Kaylea Hutson's Blog, page 24

Blog Tour: Almost Amish (Review)

We live in a crazy, non-stop world - full of tweets, emails, texts and well tons of noise.

Is it any wonder that many people find the simplistic aspects of the Amish lifestyle attractive?

Nancy Sleeth takes pieces of that lifestyle and relates it to the "real world," pulling out aspects that Christians can learn from those principles.

Sleeth's topics include technology, service and community - and explores ways people can recapture the art of simplicity through each idea.

Sleeth also focuses on how people can limit - and even reduce dramatically - their use of technology. Her ministry, Blessed Earth, discusses how people can reduce their impact on the world (and reduce their carbon footprint.)

In all, Sleeth's book focuses on how we can turn away from the distractions of life and instead focus on faith, family and the simple things.

I enjoyed this book. After a hectic summer - full of ministry experiences - I can understand why Sleeth focused on the simple, yet fulfilling things we can learn from the Amish.

Am I ready to  turn off technology and become Amish - probably not (I really like my iPhone and iPad). But I can see why we need to stop, unplug and rest at times - so we can tun out the noise of the world, and instead tune into God.

On the scale of one to five, I give this book a solid three. I liked Sleeth's narrative style (a mix of "how to" and spiritual memoir). I also liked that it didn't make me feel like I would be a failure if I didn't immediately try all of her ideas.

Reading this book may not make you become Amish, but it may give you something to think about - and challenge a few of your Americanized ideas of life.

About The Author
Nancy Sleeth and her husband, Matthew, are cofounders of Blessed Earth, a faith-based environmental nonprofit. After an environmental and spiritual conversion experience, Sleeth and her family radically altered their footprint, giving away half their possessions and reducing their energy use by more than two-thirds.

Prior to heeding this environmental calling, Sleeth served as communications director for a Fortune 500 company and as an educator and administrator, most recently at Asbury University. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds a master's degree in journalism.

The Sleeths are the parents of Clark, a medical resident preparing for missionary work, and Emma, the author of It's Easy Being Green (Zondervan), which is a call to teens to live sustainable lifestyles. The Sleeths live in Lexington, Kentucky.

Online Resources
Read an excerpt: online
Visit her website: http://nancysleeth.com/
Check out her ministry: http://www.blessedearth.org

As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Tyndale House Books . This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail. The fact that I am a graduate of Asbury Seminary (Sleeth taught at Asbury University - across the street) and my assumption that we probably know people in common (Wilmore is a small town) also did not influence my review.)

Being Elmo (a review)

Looking for something to inspire you this weekend?

Why not check out "Being Elmo" the story about the man behind the puppet - Kevin Clash.

This documentary tells how Clash got his start into the magic of puppetry and the adults in his life who encouraged him.

I love how he told about watching puppet shows on TV (Captain Kangaroo, the Muppets and more) to figure out how the puppets were constructed, and how the puppeteers made everything work.

Clash related how he made his first puppet out of the lining of his father's trench coat. His dad loved it - but told him to ask permission first before making more.

It's amazing to think about a guy in high school making puppets - and pursuing his dream - even when classmates ridiculed him (well, until he ended up being cast on a local television show).

This documentary is inspiring. It's amazing how everything fell into place for Clash, party through the efforts of this supportive adults. No, life wasn't perfect - and he made sacrifices (good and bad) along the way to pursue his dream.

Two scenes jumped out, as I viewed the documentary.

The first one showcased a young Clash meeting legendary puppet designer Kermit Love - and being shown around Love's studio - and how Love introduced to Jim Henson.

The second shows Clash, now a Sesame Street’s Senior Puppet Coordinator and Muppet Captain as well as Sesame Workshop’s Senior Creative Consultant, calling and meeting with a young inspiring puppeteer.

It's almost as if Clash is paying forward, the generosity shown him as a student. I found it awesome that he not only remembers his roots, but he also helps spread his knowledge and passion to a new generation.

I've had this documentary in my Netflix queue for quite a whole. A lazy Saturday gave me an excuse to watch it. It made my morning.

On the scale of one to five, I give this a HUGE five.

