My Hope America with Billy Graham

Billy Graham, known as America's Pastor, celebrated his 95th birthday this week. Happy Birthday, Mr. Billy Graham! If you haven't watched his special message yet, please do.

Please join me in prayer for our great nation, under God, and for all those who are suffering and alone, without the peace of God in their hearts.

Seeing the Signs of Human Trafficking [2]

Last month, I wrote about how to know if your community is at risk for human trafficking. I learned that it's happening in my community, which absolutely horrifies me. Click here to read more about that.

When I attended a training recently, I learned of many ways to get involved and how to notify authorities. I'd like to share some of those with you today. The information I am providing was presented by Women At Risk International, during the Civilian First Responder Training that I attended.

How To Report Human Trafficking and Abuse:

• If you suspect a case of human trafficking, call the national toll-free Human Trafficking Resource Center: 1-888-373-7888.
• If you suspect sexually abused or exploited minors call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: 1-800-THE-LOST
• You can also call Women At Risk International: 1-877-END-SLAVERY.  
• Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network: 1-800-656-HOPE

Helpful Websites: 

• Women At Risk, International
• FBI Child Abduction Rapid Employment Teams
• Cyber Tipline: Report Child Exploitaton
• U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (Human Trafficking)
• End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT)
• U.S. Dept. of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
• Polaris Project
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
• Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

Here's a little of what you might learn at a Civilian First Responder Training:





Keep your eyes open and don't be afraid to report something that doesn't look right. You could be that one person who sees the unseen.

Goddess Tithe by Anne Elisabeth Stengl Cover Reveal

I have the great honor of sharing a special treat today, my dear friend's newest book cover! Anne Elisabeth Stengl writes wonderful fantasy novels intended mostly for young adults, but my husband and I have also greatly enjoyed reading them. You can find all of her books on Amazon.com or any major bookstore.

Title: Goddess Tithe

Author: Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Series: Tales of Goldstone Wood

Expected Release Date: November 12, 2013

Publisher: Rooglewood Press

Page Count: 130 pages

The Vengeful Goddess Demands Her Tithe

When a stowaway is discovered aboard the merchant ship Kulap Kanya, Munny, a cabin boy on his first voyage, knows what must be done. All stowaways are sacrificed to Risafeth, the evil goddess of the sea. Such is her right, and the Kulap Kanya's only hope to return safely home.

Yet, to the horror of his crew, Captain Sunan vows to protect the stowaway, a foreigner in clown's garb. A curse falls upon the ship and all who sail with her, for Risafeth will stop at nothing to claim her tithe.

Will Munny find the courage to trust his captain and to protect the strange clown who has become his friend?

Goodreads * Blog Page

You can learn more about Goddess Tithe, which novel it's connected to and read Chapter 1, here: 

About the Cover Design:

I had the fun of designing this cover—finding reference photos, inventing the composition, applying the text, etc.—but the actual artistic work was done by talented cover artist Phatpuppy (www.phatpuppyart.com), whose work I have admired for many years. It was such a thrill for me to contact and commission this artist to create a look for Goddess Tithe that is reminiscent of the original novels but has a style and drama all its own.

The boy on the front was quite a find. I hunted high and low for an image of a boy the right age, the right look, with the right expression on his face. Phatpuppy and I worked with a different model through most of the cover development stage. But then I happened upon this image, and both she and I were delighted with his blend of youth, stubbornness, and strength of character! It wasn’t difficult to switch the original boy for this young man. He simply is Munny, and this cover is a perfect window into the world of my story.

You can’t see it here, but the wrap-around back cover for the print copy contains some of the prettiest work . . . including quite a scary sea monster! Possibly my favorite detail is the inclusion of the ghostly white flowers framing the outer edge. These are an important symbol in the story itself, and when Phatpuppy sent me the first mock-up cover with these included, I nearly jumped out of my skin with excitement!

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a kindle of kitties, and one long-suffering dog. When she’s not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and practices piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, including Heartless, Veiled Rose, Moonblood, Starflower, and Dragonwitch. Heartless and Veiled Rose have each been honored with a Christy Award, and Starflower was voted winner of the 2013 Clive Staples Award.

Facebook * Twitter * Website/Blog * Goodreads

Giveaway:

Anne Elisabeth is offering two proof copies of Goddess Tithe as prizes! (U.S. and Canada only) 

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Seeing the Signs of Human Trafficking [1]

Before I begin, let me tell you that this problem seems so much bigger than me. I am just one small voice, but I feel compelled to at least try to make others aware, if nothing else. Modern day slavery is what they call it, but it seems much more like a living Hell for its victims.

