parents’ permission, my little sister and I went on a quick run to ring the door bells of about a dozen of our apartment neighbors. After giving them a quick explanation of what trick-or-treating was, we said we’d be back just after dinner and would they be ready? Amazingly, everyone we asked said yes.

About an hour later, after gobbling down dinner, we put on our goblin costumes and grabbed two satchels. For the next hour or so, with our parents in tow, we rang those same neighbors’ bells. “Trick-or-treat!” we cheered at each designated apartment. 

Unlike my earlier trick-or-treating experiences, where we had just held out bags for the grown ups to plop in some candy, this time, at each stop, we were invited in. As the grown-ups chatted, the lady or gent of the house would bring us their “treat.”  Instead of the usual American fare, these included whatever they happened to have on hand—chocolate, nuts, raisins, apples, and even cheese! When we returned home, what we essentially had were not satchels full of candy, but a Halloween charcuterie feast! It might surprise today’s kids to hear this, but we loved it!  

That little dressed up goblin (me!) learned several things that evening. For starters, I learned that if you want something to happen, you might just have to be the one to organize it.  To do this will require creativity, flexibility and openness to new things— and new ways. That night I also discovered that chocolate and cheese pair beautifully with raisins and apples and that there are good people with generous spirits everywhere and that I wanted to be that kind of person.

We never went trick-or-treating in our apartment complex again. Our school, which had a robust American population, satisfied that need by having a Halloween parade. And in the creative department— and probably to my mother’s disappointment—my sister and I retired our goblin costumes. What were we instead? My sister was a baton-twirling majorette and I dressed up as a farm boy! 

As for the treats we received that Halloween so long ago, I still prefer them to candy. Yes, I serve up the more traditional types of packaged sweets for the trick-or-treaters that ring our bell, but I am delighted to report that Miss A loves preparing charcuterie boards for us and for her friends on any and all occasions. Here’s one she prepared for a recent gathering.

That cheese looks mighty good. So do the grapes. This gives me an idea!  In memory of my Paris Halloween and in order to provide sustenance as we hand out candy on our front porch tomorrow, I am going to ask Miss A if would like to prepare us our own little Halloween charcuterie board. Doesn’t that sound delish?  

Happy Monday, all!

MOTHER GOOSE MEMORIES: The Sharing of a Childhood Treasure

When I was little I loved it when my mom shared her favorite childhood treasures with me. For example, I remember her showing me this little brass dinosaur when I was about six. It had been one of her favorite playthings, she told me.  She used to play with that it under the pine trees by her childhood home. 

Years later, my sister and I played under those same trees, not with my mother’s dinosaur but with little toy cars that I then passed on to my children. You can read about those little toy car memories in this writerly post from a few years ago.  But, I am waxing nostalgic.

What I really wanted to share with you today is a treasured book memory—specifically of sitting with my mother as she read to me from her childhood edition of The Real Mother Goose. Here’s a picture of the cover as well as of some of my favorite nursery rhymes.  Inside and out it’s well-worn and well-loved.  

As I look at it anew, though, I see that it was printed in 1916!  My mother wasn’t even born yet. She didn’t arrive on the scene until 1940. But can you guess who would have been six when this book came out? Her mother—my grandmother! So, now I have goosebumps at a delicious thought. 

Perhaps, this copy of The Real Mother Goose first belonged to my grandmother. Perhaps when my mother was reading it to me, she was remembering fondly how her  mother had read it to her, just as years later, when I read it to my children, I fondly recalled how my mother had read it to me. That’s four generations sharing a treasured classic!

Now I’m looking again at those favorites I shared and imagining that they are probably shared  favorites. At least I think they are shared because they are the ones I remember my mother reading and reciting to me and I’m guessing that she chose them and loved them because her mother read them to her and that’s why I later read and recited them with my own kids. 

Do I think this love of Mother Goose will continue to the fifth generation? I don’t know, but I’m hopeful because I know at least one of the above left an indelible impression on Miss A when she was five, which I captured nicely in my journal many, many years ago after a very interesting car ride. I hope it inspires sweet book sharing and conversation with your own children and grandchildren. Enjoy!

Car Ride Conversation: Contemplating Mother Goose with my Five-Year-Old

“How high can a cow jump?” my newly-minted five year old asks from the back of the car – all serious and deep in thought.

“Come again?” I ask.

