Beside Still Waters

Since my unfortunate lack of gainful employment, I’ve had a lot of reading time on my hands, well that and all the Dr appointments I’ve had, lots of waiting and lots of boredom equals lots of reading. Luckily this book was one on my list to read, Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer.

I’ve read my share of Amish books, but this one resonates with me more than any other Amish book has. Beside Still Waters follows the Sommer family as they make an unexpected move from one amish community to another trying to get passed the past. Marianna Sommer is a conflicted but dutiful heroine. I could feel her turmoil as she followed as the “perfect daughter” to care for her family instead of staying behind and following her dream of marrying Aaron Zook. My heart ached when she realized there was more to life, more to God and knowing him than what she had been taught from birth. I understood the conflict she felt what trying to reconcile what her Ordung had told her was right and wrong, with that of what felt right and wrong.

Marianna’s journey to a relationship with God that was hers and hers alone is one that I have taken myself. I know what it is like to find that my relationship with God has nothing to do with that of my parents, my church or anyone else. It is tough to realize that everything “taught” is not always true. Tricia delves in to this topic in an amazing way. She presents it to you in a story that is not only believable but that pulls you in and makes you think about your own relationship with God, how it came about and how it needs to grow. I can’t wait to read more about the Sommer family in the next Big Sky novel by Tricia Goyer.

I do want to thank the folks over at Litfuse for allowing me to participate in this blog tour! They sent me the book to read, and asked nothing more in return than an honest review!

About the book: Marianna Sommer believes she knows where her life is headed. Nineteen years old and Amish, her plan is to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and live in the only community she’s ever known.

When Marianna’s family moves from Indiana to Montana she discovers life and faith will never be the same. As she builds an easy friendship with local guy, Ben Stone, Ben not only draws her heart, he also gets her thinking about what loving God and living in community is all about.

As Marianna struggles to find “home”, she also encounters God in intimate ways.

To order this book, go here: Amazon, or CBD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-four books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

For more about Tricia please visit www.triciagoyer.com.

Excitement!

As you can tell by the title, I’m excited! About what? You ask?

This: Bloom Book Club

I am joining in with the gals at (in)courage.me in a book study of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I took one look at the book and knew I wanted to read it. This is just from an online posting of the picture. Then when I read the synopsis, watched the video by Jess and Angie, I knew I had to participate. Then today I watched the video of Ann, Jess, and Angie talking about Ann, her life, and the book, and I got totally psyched about it.

I want to hold the book in my hands

I want to smell the pages

I want to read, read, read

I want to absorb

I want to be changed.

I have a feeling this book will help me with this change. Wanna join me? There is plenty of time! Just click here.

Sofa anyone?

A couple of days ago, I posted some of the things that are going on around here. One thing I didn’t mention is that we are in dire need of new living room furniture, you literally sit down on the couch and wind up sitting on the floor. Earlier today, I started cruising craigslist and a local trade paper looking for freebies or low cost couches/futons. The problem with freebies and low cost ones, is that they are usually in bad shape themselves. Stud and I have never had brand new furniture except our mattress/box springs. Our furniture has always been 2nd or 3rd hand stuff that was pretty much on its last legs when we get it.

Well tonight, Stud comes in from work and asks if my parents want a huge TV, I say prolly so, then they could actually see what was going on…. and then he lets me know that a guy he works with… his family bought their parents all new living room stuff… and need to get rid of the tv… oh, and by the way… they are giving us a sectional sofa!

I haven’t seen it, neither has he, but evidently the parents didnt’ want new furniture, they wanted to keep their original stuff, its in that good of shape!

Talk about intervention! God does work in mysterious ways! Here I was looking for freebies, and hadn’t mentioned it to Stud, and he comes home with the very thing I was looking for!

And besides getting a new sofa, I also got a faith boost. I’ve been feeling rather down and out about it, stressed beyond belief, and here, something I hadn’t even given thought to pray about, was answered!

Picking it back up again

At the rate I’m going, my month long post meme thing is gonna take me a year to finish. But more on that later….

First things first, I have and article over at The Pastor’s Wife Speaks. Go on over and take a gander.

Now back to my meme.

Day 8 I do believe is which day we are on….

Day 08 – Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shi-take mushroms.

yeah, I edited that title.

With this one, I’ve had the most trouble so far trying to figure out the answer. Most people can reel off folks who have made them miserable in a heartbeat. But not me. Yes, I have people that drive me insane. People that absolutely create more drama and misery for me than anyone deserves. But do they belong on the “made my life a living hell” list?

Yes, my siblings treat me like dirt and take advantage of me and my parents.
yes there have been people that have spread lies about me, turning friends I thought I would have for life against me.
yes I spent most of grade school through junior high being made fun of for various different reasons, I didn’t have the right jeans, the right shoes, my lips were too full, I had too many freckles… need I keep going?
yes I’ve had my heart broken, stepped on and crushed to pieces…

BUT.

None of this has made my life hell. Or at least what I think living hell would be like.

