A is for Attitude

A is for Attitude

With all the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the world right now, people are finding themselves spending more time at home with their families. Families are wonderful. Yet, there is something about families that is unique. They have an uncanny ability to drive each other up the walls. 

You know what it’s like to walk into a room with a brilliant smile. Everything is going great! You finished a project, you fixed your hair in a new style, and you’re ready to roll! Then, some family member walks by you. Maybe they raise an eyebrow at your hair, or make a comment about your cooking, and whether their tone, or their look, something they do sends your smile to last week.

Family has the irritating ability to bring out attitudes that we didn’t know we possessed, and today, we’re going to look at three attributes of our attitudes, and then a few attitudes we should have.

1. Your attitude affects those around you.

Just like that sulky sibling has a way of ruining your day, your attitude affects those you come in contact with. Proverbs 27:15 says that an argumentative attitude, is like a continual dripping on a rainy day. Something that affects the entire house. But it works both ways, Proverbs 17:22 says that a merry heart does good like a medicine! Bad attitudes drag on the people around you, but good attitudes can lift the spirits around you.


2. Your attitude is a reflection of your heart.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” If you’re thinking selfish thoughts, that’s going to come out in your attitude, because as you think in your heart, that’s how you’re going to be. Which is why we need to strive to obey Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” If we’re thinking in our heart about these things, it’s going to show in our attitudes.

One of my favorite moments in the movie Facing the Giants, is when Coach Taylor is giving his football team a talk, and he says . . .

  “Your attitude, is the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks, it means your heart’s not right.”

That is SO true. If you find your attitude is a constant drain on those around you, maybe it’s time to do some serious praying and ask God to point out what areas of your life need work. God wants us to be

3. You can control your attitude. 

Yes, you read that right. You CAN control your attitude. So much of our life, is out of our control. The weather. Circumstances in life such as our age, our family, our birth-order, our race, and our height. Sickness. Death. SO much is out of our control. At work, the boss is in control. At school, the teachers. At sporting events, the refs make the calls. And so on. But your attitude is one thing that no one but you has the control over.

No one can make you have a good or a bad day, because no one controls your attitude. That’s your choice. Proverbs 25:28 says, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Basically, if you don’t control your attitudes, you’re like a city with no defense and any enemy who wants can walk in. On the other hand, if you control your spirit, Proverbs 16:32 says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Controlling your attitude is better than being able to take a city!
But, as point two says, our attitude is a reflection of our heart. If you want to control your attitude, you’re going to have to control what your heart thinks on. You can’t expect to be able to harbor sin in your heart, and have a good attitude at the same time.

So, we’re supposed to control our attitudes, which starts with fixing out heart, but perhaps you’ve dealt with all the known sin in your life, an you’re just trying to control your attitude. What kinds of attitudes should you be striving after? Here are just a few.

1. An attitude of Thankfulness.
1 Thess. 5:18 says, “In EVERYTHING give thanks, for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus, concerning you.” Yes. God’s will for your life is to give thanks.

2. An attitude of diligence
Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it HEARTILY, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Notice, it says heartily, NOT hardly. Heartily means with great heart. Romans 12:11 puts it as “Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”

3. An attitude of love.
1 Corinthians 13 has a LOT to say about what a loving Christian should look like, and John 13:35 says, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

4. An attitude of humility.
Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

5. An attitude of meekness.
Ephesians 4:1-2 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and MEEKNESS, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”


6. An attitude of boldness.
Hebrews 13:6 “So that we may BOLDLY say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

7. An attitude of Trust and confidence in God.
Proverbs 3:5 “TRUST in the LORD with all thine heart And lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Psalm 56:11 “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

And these are juts a few. So, whether you’re stuck in your home, or going out and working in these troubled times, take a moment to consider your attitudes. Are they pleasing to God? Are they hurting those around you? Is there anything in your attitude that you could change to help those around you see Christ?

Babysitting and Birthday

This past week has been a busy one! Mostly filled with babysitting. :)

On Sunday, I sat down in the church library with two kids to read a book, and pretty soon, we had a whole group!

After the Homeschool Tournament, I took two of the nieces out for ice cream!

