Bethany is hosting today’s Carnival of Beauty. The subject of “Contentment” brought out a fascinating array of ideas — from dealing with frizzy hair to overcoming a fettish with the Home Shopping Network. So click on over to Bethany’s “Picturesque Life” blog for the Carnival.

On another topic:

Would you like your ideas to appear in a book? I’ve been introduced to author Martha Pope Gorris, who has written several books and is looking for help with her newest one on prayer. She asks:

Do you pray using pictures to visualize your request? If so, I am looking for your story for a book project. Contact me at my website. Thanks!

Check back tomorrow if you’ve ever dealt with anger in any of your children. One of my readers sent me a difficult-to-answer question, and I decided it was best to seek out an expert opinion. So I’ve found a nationally recognized author and speaker who has agreed to pay us a personal visit. Don’t miss what she has to say!

This week’s Carnival topic is “The Beauty of Contentment,” hosted by Bethany, and I must say this has been the most difficult one for me. I’ve wrestled with the Voice in my conscience, wondering if maybe this is the week I should skip. Lord, I don’t know what to say. You know I’m struggling with the whole idea of contentment! And He responded, Write what you know.

OK. So this is what I know.

This may not sound nice, but God doesn’t always want us to be content. At times, we’re not supposed to feel comfortable because He has something better for us. As God is moving us toward the next step in our life journey, we’re going to feel pressure and dissatisfaction — and we’ll keep feeling that way until we follow Him in obedience.

I finally read an analogy the other day that made sense to me. It’s from that inspiring book I picked up at CBA last month, Happiness Matters, by Dennis Leonard. He says, “Runners use the expression ‘hitting the wall’ when they are so physically exhausted that everything within them says to quit. They feel like they’ll die if they take one more step. But they know if they press through the pain they’ll get a second wind and the pain will be overwhelmed by the sheer pleasure of running” (p. 178-179).

I’m up against a wall right now, and I’m learning that I won’t be content and at peace unless I press through. I’m not called to sit down next to the wall and enjoy the warm sunshine and daisies; I’m called to move on, to press through, to climb over this wall I’ve never encountered before.

Those of you who read my blog regularly know the two things I’m working through now are my physical health and my home management. I’m not content with where I am in these two areas, so I’m “studying to show myself approved.” You can read about my new discoveries every week on FlyLady Fridays.

I’m not content to be in this postpartum slump either — I’ve finally reached the age where my body can’t deal with the junk I put in it as a teen or 20-something. I’ve got to purify my diet, increase my water intake, and exercise regularly or I’m on a high-speed locomotive heading toward diabetes and slothfulness. I’ve got to get off this train and board the one going in the right direction. And it ain’t easy.

I’ve also hit a wall with my writing — I’m getting to the hard part where I’m realizing the discipline and thick skin that are required to endure publication. If you’re a blogger, then you’re publishing your thoughts for all the world to see — people who might agree with you and others who won’t. Sometimes, I want to go back to that cozy safe place in my journal. When it’s just me writing a letter to God, I can let my emotions go in complete privacy, and nobody knows what I’m writing.

But this is a wall for me, and I’ve got to press through. Last weekend, I had some predators come into my blog and leave me hateful comments (cursing at me, calling me names). Since I moderate, they weren’t published, but I almost came in here Monday and wrote, “Well, this is not fun anymore. Sorry, but I quit.”

Yet God sent me to the right people — fellow writers and bloggers — who reminded me of the bullies in the blogosphere. They encouraged me to keep going, to keep being salt and light in this dark world. And so I don’t feel content to go back to my journal scribblings that nobody reads. In fact, it would be a sin for me to go back, the same way the Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt. My Promised Land comes from the connections I’m hoping to make with you, my readers. If I can encourage just one person (only one!), to have a better day, then that’s more than I would have accomplished if I’d written in my journal.

