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10 Simple Ways to Let Others Know You Care

2012-02-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

Hi! Sherry Kyle, here. Can you believe it’s February? Before you know it, it will be Valentine’s Day, the day to show your loved ones how much you care about them. But why wait till then? Consider these ten ideas to put a smile on their face, and warmth in their heart ANY day of the year:

1. Forgive something they did that hurt you without needing to hear the words, “I’m sorry.”

2. Send them a text that reads, “Thought of you today, and it made me smile.”

3. Look them in the eye and say, “I really appreciate you—just for being you.”

4. Compliment them on a job well done.

5. Give them something from nature that reminds you of them—like a beautiful shell, or a sturdy rock.

6. Ask, “How are you—really?” Then do nothing but listen for as long as they’d like to talk.

7. Encourage them to pursue their dreams.

8. Tell them which qualities of theirs you admire.

9. Notice when they do something that might have been difficult.

10. Go on the swings, get some ice cream, and let go of your stresses together.

By Sherry Kyle

Quiz Book just for You

2012-01-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

Later this year I have a new book coming out called The Christian Girl's Guide to Me: The Quizbook. It has 25 quizzes with titles like:
Are You a Good Loser?
Follow, Lead or Stay at Home?
Are You Clothes Crazy?
Are You Content?
What Does Your Room Say about You?

Besides 25 quizzes written just for girls like you, there are puzzles, crafts, stories and activities. This book will be fun to do alone, but will be much more fun shared with a friend.

Here's one of the quizzes (but when you see it in the book it'll have drawings and lots of fun activities with it)

Are You a Good Loser?

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might... (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

It's fun to win, but it's not much fun to lose! However, it's important for you to be both a good winner and a good loser. It's all about attitude. The key is to have a good attitude at all times no matter what happens. How well do you do at that? Take the quiz below to find out. Read each question and then circle the letter in front of the answer that sounds most like what you would do.

1. Middle school cheerleading tryouts are taking place. It's your turn and you're doing great. Just as you do your final jump, your foot slips and you fall. What do you do?

A. Get up, smile, and finish.

B. Blame whoever was supposed to clean the floor.

C. Leave the floor and hope the judges liked the rest of your routine.

2. You arrive early at the science fair and discover that you won the grand prize. Then you notice that the girl who always teases you for being slowest in PE didn't place at all. What do you do when she walks in?

A. Find one good thing about her project to compliment her for.

B. Say, "Ha! You might be better in PE but I aced you in the science fair."

C. Ignore her and spend time with your friends, enjoying your moment of fame.

3. Your girls’ basketball team is playing a team known for fouling. You've been elbowed several times. But then you come down from a rebound and hit one of their players in the head with your elbow. What do you say?

A. “Oops, sorry.”

B. “Move next time.”

C. Nothing.

4. You and another band member are playing a duet at the city competition. You don't place well. What do you say?

A. Maybe if I practice more I'll do better next time.

B. Maybe if you would have practiced we'd have done better.

C. I guess the judge thought we didn’t play well.

5. You pride yourself on being a good writer. You place second in an essay contest. When you read the essay that beat yours what do you think?

A. That's a really well-written essay.

B. Mine should have won.

C. I wish I had won.

How did you do?

If you had mostly A's, you are a good sport! You like to win, but you accept it when you lose. You try to congratulate the winner. And if you are the winner, you make sure to say something nice to the loser. Way to go!

If you had mostly B's, you need to practice your sportsmanship skills! We'd all like to win but that rarely happens. Don't blame others when you lose. Just determine to do better the next time. And when you win, do it graciously not rudely. Real winners have good attitudes!

If you had mostly C's, you aren't a poor sport, but you're not really a good sport, either. Go a step further and compliment the winner, or if you are the winner, say something nice to the loser. It's good to be able to both win and lose well.

New Beginnings

2011-12-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hi, it's Marilyn! Hey, it's almost the new year--2012! Are you excited about celebrating on New Year's Eve, or is it just another night for you? Do you stay up to greet the new year, or go to bed at your usual time?

Here are some things I'm going to do:

1. Clean my house. When I lived in Japan several years ago, I helped my school and host family prepare for the new year by cleaning the house so it was sparkling clean when the new year arrived. Ever since then, I've tried to keep that tradition by cleaning up near the end of December.

2. Pray for one word to focus on for 2012. I'm quite sure I know what this word is, but I'm keeping it in my heart until the new year begins.

3. Have a party! I'm inviting friends to my house for a celebration. We'll eat "small bites," drink a yummy punch made of fruit, fruit juice, sherbet, and soda, and enjoy one another's company.

4. Set goals for 2012. I can never keep resolutions, but I often meet goals that I've set. These goals include finishing tasks (such as completing the draft of a new book) and improving on things I already do (such as deepening my relationship with God).

The end of the old year and the beginning of a new year means a chance for new beginnings, a chance to start fresh. It's like our relationship with God--even if we drift away from him or do things we know he doesn't like, he loves us so much that he always welcomes us back and invites us to come closer to him.

Happy New Year, and God bless you!

Family Fun

2011-11-15T03:14:00.000-08:00

With the holidays coming up, you're sure to have more time with family and maybe even family members you don't see often.

Here's an idea for family time fun from The Christian Girl's Guide to the Bible:

Family Fun

Talk to your parents about having a special family night. Then make one or more of the snacks below to share while you spend time together. Pour the ingredients listed into a bag or bowl for sharing and just mix or shake.

Sweet Family Mix

1 cup plain M&Ms

1 cup peanut M&Ms

1 cup white morsels (chips)

1 cup gummy bears

1 cup malted milk balls (Whoppers)

Pretzel Mix

1 cup plain M&Ms

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1 cup pretzel sticks

1/2 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds

Healthy Mix

1 cup cubed hard cheese

1 cup peanuts

1 cup cubed turkey

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Kabobs are fun and easy to make! Just thread the ingredients listed and on a wood or metal kabob stick .

Fruit Kabobs

Kiwi squares

Strawberry halves

Pineapple chunks

Sandwich Kabobs

Lunch meat cubes

Cheese cubes

Bread squares

After trying some of these ideas, create your own mixes and kabobs. See who can come up with the most creative ones.

Thank a Veteran

2011-11-10T04:38:00.000-08:00

Be sure to thank a veteran for his or her service. Here's a video that someone put together on youtube. Unfortuately I can't get it to embed, so I'm putting the link. http://youtu.be/5pfBUUZNbFM

It's Save Our Girls Day

2011-11-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

This is the first national day of prayer for girls-especially for teen girls. You are close to being a teen so we also want to pray that your teen years will be great and you will stay close to Jesus through them all. Look at your friends and consider just a few facts:

1 in 3 teen girls becomes pregnant

1 in 3 teen pregnancies is ended by abortion (so one in 9 teen girls will have an abortion)

Girls get depressed more than boys and experiment with drugs more than boys

The world can be tough, but as young women prayer can make you strong, so spend P-O-W-E-R time with God

Pray -pour out your thoughts and feelings and listen for God to respond-HE will
Open up to other Christians in praying together-who share your faith will strengthen you-ask your mom, friends,and church to pray 4U and with U
Word of God will strengthen you-so read the Bible and gain wisdom and encouragement from it-read about Hannah pouring out her heart to God(1 Samuel1:7-20), a forgiven woman (Luke 7:37-48) , and how God made plans for you as he created you inside your mother's womb--let God's Word be prayers-Psalm 51:10 is a great morning prayer (create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me)
Evaluate of life and what's happening--think through to the outcomes and ask God to show you his plan and how he could use you--things may seem terrible but know the season will pass and joy will return
Request better results--look back at how God has answered prayers and how you have grown. Consider the results you want it you life and set those as goals and then work toward the goals--you cannot control people but you can make wise choices in how to live--ask God to give you a vision of the results He can help you achieve and trust he will do it

And pray for a teen girl you know--pray God will give her strength and peace and much more!

Check out Save our Girls Day on facebook---http://www.facebook.com/SaveOurGirls

Abraham, the Father of Nations

2011-10-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Marilyn here! Today I spent a few hours with some dear friends. During that time, I heard a remarkable story about faith. It reminded me of Abraham, so I thought I'd post a bio of Abraham that I wrote for my book It's All About Dad & Me. How much do you know about the Father of Nations?
His name means: Exalted father/Father of a multitude
Born: About 4,000 years ago in Ur of the Chaldeans (a city in Babylon)
Husband of: Sarai/Sarah
Father of: Ishmael and Isaac, father-in-law of Rebekah
Occupation: Farmer, herder, and father of a nation

God promised Abraham (who was born as Abram) the Promised Land. When he was seventy-five years old, Abram moved his entire family (which included a lot of people—brothers, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins) to Canaan, the land that God promised he would inherit.

God also promised Abram that he would become the father of a new nation, Israel, which included all God’s chosen people. Even though Abram and his wife, Sarai, were both very old, God continued to promise these things to Abram. Despite how unrealistic and ridiculous they must have sounded to Abram, he responded with faith, trusting God’s words and obeying Him.

God said to Abram, “Number the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5)

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God changed his name to Abraham and changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. Their first son, Isaac, was born a year later. When Isaac was still a boy, God told Abraham to take his son to a place in the mountains of Moriah and offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God.

Although Abraham must have been in complete shock at this command, he obeyed God and took Isaac to the spot that God had chosen. While Abraham and Isaac built an altar for the sacrifice, Isaac asked, “Where’s the animal we’re gonna sacrifice?”

Abraham said, “God will provide the lamb to sacrifice,” as he prepared his son on the altar.
Convinced of Abraham’s complete faith, trust, and obedience, God told him to stop preparing Isaac for the sacrifice. Just then, Abraham noticed a ram (male sheep) caught in the woods nearby. Realizing that God had placed the ram there for them, he and Isaac sacrificed it to God. God then repeated His promise that Abraham would be the father of the nation of Israel.

* Read all about Abraham in the book of Genesis.

And God bless you!

Doll Necklace

2011-10-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Karen,

It's autumn so I thought making a doll necklace similar to one in God's Girls#1 could be fun.

Take a piece of thick yarn and cut it long enough to go around your neck and end about the middle of your chest. Bend a 2-inch piece of chenille stem in half to make a simple needle. Fold yarn in half and over the chenille stem-needle. Thread 5 pony beads for the body and then a larger bead for the head. Remove the needle. Slide beads so both ends are about 4 inches below the bottom pony bead. Tie the ends together twice under the last bead to hold beads on necklace. Tie an overhand knot towards the end of each end to form feet. Cut a 5-inch piece of yarn and tie the middle of the yarn between the head and top body bead to form arms. Tie overhand knots at the end of each arm to form hands. Cut a 3-inch scrap of shiny garland or boa to make a skirt. Twisst a piece of chenille stem around the center of the skirt and then around the necklace, between the bottom two beads, to attach the skirt. Add yarn or twist another piece of chemille stem around the top of the head to make hair. Use permanent markers to draw a face. It's ready to wear.

Have fun with the doll necklace. Cut fabric or paper scraps to make little costumes to dress the doll. These can be attached with short pieces of wire or chenille stems.