I recently attended a training session that opened my eyes to evils of this world that I never really wanted to know about. I heard details of horrific conditions that thousands of women, children and even babies are sold into on a daily basis. Details so horrific, I don't even want to write the words. I heard from police in my own area about recent cases of sex trafficking that I never knew existed. I heard from a survivor who was kidnapped, thrust into sex slavery, escaped..and lived to tell about it. I left the conference with a heavy heart and a killer headache. It seems like such a hopeless world filled with so much unthinkable evil. I had a hard time processing what I heard, much in the same way I had a hard time processing the depravity of abortion.

Human trafficking is another terrible violation of basic human rights. People are bought and sold for various reasons, but the most common are labor and sex.  Thousands of children are sold daily here in the Land of the Free. They can be kidnapped or sold by their parents/caregivers. And not all traffickers are men. In fact, some traffickers are mothers and elderly women.

Human trafficking is a lucrative business where women and young children are ripped from their homes, beaten and raped repeatedly. It's sex abuse on steroids. The crazy thing is...it's not about sex. It's about power and money. Lots of money. Why is it so lucrative, even more than drugs?  Because drugs can only be used once but a woman or child can be used many, many times per day, like 30 times or more. I read that the average life expectancy of a sex slave is about 7 years.

Just think about that.

It's happening in America.

It's happening in my town.

Chances are, it's happening in your town, too.

At the conference, I was given resources to help respond if I ever suspect or witness human trafficking in my area. After learning what I learned, I have to share.

In my opinion, the first two steps in helping to stop human trafficking are:

1. Know what it is.
2. Understand your community's risk factors.

I learned that your town is at risk of human trafficking if you have any of these things:

• oceans
• ports
• major highways
• tourism
• military bases
• children
• drugs
• minority communities
• entertainment (massage parlors, bars, strip clubs, etc.)
• poverty 
• organized crime
• internet communication
• secrecy

So now you know (1) what it is and (2) if your community is at risk. Later this month, I'll post again about how you can get involved in your community to help fight this. 

However, if you can't wait for my post, check out Women At Risk International for ways to get involved. This organization provided the training session that I attended and they provide many ways for the average American woman (like me) to get involved. Watch their video below:

Just thinking about this topic makes my head swirl. I have to remind myself of my Precious Savior who said these words,

"...In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

 How thankful I am that there is hope in Christ!

Seeing The Signs of Human Trafficking [2]

Teacher Confessions: 5 Things Teaching Taught Me About Parenting

 

Although I left my teaching career behind with the birth of my son, I can't forget the lessons in parenting that I learned from the families I met and worked with during the course of my career.

I had the rare opportunity to get to work closely with many types of families as a teacher. When you work closely with children, you get to know the family dynamics. It plays such a critical role in the child's development. I worked with families even more in-depth when there were problems with learning or behavior and I couldn't help but notice some recurring themes. I'll share them with you today.

1. Be the parent, NOT the friend. It still surprises me how some parents prefer to be viewed as the "cool" mom or dad. They do not want to take responsibility for the discipline of their children. Rather, they think it's alright if the child figures life out for himself.  I've actually had parents tell me that they are tired of hard situations, ask me to stop telling them and "just deal with it" at school. They spend lavish amounts of money on parties and activities with little structure or boundaries. I have witnessed that children raised this way can learn to become manipulative, prone to tantrums and lying, disorganized, and can have more behavior problems at school when compared to peers raised in a home where the parents are viewed as respected authority figures. I must remember: if I fill my home with love, acceptance, and boundaries, my child will follow suit. The same goes for filling a home with sarcasm and disrespect. Even if I think they will pick up the "right stuff" over time, they are learning daily from me. They are following my lead, whether I like it or not. They will pick up my values, so I'd better take responsibility and teach by example.

2. Care about the little things. Occasionally my class would prepare events for parents to attend (plays, poetry recitals, projects). Eventually, after several weeks of hard work and preparation, the students would be ready to show me (and their parents) the fruits of their hard work. Every time there would be one kid whose parents said they would try to be there, but ultimately would not show up. It broke my heart a little every single year. But it's not only that. Parents were often too busy to help with homework or sometimes even stay for a sporting event where their child was participating. I know this because I was sometimes invited to kids' games in the place of an absent parent. That's rough. These things mean a great deal to kids. They feel accepted and loved when their parents care about the seemingly small things. They will strive to achieve when they know it matters to their parents. It's a lesson I'm glad I learned before having kids of my own.

