Category: Work

Bethany's Announcement

7/13/2014

In my last post, ‘Life Changes’, I told you that I will be scaling back my volunteer time because of some recent life changes. It is mainly one life change.

That life change is the start of a part-time job with a local crisis pregnancy center organization (CPC). This is the same CPC organization that I had already been volunteering with at the Centers on a weekly basis. The administrative office had an opening for a part-time Administrative Assistant. I applied for the position and, after an interview and prayer, I was accepted on team. I start my first day tomorrow, the 14th of July. Thankfully, they generously allowed me to re-work my hours so I can still volunteer at a center every week.

So how will this change the way my life is right now? Besides scaling back my volunteer time there are a few other things. Here are the pros and cons:

Pros:

-This job provides a godly, wholesome work environment where I can work with other Christians.

-Having this job gives me the ability to support one of my favorite ministries and improve my skills in various areas of life.

-I will still be able to do 2 of my 3 jobs. I babysit early in the mornings and that job is on my way to work and let’s me get to work with about 40 minutes to spare. In those 40 minutes I can work on my online job with Rawlife.com. Also, I can spend my 30 minute lunch break processing orders. However, I can no longer nanny the 4 year old boy because I’ll be working until 2:30 most days. So, now Emily will be his care giver.

Cons:

-More time working means less time cooking. I love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen.

-I probably won’t get to do the grocery shopping as often.

-It will be harder to make time for special events and traveling.

I am excited to start this job because I believe this is where Yahweh wants me right now. Or to put it in Christianese- This is where the Lord has me for this season of life ;)

Shalom.

Bethany :)

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Life Changes

7/7/2014

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Hey, it’s me, Bethany. Remember me? I’m one of those girls who wrote for this blog a long, long time ago.

Here’s an update on what has been going on here.

At the beginning of March, my dad informed me that Paul Nison (an acquaintance of ours) had posted a job opening on his Facebook page. The job was part-time and could be done from anywhere as long as internet is available. After prayerfully considering the position, I shot Paul a private message to let him know of my interest in the position. Paul quickly got back to me and hired me after a phone interview, sharing the job description and hours I would work. Working for Paul these past few months has been fun and somewhat challenging. It can be difficult to work-in time to ‘do the orders’ but I’m getting the hang of it.

Last fall, Emily and I had signed up to attend Purify 2014, however, not enough people signed up for the event and it was cancelled. As bummed as we were that it was cancelled, we were excited to learn that Jocelin was organizing a ‘Singles mini-weekend’ over that same weekend. Attending the mini-weekend was such an encouragement to me and my single sisters (Lydia went with us!). We carpooled with our friends and shared some fun times together (including a stop to horse back ride). As sole driver to and from the weekend, my right arm was noticeably darker then the other for weeks!

Speaking of sun exposure, we Potts kids had the wildly amazing opportunity to go to Florida for the first time in our short lives! We went to Jacksonville for the Revive 2014 Conference and made a great time of it.

Clayton had just challenged me to a race. He lost. :)

My dad planned for us to leave a day early so we could play in the ocean, which we did, it was a very enjoyable outing. Of course, for the rest of the conference we all looked like lobsters… but it was worth it.

Revive is a Hebraic Roots conference hosted by HRN (The Hebraic Roots Network). It is a conference that has speakers, worship, and fun activities. Every day there was a general session which would consist of Praise and worship (through song and dance), a speaker (the speakers included; Rico Cortez, Ed Harris and Brad Scott) and various breakout sessions. Many times it was hard to pick which breakout session to attend!! Who wants to be forced to pick between dance class or listening to John Diffenderfer give a breakout session called “The Marriage Commandments: Ten Keys to Bliss” (I picked the dance class, by the way. I can always buy an mp3 of John D’s message). One of the activities I attended was the Youth Pizza Party, even though I’m not a youth and I didn’t eat pizza. All my siblings are youth and they did have pizza, and most of my friends were there, so I got permission to attend and had a great conversation with my new friend, Rachel D.

Paul Nison also attended the conference and I was able to help him run his table in the marketplace… actually I just stood around and watched Paul run it. It was really just a one person job, so Paul said I should just run along and socialize.