From my book, there's a matching devotion for the doll. The verse Romans 16:12 in a letter from Paul asks people to greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, two women who work hard in the Lord. He praised them for their hard work. Tryphena means delicate and Tryphosa means dainty. These were ladies who served God and impressed Paul with their virtues. God sees them as special daughters, so you can make dolls as reminders of these gentle, delicate women. Make a second necklace for a friend who also loves God.

Enjoy these autumn days and bright colored leaves!

Happy Fall!

2011-09-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Marilyn. Everyone has a favorite time of the year. What's yours? Mine is fall, autumn, that time of year when in my part of the world the air turns crisp and clean, the light turns golden, and the trees turn brilliant colors. The whole world is winding down after a busy spring and summer as it gets ready for bed and the long sleep of winter.

I especially love the leaves in fall. I can kick through them on walks in the woods, rake them into a pile and jump in it, and hold one up to the sun and marvel at the beautiful colors.

Do you know what makes the leaves turn such beautiful colors? I recently found out that the leaves already have the gorgeous reds, oranges, yellows, purples, browns and rusts in them. But in the spring and summer, when the trees store up food for winter, their leaves are filled with chlorophyll, the chemical that makes photosynthesis possible. (You remember learning in science that photosynthesis is a plant's way of turning sunlight into food. Btw, isn't our God brilliant? He's more brilliant than the fall colors he creates!) But when the nights become longer and colder in the fall, the leaves lose their chlorophyll. When that happens, the gorgeous colors that were hidden all through spring and summer can show through.

Now, green is a fine color, but isn't the striking array of different colors a treat for your eyes after summer is over? It makes me think of all the wonderful parts of ourselves that we might keep hidden because we're shy or embarrassed or afraid of what other people might think of us if we show them. Maybe you love to play the pan flute or play chess or collect words (don't laugh--there are people who love the sound of particular words and keep lists of them). Maybe you write poetry or sing or have a powerful tennis serve and don't want other people to know. Or you're afraid of letting other people know that you love God.

Just like the leaves, there will come a time when the fear or shyness or embarrassment that hides those wonderful parts of you will fade. Remember that God made you who you are. He created all the colors in you. So, don't be afraid to let your brilliant colors show through!

To get into an autumn mood, try this yummy recipe for pumpkin smoothies!

1. Put all these ingredients into a blender:
- 3/4 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt
- 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/4 cup of apple juice or apple cider
- 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp. of nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon
- Crushed ice

2. Put the blender lid on, and blend until the mixture is smooth.

3. Pour into glasses. Enjoy!

Next time, try making it with one of these!
- 2 Tbsp. of peanut butter
- 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup (and skip the apple juice)
- 1/4 cup of chocolate syrup
- 1/2 of a banana

God bless you!

Embracing our Unique Style

2011-09-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Sherry, here, with an excerpt from my girl’s book, The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style:

Q: I have the jealousy bug. Some of my friends have the cutest things—like earrings, hair accessories, hoodies, and jeans. Why do I always compare myself with others?

A: When we compare ourselves with others, it really means that we’re not confident in our unique style. We want what others have because we think they have it all together.

Chances are, your friends want something someone else has too. The Bible talks about being content with what God has given us (check out Hebrews 13:5).

Contentment is hard to grasp, even as an adult—ask your mom or dad. But when we ask God to help us, He can give us the confidence we need to be ourselves and be happy with what we have.

Blessings,

Sherry

Gracious Words

2011-08-23T00:10:00.000-07:00

(Marilyn here!) "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." -Proverbs 16:24

Kimberly stood with her back against the wall, just like all the other girls in her P.E. class, and looked down at her bare feet. It was the second day of school, and she couldn't wait to go home. Yesterday was her first day of middle school, and it was horrible. First, she'd overslept and barely made it to homeroom. Then, she forgot to bring money, even though Mom reminded her a thousand times not to forget. This was the first year she had to change classes, and she got lost twice. Already, she had a stack of homework to do. And that was only her first day.

Even with all that, it wouldn't have been so bad if her friends went to the same school. But they went to Lincoln, while she went to Union. And there wasn't anyone she knew in any of her classes. She felt like a stranger in a strange land. Everyone said she'd love middle school, but so far she didn't love it--at all. And all she wanted to do was stand there, her back against the wall, waiting for her turn to be weighed, and not say anything to anyone until she could talk to her friends that evening. After P.E., she only had one more class--art--which wasn't on her schedule yesterday.

As she stared at her feet, the toes of the girl standing next to her wiggled. Kimberly noticed the girl's toenails were all painted different colors. Then she remembered something that Suzanne, her youth leader, had said last Sunday, when they were talking about Proverbs 16:24. Suzanne had said, "If someone takes the time to wear something special, do something to let them know you notice it."

Kimberly looked again at the girl's toenails. They were pretty, all turquoise and purple and magenta and pink and teal. And she thought of the verse from Proverbs: "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." It wouldn't hurt to say something nice about them, she thought, and turned to the girl beside her.

"I like your toenails. They're pretty," she said.

The girl smiled. "Thanks," she said softly. "I like different colors."

"Are you an artist?" Kimberly asked.

The girl nodded. "Some people say so."

Then Kimberly thought about the one class she hadn't been to yet, and asked, "Are you taking art this year?"

"Yes," the girl said, "but I haven't been to it yet."

"Me, neither. I bet we're in the same class." Kimberly smiled. "I'm Kimberly."

"I'm Anna."

And that was how Kimberly and Anna became best friends on their second day of middle school.

God says that gracious words are "sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." We never know how our words affect other people. Can you think of someone who needs to hear some gracious words? Who knows--they may lead to a great friendship, just like Kimberly and Anna's!

Organizing for School

2011-08-20T06:25:00.001-07:00

Aloha from Karen,

School starts all too soon, so get organized to succeed. Prepare to track homework and reports due and set up a study area that fit's your personality and learning style.

Track assignments with a calendar, day planner, or sticky notes-whichever works for you. With a giant wall calendar you can use different colored markers to visually show deadlines (red letter dates) and test dates (yellow highlights) and vacations. A day planner is good for tracking details and writing in every little assignment. If you're not tuned in too calendars you might want to put sticky notes where you'll notice them-on a mirror or closet door, with reminders of deadlines and tests. Also check the best way to let your family know your important school dates and deadlines. They may need a wall calendar in the kitchen or a school folder where you can slip in notes of your needs and deadlines.

Your place to study is important. Consider whether you work best in quiet and order, or around people and with a study buddy. If quiet is important find a place away from noise where you can be alone, probably in your room. If you like to study with noise then set up a corner of the family room, or make a place for friends to come and study, possibly with pillows to sit on the floor.

Be sure to have good lighting where you study and a cabinet or desk stocked with supplies, such as pens, paper, pencils, rulers, markers, and report covers.

Consider what most sidetracked you in past school years as well as what helped the most. For any problem areas brainstorm with a parent or friend about ways to overcome the problem. This might mean noticing fast if you are having trouble understanding a subject and getting a tutor, or if you tend to get too busy and skip studying (you might need to say no to some activities).

Spend a weekend or a few days organizing and also praying about the school year.

Braces!

2011-08-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

Hi, Sherry here, writing from my laptop in central California. This morning my daughter got braces on her teeth. She has an upper tooth that is in cross bite (or inside) when she bites. If we left it that way, she could wear down the tooth. Braces were the best option to make sure she has a good, healthy bite.

Why do people get braces?

To straighten teeth—sometimes teeth come in crooked or misaligned causing difficulties when eating.

To fix a bad bite—some people have over bites where the upper jaw and teeth jut out too far forward, while others have under bites, when the bottom teeth and jaw extend too far forward and the upper teeth sit inside when chewing. If the bite is off, other problems can occur such as jaw problems or headaches.

For cosmetic reasons—some people don’t really need braces, but want to improve their smile. For example, someone with spaces between their teeth might want to get braces to close the gaps for that “perfect” smile.

If you dentist suggests a trip to the orthodontist, it would be best to follow his recommendation. Don’t worry! A lot of kids your age have braces. I’m sure my daughter will discover that many of her friends also got braces over the summer.

Do you wear braces?

Chime in and let us know how long you’ve been wearing them.

Cleaning you room by making choices

2011-08-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Karen,

It's good to clean your room--but that means getting rid of stuff and that can be hard.

Try these useful tips on what to do with stuff you need to part from but have a hard time letting go.

Note: Do these on separate days- choose one a day!

1. Clothes that don’t fit

a. Give to younger relative

b. Give to needy neighbor with children that size

c. Give to charity

2. Worn out clothes you love

a. Cut a scrap for an album and throw away the rest

b. Take a farewell photo in it then throw away

c. Hang in room as a banner

d. Use as a rag

e. Put in the bottom of a box of good stuff and give it to charity.

3. Old school papers

a. File the ones you want to keep, alphabetically by subject

b. Throw away ones not needed

c. Put ones you want as a memory in a scrapbook

d. Put in a box in the attic with a date on them and throw them away in a

year. Write “ Toss on (date)” on the side of the box.

4. Childhood box for attic: fill one box/plastic container with things to

someday give your own children

a. Favorite toys

b. Favorite outgrown outfit in good condition

c. Favorite book

d. Best schoolwork

5. Stuffed animals

a. Out of every two choose one to keep and one to give to charity

b. Make a shelf display of favorite animals

c. Add one to childhood box for attic

d. Take photos of animals before giving away

6. Consider this, then take 5 photos and give things photographed away:

a. A memory photo takes less room than the item

b. A photo can be displayed or put in album

c. Others may need items more than you do

d. Photo memories can be shared with future generations

e. You can write a story/poem/reflections to keep with a photo

7. Junk drawer

a. Dump into box and put back only what you need

b. Throw out all broken items

c. Give away all you don’t need

8. Shoes

a. Choose best pairs to keep

b. Get rid of outgrown ones (Don’t forget the charity box.)

c. Toss away worn out ones

d. Clean dirty ones

e. Make or get a storage holder for shoes- keeps off dust and keeps

closet neater

9. Games

a. Keep any played in the last month

b. Throw out any broken games/ones missing important pieces

c. Give away ones not played in last 6 months

d. Can put one in childhood box

10. Craft supplies/kits

a. Look at uncompleted ones- discard those you don’t like

b. Choose one craft to finish and give away at least one unfinished

c. Have a craft party and let each guest make and keep a craft

d. Throw out broken/no longer good supplies, like dried paints

11. School supplies

a. Discard broken pens/markers/etc.

b. Give away ones you never use/excess if you have too many

c. Organize keepers in a silverware divider or other container

d. Throw away or put in album old school notes/ticket stubs, etc.

12. Hair accessories

a. Discard broken/worn out items

b. Give away ones not used in past 6 months

c. Any that match only one hanging outfit, hang with outfit

d. Choose or make a storage container/drawer dividers for storing items.