So I run. I persevere. Despite my struggles and the bullies, I’m going to keep going. I won’t feel a peace if I don’t. I’m going to drink water when I don’t want to. I’m going to walk my dog when it’s cold outside and I don’t feel like it. I’m going to eat an apple when I want to pile up a plate with cookies. I’m going to keep following FlyLady’s routines when I don’t feel like turning on my timer to do a room rescue. And I’m going to keep writing here — for as long as the Spirit compels me.

Are any of you encountering a wall in your life? Do you feel a spirit of unrest about something you’re doing or not doing? Then don’t pray for God to help you feel content; instead, pray that He’ll help you press on and break through. He has something even greater in store for you. Don’t sit down next to the wall and dream and sigh! Where do you see yourself a year from now? What will it take to get there? If you need to make a phone call or set up an appointment, then do it today. Get off the computer and do it now.

P.S. I’m going to be hosting next week’s Carnival — here! So send me your favorite recipes — the topic is “Comfort Food.” Gather your fellow blogging friends, stop by Two Talent Living for the rules, and come on in for a Valentine’s potluck. Send posts by next Tuesday at 3 pm to heatherivester at bellsouth dot net. Pull up a chair and let’s eat!

I’ve been tapped by Sting My Heart for this blogger meme. I don’t do many of these, but I did the Seven Sevens back in December. They’re kind of like chain letters, which I never forward, but actually, this one’s kind of nice. It made me do some remembering, which God likes for us to do.

What was I doing…?

10 Years ago (1996):

1. I was preparing to become a new mom, reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting and how-to books on labor, nursing, baby development, etc. Then our son was born, and our lives were changed forever!
2. We lived in a small neighborhood, and I took walks every day with my neighbors, who were also new parents.
3. I finished my last semester of graduate school, completing a master’s degree in English education.
4. I taught high school sophomores and seniors how to read Shakespeare and write essays — and then I cried while I read their journals.
5. My best friend from when I lived in Japan came to visit me to meet our new baby — but she died of cancer on Thanksgiving Day (2000), and I didn’t realize I’d never see her again.

5 Years ago (2001):

1. We put our house on the market the week of 9/11/01. I was afraid the world was coming to an end after the Twin Towers were struck.
2. We had chickens in our backyard, and I ground my wheat and made bread every week.
3. I was reading a lot of books about homeschooling and getting ready to start teaching my oldest son how to read.
4. I was quilting, smocking, and taking piano lessons — and realizing that I’d never be very good at any of those things.
5. I found out we were expecting our fourth child, and I had a late miscarriage that ended with emergency surgery to save my life.

1 Year ago (February 2005):
1. I stayed home with my toddler who colored the walls, while my three older children were in school.
2. I was pregnant with our fifth child, who was born in the spring.
3. We joined a new church, and our two older children were baptized.
4. I finished up several home writing courses and attended three writers’ conferences.
5. I signed a contract to write a small Mother’s Day gift book, and I wrote it.

Yesterday (Saturday Feb. 4, 2006):
1. My 3-year-old son came and wrapped his arms around my neck and said, “Mama, I love underwear.” (No more diapers!)
2. I turned in my manuscript for a devotional book on “Hope” that I’m helping to write.
3. I edited the introduction and first three chapters of my friend Trish’s book for moms. It will be published in 2007, and she wrote my name in the acknowledgements.
4. My youngest daughter learned to crawl, and I watched her — happy and sad at the same time.
5. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at my husband’s parents’ house, which I’ll tell you about in the post that follows.

5 Songs I know all the words to:
Lots of praise songs — I love praise songs.

5 Greatest Joys:
1. The Word of God and my relationship with Christ.
2. My family — I love growing closer to my husband as the years go by and watching our children grow up. Plus we’re blessed with wonderful extended families.
3. I enjoy encouraging people to pursue their dreams.
4. I love taking pictures of joyful events that I hope to write about someday when I have more time.
5. I’ve discovered I really enjoy travel writing and would like to do more of it.