The older girls really enjoyed playing dress-up with our old costumes!

And for my birthday, the girls helped me make cake pops! I'd never actually had a cake pop, but they were pretty simple to make, and pretty delicious.

On my birthday, Mom did a mini photo shoot with me, I'll have to share those pictures sometime.

Also, I lined up a book signing for April, but we're still waiting to see if it's going to end up happening with how everything is going these days. . . 

And this summer, I'm a Bible Bee host!!! More to come on this later, but if it's something you're considering, make sure you sign up in March when it's cheapest!!! Also, if your family hasn't done the Bible Bee in the last five years, you can use this link for an additional discount. https://biblebee.org/ss-reg/?afid=3035826

Cheesecake Recipe

After my last post, I had a request for the recipe of this cheesecake, so here it is. :)

Caramel Stripe Cheesecake

(From Taste of Home)

Step one - Crust - 2 cups crushed graham crackers, and 1/3 cup butter melted. Mix together, and press into greased spring-form pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. When done, remove from heat, and turn oven down to 350 degrees.

Step two - Mix 3 packages of softened cream cheese till very creamy. Add 1 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons flour, mixing till well mixed. On low speed, add in 3 eggs, and mix till just combined. Stir in 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. It's important not to over mix. Dump mixture onto crust, and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. When done, cool for 10 minutes, then run a knife gently around the edge to keep it from sticking.

Step three - While the cheesecake is cooling, mix 12 caramels and 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream in a microwave safe bowl, or on the stove, until melted. Drizzle over cheesecake as much or as little as you want.

Step four - mix 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 2 teaspoons butter, and 4 teaspoons heavy whipping cream. Melt in microwave, or on stove. Drizzle on top.

Step five - refrigerate cheesecake for several hours, or overnight before serving. Remove the edge of the spring-form pan to cut.

Tips - 1. Place a pan under the cheesecake in the oven, the butter in the crust sometimes drips through the crack of the pan. 2. Don't open the oven while it's baking. Especially not in the first 30 minutes. Opening the oven may cause cracking.

Enjoy!

ND Re-cap, and Cheesecake

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to be at the ND homeschool convention. Like always, it was a lot of fun, it went very well, and I look forward to next year.

Dad and Mom came with us this year, and it was fun to have them in on my set-up process.

I also had the opportunity to do a workshop titled, "A Writer in the House?" Thank you to everyone who came! We had a fun group! 

Then, I came home, and made a caramel chocolate swirl cheesecake.

I've been doing some experiments with cheesecake recipes lately, and this is my latest creation.

A Writer in the House?

This weekend, I'll be at the North Dakota Homeschool convention, and in addition to my book table with a few new items, I'll be doing a workshop titled, A Writer in the House?
        Do you, or one of your students love to write? How can you help them achieve their dreams with a realistic outlook? Can you help a writer achieve publishing? If your students hate writing, should you still make them take writing courses? 'Writer in the House' covers all of these questions and more, giving you the knowledge to best help your writer go from unsure writer, to confident author.
   
    So, if you're a writer, the parent of a writer, or the sibling of a writer, this workshop is for you! I'd love to see you there!

It's AVAILABLE!!!

Freedom's Captive 

Is now Available on Amazon as both a print and a kindle!

A father's debt . . . A brother's failure . . . And the wrong sister. Lord DeWilt already had everything. Everything but his name. And he’s back for that. On the run, and fighting painful memories, James Wakefield doesn’t know where to turn. Is it possible that freedom can offer peace? George Wakefield knows the life of cultured England, but in the wilderness of the Americas, finding answers to DeWilt’s pursuit seems impossible. Can years of deceit and pain bring the Wakefield brothers together? Or will it just distance them more? Can they find freedom in Christ while captives? Can God’s freedom shine in even the darkest of nights? Can two brothers be united after years of betrayal?

Coming Soon . . . Freedom's Captive

The official release date for my first historical fiction book, Freedom's Captive, is March 1st!!! It will be available as a print book, or kindle book on Amazon, as well as available at the ND homeschool convention March 5-7 for $12. For all you locals, I'm still working on getting a book signing lined up for April where I'll have it available for sale! 

