Sarah Price's Blog, page 24

One Bad Apple

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Meet Lexi Bryan

Hi there! My name is Alexandra Bryan, but I go by Lexi. I’m going to be a new feature once every month. I’m not sure what it will be called, but seeing as you are going to hear some from me, you might need some fundamental facts on me.

First, I am 20 years old and a junior at Missouri State University. I study history education (high school). My passions for educational reform made me switch my neuroscience major to history ed. That switch developed my love of history exponentially. Now, I talk about it outside school to my friends literally every day. I love what I’m studying.

Second, I love the people in my life. I have one older sister, Sara, who is 24 and in her second year of vet school. I know that God has big things for her in the realm of conservation, she’s extremely gifted. Growing up, Sara and I were constantly encouraged to be curious and learn from the world around us. My mom is a lawyer, but mother and teacher at heart. She seriously loves us more than life itself. My Dad is a financial advisor, a history professor at heart, and an almost homesteader. He cares for my sister and I so deeply. My stepmom is an organ donor transplant specialist, which is about one of the most tolling things I think you can do. I also have a boyfriend that I’ve known since 6th grade who is the hardest worker, I have ever known (he owns a house on his own-at 21!! I know!!). We are different enough to where I am learning so much from him everyday. I live in a house with two godly women who are an absolute gift to me.

Lastly, as a kid I went to Kanakuk Kamps for ten years and then worked there for two years during college. It has given me life long friends, experience, and most of the love of Jesus Christ.

Without Christ and what he did through that place, I know I would be a starkly different person. Thanks for reading!

Peace, One Love.

Lexi

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He Really Sees Us By Lisa Bull

A few weeks ago I took my first ever Big Girl Trip. I flew by myself (major accomplishment for me) to meet my friends in Ohio. In order to get there, Delta gave me a “free” four hour stay in Atlanta, GA! Can you believe they do that? I only needed to go to Ohio, but they gifted me a trip to Georgia as well. (insert sarcasm) I didn’t get to see much of the state, but I did visit this city called, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The city is totally indoors and has all kinds of shops and restaurants…and it even has a TRAIN!

While I was there, I spent a lot of time people watching. Have you ever done that? It is one of my favorite things to do. I love to study people. When a group walks by, I try to see if they resemble each other…are they family? Do they share the same eyes? Do they walk alike, talk alike, and have the same mannerisms?

Style (or lack thereof) watching is also a good time. I had some pretty interesting conversations in my head. “Wow. That is a beautiful older woman. She looks so classy.” “No. Just no. Those jeans were made for ladies not the boys.” (shakes head) “Leopard print and zebra stripes?” “How does she walk in those shoes? Not very well. Nope.”

Sometimes I focused on individuals more closely—really look at their faces.

There is the young mom rocking her crying baby. Her hair is falling out of her ponytail and her eyes are tired.

Over there is a man jogging down the hall with this bag rolling behind him. His eyes look anxious, or perhaps panicked, as he obviously tries to catch his next flight before it leaves him behind.

Standing at the counter of the coffee shop is a girl who is trying to keep her composure as a customer yells at her over coffee that, “tastes too weak”.

I was in a sea of people from all around the world. At first it looked a bit chaotic. People everywhere, going every direction. But, as I focused on groups of people and then individual people, it all became more personal.

I could see them, one by one, each person had a story.

In Mark chapter 10, we are told the story of a rich young man that came to Jesus. Jesus had been spending much of his time teaching masses of people. He and His disciples were setting out on a journey and this young man came to Him and knelt before Him. The young man wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. He told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments since his youth.

In other words, he was a good person.

I have heard this story told over and over since I was a little girl. But this week, as I read it again, verse 21 struck me. Mark 10:21 ESV “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him.” Look how the Word takes the time to say that Jesus looked at him. He saw him and He loved him. And, then with compassion, Jesus told him what he needed to do to inherit eternity…he had to give up the one thing he held dearest, wealth.

