VBS!

So, our church did Vacation Bible School a little later this summer than normal, and obviously, things had to be run slightly differently, but we still had a great group, and I'm SO thankful for all of the people who helped out!

Thank you, everyone who prayed! God really blessed this past week, and we saw several children get saved. I had the opportunity to pray with a girl and it just reminded me of the joy of Salvation!

This little niece seemed to be trying to strangle me with her hug!

But aunt-life is the best so I don't mind! :) 

Have a Great Week!

4th of July!

  While things were a little different this year for the 4th, I still had a wonderful time celebrating Independence Day with family.

I made frosted-lemonade, which I'd heard about many times but never taken the time to make before. It was every bit as good as everyone said!

Recently, I got this new .22, and Mom customized the stock for me with her cricket machine. I love the dot scope!

Matching necklaces!

I hadn't been fishing in years, so getting out on the water again was amazing!! I did get a sunburn, but it was TOTALLY worth it! We had great weather, great fishing, and great fellowship!

Happy Independence Day!

Cousins for Life

Helping out at a Vacation Bible School is always fun, but especially when you get to go out for coffee afterwards with awesome cousins!!

And running game time is fun . . . but working with cousins can bring out a weird side of me . . . But seriously! If someone asks you to hold their hat and glasses . . . why not have some fun!

Praise God for a great week of Vacation Bible School where many children got to hear the Word of God and hide it in their hearts.

With summer, I've had to majorly cut back on my writing and while I still do a bit here and there, I'm looking forward to this fall when I can get back at it full force. :) 

Unlocked Devotionals

  Over the past year, I've had the opportunity to write a few articles for the Unlocked teen devotionals. If you're familiar with Keys For Kids, Unlocked is the same ministry, just the teen branch.

   The devotionals are available online, in print, or as audio, and they're always looking for new writers. If you're interested in submitting some articles to them, it's super easy to do it here. https://unlocked.org/writers-guidelines/

Thoughts From The Past

I've been reading back in my blog posts lately. In some ways, it's like reading my diary. So, I thought I'd share this post from Monday, March 21, 2016. While things have changed in my life, God hasn't changed. He's the same yesterday, today, and FOREVER.


What writing has taught me about God being in control.

When I was writing 'Adventures of Amy' book four, (Never Forget,) I said something to my sister. I'm not sure what my exact wording was but it was something like this...

    "It sure is stressful being in control of so many people. I mean I have to decide everything about my characters... their gender, their hair color, where they live, how they talk, if they live or die and... well EVERYTHING! I'm sure glad God's in control of real people because it's hard work making these decisions."

 That got me thinking about all the little things God has to plan about each and every one of us. I mean God has to decide when we live and die, what we look like, what family we have and tons of other things.

  We often like to have control over some of these things, but next time you feel like God's not being fair with you and you wish he would change the way He made you or something, just remember that it's God's love for you that doesn't let you have control over every area of your life. God knows that we would get worn out really fast if we had control over some things in our lives and I think it's best for us to just leave them to God and trust Him.

  I heard a quote the other day, not sure where it came from, but it says, "When God pushes you to the cliff edge of your life and you can't hold on any more, relax... God will either catch you when you fall, or He will teach you how to fly." I think too often we complain about circumstances in our lives that we have no control over, when really, we should be thanking God for providing opportunities for us to grow in grace.

   You may look at the circumstances in your life and doubt God's love, but we're not supposed to be caught up in life's circumstances. We're supposed to keep our eyes on Jesus, and when the cross is always in sight, doubting God's love shouldn't happen. I heard someone say once, "I'm doing the best I can, under the circumstances." The real question is, "What are you doing under the circumstances?" We shouldn't be bogged down by circumstances! God's in control, you don't have to worry.

We can't always see God's hand, but rest assured, it's there.

How's Your Attitude?

I was looking back on this post from October of 2018, and a poem that I shared. It's still true today. The only difference between a good day, and a bad day, is our attitude.

http://priscillakrahn.blogspot.com/2018/10/trauma-drama-vs-peace.html

Bible Bee and Book Spotlight

Since I aged out of Bible Bee, I haven't done much in-depth study. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it, and how much there is to learn from deeply studying the Word of God!