13. Makeup

a. Toss out broken/used-up makeup

b. Keep in convenient small case what is used daily

(I use a heavy sandwich bag in my purse.)

c. Sort and keep extras in a makeup case

d. Store extras in closet or under bathroom sink

e. Give away extras/those not your colors or out of style stuff

Summer Dreaming

2011-08-04T03:42:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Karen,

Summer's a great time to relax and daydream. Take some time to dream about the future. Pray about it too. Think about what you want to do next year, next summer, and even when you grow up.

Then consider turning some of those dreams into reality. To do that, write each dream as a goal and list what you need to reach the goal.

For example, if you want to take a summer mission trip that will mean raising funds to go (finding sponsors or seeing if your church will help you with fundraisers) and possibly getting good grades in school so you won't need to go to summer school.

Or if you want a career that takes college or other training you'll need to get good grades in school and may need to start saving toward that goal or help your parents start a college fund and find ways to help your family save money.

If you want to grow up, get married, and have a family, or live on your own, you will need to learn to cook, manage a house, and shop for groceries. You could start working on those skills now.

For many future careers summer may be a good time to visit or shadow someone with a job you'd like to have someday. Talk with people to find someone in a career you'd like. Find out hat it takes and ask to visit them on the job to learn and see what they do. Also check out the carer online (with parent's permission to safely browse the internet for the information).

Check out a few dreamers in the Bible. God sent them special dreams. Jacob (Genesis 28:10-12), Joseph (Gnesis 37:5), Pharaoh (Genesis 41:1-31), Solomon (1 Kings 3:5).

Have fun,

Karen

When Someone Gets What You Want

2011-08-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

Do you remember a while back we were talking about Sarah? She was jealous of Hagar because Hagar could have children and she couldn't. Most of us know what it feels like to be jealous--but what about when you're the one who has what someone else wants? That's kind of the flip side of jealousy. And that's the position Hagar was in.

Hagar's story is intertwined with Sarah's. You already read how God promised that Abraham and Sarah would start a great nation, but years passed, and they still had no children. Sarah came up with her own plan. She told Abraham to have a child with her maid, Hagar. So Abraham did what Sarah asked, and Hagar became pregnant.

Sarah had wanted to have a child for years, but it was Hagar who was pregnant. Since Hagar was pregnant with what was assumed to be the promised child, she began to act like she was more important than Sarah. That was too much for Sarah.

Sarah was strong in faith, but she was human. She had the same emotions you have when you see someone else getting what you want, especially if they flaunt it in your face. Sarah was jealous, she was angry, and she took it out on Hagar. She even blamed Abraham for the predicament, even though it was her own idea for Hagar to have a son for Abraham.

Hagar teased Sarah. Sarah became jealous and angry. No one was winning. Abraham told Sarah to handle it however she wanted, and Sarah mistreated Hagar. That is all the Bible tells us about what happened between Sarah and Hagar, but whatever happened was bad enough that Hagar fled to the desert to escape Sarah.

Jealousy and teasing rarely lead to good relationships as the problems between Hagar and Sarah show.

Sarah desperately wanted to have a baby. Hagar became pregnant with the child Sarah wanted. Hagar flaunted her pregnancy, and Sarah reacted with anger and jealousy.

You may have been in that situation. Not with a baby but with other things. You want to be best friends with someone, but another girl comes along and becomes the best friend. You want a particular pair of shoes. Your mom says they are too expensive. You see another girl wearing a brand new pair of those shoes the next day at school.

Can you think of a time when someone got what you wanted? How did you feel?

Has there been a time when you had something (a possession, a talent, an award) someone else wanted? How did that make you feel?

No matter whether you are the one who wants what another has or are the one who has what someone else wants, it's important to act graciously and kindly. Jealousy and pride both lead to hurt.

Have a great week!

Kathy

Get Moving!

2011-07-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hi, Sherry here, from central California encouraging you to exercise this summer!

You might wonder how much physical activity a school-aged kid might need. Well, according to The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), kids your age need an hour of exercise per day.

But why?

There are many benefits of exercise, including:

* Keeps weight in the normal range.

* Lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

* Helps maintain a healthy blood pressure.

* Builds strong muscles and bones.

* For a better night’s sleep.

What type of physical activities do kids need to do?

Aerobic exercise for endurance, such as biking, running, swimming, soccer, basketball, or any sport that gets your heart pumping!

Weight bearing exercises for strength, such as push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, or any movement that helps tone and strengthen your muscles.

And stretching exercises for flexibility, such as reaching, bending, or flexing the muscles to improve range of motion.

Remember God is the one who made your body!

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

So, have fun and get moving! :)

Sherry

Christmas in July fun!!

2011-07-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's hot outside and that makes it a great time to think cool and wintry thoughts!

Aloha from Karen,

Monday is July 25 and that's the day to celebrate Christ's birth, renew your Christmas spirit, and even get a head start on Christmas plans. So gather friends or family, set the AC to a bit cooler, play some icy fun games (Icy fun activities can be found at this link) and sing Christmas carols. You can even hold a birthday party for Jesus and let everyone write a note to Jesus (maybe with a promise to do something special to show your love) and wrap it up.

Make cupcakes with green frosting or Rice Krispies (TM) treats Christmas shapes. Roll into tubes and twist into wreaths, or press and cut a star, or mold into a creche. Make it a fun contest or choose to have each person draw a shape to make a complete display. Use lots of red and green sprinkles for some Christmas sparkle.

Also take time to thank God for coming and to recall your favorite memories from last Christmas. You could even have people bring Christmas photos from the past and make scrapbook pages.

And remember to read the Christmas story from the Bible! It's in the beginning of Luke and Matthew. You could also read favorite Christmas stories or watch special Christmas DVDS.

Merry Christmas!

Behind the Scenes

2011-07-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Those of us writing this blog write books for Legacy. But what we do is only a little of what really goes on. Once we write the book, other people edit it, illustrate it, print it, add the cover, and get it ready to ship. It takes a lot of people to get a book from the words we write to the actual book you buy at a store.

This past week was The International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta. The people from Legacy took all the books to Atlanta and displayed them so that book store owners around the world can see what 's available and sell them in their stores.

This is Monica.

And this is me (Kathy) and Rachel with the Legacy display. She's all dressed up but I'm not because I was on the way to the park to run in the water fountains with my twins.

Rachel and Monica do a lot of the behind the scenes work in letting people know about our books.

Centennial Olympic Park next door to the convention center was a really neat place to hang out.

I took four of my children to ICRS with me and we got to meet a lot of awesome people. These are the brothers who wrote Facing the Giant, Fireproof and Courageous. We got to see Courageous even though it's not in theaters until Sept 30.

Of course Bob and Larry were there, and we got to see The Little Drummer Boy Veggie Tales movie that will release in the fall.

Mini Cakes!

2011-07-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

The other day my daughter said she wanted to make mini cakes. “What are those?” I asked.

“Well,” she said, smiling. “They are made with cookies and frosting with sprinkles on top.”

Hmm. Sounded interesting. And yummy!

“Can we go to the store for the ingredients?” she asked. “I’ll pay.”

Since she offered, I thought why not? After all, each day God gives us is a day to celebrate. Right?

God has given us so much to be thankful for—like family and friends. He also gives us food to eat, clothes to wear, and a comfy bed to sleep in.

Speaking of thankfulness, here are some verses from the Bible to show gratitude:

Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. ~ Psalm 18:49

We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. ~ Psalm 75:1

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever;  from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise. ~ Psalm 79:13

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. ~ Psalm 96:11-12

Back to the mini cakes . . .

Here’s what you need:

1 package of Oreo cookies (or any type of “sandwich” style cookie)

1 tub of frosting (Chocolate is my favorite. What about you?)

Sprinkles

Here’s what you do:

1. * Spread frosting on the top of one cookie.

2. * Place another cookie on top.

3. * Set the cookies on a plate.

4. * Spread frosting on top and all around like a cake.

5. * Pour sprinkles on top.

Celebrate God’s goodness and enjoy!

Summer Travel and Bible Travel

2011-07-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Karen,

Summer fun often includes travel. I’m flying to Atlanta tomorrow. You may be riding in boats, planes, buses, cars, or on bicycles or horses, or even walking. Have someone photograph you in various modes of transportation you use this summer. Make scrapbook pages using the photos and journal about your travels.

Do you know how people traveled in Bible times? See if you can fill in who traveled these different ways. If you need help, check out the Bible verses. Answers will be posted later.

Rode a donkey who kept turning off the path
In a fiery chariot
Walked along the beach
Walked on water
Horse
Boat
Ship traveling away from where God sent him
Traveled by wagon with his family
Caravan (probably with camels)-
Teleported
Walked on road to Emmaus
Carried on a mat
In a pillar of cloud
Flew carrying a burning coal
Ship going to Rome

Clues (verses)

Acts 23:23-24 Exodus 13:21

Genesis 46:5 Matthew 4:18

Numbers 22:22-35 Isaiah 6:6

Acts 8:27-28 Mark 2:1-5

Genesis 24:10 Jonah 1:3

Acts 27:2 Matthew 14:29

Acts 8:39-40 Luke 24:13-17

Have fun traveling and don't forget to pack your Bible on trips!

True Freedom

2011-07-05T03:14:00.000-07:00

Hi. Kathy here. Last post, Karen wrote about the 4th of July. That's when we celebrate our freedom. But the truth is that, as Christians, we should celebrate our freedom everyday--not just the freedom we have in our country, but the freedom we have in Jesus.

Here are some verses that talk about freedom:

I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Psalm 119:45

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:14

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:7

Can you think of any more verses that talk about freedom?

How do you celebrate your freedom?

Celebrate July 4th

2011-06-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

Another holiday is coming so it's time to celebrate!

Aloha from Karen. I'm spending the weekend with family so that will be fun.

First think about why we have this holiday.

Our founding fathers and mothers worked hard to make this country free and a place where we have freedom to worship God. Thank God for freedom and pray for our country to continue to be free.

Read the Declaration of Independence and chat about the use of God in it.

Then decorate with patriotic colors! Add red, white, and blue wherever possible. Her are some ideas:

Glue red, white, and blue beads to straps of flip-flops.

Add ribbons or lengths of wired star garlands to hair bands and visors

Wrap double-sided tape around a pencil and then sprinkle glitter in patriotic colors ver tape until all the tape is covered.

Use whip cream, strawberries, and blueberries to create beautiful fruit desserts.

Get creative.

Make a Star T-shirt.

This is a variation of painting a stained-glass T-shirt in God’s Girls #1, page 97 where you can find detailed directions. Here are some simple directions:

Put cardboard inside shirt to keep paint from bleeding through and to keep part of T-shirt to be painted flat. Use masking tape to outline a star shape on the shirt. Use very thin masking tape in short strips to form a stained glass pattern inside the star, crisscrossing from one edge to another edge. Then use fabric paints in red, blue, and silver and a sponge to dab paint onto open areas inside the star. Let dry. Remove tape and you’ll have a colorful star painted on the shirt with white lines to give a stained glass effect.

Play some games. Churches all over the colonies rang bells to celebrate the declaration and when the war ended. Play some bell games. Here are two ideas:

Let one person ring a bell while the others close their eyes and guess where the sound is coming from.

Set a times that rings when it goes off (cell phones can do this). Pass a ball and see who ends up holding it when the bell goes off.