On the last night, as group of us sat socializing near the top of the escalators, we were throwing ideas around about starting a ministry that focuses on the weightier matters of the law without neglecting the rest (Matthew 23:23). One of the main goals is to encourage each other to be actively involved in our communities. It’s so refreshing to know that it’s not just me and my friends, in our little town, who have these desires and goals. As we were formulating ideas for what this group would be and do, someone suggested we go to the Father in prayer and ask that whatever we do would bring glory to him. We joined hands in prayer as one of the guys prayed aloud and the rest of us joined him as one heart. Less then a minute after the ‘amen’ was said, a woman came up the escalator and informed us that there was a homeless man outside who was asking for eight dollars. She told him that she knew of some people who may be able to help him and that’s when she came to us. We all knew what we needed to do and we followed the woman outside and to the homeless man.

As I walked to the bench he was sitting on, I could see the troubled man; he looked discouraged, head hanging as he looked into the palms of his hands. I followed the others as, one by one, we shook his hand. His name was James and he needed eight dollars. We all knew that he needed more than eight dollars, but he softly insisted that he only needed eight dollars. My friend, Caleb, took the lead communicated our collective desire to share what we had with him. Christian also spoke, telling James what had just transpired upstairs. We asked James if and how we could pray for him. As Caleb prayed, I was overcome with a feeling to give my bible to James. I thought, “Is God asking me to give my bible away? My bible? I can’t do that!”. Surely he wasn’t asking me to give up my bible, it had been mine for years, ever since I was a Christian and was filled with all sorts of notes, dates-to-remember and even pictures. My heart sank and my eyes filled with tears, as I protested in my heart the feeling would not go away- so I prayed “make me willing”. Then, after Caleb finished praying, we all gave to James some money. I then knelt down next to James, where I was standing, and asked him, “James, do you have a Bible?”. I prayed that he would say ‘yes’ and I could keep mine. “No”, he said quietly. I pulled my cherished bible from my bag and gave it to James. I felt relief, joy and sadness rush through my heart as that book left my hands. I told him that he could have my bible if he promised to read it.., he solemnly promised he would. Soon others were giving from their hearts as well, Shanteyl gave a small bottle of anointing oil and Chris gave a bottle of essential oils. After another prayer and some encouraging words we returned to the hotel, believing in our hearts that we had just left James with more then eight dollars; we left him with hope.

In awe of how God had just worked, we continued the late night planning until the group dropped off, one by one, each person needing sleep for their journey home the next morning.

We are still in the process of organizing this ministry, but already this group has provided young adults with a place of encouragement from their peers. These peers have the same desire to serve as Yeshua served; the same desire to love as Yeshua loved; and the same desire to give an answer for the hope that is in us, to anyone who asks.

This is a random picture of Clayton in a strawberry field.

Ironically, even though I am now a part of a ministry that encourages people to be involved in their communities, I must scale back my time spent volunteering because of some recent life changes. I will be writing about those life changes in my next post.

Until then,

Shalom,

Bethany :)

Some of us participated in this flash mob at Revive 2014

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Preparing to be a Stay-at-home Wife

3/21/2014

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Preparing to be a Stay-at-home Wife*

The title of this post comes from a thoughtful question that was asked of us by a reader of our blog. (everydaysetapart. com) Here is what she asked: “How [do you] prepare to be a stay at home wife while being a stay at home daughter?”

First of all, I would refer back to the Daughters of Yah series we posted back in July. These are articles written by young women (some stay-at-home daughters, some not) that are all desiring, seeking, and walking in God’s will for their life. All of these daughters are beautiful and unique- as they should be! God never intended that we all be perfect little replicas of one ideal.

Think about it like this- in America we all follow (or *should* follow) the same laws but within those laws there is freedom and diversity; Joe can be a Goat Herd on a mountain; George can be an acrobat and Charlie can open a Kosher Deli. God’s Word is our Christian Law and within that Law there is freedom and diversity; Naomi can study herbalism, farming, and agriculture; Samantha can choreograph her own dances and form a dance team; and Elizabeth can continue to develop her cooking skills while also taking online classes on business management. It would be a tragedy if George decided to open a restaurant because that’s what Charlie is doing (and Charlie is an excellent example of godly manhood! Shouldn’t George try to be like him??). Or if Charlie stopped pursuing his potential business because Joe’s life looks so radically different from his own. God calls us all to do different jobs and to different ways of life- So let me encourage you to be who God has called you to be, not who He’s calling Samantha to be! If you ‘seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness’ your life will be different from everyone else’s and very different from the worlds ideal.