The other parts of this meme are:
5 Things I’d do with a million dollars
5 Places I’d run away to
5 Things I’d never wear
5 Favorite toys
5 Favorite books or TV shows
5 People I tag

I can’t think of anything else right now — so I’ll stop here! If any of you reading this would like me to tag you, then I tag you. Have fun!
😉

I’m very blessed to have a mom and mother-in-law who are both great cooks, and I’m constantly asking for their recipes and trying to soak up their tips. They make cooking seem so easy! For me, the constant challenge is to find meals that appeal to both kids and adults.

Well, here’s a good one. My mother-in-law makes this one every now and then, and it’s always a hit. She calls it simply “Black Beans and Rice.” It makes a beautiful spread if you’re feeding a group of people, and it’s especially nice if you’re in the position of needing to feed both vegetarians and meat-eaters (as in our case.)

In pretty serving dishes, sit these out as a serve-yourself buffet:

One big platter of cooked white or brown rice
One bowl of cooked black beans
One platter of cooked, sliced sausage
Small bowls of condiments: grated cheese, chopped onion, diced tomato, salsa, and sour cream
Green salad, to be served as a side dish

On the table, place big bowls of tostitos and fritos, so people can serve themselves while they’re seated and talking.

What makes this meal great is that adults can add the salsa and onions and make it spicy, while kids may go for more cheese and skip the salsa. The black beans are healthy and full of fiber, but the sausage is also filling for those who like it. You could also add tortillas and roll up the rice, beans, and cheese inside. Salmon or chicken could be substituted instead of sausage.

This meal is just plain fun, and it’s so much better than eating out at a restaurant.

Something funny happened this week that involves this book. A friend of mine bought A Mom Just Like You for herself and read through the first couple of chapters, but then she felt like God was saying to her, “You need to give this book to Heather.”

So she did! As a belated birthday gift. And I had to laugh and tell her “great minds think alike” because I love this book! In fact, I bought it four years ago and read it cover to cover — devouring it like hot brownies out of the oven. Then I loaned it out a couple of times, and a friend returned it to me last summer.

So, I told her I’d “loan” her my new book permanently, so she could finish it and we could talk about it. Then I thought, “Well, maybe I’m supposed to write about this in my blog.” Is there a mom out there who could use some encouragement? Is there anyone struggling with the issue of … family size? A Mom Just Like You is written by Vickie Farris (with her daughter Jayme), and she’s the mother of ten kids.

Well, in my pre-blogging days, I wrote a bunch of reviews on Amazon, and so I decided to review this book. And while I was looking it up, I discovered some people didn’t like it. Well, I had to differ on their opinion. So here’s what I wrote:

I can’t understand the other reviewers who write negatively about this book. The title is absolutely perfect! It’s not supposed to be a practical how-to guide; it’s a journey, a very personal peek into the life of a large, successful homeschooling family. Mrs. Farris bravely tells the story of how she came to be the mother of ten children and why they chose to homeschool.

I’ve heard Michael Farris speak before, and I too wondered what kind of a woman could possibly mother and teach ten children. So that’s why I bought the book to begin with. Mrs. Farris writes, “I am a very normal mom who happens to have a very visible, talented, and energetic husband … I struggle regularly with feeling overwhelmed … I am very much a mom like you. And from one normal mom to another, let me just tell you that God is faithful …” (Her husband is a successful attorney, the founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association, founder of Patrick Henry College, professor, author of several non-fiction books and novels, and has won many awards.)

The theme of her story is that God alone can enable and give grace for a person to accomplish anything. Mrs. Farris grew up as a shy, only child who had little practice in domestic arts or caring for children. She even admits that she is a “scaredy cat” when her husband is away traveling. Yet she uses her weaknesses to draw on God’s strength.

The book encompasses her journey of child-bearing, beginning with the birth of her first daughter, and ending with her new role as grandmother. She goes into great detail about how she and her husband made the decisions that led them along this path.

While listening to a Focus on the Family radio show, she became interested in homeschooling. Later, it was through reading a magazine article as well as Mary Pride’s book, The Way Home, that she changed her views on planning the size of her family.

