To Love and Cherish

This book, To Love and Cherish, written by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller, is definitely a recommendation by yours truly!  The story of Melinda Colsen and Evan Tarlow is a touching story, with lessons of love, trust, and Faith!
Melinda and her brother were among the highest of society before the death of their parents, which led to the revelation of financial struggles the family had, that left Melinda and Lawrence with nothing to their names, not even a shred of respect. Melinda stays behind in Cleveland, taking the role of ladies’ maid to one of her mother’s peers, while Lawrence goes on his own way.
Bridal Veil Island is the winter get-away resort for many wealthy families from northern cities and states, and the home of Evan Tarlow, where he is hoping for a promotion from game and huntsman to a position where he can support Melinda and they can finally marry. Melinda wonders why Evan doesn’t propose, and every spring returns, still hoping, to Cleveland with her employers’ family.
After their return one summer, however, a hurricane struck Bridal Veil Island and the surrounding areas, leaving disaster and death in its wake. News of the hurricane reached Cleveland, and the household of Melinda’s employers. Melinda hadn’t heard from Evan in weeks, and now believed that he may have been injured, or at worst, killed in the disaster that occurred on Bridal Veil. Against the wishes and pleas of her mistress, she set out on a mission to return to the resort and make certain her love was alive and well.
With the mysterious and sudden return of Lawrence, Melinda’s brother, and his suspicious cargo, Melinda is hesitant but asks for his presence to accompany her on this unconventional mission. Together they set out for the devastated shores of the resort and surrounding areas.
Upon arriving, Melinda discovers Evan is alive and well. Against his better thinking, Evan agrees to Melinda’s securing employment on the island until the guest season began. With the arrival of the guests and investors came news of the President of the United States’ visit, and rumors and suspicions along with them. Nobody can be trusted, and everyone is held in suspicion. Can Evan trust Melinda? Can Melinda trust Evan, or her brother, Lawrence?  Will Melinda see her dreams come true? Will Evan?
Going through trials that test faith, trust, and love can make or break a relationship and any individual. Seeing how they go through their trials, and the outcome (I’m not telling), gives me pause to think about my own response when faced with suspicion and doubt. A great read, and a happy addition to my favorite book shelf!
Provided by Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of review. A review I was happy to deliver!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. 

In History, we have learned that Thanksgiving is a celebration of the harvest provided by the Natives and the Pilgrims alike, as they joined together and enjoyed a feast in each other’s company. In annual celebration, today’s society takes a day to give thanks for all that we have. And what do we have? Why are we truly thankful? There has been a wave of Facebook status updates every day in November for the past couple of years, giving thanks for something different each day. I have been participating in such activities as well, but have given myself pause to think lately…and I have realized that those who I am truly thankful for in my life, and have been such an inspiration to me all these years, creating and leaving a legacy that few can fully understand but those who are blessed with this legacy, they are those who do not have Facebook. They may not even have the internet in their homes. If I wanted them to see the words of Love and thankfulness that I have for them, someone who is close to them would have to share it with them. I will not have this happen this year for me. Last year, on the final day of the year, I lost my great grandmother. I don’t have another chance to tell her what her life meant to me. However, I do still have other people in my life that need to hear these things. Hear them for themselves, not from some social networking cite that they don’t even participate in. 

This, for me, is not going to be merely a November event. I will be sharing with family and friends what they mean to me, how much they mean to me, and what they have done for me in my life…and I will do this often. New year’s resolutions have nothing on me. I’m making a resolution. I am taking a position in life to make a difference for good, no matter the outcome of elections, disasters, tragedies, and even joyous times, blessings, happiness, recovery, transition. In the good times and the bad, those who have your love need to know they do, and why! 

In my hometown, just in the last month, people have lost their lives that shouldn’t have. Their time was cut too short on this earth. This is something I never thought would happen where I’m from. Knowing that it can, and did, happen in my hometown, and that it could happen to anyone, anywhere, there is no time to spare in sharing the love….being a blessing…being an inspiration…being THERE! 

I will not name those in this blog that I plan to address personally. I enjoy the element of surprise. However, this is a message to all…don’t wait. Enjoy your loved ones, be they family or friend. Be thankful for them every day, every hour, and in everything. Don’t be silent! Tell them you love them! Tell them you are thankful to have them in your life! Share happy memories! Share life. Thanksgiving is just a day…but the inspiration lives on, every day of the year, every year of our lives. 