“How high can a cow jump?” she repeats. “You know, COWS?” And she drags out the word C-O-W-S to make sure I really understand.

“They can’t,” I reply. “Cows can’t jump. They can moo and chew grass, and they sort of plunk along slowly, but they can’t jump.”

There’s a momentary quiet in the back and I can tell by my daughter’s squiggly brows that she’s perplexed. Finally, she says, in exasperation, “Then how did the cow jump over the moon?”

As we wait for the light to change, I consider the various ways I might answer this. “It’s just pretend,” I want to say, but this, I know, will be too abstract or her. She understands real versus make believe, in theory, but in practice she still gets scared during movies with cartoon characters.

So instead, I say, “Come now, can a dish run? Can a spoon dance?”

My daughter giggles. “No!”

So I continue, “Can cats fiddle?”

“No!” she snorts between giggles.

“Do dogs laugh?” I ask.

By now, my daughter is hysterical. “Say more funny stuff!” she squeals.

So I do. “Do hamsters play flutes?” I ask. “Now your turn!”

My daughter explodes with laughter. Then she says, “No! Do fish dance ballet? Now your turn, Mommy.”

And so we continue, getting sillier and sillier with each passing car. As we head for home, it dawns on me that, as a poet and picture book author, this is exactly the kind of conversation I hope my writing will spark.  And I am reminded, once again, of the power of stories and poems (and Mother Goose!), to spark – not only conversation – but creativity as well!

Happy Monday all!

THOUGHTS from the HEART: The JOY and IMPORTANCE of SIDEWALK GREETINGS

I’ve noticed lately that folks in my town don’t smile and greet one another on our sidewalks as much as they once did. Perhaps it’s because during Covid we got accustomed to keeping our distance from each other, even outside. Or maybe it’s because so many new young city people have moved in and it’s not something their generation does. Whatever the reason, it makes me sad, because this little bit of friendly interaction is part of the glue that can keep us connected and compassionate towards one another.  

It’s  a very simple practice, really, that can different forms. It can be the tipping of a cap and a friendly, “Good day” as you pass someone sitting on a park bench.  Or it can be a friendly wave to someone watering their flowers as you pass their house. It can even be as simple as looking at someone and smiling as you pass each other on the sidewalk.

A favorite example of mine occurred a few years ago on the street behind our house. A very young Miss A and I were out walking a very young Sophie, when a neighbor we had not yet met came put-putting up the street in a nifty old car.  As he approached, Miss A noticed that his car had her name on it and she squealed and pointed and said, “Look, Mommy!”  Next thing we knew, the kind old gent stopped the car to chat. What a lovely conversation it was!  So lovely, that I even snapped a few pictures. To Miss A’s delight, we even got to go for a little ride.

And now I’m remembering another fine example. A few years ago, I was in a hurry, scurrying up the sidewalk on my way to a meeting. My focus was not on greeting others. I was absorbed in my own thoughts. Then a passerby gently greeted me with a friendly hello and handed me a flower. Before I could say much more than “thank you” she was off.  Attached to the stem was short note and a challenge to pass the joy along by gifting the flower to someone else. What a moment of goodness that was– to be noticed and blessed by such a simple act of kindness and connection.

As I continued up the sidewalk, my perspective changed. I started noticing others. I smiled and greeted them. Before long, I came to a bench. An older gentleman was sitting there and I thought he looked a little tired and lost in his own thoughts. So can you guess what I did? I gave him the flower!  The look on his face made my day!

None of this has to be complicated. You don’t need an antique car or flowers. It’s actually as easy as 1-2-3!

1. You see someone walking towards you on the sidewalk, or seated on a bench, or working in their garden etc. 
2. As you pass them, you catch their eye and say, “Good morning” or “How are you?” or some other sort of positive acknowledgement of their presence. 
3. They respond and you both continue on with your days blessed by the simple act of noticing, acknowledging, and affirming each other in this lovely way.

Hope for this lovely practice is not lost because, just now, I witnessed it in action right in front of my house. Two dog walkers—one old and one young, across the street from each other and walking in opposite directions—greeted each other almost simultaneously with a smile and a “Good morning.” Then the young man on my side of the street noticed me sitting here on my porch and he smiled again and said, “Good morning” and I smiled and said “Good morning” right back. And it was so affirming and friendly and wonderful.