The whole book is funny and encouraging. We see her youngest son jumping off the coffee table. We agonize with her as she is planning a wedding while still taking care of a child in the middle of the night. We see how her daily afternoon walks help her stay sane and refreshed.

She explains the Farris’ principles of child-rearing; mainly, “our ultimate goal is not to raise children, but to raise adults.” She discusses the delicate balance between rights and responsibility as children move through different ages. This wisdom is so helpful for moms in the trenches with young kids (like me).

The last two chapters are extremely inspirational, and for anyone who is planning a mother/daughter speech or tea, these chapters offer you great ideas. She quotes another of my favorite authors, Elisabeth Elliot, who says, “None of the gifts of my own life — not my “career” or my work or any other gift — is higher or more precious to me than that of being someone’s mother.”

I’ve read this book through twice, and I plan on reading it again — sorry, I can’t loan you my copy. (Order it through your local Christian bookstore, and give them some business!) One more thing about this book: although Mrs. Farris does hold certain beliefs about family planning, she doesn’t come across as judgmental. I personally believe this is a decision that husbands and wives should make together as a couple, after much prayer and seeking God about it. This book will give you one point of view; it’s up to you to research and make the wisest choice — for your family.

I’m such a newbie to the whole FlyLady phenomenon that I didn’t even know she has official baby steps for those of us who are just starting out. Yes, there are 31 Beginner BabySteps. Here’s what she says:

Our FlyLady system is all about establishing little habits that string together into simple routines to help your day run on automatic pilot. You can do this!

I haven’t started any of these BabySteps (yes, one word) except for shining my sink and using a timer. I think if I did this system, I’d feel a lot less stress in my life because I wouldn’t be carrying around so much in my head — it’s clutter! If I set my to-do list down, it will get colored on — or stapled into a book. (My girls are really into making booklets these days. Wonder why!) So I keep way too much on my mind.

The other day I got behind AGAIN on my kitchen — if I only miss shining my sink after one meal, suddenly we have a huge pile-up. Seven people eating together at least two times a day — well, you get the picture. I got behind and started feeling overwhelmed about it.

But instead of moping, I just got my timer and set it to 20 minutes. I can do this for 20 minutes. That ticking sound was like FlyLady motivating me — and it worked. I got caught back up again!

Sometimes I imagine her like a much-needed cheerleader while I’m debating about whether or not I should throw something away. It’s like she’s telling me, “You can do it, girl! You just be brave and bold — and you throw that catalog away! That kindergarten workbook page from September– it’s okay. You can get rid of it now! You’re doing great!”

This physical work reminds me of what goes on spiritually as well. Keeping clutter cleaned out of your house is also like keeping sin cleaned out of your heart. It creeps back in if you don’t stay on it!

Do you ever feel that way? You work on an area and feel like you’ve made great strides, and you’re really growing closer to God. (You may even do a little bragging about it.) Then you stumble AGAIN! That same old sin creeps back in.

Same thing with clutter. You clean out a certain area and it looks great! Until a few days go by (or in homes with young kids, a few MINUTES…) We just gotta stay on it.

So here I am — admitting to you that I’m at the beginning of the Beginning BabySteps. Has anyone else been through this system before? How did it work for you?

Several Mind & Media reviewers are currently reading/reviewing the first two books of the Wilderking trilogy, so I thought I’d share some recent news. I found out that Book 1, The Bark of the Bog Owl, has been chosen as one of ten finalists in the Lamplighter Awards. According to the Children’s Crown Awards website:

The mission of the Children’s Gallery, the Children’s Crown, and the Lamplighter Awards is to encourage elementary and junior high students to read wholesome and uplifting books by providing lists each year of the best literature … Books that convey wholesome values, uplifting characters, and edifying themes that inspire children toward positive goals are selected by a committee of readers from participating schools.

Teachers and school librarians encourage students to read books from this list. They’re new books that have all been published within the last two years. When kids read one of these books, they can earn points in the Accelerated Reader program — by taking a specially designed comprehension test. (If you’re not familiar with the AR program, it’s highly competitive for kids throughout the school year. They earn prizes, and teachers display the points up on the wall.) The Lamplighter Award winner and runner-up will be voted on by students this spring, so it will be interesting to see which of these ten books wins.