A father’s debt . . .
    A brother’s failure . . .
        And the wrong sister . . .

     Lord DeWilt already had everything. Everything but his name. And he’s back for that. On the run, and fighting painful memories, James Wakefield doesn’t know where to turn. Is it possible that freedom can offer peace?
     George Wakefield knows the life of cultured England, but in the wilderness of the Americas, finding answers to DeWilt’s pursuit seems impossible.
       Can years of deceit and pain bring the Wakefield brothers together? Or will it just distance them more? Can they find freedom in Christ while captives? Can God’s freedom shine in even the darkest of nights?
Can two brothers be united after years of betrayal?

No Chance Meeting - Author Interview

I had the opportunity to read Jaye Elliot's new release, No Chance Meeting, as well as the opportunity to interview her, in exchange for being a part of her blog tour release, so here's an interview with the author!

Priscilla here, and I'd like to start the interview by letting my readers get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Jaye - I’m a 31-year-old (who still likes to believe she’s 21) Wisconsin country girl. I’m very

much a hopeless romantic, though I have yet to meet my future husband. I was

homeschooled K-12, which I’m thankful for to this day. I don’t think I would have had the

time to develop my love for writing if I hadn’t been. I currently rent a house from my

brother and live with my three cats, Arthur, Timothy, and Lucy. That number may go up

this year. I’m starting to get “kitten fever.” So I may find myself at the local animal

shelter this spring looking for a new addition to the family.

Priscilla -  Did you always want to be a writer when you grew up?

Jaye - I didn’t actually. Though I started writing young and loved it, it wasn’t until I was fifteen

that I decided it was the path I wanted to pursue in life.

Priscilla -  So, Jaye, you've just released a book. Would you tell us a little bit about it and what

your hopes are for it?

Jaye - No Chance Meeting is my first ever contemporary romance. Aside from writing horse

stories when I was young, the only genres I had ever written before this were historical

and fantasy. For a long time I believed I couldn’t write a contemporary romance to save

my life. I didn’t even have any interest in it. Never say never, I guess. The book idea

popped into my head just over a week before NaNoWriMo 2016 and demanded to be

written. The book deals with some rather difficult topics like depression and suicide, but

the theme is that God never gives up on us and is always working in our lives even

when we can’t see it. Since this is an entirely new genre and audience for me, I have no

idea what to expect, but I’m very excited (and nervous!) about it.

Priscilla -  Did you have any one author, or book that really inspired you when you first started

writing?

Jaye - My mom. :) My mom is a writer, and she is the one who inspired me to start writing. My

very first stories were heavily inspired by my favorite books at the time, the Pony Pals

series. I was very horse crazy then.

Priscilla - If you had just one piece of advice for a beginning writer, what would it be?

Jaye - Read. My whole life, both in writing and just who I am have been impacted and shaped

by books. Reading is the best way to help develop your writing style and learn to write

well.

Priscilla - Are you a tea or a coffee drinker?

Jaye - Tea. I have a mug (a big mug) of Irish Breakfast Tea almost every day. I occasionally

can enjoy a cup of coffee, but I don’t have much of a taste for it. Except for McDonald’s

mocha frappes. I LOVE those. Do those even count as coffee?

Priscilla - How old were you when you first knew you loved to write?

Jaye - I was eight when I started writing and fell in love with it immediately. I’ve had some

extended periods where I didn’t write anything, but for the majority of my life I’ve had at

least one book project in the works.

Priscilla - What kind of things do you like to do for fun when you need a break from writing?

Jaye - I love movies and TV shows. I’m a very visual person, so not only is it fun for me, it’s a

great source of inspiration. In the summer time, I like to spend as much time as I can

outdoors and doing summer activities. Once winter hits, I tend to become something of

a hermit. I also enjoy various creative projects like crocheting and sewing historical

outfits since I’m also a historical reenactor.

Priscilla - How has your relationship with God influenced your writing?

Jaye - It pretty much colors everything. I’m not even sure I know how to write a story that

doesn’t have a strong theme of faith.