Have fun!

In the Desert

2011-06-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Marilyn! I'm in the desert this week. Literally in the desert with my family on vacation. I love the desert, which is a funny thing for someone who grew up by the Atlantic Ocean and who now lives by the Pacific Ocean to say.

What I love about the desert are the sharp, craggy mountains rising from the vast, flat plain, the watercolor sunsets, the black sky at night dotted with thousands of glittery stars. I love the plants in the desert, which at first glance all look the same but on closer inspection, are varied and beautiful. I love that I have to move slowly in the desert because of the heat (there's hardly a choice). I love that the vast, seemingly empty spaces make my mind clearer and cleaner, as if it wants to mirror what my eyes see. My heart and soul follow, and become peaceful and uncluttered and focused. In the desert I feel closer to God.

Have you heard that expression about having "a desert experience"? When people say that, they're referring to the long time (40 years) that God kept the Israelites in the desert after they fled slavery in Egypt. He provided shelter, water, and food (manna from heaven every day). God wanted the people to know him and obey him and love him before he led them into the Promised Land. Some of them learned that lesson, and others simply complained. Some wanted to go back to Egypt where, even though enslaved, they were surrounded by familiar and comfortable things and routines.

Today, when people talk about a desert experience, they usually mean a difficult time, a time apart from God when their souls feel unproductive, dry, and dead. Have you ever had a desert experience, when you felt that God was far away from you and the thirst of your spirit wasn't being refreshed? Maybe something happened between you and your best friend, or school is harder than it's ever been. Maybe something painful is going on in your family. You begin to wonder where God went and why he sent you out into the desert.

The next time this happens, remember that God led the Israelites to the desert for a reason. He leads us there today, too. But, just like he did with the Israelites, he doesn't abandon us there. The best thing to do when you're in the desert is pray, asking God why you might be there and what he wants you to understand. Remember that in the desert (the literal and figurative one), there aren't as many distractions, and that helps you focus on what's important and pay attention to what you see and hear and feel.

The Israelites didn't stay in the desert forever. God led them out when it was time. He will lead you, too, out of the desert.

God bless you!

Home from Disneyland

2011-06-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Sherry. I had planned on posting yesterday but we were driving back from Los Angeles, California and I didn’t have access to the Internet, but here’s what I was going to share . . .

Spending time with your a family is important and a lot of fun.

My kids have wanted to go to Disneyland for years now and we finally had the opportunity on Wednesday. One of my favorite rides at Disneyland is Splash Mountain. You sit in a log-shaped canoe and it takes you along a winding river trail while you listen to the characters (birds, rabbits, frogs, and more) sing and move. There are a couple of places you might get wet as the ride dips down.

You can take a virtual ride here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BCIfYc9r8s

Does your family have a vacation planned this summer?

It doesn’t matter if you go to another country or state. In fact, you can have fun as family by taking a drive to the beach, mountains, or someplace within driving distance of your house. The key is to spend time as a family, enjoy each other’s company, and do (or see) something you might not have done before.

I’d love to post a picture, but my daughter is away at camp and the photos are on her camera! I’ll post one soon.

Blessings,

Sherry

It's All About the Journey

2011-06-21T00:47:00.000-07:00

Hi. This is Kathy. Last time I posted I wanted to post pictures but I was on a different computer and it wouldn't let me. So here are pictures of our recent trip.

When I travel with my kids, it's all about the journey. I'm not too concerned with making deadlines and I never drive straight through to somewhere. We stop and explore new places and new things on our journey. This was true on a recent journey from the Florida panhandle where I live to the Indiana/Michigan border where my mom and sister live.

Here are some pictures--but they are in reverse order! So the last picture is really our first stop and these first pictures were our last stop.

This is Ruby Falls, TN. We stopped here on our way home.

This is me in the cave. Ruby Falls is inside a cave.

This is a spray park near my mom's house. It's fairly new. This was a regular play park when I was growing up.

Jasmine and I sharing a rootbeer float at DQ after a one-mile (it was really longer!) family walk.

This is us after the walk.

These are four of my kids sitting in Yoder's Department store in an Amish town (Shipshewana) near my mom's city. This is the first time the twins have seen Amish people and the first time seeing anyone travel by horse and buggy.

My husband's parents took us to a restaurant where they pass the food family style.

This is Kayla at the zoo trying to see how far she can jump.

Here we are in the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

This is a really cool place. That's why I like stopping along the way on our journeys.

Botanical gardens. I didn't find this place very exciting but it was okay. If you like planting gardens and working with flowers, you'd probably love this place.

So, for us. It's all about the journey. And it's a little like that in our Christian life too. Sure, God could have us all come home to heaven right now, but he doesn't. That's because he has a journey planned for us here on earth. Your journey includes school and maybe later on college or work or marriage. God knows all the people you'll meet along the way. He puts people in your path that you can learn from and he puts some there that will learn from you. You never know why things happen in your life, but no matter what you face-good or bad--think of it as being part of your journey and make the most of every opportunity.

Radio INterview Coming!

2011-06-20T17:45:00.000-07:00

In a few weeks I (Karen) will be interviewed to chat about books for girls and this blog. Keep watching for details, date and time. It's a radio blog interview so you can go online to listen.

Your Strength and Courage

2011-06-14T00:01:00.001-07:00

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor. 12:9)
Hi, this is Marilyn. I’m writing this on the first weekend of June. For the past four years, the first weekend of June has, for me, meant dancing in the annual show put on by the studio where I take tap classes. This show is much more than a recital--it's a full stage production with fancy, glittery costumes, lots of makeup, and big hairdos.

I start every new year of tap classes in July, when we learn new steps and techniques. And then we break for Christmas for two weeks. When we come back in January, we begin learning the numbers that we’ll be dancing in the June show. We learn a few measures of 8 at a time. We practice and practice. We think we’ll never learn the 3-minute dance by June, but we do. In May we practice on a larger floor and use no mirrors so that we won't rely on them. Then, the week before the show we begin dancing on the stage so that we know where to stand and move. By that time we've practiced and practiced until our steps are almost reflexive.

You might think after all that practice and preparation, by the day of the first show, that I would be able to just step out on stage and float through my dance. You might think so. But that isn’t what happens. A week before the show, my stomach starts churning, and whenever I think of being onstage, the butterflies flutter and my knees shake. I think about all the horrible, embarrassing things that can happen onstage. (I’m a writer, so my imagination goes wild. In fact, for real last year my pants fell down during one of my dances.) By dress rehearsal on Friday night, I’ve convinced myself that I can’t go out there onstage. I just can't.

So, as I stand in the wings with the other dancers, waiting for our music cue to start--that’s when I realize I have no control. That’s when I know I’ve run out of my own abilities for staying strong and courageous. I'm just the opposite as I stand in the wings, shaking and quaking and sure that the most horrible thing is going to happen.

That's when I remember to say a prayer, when things are at their lowest, when I feel like I need God the most. I have to go out on that stage, but I have no courage or strength to do so. The apostle Paul wrote that Christ is most powerful when we are most weak, when we’ve run out of all our ideas and all our strength to fix what's wrong. He does his best work when we’re standing in the wings shaking and quaking, about to step onstage, and facing the most horrible things that can happen. That's when I remember to pray, “Be my courage. Be my strength.” It’s a prayer only as long as a breath, but prayers don’t have to be long to be heard.

Then I know that it’s out of my hands and in his. The music starts, and I step out onstage. I feel the courage and the strength to take those first steps. And I know that even if the worst thing I could possibly imagine happens, even if my pants fall down again, I'll be okay. One day I'll even laugh about it--like I am right now!

May God bless you!

On Vacation

2011-06-07T01:18:00.000-07:00

Hi. It's Kathy again. I don't usually post two weeks in a row, but last week was the 5th Tuesday of May and today is the 1st Tuesday of June so here I am again.

I'm in northern Indiana at my mom's house with four of my children, and I wanted to share some photos with you, but blogger won't let me post any, so I'll post them next time. We've done a lot of cool things--gone to a botanical garden and a children's museum, visited Amish country and ate at a restaurant that serves family style and an Amish general store, saw Kung Fu Panda 2 with a friend from high school and her daughter and even rode a wiggle racer.

I know this is really short, but I'll have more to say next time when I am back home on my own computer.

Celebrate School Ending

2011-06-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Karen,

I'm off to see my son graduate from college (well he already did that before and now he's getting another degree)

Some of you are already out for the summer and others will be out soon. Celebrate completing the year and learning more. Plan a party with a friends or family. Sherry gave us a list of fun activities for the summer. You can print those as bookmarks for party favors.

Decorations could be stars for passing, a sun for summer fun, or a footprint for moving up to the next level.

Decorations can be related to summer fun, such as beach balls, pails and shovels, Frisbees, jump ropes, and sandals. Beach towels can be used for table clothes. Fill a metal bucket with sand and add candles in it for the new grade.

Treats should be super cool ones like ice cream and watermelon, plus some good healthy like sandwiches or salads.

Games can include musical beach towels (instead of chairs), make a match-up game of names and activities friends will be doing over the summer, and beach ball math (write numbers on the ball and have people add, subtract, or multiply the two numbers under their hands when the ball is caught. Use chalk on the sidewalk to make pictures or games.

Have a craft area to make a memory page for a scrapbook. It's a good time to capture memories of the year that ended. Print out photos of friends taken during the year (or take some with a digital camera as people arrive and print them on a computer. Supply the craft area with paper, stickers, adhesive, and scissors. Let everyone be creative. Sign friends' pages or write notes friends' pages.

Add a little devotional fun as a reminder to connect to God over the summer. Read how Jesus grew in grace and stature in Luke 2:52, ask each person what skill they want to improve over the summer, and then hold hands and pray for safe, happy, and productive summers.

New Book

2011-05-31T03:18:00.000-07:00

Hi. This is Kathy. And if this is Tuesday, then I am driving from the Florida panhandle where I live now to the Indiana/Michigan border where I grew up.

So I'm writing this post on Sunday evening, and setting it to post on Tuesday.

I thought I'd tell you about a new book I have coming out with Legacy hopefully later this year. It's a quizbook with all kinds of quizzes like
"What Ice Cream Flavor are You?"
"Are You a Mary or a Martha/"
"What's Your Serving Style"
"What Color are You?"
"How Honest are You?"
and so on.

It's going to be a fun book full of quizzes, but it also has stories, activities, puzzles and crafts/

Here's a sample quiz from the book:

Are You for Real?

God tells us that we shouldn't just hear his Word but we should live it out. That means we need to put our faith in practice everyday. Do you live your faith? Are you the real thing? Take the quiz below to find out. Read each situation. Then decide whether that's what you would do, what you might do or no way would you do it. Circle the correct answer. Be honest!

1. You plan to read your Bible before you go to bed, but by time you get home from

shopping with your mom, you're really tired. You think about putting it off until the

next day, but change your mind and read your Bible even though you're tired.

This is what I would do. I might do this. No way would I do this.

2. A friend asks you to pray for her grandma. You know if you don't write it down

you'll forget, so you write down the prayer request and pray for it each day.

This is what I would do. I might do this. No way would I do this.

