A Melodious Sonnet

Public Service Announcement: Back Up Your Website!

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Two weeks ago, all the websites I manage (my book reviews website, Mom’s blog, and this blog) went down at the same time. Our web host was hacked and all their servers were wiped. That meant that it took a good week for our websites to come back online, and during that time, I really didn’t know whether to even hope for them to come back, or whether I’d have to rebuild them all again.

It was a test of faith, and honestly, I didn’t do very well at it.

Praise the Lord, we did get the websites back, and the backup our host had was two months old, so between the three websites, we didn’t lose a lot of posts. A little work was lost, but nothing like it could have been. I’m so grateful. Especially since I know that some people still haven’t recovered their websites, and it looks like at this point they likely won’t. I’m sorry for them, but what can we do?

It’s been interesting to see people’s responses to the problem—including my own! Some people were very angry, to the point of threatening lawsuits the longer the downtime lasted, others tried to encourage being patient with the company, and others tried to give helpful advice or resources to people who were feeling stuck. I found myself waffling between disappointed questions (“How could this have happened?”), searching questions (“Lord, can you please make sure we don’t lose it all?”), and too many what-ifs to count. This event brought together a scattered community of sorts—everyone was in the same boat, asking the same questions, and we had to support each other and wait to see what the news was as it all unfolded.

In retrospect, there isn’t a lot I could have done to prevent this from happening. My main takeaway from the event is to make sure I back up our websites at least once a month, so even if something does go terribly wrong, at least we won’t have lost too much! And if you run a website, I’d encourage you to do the same—make sure you have your own copy of your website somewhere besides just a backup on your hosts’ servers! After the servers were wiped, my backups weren’t there anymore, and even if they are supposed to be there, I still have no way to access them.

Our God is gracious, and it’s all worked out alright, despite my worries to the contrary. He is good!

How have you seen the Lord stepping in to help in your life lately?

Traveling, Home Time, and the Blessings of Life

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As I was mixing bread this morning, shaping loaves, and punching batches down to wait their turn, I was thinking about my neglected blog and all the hopes and dreams I had for this space when I finally finished the site shuffle and rebuilding I worked on last year. Many times in these past few months, I’ve thought that I ought to get something up. Even if not brilliant, or particularly encouraging or interesting, it’s still special to hear from old friends on their blogs, and that’s a gift I want to give to you, the reader, too.

It’s been an interesting year, jammed full of new experiences and old, familiar routines, growth and stress, strength and weariness.

So far this year, I’ve spent the majority of my time at home. I never thought of myself as a traveling sort of person, aside from the time when I was eight or nine and exclaimed to my mom, “I wish we could take a long trip!” . . . or something along those lines. I remember her smiling back at me from the front seat of our old white station wagon, “I’d much rather be home.” I love being home, too—the quiet, predictable routines, my enthusiastic siblings, my loving church family that often do feel more like family than friends. But some days, I’ve caught myself looking wistfully out at the mountains across the valley, wondering if the Lord will call me away to help another family at some stage, or if living at home has a special purpose for the season I’m in right now. As time has gone on, I’ve realized I miss traveling.

After living away from home for nearly a year several years ago, moving from one family’s home to the next, my life and experiences have broadened considerably. There’s something special about being invited into someone else’s life to share a few days, weeks, or months together while they’re going through a difficult season. Not only do you learn to know people on an entirely new level, but you get to know their friends and family as well. It’s a gift. Something precious. And in some ways, I miss that. I miss wondering where my next posting will be, and what new surprises the Lord has in store for the next chapter.

But even as I write the words, I realize there are surprises in the mundane as well. Special moments, like cuddling with my sisters while we read a story together, or watching my brothers’ eyes light up at the mention of fresh-baked bread and butter. Or when we have company, and the house rings with laughter as we swap tales and play a game of dominos or Imaginiff. Life is beautiful.