3. Be flexible and understanding. One of the most sad things I witnessed during my last year of teaching was a child crying in the corner of the restroom, terrified to come out for fear of what the father would say about a grade. Terrified. Shaking. Refusing to get off the bathroom floor. I made a mental note that day to never be so rigid and demanding that my child would be so scared to tell me about anything. Of course there should be consequences for disobeying and a little bit of fear of those consequences is healthy, but the expectations and consequences should be reasonable. My child should know that regardless of a mistake, he will be loved unconditionally.

4. Kids need structure. It's not up for debate. There's truth to the saying "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise".  It makes kids alert, better behaved and more organized. I know this is a fact. I've seen it over and over and over again in the classroom. We owe it to our kids to put them to bed at a decent hour, to keep them on a fairly regular schedule, and help them feel secure by knowing what to expect on a "normal" day. It was sad but not surprising that kids who had no idea who was picking them up from school or where they were sleeping that night were an emotional wreck.  May I never do that to my son.

5. Above all else, never withhold love.  I've said this before and I'll say it again. It doesn't matter how much excess stuff you can provide for your kid. Seriously, the name brand clothes, expensive toys, lavish vacations and whatever else you can imagine really don't matter in the end. All a child really wants is to know that his parents love him and are taking care of his needs. He also feels far more secure when he knows his parents love each other. It may be controversial to write that statement, but time and time again, I witnessed that it's true. I will love all my children equally and love their father...period.

Sometimes I might have to stay up a little later in order to make time for homework help. I might have to get up earlier every day to make sure a healthy breakfast is prepared before school. I might have to postpone an important meeting to be at my kid's school play. Maybe dinner out with my girlfriends isn't quite as important as making it to that baseball game. I will have to discipline my child. I will have to show love and grace when someone doesn't deserve it. I want my son to feel so loved and secure in our family that he never feels the need to seek for it in destructive ways. I hope that my husband and I are creating a family atmosphere where we can be our son's rock and his soft place to land.

Power...in a Name?

Jesus Christ

Jesus, who lived about 2000 years ago, is still causing controversy all over the world today. Love Him or hate Him, the mention of His name evokes powerful emotions from virtually every walk of life. To me and fellow Christians, we find comfort, peace and rest in the name Jesus. Others are immediately on guard, defensive, obviously uncomfortable upon hearing His name. All around the world today, people are being persecuted and killed simply for professing faith in Him. Have you heard about the American pastor in Iran? How about the little girl shot for attending a Bible study in Egypt? How about the American  missionary imprisoned in North Korea? Perhaps you've heard about the churches burned in Sudan? Maybe you're aware of the attacks against Christians serving in the U.S. armed forces?

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? -1 Peter 4:12-17

Unfortunately, there are many more current stories of persecution going on today...all because of Jesus Christ, a man who lived and died nearly 2000 years ago. Why on earth is He such a big deal? Why do some people try so hard to get Christians to shut up about Him? Why do some people allow themselves to be tortured, imprisoned and killed for believing in Him? Why not just renounce Him and live? What's to lose?

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -Philippians 2:8-11

I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said, "God is too big for any one religion."  Interesting thought, right? If it's true that all religions are just different paths to the same end, why are Christians targeted so violently and relentlessly through history?  Who is waging such wars on the Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists...?

Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”-Acts 4:11-12

All of this stuff going on in the world today makes me even more confident that my God, Jesus Christ, is the One True God. It affirms my faith that He died and rose again, and lives today, just as the Bible has recorded.  His name is more powerful than any other name. He is God. I believe that every knee will bow and every single tongue will confess that He is Lord. I can't wait for that day! I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Persecuted Christians around the world are willing to die for the cause of Christ because they know what I know, that they are gaining eternal life. They know that their suffering will end and they will be welcomed into Heaven by Jesus himself, made new, and will never suffer again. They have received His love and guidance and know Him personally, just as I know Him.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26

Well, do you?



Read another way more thorough and interesting article about Jesus' name here.

Shopping for Granite: What I Learned

We recently decided it would be a good idea to put new counter tops in our kitchen. The photo above is not my kitchen...but isn't it gorgeous? We had never done a project like this before, nor do we have many friends who have done it, so we were pretty much learning as we went along.

Important things we learned: 

1. Shop around. 

We found that the best price came from a big box store, but we actually preferred using a local business. When we told the local guy of the better quote, he was able to match the price. 

Also, every single place we got a quote from gave us different measurements. We found that the big box stores had computer systems that seemed to make the measurements most accurate. This can make a big difference in the cost when you are getting different quotes.

Don't forget to ask about warranties. Make sure you are comfortable with this aspect of the deal before you sign the dotted line. 