While my sister, Naomi, was a daughter-at-home she had certain skills she sought to develop, such as; understanding and applying Scripture, herbalism, farming, agriculture, prenatal care, midwifery, mothering/child rearing, and hospitality. The way in which she pursued each of these interests might be different than the way you pursue them, if you choose to pursue them at all. She also devoted time to helping at our local food pantry/women’s shelter and thrift shop and Nannying for our neighbor. Maybe God isn’t calling you to that particular type of ministry. Naomi was able to use all these skills as a daughter-at-home and Yahweh knew that Naomi would eventually use the knowledge and materials she acquired as a stay-at-home wife. Yes, that’s right! Naomi’s life as a stay-at-home daughter prepared her to be a stay-at-home wife! If Naomi had tried to emulate the way someone else lives her life as a stay-at-home daughter then she would not have been as well prepared for her life now, as a wife to Joe. The skills she pursued as a stay-at-home daughter laid the perfect foundation for what she is learning and doing now, as a wife.

Here’s a look into my life right now. My skills and interests are somewhat different from Naomi’s but we still have some things in common. I am seeking to develop skills in writing, painting, cooking, menu planning, and nannying - as well as increasing my knowledge of Scripture and its application, the Hebrew language, biblical health, and fitness, parenting and wifering (My Definition: Skills that are involved in being a good, biblical wife… surprisingly much the same as being a good daughter, sister and friend… but not exactly).

I am also following Yeshua’s (Jesus) example of a servant by serving as receptionist at a few of our local Life Centers (a pro-life organization) and shadowing in the counseling room in order to become a Peer Counselor myself. It’s important to remember that this type of outreach may not be possible for all stay-at-home daughters. I only have four younger siblings (Clayton and Sherman are 12 and 14; Lydia and Emily are 16 and 18) who do not require ‘looking after’ or cleaning up after (or shouldn’t ;) ). Also, Emily and Lydia need to learn important homemaking skill too! It wouldn’t be right for me to take over all the menu planning, cooking, cleaning etc… Don’t leave your sisters without opportunities to help in your eagerness to prepare. But also don’t leave all of the homemaking responsibilities to others while you pursue your own ministries. I have time to pursue outside ministry and you may not, that’s okay! We have no farm with animals (however, we’d like to, eventually), no elderly grandparent(s) or pregnant mom that needs my help… do you get my point? I have time. In my life, right now, I have time! And you may not. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have time for outreach because you are doing “within-reach” by ministering in your own home. If cooking needs done, then cook. If it’s cleaning that your mother needs help with, then clean. Every life is different. But if you have the time, resources and your parent’s approval, then be the hands and feet of Jesus to the needy.

In her book, No More Wasted Years, Olivia Brodock suggests ways that women can build their skill set for both stay-at-home daughterhood and marriage. Taking a counseling course is one of the recommended things. I have wanted to volunteer with Life Centers for years but I didn’t know how, and I was too young to pursue a position as a peer counselor. Reading that suggestion in her book reminded me that I am old enough now. I talked with my parents and they agreed with Olivia; everyone at some point will offer counsel to someone, so you might as well know how to do it in a biblical, compassionate and loving way! I feel that the training and, one day, actual counseling has and will continue to equip me with skills needed to be an active listener. Being an active listener will enable me to become a better sister, friend and one day, wife.

Olivia also talks about goal setting, the importance of serving your family and how we should never stop learning. While I don’t agree with everything in Olivia’s book (such as her recommended reading list), I did find her book to be helpful and thought provoking. No More Wasted years is written in short, to-the-point chapters that are able to be read even on a busy day.

If you’re having trouble filling your days as a stay-ay-home daughter then maybe this book will help you with the different ideas Olivia gives. Talk with your parents and see if they have things for you to do at home first!

Lastly, I’d like to remind us all (including me!) that it’s important to have balance. Remember the past, so that you can learn from it- but don’t live in it. Look to the future, so that you can prepare for it- but don’t live in it. Live today. Obey what God has for you to do today. Obedience today is the best preparation for tomorrow.

Bethany

*in case it isn't clear enough from the post; being a stay-at-home wife or daughter does not mean that we stay at home all day, everyday. In fact, the opposite is true! I am busy inside and outside the home! A stay-at-home daughter is a woman who chooses to remain in her parents home until marriage. Living at home has many advantages to both daughter and parents, spiritually, financially etc. However, it is not for everyone, every situation is different.

