‘Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space’ by Kathryn Bechen – Book Review

Being that it is still January, it is still the New Year (in my opinion)! And one thing we love is to try to make things better in this fresh year! Kathryn Bechen, in her first book, ‘Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space,’ helps those of us who have a small space make the most of that space!

Here is the synopsis of this helpful book:

With a few tricks up your sleeve, small can be the new big! While we may admire the spacious rooms in large homes we see in magazines or on TV, let’s face it: most of us don’t live in rambling estates. Instead, we live in homes, apartments, or condos with small rooms and even smaller closets. But you can enjoy an organized, beauty-filled life no matter what the size of your space. In this practical book, you’ll learn how to

·         perform a room-by-room audit of your space to see if it’s functioning at its best

·         make the most of existing storage space and find clever ways to add more

·         find creative ways to arrange furnishings and accessories that maximize space and bring harmony and style to the home

·         live graciously in a small space with others (especially those who aren’t organized!)

Whether you’re an empty nester who’s downsizing, a newlywed setting up your first nest, or some who just needs some creative new ideas, you’ll love these strategies, tips, and solutions to maximize space and enhance your quality of life.

Here is the biography of the author:

Kathryn Bechen is an award-winning professional lifestyle writer whose articles have appeared in popular national newsstand magazines including Small Room Decorating, Cottage Style, Cottage and Cabins, Country Almanac, Country Victorian, and in regional magazines such as San Diego Style Weddings and Nebraska Wedding Day. Her work has also been published in numerous print newspapers and online.

Quoted repeatedly in the media for her organizing and decorating expertise, Kathryn holds a BA degree in English and Education and a Certificate in Interior Decorating. The lifestyle company she founded – Organized with Ease, Kathryn Bechen Designs, and KathrynBechenInk.com - have served clients worldwide.

Kathryn has organized and decorated thirteen personal small space residences together with her husband, Steve, during their thirty-plus years of marriage, and they currently reside in their favorite small space ever: a 1,200-square-foot high-rise apartment in beautiful San Diego, California.

To sign up for Kathryn’s free lifestyle e-newsletter and to learn more about her books, e-books, blog, and media interviews, please visit her website at www.KathrynBechenInk.com. You can also locate Kathryn on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

We just visited San Diego in December; I agree that it is one beautiful city and they have a great zoo!! I loved seeing the koalas (one of my favorite animals) and pandas!!

Here is Kathryn introducing her book:

My husband, Fred, and I live in a two-bedroom condominium. I have to admit that I occasionally wish we live in one of the larger homes that are occupied by some of our friends! Then I think about the upkeep that is involved, and I quickly realize that condo living is my preference. We don’t have children (aside from our two adorable Cocker Spaniels, Shelby and Sammy!), so the only reason why we’d need a bigger place is to have room for more stuff. And, believe me, I don’t need an excuse to get more stuff!.....

I especially enjoyed these chapters:

·         Chapter 4: Small Space Wisdom: Special Small Living Spaces

·         Chapter 8: Bathroom Bliss: Organizing Your Small Bathroom for a Spa-Like Experience

·         Chapter 9: Home Office Heaven: How to Organize Your Office for Success

·         Chapter 16: The Great, but Small, Outdoors: Organizing Patios and Terraces

I love this section of Kathryn’s ‘Letter to My Readers:’

I hope you’ll come to think of Small Space Organizing as your lifelong “small space bible” that you can reliably refer to time and time again as you progress through the stages of your life, moving from one home to another. I encourage you to read through it all in one sitting and then go back and refer to specific chapters as you need them. And (unlike your ol’ eight-grade English teacher!) I hope you’ll write in the margins and highlight favorite tips and passages that motivate, encourage, and inspire you along your journey. Take notes on whatever ideas will help you get organized. Get out your colored markers and have fun. Whatever it takes!