And as I reflect on life these past few months, I’m thankful. God has richly blessed me, and I don’t want to take it for granted.

Life changes all too swiftly to be taken for granted, anyway. Just a few weeks ago, I got a message out of the blue from a friend I’ve only chatted with two or three times. She was wondering if I could be a nanny for their two young children for two months later this year. Another friend—one I helped a year and a half ago—asked if I could come to be with her for a few weeks while she recovered from surgery. And yet another friend asked if there was a possibility I’d be able to help family members for a time. So far, I’ve agreed to the nannying job, even though I’ve never done anything quite like what I expect that to entail! But I love children and have loved the times I’ve spent helping various families, so I’m telling myself not to worry about it . . . too much. As for the other two needs, time will tell when or if either of those will eventuate.

Our God is a God of surprises. And as I wait for the next batch of bread to come out of the oven and the last batch to finish rising, I’m thankful to know that, one day at a time, He is leading and guiding my life.

I find great contentment in that.

The Master Craftsman: Book Review

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Over the last year or so, I’ve been on a split-time novel reading kick, so when I saw The Master Craftsman come up, I knew I wanted to read it. I haven’t read many books set in Russia, and as a history nut, if a book contains history AND a setting I’m unfamiliar with, my interest levels go up exponentially. I couldn’t wait to get into this story, and thankfully, it ended up near the beginning of my TBR queue.

And isn’t this cover beautiful?!

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which help support this blog at no added expense to you. Thanks! Also, the publisher, Revell, gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and all thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.

About the book:

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Fabergé, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history—an unknown Fabergé Egg that Peter Karl Fabergé secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial tsar’s family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family. 

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance—and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

This modern-day treasure hunt from award-winning author Kelli Stuart transports you into the opulent and treacherous world of the Russian Revolution to unearth mysteries long buried.

Buy yourself a copy | Add The Master Craftsman on Goodreads

My thoughts:

There was a lot to love about this story. There was also quite a bit that annoyed me.

First, the best part: The history! That section shone in my eyes! Prior to reading this book, I’m not sure I had ever heard the name Fabergé before—or if I had, it didn’t make enough of an impression to stick. Here, I got to know Karl Fabergé as a person, and though his life story was sad, the way he went about his own creative work and inspired the creativity of those around him was beautiful to see. I found myself marveling over and over as Kelli Stuart described some of his creations in detail—God has certainly implanted in us a desire to see, create, and share beauty!

The present-day portion was somewhat of a disappointment to me, though. I loved the way the events brought a splintered family back together again, but several of the characters had crushes on other characters, and the way they interacted at times annoyed me. I also felt like the ending was rather dramatic, even though it was a satisfying ending. Both are personal preference issues. 🙂 Also, this wasn’t a Christian story, as I was hoping it would be with the book coming from Revell.

Warnings: A few scenes of the Russian Revolution, an affair, and several people are killed.

Conclusion:

I’m glad I read The Master Craftsman—I feel like I learned a lot from it—but it wasn’t my favorite read of the year. The story as a whole didn’t feel as put-together as I was hoping, so while I enjoyed learning about the history, I found the reading experience a bit of a disappointment.

Verdict: 3.5 stars out of 5. Many thanks to Revell for giving me the chance to read this book!

What was the last book you read that included the Russian Revolution? Have you heard of Fabergé before?

Anything But Simple: Book Review and Blog Tour

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Well, here I am again with a book review of a book I think you will love! In my review of Turtle Heart, I mentioned this was an upcoming read, and let me tell you…I was not disappointed! I do wish I had had the chance to read this before Turtle Heart, simply because this gives a bit of background to that story, but I really don’t think it really matters. Both books are good, and both highly recommended.

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which help support this blog at no added expense to you. Thanks! Also, the author gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and all thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.

About the book:

Plain? Yes. Simple? Well…

If you live in a conservative Mennonite community, edges are sewn shut and questions have answers. So if you’ve got a saucy tongue and a roving curiosity about the world, you’ve got a story to tell.

