Am I Stuck?

I just had the priveldge of viewing this new DVD based Bible study. I am an advid Beth Moore Bible study goer. So I was very excited to be able to take a peak at this study. Beth Moore's study tends to be around an hour long. Then usually homework 5 days a week that end up being around 25-45 minutes long. Beth Moore makes you dig in.  So when comparing the two, Jennie Allen is around 10 minutes of DVD time, and some talk time while in your study, with some homework involved. It is fun to see someone new. Jennie is open and honest. She has put off her mask, talked about real life. Her life. Her children, her struggles. The study takes you step by step through places you might find yourself STUCK. Jennie goes to places that mold her life, places that she shares her stories, her journey. She is authentic, a follower, having gone through stuff, to help us go through our stuff. She wants us to get into small groups and feel safe and share what is keeping us stuck. She even has little cards in the box for us to pick from and share from the question being asked. I think this is a good way to get women to open up. I think we do need to take off our masks and be real. We have much to fight for in the USA, and with the shorter DVD time, I think this opens up more time to discuss challenges we are all facing and be more authentic with each other. Which is what we need to do.

I recieved this DVD study from thomasnelson.com. I am not paid to submit my reviews.

This weekend marks the 6-8th time I have attended a Women of Faith (WOF) conference. I am excited. This will be the 2nd year that Hope Blooms sponsored a weekend away. We have given over 10 scholarships. It is a pleasure to be able to bring women to such an event!  We get to hear some dynamic speakers, Sheila Walsh, Lucy Swindol, Angie Smith, hear Natalie Grant sing....Plus many more. We will be bringing a group again next. Will you join us?

Check back next week. I will recap on how things went!

Playing Hurt: Brian Goins

Playing Hurt: A Guy's Strategy for a Winning Marriage. Does your marriage need some nurture? Are you in a tough place that needs some fresh direction? This book is the man in your life. I recommend this easy read before you call it quits...and before your marriage is slipping away.

Guys your girl needs certain things from you. Brian uses real life examples and a history of helping couples say I do forever. The covenant you made between God and your wife is an important one.

Become the thermometer in your house...for example, set the tone. When your wife is sending you some cold vibes, reassure her how much you do love her. Set the tone for you home, and don't take her personally.

there is a wealth of information in this book that you can use. You can also see Brian at a weekend to remember event. Brian is obviously passionate about saving your marriage.

Off to give this book to my dear husband!

Enjoy

Stumbling Into Grace

Lisa Harper is a favorite to everyone. She has a witty sense of humor, makes the Bible come alive, and happens to be a Woman of Faith featured speaker. I first heard of Lisa about 3-4 years ago at a WOF conference. So to get an opportunity to read one of her books, I was thrilled. I have not gotten any of her books, and she has 8 others, but I do know that she is real; I know her books have to be a reflection of her personality.

The tag line on her book is:Confessions of a Sometimes Spiritually clumsy woman. My husband can be clumsy by nature...so this intrigued me! I have to tell you Lisa does not disappoint. As I am sitting her trying to figure out what was my favorite chapter...I could hardly pick just one. They all bring home the real stuff that we all feel. When I sat down to start, I was really in the mood for a good fiction book. But I thought I would just see. I was immediately hooked. I love that we can all get a look inside someone else's life, laugh and know that is real.

Lisa also added discussion questions, and a place to journal thoughts. So doing this book with some girlfriends is an option.

Enjoy this book, in it's glory and realness. Lisa Harper does not disappoint!


I am not a paid reviewer from Thomas Nelson. I choose the books they send, and I read them, and share my opinion....I have found many good authors this way...check them out!

The Promise of an Angel

The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Reid.

I started this book several times, but would never get past the first chapter. Once I sat down to truly read it, I had a hard time putting the book down. This book is simple, Amish, and a good summer/fall read.

Judith was an Amish girl who was in love with the wrong guy. Her family is hosting a barn raising, and her little brother falls. She is so sure that she sees an angel. And several times. But the drama starts when no one will believe her. In fact her family threatens to send her away to other family...which will in turn threaten to stop her true love from happening.