So come on, let’s get started! (pp. 13-14)

In the chapter on ‘Kitchen and Dining Delights,’ Mrs. Bechen made this important point about an issue that has plagued me since I’ve lived in a condo – how to entertain in a small space:

Always remember that it’s far more important to have a kind spirit of hospitality and friendship as the emphasis of your home, rather than neglect to invite others to visit you there just because you lack large rooms or expensive furnishings. A true home is really about the size of your heart, not about the size of your space. (p. 95)

Being that I have a home-based business now, I spend more time working at home than I used to. I liked this tip about our home office:

Now that you’ve set up your small home office space in a productive and comfortable way, once again it’s time to treat yourself! Art is a nice way to do so and will further personalize your space. Maybe you’d like to have family pictures on your office walls. You could have your crowning achievements framed and on display. Or perhaps a photo from your favorite family vacation to Fiji enlarged to poster size is more your style. Again, choose something for your walls that will be oh-so-you. (p. 123)

Kathryn closed out her book this way:

My sincere wish for you, my friend, is that you will embrace the fullness of your small space lifestyle, with all the blessings and freedoms it offers. And remember what William Morris once said: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” (p. 218)

If you want to get more organized, I would highly recommend that you pick up this book! Kathryn writes in an engaging and ‘homey’ way; I would love to meet her some day! Another suggestion to get organized is to take a peek at the products I sell as a Consultant with Thirty-One Gifts; we have some wonderful organizing totes, etc….! I am definitely more organized since I signed up in mid 2011!

You can order this book here.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This book was provided by Revell for review purposes. 

‘7 Money Rules for Life: How to Take Control of Your Financial Future’ by Mary Hunt – Book Review

I like the timing of this latest review! As most of us are hopeful for a better year in the New Year we’re entering, one of the big topics is improving our finances. That is certainly true for me and my husband, Fred. Revell has a new release, ‘7 Money Rules for Life: How to Take Control of Your Financial Future’ by the wonderful Mary Hunt.

Here is the synopsis of this book:

Simple Rules. Big Payoff. In her warm and encouraging style, financial expert Mary Hunt shows you how to master the essentials to get your money under control and prepare financially for the rest of your life. She shows you how to master the essentials to get your money under control and prepare financially for the rest of your life. She shows you how to apply each of the 7 Rules, starting today, as well as how to recover from past financial mistakes. With Mary on your side, you’ll learn how to

·         Spend less than you earn

·         Save for the future

·         Give some away

·         Anticipate your irregular expenses

·         Tell your money where to go

·         Manage your credit

·         Borrow only what you know you can repay

Money mastery isn’t hard when you know the rules. Let 7 Money Rules for Life change your future from uncertain to rock-solid – no matter what your income level.

Here is the biography of the author:

Mary Hunt is founder and publisher of Debt-Proof Living, a highly regarded organization consisting of an interactive website, a monthly newsletter, and personal finance tools. Since 1992, DPL has been dedicated to its mission to provide hope, help, and realistic solutions for individuals who are committed to financially responsible and debt-free living. Her books have sold more than a million copies, her syndicated daily newspaper column is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of everyday Cheapskate readers, and her articles appear in such magazines as Women’s Day, Guideposts, Christianity Today, and Bottom Line. Hunt speaks on personal finance and has appeared on shows such as Oprah, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil and Focus on the Family. She and her husband live in California.

Here is Mary explaining her concept of Debt-Proof Living:

In the Introduction to this book, Mary explains the predicament she found herself in:

I banked on the fact that the US economy all but guaranteed an upward spiral of increasing prosperity, better-paying jobs, and appreciating home values. There would always be plenty of jobs, plenty of credit, unending supplies of loans to pay for kids’ education. If we worked hard, bigger and better cars and homes would always be within reach.

And I got away with that kind of attitude for years. But our lifestyle was built on a house of cards that could teeter only before it came crashing down.

I came to the end of the line and had to face just how ignorant and illiterate I was about money, or lose everything. Learning and applying simple, sound principles of money management saved my life. (p. 14)

I can’t say that our straits are that dire, but we definitely need help in this New Year!

I will focus on two of the rules that impact our lives the most: Rule 1: Spend Less Than You Earn, and Rule 7: Borrow Only What You Know You Can Repay.

I loved this section from Rule 1 (Spend Less Than You Earn):

What follows may be the single most important thing you will read in this book, so I hope you are paying attention: choosing contentment as a way of life is the only way to win this battle between needs vs. wants. Contentment is choosing to be happy with what you have, while not always desiring something more. Contentment is not something we achieve, it is a choice we make. It is an attitude we learn. It’s a decision we make to buy what we need and want what we have.

Prosperity does not bring contentment, and poverty cannot take it away. Read that again. If prosperity were the secret for contentment, Hollywood, the NBA, and the National Lottery Winners Association (I made the last one up) would be the happiest places on earth. (pp. 54-55)

I have to admit that discontentment is one of my problems. It is a sin to God, and I want to learn to live with contentment. I am getting there!