As a schoolteacher in a small Mennonite school in rural Wisconsin, Lucinda J. Miller wears long dresses and a prayer covering. But she uses a cell phone and posts status updates on Facebook. So why would a young woman with access to all these technologies remain in a sheltered community like the Plain Mennonites? How can someone with an eye for beauty and a sometimes sardonic wit stay within a tradition that values discipline and submission and uniformity?

Anything But Simple is the stirring memoir of a young woman’s rich church tradition, lively family life, and longing for a meaningful future within her Mennonite faith.

Buy yourself a copy | Add Anything But Simple on Goodreads

My thoughts:

I was greatly impressed by Lucinda’s writing style. It’s fresh, clean, honest, and heartfelt. After getting to know her in Turtle Heart, I was excited to hear more of her story in this book—and it didn’t disappoint.

One thing I loved about this book was how Lucinda described growing up as a Mennonite. I’ve been blessed with a rich Christian heritage, and before reading this book, I thought I had a fairly good grasp on the typical Anabaptist groups, their core beliefs, and how that worked out in their own lives. My grandparents on both sides are part of the German Baptist church; my parents were raised German Baptists and later joined a non-denominational Anabaptist-influenced church, and since we moved to New Zealand when I was 11, we have always attended conservative churches here.

But what surprised me in this book was how open Lucinda was about what it means to her to be a Mennonite—and the incongruities she has found while in that church setting. Many things she mentioned felt somewhat familiar to me; other things were unexpectedly foreign. This wasn’t a treatise on “101 Reasons to Become a Mennonite”; it’s the story of a woman growing up in a loving family with a faith, understanding their faults, but ultimately loving the way both her beliefs and her family support her in her journey to love and follow the Lord more.

What I felt like this book did was take something that can feel so removed from “normal” society—a relatively small branch of the Christian faith—and put it into understandable terms that we all can relate to. Through her brilliant way of bringing us into her life, Lucinda’s “normal” can become our own for a few moments—and we can feel that, underneath everything else, none of us are really that much different from anyone else. Our labels may be different, but our hearts are the same—to seek Jesus more, and follow Him more closely.

Anything But Simple was a refreshing read, and I’ve come away with a lot of food for thought. I’m thankful I finally got to read Lucinda’s story, and I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes open for any books she may come out with in the future!

About the author:

Lucinda J Miller Kinsinger has always viewed herself as a shy little Mennonite girl, but refuses to let that stop her from pursuing what she loves—whether that’s writing with honesty and vulnerability or traveling to a remote village in China. In 2019, she married Ivan, the love of her life, and moved from the flat, tree-lined fields of her childhood home in Wisconsin to the rolling hills of Garrett County, Maryland. The couple has a baby daughter, Annalise. Since the publication of Anything but Simple, Lucinda has published a second memoir, Turtle Heart: Unlikely Friends with a Life-Changing Bond. She is columnist for Anabaptist World and blogs at lucindajkinsinger.com.

Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Lucinda is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book. Be sure to comment on the blog stops (below) for nine extra entries into the giveaway. Go here to enter.

The other blog stops:

Texas Book-aholic, April 2
A Reader’s Brain, April 3
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 3
Inklings and notions, April 4
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 5
All-of-a-kind Mom, April 5
She Lives To Read, April 6
deb’s Book Review, April 7
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 8
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 10
The Avid Reader, April 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 11
Rebecca Tews, April 12
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 12
Sodbuster Living, April 13
Boondock Ramblings, April 13
Vicky Sluiter, April 14
For Him and My Family, April 14
Spoken from the Heart, April 15

Turtle Heart: Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway…

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I came across Lucinda’s blog quite a few years ago, a chance encounter that eventuated in becoming a dedicated follower because her writing blessed and intrigued me. Who was this Mennonite girl who wrote with such depth of meaning and big words? I hadn’t met many fellow Anabaptists online up to that point, so hearing her perspective was refreshing. Time came and went. She published her first book, Anything but Simple, and though the synopsis intrigued me, I never took the time to try to find a copy for myself (psst! Lord willing, I’ll be reading that one soon—so watch this space for my review!). Then her picture book came out, from a publisher we often order schoolbooks from, so I asked Mom to buy it. That was a fun read.