We caught up with the author, Jonathan Rogers, at CBA Advance in Nashville. He was signing Book 2, The Secret of the Swamp King, and hosting Swampboat Tours around Delta island inside Opryland.

Although I didn’t see them, I heard his wife made feechie costumes for their children to wear, complete with Dobro Turtlebane-approved hairstyles (moss included). The feechies are the tribe of creatures who inhabit the swamps of Corenwald in the Wilderking books — and their way of talkin’ keeps you turning the pages in laughter.

Rogers also showed us an advance copy of his forthcoming Book 3, The Way of the Wilderking, which will be released in May. Rumor has it this book’s the funniest one yet. It’s the final installment in the Wilderking trilogy.

A Mom 2 Mom reader sent me an enthusiastic comment last night after recently reading Book 1 and Book 2:

Great read. I especially love Roger’s insight to David. Book 1…Looking at the whole Goliath situation through the eyes of David gave me fresh ideas for Sunday School. The theme of Book 2 is “grace.” Again, Rogers gives us a good look at what God’s grace truly is. Book 3…I can hardly wait!

So, if you’ve got kids who like fantasy adventure books, you still have time to jump in before the third book comes out in May. They’re published by Broadman & Holman, the same people who give us glorious Beth Moore.

Iris is hostessing the Carnival of Beauty on her site today. The topic, The Beauty of Gentleness, brought in quite an eclectic gathering of thoughts — and it’s like visiting old friends now when I amble into these women’s blogs. (I feel like I need to wipe my feet on a doormat or something — or bring some flowers!)

Here’s a quote I found today from Daily Christian Quote. I think Billy Graham and I seem to be on the same wavelength with what I wrote about yesterday:

Too many women have too much leisure time for their own good. They have time for criticism, gossip, faultfinding, and complaining. They have time for idle games and lay too much attention to things of the flesh. There are other women who have too little time for the enduring things of life. They are too busy flitting about doing this and that. They have great activity and much doing, but they lack time for building Christian characters. Both kinds of women — the too-idle and the too-busy need to take time for meditation and quiet repose in prayer to God. They need time to cultivate their souls that in turn they may cultivate their children’s lives.

Billy Graham
Billy Graham Organization

I love that phrase, “cultivate their souls.” That will give me something good to think about today.

Last week, I went to my first Christian Bookseller Association (CBA) conference — at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. It was also my first trip to the famed “Music City,” and I half-expected to see Stetson-clad cowboys two-steppin’ in the street. Instead, I mostly saw thousands of Christian books!

I badgered a few people to see if I could get a badge to attend — it’s one of those conferences where they have security at the door. CBA Advance is held every January and offers Christian publishers and wholesalers the chance to connect with retail buyers, authors, and editors to share products and ideas. There’s an even bigger CBA gathering held in July.

Before I left, I was secretly worrying about my budget — how many books would I be able to buy? When I’ve been to homeschool conferences, my credit card has burned a hole through my purse as I purchased curriculum and must-have educational products.

But this turned out to be different. Nothing was for sale! The booths displayed only floor samples for buyers. I felt like I was going on a treasure hunt every time I walked around the HUGE room. And there were authors I recognized everywhere! I had to stand and gawk at novelist Liz Curtis Higgs, my favorite humor columnist — she was signing her newest release. Her column appears on the last page of every Today’s Christian Woman issue — and she’s so funny.

Then I walked past Mary Hunt’s publisher — and there she was signing her two new financial management books. I’ve read her Everyday Cheapskate columns for ages — and here she was in person, smiling at me and giving me her books!

So, of course I’ll be reviewing many of them here for you. I’m almost halfway through Dennis Leonard’s Happiness Matters: 21 Thoughts that Could Change Your Life, and I love it — and can’t wait to tell you about it. (It came with a CD of some mighty fine preaching.) Michelle Medlock Adams and Gena Maselli signed their adorable book for women, Divine Secrets of the Yahweh Sisterhood, which looks like a fun read. I also picked up a copy of Story by Steven James, which is a passionate retelling of the real Easter story and will be sold in stores everywhere this spring.