The subject of contentment is prevalent throughout the book; it is addressed again the chapter on Rule 7: Borrow Only What You Know You Can Pay:

Debt promotes discontentment. Debt is often what happens when you’re not satisfied with what you can afford to have right now. And once you start pursuing “more,” you’ll always be unhappy with what you have at the moment because, face it, there will always be something more out there that captures your attention. It’s easy to use debt as the antidote for feelings of dissatisfaction and discontentment. Then it become akin to drinking a glass of salty water. It makes you thirsty so you want to drink more, and the more you drink the thirstier you become.

Debt limits your options. This is true of any type of debt, even a secured home mortgage. Debt is like a lead balloon that hold you in one spot…. (p. 130)

I love Mary’s point in the chapter entitled ‘Getting It All Together:’

Once you write a goal, no matter how simple it is, it takes on a power of its own. You have something specific on which to focus. Your thoughts point to it like a laser beam, which leads to another powerful benefit of your human brain: you become what you think about most of the time. (p. 148)

Great point; awesome wisdom!

Another good thing about this book is that she gives each reader the opportunity for a 6 month free membership in her website, Debt Proof Living. I took advantage, and hope to glean a lot more from her after the book has long been finished.

I thank Mary for what she shares with us from her own personal experience. I plan on reading it with my husband, Fred, who has been hounding me for what seems like years to be a little more attentive to financial matters…. I highly recommend this book. Mary’s style is engaging and warm, and she makes financial issues as warm and fuzzy as they can be! She writes from a solid, Biblically based perspective, which is the way I want to live.

You can order this book here.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This book was published by Revell and provided by them for review purposes.

                  

We Have a Winner of 'My Favorite Bible!'

The Random Number Generator has done its thing again and chosen a winner of 'My Favorite Bible: The Best-Loved Stories of the Bible.' That blessed person is.....


lisawith4


Congratulations, Lisa; I will be sending you an email momentarily! I pray your girls are as blessed by the story of Esther as we were!


For those of you looking for a great gift for a family or a child, you can order your copy here. 


Thanks to Donna at Revell for providing this copy!

‘The Names of God Bible’ by Ann Spangler, General Editor – Book Review

Anyone who knows me or has followed my blog for any length of time knows that I love different version of the Bibles. When I learn of new ones, I run toward them! The latest one on my list is ‘The Name of God Bible,’ with God as the author and Ann Spangler as the General Editor. The Names of God Bible is in God’s Word Translation.

Here is the synopsis of this Bible:

One of the best ways to get to know God on a deeper level is to know his names and titles as revealed in Scripture. Now the bestselling author of Praying the Names of God and Praying the Names of Jesus uncovers the richness of God’s character and love found in his names right within the Bible text.

The Names of God Bible restores more than 10,000 occurrences of specific names of God –like Yahweh, El Shadday, El Elyon, and Adonay – to help readers connect with the Hebrew roots of their Christian faith and experience a deeper understanding of God’s character. Perfect for personal study, prayer, and reflection, The Names of God Bible includes these specific features:

·         More than 10,000 names and titles of God restored to their Hebrew equivalent and printed in brown ink to stand out within the biblical text

·         Names of God reading paths lead readers to the next reference of the name so they can pray and study the names of God throughout Scripture

·         Calling God by Name sidebars shed light on the relationship between biblical people and the specific names they call God

·         Name pages feature

-      background information associated with the most important names and titles of God

-      key Scripture passages in which the name is revealed

-      devotional readings for each of the featured names

-      specific Bible promises connected to each of the featured names

Here is the biography of the general editor:

Ann Spangler is an award-winning writer whose fascination with the Bible has resulted in books that have opened the Bible to a wide range of readers. She is the author or coauthor of several bestselling books, including Praying the Names of Jesus, Women of the Bible, and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. Together, her books have sold 3 million copies. She has held senior positions at two Christian publishing houses and lives with her two daughters in Michigan.

Here is Ann explaining this Bible:

As would be expected, this Bible includes an alphabetical list of names and titles of God. Surprisingly, this list is more than a full page! I was unfamiliar with many of them, including Holy One of Israel (Qedosh Yisrael), Jealous God (El Kanna), and the Lord’s Spirit (Ruach Yahweh).