3. You hear that one of your friends said something about you that isn't true. You

want to say some mean stuff about her too. But you decide that you should talk to her

and ask her if she really said untrue things about you and talk it out with her.

This is what I would do. I might do this. No way would I do this.

4. A girl is sitting alone at lunch. You feel bad for her because she's always alone.

You have so much fun sitting with your friends. You decide to ask her to join you

so she can meet your friends and have fun at lunch too.

This is what I would do. I might do this. No way would I do this.

5. Your family is on their way home from your grandma's house Saturday evening

when you get a flat. You get home really late so your dad says you can skip church

the next day if you want to. You tell him it's okay, you can catch up on your sleep

later.

This is what I would do. I might do this. No way would I do this.

Which sentence did you circle the most?

If you circled "This is what I would do" the most-- and you were honest about it, you're right on target. Your faith is real to you and you live it everyday.

If you circled "I might do this" the most, you're missing the mark when it comes to putting your faith in action. Stop and think of some ways that you can let the love of Jesus shine through you. Maybe you can invite someone to sit with you at lunch. Or perhaps you can offer to help a student with math. Write down some ideas and try them out.

If you circled "No way would I do this" the most, you're off target when it comes to putting your faith in action. You forget to let Jesus shine through you to others. Ask God to help you be more real about your faith. Look for ways to reach out to others at school, in your neighborhood and at home this week.

God Connection: Have you ever looked in the mirror? Of course you have! You probably look in the mirror every morning to check your hair and face before going to school, church, or out to play. What would you do if you see you have some food on your face or you see that your hair isn't combed? Do you just walk away and forget about it? No. You fix it.

God's word is like a mirror. When we read it, we see things that need fixed in our lives. We

might see that we aren't as kind as we should be. We might find that we need to be more honest or help more at home. If you just forget what you learn from the Bible, it's like seeing messy hair in the mirror and doing nothing about it.

Even if you don't fix the problem, and forget what you look like, others don't. And God doesn't either. Use God's mirror to help you have beautiful heart and live out your faith.

Summer Days

2011-05-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

~ Psalm 90:12

Sherry here. School is coming to an end and summer is almost here! After a few days of sleeping in and watching television or playing video games, it’s easy to say, “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do!” Well, no more excuses. Time to make a plan!

Here’s a list of 25 things to do to keep your summer days F-U-N!

Hang out with friends.

Go to the pool.

Eat ice cream.

Visit grandparents.

Make a lemonade stand.

Have a water fight.

Go to the beach.

Pitch a tent in your backyard and sleep under the stars.

Play Frisbee.

Go bowling.

Volunteer at an animal shelter.

Clean your room.

Bake some cookies and give them to your neighbors.

Play board games.

Look at old photos of when you were a baby.

Go on a walk and take pictures of flowers.

Make cards with the photos you took and send them to friends.

Have a picnic.

Watch a movie!

Walk your dog and give him a bath.

Write in a journal.

Read as many books as you can.

Put on some music and dance around the room.

Cook dinner for your family.

I’m sure you can think of a lot more!

Make your own list and cross them off as you do them throughout the summer.

Happy Summer!

Security Blanket

2011-05-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Marilyn. When I was four years old, my great-great-aunt gave me a yarn doll for Christmas. I named him Button Eyes and I loved him so much. I did everything with Button Eyes--I dressed him in doll's clothes, pretended he was a patient in my hospital (where I was a nurse), sat him at the dinner table with me. He slept beside me every night, and whenever I went on an overnight trip, Button Eyes went with me. I loved Button Eyes and I was sure that if he were living and breathing, he would love me back. He was my faithful friend and my security blanket.

One day, just as my family was about to go home after a week-long visit at my grandparents' house, I couldn't find Button Eyes. I panicked! We were about to leave, but we all had to look for Button Eyes. Everyone in the family scoured the house for my yarn doll, but no one could find him. So, I had to go home without him--my beloved friend, my security blanket. It was the first time I'd been without him since I'd gotten him for Christmas almost two years before. I was sad, somber, and scared for weeks.

Have you ever lost something that made you feel safe? Were you every cut off from a source of security? How did you feel? What happened to make you feel better?
For the past few days I've been studying this Scripture, Isaiah 43:1-2:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom..."

Whenever I read it again, I feel so safe, secure, and loved by God that it makes me smile. (I'll confess--sometimes it makes me cry.) It reminds me that no matter what I'm going through, God stays close to me and protects me, now and forever. No matter what you lose here on earth, you will always have God. And God is all you really ever need :)

So, what happened to Button Eyes? you might be asking. The story has a happy ending! A few months later when my family went to stay with my grandparents for Christmas, my grandmother (we called her "Nana") took my hand and said, "I have a surprise for you," and led me to her bedroom. She opened her closet door, and sitting on the shelf was my dear Button Eyes. I swept him up into my arms and pressed him close to me. "This is better than a birthday present!" I exclaimed. And it was. But, as I have found out since, it wasn't the best present, which is the unfailing gift of God's love and grace.

And may He bless you!

Btw, here's Button Eyes today. He looks old and worn, but that's what happens when you've been well-loved!

Wear Red, White, and Blue this Saturday!

2011-05-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

The colors of the flag will be a good choice to wear this Saturday. It's Armed Forces Day!

In California a few years ago a shopping mall and the military held a big celebration where kids could go on helicopters, boats, and planes. This Saturday I will attend a picnic at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. From coast to coast we can celebrate!

This is a day to thank men and women who serve our country in the military. Many military bases will hold open houses and programs where you can take a tour or greet service personnel.

You can honor these people:

Wear red, white, and blue
Display the American flag
Write a letter to someone in the military
Pray for our men and women who are in battle areas
Visit a historic park where battles were fought. While there, pick up liter or donate money to help preserve the park.
Sing patriotic songs (Yankee Doodle, Battle Hymn of the Republic, America, God Bless America, The Star Spangled Banner)
Thank people in your family who served our country
Pray for peace

A way cool happening: One woman, Kathy Strong, wore a POW bracelet for 38 years and prayed the person named on the bracelet (Green Beret James Moreland, a medic) would be brought home. He died in Vietnam but no one had found and identified his bones. This year the military identified him through DNA tests. Last week Kathy took off the bracelet and it was buried with James. She also saw the Bible James read as a child and the verses he underlined. His boss (commanding officer) had become a preacher and did the service (he's a real hero too-Col. Longgrear and there's even a toy action figure of him).

Got Fear?

2011-05-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

Most of us fear something.

Remember when I was talking about Sarah in my last post? I think if Sarah had to name her fear, it would have been the fear of never having a child.

For me it's heights. Not all heights. Just heights that make me feel like I could fall. I look down and feel dizzy. I haven't always felt like this. This first time I noticed it was when I was about 20, and I saw a small child at the top of the biggest slide I've ever seen. Mom was nowhere around and I was sure this child was going to fall at any minute. He couldn't make it over the top to come down the slide, and he couldn't back down. He was stuck. I sprint to the slide and climbed to the top.

Then I had to figure out how to get over the top with the child and safely down the slide. It was tricky, but I managed. Then I looked down. Whoa. And that's when I knew I had a problem with heights.

And you know what? Instead of pretending I don't feel that way, I give myself permission to feel that way. It doesn't prevent me from going about my daily life and doing the things I want to do.

It's okay to have fear, but not if it keeps you from doing what you need to. Like if you're afraid of dogs and you have to walk by a big, ugly barking dog on the way to school everyday, that might make you want to stay home. Or if you fear tests, that might make you do poorly at school. Then it's time to talk with someone about it.

Why I am bringing this up? Because last week I offered my children the chance to parasail. One of them had done it before, so she knew she liked it. The others weren't sure. They'd never been that high, so they didn't know how they'd feel about it.

Two were too young, one didn't really want to try it (not heights, just not interested) and three decided to do it. Jasmine is only ten, so I had all three go together.

Jasmine panicked as they started to go up, so the other two decided that the three of them would sing all the songs from Tangled. Jasmine loves to sing and she watches Tangled at least three times a week, so singing those songs was a good plan to take her mind off of her fear.

Me? I stayed on the ground of course!

God's love for YOU!

2011-05-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

Sherry here. Did you know God loves you? There are many verses in the Bible that describe just how much. Below are some examples.

He takes great delight in you, rejoices over you with gladness and quiets you with His love; He sings over you (Zeph. 3:14-17).

His adorations are upon you, so much so that He knows even the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7).

You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

Do you know that He is preparing a place for you? (John 14:2-3)

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in his book. (Psalm 139:15-16).

He determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. (Acts 17:26).

His thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalms 139:17-18)

You are His treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5)

Wow!

The next time you wonder if God really cares for you, remember these verses!

Idea: Look up each of these verses in your Bible and write them down on 3 x 5 cards, then stick them all around your room as a reminder of His great love for YOU!

Blessings,

Sherry

Mother's Day--Every Day!

2011-05-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hi, it's Marilyn. When I was a little girl, there was a certain TV show on every morning that ended with this line, "Remember, every day is Mother's Day." So, even though Mother's Day was a few days ago, in that spirit of the old TV show host, I thought I'd write about Mother's Day this week.

Here are some things you might not know about your mom:

- The first time she saw you, she forgot all about herself and thought only about making sure that you were safe and happy for the rest of your life.
- Every night before she goes to bed, she comes into your room to say good-night once more, even though you're asleep.
- When you catch her looking at you, she's thinking how beautiful you are and how much she loves you.
- Even if it doesn't seem like it all the time, your mom wants only the best for you.
- She worries a lot about you, even if she doesn't show it.
- She loves you more than you know, every second of the day and night, even if she doesn't tell you.

When was the last time you and your mom had a conversation? If it's been more than a week, make some time soon to talk with each other. If that seems weird or even hard to do, here are some questions you can ask her:

- How did you celebrate Mother's Day when you were my age?
- If you had a whole day to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?
- What three good things do you think about me?
- What do you do or think about as a mom that other people might not know?

Try it, and then tell me what you learned about your mom. And God bless!

It's MAY! Yeah spring!

2011-05-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Karen

Yeah! The leaves are growing, grass is turning green, and flowers are popping out! I like the fresh scents even though some make me sneeze or get my eyes watering. I hope you have a garden or windowsill to grow some plants.

You can out a little dirt in egg cups of an egg carton, or paper cups, and add marigold seeds. Place them in the sun and add water as needed. Soon seedlings will sprout and grow. When they are a few inches tall you can plant them in a garden or a flower pot. I planted a new type of petunia this year called Black Velvet. It's black with five golden yellow streaks to look like a shooting star in the center. It's fun to wander with your mom or dad in a nursery and find a new plant or flower to grow. You could grow lots of marigolds and sell them to neighbors, or give them as gifts.

It's also fun to grow something to eat, like strawberries, tomatoes, or peas. Peas sprout fast but need a little shade. Buy seed packets and follow the directions. The packages have lots of helpful tips.

Make and add some fun markers to the garden. Use tongue depressors and permanent markers to write the names of the plants. Add a design or a tiny picture of the flower or vegetable. Coat it with clear nail polish to give it a shine, and stick each stick in the soil next to the plant.