Happy November! <3

Happy Birthday Grandma Canup

I do not have all of the pictures that I wanted yet, so I will be editing this blog and adding the photos once I locate them all, and once my scanner decides to work properly for me again. Until then, be blessed and enjoy the memories, as I do.......

Every change in the seasons brings to my mind sweet memories. There are memories of Holiday celebrations with family and friends, memories of conversations with loved ones, adventures I’ve taken alone and with others, near and far from home. Today I have memories of my dear, Great Grandmother, Alberta Canup. Today, September 16, 2012, would have been her 94th birthday. However, she passed away December 31, 2011, after living a long, full, and wonderful life. To share every memory with you would be to write a book. It would be a lovely book, because I treasure and cherish those memories as gold. But, here are a few.

My great grandma was many things. Hard of hearing, down to earth, an amazing story teller, and loaded with wisdom and some common sense on the side.

One special memory I have of her was when I was a young child, and first realized she couldn’t hear as well as I could. We were sitting on her swing, in the yard under a shade tree, shelling pinto beans fresh picked from her, very large and bountiful, garden behind the house. It was a beautiful summer day. The breeze was soft, and under the shade tree it cooled the temperature nicely. As we were shelling the beans, Grandma was telling me stories of her childhood, her walks to school, and her first kiss, which turned into the first boy she smacked. The front door was open to the house, and from inside the house I could hear the phone begin to ring. Grandma paused the swing, stopped shelling the beans, and tilted her head. “Hm. The birds are comin’ out I hear.” I stifled a little giggle. She continued, “I wonder what kind of bird that one is though. Huh. I ain’t never heard that one before. Almost sounds like a mocking bird of sorts.” Finally, I couldn’t hold it in, as the phone continued ringing, over and over… “Actually Grandma, I think that’s the phone ringing.” She stopped completely, smiled, and without missing a beat said, “Ha! Well…I’d rather that had been a bird.”  No, she didn’t get up and go see who called. Nor did she care at the moment. She continued shelling the beans, and telling me stories about life, and lessons learned from it. Yes, a memory of pure gold.

Grandma could name every flower and plant under the sun, tell you how many different colors they produce in, and when and where best to grow them. Her knowledge of all things green never ceased to amazing me.
The things that make me smile a humorous smile are her response to someone who is speaking too low for her to hear. “HeH?! EH!?” To those who heard that so often, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You are probably hearing her voice in your head as you read this, “Whaat?!” (and smile). Also, if anyone has ever talked to Great Grandma on the phone, they would tell you she doesn’t generally say “Bye” at the end of the conversations. When she’s done talking, she simply…hangs up. I’ve been on the phone with her many a time when I would be in the middle of saying something and the line would disconnect mid-sentence. I would just shake my head, smile or laugh, and then hang up my end as well.

Throughout her life, Grandma remained faithful to her family, and to her God. Every time I saw her outside, she was either working with her hands or reading her Bible. Our church did a program called “Daily Bread” which is a Bible reading program that takes the reader through the whole Bible in a year. Great Grandma went through the whole program multiple times, every year, taking every verse to heart. One thing that made me laugh was when she would refer to scripture and then say, “Yeah, that’s in Matthew somewhere.” After having read the book of Matthew more times in five years than most have probably read in their lives.
Among my most recent memories, when my dear great grandmother was no longer able to mow her own yard (and the neighbor’s as well), plant her own garden, go to church every time the doors were open, enjoy her weekly breakfast and shopping day with her daughter (my grandmother), or walk outside her house, enjoying her flowers alone, I sat with her nearly every day for a month. During that month, I took advantage of every moment I had that was good. Every memory she shared, I cherished and held dearly in my journal. The conversations we had together were about family, friends, loved ones gone one, and the baby that I had growing inside me that July.

I had reconnected with a very close friend in June of 2010 (now known to all as my husband, Sean), and he came to see me and my family, all the way from Crete, Greece, where he was stationed at the time in the United States Navy. He and my brother came out to Great Grandma’s house one afternoon while I was there with her. She and I were sitting on the front porch swing, enjoying the afternoon air, having just finished our daily rounds around the yard, naming the flowers and remembering times and events that surrounded her gardens. Great Grandma asked Sean what is was he did for a living. He told her he is a Master at Arms in the United States Navy. She smiled, and began to tell us three about my Great Grandpa, Micah Canup, who was also in the Navy in years past. She told us of his tour to Australia, and shared some of his stories about ship life. She told of the closeness they shared, and the love they had for each other, and of their children. Every story brought more joy to her face, and peace to her mind. In her love for sharing her memories with others, I have been very blessed to be one of those that she shared such riches with throughout my life, and I will be ever thankful for those opportunities and blessings.

I could go on and on about the things I recall in my life with my dear great grandmother, and my great grandpa as well. The camping trips, their vegetable store off the back porch, the early mornings picking produce from the garden, and the candy that Grandpa would so often tell “Maw” to get from the cabinet for the kids, because we looked “hungry”. Without fail, she would get up from her chair, go to the cabinet, and pull out a single butterscotch candy piece for each of us and send us on our way, “full”. So today, on the day of her birth, I remember her vigor, strength, love, grounded faith, and the treasure that she was to all who experienced her in her life and theirs. Happy Birthday my dear, Great Grandma. You are missed so much, and we will all hold dear the memories that we shared with you.

Locked Out!

Looking in/looking out

There are days and times when a person writes to inspire, uplift, and encourage. Then there are days when a person would rather vent, let out some stress, and try to “make sense of it all.” Well, today my intention in writing is to vent, let out some stress, and entertain my readers in the process!
As we all know, young children are fun, entertaining, interesting, complex little beings, and not to be trusted in the house unattended. That being said, let me elaborate on my morning a bit…
I woke up to my alarm sounding off beside my head (the original Super Mario Brothers theme song). It was time to get the kids ready to meet the bus for school. Sean walked into the bedroom, dressed in his gym clothes, a gray tank top and black jogging pants. He had just come home from working his shift all night, then stopping at the gym after he got off from work. After he made sure I was awake, he went to help the kids finish getting ready for school.
I rolled out of bed, a bit reluctantly today, and made my way down the hall to help the boys get their stuff together before making the trek up the street to the bus stop. All seemed to be well, and Sean and the kiddos headed off to the bus stop while I looked for some flip flops to walk up the street with them.
After getting the kids off to school, Sean and I were able to sit and chill for a bit before he finally winded down enough to fall asleep. No sooner than he fell asleep my phone rang. It was the school nurse. Levi was sick, and in her office waiting to be picked up.
Not meaning to rush through this part of my day (it’s a whole new blog post on its own), I got ready, went to get Levi, and came home.
When Levi and I arrived at home, I got Micah out of his bed and fixed them a breakfast snack before making a couple phone calls. While I was making the first of my phone calls, Levi tells me that he wants to do homework. After getting the ok from me, Levi proceeds to put his pencil box (equipped with all necessary items for class, including scissors and glue which later come into play), and his notebook out on the table and begins practicing his letters. I step out the front door for a moment of quiet so I can communicate with the person I was talking with on the phone.
Levi follows me outside after a few minutes, wanting to ride his scooter. I was off the phone at that time, so it was ok with me. After about five minutes of scooter riding, and Micah making noises at the door, frustrated that he was stuck on the other side, I decide it is time to go back indoors. I reached for the handle, and it wouldn’t turn. After a pause, I look down at Micah, and he looked up at me and smiled through his pacifier and said, “Out. Outside!” I said, “Umm…baby, you gotta unlock the door for me. Can you unlock the door?” He looks at the doorknob, then up at me, and then starts his baby babble. He did try, though, he tried to move the lock so that we could get in, or so he could get out rather.
I decided that, even though he’d only been a sleep for less than two hours, it was time to call Sean and wake him up so he could let me in. I call him. Then I remembered that his phone was on vibrate, because someone called him before I left this morning, and vibrating was all the sound it made. Not loud. Sean is a HEAVY sleeper. And, the TV in the bedroom was on. I was going to tell Micah to go to my room and get Daddy up, but I remembered that I had secured the bedroom door so Micah couldn’t disturb Sean for a few hours.
Sean is currently on a night schedule, and I make sure my house is secured all the way around every day and every night. When one of my friends text me and asked if I had other means by which I could get in my house, I tried every avenue I thought possible, and to no success. So…I resorted to banging on my bedroom window. Fail. Sean was not waking up.
Levi and I went through the gate in our fence, and made it to the back door. With a slight glimmer of hope in me, I walked to the door…to find it was locked as well. Ok…calling Sean again. No answer. My phone then beeps at me. 10% battery left. Really?! I would have taken it to my van to charge, but my keys were lying in the floor just on the other side of my sliding glass door beside the dining room table. These are the moments when you either laugh or cry…yep, I laughed.
Micah comes in from the front door. I got his attention and had him come to the back door. He didn’t understand how to unlock that door either. After trying to get him to unlock the door for Mommy, I realized “this is how young children figure this stuff out so early…we let them lock us out, and teach them to let us in!” Haha!
So…after losing interest in getting the back door unlocked, Micah proceeds to the dining table, where Levi’s homework supplies are still lying out, easily accessible to baby fingers. What does he pick up first? Yep, scissors! It took a few minutes for him to figure out how to get them out of their protective case, but figure it out, he did. All the while I was standing outside with Levi, banging and banging on my door, trying to get him to stop, which he was completely in his own world at this point, and Sean was still not waking up.
I called my brother. He had called while I was engaged in this battle at the back door, and I had let the call go to voice mail. When I called him back, he reminded me that Angel, my step-daughter, leaves her window unlocked, and it is the only window with no screen. It was used by the older three children to sneak in and out of the house (into the fenced in back yard…no fear) when we first moved into this house. I said, “No…we have made sure that window is locked.” His response was, “Trust me, sis! You know they’ve opened it since then, and she doesn’t lock it. Go check.” Sure enough! I pushed just right on that thing, and it gave! I called Levi over, and he climbed through the window and unlocked the back door for me to get in my house. WHEW!
From the moment I had walked out of my house, until I was able to walk back in, was over an hour! It may have been stressful for those moments that Micah had the scissors in his hands, and I was helpless to do anything about it, but it was HILARIOUS his expressions, our interaction with the doors between us, and just being from my perspective outside, and him inside…words really cannot describe the humor I found in those moments.
Let this be a lesson…from this point forward, when I must walk out my door, to take my keys outside with me! Hahaha! Count it all Joy!

