Book Review: Plain Promise

Recently, I saw where one of my friends was reviewing books sent to her (for free!) and in return, she just had to write a couple reviews. I decided I would love to do it as well. This is my first review, on the book Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman.

Set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Plain Promise is about a widow, Sadie Fisher, and Englisher Kade Saunders. Sadie rents out a cottage to Englishers who come visit Pennsylvania Amish country. Kade comes to Lancaster County, hoping to get away from his life and sort out the mess that's been made of it. While there, his autistic son comes to live with him for the first time since he and his wife separated three years earlier. Now facing raising his son alone, Kade realizes that things need to change in his life.
Sadie is worried what the bishop will think of the Englisher staying with her for three months, and becomes even more so when she starts to have feelings for Kade. She constantly wonders what God's will is for her life, and if it includes a husband and children. Plain Promise is a story that shows the faithfulness of God if we just wait on His plan and timing.

I've read several Amish fiction books, and I was at first skeptical about this one, thinking it would be like all the others. I was, however, surprised to find that the story was unlike any I had ever read, especially the ending. Beth Wiseman writes moving Amish fiction like that of Beverly Lewis.

**There are two others that precede this book, Plain Perfect and Plain Pursuit.**

Lightening Bolts of Clarity

Recently, I was lying on my bed, listening to some calming music. I had had a rough day and was exhausted. My mind was feeling the same kind of strain as my body, and thoughts about a past issue in my life kept rearing their ugly heads at me, hoping that I would take note of them. For most of the day, I was able to push them back and think about other things. It was an issue I had not thought about for a long time, and it wasn't even a real issue in my life now...not in the same way as before anyways.


Lying there, the thoughts resurfaced, and I was too tired to fight them off. One by one, each thought paraded across my mind, leaving muddy prints behind. Pretty soon, my mind was clouded with those footprints, and I couldn't see clearly anymore.


All of a sudden, BAM! lightening streaked across my mind, not only illuminating and blinding out where the muddy footprints had been left, but striking down on a realization. In that one second, my perspective on the situation completely changed. I saw myself as others had seen me then, and I understood what my friends had been warning me about. It was as if I had been removed completely from the picture and could see what was happening. Roger M. always said in my Bible class, "Sometimes you can't see the full picture because you are inside the frame."

Have you ever had a moment of clarity, the one where a lightening bolt strikes you, especially compared to a light bulb going off over your head? You wonder why you didn't see it before, whatever "it" may be. Sometimes, there is no warning. You are lying in your bed or reading a book, and BAM! lightening streaks across your mind, revealing the missing link, one that you might not have known was even missing. And for just a moment, life seems slightly less muddled.

I feel sad for those who have never experienced that. It's true that it is sometimes painful and doesn't always bring a warm feeling with it. However, I would never want to give up those moments, both the good and the bad. Without them, I think that I wouldn't see the bigger picture or in that one instance, see where something is more harmful than helpful.

I have no idea if this makes sense or if I just rambled for five paragraphs. Either way, those are my thoughts. :)

Life isn't very "shiny" right now. It's not horrible; there is just a dullness to it. I'm not sure what makes it that way. Perhaps falling into the routine of school once again, trying Weight Watchers, and knowing that life is waiting for me out there if I could just make it through this year. (Where does Weight Watchers come in? I make it very limiting so that I don't run out of points, therefore not eating all the foods I love.) I have somehow come to another season of waiting in my life, and I always grow restless when that happens. I think the difference this time, however, is the knowledge that I am about to step out of a covering that I've had since I was five. School will no longer be my main occupation, unless I am teaching it.

Although life has become rather "blah" to me, there are a few glimmers that get me through. Tonight, I baby-sat for a family that I've watched for seven years. After putting the two younger ones to bed, I waited, knowing that one of them would come to me with some sort of complaint or request. Sure enough, not five minutes later, the youngest found me.

"He won't stop making noises!"she complained.

"If you keep asking him to stop, then he will keep doing it because he knows it annoys you. If you ignore him, he will stop."

LONG PAUSE as she played with her stuffed puppy...

"Were you talking to me?" she asked finally.

"Yes, I was." I said, trying not to laugh.

"Oh, what did you say?"

I repeated what I had said the first time.

"But I'm not annoying him! He's annoying me!"she said, indignantly.

"I know. Ignore him and he will quit!" I replied, not sure how she could misunderstand me.

"...So you want me to annoy him?" she asked, confused.

"IGNORE HIM! Go to sleep!" I closed the door to her protests.

Maybe annoying him would have worked after all. 

The Impressionable First Day of History 133

I think this semester is going to be interesting. Having taken most of my required classes, I am now enjoying electives. I call them the Sunday drive classes (as of two seconds ago), and I aim to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the "ride."

