A Refreshing Story: No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer

Refreshing, that's the word that comes to mind when I think of No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer.  Malachi and Emma are absolutely adorable.  This book is a good, old fashioned love story.  In case you have not noticed - I love to read!  I am constantly reading new books.  This is definitely in the Top 5 that I have read this year.

What puts No Other Will Do at the top?  It's a combination of all my favorite things in a novel - Historical, Suspense, Christian Romance, Western.  To top all of this off it includes some old fashioned women's rights!  The best part of this is I could see the accuracy in retelling the stories of what women were escaping.  How do I know this is accurate?  Karen Witemeyer has a bachelor's and master's in Psychology!  Obviously, psychology master's do social work quite a bit.  I love that she included a bit of social work with women in the book.  I feel like Emma is the ultimate social worker with a desire to help everyone.

When Emma finds herself in more danger than she knows what to do (all because of her compassionate heart), how can she single - handedly save all of the women who need her help?  Of course she can't so she must call in the first person who received her help when in need - Malachi Shaw.  How did she help him?  Read the book and find out;) How will Malachi be received in a town of all women? How will he help the girl who showed compassion to him?  You will just have to read the book to find out:). Trust me it is worth the read and an absolutely adorable old fashioned suspense romance.

*This book was received by Bethany House Publisher's in exchange for an honest review*

Do Something

I've been waiting for a little while to speak on the "black lives matter" movement.  It has aggravated me to see the amount of people who are suddenly experts on statistics and other people's perspectives.    As a social worker I feel that I should be someone who speaks up on the recent amount of attention brought to the violence in society today.  I am falling into someone who is now throwing their opinion in the ring but I hope it does add value to people's perspectives and what they think they know.
When you go to school to be a social worker you are taught to look at a problem from three different perspectives: micro (the individual), mezzo (family & community), and macro (the government & society at large).  I will start with macro so I do not incite people right off the bat.  For those who do not know I am a white social worker working with almost all black people in one of the most divided and racist cities in the country.  I come from a unique perspective because I lived in St. Louis for much of my childhood.  I was raised among a large amount of black people in St. Louis.  I was taught to respect all colors.  One of my fond childhood memories is being at my best friend's house and her mom saying she was so grateful for Martin Luther King.  She said because of him her daughter and I could be best friends.  In case you can't tell my best friend was black and it meant a lot to hear that one man allowed the two of us to be friends today.
Moving away from my friends and to Milwaukee was a SHOCK.  I was suddenly in a community that was almost completely white.  My family went to the black area in Milwaukee to buy school uniforms for my sister one day.  While in the store a security guard actually told my family that we needed to leave the area because we would not be safe.  This was not the last incident.  When I would hang out with some black kids from my church people would stare into my car.  We were even offered drugs at a local McDonald's.  All of this tells me that change definitely needs to happen on the macro level.
Our government needs to change the entire welfare and prison system.  Did you know that over half of the black men in Milwaukee are unemployed?  Did you know that the "north side" (53206 specifically) has the highest incarceration rate in the world?  There needs to be a revitalization of the black communities.  Job training needs to be given to people in prison.  I know circumstances are different in every situation but give people a chance before resorting to putting them in jail or giving them a felony.  When people do get jobs do not snatch every bit of aid from them.  I have watched so many people learn the hard way that aid would be snatched just because they got a minimum wage job that does not even cover rent and if you're a single mom the paycheck won't even cover daycare while you work.  These are huge problems in the black community.
The black community does NOT get to blame the government and white people for all of their problems though.  The micro (family, community) definitely has an effect as well.  I work with women in unplanned pregnancies and the majority of the client I have worked with are black.  There is a definite degradation of the family on the north side of Milwaukee and in the black community.  Let me tell you there is a lack of fathers in the community.  I believe the largest amount of children with different women I have heard thus far is 14.  It was spoken in pride too!  I have even heard the celebration of becoming "baby daddies" in rap songs by black rappers.  Do you know what happens to the children of the men who create children and do not raise them?  Those are the kids living in poverty because they do not have a father who can help provide. They are the ones who become "baby daddies" also.  They are the ones surrounded by violence who may end up in jail or dead.  The black community (and frankly all communities) need to return to embracing the family and parents staying together to raise their children.
This goes on to the micro (individual) level.  One example of a black man committed to teaching about sticking with family is Obama.  While I do not agree with all of his views I have always admired him as a man who "broke the cycle".  He stuck with his woman and is raising his children.  Not only that, he has also shown this on a national level.  Our country needs black men to be fathers and husbands - not baby daddies.  I AM NOT saying that all black men do not stick with their families but I am saying I have seen a prevalence specifically among the black community.  Be the example and change the cycle.  It is not easy but it personally demonstrates that black lives DO matter.
To the black women: Your lives do matter.  One thing I have always loved about black women is their assertiveness and outspokenness.  I always love how willing they are to defend those they love. I have noticed that underneath all of that assertiveness is a girl who wants someone to love them.  You are worth that love.  Hold out for someone who gives instead of always taking.  Hold out for the man who will "put a ring on it".  You and your children and your future children are worth so much.  God loves you and you are priceless.
I hope that maybe his makes a difference.  One final thought: What are you going to do?  Please don't tell me that it is something violent because that just makes things worse! Also, please don't tell me you are going to post on Facebook or stand with a sign.  Do something that will truly make a difference!  Show God's love to a black person, listen to a black person's perspective without judgment, acknowledge feelings, buy lunch, and please go the extra mile rather than the most convenient way.
Recently I have been asked by several people if I would continue to go and work in the black community ("north side") or if I would now make people come to me.  I will continue to go in this community because I believe there can be a change. Do I get strange reactions sometimes?  Definitely.  Do I feel unsafe sometimes?  For sure.  I believe everyone deserves to feel loved and valued - if that takes doing something that may make me uncomfortable - I will continue to do so.  If you are in Milwaukee, please consider reaching out to friends of all races.  Go into a community of another race.  Let's work on Milwaukee being a place known for it's diversity - instead of it's segregation.