A Glimpse Into the Heart

Summer has come and gone, and the school year has once again begun for the Minnick-Wheeler household. As I sit here at my dining room table, looking out the back door, sipping my coffee, and listening to the children play in the other room, I smile and think of the sweet blessings I have today.
Titus will be seven years old next month. Where does the time go? He is already nearly as tall as his mother, and in a few short years I do believe I will be looking up at him instead of the other way around. He is enjoying the beginnings of the school year, being in the first grade and loving it. The X-Box has become a common place for him to play, typically a boat racing game called Hydro Thunder. He reads and writes, does basic math problems, and has amazing sound effects when he’s imitating other people and things. With his crystal blue eyes and strawberry blond hair, and those brilliant freckles that are splashed across his nose and cheeks, he brings warmth to my heart every time he smiles his sweet smile toward me.
Angel has been a part of my “family” for a little over a year now, and since then she has grown in many ways! Dark brown hair that once stopped short of her elbows now falls well past her waistline. She loves her long hair, and every time Sean cuts the boys hair he teases her about chopping hers off, and she runs from the room declaring that her hair, indeed, will not be cut short! School this year will be a huge growing experience for Angel as she learns more about words and numbers, and hopefully begins writing from left to right instead of right to left. I understand this is a challenge for a lot of younger, left-handed, children, and left-handed she is! Definitely a “words of affirmation” love language child, the words, “I Love You” will be heard coming from her mouth often, as she wants to hear them in return from any and every one that she speaks them to. This is a good thing…because she is also very vocal. Speaks whatever is on her mind. I love you is much happier to hear than negative thoughts.
Levi…little Levi. Transitional Kindergarten is the class that Levi is in this, his first year in school. He has been asking us since before summer began when he will be going to school. All summer we told him he would be going this coming school year. Well, that year is here, and Levi has been overjoyed to walk into class every day for his new experiences. He has declared that he wishes to be a jet pilot when he grows up, and fly the big jets that he sees racing in the skies over the Naval Air Station that Sean is currently stationed at. Going out to the observation area and watching the jets take off and land on the airstrip is one of his favorite things to do, besides playing at the park and swimming. Already ahead of most transitional kindergarten requirements, Levi will fly through this year, and hopefully not get too bored before it’s over. His Matter-of-Fact personality makes him rather fun to watch, and he gets quite entertaining at times. Often people tell me he is either quiet, barely noticeable, or when he does speak, whatever he says brings laughter as a result.
Micah-Mommy’s mini man. With his bouncy step, and his wild, super tight, curls that spring from all over his little head, and his squealing laughter, Micah is a character all his own. He has mastered the art of the machine gun noise, playing “call of duty” around the house with his oldest brother, Titus, and together they run through the halls, shooting water guns and making their gun noises. Micah has also mastered the fine art of being shot. He falls dramatically to the floor, rolling over onto his back, scrunching up his whole face, and yelling, “Oowwww! Owwww!” Then he gets back up, and goes again. His new favorite thing to do is swing from anything he can get his hands and feet attached to! Sean holds him up as he grabs the shower curtain rod, now and then, and he swings from it for a few seconds. He has also found that he can tip his high chair over and swing from the upturned legs. The handle above his seat in the van is another swinging point as well. Every time we unbuckle him from his carseat, he stands up and grabs the handle, swinging out from his seat into the arms of whoever is standing there, waiting to catch him. He will be 2 years old in December. This is hard for me to grasp. Time goes by so swiftly, and these little things can be so easily overlooked and forgotten too soon.
Yes, I am blessed. Unique in so many ways, full of adventure, drama, highs and lows, screams and shouts, laughter and tears, heart breaking and heart mending moments, foot-in-mouth and face-in-hand moments, high fives and big, bear-hugs, my family is my life, my joy, and my heart.