The Publisher’s Note explains what most modern translation do with the names and titles of God:

While most modern translations obscure the names and titles of God by replacing them with just a few terms like “God,” “Lord,” or “LORD,” this Bible reintroduces the transliteration of ancient words to help readers understand the rich distinctions made in the original Hebrew and Aramaic. The translation into which these transliterated names and titles of God have been inserted is God’s Word Translation, which has itself been translated by biblical scholars to reach a twenty-first century reading audience by accurately rendering the text in clear, everyday language.

I like to review Bibles by focusing on some of my favorite verses. The ones I will focus on today are Genesis 1:1-3 and Philippians 4:6-7. As you can imagine, the very first book of the Bible is full of the names and titles of the Creator:

        In the beginning, Elohim created heaven and earth.

The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The Rauch Elohim was hovering over the water.

Then Elohim said, “Let there be light!” So there was light. Elohim saw the light was good. So Elohim made the horizon and separated the light from the darkness. Elohim named the light day, and the darkness he named night. There was evening, then morning –the first day. (Genesis 1:1-3)

Here is Philippians 4:6-7:

Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Yeshua.

It is interesting to see how often God’s different names are referenced in His Book. My eyes were definitely opened to His many attributes! I think this would make for a terrific Bible for anyone who wants to know God in a deeper way.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Revell Publishers and provided by them for review purposes.

A Christmas Giveaway for You - 'My Favorite Bible: The Best-Loved Stories of the Bible'

One of my favorite Christian book publishers, Revell Publishers, offered me the opportunity to give away a copy of one of their new books - 'My Favorite Bible: The Best-Loved Stories of the Bible.' I jumped at the chance! 

Here is the 'blurb' on this beautiful book!

With the vibrant illustrations and engaging text in this Bible storybook, you can enjoy sharing the best-loved stories of the Bible with the children in your life and encourage a life-long love for the Word of God. My Favorite Bible is a book of exciting Bible stories and activity pages that guide children through the foundational truths of Scripture.

Each story is fully illustrated and includes a simple narrative full of things kids love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, and discussion questions to help adults introduce children to the Bible.

The colorful illustrations will capture the imaginations of children ages 4–8, and the stories will help adults to pass along the most important truth in life—the Gospel. Families will cherish this time as they read, listen, learn, and love, growing closer to one another even as they grow closer to God.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?! This is not a children’s Bible; it is a Bible story book that includes key verses and parent pages called “Family Talk” and “Family Fun” to assist adults in discussing the stories with children. Awesome!

To enter to win 'My Favorite Bible,' please leave a comment telling me which story in the Bible you are most interested in sharing with a young loved one! Please leave your email address, also, so I can contact you if you win. I will pass the winner’s information along to Donna at Revell (thanks, Donna!), who will send out this wonderful publication. This giveaway is not restricted to the United States; it is open to the international audience (we want to get the Good News out to all nations!).

Deadline for entry is Monday, December 12, 2011 at 11:59 pm. The Random Number Generator www.random.com will choose a winner from all entrants on Tuesday, December 13, 2011! All the best to you!

‘A Lancaster County Christmas’ by Suzanne Woods Fisher – Book Review

What a joy it is to read another book by Suzanne Woods Fisher! The latest to add to my list is ‘A Lancaster County Christmas.’

Here is the synopsis of this book:

Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband, Sol, the Christmas gift they had both longed for – news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big Amish family isn’t likely to become a reality. Will those empty chairs at the table ever be filled?

Then a winter storm raging outside blows an impatient young woman and her husband into the Riehl home on Christmas Eve – and into a much slower pace of life.

Both couples are about to find out if they can weather the storm – and if miracles still happen at Christmastime.

Here is the biography of this author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, and The Search - the bestselling Lancaster County Secrets series. Her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Her interest in living a simple, faith-filled life began with her Dunkard cousins.

Suzanne is also the author of Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, and Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life, both finalists for the ECPA Book of the Year award. She is the host of Amish Wisdom, a weekly radio program on www.toginet.com. She lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay area. When Suzanne isn’t writing or bragging to her friends about her new first grandbaby, she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne’s way of thinking…you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth.

I love the fact that this book featured a character from one of Suzanne’s previous novels from the ‘Lancaster County Secrets’ series, ‘The Choice,’ Solomon Riehl! I often am felt wanting to know ‘the rest of the story’ – and this time, I was able to visit Solomon again. It was wonderful!

Another thing that I love about this book is the fact that I was so envious of the English woman, Jaime Fitzpatrick, being able to spend time with an Amish family. I have had a fascination with the Plain People since I was a child. I always have admired their faith and their dedication to family and friends. It would be a dream to spend time with them! So it was amazing to get an inside glimpse into their lives through the eyes of an outsider.

