By Quiet Waters

Embracing the Full, Hard and Good Life, While Pausing Often by Quiet Waters

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A Girl Like Me, Julie Elias

December 9, 2017 By Michelle

Julie Elias

Julie Elias is a Christian singer/songwriter who has recently released the album titled A Girl Like Me.

This album has songs, like the title track, A Girl Like Me, that explore the feelings of loneliness and worthlessness.  These are feelings that are all too common among all women, young and older, across all borders.

But we don’t have to live with those feelings.  We have a faithful God Who can bring into our lives inspiration, strength, joy and peace.  Julie Elias reminds each of us that when we are at our lowest, we must choose to remember that each of us are loved, and even “a girl like me” is chosen of God and dearly loved.

I received a cd of the album in November and have enjoyed listening to the fresh new music.   I’m keeping the cd in my vehicle, for regular music rotation 🙂

 

I received this cd from FrontGate media in exchange for this review.

Adored: Devotions for Young Women

November 8, 2017 By Michelle

There is a lot of information for young people to sort through.  Everyday in all forms of media, on the bus,  walking down the neighborhood roads, messages are flying rapidly.  I remember what it was like when I was young, trying to sort out what is true, what I would choose to believe and how I would choose to live.

And I believe that it is more difficult for young people today.

Adored 365 Devotions for Young Women

Many authors, companies, musician, etc., work hard to present media and information that is beautiful, and true.  I appreciate that in all the clamor, if you listen, truth and beauty can be found and heard.

All this makes it all the more imperative that we supply young people with quality, and we take the time to walk along the road of life with them.

Handlebar Publishing recently sent me a new book in the mail:  Adored, 365 Devotions for Young Women.  First of all, this is a pretty book.  Just look at these images:

Adored 365 Devotion’s For Young Women

The beauty of this book’s cover and pages struck me right away.  Each page is bordered with a pretty blue strip, which looks pretty cool while the book is closed, and fun when one is fanning the pages.

Adored itself is full of 365 devotions, each beginning with a Scripture.  A devotion illustrating or explaining the Scripture follows, with a few journaling lines at the end of each.

The topics covered include bullying, social media, dating and friendships, and much more.  This might be a good gift for a young woman, a small group of girls or a mother/daughter.  Any of these are important places to speak truth, life and beauty into the young people around us.

This is a new book from Zondervan.  I received a complimentary copy from HandleBar Publishing in exchange for this review.

 

Perfectly Unique Letter 2

November 6, 2017 By Michelle

Sponsorship Saturday

You will notice, these Perfectly Unique letters, drawn from the book by Annie F Downs, are quite short and simple.  I often struggle between being too wordy, and too abrupt.  In these letters, I wanted the message to be true and rich, but my words to be few.  Hopefully I have achieved a balance.

perfectly uniqueContinue Reading

Perfectly Unique ~ Sponsorship Saturday

November 4, 2017 By Michelle

Perfectly Unique, Sponsorship Saturday

Several letter writing ideas swirl in my mind often, but getting them down on paper isn’t always done before I forget those great ideas.  Understanding that about myself, I began to be intentional about looking for an idea for a series of letters to pre-write to our Compassion Sponsored Children.  These letters are among the most popular posts on By Quiet Waters.

Letter Writing Inspiration

Early in the summer of 2015 I had made a commitment to myself to finish some of the books I started reading, but for one reason or another, hadn’t finished.  Perfectly Unique by Annie Downs is one of those books.    As I read the book, I was looking for quotes and ideas to infuse into my conversations with my daughters.  And I was also inspired to write a series of three letters to our sponsored children.   These letters are quite simple, but I hope the message is clear.  Every child is planned for, loved, and has purpose.  That is what I want each of my own children to know and believe,  and each of our sponsored children well.perfectly uniqueContinue Reading

Starting that Hard Thing

July 6, 2017 By Michelle

Backpacking

McCullough Falls

Starting that hard thing.

Last fall my daughter was starting her senior year and sharing some dreams for the future with me.  One of those dreams was to take hiking to the next level… backpacking. With me.

Well I let that idea percolate over the winter and decided to give it a try.  My husband generously funded the purchase of our gear as a graduation gift to our daughter.

Backpacking

Gear

Backpacking is hard.  Really hard.  I’m a slower hiker as it is, but strap on a 25lb pack and my pace slows even more.  During the second trip I began to get quick discouraged.  That old taunting friend started shouting in my head and I had to do some quick thinking to shut her up.

Here is what I learned.

Yes, I am slow, painfully slow.  But this summer I am doing something I never thought I would do, something I never wanted to do.  I am not only hiking with my daughters, but strapping on a 25lb pack and going up steep hills and down equally steep hills, then, doing it again.

Backpacking

Wheeler Trail

It is very hard.  And it is so good.

So let me encourage you!  Go ahead and do that hard thing, even if you are not strong enough.  Even if you are not fast enough.  You will get stronger.  You will get faster.  And who knows what you will see, what you will hear, and what you will learn.

I bet it will be good, and that you’ll be so glad that you did.

Backpacking

Columbines

What is that hard thing you’ve been thinking about starting?

Let’s All Be Brave

April 19, 2017 By Michelle

Let’s All Be Brave:  Living Life with Everything You Have

By Annie F. Downs
Published by Zondervan

My younger daughters and I love Annie Downs.  She is another “big sister”.    It has been a tremendous blessing to read her books together, alongside and/or one after the other.  How ever her books are read around here, loads of conversation follows.

let's all be brave

lets all be brave

Let’s All Be Brave is a little different from the first two Downs’ books we read (Perfectly Unique and Speak Love).  In each of those books I found encouragement and truth to share with my teen daughters.  Perfectly Unique also inspired a series of letters that I wrote to our sponsored children!Continue Reading

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About Me

Life is full, hard and good. There is much beauty to discover and plenty of overflow to learn from. Take time to pause and ponder. Choosing joy and embrace those you have been given to share this life's journey with.

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