One of my professors has already proven to be hilarious, something that I know helps me get through the hour. Apparently, it also helps him. :D Yesterday, we had the basic introduction class, sharing our names and their meanings. Surprisingly, over half of the class didn't even know what their name meant. I've known the meaning of my name since I was in fourth grade. I even know the meanings of the names of my future kids. (Granted, I've been called obsessed before.It comes with the territory, I suppose.)

My professor is from Sweden, as is his name. Calling on us to guess the meaning, and getting no response whatsoever, he informed us that the first part means "thunder" or "god of thunder" as in Thor. (See picture, above right.) The second part means "bear," creating the meaning...God of thunder bear! He is allowing us to call him Dr. God of thunder bear.

Dr. God of thunder bear called attendance: "Daniel."
Daniel: "Here, but I go by Danny."
Dr. GoTB: "Yes, but one day you will go by Daniel again."
Danny: "Um, okay."
Dr. GoTB: "No, when you have a job interview you will."
Danny: "Probably not, but okay."
Dr. GoTB: "I had this friend Bobby, who wasn't getting hired, so I told him he couldn't go by Bobby. He needed to go by Robert. He introduced himself as Robert, and he got the job!"
Danny: "Okay, I will tell them my name is Robert then."

Come to find out, we have a Bobby in our class...oops.

Setting a Goal...

I haven't written in a long time...on here, that is. Life has kept me busy in the past year. However, that is about to change. I am going to set a goal of writing so many times a week, just to keep in the habit of writing. Along with the normal blogging, I am hoping to start a book review system that a friend of mine wrote a blog about where I can read a book (sent to me for free) as long as I review it on here when I finish. Not too shabby, I'd say!

My number one goal of writing is to think thoughts "out loud" (or in this case, online) instead of just talking to myself while grocery shopping or browsing books and movies. I'm excited and can't wait to see what comes of this new endeavor. :)

Until I write again! (You didn't think I'd start today, did you?)

My Latest Inspiration...

I recently watched one of my favorite movies, You've Got Mail. Well, actually I watched it twice. I love the story- how innocent Meg Ryan is, the relationship between her and Tom Hanks, and the children's bookstore. I absolutely adore The Shop Around the Corner. 

It is this movie that has inspired me to do something I never thought I could do before. I love children's literature. If you asked me to list my favorite books (not just children's books), most would be children's lit or Juvenile Fiction. I've always loved reading, and children's books are just so much fun to read. Being an English major, I was able to take a class at Truman on children's lit. That combined with You've Got Mail and I have found a new career! I've never been so inspired by a movie. 

I would like to open a children's bookstore, just like The Shop Around the Corner. A place for kids to come listen to stories and play but to also be able to buy the books they love. I doubt it would soar in Kirksville, but I could see it in a city...as long as Fox Books isn't around the corner, a.k.a. Barnes and Noble. :) Just imagine me in that picture instead of Meg Ryan, wearing the princess hat. :)

If you have never seen You've Got Mail I definitely recommend it. It is adorable and funny. I think I might watch it again...

41st Family Reunion

Today I went to my 41st family reunion. It was different than years before...hardly anyone came. It is true that we have had some deaths in the past year, but each year there are less and less people. It is rather sad. Normally, I say that it could be my last year, that I might not go anymore. I mean, I made it to 41, right? (I've had that many because my mom's family has two in June every year on both of her parents' sides. I've never missed one.) I even said it this year.

I was wrong. I, along with my three of my cousins, volunteered to be in charge of it next year. I knew it would be some responsibility, and I love administrating things, so it should be fun. This also means that I will be attending next year. I am also somewhat in charge of it. Wow...it is still sinking in. The thing is, if no one volunteers next year to organize it, we might be doing it for a loooong time. We are just taking one year at a time though :) I am excited because our plan is to recreate the reunions we had when we were little. Those are some of our best memories. We want our little cousins to have the same opportunity to have those memories. It should be fun. My aunts, mom, and grandma have been really supportive and helpful...in the six hours since we decided to do it :)

Of course, now I have to post a cute story...Nelita, one of my second or third cousins (it confuses me) is six and says such cute things...Crystin, Heather, and I were sitting at a picnic table, talking, and she was just listening. Crystin mentioned needing to go to Wal-Mart, and Nelita said, with her a solemn face, "Low prices, live better, when you shop at Wal-Mart." Her grandma, my great aunt said that she regurgitates commercials all the time. We were laughing, and I asked her, "What about McDonalds?" She replied that they did not "have a motto." I sang the little "I'm lovin' it" jingle. The whole time, she was staring at me, very solemn. She literally stared at me for a full minute, and I was not sure what she was thinking...finally she said, "At Home Depot, you can do it, but they can help." I started cracking up. She then went on to tell us how she goes once a month, even this month, to a kids workshop. It was so cute. Her voice was animated, but her face was still solemn.

I hope I am not in way over my head on this! I think that for Nelita, Tia, my other cousins, and my grandma, it is all worth it. (Pray for me though!)

Always,

Me