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Rise up - review 2!

1/15/2014

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Alright, Bethany wrote a review on Rise Up and now I am going to give you my point of view. For your information this IS from my point of view, I am not comparing mine to Bethany's so I might say some of the same things as she did :).

The reason I started to work out was because I wanted to get fit. I have also changed my eating habits since I have started working out. Changing my eating habits helped a lot towards getting fit. At first it was very hard to get up in the morning, so one way that helped me was I had Bethany get me up. I found it is so much easier to get up when somebody woke me up rather then waking up to an alarm and it being quit easy to reach over, turn it off and go back to sleep. So if you have trouble waking up, have someone wake you in the morning.

When I started to workout, Rise up wasn't easy, but when I had been doing it for a while it got easier and easier so I did the exercises faster and added some movements to make it more of a challenge. One of the ways to do this includes doing jumping jacks instead of a half jacks (a jumping with only half your body at a time). One of the things I really appreciated about this particular workout was the moves are simple and very easy to follow.

Throughout the workout Jennifer is always positive. A scripture is shared at the beginning of all her videos. She also is modestly dressed as well as if anyone who joins her. When explaining the moves there is not a lot of direction, but this doesn't matter as the moves are easy.

When doing "Rise Up", you NEED to make sure you resist or you won't feel or look any different. If you just go through the motion without resisting you won't get any stronger or lose weight. If you only go through the motions then the workout will be too easy. I have been working out for about a year now and have noticed some positive differences in my energy level, I feel more productive since I have been working out.

Although I really liked "Rise Up" when I first began working out, I don't do it as often now, it's too hard to add enough things to the workout to make it challenging.

If your goal IS to lose weight then you can do it with this program. However that is not my goal, my goal is to keep active stay healthy and strong (and gain strength). For me to NOT lose any weight I eat more than I would if I wasn't working out. I can also stand to have more high calorie foods then someone who is trying to lose weight.

I hope you have fun trying out this new workout! Have a great day!

So long!
Lydia

Here's a link to Bethany's Review- Rise Up- A Review

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Cardboard Boxes

9/1/2013

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Cardboard Boxes

As I write this article, Naomi’s and my room is a mess. There’s no other word to describe to you the stack of various sized cardboard boxes that have been haphazardly stacked on top of one another and so causing them to lean precariously to the right. Along with these boxes are books, a plastic tote, clothing and blankets all littering the once cleared floor of our bedroom. But this mess is not without excuse, it is just the result of today’s attempt to pack more boxes for Naomi’s big move. You see, she prepares to enter her new home with her husband- Joe. She has organized all her ‘worldly possessions’ (as a friend puts it) and carefully separated the essentials; clothing, books, crafting supplies and her collection of hope chest items, from the fluff; silly papers that somehow made their way into her drawers and boxes, some of her never started craft projects, random puzzles without all the pieces etc… I’m not sure Naomi has ever thoroughly inspected the contents of her drawers and boxes. This is one area in which Naomi and I are different. When it comes to our material possessions I am continually going through my things, weeding out anything that is uselessly taking up space or is not an essential to my life now or for the future. Every time I go through my things I am amazed at just how much junk I have acquired in relatively short amounts of time, which is why I find it necessary to go through this ‘cleansing’ on a regular basis. Every year I go through all my things (drawers, closet, school shelf, basically anywhere in the house that holds my things). This usually takes place around Passover season and then I may choose just one area to organize at other random times of the year.