2. What's in a slab? 

Big box stores (like Lowe's or Home Depot) can tell you the approximate color that your granite will be. Think of it this way: granite is cut much like a loaf of bread. The big box store will show you a representation of the "loaf", but not necessarily your "slice".  There may be differences or imperfections from one slab to the next in a large sample of granite. 

We are fortunate to live within driving distance from a granite warehouse and were able to pick our exact slab, which was one of the reasons that we liked the local business. Shopping for our slab was so much fun! 

I was also concerned about having seams in odd places, so you may want to ask about that if you have large sections in your kitchen/bathroom. Thankfully, all the stones in our kitchen are one piece.

3. Pricing

Big box stores sell granite per square foot because they might be using parts of different slabs to complete your order. 

Local businesses in my area sold entire slabs of granite. If you have a lot of counter top surface area, you might need to purchase two slabs. 

Be wary of deals that sound too good to be true. They probably are. If you are going to use a local business, find someone who has been in business for a long time. Find testimonials. Read reviews. Visit the showroom. Ask lots of questions about warranties & workmanship. Are they bonded and insured? Do they have a rating with the Better Business Bureau?  If something seems fishy to you, don't buy from them! 

4. Hidden Costs

Everyone we got a quote from charged extra to remove the old counter tops. I assumed that installing new granite would include removing the old surface, but it doesn't. Expect anywhere from $100-$250 for this service. Some places charge a flat fee, others charge per linear foot. Of course, you could do it yourself. We didn't want to go that route...just because we didn't want to accidentally ruin our cabinets in the process.

If you are getting a new sink, you will have to pay extra for the plumbing to be reconnected. It costs even more if your new sink will be deeper than your old one because the plumbing will have to be reconfigured. More work = more cost to you. The big box stores include this cost in their quotes. Local businesses ask you to find a plumber to do the work, or they may recommend a good one.

Some companies include a new sink for "free", but others charge quite a bit extra. One company we visited charged an additional $250 for the same sink that everyone else included for free. 

If you have a breakfast bar or island that will need to be supported (because granite is really, really heavy), expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $150 per corbel, depending on how fancy or custom you decide to make it.  

Speaking of how heavy granite is, you may need to have your floors reinforced to support the weight. Support beams may need to be added under your kitchen floor. As you can imagine, this can get expensive. However, if you have a concrete foundation, this will not be an issue for you. 

Don't forget to think about the back-splash area. Are you going to have a 4-inch granite back-splash? That can cost more, especially if you are buying granite per square foot. If you are having tile work done, don't forget to add the cost of that to your budget. I hear that tile is an easy project, but we decided to hire someone to complete ours (it was a small and tedious job).  Even if you do it yourself, natural stone tile can be pricey. Shop around for that, too. 

After all is said and done, you will probably have areas of your kitchen walls that will need to be repaired. You can easily do this with a putty knife and some compound, but after you finish sanding, you will need to paint again. This can add to your total budget as well. 

5. Budgeting

Before you even start shopping, decide on a budget for everything. Stick to that budget. You can easily be wooed by more expensive and more beautiful materials. Don't be afraid to admit that you have a budget when you are getting quotes. Ask if certain slabs are on sale. Find out what is included in every quote. And don't ever underestimate the power of competition. You never know, one reputable company might want your business enough to beat the lowest price you find.  

Raising Rough and Tumble, Lovable Boys

My husband got me a fabulous book for Christmas last year. I've just now gotten around to reading it and I must say, it's been very helpful.

Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson

As a new mom, I was hoping that this book would help shed some light on how I can raise my son to be a God-fearing, family man. It does just that and more. I hardly think anyone could accuse Dr. Dobson of being a feminist sympathizer or politically correct (which is perfectly fine with me).  He shares hard truths, statistics, and sound, Bible-based common sense. This book had me laughing and crying at different moments. Above all, it has once again renewed my fervor in praying for my son's future and my beloved country.

Anyway, it's definitely worth the read if you are a girly-girl turned mommy to a rough-and-tumble boy.

Inhuman Project

Perhaps you have heard of the Kermit Gosnell case, the Philadelphia abortion doctor who was convicted (thank God!) for murdering a newborn baby during a botched abortion. If not, please consider taking some time to read this post: A Discussion Worth Having.  If you are familiar with this case, perhaps you were as shocked as I was to hear of his barbaric abortion methods. I was shocked at the unbelievable cruelty and lack of compassion, so I started digging a little deeper.

The Inhuman Project is presented by LiveActionFilms. A pregnant woman was sent undercover into several abortion clinics across the country, asking lots of questions about the abortion she was supposedly there to have.

