"Plain Wisdom"

Book Review: Plain Wisdom

an introduction to Plain Wisdom by author Cindy Woodsmall

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You and a friend could be given these same chapter topics and share your experiences! Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud share theirs in this thoughtful book between friends. Join them in their expressions of life all around them through their struggles, delights, and, of course, around a kitchen table enjoying 19 favorite recipes they share.

This is a "take-along book" you can read in spare moments and glean from without "starting and stopping" to find your place. To those of you who have been a mentor or have desired a mentor to speak into your life, you will find words of wisdom from life through shared experiences in these pages.

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Two Friends from different worlds--one Old Order Amish, one Englischer--share the truths that bring them together.

Best-selling novelist Cindy Woodsmall might seem to have little in common with Miriam Flaud, a woman immersed in the culture of Old Order Amish. But with nine children and almost sixty years of marriage between them, Cindy and Miriam both have found the secrets to facing life with strength and grace. Whether enduring financial setbacks, celebrating new babies and times of prosperity, grieving the crushing losses in the deaths of family and friends, or facing disappointments with their respective communities--through it all they find guidance for each day by looking to God.

    With poignant recollections, unexpected insights, and humorous tales, the two women welcome you into their unique friendship. You'll also gain a rare glimpse into the traditions and ways of the Amish as Miriam recalls special occasions and shares family recipes throughout the book.

    Plain Wisdom is a heartwarming celebration of God, womanhood, and the search for beauty that unites us all. So grab a warm drink and your quilt and settle in for a soul-comforting read with Plain Wisdom.


http://www.scribd.com/doc/46619028/Plain-Wisdom-by-Cindy-Woodsmall-Chapter-1

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author of several novels whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

Our desire is to help you embrace the beauty of the life God has given you. We wrote Plain Wisdom to encourage you to accept yourself, forgive yourself, challenge yourself, laugh at yourself, and, most important, see yourself through God's eyes of love. For when you do, you will find the freedom to truly enjoy your life.
    --Cindy Woodsmall, Plain Wisdom, page 2

Miriam Flaud is an Old Order Amish woman who has lived within one of the most structured societies in the United States. She's experienced the abundant joys of that lifestyle as well as troubled times. She and her husband have six children and several grandchildren.

Often when we meet people, we see our own lives differently--perhaps better in some ways and worse in others. Sometimes we choose to stay inside our familiar circles so we can avoid the discomforts that are a part of building new friendships. Cindy's world was so very different than mine. Sophisticated. Filled with technology. And by my Plain standards, it was worldly. I invite you to come along as I prepared to welcome her into my home.
    --Miriam Flaud, Plain Wisdom, page 4

I received a free copy of this book, "Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into An Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women," from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

A Heart Most Worthy--Siri Mitchell

Historical Fiction Available for Review
I received this notice from Bethany House Publishers and I eagerly sent off for a new 2011 release from an author I have not read before, Siri Mitchell's "A Heart Most Worthy." I would like to pass the word on to others who would like to review copies: www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers to get your name in to choose a book to review. I chose "A Heart Most Worthy" as it is about Italian settlements in the U.S. in the early 1900s. I have always loved historical fiction incorporating the immigrants as I am from Irish, German and Norwegian descent.

In the beginning of the book there is a list of characters which I like to be able to sort out who's who. The story starts out with the three main characters beginning their day. Siri is very descriptive and you can get inside her story with all your senses; sights, sounds and smells! Nationalities coming to America were sometimes sent for by previous arriving relatives and it was common for each dialect to live in the same area of their customs, traditions, and speech. This is 1918 Boston, and Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana live in the North End where the day workers and laborers live. They go to work each day in the wealthy section, so it is quite a contrast from where they spend their nights and evenings. Actually, these three girls are hand-selected for their individual crafts. They spend their days on the third floor of Madame Fortier's elite gown shop, where society's upper class choose from drawings for their fine apparel for seasonal social outings. Their lives interweave but they are unaware of it, as each story is told separately, paralleled by a third-person narrator drawing them together. This was a little disconcerting to me as a reader, for the narrator to pop up inside the story. The further in I got, I was glad I continued to read bypassing this thought interruption, being griped by the story itself. The gown sewers are on the second floor and the three floors do not mingle with each other. I kept waiting for Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana to share aspects of their lives together but they do not. A heart most worthy is very fitting, as they each explore who they are in their New World and where they fit. I especially liked the outcome for Madame Fortier, as she is very gracious and caring for these young ladies in her employ. Enjoy their individual lives as their stories unveil. Surprising how lives intertwine without our knowing it! They all have strong characters and a zest for life. I will be searching for Siri Mitchell's previous works!