Planet earth is filled with millions of people. If we were in Heaven looking down, we would probably just see something that resembled ants on an ant hill, busily going back and forth. But, our Lord sees us, each one, individually. He really sees us, knows us–loves us.

How absolutely amazing is that?

Do you ever feel lost and alone? Do you feel that no one knows you, no one understands you? Jesus SEES you. He knows your good, your bad and your ugly. And, He still loves you. Will He ever correct you? Yes, but with love and compassion. You can trust Him.

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him. (Mark 10:21)

Lisa Bull sees her life as a journey along God’s divine plan. While considering herself an expert on nothing, she enjoys laughing and has made “choosing joy” her motto. Lisa has experienced God’s unfailing love and grace in her life and wants nothing more than for others to enjoy that same gift in their lives.

Lisa is the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. She has multiple relatives in ministry on both sides of her father’s family including several pastors, pastor’s wives, and missionaries. In fact, ministry in her maternal grandmother’s family can be traced back several generations. She loves being a wife and mother of two terrific young men.

Visit Lisa at Walking Bare Souled in the SONshine and JoyGurls.com

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My Struggle with Mansfield Park

So I’m working on rewriting Mansfield Park.

And I’m struggling.

A lot.

At the risk of upsetting fellow Austenites who have a different opinion, there is something about Fanny Price that I find less than…attractive (I’m trying to be nice). At least in the first part of the novel.

Perhaps it is her insecurity and shyness. Or maybe it is the way she takes on the role of caretaker for everyone except herself.

But then she changes.

And I start to like her. At least a little.

When she stands up to her uncle and refuses to marry Crawford, I find myself cheering for her. It’s about time, I want to yell through the pages of the book.

Standing up for yourself is not the easiest thing to do. Fanny’s banishment away from Mansfield Park (and back to her parents’ home!) seems like a very extreme punishment, especially given Mr. Bennet’s very different reaction when Elizabeth refuses Mr. Collins. By sending Fanny back to her parents, Sir Thomas ensures that Fanny sees firsthand the living conditions of her youth. It’s a not so subtle reminder of how she would have grown up had the Bertrams not taken care of her.

Ironically, while Sir Thomas may have thought Fanny lacked the ability to change in the beginning of the novel, he certainly realizes that she has when she accepts the punishment with not even one complaint…

To read more from this post hop on over to Austenauthors.net!

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Hidden, but Set Apart by Lisa Bull

It felt like I had taken a trip in a time machine. Walking through the yard of an Ohio Swartzentruber Amish family farm, the sights, smells, and sounds swirled around me. It was as if time stood still on that particular piece of property. No phone. No power. No running water. Just people, animals and nature.

Behind the house was a large corn crib. I’m sure the family didn’t pay much attention to it, other than it’s practicality for them. But, I thought it was beautiful with the bright yellow colors.

In front of their barn was a wagon of some sort. It looked peaceful resting there. I’m sure it has seen many hours of hard work. Red barns are my favorite. Their barns were faded and peeling. Swartzentruber Amish keep things very plain and simple. So, the farms tend to look a bit run down. But, personally, I think they are lovely. I love to look at them, but I am thankful that I don’t live like they do. I like my conveniences.

As I continued to explore the simple splendor of the farm, I happened to glance down. There, nestled in the grass and fallen leaves, was a single feather. With so much to see all around me, I was struck by this small feather that had been left behind…forgotten. It could easily have been blown away or stepped on. Yet, there it was, showing its beauty…hidden, but set apart.

Maybe you are little like this feather. You used to be part of something bigger. You used to be surrounded by a large group of friends, or by family. You had a support system that you thought would always be there for you.

But, something happened. Whatever the reason, you were plucked away from what you thought was your foundation. Everything you thought you were, you now question because you feel alone.

This feather was a feather when it was part of a bird. It looked exactly like it looks now, only it was surrounded by other feathers. It was still beautiful. But, now that it is separated, its uniqueness can shine.