When Fear Takes Over

"Today there were possibilities that God had only just now...

begun to present...blue skies on the horizon that had never

been there before..." ~ Karen Kingsbury

 

How many times have you let fear lower your possibilities?  It seems like today fear is what controls many people.  Today there are fears about the current election.  Most people do not like both candidates.  I have heard many people say that they are afraid for what the world is going to be like.  Christians today have been considering all of the legislation and are fearful of what their lives and the lives of future generations will be like.  Fear is a natural human response to our surroundings.  It is easy to give in to fear and allow it to control our lives.

 

God says, "...I am the LORD and there is no other.  I form light and create darkness, I make well - being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things." (Isa. 45: 6-7 ESV)  Christian singer Natalie Grant sings these lyrics in her song King of the World:

When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world?
I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world
How could I make you so small
When you're the one who holds it all
When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world

It is extremely easy to allow fear to control you and keep you from trusting in God.  However, it is important to remember who is ultimately in charge.

 I myself have fallen prey to fear many times.  As a child, teenager, and young adult I have feared many things.  When I was a child I used to be terrified of storms.  I would hide in the basement because I thought a tornado was always coming.  As a teenager I was shy and would not always reach out to others and build friendships.  As a young adult struggling with a chronic illness I chose to miss out on several opportunities to hang out with others for fear of how it would affect me.  I allowed those fears to control who I was and what I did.

God does not want us to allow fears to control us.  My life verse states, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7 KJV).  When I read this verse as a young adult the words "sound mind" stuck out to me.  Living with fear allows us to give control to the devil and take away our own control.  When we choose to trust God and his plans we open our eyes to a world of possibilities.  We bring control back to God and ourselves. 

As a young adult I took a job in a home for teenage mothers.  I worked third shift there for 2 1/2 years.  There would be nights with storms where I would have to bring all of the moms and babies downstairs to keep everyone safe.  There were times I had to confront people and did not want to.  2 Timothy 1:7 would come to me though and I would remember that fear is not love.  When I would deny confronting on issues I was not loving those individuals or helping them improve themselves.  I would never have been able to do that job without relinquishing my fears to God and praying.

If you struggle with fear I hope these verses help you.  You would be surprised how many people around you are fearful and are not saying so.  My challenge to you this week is next time you want to fear the future, your surroundings, or even yourself remember 2 Tim. 1:7.  Remember that when you relinquish your fear to God you open yourself to a world of possibilities - ones beyond your greatest imagination.