He Loves My Soul

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

"He begins to minister to me whatever Truth He knows I most need that day. It is usually like one sentence. It begins to wrap around me, like a beautiful blanket.":(Toni's blog). Our Thursday morning group is studying fasting and prayer. I said to the Lord, “I am fasting driving my car when I can walk." With rising gas prices, also a bonus! So I planned to set off last Wednesday morning to my accountability Experiencing God study group. After showering and gathering my things to go, Matt said he would drop me off and I could walk back . . . to get there on time. [Yay, I get to leave earlier tomorrow!] On my walk home, I picked up a tossed flower plant root and a tan rock with a darker swirl on top to add to my flower garden by the porch. It was muddy and I looked for a plastic bag to carry them in. Sure enough! A few steps on, a bag was caught in a bush! (Thank You, Lord!) I cut across near a water drainage ditch in a park and picked up two walnuts in very brown hulls for Matt. No stains, I have a bag to put them in! I am almost to our street getting ready to cross the road. So clear I heard the Lord say, "I love your soul." I know He loves my heart, but He LOVES my soul! Just think, tomorrow I will be walking both there and back! Just me and the Lord. Soul--man's inner life. Matthew 22:37, Jesus answered him, “Love, the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind . . ."

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Fun in Living

I have had so much fun in living, that I haven't taken time to stop and post a blog page. Today I read one of my favorites is stopping her travels long-distance to nest awhile. She was very brave! Which brings me to ask you, each of you, do you realize how important you are to others?? Encouragement, a stop in the day to pause and enjoy womanhood. I read blogs from young women and love how they cherish their families and simple living.

I am newly retired, for a year and a half, and am still on a long vacation.... I have many interests and being with other people and sharing our lives together now has not been a difficult switch from a "normal" life of busyness. Now I get to enjoy it longer! These are my wonderful opportunity days: Quilting on Tuesdays with a roomful of ladies from surrounding communities. If anyone would like to send me 100% cotton scraps, I would love to receive them. I love stars!!! There are so many variances and colors!! Bible studies on Wednesday and Thursday mornings which are quite different from each other--one accountability and the other reflective. Monday, Friday and Saturday surround these middle of the week days with home-keeping and being available. Sunday we go to church in the morning, have lunch out with friends, and evening home group reviewing the morning service for questions or further discussion together.

I love it here on our hilltop so much. We have wonderful neighbors below us. From the moment we moved in, they have cared for us. Unpacking day, the young family mom came up the lane with her stroller and son, bringing sweet tea, lemonade, strawberries, Krispy Kremes, and paper products for our crew just sitting down for a rest! While painting the house from rust to honey golden yellow, we were invited down for spaghetti supper, with garlic bread and farm fresh creamy yellow butter. Our neighbor next to them watch our home when we go visiting our children, each within a day's drive now! We are so blessed in this community.

Time to go for Wednesday night service at church! One day I will tell you how we "happened" to find our home on a hilltop!

Heaven's Gain--Leisha and Justice Kelly

How brief our stay. How important our giving.

Seventeen days ago this evening, author Leisha Kelly and her 16-year-old son Justice were killed in a 3-car accident. To me, Leisha Kelly is an author with so many words, so many values, wholesome stories. Up close and personal, she is daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, sister, wife, mother, friend .... I use first person, as she is still these to those she is loved by. Remember her husband and 14-year-old daughter during these hours, days, weeks, months, years as they are so near their absence. Especially her home-schooled daughter. Adjustments, changes for each of them. Leisha Kelly gave love through the character qualities in her writings. She will be very missed by all who were associated with her. She enriched many lives.