Priscilla - Where can people find you and your books on the internet?

Jaye - You can find me on various social media platforms and on www.jayeelliot.com and

www.jayelknight.com. All of my books are on Amazon, and No Chance Meeting can

also be found through a variety of other eBook retailers.

Priscilla - Thank you so much for sharing with us! It was a real blessing to get to interview a fellow author. And to all of you readers out there, Jaye has two giveaways that she's holding. Check them out!

Giveaway #1
To celebrate the release of No Chance Meeting, Jaye is giving away a reader bundle that
includes a signed copy of NCM, a hand-painted watercolor bookmark, a coffee mug, and a bag
of Dove chocolates! Enter using the form below. U.S. entries only. Not open internationally.

Click here to enter the contest!

Giveaway #2
For her second giveaway, Jaye is offering 3 ebook copies of No Chance Meeting. Open
internationally!

Click here to enter the contest!

If you're interested in learning more about Jaye's new release, check out the blog tour schedule!

Here's the schedule for the rest of the book tour!

14 Ways to Get a Valentine Date

 In the past, I've done a humorous blog post about Valentine's Day. With 16 Ways to Avoid Getting a Valentine Date and 18 Excuses for Not Having a Valentine Date, I wasn't sure what to do this year, and then, someone suggested Ways to Get a Valentine Date.

   Now, like my other Valentine posts, I feel like I need a disclaimer. Maybe a few. For several reasons. One. I don't actually approve of trying to find a Valentine date. Relationships are not something to play with, they're a beautiful thing designed by God, and we shouldn't be out chasing guys trying to get a date for a night just to tell people we have one. So, by my posting this, I'm NOT saying I approve of any of the suggestions, and I do NOT recommend you try any of them! The story I shared about my friend, Why She's Glad She Didn't Flirt, really is true. Trusting God, following HIS leading, is the best way. I realize that looks different for everyone, but if God's at the center, it's right.

All that being said, why am I posting something about trying to get a Valentine date when I don't approve of any of my own suggestions? Well, if you're a single young adult, chances are, people are always trying to get you match made. Always trying to ask about your love-life, or lack thereof. These Valentine posts, are meant to be funny. Something to make you laugh, and maybe, if you're struggling to come up with good answers when people ask you how you're going to get a Valentine date, you can use one of these answers as a way to lighten the mood, and bring a smile to their faces.

 So, here it is. You need to do something with someone on Valentines so that you can tell people you had a date.

1.  Find a homeless guy and offer to buy him a meal.

2. Blackmail your brother. Or Clean his truck to get him to take you out.

3. Run your car battery dead and ask random guys to jump it. Then offer to buy him dinner.

4. Get hurt, call an ambulance, and hope there's a single paramedic.

5.  Run into guys in stores with shopping carts. Then apologize profusely.

6. Make friends with older ladies who have grandsons.

7. Get a job at a mechanic shop.

8.  Reserve a table for two at a nice restaurant, show up alone, and cry. Hopefully, some guy will be having a hard day too, and join you.

9. Go shopping at a sporting goods store looking for a gift for your dad for Valentines, and get a nice worker to help you out. Hopefully, he'll want to spend Valentines with someone who believes in buying sporting goods for Valentine presents.

10. Visit a gym, and ask all the guys for advice.

11. Text every guy in your contacts, surely one of them doesn't have plans.

12.  Put an ad in the paper. You'd be surprised how many other people are desperately searching for a date too. Only, use a fake name. If everyone knows you advertised for a date, it kind of defeats the purpose.

13. Go on a dating website and explain your predicament. Someone will help you out.

14. Go golfing on Valentines, and hire a caddie, then invite him out for dinner.

This day in History . . .

It's been a while since I've done one of these history posts, so here are some of the things that happened in history on February 4th.

  1789 - George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States of America.
 
 1847 - The first U.S. telegraph company was established in Maryland.

 1861 - The Confederate States of America were established.

 1902 - Charles Lindbergh was born.

 1932 - The first Winter Olympics were held in the United States at Lake Placid, NY.

 2004 - Facebook was founded.