It’s a little thing really, but so BIG too!  Will you join me this week in being intentional about connecting with others you meet along the way in your communities? Let me know how it goes. I’ll let you know, too.  And now I’m off for a walk with my pooch. I wonder who I will meet.

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GOD’S EARTH IS SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR: An Inspiration Post by Author Amy Houts

Join me in welcoming talented picture book author, Amy Houts, whose newest faith-based picture book, GOD’S EARTH IS SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR (Bushel & Peck Books), releases this September. Beautifully illustrated by Kris Smolskaya and infused with Biblical references, this picture book effectively brings the concept of taking care of God’ earth (as He commanded us to do in Genesis) to the level a child can grasp. It’s an engaging and through-provoking call to action. After previewing it (thank you, Amy!) I couldn’t help but ask Amy what inspired her to write it. Here is her answer. Enjoy!

What Inspired Me to Write a Picture Book About God’s Call to Take Care of the Earth?

By Amy Houts

When Laura invited me to write a guest post on her blog, I thought about what inspired me to write God’s Earth is Something to Fight For. My picture book combines science and faith. I’ve narrowed down my inspiration to three facets of my life. 

Because my husband taught seventh grade science, we often read and discuss science topics. One important topic is the weather and changes in the climate. As the years went by, we observed more severe storms. People, especially the most vulnerable, were tragically affected. 

I am the type of person who loves to conserve. I even wrote a cookbook to reduce food waste. I work to get the very last bit of applesauce out of the jar. I wear clothes for many years. I reuse, repurpose, or recycle what I can. I save vegetable scraps, compost for the garden. But while what we do is something, I wanted to do more.

Most importantly, we have three grandchildren. I wonder, what type of world will they grow up in? What type of world are we going to leave them? Would they want to bring children into that world? 

And so, like a line in the book, I asked, what can I do? What is God leading me to do? The answer was, as I writer, I can write about it. I started writing God’s Earth is Something to Fight For about five years ago. My editor from Beaming Books tweeted she was interested in publishing a book featuring climate activist Greta Thunberg. So, I started doing research, but I found it hard to bring what I wanted to say down to a young child’s level. So I put it away. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the changing climate.

After I reread a childhood favorite, A Friend is Someone Who Likes You, I thought of the title, The Earth is Something to Fight For. I developed a picture book manuscript that included some of the rhythms of the Friend book. But an editor told me the market was glutted with books on climate change. So I mentioned the idea of showing climate change through a faith perspective. The editor said, “That hasn’t been done!” 

Writing this book through the lens of my faith has made it even more precious to me. I hope it will change hearts and minds to take care of Earth, the world and the people God created. It’s been quite a journey. I love the illustrations by Kris Smolskaya. I’m so thankful Bushel & Peck Books believed in this book. 

To pre-order, visit Amazon or the publisher’s website, Bushel & Peck Books.

About Amy: Amy is the author of over 100 books for children featuring early learning concepts. She writes for both faith-based and mainstream publishers. Amy’s faith-based books include God’s Protection Covers Me (Beaming Books) and The Giant Book of Bible Fingerplays for Preschoolers (Group Publishing). Amy’s educational books include 60 retold tales for the series, Compass Children’s Classics, 2020. Her 10 nonfiction science early readers for Highlights Press were released in 2020.

Find Amy Here:

Website: www.amyhouts.com

Twitter and Instagram: @AmyHouts

Facebook: “Author Amy Houts”

FAITH THOUGHTS: The Lasting Legacy of Church Cookbook

My son returned home from college last week and in celebration, I prepared what has become a favorite family dish—Swedish meatballs. But, not just any Swedish meatballs. This recipe comes from a recipe book that is near and dear to my heart — the Edina Baptist Church Cookbook 1977.

What’s so special about this cookbook? I’m so glad you asked! Here are FIVE reasons I treasure this vintage cookbook from Edina, Minnesota circa 1977.

REASON #5: The recipes are awesomely retro. If you have ever wondered if down-home cooking in the 70s was similar to today’s fare, the answer is no. The women who gathered their favorite recipes for this book were intrigued by modernities like frozen veggies, canned goods, processed cheeses, and instant this-and-that. 

Some of the recipes we will most likely never attempt, because they are just too salty or sweet or rich, but we do have a couple of family favorites. These include Sharon West’s Swedish Meatballs, which we just had this week, and Lora Holzworth’s Tater-Tot Hotdish, which is a real Minnesota treat.  

The book also boasts a wide-array of Jello-based desserts that instruct cooks to add things like marshmallows, cucumbers and mayonnaise!  I occasionally serve these because I remember my mother preparing them. When I serve them, it’s almost like having her there at the table. I even have a Tupperware mold just like the one she had!

REASON #4: It includes delightful words of wisdom. This is my husband’s favorite part of the book. And often, when I serve those Swedish meatballs or that tater-tot dinner, he will bring the book to the table so he can read those little bits of wisdom aloud to us. It always adds laughter and joy to the meal. A couple of our favorites include:

“Out of the mouth of babes come words we shouldn’t have said in the first place.”

“A pint of good example if worth a gallon of advice.”

REASON #3: The book oozes community spirit.  Turning the pages is like going down memory lane. There are so many names I recognize – friends of my mother’s and mothers of my friends. And as I read through the recipes, and what each chose to include, I remember community gatherings where many of these recipes were served. Most especially, I remember the church potluck that was part of every Wednesday night when I was in first and second grade.

REASON #2: The artwork is by my mother! My mother doesn’t have a single recipe in the entire book. I’ve checked thoroughly. She was an amazing artist, however, and the fine women who created this book recognized her gift and asked her to do the artwork for each section of the cookbook. 

Keep in mind it was the 70s and the printing capabilities for a church cook book were pretty basic. The entire book is type-written, for example, which adds vintage charm.  And my mother hand-printed the lettering for her pages and designed her illustrations in black and white. Here are a couple of my favorites:

REASON #1: If not for the some of these cooks, I might not have written MY TENDER HEART BIBLE or any of my faith-based books!  When we moved to Minnesota in the fall of 1975, we were not Christians. My family didn’t really believe in anything. But, God was at work through the women in this cook book.  Two, in particular, stand out. A woman named Susan Anderson, who lived down the street from us, invited my mom to go to the large women’s Bible study held weekly at Edina Baptist Church. That Bible study was taught by an amazing woman named Sharon Cooper. 

The teaching and fellowship were amazing and my mom’s heart was stirred. Soon, not only was my mom attending Bible study, we were all going to church. I started attending things like Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and Wednesday Night AWANA (which was always preceded by that potluck!) Long story short, over the course of the next couple of years, my mom, my dad, my sister and I all accepted Jesus into our hearts. Our lives were forever transformed.  

In the fall of 1977 we moved away to Paris, France. Around the same time Edina Baptist changed its name to Grace Baptist and then it became Grace Church. In 1987 our family moved out of Minnesota altogether. And sometime after that Grace Church changed locations from Edina to nearby Eden Prairie. 

And in the “time flies” category, it has been almost 50 years since the cook book released. But, the impact of those women who gathered those recipes and boldly shared their faith with my mother remains remains strong as ever. In fact, if not for God’s loving hand in prompting those women to minister to my mom, thus planting the seeds of faith in my heart as well,  I probably wouldn’t be the writer I am today – one who writes books that minister to young families like my newest release, MY TENDER HEART BIBLE! I am forever grateful and in awe at how God works through us and those around us to bring us closer to Him. May He bless you this week!

 

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: The Inspiration behind WHEREVER YOU ARE with Glenys Nellist (and a GIVEAWAY!)

Today it is my pleasure to have children’s author Glenys Nellist here to share the touching inspiration behind her newest book for children. Published by Beaming Books with illustrations by Sian James and told in gently rhyming text, WHEREVER YOU ARE is a reminder that God is with us through it all. Like Glenys’ other books, this one, too, reflects her heart for children. And now, join me in welcoming her as she shares the sweet inspiration behind the book. Take it away, Glenys! Oh, and be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of the post for a chance to win ONE complimentary copy of the book.

The Inspiration behind WHEREVER YOU ARE

by Glenys Nellist

Eight years ago, on an ordinary Thursday afternoon, when my first-born grandson was just three years old and I had the enormous privilege of taking care of him, it was snowing.

He stood by the window in our front room, and as he watched the snow fall silently outside, he was so very still that I took this photo. 

After a moment, he turned to me and asked, in his three-year-old voice, Where’s God?

“Well, Xander,” I replied, “God is invisible… remember? But I think God is in the gently falling snow, and in the trees. God is all around us. God is in me, and God is in YOU.”

“God is in my belly?” he asked, and we both started laughing as I scooped him in my arms.

I did not know it then, but that ordinary moment on that ordinary day would become a picture book exploring the simple yet powerful premise that wherever you are, God is there.

Neither did I know that the photo I took that morning would be used by Sian James as the basis for one of the first illustrations in the book… which all goes to show that ordinary moments can become something extraordinary.

Wherever You Are celebrates and affirms the presence of God in every moment of our lives. Be they ordinary, or extraordinary, significant or insignificant, momentous or mundane, triumphant or tearful… God is with us.

My prayer and hope for all who turn the pages of this book is that they might find time to pause, to remember and know…

Wherever you are, God is there.

BIO: Glenys Nellist was born and raised in a little village in northern England. The author of multiple award-winning children’s books, including the bestselling ‘Twas the Evening of Christmas, The Wonder That is You, and five popular series: Love Letters from God, Snuggle Time, ‘Twas, Good News and Little Mole, her writing reflects a deep passion for helping children discover joy and hope in the world. Glenys lives in Michigan with her husband, David.

Access the downloadable activity kit here.

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!! If you’d like a chance to win a fresh-off-the-press copy of WHEREVER YOU ARE (Beaming Books, 2023) follow this blog and leave a comment letting us know. (NOTE: Must be U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to enter.) Thank you, Beaming Books, for providing the winning book. This giveaway ends Monday, April 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST. 

[Note: Thank you, Beaming Books, for sending me a copy of the book which I was under no obligation to review. The views and opinions expressed on this blog about books and other things are purely my own.]

JOY IN THE LITTLE THINGS: The Tale of a Sparkly Purse

Last Friday my husband, daughter and I attended a gala to celebrate the eight year anniversary of the founding of the dance company my daughter attends. The event was lovely and served as fundraiser for scholarships. There was music, food, drink, and wonderful conversation. It felt so good be socializing in person! 

The attire was semi-formal and I managed to put together a nice outfit – black velvet pants and a dressy cranberry blouse. I put on my favorite white enamel necklace and pearl earrings. But something was still missing. I needed a purse to hold my lipstick and phone. Something small and easy to carry with a short strap so it could dangle daintily over my forearm as we chatted, sipped wine and nibbled appetizers. And elegant. I wanted it to be elegant.

None of my purses fit that description, but I nonetheless opened the closet in the hopes that something would strike my fancy. It’s not a big collection and as I suspected, nothing was just right. Then at the very back, behind a basket of my scarves, I spotted this:

White and sparkly, and safely wrapped in a plastic bag, it beckoned me to investigate. It was an evening purse. Poking out of the side was the edge of a note. I could just make out the word: LAURA.

That LAURA was written by my mother! She passed away in 2013 and sometime before then, she must have given me this special sparkly purse – perhaps as part of downsizing her own purse collection. I could tell by the handwriting that she wrote the note before she got sick because the lettering is strong and sure. 

Full of loving memories of her, I gently removed the purse from the bag and read the note. This is what it said:

Laura – I bought this in Spain about 1968 to use at a New Year’s Eve party at the Royal Automobile Club of Espagne. For the very formal dinner and dance, I had an emerald green silk long dress made, and wore long, white leather gloves. At midnight, with each stroke of 12, we had to pop a grape into our mouths (pretty dangerous when you think about it!)”

I smiled reading it because it was so like my mother, first to be thoughtful enough to tell me the special story behind the purse, but also, in typical fashion, to include a little life lesson – i.e. don’t put too many grapes in your mouth at once!

I showed the note and purse to Miss A and we both laughed and teared up a bit. “That sounds like her,” she said. Then we both decided my mother would have loved knowing that I was taking her purse to Miss A’s gala! 

Just before we headed out for the evening, I unlatched the purse so I could put in my cell phone and lipstick. And guess what my mom left me there?  SIXTY dollars!  Abigail and I agreed that that was most certainly a special sign that she was with us in spirit and that the purse discovery was meant to be. 

Here is the purse at the party with lipstick, phone and that special $60 tucked safely inside:

And, after the gala, what did we do with that little bit of fun money? A few nights later, we ordered sushi- something Miss A, my mom and I used to love to order and eat together. And, in keeping with my mother’s grape advice, we popped only one piece into our mouths at a time.

As we head into our weekends, may this serve as a sparkly reminder not to forget to look for the joy in the little things – like finding a long-forgotten purse — and savoring the sweet memories those little things spark. 

Happy Friday, all!

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