Author Archives: Marie

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About Marie

Happily married to the same awesome guy for many years. Love God, reading, cats, and travel. Avid crafter especially counted cross stitch and crochet.

Fiercehearted – Book Review

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Life has a way of throwing things at us when we’re least expecting it.  Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.  Good memories are balanced with times of sorrow.  Everything that happens to us has a purpose and Fiercehearted helps put it in perspective.

Do you know the difference between being nice and being kind?  Yes, there is a difference and Holley does a beautiful job of explaining it.

Are you aware of how much control your thoughts and other people have over your life?  Are you controlled by this or are you able to control it?  Fiercehearted has the answer.

From the sincere desire of all women to fiercely protect those they love, to reaching out when we’d rather do something else, to sharing our lives with others, the heart of a servant shines through the pages of this book.

This book is, quite possibly, the most powerful book I’ve read.  The impact on my life and thoughts has been monumental. I know I’ll reread this many, many times.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Holley Gerth. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Story

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Are you curious about me?  I certainly am about you?  Every one of us has a story that is peculiar (Yes, that’s the right usage of the word.) to us.  Here is a part of mine.  There is so much more…

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My greatest desire is to teach others how much God loves them and how to use His Word to live the life He has purposed for them.  In my home church, I co-direct Worship and Music, play all keyboards, and sing with the Worship Band.  God has seen fit to give me the gift of teaching, which I use for leading 3 Bible Study groups.  He specifically called me to writing/blogging about 5 years ago.

I have been married to the perfect partner, chosen for me by God, for more than 45 years. It was God’s plan that we would not have children but would be able to love in a unique way our nieces, nephews, and the hundreds of children who touched our lives through the years I spent in Public Education as a Music Specialist and Elementary Principal.  I hold a B.S. Degree in Music Education and Performance from Defiance College and an M.Ed. Degree in Administration and Supervision from Bowling Green State University.

Our family includes two cats named Smokey and Salem, three awesome sisters and one incredible brother, 7 sisters-in-law, 7 brothers-in-law, 36 nieces and nephews and their spouses, and many great nieces and nephews.

Music has been part of my life from my earliest years.  One of the greatest honors of my life was to be invited to sing in the Rose Garden of the Whitehouse with the Ohio Youth Choir at the invitation of then-President Richard Nixon.
As a 25+ year Cancer Survivor, I have been able to use that challenging time of my life to support others.  It was not easy but God knew there would be many who would need a listening ear, an understanding heart, and someone who understands the value of presence without words.

From the time I was old enough to hold needles, scissors, yarn, thread, fabric, you name it, I was ‘hooked’ on crafts, particularly those that are counted.   From painting count by number pictures to my grandmother teaching me to crochet, to my mother teaching me to embroider, to learning to do counted cross stitch, rug hooking, needlepoint and crewel my life has been filled with many happy hours of artful crafting.  I also enjoy sewing and often make my own clothing and things for my home.

I enjoy baking and decorating.  This hobby started when Ray and I owned a coffee shop/bakery called Maggi Raes.  (Maggie for the carved magnolias that were part of the shop’s decorations.)  I am certified in all the Wilton decorating levels and have done many wedding, birthday, and event cakes and cookies.

We love to travel, especially on cruise ships, and have been all over the Caribbean and are planning to go to Alaska for our next cruise.  We also enjoy taking a few days here and there in the Smokey Mountains, believing there is nothing like sitting on a rocker, on a back porch, on top of a mountain and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.

God has given me a great life and I can’t thank Him enough for His love and provision.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

(BTW: The reason this only took 5 minutes is that I copied and pasted it from a much larger article. )

Anger Can Be Profitable

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There once was a man and a woman who had been married for more than 60 years. They talked about everything. They kept no secrets from each other… except that the old woman had a shoebox in the top of her closet that she cautioned her husband never to open it or ask her about it.

For all these years he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would never recover. In trying to sort out their affairs the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife’s bedside. She agreed it was the time that he should know what was in the box.

When he opened it, he found 2 beautifully crocheted doilies and a stack of money totaling over $25,000. He asked her about the unusual contents.

“When we were married,” she said, ” my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily.”

The little old man was so moved, he had to fight back tears. Only two precious doilies were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with joy and happiness.

“Sweetheart,” he said… “that explains the doilies, but what about all this money? Where did it all come from?”

Oh,” she said, ” that’s the money I made from selling the doilies.”

-Unknown.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

The Christmas Blessing – Book Review

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Is there something special you do that until you’ve done it the Christmas Season isn’t quite what you need it to be?  Perhaps a movie that you watch? A kind of cookie you bake? A special ornament on the tree? I just finished reading a book that is going to be on my Christmas list for years to come.

The Christmas Blessing wraps its arms around you and draws you into a world that has snowy sprinkles all over it. It grabs your attention and gives all the awesome emotions that are present at Christmas.  The setting is World War 2.  The mores and morals of that era are really evident in this story.  It’s a story of life decisions, sometimes good, sometimes not so good.  It’s a story of relationships, friendships, and family.  To tell you more would be to give away the story.  BTW – it would make a great movie.

 

I highly recommend this book.  It’s a great read!!!

(See FTC disclosure at the bottom right.)

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Life Style Evangelism

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I love having coffee or tea with neighbors or friends, don’t you?  Making a batch of cookies and/or sandwiches and calling a few people to come and talk is one of my favorite ways to connect.  I most often do this with women friends, sometimes couples too.  Oh, my, the conversations we’ve had.

 

This is one of the many ways to share your faith in Jesus without overwhelming those who may not believe yet.  You do not have to be a door knocking, tract placing, street corner shouting evangelizer.  People see Whose you are by what you say, what you wear, your countenance, and so much more.

Have you ever noticed some of the sayings on t-shirts.  They’re everywhere.  That’s certainly a way to let people know what you believe and what you stand for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you considered that the jewelry you wear gives a powerful message to others?  Someone may see what you’re wearing and that will open the door to a rich and meaningful conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

The picture on the right is not in my ‘collection’, yet!  It’s a stunning piece that will give many opportunities to share.  It’s part of the incentive gifts for purchasing 5 copies of Holley Gerth’s new book, Fiercehearted.  (Click on the picture and it will take you to the Fiercehearted site.)

Do you have other ways you share your love for the One and Only.  I’d love to hear about them.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie