Kookie Cut-Outs by Rachel Britz

Delivering cookies and good news.

Do Good: A Young Widow’s Campaign

by 1 Comment

The last words Jane’s husband said before he died were “Do Good!” That was two years ago today.

Several weeks ago Jane reached out to me, asking if I could help her with an outreach project to honor her husband in a special way. She told me that this year, she wanted to do something, she wanted to motivate others to live out his final words and Do Good.

Her campaign is a pay-it-forward, if you will. An encouragement to her friends, family, and complete strangers to Do Good for someone else today in remembrance of her beloved. Jane decided to kick off her campaign with cookies and cards.

And she wanted me to help.

Often times when I get cookie orders, I spend my baking and decorating time thinking about the people I’m making them for. This particular order was no different! The whole idea brought tears to my eyes many times.

I love the idea of taking a man’s legacy, his final words, and moving it forward. Would you join with Jane today and do something good, or kind, or generous for someone else?

She has created a Facebook page where you can share your Do Good act of the day! Click here to witness the beauty unfold today and throughout the week.

The Perilous Journey of Writing a Book

by 1 Comment

I’m BACK!

Whoa! Where did February go? So much has happened and I cannot wait to share everything with you over the next couple weeks.

Book Update:

If you’ve been following my writing journey you know that my goal was to finish my first draft by the end of February. The good news is that I’m still writing the book, developing my characters, and wrestling with plot lines. The bad news is that I didn’t meet my goal.

They say that most of us have a book within us. Perhaps you’ve survived the most incredulous ordeal, you’ve learned a lesson, or you’ve had an experience. You envision that your voice could bring value, meaning, and life to someone else.

I suppose that’s where this writing journey began for me. An inspiration within myself. A voice I wanted to give life to.

This past summer I read Anne Jackson’s book Permission to Speak Freely. On the very last page she issues this statement,

“Somebody is waiting on you to tell your story. To share how you’re being rescued. To share how scary it is but how beautiful it is. Someone is waiting for the little ounce of courage that your voice can give them, so they can begin to find their own piece of freedom. And even beyond that, somebody is waiting on that person. It all can really begin with you. So take a step. Confess the beautiful and broken. It happens one word at a time.” 

I closed her book, bowed my head, and mumbled to God, “Okay, Im in!”

But that was 7 months ago…. I had no idea what I was in for.

Mid-way through February my husband took the kiddos away for two nights so I could embark on a mega writing marathon. For 48 hours I wrote. I was in a very hard, yet critical part of the story, and I knew that I just needed to muscle through it. As I did, several dreaded things became apparent to me:

1) I wanted to quit.

2) This story was stupid.

3) I should have never told anyone that I was writing a book.

Ahhh, so this is the perilous journey of writing a book. I’m told it’s normal. My mentors tell me to keep writing. Never give up.

As the days have unfolded, I’ve felt some things within my story shake loose. I have been given light to a few dark areas. So, the positive news is that I continue to write and I will do so until it’s completion (timeframe unknown).

“You aren’t actually thankful for something if you think you actually earned it. That’s pride, not gratitude.” Ann Voskamp

This journey is good and I am grateful.

Public Service Announcement

by 1 Comment

This is a public service announcement: beginning February 1st, the Essence of Pearls girl is taking a wee bit of a sabbatical from blogging.

One month exactly.

Why? I’m on a hot mission to finalize the first draft of my novel.

I really want to dedicate my whole heart to finishing.

It wont be long. I’ll return March 1st and I promise I will have something really great to share with you.

But, if you find yourself missing me during this brief departure you can read about my book project here.

Or you can read about my favorite missional story here.

Otherwise, for inspiration you can read this favorite too.

Faith Comes By Hearing

by Leave a Comment

My faith story is interesting. Bilateral. Rhetorical. Celestial.

I was 14 years old when I attended Village Creek Bible Camp in Iowa. I remember arriving with wounds. I had already given into a fair amount of peer pressure and I was guilty. Earlier that year my dad surrendered to his addiction to alcohol. He confessed his sins and turned his life around. I was skeptical. It was a weird and confusing time.