I’ve dealt with these things, I’ve over come them, and I have grown from them into the person I am today because of dealing with all these things. I don’t hate anyone. I don’t harbor ill feelings towards anyone listed above. So, no, they haven’t made my life hell. They have made my life…. mine.

Day 7- about a week late.

Day 07 – Someone who has made your life worth living for.

I have soooo many answers for this one. Seriously.

But the first one has to be Stud.

I can’t remember who I was before I met him. I do remember I wasn’t very happy with my life in general. Yes, I had plans, they were totally and completely different from where I am now. I was headed to 4yr school, ready to embark on my life towards law school. No where near getting married, having kids, or anything remotely like it. I was going to be a career woman. Living the fast track towards the top.

But I wasn’t happy.

Did I ever tell ya’ll I knew from our second date that Stud was the one. 2nd date.

yep.

Friend

How do you help someone if you don’t know what they are going through?

A long time ago, my sister told me that she thought she went through things so she could be a help for others in similar circumstances in the future.

I believe in that.

Think about it.

How can you offer sympathy or compassion to someone if you don’t have first hand experience?

I have a friend who is hurting right now.  And I have no idea how to help him.  I’ve never experienced the pain he is experiencing.  I’ve never felt the hurt, or asked the questions he is.

That leaves me with one recourse.

Prayer.

I can pray.  I can storm the heavens with requests of grace and mercy for him.  I can offer up praise for what God is going to do for him.

I know my friend has questions, questions that the only one who can answer is God himself.  But I also know that God can’t answer those questions unless my friend is willing to listen.  So I will pray for God to open my friends heart, his mind and his ears to the message.  That my friend will hear and he will understand.  Some questions we can never know the answer to, that’s just the way it is, but we can find peace and understanding in that fact.

Well.

I got the job.  Wanna know something else?

Dad’s car is perfectly fine.  Running great.  They can’t find anything at all wrong with it!

How’s that for God’s work?

The world just keeps on spinning.

I have spent the past couple of days applying online for work at home positions.  I’ve done my research, found what companies are legit, and started filling out the forms.

Today, I got an appointment for a pre-employment interview with one of the companies.

I’m scared spitless.

My heart is racing, it’s hard to breathe.  I mean, this is really happening!

Which the interview part is good, probably the best part of a pretty sucky day.

We found out this morning that Stud’s truck needs a new engine.  Well, at least we know what oil pouring from under the thing means.  Then, and I do mean THEN….

I was taking Son2 to work, driving my dad’s car…. yeah, you don’t have to read to know what’s coming…don’t you just love a good foreshadowing where you know what the author is going to say before you actually read it… my dad’s car broke down.

Now, you would have to know my dad’s cars.

They never break down.  Never.  He’s one of those lucky ones who run’s a car into the ground and then the next owner get’s left on the side of the road on his way home from buying the thing.  Seriously, it happened.  So me breaking down in it today was just some sort of cruel, fate/karma thing .  You know the thing where you look towards Heaven and ask God if he’s enjoying himself.  I’m sure I kept him entertained today.  I drove the car straight to the dealer, remember he just got the vehicle 8 months ago, and had them que it up for repair, and there I sat.  Stud had no way to come get me, my dad had no way to pick me up, Son1 was at work and couldn’t leave.  My brother and his wife finally saved my lazy self from walking the 15 miles home.

But you know what?

Even though all was falling apart, I never panicked, I felt peaceful the entire time.

I still do.

About that.

That interview tomorrow, not so much.

Even if it is over the phone, and internet.

I’m still a nervous wreck.

Sheesh.

In the mean time, Stud is looking for some wheels.  Anybody got a 10-speed they’ll loan him?

Where two or three are gathered

My title can count on the internet too, don’t ya think?

I’m having a moment folks.  The last 3 blogs I have clicked on to read are having some sort of crisis.  Jeanette, my dear friend needs prayers of intervention.  I don’t remember when or how exactly we started communicating outside of blogland, but I know that she is a very treasured friend to me, even though we have never met in real life, I know that if I need sound advice, a good laugh, or just someone to vent and moan to, she’s there.  Right now, my heart aches for her, it is her story to tell, and she has told it one her blog, if you are one of the lucky ones to be permitted to read her thoughts then you know, she could use some extra prayers on her behalf.

Jenny over at 867-5309, has a beloved brother, who is in the hospital.  His nickname is Hulkman, he has been the light of her life her entire life, and he needs healing.  She needs God’s strength as well.

And then there is Chris over at Notes From the Trenches, who has a son in the hospital in a great amount of pain.  I know what it is like to have to sit by and watch while your child suffers, knowing there isn’t anything you can do for him, and praying to be able to take his place.

Those are three of my favorite reads, all three needing divine intervention.  They were the first three I clicked on tonight for no particular reason, other that God knows.  How about joining me in lifting them up and storming the gates of Heaven for them?

He knew

I honestly have no idea how I wound up watching this video this morning. I’m chalking it up as a God Thing.

He knew I had a rougher than rough day yesterday. If I get into an explanation, I’ll just get all tense and upset all over again, so I refuse to do so. But God knew. He knew that I needed a bit of uplifting this morning.

This is what he gave me.