Sarah's Desire

2011-05-03T02:17:00.000-07:00

Sarah, like other women in the Bible times, wanted children. They were a sign of God's blessing. When a woman didn't have a baby, other people wondered if she had done something wrong and was being punished. We don't think of it that way now, but that's how it was then.

What Sarah wanted most of all was a child. And God promised her one. Genesis 15:5 says

Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Sarah must have wondered about God's promise since she and Abraham didn't have any children at all. But God kept his promise--although Sarah had to wait many years--and Isaac was born. He was the promised child. God fulfilled his promises through Isaac.

Sarah was a mother at last! And she was happy. Now the other women would realize that God had blessed her too.

Next Sunday we celebrate Mother's Day. This may be a sad day for women who want children but don't yet have any, but a happy day for those who are blessed with children. Families add children through birth, adoption and foster care. I have two children by birth, three adopted from Haiti, one adopted through a private adoption in the United States, one adopted through foster care and a step child.

Even though children join families in different ways, each is equally valuable, and God has an amazing plan for every child because they are all created in his image.

This is a picture of my family. Leave a comment and tell about your family.

Kathy

Ask Kelsey!

2011-04-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hi, it’s Sherry, writing from my laptop. Do you have someone in your life you can ask for advice? You can bounce ideas off of your friends, but sometimes you need someone older and wiser that can help you. Older siblings and parents know you real well and can steer you in the right direction. But sometimes it’s fun to receive guidance from a neutral source.

In my girl’s book, there is an ‘Ask Kelsey’ section where girls can get advice about all things related to fashion and beauty, as well as godly wisdom. For example, here’s a question and answer taken directly from The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style:

Question: The other day, my mom told me to change my clothes. She didn’t like the way I was dressed. She said my skirt was too short and my T-shirt was too tight. I want to look like my friends. How am I going to have my own personal style if my mom won’t let me?

Answer: Do you really have your own personal style if you want to dress like your friends? Sometimes girls pressure each other into dressing alike to feel a part of the group. And sometimes friends want us to do things that we know our parents don’t agree with—like wearing short skirts and tight T-shirts. It’s best to sit down with your parents and talk about what is appropriate and what’s not. Your mom was a girl once and understands the pressures of fitting in. Maybe you can start a new trend: one that shows your unique style and your inward beauty.

Do you have a question for Kelsey? It can be about any topic—from beauty, and fashion, to friendship and faith. Feel free to ask it here in the comments section and I’ll make sure she answers you.

Have a GREAT day!

Sherry

The Courage File

2011-04-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hi, it's Marilyn! I've been writing for a long time, and though I love doing it, writing isn't always easy! Finding the time to write, finding the right words to put on paper (or the computer screen), making a story or a poem or an article say exactly what I want it to say, hearing other people's reactions to it, finding a magazine or a publisher who wants to print and sell it--these all make even what I love to do hard at times. They could be difficult enough or discouraging enough to make me stop writing, but I never have stopped. Because despite its many challenges, I'd be very unhappy if I couldn't write.

A few years ago I started doing something to keep me encouraged when I felt discouraged. It's what I call a "courage file." This is an actual file folder that's in a file drawer in my office. Whenever anyone says anything positive about what I've written, I put it in my courage file. I've printed off emails, copied pages of stories that people have written positive comments on, and jotted notes that people have said about something I'd written...and put them in my courage file.

Does it sound like I'm bragging about my writing? If you knew all the negative things I've received, read, and heard about what I've written, you wouldn't think so, because they are twenty times the amount of the positive things! Every once in a while, when I'm feeling discouraged, when I'm sad, or feel like giving up writing, I pull out my courage file and read a few things from it. That's usually enough to give me the strength and determination to keep going.

Do you know you already have a courage file, one that God created for you? It's the Bible! In that courage file are words of encouragement and love to help you keep going when you feel sad or feel like giving up.

Here are some of my favorite things from my courage file from God:

- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
- For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)
- For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
- "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?" (John 14:2)
- "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
- The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Whenever I read these, I feel very loved and valued by God. And they help me love him and worship him even more.

What would be in your courage file? Start one, and then let me know! And God bless you!

Good Friday

2011-04-21T03:12:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Karen,

It’s so hard to have a pet die.
It’s even harder to have someone you love die.

But it happens. It hurts even when we know there’s heaven.

We are lonely and miss the one we loved.

And tomorrow is the day we remember that Jesus died for us.

His mother stood at the cross.

The disciple John stood at the cross.

Others watched.

The soldiers just wanted his cloak.

One sinner on a cross reached out to ask Jesus to remember him and

the man received eternal life.

The Pharisees, Sadduces, and other leaders wanted him gone.

It’s called Good Friday and we wonder why it can be called good when Jesus died

It was good for us and all Christians.

For Jesus did not remain death. He rose.

He showed us believers
will rise and go to heaven.

Sweetness of good news mixed with sorrow.

Make a cross to remember this day.

Take two cinnamon sticks and tie them together
to form a cross.

Use yarn to wrap around the sticks
like making a God’s eye.

Wrap a little way around and then tie the ends.

Push a safety pin or jewelry pin through the ribbon in the back
and wear it as a pin.

Or tie on another piece of yarn or ribbon
to form a necklace to wear.

The cinnamon sticks smell sweet.

They remind us of the good that came
because Jesus died.

The cross is a reminder that He died.

He rose, so Happy Easter!!

Sarah: Dealing with Jealousy

2011-04-19T04:27:00.000-07:00

Sarah had a problem common to us today--jealousy.

Sarah gave up on God's promise to give her a baby and took matter into her own hands. She told Abraham to have a baby with her servant. Yet when Hagar became pregnant, Sarah was angry. Then she blamed Abraham for the problem.

Jealousy brings out the worst in most people. When a person has talents, possessions or popularity that another person wants, it can become ugly. This was true in Abraham and Sarah's day and is still true today. Just look around you.

Imagine that a less popular girl shows up at school in a really cute outfit. A few people will compliment her on it, but many will make rude comments about how it looks. Why? Because they don't think the less popular girl deserves that outfit. They should be the ones with those clothes.

Or imagine that one group of girls have been the cheerleaders for three years straight. Then a new girl tries out and bumps one of them from the squad. Uh oh. She'd better look out. She now has the position another person wanted and having what someone else wants leads to jealousy. The girl whose spot was taken will probably be watching for any little flaw in the new girl's performance. The friends will make the new cheerleader feel unwelcome.

There is no reasoning with jealousy. Whether you are jealous like Sarah, or the brunt of the jealousy like Hagar, life is difficult. The only cure for jealousy is to learn to be content with what you already have. Rather than playing the comparison game, be thankful for your own talents, abilities and possessions.

Do you have a problem with jealousy? Take the quiz below to find out.

1. You work hard for several weeks on an essay for a contest. You get third place. You:
a. Should have gotten first place. Your essay was better than the winning one.
b. Hope the winner doesn't enter next year so you have a better chance.
c. Are disappointed but plan to try again next year.

2. You've worked really hard on your balance beam routine but are still having problems. It seems so easy for the others girls. You:
a. Hope you do better than they do on the bars.
b. Work hard and ask the coach for tips.
c. Hope one of them falls off of the beam during the meet.

3. Your friend's dad is taking everyone to the amusement park and then out to eat for her birthday. You had cake and ice cream at home with your family for your birthday. You:
a. Hope your friend's birthday is a lot of fun. After all, you get to enjoy it too.
b. Wish your parent were as cool as her parents.
c. Think it's unfair that she gets everything she wants.

How did you do?

The correct answers are: 1-c, 2-b, 3-a

It's okay to want to improve. The desire to improve motives you to work harder. It's when you wish for something bad to happen to someone else or get caught up in the "it's not fair" game that it becomes a problem. Try not to compare yourself to others. That's when jealousy gets a grip. Be happy for their successes, and don't let them make you feel less important. You are an individual with your own talents and successes. Using what you have and what you own for God and others is the real key to being happy.

Kathy

What's Your Story?

2011-04-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

Writers go to conferences to learn how to write better, make writer friends, and get closer to God.

Hi, this is Sherry and I’m heading to the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference tomorrow for five whole days. I’ll miss my family like crazy, but I’m looking forward to learning all I can to make my stories shine.

Do you like to write? Have you ever written a story just for fun?

Idea: Look inside a clothing catalog and cut out characters for a story. Tape them inside a notebook and give each one a name, then let your imagination take flight!

Here are ten tips to writing a good story:

1. Develop interesting characters.

2. Create a plot, in other words, what happens in your story.

3. Decide on who’s going to tell the story, or the point of view (POV). First person uses the pronoun ‘I’ while third person uses ‘he’ and ‘she.’

4. Write a catchy first paragraph.

5. Sprinkle in meaningful dialogue.

6. Use action beats. Have your characters doing something to show who is speaking. For example: “I’m hot. I need a drink of water.” Emma wiped the sweat from her forehead.

7. Add setting and description so the reader knows where the characters are in the story.

8. Make sure you have conflict and tension. Something has to happen in your story that makes it difficult for your character, both an inward struggle and external forces.

9. Build the story to a climax. The turning point is the most exciting and dramatic part of the story, which causes your character to make a decision.

10. End with a bang. The last few lines of the story should leave readers satisfied and wanting more.

Jesus loved to tell stories. If you look through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), you can find parables. A parable is a story that illustrates a lesson. In your Bible, find Luke 15: 11-32. Who are the characters? What do they say? Do they learn something?

It’s time for me to pack for my conference. I’m looking forward to growing my faith, meeting writer friends, learning more about the fundamentals of writing, and having some FUN!

Let me know if you write a story!

Sherry

Happy Poetry Month!

2011-04-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Marilyn. Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? Have you been writing or reading poems this month? I hope so! If you'd like to join in, there are many kinds of poems you can write, and here are a few:

- Acrostic. With this type of poem, start by writing a word, such as your name, one letter on each line. For example, I would start like this:

Then, use the the first letter on each line to begin the first word of that line of your poem. Here's my acrostic poem:

M y springtime memory:
A daffodil
R ising from the soil
I n my garden
L ively, lovely
Y ellow head
N odding in the April breeze

Try it, using different words and different themes for your acrostic poem!

- Cento. Traditionally, a cento poem is made of lines of poetry, each line taken from a different poet. For example, the first line might be from a poem by Robert Frost, the next from e. e. cummings, the third from Li Po, the fourth from Homer, and so on. But you can take tradition and mix it up by writing a cento poem with your friends. You start by writing the first line of the poem. Then a friend writes the second, another friend the third, and so on, until you have a completed poem. Try it!

- Haiku. This poem, which originated in Japan, often contains 17 syllables: 5 in the first line, 7 in the second line, and 5 in the third line. Haiku describe a moment in time or a detail in nature that might not otherwise be noticed--almost like taking a really fast photo of something very close up. For example, here's a haiku that I wrote last weekend when I went on a wild horse safari in Nevada:

Wind whistles through sage
Stallions gallop, stop to stare
Black hair blows like smoke

Okay, it's not great, but you can probably picture the vast open space of the harsh landscape, and then the band of stallions galloping freely across it. They stop when they see me watching, and only the hair of their manes and tails moves, blown by the wind.