Heart Boxes

Just like our earthly belongings need cleaned out from time to time, our spiritual lives can also use thorough cleaning too. If you just allow thoughts and attitudes to pile up in the caverns of your heart, unchecked, they can form into deadly habits. As these habits build up they clutter our lives and become an eyesore to the people around us (not to mention God Himself). Here’s an example of how these thoughts and attitudes pile up. Pretend that my heart contains boxes; each box is labeled and contains many things. Now pretend that I see the box labeled “Exercise”, this box represents all my thoughts and attitudes toward physical exercise. I could think “Oh yes, I workout 6 days a week this box is a good box to keep around” but what if I look inside this box and I see some bad habits that snuck into my box (or maybe I knew they were there but I chose to ignore them) such as; Thinking “I must be thin to be healthy” which can cause the bad habits of over training, under eating, or neglecting God and others in order to exercise. I have been guilty of allowing thoughts like these to grow in my heart and (at one point) take over my life. Now that thought is replaced with “Being thin does not necessarily mean I’m healthy and being healthy may not make me thin”, “God made me and He knows what the best size is for me”. As long as I am taking care to eat biblically (Clean, not in excess and wisely- any ‘fool’ knows that marshmallow fluff isn’t going to be a substantial meal) and exercise (especially because my American life could easily become rather sedentary) then I can be comfortable with the shape and size that I am. Here’s another box in my heart and it’s called “Blog”. Starting a blog as a way to encourage others had been a great idea so for idea but I must constantly watch this box to be sure that bad habits don’t form. I’ve read a few articles by girls who confessed to spending more time encouraging ‘others’ than encouraging their own family. For me, it’s good to remember that blogging is a tool. Like other technological ‘tools’ it can help me or harm me. God can work through tools (like blogs) but so can the adversary. A blog in and of itself is not good or bad but it’s how it is used. This applies to many areas of life. Use this ‘heart box’ analogy in your own life. Here are some boxes you could start with; “Music”, “Daily Bible Reading”, or “Family”.

Burning the Junk

As our junk piles up in my life I become attached to it… I remember how painful it was (at first) to cut back on my exercise in order to dedicate that time to more useful things. In the same way, it was sad for me when I had to get rid of some of my junk I had become attached to in my closet; Shirts too threadbare to wear, smiley face beads that I found in a parking lot, ridiculous things! Please understand that I am not saying that it’s a sin to collect ‘things’ or to never organize your possessions, I’m just pointing out parallels I see between physical and spiritual. So, while not a sin in and of itself there are some verses that I would propose to you support the idea of a thorough ‘cleansing’ of our possessions…

Deuteronomy 7:26-27 “The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction”

As Naomi was going through one of her boxes last week she discovered a certificate from a karate school that we used to attend. Upon closer inspection I realized that there was a picture of the pagan water goddess printed on the top. The boys and I had a great time ‘burning it with fire’. This is just a silly idea to people who don’t believe in God’s Word but I believe that He means what He says. It may be a good idea to go through your things with Deuteronomy 7:26-27 in mind. I think it’s surprising that we still had that pagan god’s image in our house even though we searched so carefully during Hanukah!

Another verse that supports a cleansing of possessions is Exodus 12:15-

“For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.”

Who knows you may have a package of snack crackers in an old backpack. You never know where leaven might be lurking. I haven’t found leaven in my closet yet but one time our friends found half a PB&J sandwich on top of a horizontal support beam in the basement.

The Day of Atonement is getting close and we remember the atoning sacrifice of Yeshua for our sins. He loved us enough to die. Now I will choose to die to my sinful nature and it’s a choice I must make every day, even multiple times a day.

As Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) approaches, diligently search your heart and your home for anything that is against His Word… and burn it.

Bethany

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Whole Wheat Banana Rhubarb Bread Recipe

8/19/2013

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I had never cooked with rhubarb before... until our friends gave us some from the overflow from their friend's garden. Their friends happened to be our friends too and I want to share this recipe with them :) The friends of the friends I mean.

Since rhubarb has a lemony tartness many people use it in recipes that require large amount of sugar. I am a bit of a health nut and didn't want to make a sugary rhubarb dessert. This is when I turned to my best source for recipe ideas. After googling "Healthy Rhubarb Bread" I decided to get more specific and search the internet for "Healthy Whole Wheat Banana Rhubarb Bread Recipe". I figured that a recipe with bananas in it would help cover the rhubarb's tartness without using as much sugar. If I was making this recipe for myself I would have halved the sugar but I was making it for my family too so I thought it best to leave the recipe alone.

It's a slightly altered recipe from SnoWhite from Finding Joy in My Kitchen

It is a tasty recipe so I thought I'd share it.

Whole Wheat Banana Rhubarb Bread

Ingredients

1 C sucanat or sugar
½ C honey
2/3 C plain yogurt (slightly heaping)
3 medium bananas, mashed
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 C spelt (or flour of your choice)
½ tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
Splash of milk (if needed)
1 ½ C chopped rhubarb

Directions

Cream together the sugar with yogurt. Add in honey, mashed bananas, eggs and vanilla. Mix.

Pour in flour, salt and baking soda. Stir well.

If batter is overly thick, add in a splash or two of milk (up to 1/2 C) to thin slightly. The batter will be thick, but shouldn’t be like cement :)

Stir in chopped rhubarb.