Please watch at least one of these:

Arizona

New York

Washington D.C.

You don't have to watch long to get an idea of the depraved attitudes that these abortionists have toward unborn human lives. I believe that there are more Kermit Gosnells out there who need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. LiveAction is doing great work to uncover the horrific reality of abortion in America. 

Please consider getting involved with LiveAction at www.liveaction.org

Confessions of a Teacher

I have devoted several years of my life to being an educator. Over those years, I learned a lot of things about different families and misconceptions that people often have about teachers. I'd like to share a few in hopes that if you have a school aged child, you can be better equipped when communicating with your child's teacher.

1. You, the parent, are responsible for your child's education.

A child learns his attitude about learning from his parents and will approach his studies with as much or as little enthusiasm as the parents support. Yes, the teacher is responsible for everything that happens in the classroom and keeping your child safe at school. It's an added bonus if your child's teacher can inspire a love for learning and engage your child on a daily basis.

But the teacher cannot control what happens at home.

You are responsible for encouraging your child when he/she is discouraged. Your words and actions mean 100 times more than anything your child's teacher will say. You are responsible for asking your child what he/she is learning and finding ways to go beyond 20 minute lessons taught in the classroom.

Engage your child about what he is learning. For example, if your child comes home and tells you that he is studying multiplication facts, instead of nodding and telling him to go and practice, take 10 minutes to practice with him. Praise him when he does well. Encourage him when he misses one. Be interested in what happens at school. Take him to a museum or the zoo. Even a trip to your closest historical area is supportive to his education.


When a child is successful, which word would you choose to fill in the blank?

• That kid must have had great ___________. (teachers / parents)

When a child is expelled or drops out of school, which statement is more relevant?

• That kid must have had rotten teachers.
• Where were the parents? 

If you approach the teacher with the mindset that you are equally (if not more) responsible for your child's education, you will find yourself with a great parent-teacher relationship very fast. In the rare case that the teacher does not appreciate this mindset, be doubly cautious of what is being taught in the classroom.


2.  Be sensitive to the fact that there are other children in your child's class.

We live in a "me, me, me" culture. That's just how it is. Unfortunately, there is no exception in the school system. Some parents are concerned about field trip details or last night's homework (which are relevant things to be inquiring about) and get frustrated when they don't get an immediate response. These parents are completely unaware that another child in the class became homeless that day and the teacher had to figure out a way to ensure the child did not go hungry. Your child's teacher is dealing with these types of issues on a daily basis. If the teacher is busy and can't get back to you right away, she might be dealing with a very serious issue. Be understanding.


3. Think twice before sending that nasty email.

Think about an issue before you bring it to the teacher's attention. Is it really important? Is it something you can deal with at home?  Here's a very important piece of information about kids: they often lie or distort the truth to get out of trouble. Be careful before you immediately side with your child when you hear a not-so-glowing behavior report. Which makes more sense: having a discussion with your child about how to conduct himself and asking the teacher to keep you informed, or immediately assuming that the teacher is out to get your child in trouble and sending an email denying the poor behavior and condemning the teacher?

If I had a nickel for every time I got the latter, I could probably pay for a trip to Hawaii. The truth is, I loved those kids. Sometimes they broke the rules. Sometimes I had to correct them (some more than others). Sometimes I had to give them less-than-perfect reviews.  Perhaps your child is misbehaving.  Perhaps your child's teacher is trying to help your child by correcting him. Perhaps you can help even more by supporting the teacher's efforts through your conversations and attitude at home.


4. Some things can't be overlooked.

If you see any of these things happening to your child, contact the teacher immediately to find out what you can do.

1. Bullying
2. Falling grades
3. Repeated missing assignments
4. Poor behavior reports
5. Lack of interest in school
6. Loss of friendships
7. Increasingly negative interaction with teacher

Any of these may be signs of more serious problems. Truth is, the teacher probably has some insight as to what may be causing the issues. Be open to hearing the truth, even if it means that your child is causing some problems for himself. If you intervene quick enough, you may be able to stop it and reverse it before the school year is over.  Don't make the mistake of expecting the teacher to catch everything. Remember, you are the parent. You are ultimately responsible.


5. Attitude is everything.

If you are critical of yourself for not having "enough" education and you feel that it will hinder your child's future, stop! If you value learning and encourage your child to do his best, your child will want to learn. If you love your child unconditionally and meet his needs, he will excel. If you have high expectations, your child will strive to meet them. It doesn't matter how much or how little education you have. Your positive attitude about learning and school is what your child needs for success.


More on education later...