See, sometimes change is painful. It hurts to be plucked away from our security. Remember, though, that you are still YOU. You may feel alone, but just like I looked down and saw this lovely feather, God sees you. He won’t let you be blown away. He won’t step on you. In fact, he will pick you up and help you find your inner beauty.

You may feel hidden, but perhaps God is setting you apart for some greater purpose. Perhaps he needed to pluck you away so you could focus on him and his plan for your life. That plan is beautiful. I can’t wait to see what God does in your life as he picks you up and carries you.

Lisa Bull sees her life as a journey along God’s divine plan. While considering herself an expert on nothing, she enjoys laughing and has made “choosing joy” her motto. Lisa has experienced God’s unfailing love and grace in her life and wants nothing more than for others to enjoy that same gift in their lives.

Lisa is the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. She has multiple relatives in ministry on both sides of her father’s family including several pastors, pastor’s wives, and missionaries. In fact, ministry in her maternal grandmother’s family can be traced back several generations. She loves being a wife and mother of two terrific young men.

Visit Lisa at Walking Bare Souled in the SONshine and JoyGurls.com

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We Just Never Know

On my recent trip to Holmes County, Ohio with Lisa Bull, we spent a lot of time driving around and looking at the scenery. You simply cannot beat the scenery: rolling hills and beautiful farms with the occasional Amish buggy passing by the car. It’s just gorgeous, especially in the winter.

At one point, we passed by a farm where the Amish farmer sold pumpkins. Lisa took the above photo and I wanted to comment on this.

The Amish in the Pennsylvania community that I am familiar with are remarkably fair. They are so fair that when you go out to dinner together, they insist on contributing to the gasoline! When you buy something from them, even a small block of cheese, they add tax to the purchase. And, if you bring them something, such as a gift of whoopie pies or cookies, they want to pay for it.

So I was really surprised to see that this farmer was charging $3.00 for what I would consider a small-sized pumpkin. From what I’ve seen, most farmers charge $2.00 for small pumpkins…at least in this same area where we were driving.

At first, I was taken aback. $3.00 for a small pumpkin when other farmers’ charge $2.00? That didn’t seem fair!

But after I thought about this (and yes, I did think about this for a while—that’s what I do), I realized that this Amish farmer was not being unfair to the potential customers. Instead, he was being a smart entrepreneur. If someone stops and buys one of his pumpkins, he just made 50% more than the farmer down the road! Maybe that’s not fair to the other farmer but it’s a sound business decision.

I suppose I’m just used to the Amish working together on the sale of goods from the farm, most items the same price and certainly not 50% more than their neighbor. Maybe this particular farmer had his prices posted before the OTHER farmer who decided to lower his price in order to attract more local customers and thus undercutting the $3.00 farmer!

We just never know.

What I learned from this is to refrain from jumping to conclusions. There are always multiple sides to every story. As for me, I will have to stick to my $6.00 small-sized pumpkins since that is the best deal I found near Morristown, NJ and hope that somewhere an Amish farmer is reaping some profit from my purchase!!!

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Why We Read by Beverly Farr

Dinner burns.

The check is late.

Someone else gets the promotion.

A loved one is ill.

Whatever our circumstances, life is hard. No one gets all smooth sailing.

But when we are tired, discouraged or fearful, we can read and escape into another world. A world of heroes where virtue triumphs, mountains are climbed, and knowledge is gained. I believe that fiction done right speaks to our souls, reinforcing truths that we already know.

William Nicholson once said, “We read to know that we are not alone” and I agree.

My favorite genre is romance because my true, lovely, supporting relationship with my husband gives me the strength to tackle my dragons. And I love reading about others who somehow find a kindred spirit or a better half. Not that happily ever after is a permanent state. That’s impossible. But I like closing a book or clicking on the final page believing that the two main characters have created a lasting bond that will enable them to face whatever lies ahead.

And that’s why I write – to give that sense of well-being and hope to others.

Note: William Nicholson’s quote is often attributed to C. S. Lewis, because Nicholson used that line in his beautiful play Shadowlands which is about C. S. Lewis.

Beverly Farr writes sweet quirky romances. She also writes Jane Austen Variations under the pen name Jane Grix.

“I love happy endings and I love to laugh. Since real life has a way of being tough sometimes, I write quirky, sweet romances to take the edge off.”

Visit with Beverly at beverlyfarr.com, janegrix.com, on Amazon: Beverly Farr and Jane Grix.

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Ohio Amish Country

How do I explain my feelings about visiting Ohio?

It’s different. The Amish in Holmes County, Ohio are different. Not in a good or bad way. Just…different.

Fans of books about the Amish might be surprised to learn that there are different types of Amish: Swartzentruber, Dan, Old Order, New Order, Nebraska, etc. Some of those groups are located in one particular geographic area. Other groups are spread out over different states.

What I have learned is that one type of Amish can be dramatically different from its counterpart in another geographic region.

And this has thrown me off-balance.

There are little things that are obvious even to the casual observer such as the Old Order Amish (OOA) from Holmes County wear stiff, cup-like prayer kapps while the OOA from Lancaster County were softer heart-shaped ones. But when you really begin to talk to people, you certainly learn that there are many layers to the different geographic regions.

The one thing that I have learned is that no one person knows “the” Amish. Not even someone who grew up Amish can know all there is to know about the Amish. It’s impossible because the rules change between church districts, religious leadership, and county lines! While I know a lot about the Amish, my knowledge is limited to those church districts in one particular area of Lancaster County.

Being in Holmes County and meeting so many different people, I have truly been humbled by the things that I have learned. I’ve learned about the many different groups of Amish in this area. I’ve learned that OOA in Holmes County live in much more modern homes than in Lancaster. I’ve learned that an awful lot of Amish youths seem to leave the church in Holmes County or, alternatively, choose to belong to a less conservative group. I’ve also heard some stories that are not mine to tell.

Yet, I shouldn’t be surprised.

I’ve heard a few stories from my friends in Lancaster about the infiltration of the ugliness that surrounds the non-Amish world. I’ve heard of a baby born after just seven months of marriage or a teenager abusing illegal substances. Several Amish people I’ve met suffer from depression or have unhappy relations within their families.

Overall though, in Lancaster, I’ve also met some of the kindest, happiest, and fun-loving people from the Amish communities. I’ve seen the sparkle of love in the eyes of a husband as his wife pours his coffee. I’ve heard the beauty of a congregation singing hymns on a crisp Sunday morning. And I’ve felt the love among the people for each other.

Simply put: they are human.

Like every other person in the world, the members of the Amish church are people first. Some of them follow a straighter path than others. Some decide to leave the Amish community for a variety of reasons. They are no different from non-Amish people.

These similarities with the rest of the world are often not discussed in literature. I know that I have hinted at these topics in my earlier novels only to have several readers become upset.

And I agree. It is upsetting to realize that the Amish community—the very people that we respect and love so much—are just as physically and spiritually fragile as the rest of us. Yet, like I said above, we shouldn’t really be surprised. The Bible tells us “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). That means you. That means me. And that means the Amish, too.

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The Farm by Lisa Bull

I made it.

I’m on vacation. Finally. I met my friend, Sarah, for our second annual LRWF Retreat. Last year we stayed at a house on the lake in the Ozark Mountains. This year we are staying on a farm in Ohio. While she’s stayed on a farm before, I have not.

I. Love. It.

I love the sights. I love the smells (I truly do). I love love love the animals. And, here, I love hearing and seeing the horses and buggies trot by our little house. The sun has yet to shine, and I don’t care. It is beautiful here.

The first morning we walked over to the barn. The cows were out in the neighbor’s field grazing. They posed nicely for some pictures. I got a couple of shots of the windmill atop the hill and then continued to the red ban across the street. We were greeted by eight legs running toward us. Sarah bent over to love on two of the farm dogs. They seemed pretty happy to meet us.

The milk goat seemed a little jealous, so she got a little love with gentle scratching behind her ears.

Sarah noticed a baby calf several stalls over. It was only standing on its hind legs. It’s front legs were folded under it.