As usual, Suzanne’s story is full of interesting side plots. One of the most interesting to me was that involving Mattie’s cousin, Zach, who was contemplating leaving the Amish church in search of the intrigue of the outside world. It was fascinating to get inside his mind to see the reasoning behind his thought process on that major life change.

Suzanne shares the Gospel in all of her work, and this book is no exception. Here she glorifies God through an exchange between Mattie and Jaime. Here is Mattie’s perspective:

“I believe God reveals his loving nature in all kinds of wondrous ways. Every single day. From sunrises and sunsets, to the families he’s given to us to share this life, to---”…. “to birds and animals. To the greatest miracle of all – the birth of the Christ child, a holy God entering into his creation to redeem it. God’s perfect love is all around us, Jaime. But if you shut your eyes to all the light he has given to you, you can’t see the evidence of his love.” (p. 155)

Ultimately, both couples were enriched by meeting the other. They learned important truths from each other. Their meeting was definitely a divine appointment. Those are always wonderful when they happen!

I have had the joy and pleasure of reading several books by Suzanne - Book One in the Lancaster County Secrets’ series, ‘The Choice’ (you can read my review here), Book Two, ‘The Waiting’ (you can read my review here), Book Three, ‘The Search’ (you can read my review here), ‘Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life’ (you can read that review here) and ‘Amish Values for Your Family: What We Can Learn From the Simple Life' (you can read my blog post here). Not surprising, I loved this book! Suzanne is such a talented writer, and so creative! I believe Suzanne’s writing is a gift from God, and it is awesome that she uses that gift for His glory.

As has been the case in the past, I look forward to her next book, ‘The Keeper,' the first book in her Stoney Ridge Seasons series; it will be released in January, 2012. Thank you, Revell, for bringing more SWF books to us!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. I am happy to be participating in the blog tour for this book through the LitFuse Group along with these other bloggers.

‘Blue Skies Tomorrow’ by Sarah Sundin – Book Review

I have been blogging and reviewing long enough now (about a year and a half) that I have had the pleasure of reading entire book series. Such is the case with the Wings of Glory series by the lovely Sarah Sundin. The last book in the series is ‘Blue Skies Tomorrow.’

Here is the synopsis of this book:

In a time of peril, can they find the courage to confront their fears and embrace a love that lasts?

When her husband becomes a casualty of war in the Pacific, Helen Carlisle throws herself into volunteering for the war effort to conceal her feelings. But keeping up appearances as the grieving widow of a hometown hero is taking its toll. Soon something is going to give.

Lt. Raymond Novak prefers the pulpit to the cockpit. His stateside job training B-17 pilots allow him the luxury of a personal life – and a conventional excuse to ignore her deepest fear. When the beautiful Helen catches his eye and captures his heart, he is determined to win her hand.

But when Ray and Helen are called upon to step out in faith and put their reputations and their lives on the line, can they meet the challenges that face them? And can their young love survive until blue skies return?

Filled with drama, daring, and all the romance of the WWII era, Blue Skies Tomorrow is the captivating final book in the popular Wings of Glory series.

Here is the biography of this author:

Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody and A Memory Between Us. She lives in northern California with her husband, three children, a cat, and a yellow lab prone to eating pens and manuscripts. She works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school and women’s Bible studies. Her grand-uncle flew with the U.S. Eighth Air Force in England. Please visit her online at www.sarahsundin.com, www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor, or www.twitter.com/sarahsundin.

I’ve had the pleasure to read the other books in this series (you can read my review of ‘A Distant Melody’ here and ‘A Memory Between Us’ here. According to Sarah’s website, “I’m currently editing In Every letter, the first book in the Wings of the Nightingale series.” So glad to hear that this talented author – and wonderful lady – has another series on its way!

As with the other books in the series, this book is superb! Sarah has such a talent for writing; it shines through on every page.

Here is one example of a fine piece of writing; her word picture is vivid:

She shifted two-year-old Jay-Jay higher on her hip and inhaled the Delta breeze, flowing fresh from the San Francisco Bay into the Sacramento River Delta, rain-scrubbed and scented by new grass on the hills. (p. 9)

Mrs. Sundin always does a fine job in bringing Jesus into her stories. Here’s an example of the main character Helen’s outreach to the Lord:

        “Lord, help me, I can’t bear it.”