Haiku can be longer than three lines, because you can write several related haiku. This month, I'm writing one haiku each day, and by the end of the month I'll have a "snapshot" of my month.

- Psalm. Did you know that a psalm is a song, a prayer, and a poem? There are basically five types of psalms: hymn (sacred song of praise), lament (describing suffering and longing), royal (acknowledging kingship), thanksgiving (gratitude), and wisdom (knowledge and discernment). The longest psalm in the Bible is Psalm 119, and the shortest is Psalm 117 (which is only two lines long!).

You can write a psalm! Start by praying for God to clear your mind and heart. Then let what you think and feel guide your writing. Your psalm will become a written prayer.

Have fun writing poetry, and God bless!

Easter is coming---and so is Holy Week

2011-04-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Karen

Easter is coming and that's exciting-Easter baskets, egg hunts, new clothes, and especially celebrating Jesus is Risen! But there's a whole week that many churches think about before Easster and you can make a bracelet as a Holy week reminder. Those are days when Jesus rode on a donkey and people cheered, Jesus celebrated Passover and gave us the gift of the Last Supper, and then the whole trial, crucifixion, death, burial, and waiting for Jesus to rise.

Gather colored beads or make your own beads. Simple cut colored paper into triangles (1 inch wide by 2 inches long) and roll the paper triangle around a toothpick, starting at the 1-inch wide end, and dab a little glue at the tip of the tiny end of the paper to glue it down. Slide out the toothpick (it leaves a hole in the bead for stringing it).

Choose the colors you want to use for the different events of the week Jesus died and string them to make a bracelet (or necklace). Here are suggestions:

Green and purple for the Triumphant parade. Green for palm branches and purple because he was their king and purple is the color of royalty

White or yellow for bread he blessed at the Last Supper

Pink for a kiss from Judas who betrayed him

Brown for a judge's gavel as a reminder of the trial

Orange for rooster feathers for Peter who denied Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed

Grey for the crown of thorns they placed on his head

Brown for the cross that he hung on

Red for the blood Jesus shed and because he loves us

Black for inside of the dark tomb and for his death

White for Easter when Jesus rose!

You can use the beads to think about what happened and to share what happened. It's a way to wear and share about Jesus!

Changes

2011-04-05T02:10:00.000-07:00

Spring is coming, and with it comes changes. Some changes are good like flowers growing, warmer days, making new friends and finishing another school year. Some times changes are hard like when a friend moves away--or you move, a grandparents becomes ill or a pet dies.

We have both good and bad changes in our life. Sarah was like that too.

Abraham and Sarah, then called Abram and Sarai, lived in Ur of the Chaldeans along the Euphrates River in what is now southern Iraq. This was an important city in the ancient world. Abraham was probably a very educated man, and Sarah most likely had all the luxuries of life.

Abraham's father, Terah, decided to move the whole family from the thriving town of Ur to the land of Canaan-- a land very different from Ur. The family packed up and said goodbye to their home and all they knew. Then they set out. But for some reason, Terah stopped halfway to Canaan in the village of Haran in what is now southern Turkey, and the family remained there.

Sarah's life took a dramatic turn when she left behind the art, culture and thriving businesses to follow her family. The Bible doesn't say much about this move, but we can guess that it was hard for Sarah to leave her life in Ur to become a traveler and then reside in Haran. Yet she accepted it, and the family stayed there until Terah's death.

Once again Sarah had to pack up and leave all she knew to follow God's leading. The family journeyed another 600 miles into the area that is now modern Israel. Abraham and Sarah had faith in God and they obeyed him. In turn, God poured out his blessings on Abraham's family in generations to come.

Changes aren't always easy. Eve had to leave the beautiful Garden of Eden, Mrs. Noah had to leave everything behind knowing it would all be destroyed, and Sarah had to leave behind a bustling city for Nowhere Ville. Yet the Bible doesn't mention them complaining about the changes. How do you handle changes? Read each sentence below and choose a, b or c to complete it.
If my dad were to announce a move I would be:

A excited
B upset
C anxious

Starting a new school:

A is a chance to try new things.
B means leaving friends and activities behind.
C might be okay

I like:
A new experiences
B things to stay the same
C some changes in my life

Did you mark A's, B's or C's? If you marked:

A's You welcome change. Moving to a new home or starting a new school is a chance to try new activities and make more friends. Chances are, you aren't a bit shy. It's easy for you to adapt to change.

B's You like things to stay the same. You may be shy and find it hard to adapt to change or you may just like your life as is and don't welcome any changes right now.

C's You are cautious about change. You welcome changes you can control, but you need time to get used to the idea of a new place or new routine. Once you've settled in, you are okay.

There may be changes in your life you don't have control over. Try to face them with a positive spirit like Mrs. Noah and Sarah. Trust that God is in control even when you don't see him at work.

What does a Marketer do at a Publishing Company?

2011-03-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hello! My Name is Rachel Harrison Brown. I have the privilege of coming to you as a guest blogger today. My profession is in marketing. I work for Legacy Press and we have published at least one title from each of the women who regularly author this blog. As a marketer at a publishing company, it is my job to communicate to customers what our books are all about so that when they are ready, willing and able to buy, the books are easy to find and purchase.

So to market a new book, I must first ask myself: who is the customer(s) for this particular Legacy Press book? Most of our books are intended for children to read. But depending on the book, it can be written for someone from age2-12. That’s a pretty wide range. I could never have the type of conversation I am having here with a 2 year old, could I? So, let’s say I want to share our book with 11 year old girls. What else do I know about them? They are Christian, right? Right. Now I look to stores who cater to:

1. 11 years old

2. Christian

3. Girls

Bookstores? Yes. Club Stores? Yes. Amazon? Yes (With an adult assist, right?).

But what about other ways we can tell people about our books? Where do customers who fit the description above find out about new books besides in the stores where they buy them in? Emailing? Internet advertising? Social Media? Part of my job is to inform the Publisher which of our efforts works best, then to execute those methods.

One method that works well for us is email. I create all of the emails that people receive on behalf of our company. I create them using a tool called Constant Contact. It gives me guides for creating an email, sends it, then after it is sent it gives me information such as:

· How many people opened the email

· Did those who opened it, click on a link

· Which link they clicked on most often.

We use this data the next time we send an email so that the information we send most closely matches what the reader is looking for. If we give them the information they need to buy a book, tell them all of the great information and stories they will get, and ask them to buy, there’s a great chance you (I mean ‘they’) will buy that book.

Other areas I cover for the company include:

· New product launches

· Press releases

· Website management

· Blogging

· Email marketing

· Internet Advertising

· Catalog advertising

· Book Trailers

· Tradeshows (This means travel. I am taking my daughter with me to San Antonio Texas soon!)

One of my favorite things about my job is that it combines creativity and statistics (math). I get to use math and statistics to determine which of the company’s effort work best and then I use my creativity to design emails, write copy, and build effective websites. It’s a great career for me and I get to work with people like Kathy, Marilyn, Karen and Sherry. People who care about Christian girls and write books to help them grow into the most amazing women they can be.

It's Spring!

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hi! Sherry here. What do you think about when you think of spring? Flowers blooming? Birds singing? Frogs croaking? Easter? I think about all those things.

Now that the days are longer, I enjoy taking a walk after dinner. But sometimes the weather can be unpredictable in the spring. It rains a lot and in some areas it’s known to snow.

What can you do to bring cheer and warmth while you wait for sunny days?

Buy or plant an indoor flower in a pot!

Here’s a list of flowering houseplants:

African violets—With careful watering, high humidity and bright, but not direct, light, it is possible to have several blooms every year.

Begonia—A simple pot of begonias can be planted for next to nothing and will yield a nice season of color.

Desert Cacti—There are many varieties of cacti available. Give your cactus lots of sunlight, hold off on the water, and wait for spring or summer for flowers to bloom.

Hibiscus—these plants insist on warmth, lots of light, humidity, and they are prone to several varieties of bugs. A flowering hibiscus is one of the most remarkable sights.

Orchid—These plants are the largest group of plants in the world, with some 30,000 known species and tens of thousands more hybrids. A careful grower should be able to get their orchids to bloom.

If, like me, you tend to kill houseplants, another idea is to draw and color a picture of flowers. Here’s a link that will help you draw just about any type of flower you can think of and get a step-by-step guide: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/how-to-draw-flowers-and-plants.htm

Have fun!

I’d love to know if you planted, bought, or drew some flowers for spring. Leave me a comment below.

Sherry

What Can I Do?

2011-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Marilyn! The year after I graduated from college, I lived in Kyoto, Japan. There I studied the ancient art of the Japanese tea ceremony (called o-sado or o-chado). I wore kimono every day and sat zazen style (on your calves on the floor) for hours at a time while I served and received ceremonial tea in my daily lessons. I had majored in Japanese, so I got to practice speaking the language, I immersed myself in the culture, and I made many friends. I loved going to the public bath every night, especially in the winter when it was so cold and the baths were so warm. And I'll never forget how beautiful the cherry blossoms looked as they lined the Kamo River, which runs through Kyoto. It was a wonderful time, and my heart is still very close to that country and the people who live there.

Ever since the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan a few weeks ago, Japan and its people have been on my mind and in my heart. I'm sure you've been thinking about what happened there, too, and wondering what you can possibly do to help. Even if you live far away or don't have much to give, there are many things you can do to help. Here are some ideas:

Pray for the people of Japan. You can pray for those who have lost their family members, friends, neighbors, their homes and possessions, and their pets. You can pray for those who are struggling to live without power, heat, and food, or who need medical help. You can pray for those who have had to leave their homes for a while to be in a safer place.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Phil. 4:6 NIV)

Comfort your friends if they're sad or frightened. Sometimes it's hard to find the right words to say, and it can feel awkward. But saying, "I'm really sorry," or "I'm praying for your family," or "This is a little scary--do you want to talk?," or just asking your friends how they're doing will make them feel better. If you say nothing, they might think you don't care, but saying anything will let them know you do.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." (Rom. 12:15)

Talk to your family about donating money to an organization that is helping the people in Japan. Three wonderful organizations that are doing this work are the American Red Cross, World Vision, and Samaritan's Purse. There are many others. Maybe you could contribute some or all of your allowance, or organize your friends to contribute or have a sale or fundraiser to collect money to give to a relief organization.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" (Matt. 25:40)

Prepare for an emergency where you live. You might not live where earthquakes happen, but natural disasters like hurricanes, blizzards, and tornadoes happen in other areas. Or the power could go out for several hours or even days. Knowing that you're prepared for an emergency is one of the best ways to deal with one if you ever need to. Put together an emergency kit of water, dried and ready-to-eat food, money (cash), a radio with batteries, flashlights and batteries, a first-aid kit, and phone numbers of people out of the area to call. If your family doesn't have a plan for where or how to contact each other if you get separated, talk about that as a family and make a plan. Type it up, print it off, and give everyone a copy. Chances are, you'll never need it. But if you ever do, everyone will be ready!