Levi's Will: A book review

Levi's Will--A book review for Bethany House Publishing company

Will (Mullet) McGruder made a mistake. He shamed his father, his family and friends, and himself. This single mistake put Will under the Amish ban, and led him down a road of trial, test, tribulation, and the Refiner's fire.
When he left his Amish lifestyle behind and traded Mullet for McGruder as his name, Will became a different man...on the outside. But his upbringing held true in his heart, and as he found later, in his relationship with his own son. He soon discovered that he was being the father that he, himself, had become bitter against in his youth. His relationship with his own son was a saddening reflection of the relationship Will had with his Father, Levi Mullet.
On the road of life, Will turned to the Father of love and mercy, Jesus Christ. Then he knew he had to travel yet another difficult journey...the road home to his past, to seek the forgiveness of his family, and to make things right.
Will he be able to break the generational chain of father/son tensions and restore his relationship with his father, Levi, and breach the gap that has grown between himself and his own son before it is too late?
This is a wonderful story that shares a light on the long road to forgiveness from people, and yet a reminder that the mercies of God are readily available when we but fall to our knees and ask for His forgiveness?
Cramer takes the reader on a journey with down-to-earth, real-life, experiences and problems that real people face today: mistakes, pain, heartache, fear, mercy, forgiveness, love, joy, happiness, and sacrifice.
A recommended read for anyone!!

Book Review from the past

I am posting from my old blog onto this new one, so that all of my entries will not be lost when I delete the old blog. I do hope that those who are following my old blog www.beccawheeler.blogspot.com will follow this address, www.beccaminnick.blogspot.com.
And now, a review from one of my all-time favorite author's, Francine Rivers:


Book Review for A Voice in the Wind

Broken, scarred, and empty of all but fear and sorrow, Hadassah has witnessed the destruction of her beloved Jerusalem, lost her family, her freedom, and fears for her very life. Struggling every step of the way, both physically and spiritually, she miraculously survives the journey from Palestine to Rome. But it is her arrival to Rome when the real test of faith begins.

Julia Valarian is the daughter of one of the richest merchants in the empire, yet she is unsatisfied with life. She is passionate, emotional, and selfish. She longs to be free like her brother, Marcus, and enjoy life. When Hadassah was presented to her as her personal slave, Julia was, at first, mortified. A plain, prudent Jew, as her slave, would make her the ridicule of her peers. But when life begins to change for Julia, in marriage, deaths, illness, deceit, and abandonment, her loyal servant is the one person Julia clings to. But will her distrust for others ruin her faith in the loyalty of her slave?

Marcus Valarian, Julia's older brother, loves women, social gatherings, wine, and the games. One cannot be Roman if one does not attend the games, and Marcus is Roman. His desire is to live well, become more wealthy than his father, and enjoy life for what it is: entertainment. But all of his ideals come crashing down at his feet with one person, his little sister's Jewish slave, Hadassah. When he discovers that she is not only a Jew, but a Christian, Marcus tries to save Hadassah from the fate that befalls Christians in Rome, but she does not recant. Her love for God has become her strength. Her faith has become life. God has not deserted her, and she will not deny Him. Will her God be the death of Hadassah, or will she reach the souls of this family, God has sent her to serve, in time?

Francine Rivers is one of my favorite authors, and I feel that even what I have written above does NOT do her book justice! She fills the story with emotion and drama. Every time I open this book (for I've read it more than a few times) I am drawn into ancient Jerusalem, Rome, and Ephesus. The characters of this book come alive and I feel that I am a part of the story. Hadassah's struggle within herself reminds me of the spiritual struggles people endure today. Fear is the hardest thing to overcome, especially fear of the unknown. Hadassah faced her deepest fears, and God was with her. An awesome book you don't want to pass up!