A whisper. The softest whisper in her ear. He knew. Jesus knew what she had endured. He’d endured it too. He was beaten and scarred. He understood.

For the first time, she yielded to his comfort. Jesus didn’t take away her tear, he received them. He didn’t take away the memories, he shared them. He didn’t take away the hurts, he felt them. Somehow, with the Lord, she could bear it. (pp. 142-143)

Sarah’s books in this series bring history to life. She has done a lot of research on life during World War II, on both sides of the pond (in the United States and in Europe). One can learn a lot about the history of our country, and what those in the ‘Greatest Generation’ endured.

The ending was very sweet! I was happy to spend some time with the courageous and amazing Novak brothers, and the lovely women in their lives! And I thank the lovely Mrs. Sundin for sharing these stories with us.

You can order this book here.

This book is published by Revell Publishers and was provided by them for review purposes.

‘Amish Values for Your Family: What We Can Learn from the Simple Life’ by Suzanne Woods Fisher – Book Review

One of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered since I’ve been reviewing and blogging is Suzanne Woods Fisher, who focuses on the Amish community, both in the fiction and non-fiction genres. Her latest title is ‘Amish Values for Your Family: What We Can Learn from the Simple Life.’

Here is the synopsis of this book:

When it comes to strong families that know how to truly enjoy life together, there is much we can learn from the Amish. Just how do they establish such strong family bonds, such deeply held values, and such wonderful family traditions? In Amish Values for Your Family, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shares the secrets of Amish family life. In this inspiring and practical book, you will meet real Amish families that are a lot like yours. Through their stories, you’ll discover how to:

·         slow down

·         safeguard family time

·         raise children who stand strong in their faith

·         prioritize what’s truly important

Amish values like community, forgiveness, simple living, obedience, and more can be your family legacy – without selling your car or changing your wardrobe.

Here is the biography of this author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs, as well as the Lancaster County Secrets novels. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom. Her other titles include For the Love of Dogs, Copper Star, Copper Fire, The Choice, The Waiting, and The Search. She lives in California.

Here is an excerpt from the Oasis Audiobook version of this book:

In the Introduction, Suzanne shares this information regarding the Amish community:

Few people are aware that the Amish are the fastest-growing population in the United States. In 1900, there were five thousand Old Order Amish in America. Yet by 2008, according to Donald B. Kraybill, Senior Fellow at the Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, there were 233,000 Old Order Amish. And half the population is under eighteen. The growth is coming from large families, with an 85 to 90 percent retention rate as children become baptized into the church as young people.

The Amish seem to be doing something right.

So should we all “go Amish”? Of course not! However there is much we can learn from these gentle people about raising our families well; to help prioritize what’s truly important, to simplify decision making, to slow down as a family, to safeguard time together, and when age-appropriate, to let go. Amish Values for Your Family invites you into Amish farmhouses for a hearty meal, to explore the topic of rearing children who are “in the world but not of it.”

So grab a cup of hot coffee, put up your feet, and come inside the Amish world with me. (pp. 12-13)

I will focus on one aspect of this book – and that is forgiveness. The Amish are wonderful exemplars for how we are to forgive those who have wronged us. Suzanne focuses on this topic in the chapter entitled ‘Seventy Times Seven.’ Here she shows us that the Amish forgive, although it is just as difficult for them as it is for us ‘English:’

True forgiveness is never easy, and the Amish struggle with the same emotions of anger and retribution that we all do. But they choose to forgive – with no strings attached – in spite of those feelings. Forgiving is woven deep into their culture. It is not a choice; it is an expectation. The Amish forgive because they believe God’s way is the best way to live. They believe forgiveness is intended for our own good. How does that concept help you?

Is there someone you are struggling to forgive today? Having an intention of forgiveness can help to change your feelings about forgiving someone who has wronged you. Try to pray, each day, for that individual. If you have trouble with that, ask someone who understand the situation to pray for you. Don’t give up if you don’t feel anything. It might take time – but the intention to forgive remains steadfast. (pp. 133-134)

This reminder is coming at the perfect time for me. My husband, Fred, and I will be visiting a family member next week, and I still harbor some bitterness over something this person did over four years ago. I am quite sure it is doing more harm to me than it is to the other person. So I need to put this expectation of forgiveness into practice – and soon! I pray that the Lord will precede me and be there as I interact with this person. And I thank the Amish – and Mrs. Fisher – for reminding me of this – “for such a time as this.”

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Revell Books and provided by the LitFuse Group for review purposes.