I liked this book for the simplicity of it. I think there are so many times we take for granted that we may have in fact witnessed an angel. This book brings a delight to it's readers.

If you are looking for a true good read....one that your children can enjoy, I highly recommend this book.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson. I am not paid to publish my book reviews.

And the process begins

OK, so yesturday our process to adopt began. We went to Downey Side in Sauk Rapids to start our adoptiong process. This seems so sureal. We got tons of good information. Nicole, our case manager is calling about the girl we are hoping to bring into our home. Wayne has had the honor of meeting her...but as we found out, workers are not the best at updating the www.mnadopt.org site...so she may be placed in a permanent home by now. Her siblings have been put into a permanent home. But if that would fall through, we are open to having all three children here. I just hate to see siblings split up...but this also opens doors that makes me want to find another child to call ours. We shall see what God has in store.

We left armed with a stack of 8 pages of papers that ask us personal questions. Questions like, how did your parents raise you? How do you parent? etc...goodness gracious...things that you automatically do, and simply do not put any thought to. So I am am planning to start plugging away on it today. One foot in front of the other. Am thinking I should challenge Wayne to see who finishes first...Any bets on who it will be? I am compairing this to the 90+ hours it took me to finish Hope Blooms tax exempt paperwork for the IRS!

We also need to get 5 of us fingerprinted and pay 70$ for each for a background check.

Take a 16 hour class in September...which also happens to be a fundraiser weekend for Hope Blooms....oh the joys of needing to be double booked. But I think the rest of our stuff should be done by that date, so we are just having to finish our house. And we should be ready to bring a new person into our home...Could be as little as 60 days...Weird is the word of the day...

So amongst this business, we have a huge fundraiser for Aug 7th. Then we are hoping to have a Hope blooms building after that...I guess we will pray for cooler weather so Wayne and I can get busy! HA~

Is Adoption for the Marklowitz's?

Last May, my parents, Wayne and I piled into our car and drove 14 hours to Louisville Kentucky for the Orphan Summit. As always, the Summit is full of information that doesn't disappoint. We even had some time to do a little sight seeing...can you go to Louisville and not visit the plant of the Louisville slugger?
In the course of many speakers, breakout sessions etc....there was a theme going...if you raise the banner of adoption, you need to provide support services. It is essential to the success of adoption and foster care. My heart wants to start this process with Hope Blooms. There are to many kids in the US, in the WORLD actually that need good Christian homes. And as was often said, some poor mans wife starts with the adoption bug...and God always hooks him...
Fast forward to June, just a few weeks ago...through a chain of events, times are tough in the Marklowitz household. I NEED to find a job. But I have a peace about waiting on God's timing. I have been looking, and have applied at a few places. But doors have not opened. Wayne was feeling very frustrated about this process. On his way to work on a saturday, after a not so pleasant Friday night, he had the thoughts that we just need to stop doing Hope Blooms, it isn't going anywhere. Funds are not coming in, and Shannon needs to work. NOt volunteer anymore. He was ready to throw in the towel. But GOD...ooh how HE works. Fast forward 12 hours later, little Janessa (not her real name) Janessa is a 14 year old girl who was at a hospital needing to be transferred down to a psych unit..yes I said psych...this is a little girl who talked with my husband. Looked at the pictures on his phone, liked seeing his kids, loved seeing where we live. And said, "I want to come live with you." She doesn't belong where she is...you see, at the Summit we have learned a method to help children from hard places. If you follow this model, that has been 100% effective, these kids will start healing. They will start learning how to be respectful. They will connect with you, and know that you won't let them starve anymore. You will give them a drink when they need it. You won't hurt them, hit them, touch them inapporprietly. They will know what a parent is, what a parent is suppose to do. What it feels like to live in a "normal" way. Their chemicals will balance out, and they will be able to learn....Yes, Janessa doesn't belong in a phsych unit. She belongs in a home that is equipped to take help her....God is working on equipping us, and if he can grab ahold of Wayne the way He did, I know He is working out all the details. Most of which I am waiting impatiently on...But as we wait, our house is getting finished, just little things that have been put off...Once we start the process it could go as fast as 1-2 months...Hard to believe that Wayne will be the Father of 6 children..me I will then have 7!