Pour into 2 lightly greased 8-inch bread pans.

Bake at 350 for until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (about an hour then check it every 5 minutes). If I remember correctly my loaves took around 70 minutes.

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My Journaling Journey

7/16/2013

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28 of the 30-something journals I've filled over the years. I arranged them from my first journal (bottom right) to my latest (top left)

I’ve been a regular journaler for nearly 7 years. Journaling is a deeply personal hobby that requires perseverance and time commitment. The rewards of journaling include; the ability to read memories from the past that may have been forgotten if they hadn’t been recorded, seeing God’s hand in your life as He has guided and taught you many lessons, the ability to see personal growth and development through the years, improved handwriting, spelling and grammar (IF you work on those while you journal… I didn’t for most of my journaling life! Sad, I know).

Many girls will start journaling and then lose interest or become un-motivated. Hopefully this post encourages you to continue your journaling journey. Remember, no one is perfect at journaling! Most of my journals are filled with horrendous handwriting (the kind I would get in trouble for if I used it in my school work!), caveman-like grammar and spelling (because I was lazy about it), and fleshly, carnal chapters of life before I knew Him.

While I remained a consistent writer, writing every day with very few missed days, there are a few gaps where I missed large amounts of time (about a month) because of painful life situations or travel constraints. If I had it to do over I would have written through the painful times also. Early on I made it a personal rule not to share sad, painful or otherwise uncomfortable things in my journal, so many of them don’t give the whole picture. Later I decided it would be best not to write about my struggles with family and friends because I didn’t want to ‘keep record of wrongs’. More recently I’ve been discovering the art of journaling my spiritual journey without dwelling on others faults or blaming them for my own behavior.

Today I will share with you small excerpts from my journals. Because some things I say need an explanation, and for the most part aren’t even legible, I will type a translation next to the picture. I will keep grammar and spelling the same (unless needed for clarification) and add any information parenthesis and underlined.

Luke 6:22 "What happiness it is when others hate you and exclude you and insult you and smear your name because you are mine!"
I really thout that was the best verse I read all week.
Dear Memo (because the front of this journal said "Pocket Memo"),
Mommy, Naomi and I just got back from Kroger and we got a lot of egg nogg for tonight.
It's pretty rainy right now. The only thing I want to do is Roller blade (zoom!)
I can't wait untill Tuesday because then we can all go to karate. (ous!) (the noise you make in karate when you punch or kick)
Forever yours, Bethany
P.s. what does 'p.s.' stand for??? Fire ah! (not sure what that was about...)
P.s.2: Happy new Year!

January 1 2007 (can you believe it's 2007?)

Dear Memo,
I am tierd. that's all I can think of. hmm
I can't Roller blade today it's to wet
Ow! I bruised my elbow! Ouch!
When the pigs sing I'll eat chicken. Last night I drank a lot of eggless egg nog!
ha ha! got to go! Forever yours, Bethany

January 1 2007
3:22
Dear Mini memo,
ow! I had a hang nail then pulled it now it's bleeding! bye! ow!
later that night...
I'm in bed. tomorrow Meagan and Kaitlin are coming over (my mom babysits them)
oh! goodnight
Bethy

Journaling started out as a frivolous little hobby. I would write random little nonsense and meaningless little jabber.

... I wonder if Ona's gonna be there even though Sensei's gone. Well bye, -Bethany
(Ona was our teacher, Sensei's, puppy)

Later that day

Jori, I'm a blue belt!!!!!!! Yah!!
Oh guess what I was sparring Mac and 'thwak' I kicked to hard he asked for a chest protector!!
-Bethany

(Jori is a shortened form of journal. I used Jori because when I first started journaling I had a hard time remembering how to spell 'journal' and I hated the term 'diary'. After a while 'Jori' stuck and I continued to use it. Also, I'd like to point out that I wasn't trying to hurt Mac or kick hard- that's why I thought it was sort of funny.)\

March 31 2007

Dear Jori, It's really stormy today Thunder and Dreary at least it's not blowy. Emily and I went around the trail today and we had fun.
Right now its 2:07 so there is plenty of day to fill but Naomi, Mommy and Lydia went to Goodwill, Emily and Sherman are playing on the computer and Clayton is watching them.
Talk later!
-Bethany