Take care, and stay safe, and God bless you!
Marilyn

Happy St Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and I am Irish and I’ve been to Ireland (it really is very green)…

Dreams of travel to far away places and dreams of what we’ll do when we grow up can come true, and it doesn’t matter where we start. St Patrick started out in a good home in a family that had some money, but he was kidnapped and served as a slave for years. After slavery he traveled and became a preacher. He was a Bishop. He went back to Ireland where Druids had enslaved him and shared about Jesus and the trinity.

Wear green to celebrate how Patrick shared his faith.

Wear gold and dream of golden opportunities of future

career, family, travel, and ministry.

Decorate a cake

Frost a cake white. Then use green and yellow sprinkles to form special designs. Cut bottom off 3 small paper cups. Gently press the open bottoms on the frosting, close together, to form a shamrock. Drop the sprinkles inside the cup, lift off the cups and you’ll have the top of the shamrock in green. Squish one cup to form a stem shape, press lightly onto the frosting at bottom of shamrock, drop in sprinkles to form the stem, and lift cup off. Roll a 2-inch square piece of cardstock into a small circle. Press one end lightly onto the frosting and drop in yellow sprinkles to form gold coins.

And enjoy how the world outside is turning more green again as spring approaches!

Spring Break and Mrs. Noah

2011-03-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Hi! It's spring break here. We'd planned to go to a park tomorrow where everyone could do what they most wanted--fish, wade, climb, hike.... But it's supposed to rain! I wish we could have our fun day out, but there are lots of things to do when it rains--play board games, play Wii (that gets everyone moving), read, watch movies and eat popcorn and so on.

I wonder what the Noah family did to pass time on the ark while it rained? Not only were they on there for the forty days it rained, but they had to stay on their floating home much, much longer while all the rain went down and the land became dry enough to live on again.

God looked down from heaven at the world he'd made and only the Noah family were trying to obey his commands. He asked Mr. Noah and his sons to build a large boat for their family and pairs of animals. How the neighbors must have laughed at and made fun of the Noah family. But they chose to say "yes" to God's plan anyway. That's how they ended up building a boat and being safe while everyone else was destroyed.

We hear about Mr. Noah in the Bible stories, but Mrs. Noah played a big part in the story too. She probably took care of the house and feeding her family while they were busy building and readying the boat. And once they were on board, there was still work to be done. The animals had to be fed and so did the Noah family.

But they still probably had a lot of free time on their hands. What do you suppose they did to pass the time? What's your favorite rainy day activity?

Kathy

Talking to God

2011-03-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hi there! My name is Sherry Kyle and I’m the author of The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style. I love to journal letters to God. In fact, I still have books filled with prayers I wrote a long time ago. It’s fun to read through them and see how God answered each prayer.

Do you talk with God? I’m not asking about a quick blessing before a meal or a speedy prayer before bed, but instead a running conversation throughout your day.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Praying continually doesn’t mean we should have our heads bowed all the time. Otherwise, how would we eat breakfast, go to school, or play our favorite sport?

Praying continually does mean that we include God in every aspect of our lives, to think of Him during our day, and to come to Him with our requests.

In The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style, I have a section in each chapter where the main character writes a letter to God.

Here’s an example of what a letter might look like:

Hi God,

Today was the worst day of my life! I missed my bus, forgot my lunch, and got a D on my math test. And to top it off, my best friend is mad at me. Sarah ignored me at recess and ran off with Chloe. It really hurt my feelings.

After I got home from school, I sat under the tree in my backyard and thought about what would make Sarah so mad. Then it hit me! My teacher wanted us to pair up to work on an assignment. I asked Jessica to be my partner since she sits right next me. I don’t think Sarah liked that. Do we have to do everything together? But then I thought about how I felt when she ran off at recess. It’s nice to have a best friend.

I know YOU are my best friend too. I can always count on you to help me through the day. The Bible says you will never leave me.

Think I’ll call Sarah now. I want her to know that it’s okay if we hang out with other people even though we’re best friends. Thanks for listening!

Love,

Have you ever written a letter to God? Try it! It’s fun and helps us grow closer to our Heavenly Father.

Have a GREAT day!

Sherry

www.sherrykyle.com

Finding Your Voice

2011-03-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hi, this is Marilyn. Welcome! I've been thinking for a while about how unique and beautiful and special each one of us is to God.

Ever since I was a young girl, I'd wanted to write. When I was in grade school and my teacher gave us a writing assignment, almost everyone else groaned, but I was excited. I kept journals and diaries, and I wrote stories and poems. In high school I wrote more stories and poems, and was editor of the school paper. In college I filled every elective spot with some kind of writing class. I went to graduate school and specialized in creative writing. I published poems and short stories, articles and columns, and books. I’m also a technical writer, explaining to people how to use computer programs to help them do their work more easily. I'm so happy that I can do what had been in my heart all my life. But sometimes I don't think it's very special. It's just something I enjoy doing and something I’m willing to work hard at.

Writers often hear the advice, “Find your voice.” A writer’s voice is his unique style of writing—the words he chooses and the way he puts the words together. It often takes a writer several years to find her voice, but once she does, her readers know right away that she wrote what they’re reading.

Finding your voice isn’t just for writers, though. It’s another way of saying, “Figure out what unique gift God has given you.” If you play softball, for example, your gift might be pitching or hitting or catching—or cheering on your teammates or loving your opponents. If you're a musician, your gift might be the ability to find uncommon harmonies or in the special rhythms you give the music—or singing just the right song at the right time for someone. If you’re a math whiz, your gift might be solving complex problems without using a calculator—or tutoring someone who struggles with the simplest equations.

It might take a long time to find the voice God gave you, but it’s an exciting, amazing adventure! But, finding it is just the first step. The second, and more important, step is to use that voice. It's so important to use the voice God gave you, because he gave that beautiful, unique, and special voice only to you!

I'd love to hear how you're finding your voice, and what you're discovering along the way!

Friends and Basket Fun

2011-03-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

Friends are fun. If you have a friend who doesn’t live close it’s really great when you do get together. This week I get you be with several friends I don’t see often and I can hardly wait.

In God’s Girls, the second unit, I wrote about the joy of Mary and Elizabeth when tyhey saw each other. They were relatives and they shared something wonderful. They were both having babies.

This week one of the friends I will see is Kathy-another author on this blog. We are sharing the joy of this blog and getting to know many new girls. We will hug and we may jump up. I know we’ll chat about the blog and what we want to do here.

The craft of decorating a basket with artificial fruit went with the unit on Elizabeth. Baskets are fun and I collect them. Decorate a basket or other container this month.

Decorate it for spring with flowers

Fill it with paper petals of reasons to rejoice this spring

Decorate it for St Patrick’s Day with greens or green cloth, and fill it with names of people you are praying will believe in Jesus, and green shamrocks for friends who are Christians

Decorate it for lent with a dead branch, a cross (tie two cinnamon sticks together for a sweet smelling one), and a journal to write in each day. Write to ask Jesus to forgive you, write love notes to Jesus, and write verses you are learning during lent.

Decorate a friendship basket for a friend. Use her favorite colors. Decorate t with a bow, stickers, or flowers. Fill it with notes of why you like your friend, snacks for a picnic together, or a little gift.

Eve and Me

2011-03-01T05:30:00.000-08:00

Hi! Welcome to our blog. When I was trying to decide what to write about for my first post, I had lots of ideas. I thought about writing about how I get ideas for books or how I actually write the books. I thought about writing about how I come up with craft ideas. Karen is really the craft expert. I'm kind of craft challenged. So if I can do the crafts in my books, anyone can!

But then I thought I'd write about some things I've been learning. This past year I've been reading about women in the Bible. Some are well known like Sarah, Deborah, Mary and Elizabeth while others are less well known like the five sisters who asked Moses to let them have their father's land, Caleb's daughter, and the midwives who saved many Hebrew boys by disobeying orders to kill them at birth.

The first Bible woman we read about is Eve. When we think of Eve, we usually think about her eating the forbidden fruit and having to leave the garden, but there is much more to Eve than that. She was the first woman, and God created her with a unique personality and a mission to fulfill. She was to be the mother of all humans. Since Eve was the only woman around, she didn't have anyone to compare herself too like we do today. She didn't have to worry about whether she weighed more or less than the other women or if her hairstyle was up to date enough. She just accepted herself as God created her.

Just like Eve, God created each of us with our own unique personalities and abilities. And he has a special plan for each of us. For some of us it's writing books. For others it's being doctors or nurses, computer programmers or teacher, athletes or musicians. You don't have to wait until you're an adult to live out God's plan for you. Just look around you each day and ask God to show you what he has for you that day.

There's lots more to say about Bible women, but I'll save it for another day. Why not leave a comment and tell me who your favorite Bible woman is?

Today my daughter Jessica and I are driving to Orlando. We're going to spend a few hours at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventures and then go on to the Florida Christian Writer's Conference for a few days.

This is two of my daughters and myself on our last trip to Universal/Islands of Adventure. I'm in the purple shirt and hat.

Have a great week!

Kathy

(PS I write under the name Katrina Cassel because that's my legal name, but I go by Kathy)

Welcome Girls to a place for sharing Faith and Fun!

2011-02-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome girls and Aloha from Karen (I like to say ALOHA because I lived in Hawaii for a few years and it means hello, goodbye, and i love you all at the same time-great to have a word that says so much)

This blog is all about YOU, GOD, FAITH, and FUN!

It’s a place where four authors of great books for girls from Legacy Press will share more from topics in our popular books through posts and responses to comments.

Through comments we invite you to add your thoughts, ideas, and reflections.

Let us know what you like best about the books and being a girl,

share what God is doing in your life, and

chat about fun you’ve had with the books.

We’ll be chatting about the topics in the books. We'll also give you craft tips and ideas. If you have not read all our books, here’s a glimpse of what’s in them:

The Christian Girl Guides by authors here include guides to Being Your Best, Style, Your Mom, and the Bible. Wow! That’s a lot to chat about from fashion and looks, mother-daughter fun and relationship, to knowing God and His Word, and becoming the best woman you can as you grow! Every book includes activities and crafts as well as super information.

The books also talk about problems in life and we’ll discuss those too because we all have rough days, get hurt, or need to deal with someone who seems to be making our life, well, miserable.

God’s Girls (GGs) are full of crafts, party themed ideas, and devotions on women in the Bible. There are crafts to wear, make as gifts, help you in your faith, decorate your bedroom, and even to organize you room. Parties include ideas for invitations, foods, games, and faith activities all around a theme. The book also looks at women in the Bible and the ups and downs in their lives.

Just For Me (J4me) books focus on friends, family, and the Bible. Again, the books are packed full of ideas, games, and crafts. These books also have quizzes…

that’s reminds me we’ll post some quizzes and even times someone can win one of our books or something else (but for these you’ll need your mom to give permission to email an address for sending the prize). YEAH PRIZES!

YOU WILL BE FIRST TO KNOW (get the real scoop)

And you’ll be among the first to know when a new book will be released because we will announce that here! There are already some in the works.

Our real launch is March 1st but we'll have a little on before then.