But when I was at camp things were different. The word of God was spoken in ways that I hadn’t understood before. It seemed, more, that the God I was learning about wasn’t really hung up on rules and laws – do this or else. Instead, he was a friend. The feeling was warm and inviting. At camp, everywhere I turned; I was being called, beckoned, wooed.

Mid-way through my week at camp, something changed within my heart. A switch had been turned on. My invisible ideology of faith was been shaken. On that sweltering afternoon, I found myself overcome with grief and sorrow. Walking a great distance, I left my fellow campers and counselors to seek solitude. In the woods, near the archery station, I found a wooden bench to sit on. I began weeping. I wanted to accept this faith through Jesus thing. I wanted to change my ways but I was scared. I cried out loud for God to forgive me of my sins. I told Him that I believed.

I remained slumped over on that bench for a long time. At first, it was very quiet. Then, I heard something that sounded like a singing. I lifted my head, gazing through the trees, into the sunset. Who was singing? I stood up and walked over to the edge of the wood where it met up with a small creek. The sound faded into nothingness. I shook it off and walked back to my sacred bench. When I returned, so did the music. A little louder this time. A soft angelic choir was singing through the trees. It was an undeniable, beautiful chorus. Again, I walked to the edge of the wood, looking well beyond the crooked creek towards camp. I saw no one. I heard everything.

“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” ~Romans 10:17

This continued for an hour, maybe two. When I eventually left the wood, my heart was changed. Marked with a song of salvation.

Though the journey of true change and transformation has taken this stubborn girl a long time. This I know; my God has never abandoned me. His word is alive. It cuts through my darkness. It changes and heals.

But first, there was faith.

“Let’s Talk About — Baby!”

by Leave a Comment

Remember that 1990’s Salt n Pepa song? You know the one. The sickening feeling you had when that tune blasted over the radio while your parents were in the car. Eeek!

Here’s the deal, I’m not really going to write about that little three lettered word that rhymes with Tex and Mex. Instead… Let’s talk about money!

Perhaps the mere mention of the word leaves you feeling queazy. Worse, like abandoning this blog post. But hold tight, I have an idea. Or two. Maybe even three or four.

Times are tough(er) than before. Food costs are expected to rise by 10% this year. Taxes are going up. Oh, and healthcare. If we are not diligent with our money, if we are not focused on any sort of plan, you’ll find yourself swimming up a creek in no time.

If you were to ask me where to start, I would say, “Get a plan!” This means, determine a B-B-Budget. There, I said it. Whew! Need some help? Go to Mint.com for free planning and organizing of all your money. *I’m not paid to say that.*

Money is emotional. It’s ingrained into the fiber of our being. We need it. We want it. We want more of it. If your plan looks something like this:

Income =     $2,500 
Expences = $3,000
Balance    -$500 

Then, you either need to cut back on some expenses or make more money. I know what your thinking. Wow! You have got to be the smartest, rocket scientist in economics that I have ever heard. Naw, it’s just, I’ve just been there. Red ink everywhere.

Money is emotional. It’s ingrained into the fiber of our being (intentional repeat). When something is part of us, it becomes hard to change it. Why? Because when we do, it stinkin’ hurts. 
Do you need to cut some expenses? I believe this one to be the hardest of all. Our American colored glasses have blurred the vision between true need and want. Here is a list of ideas that we implemented in our home to cut costs. I wrote about it here. 
Do you need to make a few extra dollars a month? I’d like to ask you, “What are you passionate about?” 10 years ago I asked myself that very question. My answer was baking. Thus began a simple cookie making business. You can read the full story here. My point is this, find something that you are good at, something that you love, and just go for it. Time will be your friend in this endeavor, so pace yourself and just get good at your craft…making a few bucks on the side. 
Short on time? Short on cash? My husband just wrote a blog post with some quick and easy cash ideas. You can find those ideas here. 
It’s easy to worry. Harder to trust. But when God tells us to look to the air and see the birds, to watch how He has (and continues) to provide for them, we find ourselves with our chin up, more focused on the things above.

Now that’s an idea I’m taking to the bank!