One highlight was taking a swampboat tour with the author of The Wilderking Trilogy — which I’ll tell you more about tomorrow.

If you’ve never been to Opryland, here’s my sales pitch: it’s ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. I felt like I was in Hawaii — or on some remote South Pacific island. You’re inside this huge, 4.5-acre glass atrium, surrounded by real living plants — and you hear the swish and roar of waterfalls everywhere. The picture above is where my husband and I enjoyed our breakfast croissants and coffee in the morning. He could hardly get a bite to eat because I kept asking him to take more pictures — I love palm trees!

The best part of the conference for me was meeting the real people behind email names. A dozen of us from my online writers’ group met for a chat — and it encouraged me so much. Most of the writing work I do is very far from glamorous — I’m either up writing alone before dawn — or I’m composing while surrounded by kids, crayons, pets, sandwiches, laundry, the phone ringing, grocery lists, missing shoes, and stacks of magazines and books (which give me plenty to write about — but there’s not a pinch of glamour involved.)

So this was beyond refreshing for me — and hopefully, I’ll have plenty of new books and ideas to encourage and inspire you as well.

Living faith — that’s what I saw — the love of Christ demonstrated in thousands of ways.

It’s time for the Carnival again, and I’ve been going over a million ideas in my mind for “The Beauty of Gentleness.” Iris is hosting this week, and she already has an awesome post up. What can I say that’s different?

I keep going back to my one of my favorite Old Testament heroes — Elijah. I love Elijah! I can relate to his emotions so well. He had a hard time with the things I struggle with. When his body was run down physically, his spirit got weighed down with heaviness too — and he just wanted to give up.

Yet God met his every need and spoke to him in a gentle whisper.

Oh, how I love that whole story. You can read it in 1 Kings 17-19. The heartless queen Jezebel reminds me of the evil queens and stepmoms who show up in fairy tales I read with my kids. She and her rotten husband Ahab were out to get Elijah. Do you remember the big showdown on Mount Carmel? The phony god Baal versus the one true God.

After a whole day of watching hundreds of Baal priests beg their false god for fire (to no avail), it was Elijah’s turn to show everyone the truth. He built an altar and surrounded it with water — and when he prayed, our real God sent fire from heaven and completely burned up everything! It was a MIRACLE.

The very power that sent fire from heaven is the God who is available to YOU. He still works miracles today — no matter what you’re going through. If you’re a mom, you know what miracle took place when God formed your baby within you. All you did was crave pickles and ice cream! (or Arby’s roast beef sandwiches, in my case). And according to Psalm 139, He knit the baby in your womb.

Yet in this story, Elijah got scared of Ahab and Jezebel — and he ran away as far as he could! He was so tormented by his fears, he didn’t eat or drink anything until he was completely famished. Then he stopped running, worn out, and wanted to die. An angel brought him food and water. Later the story continues in 1 Kings 19:11-14:

Then the Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord … [But the Lord wasn’t in the wind, earthquake or fire.] … And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

This is how God spoke to Elijah — in a whisper. And that’s the way He speaks to you and me. Yet we get so busy, the noise of our hectic lives blocks out the gentle sound of God’s voice. But He’s there, always waiting for us.

When we meet Him through reading the Bible, He speaks to us loudly — in a roar sometimes, like Aslan’s. But throughout the day, I can hear Him whisper, as my conscience reminds me to do what’s right. Don’t look at that. Tell him you’re sorry. Stay on track. Give her a call. Go beyond yourself.

That’s the gentle voice I seek — and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to listen and discern what He’s saying to me. But isn’t that what our faith is? It’s an adventure in getting to know God, to trust His voice. The Christian walk is a continual journey, one not unlike Elijah’s. We’re always moving toward finding that place in our hearts where God’s whisper can best be heard.