Same Day

Dear Jori, It's 2:18 and all I've done is write in you and walk around the house. bye!
-Bepie

Same day (again)

It looks pretty nice out now but when I asked daddy if we could play outside he said "[It] looks like it's gonna storm, so no."
but it's so nice out!
tomorow is 'April fools day' and Palm Sunday. Mommy, Naomi and Lydia are back, so bye! -Bethany

[Clayton is] coming down with the chicken pox. He's got a fever, Lizzy, his friend had them not to long ago. Mommy had them hug and play together.
It [is] late I need to get to bed.
I write later! Night!
Your true friend,
Bethany Potts

May 3, 2008

Dear Jori,
Today I cleaned (and re-arranged) the kitchen, mushroom hunted, and mowed.
We saw 2 other people while we were mushroom hunting, the bald guy was funny!
Ok and a little weird (but arn't we all!)
If TACHEs (Homeschool group we were a part of) play this year is Cinderella [then] Naomi wants to be either;
The Evil Stepmother or the Evil Stepsister.
I want to be either; the Evil Stepsister or Cinderella, but I probably wont get it
I can hope though
If they don't do Cinderella then they'll probably do 'Tom Sayer' or 'Hucklberry fin'.
I'm trying to get back in the habit of writing neatly. I have a hard time reading my [own handwriting].

(Typically I fill the first page of a new journal with a kind request to the reader to 'please not read my journal')
It's fairly legible! Yay!

My journal entries vary dramatically... from a 3 page entry to a short little one like the above.

January 31, 2009

Dear Journal,
Guess what!? I made my very first lemon merangue pie! I[t] was a little hard but I think I did fairly well.
I can only hope it will taste okay. We aren't eating it until tomorrow. Naomi made a key lime pie. So there (then) if mine is yucky we have a "fall back" and if hers is bad shes got a fall back.
But if they are both yucky then we are in deep doggy-doo. haha! (That probably wasn't very appropriate, sorry)
The pies are for Mommy's birthday. We are having the M_____s (A family we are friends with) over after church.

Lydia and Clayton made mommy as snow man for her birthday. But they made it in frount so when you walk past the [windows by the front] door; it Looks at You!

It's rather creepy!

OO! Fireproof. Good movie. It's a tear jerker, I almost cried at the part where the man yelled. For everyone else it was a different part.

Eww! I really need a shower! I'll probably get it tomorrow morning.

Mommy got me this pen! It's gray. I chose gray rather than blue. I don't know why, I just did. Some things in life are like that- you just do. Sooo...

not much is really up.

OO! I made merangues! They were very yummy! Everyone liked them. Well, not Naomi. She just doesn't.

Wow, life just passes. Day by day.
There it goes

Tomorrow is mommy's birthday.
February 1st.

13 days after that is the most romantic Holiday!!
[Pagantines Day!]

Goodnight.

-me-

9/20/09
Jori,

We (Noomers an' me) (Noomers is Naomi) went an' babysat the A____s. They are realllly nice kiddos 4 sure.

ummm... Oo! Had the B____s and the J_____s over for SPICEY food.

Advanced Bio tomorrow!
ewwww (We were probably on the 'muscle' module... so hard! but other than that it was great.)

Love,

meepers

There were many times through the years that I have considered putting an end to my journal journey... or even burning all my old journals.

April 19, 2010

journal,

This morning I woke up at 6:20 the[n] did P90x w/ daddy, HARD dude! Then later showered, mowed, and schooled. Then, ew, we had to go disect the cow eyeball..ew...it was the most grossest thing ever (Using incorrect grammar to emphasize the grossness of it)! And Mrs. M____ (The lady who taught Naomi and I science) gave us jelly eyes! eh, heh, heh, heh....
Then everyone else jumped on....

Entries like this are some of my favorites.

August 5, 2010

Journal,

Guess what?
A giant tree broke and fell into our yard last night. We had to run over and tell our neighbors (the ones whose tree it was) because they were unawares. It's a hedge apple tree! Emily and I saw it shake on our way back to the neighbors. (We probably thought it was an animal in there! And it probably was)

Emily and I went mowing (I helped mow at our old church for a few Summers. Emily would come along and move sticks and rocks). I mowed the frount yard weird[ly].

[But] S'okay! (it's okay)

Mrs. B____ was there for a bit.

This is just a silly one...