It’s June 1st people!!!! And this year, as a local host, I’m back at it. Already, it’s been SO fun and a real blessing! It's amazing the things that pop out from God's Word when you're truly seeking God with your whole heart.

This year, we’re studying’TRUST’ through the life of Joseph. Joseph is one of my FAVORITE Bible characters, and his life is such an example!!

You think your family is mean?
You think you’re treated wrong?
You think you’ve been falsely accused?
You think your life is ruined?

SO did Joseph! But he trusted God through it all, and God uses it for incredible good! If ever anyone had the right to be bitter, hurt and angry, it was Joseph, but instead of reacting, he trusted God. He knew God was good no matter what, and he rested in that.

In these crazy times we live in it's easy to get stressed, angry, frustrated, and even bitter, but we don't have to! We can trust God like Joseph did. We can trust God no matter what.

It's been SO good to be back in deep-study mode!

What have you been studying in God’s Word lately?


Also, I've been slowly doing a book spotlight of each of my books with a bit of information about where the idea came from and other interesting facts about the book. This week, it's Ty Carson!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT - TY CARSON

Growing up on a farm, Dad always had groups of boys helping out around the place and sometimes, I felt like we lived in a boys' home. After a fun year of farm/boys camp, I got the idea to write a series of books about a boys home.

Watching these young guys provided plenty of inspiration, and in the process of writing it I'm sure I drove some of them crazy with questions.

Unlike my previous books that had one strong major driving theme or theme verse, Ty Carson took a different direction with each book following his day-to-day struggles.

People have been asking if I'm planning on adding to the series. The answer is yes, but not yet. I've already started on a rough draft for book four, and I have the basic outline for book five, but they're currently on hold as I work on finishing up a few other projects. So, yes, I want more Ty Carson books too! But it may be a few years before they're ready.

Petunias, Maze Work, and Masks

So, with all the talk about masks, and what kinds are best, and how you should make them, and where you're required to wear them, and how to get out of wearing them, I decided to just go with this mask!

Okay, so I didn't actually leave the house with this!!! I was just having some fun. :)

When Miriam and I go for walks, we often pass this sign with the faded heart, and I always get the urge to bring a red marker, and grammatically correct it. 

Like this . . . Only don't panic, I haven't actually done it!

Miriam and I have been doing some odd jobs around the maze, including sanding these pews down and painting them for benches.

And it's petunia season again! With a mile and a half of plowed dirt, two semi-trailers of flowers, and a great crew, we were happy to get them in the ground.

And, of course, I've been working on several books. I just talked with two of my editors yesterday, so I've got some updating to do on my PK Detective book, The Clue in the Pulpit.

15 Favorite Tween Books

  Recently, I've had several people ask me about books for 11-13 year-old readers. What books do I recommend? So, I've put together a list of books that either I loved as a tween, (and still do love), or books that my nieces love.
 
Now, I have to say, I'm super conservative and picky about books. I don't like books where the kids are brats, and I don't like books that delve into fantasy. So, if you're looking for fantasy or sci-fi, you probably won't find any on this list.
   
   I don't have any specific order to these, so I'm going to just start naming them.

1. Sherlock Jones Series, by Ed Dunlop 

2. Peabody Adventures, by Jeri Massi

3. Arby Jenkins, by Sharon Hambrick 

4. The Adventures of Arty Anderson Series, by Mark Redmond

5. The Accidental Detectives, by Sigmund Brouwer

6. The Young Refugee Triology, by Ed Dunlop 

7. Gatlin Fields series, by Sandra Waggoner

8. Freedom Seekers, by Lois Walfrid Johnson 

9. The Northwoods Adventures, by Lois Walfrid Johnson 

10. The Wall Series, by Robert Elmer

11. Adventures Down Under, by Robert Elmer

12. The Jed Cartwright series, by Ed Dunlop

13. The Missionary Adventures of Bob and Arty, by Jeff Barth

14. The Ivan books, by Myrna Grant

15. The Scripture Sleuth, by Mat Halverson


And then, I have a few books that I've written for those ages.

The Mystery in the Corn Maze

The Ty Carson Series

The Adventures of Amy

I hope these books will be a blessing to you and your young readers!