Was it sick?? Had it bee injured? No. It has been born that morning!! A new life, how amazing! We watched it take its first steps and our hearts were happy.

Later that day, we watched from our window as the two dogs played and played. They were obviously best friends. We giggled watching them romp and roll. What made it even better were the ponies standing in the background.

Just before dinner we were invited to help milk cows by the matriarch of the farm. When we arrived, it looked to be Grandpa and Daughter milking. They were not certain we were up for the job.

While Sarah got in there much more than me, I think they were both surprised at these two city girls. We dirtied out hands, clothes, shoes …and we were both nearly pood on. In fact, we were nearly face to face with poo much of the time. Still, the cows were amazingly beautiful. especially the Jersey cows with their long eye lashes.

All around us is creation. All around us are reminders of our Creator. The miracle of birth. The lick of a puppy. The blink of a cow’s long lashes. The moo of a cow as it walks in to milk. The neigh of a horse. The sunrise. The patter of rain.

How long has it been since you’ve sat silently and mediated on God’s goodness all around you ?

(HEBREWS 1:10)

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,  and the heavens are the work of your hands”

Lisa Bull sees her life as a journey along God’s divine plan. While considering herself an expert on nothing, she enjoys laughing and has made “choosing joy” her motto. Lisa has experienced God’s unfailing love and grace in her life and wants nothing more than for others to enjoy that same gift in their lives.

Lisa is the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. She has multiple relatives in ministry on both sides of her father’s family including several pastors, pastor’s wives, and missionaries. In fact, ministry in her maternal grandmother’s family can be traced back several generations. She loves being a wife and mother of two terrific young men.

Visit Lisa at Walking Bare Souled in the SONshine and JoyGurls.com

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Waking up in Walnut Creek, Ohio

Waking up in Walnut Creek, Ohio, it is still dark outside and my clock says it’s five-something. I don’t have my glasses on, so I’m not certain of the “something” part.

Outside the window, I hear a horse and buggy approach the small house where we are staying. As it disappears further down the road, I am fully awake and feeling guilty that I’m still in bed.

Of course, it IS only five-something.

By the time I’ve gotten up, coffeed (yes, I made that a verb), and showered, it’s still dark outside, but I hear the laughter of children from the farm down the hill. I peek out the window and see the lights on in the dairy barn.

I know that I do not speak for everyone who will read this blog, but I know more than a few that will relate when I say: What did I do wrong with my children?

Even on the best of best days, I cannot imagine my children not only being up at this early hour but working and laughing! Even on Christmas morning, there are some grumpy moments and delays for festivities as they “wake up.”

Disclosure: I, too, must start with at least two cups of coffee and a fire in the fireplace on Christmas morning.

There is an increasing air of entitlement among many Americans, probably moreso in urban areas and I imagine not in rural places like Sugarcreek and Walnut Creek, Ohio. But, like everything else, I imagine it will eventually trickle out here.

And that’s a sad thought.

I would not like to learn that Amish and Mennonite children began playing Xbox into the wee hours of the morning or grumbled when they needed to get out of bed to help milk the cows. I can’t imagine listening to a child tell his mother or father “no” or “I don’t wanna….” to a request.

Which makes me think about our dear Alejandro and Amanda from my Plain Fame series. Here are two people that grew up in completely different cultures with entirely different privileges. Yet, as Amanda’s life merges with Alejandro, I wonder what life would be like in their future? If they have children, how would Amanda balance the sensibilities of her Amish upbringing with Alejandro’s world of extravagance?

It’s ironic that I’m thinking about this. Just the other day, Marc made a comment to me about how many American people tend to think that money solves problems. Those who don’t have enough, want more—and understandably so!—while those who have it simply are never satisfied and want more. His next words to me were “But, for me, I’m perfectly content.”

Like those children who are helping to milk the cows before the sun rises, their laughter carrying up the hill to the small house where I’m sitting, in a squeaky rocking chair, and listening to the sound. Contentment. That’s what it sounds like.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~Hebrews 13.5

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