I think it would be great to show students (in part) to talk about chasing dreams and finding the support needed to succeed.

It's definitely worth investing some time into watching this documentary.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A random Friday the 13th

How did you spend your Friday the 13th?
I spent mine with some very patient tweens and parents, as we did our first "surprise" night, eating supper at Bumpy'sa local, Tex-Mex restaurant in Little Rock.
Due to things beyond their control, we ended up waiting approx. an hourfor our seats to open up.
We had a reservation, but a table top who had been therefor more than two hourswere slow to leave.
After 30 minutes, we probably should have gone somewhere else, but we kept thinking, maybe they will leave.
The restaurant brought us water, and let the kidsget ice cream cones (the after dinner treat)as a pre-meal teaser.
We also ordered our meals/foodbefore we even got our tableso as soon as we sat down, the food started to arrive.
I've never been more proud of my tweens.
We had people coming up to usat the restaurantAMAZED at how well behaved they were.
One lady joked "did you drug them before you came?"
Nope, we just told them the name of the churchis on the side of the mini-busparked outside of the building.
They listened.
And for that, I'm grateful.  I'm also grateful for the adults who braved the idea (originally we were going to go to three different restaurants - a funky progressive meal)and rolled with the revised plan before we even started.
- duh it's Friday the 13 - maybe we should stick with one restaurant.
I think next time, I'll do this using "fast food" restaurants.
But if I want to have supper with friends (small group best)Bumpy's will be the place to go!  

Getting ready for VBS

 In honor of the first story of next week's VBS, here's a cartoon featuring Noah.

Because Noah learned to Depend Upon God.....It's a lesson I'm remember a lot for myself, as I prepare for a VBS with more than 400 kids.

A few recent pics of the day

A bunny attacks my office. Never know what #stjameskidz will find in my office. Made my day. Was giving Yancy, the kidz min, painter hard time about his skittles. Came back after running like crazy today for fiesta and found this on my door. He shared!! It's the little things in life. Sometimes you just need a treat after a long week. You know u r in children's ministry when your suitcase looks like this for the mission trip. #stjameskidz The Rep with Amy Forbus. Thanks to a gift of a St. James friend. Hanging out with the St. James kidz at Destination: Pine Bluff. TRYING to transfer my voter registration. Pulaski county customer service STINKS. But I will persevere.

You know you are a Methodist geek when ...

You purchase two John Wesley "bobble heads."

The first was sold by Cokesbury during annual conference. I purchased after seeing pics on Instagram. (I was at camp following the conference on twitter and Facebook at night.) Totally worth the $23. (it's nice when you are friends with the bookstore manager on Facebook.



The other is an app. Yes, I also found it after a friend joked about it on twitter. Ah, the power of social media.

I Love the app Especially when it talks back to you when you move Wesley's head. I love the quotes it spouts off. Yes at least one review in the app store was negative, but that didn't stop me for two reasons.

When my students saw both, they thought it was for George Washington. So I had an unexpected teaching moment as I told the,about Wesley.

The other reason? Both simply make me laugh.

Honestly, the app developers did have a side motive. They wanted a way to highlight four adults who impacted the Nazarene Church. It worked. I learn about their efforts for the church (and even watched the history lesson video).

Are these for everyone? Probably not.

But if you are a Methodist geek, with a sense of humor, check them out.



To find it in the app store, search for NazHeads.

Blog Tour: Meet Tessa Afshar (Reviews)

It's always fun to run across a new author. To borrow a sports analogy, sometimes, you just have to take a chance that an unknown author will "hit it out of the park" and provide you with something you can't stop reading.

I'm so thankful that I took a chance on Tessa Afshar.

Earlier this summer, a free download on Amazon.com introduced me to Pearl in the Sand - a story based on the untold story of Rahab.

In her debut novel, Afshar dives into the story of Rahab, the Canaanite harlot who eventually became the wife for one of the leaders of Israel.

Through a story of redemption, faith and love, Afshar explores how Rahab finds redemption through her faith and ultimately because of her marriage to Salmone, becomes part of the genealogy of Christ.

I enjoyed the first novel so much that it led me to seek out her newest release,  Harvest of Rubies.

That novel, set during the time of the prophet Nehemiah, focuses on his cousin - who becomes the queen's favorite scribe (even while having a skewed view of her self-worth.)

Unfortunately, Sarah's view of her self ultimately threatens her future happiness - including her relationship with her husband.

Afshar is an amazing storyteller. Her first book made me really dive into an "old" Bible story in a new way. Her second, well, it really makes you take a second look at where a person finds value.

In all, I'm thrilled to have discovered a new author. I highly recommend her work - and will probably put them on my "re-read" list.

On the scale of one to five, I give her books a solid four. They are enjoyable and easy to read - but will definitely leave you thinking. All in all, a great showing for a new-to-me author!

More About The Author
TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand.

She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life.  She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently.

Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School.  She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.

Online Resources
Follow Afshar on Facebook
Follow her blog
Read an interview with Afshar here. 
Check out her website: http://www.tessaafshar.com/

Pearl In the Sand


Download chapter 1
Download chapter 2 
Buy it at Amazon

Harvest of Rubies

Download the first two chapters
Buy it at Amazon
Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of Harvest of Rubies by it's publisher, through the Net Galley's blogger program. I received Pearl in the Sand as a free Kindle download at Amazon.com This review was not influenced by the free books - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Never Give Up

As we get ready for the Olympic games, here's a video I recently ran across. It reminds us all to never, ever give up.



I also ran across an article by Linsey Corbin - an uber cool triathlete (who is the daughter-in-law of a friend) with a pep talk she gave herself before two triathlons this summer.

(You can see the full article here.)

Linsey wrote
Which brings me to all-in. 
Both races, as I walked down to the water I gave myself a pep talk. It went something like this:


Me - Are you ready for this?

My head - I am not so sure. It’s windy, hot/cold, it’s going to be a doozy today. I am going to have to really earn my bacon! What if I get blown off my bike? Am I ready for this?

Me - Of course you are ready for this. You don’t do anything half-ass. Let’s go all-in. Cash in your chips. Be committed. You’ve trained your hiney off the past 6 weeks. Why only commit part way?

My head - It will be easy to back off, these conditions aren’t favorable. Think of the laundry list of excuses you’ll have for your friends on Monday.

Me - Anyone can race on the easy day. Champions rise in adverse conditions. Be a warrior and let’s go all-in.

My head - OK. I’m all-in! When that gun goes, I am racing. 100%. No excuses.

Me - All-in! 

So, I guess the moral of the story - never give up, and go ALL IN!
Maybe we can all learn from athletes - especially as we watch the Olympics.

How did I live without this?

File this under "How did I live without these?"

When a white cami turned grey in the wash, a friend told me about the color catchers.

I bought a box just to check them out.



I've tossed one in with loads I care about.


Obviously they work. Since these started out white and definitely came out different colors.

I may make my own laundry soap, but I'll definitely keep purchasing and using them!!

Just a random post to share my new found knowledge. Lol.
Happy laundry!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I'm Farming & I Know It......

This video, posted in late June, made me smile today - as it started popping up on my Facebook feed (and NPR).

Created by Kansas State Univeristy student Greg Peterson, and his siblings, Nathan, 18, Kendal, 15, and Laura, 11, the film is a parody of LMFAO's song "Sexy and I Know It".

According to the New York Post, the video "I'm Farming and I Grow It" has become an Internet sensation with more than 3.2 million views since it was posted June 25 on YouTube.

The Peterson's have even been hailed by farming groups for producing a video that helps remind people where their food truly comes from.

As a farm girl, who grew up on dairy farms in Kansas and Missouri, I LOVE this video.

It shows creativity, originality and humor. Kudos to them!

I bet we see more from Peterson.

In fact, according to the New York Post, the brothers have posted more videos on YouTube, and Peterson said they'll make more. He told reporters that he keeps his iPod Touch with him as he farms, occasionally pulling it out and filming things.


You can see more videos from them here; http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePetersonFarmBros




In fact, if you want to see some outtakes..... watch this video....


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/watch_kansas_student_makes_farm_abZOmy0UEzW8R5KM2m3CXP#ixzz1zt76Ug9v