Years went by, and one day, she announced that Turtle Heart was releasing! I vaguely remember some mentions of a person named Charlene on her blog, but never took a lot of notice of them. By that time, I’d had a little more to do with Lucinda, and knew I wanted to read it . . . so when the opportunity for participating in a blog tour came up, it wasn’t a hard decision to join in.

Turtle Heart blog tour

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which help support this blog at no added expense to you. Thanks! Also, the author gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and all thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.

About the book:

Turtle Heart by Lucinda J. Kinsinger

What happens when a sheltered young Mennonite befriends an ornery old Ojibwe woman in order to lead her to Christ—and finds that old woman has more to teach her about God and humanity than she ever dreamed? These two women from widely differing cultures and belief systems soon build a connection that runs deeper than their differences. Kinsinger’s memoir of friendship reads like a novel, at once riveting and introspective, timeless and surprising.

Turtle Heart: Unlikely Friends with a Life-Changing Bond invites you into the world and perspective of a young Mennonite woman who allows love to lead her beyond her comfort zone into uncharted territory.

Buy yourself a copy | Add Turtle Heart on Goodreads

My thoughts:

Turtle Heart is little like I expected it to be. Written more like a novel and less the realistic recounting of incidents than I thought, it gripped my heart and pulled me into Lucinda’s world—a world quite unlike my own, but very like it in some ways. Honest, thorough, stated as it was, I felt like I was experiencing the events along with Lucinda in her early twenties.

It takes a certain kind of bravery to write a book like this. Bravery to pull together the thoughts and conversations you’d rather forget about, despite them making up a part of the story as a whole. Bravery to state the world as you see it, without pretense or derision, or bowing to what’s currently popular. Bravery to be you, without apology.

This story is a deep dive into what it means to love someone as Jesus loves. Not always perfectly or beautifully, sometimes mixed with a heavy dose of ulterior motives, but in its purest, most beautiful sense. In a world where it feels like there is more splintering than mending, where shunning is preferred to openhearted forgiveness, where there is division instead of the acceptance that we are all in need of grace, this book is a breath of fresh air and a reminder that ultimately, we are all God’s children and we all need each other.

Honest, thoughtful, beautiful, and heartfelt. Those are a few of the many adjectives I have to describe this book. Be prepared to be challenged, blessed, and inspired by this read. I certainly was, and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of my own!

About the author:

Lucinda J Kinsinger has always viewed herself as a shy little Mennonite girl but refuses to let that stop her from pursuing what she loves—whether that’s writing with honesty and vulnerability or traveling to a remote village in China. She is the author of two memoirs—Turtle Heart: Unlikely Friends with a Life Changing Bond and Anything But Simple: My Life as a Mennonite, as well as a children’s book, The Arrowhead.  She writes a column for Anabaptist World Review and blogs at lucindajkinsinger.com. Lucinda lives with her farmer husband Ivan and her baby daughter Annalise in the rolling hills of Oakland, Maryland.

Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Lucinda is giving away the grand prize package of a 50 Amazon gift card with a copy of the book! Be sure to comment on the blog stops below for nine extra entries into the giveaway. Go here to enter.

The other blog stops:

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 5
Texas Book-aholic, March 7
All-of-kind Mom, March 8
Lots of Helpers, March 9
Inklings and notions, March 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 11
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 12
deb’s Book Review, March 13
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 14
For Him and My Family, March 15
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 16
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 17
Mary Hake, March 17
By the Book, March 18

What was the last memoir that blessed, challenged, or encouraged you in a profound way?