Dancing for JOY

I've been wanting to give a shout out to one of my favorite things ever for awhile now.  REFITREV is a group of wonderful women who teach Zumba with family friendly (and many times Christian) music.  I have been a fan and followed REFITREV since before they had their name and have done every workout they have put up.  I absolutely love that they take something like exercise and make it a way to praise God and care for yourself.  Working out with REFITREV has become a way to praise Jesus through dance, reduce my stress levels so I can serve Others, and has given me the ability to dance without being a perfectionist (JOY - Jesus, Others, Yourself). 
When I was a kid I always loved music and dancing.  However, dancing was frowned upon in my family and the church I was part of at the time.  It was considered ungodly.  When REFITREV came along I was so happy - it had Christian music to dance to.  My mother and sister even started to do some of the songs with me.  My mom really started to enjoy REFITREV as well.  I introduced my friends to REFITREV and last year got to cross an item off my bucket list.  One of my friends went with me and we worked out with REFITREV when these wonderful women came to Lexington, KY.  It was incredibly fun and I encourage you to go to a local training or Master Class if they come to your area!
This video from their YouTube account is Storyteller by Morgan Harper Nichols and is my current favorite song and workout.  Another great thing about REFITREV is their variety of songs available.  Hip hop dancing is actually my favorite and besides Storyteller I love their songs with TobyMac and Flame.  There are a variety of dance styles and music though.  Go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8BflqjX7NsnTkO9GwUJITg?nohtml5=False to see more of their videos!  

Perfect Planner = Passion Planner

Happy National Social Worker Month!  In honor of the month I thought I would share a newer planner that my aunt introduced me to recently.  This planner is amazing!  It is called a Passion Planner.  The concept behind it is to allow you to focus in on your main personal and work related projects.  The planner uses mapping (for those of us visual planners) to set your main work goals and break them down into yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily plans.  In order to completely understand the mapping process go to http://www.passionplanner.com/what-is-it/.  The process of the planner is explained incredibly well there.
The great part of this planner is that it separates into work and personal to - do lists.  I know us social workers especially have to juggle client appointments, work projects, case notes, and personal things going on.  It especially gets crazy when client appointments occur on evenings or weekends.  This breaks down into monthly work to do lists (for those bigger projects), weekly to do lists (for case notes), and daily incremented schedules so you can fill in appointments.  This planner is wonderful for social work but it is also great for anyone who has a lot on their plate.  For anyone who likes their quotes and doodles there is the ability to add your own personal touch as well:)  Feel free to look at how I did mine a couple of week's ago.  It is more detailed but I had to use the sticky notes to cover up client appointments for HIPAA and confidentiality. 

LIving LIfe Updates

It's been forever since I have posted.  I finally have a second to sit down and do a post.  I figured this time I would do a life update.  The last 10 months have been crazy!  I have had a lot of changes recently.  Here is a general breakdown of every thing that been going on in my life for the past 10 months.
- Beginning of May 2015: Did my first 5K!  I graduated with my Master's in Social Work from Asbury!

- Middle of May 2015: I moved from Kentucky to Wisconsin for a job prospect.
- End of May 2015: I got hired at a Christian non - profit pregnancy help center/adoption agency to work with pregnant women facing unplanned pregnancies!  This agency had been in the back of my mind to work with since I started graduate school.  You can imagine my surprise when a job popped up right before graduation:)

- June 2015:  My coworker started and we became the official Pregnancy Support Services Team!  I also finally got my dog that I've been waiting all these years to get :O

- July 2015: Turned 24 and went to my first MLB Baseball game compliments of my work! (I got to go in at the end of a STL Cardinals game but this was the first time I got to see a full game)

-August 2015: Wyatt and I got to go camping for both of our first times ever!  I also moved into my own apartment.

-September 2015: Wyatt went on his first road trip and we went to Kentucky.  Wyatt discovered he is definitely a country dog.

-October 2015: My first banquet as a staff member of my agency:)  I went on my first church weekend camping trip with a church group!

-November 2015: Became a member of a Wisconsin Assembly of God church.

-December 2015: Back to Kentucky for Christmas!

-January and February 2016: Wyatt and I are finally settling in to life in Wisconsin!

Of course, there was even more going on than this.  I pulled my sister into volunteering with Compassion International at concerts so there's always Compassion volunteering.  I've had a lot of big projects going on at work that I'm excited to present one day in the future as brand new curriculum!  There was a lot of things going on with church family, my family and my work family.  Now I should be back to blogging again.  I have lots of books and music to review again - including a new favorite band!  Stay tuned for more.  Happy 2016 (2 months late)!

After a Fashion ~ Jen Turano

After a Fashion by Jen Turano was a fabulous book.  I have read every book by Turano thus far and this was exceptional as usual.  This was yet another comedic historical book.  Every time I pick up a Jen Turano book I find myself laughing all the way through it.  I also found myself unable to put this book down until I finished it due to it's intriguing plot.  

Miss Harriet Peabody provides this intriguing plot.  The story of her topsy turvy life provides endless ausement.  Her introduction into "proper" society by Mr. Oliver Addleshaaw is also hysterical!  This is definitely a rags to riches tale worth reading.  I highly recommend this book and going back and reading all of Jen Turano's books!

*This book was received from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*