Ooctooboor [Toonth]
Twoontoo-Toon

Joornool,
Hoopy Ooctooboor!
Foor a chooloonge you moost rooplooce almost ooll voowels wooth Oo!! Just kidding.

"You never leave your partner... especially in a fire" -Fireproof

My Prayer

[Yeshua], (I was just learning Hebrew words)

I pray you will convict my heart of any sin in my life.

Help me not to gossip as it is so easy to do!

Let me follow your word as I learn your holy ways.

Let your light shine through me.

Baruch ata laymraychey (Blessed are you [not sure])

(I was probably sounding things out and guessing around with what things meant)

"Something about a heart"

Baruch Yahweh! (Blessed is the LORD!)

HELLO

Please do not read my journal. It is just notes, prayers and thought[s] as well as a log of what has happened during the day.

Thank you!

Bye!

9-28-11

To The Reader,

This is not a book to read! This is the journal of Bethany!

Thank you for your co operation

Love,

BP

First part of the song I wrote called "Everyday"

2-10-12
Another day to focus on you! help me do better today than yesterday!

"Jerusalem"
"Passover Shalom"
Remember Jerusalem

I need a rest
No I don't
I will not rest I won't, I won't
My job is here I need to do it
No rest for me until I'm through it

(I wrote this silly poem when I was still on pain killers from having my wisdom teeth out... I was loopy)

Just some fun doodling

Give me a love and desire for everything you love and desire.

I ask your guidence and provision on my day- show me what to do and how to do it.

2-6-13

Dear Reader,

Please do not read my journal.
It would be very RUDE and I'd really appreciate it if you'de just set it down.

That's all you really need to know! Now if you would please just listen to me and not open, read, or otherwise tinker with my journal. Unless I am dead- in that case... I guess you can read it.... what could be the harm in that?

It's pretty hard to be embarassed when you're dead!

Have a great life!

Love,

Bethany

I'm sorry that I don't feel comfortable sharing many of my recent entries because they are still fresh and very personal. As time goes on I'm sure they will lose some of their closeness but for now they are only for my eyes.

To give you some ideas on how to use your journal- here are different ways I use my journal

-Recording my day
-Recording prayers, poems and songs
-Keeping notes from sermons and study
-Keeping track of my hopes for the future and goals I want to achieve
-Sometimes I keep programs (from graduations, funerals etc...) in my journal
-Keep name tags in your journal

Do you journal? Feel free to share any journaling ideas in the comment section, I'd love to hear them!

Bethany

2 Comments

Daughters of Yah- Jocelin

7/8/2013

1 Comment

While I have known of Jocelin for a few years, I just recently met her in May, at Purify 2013. Jocelin is very much a 'take charge' personality. Her passion for purity is wonderful to see. I'd encourage any Hebrew singles to consider attending Purify 2014. It could change your life.

I am an only child and was born and raised in Florida. When I was in my early teens, my family moved to Ohio where we live out in the country with cows, chickens, and cats. I have enjoyed learning and having my hand in our food production as almost all of our meat (beef and chicken) as well as eggs and milk come from our own animals. I was homeschooled which I feel was a great benefit – not only in protecting me from the world, but also by enabling me to grow in many ways beyond the typical reading, writing, and arithmetic. I’ve learned scrapbooking, cake decorating, sewing, crochet, tatting, smocking, and so much more as my parents sought to provide me with well rounded training.

I accepted Yeshua as my personal Savior just before I turned seven and was baptized a few months later. Since I was saved at such a young age, I struggled in my teen years with feeling as though I did not have a “dynamic” testimony like many people who have been saved out of a difficult lifestyle. I was sharing this with someone who had a “dynamic” story, and his reply will always stick with me. “Jocelin, you have a more amazing testimony. God saved you from having to go through all the trials and tribulations. That is an even greater illustration of His love and protection.” It really made me appreciate my testimony, and I share this because I know many young people who have grown up in believing homeschooling families have asked this same question I once asked.

My family came to a Torah life and understanding of our Hebrew Roots in late 2004/early 2005. After growing up Southern Baptist, we had been going to a Mennonite church which had challenged our typical thinking on modest dress and the headcovering. It allowed us to ask the question of “What else have we been taught based on tradition versus the Bible?” That question led us to realize that Christmas and Easter were pagan and Yahweh’s seventh day Sabbath had never been done away with. As a result, my family began keeping Shabbat, the Biblical Feast Days, eating Biblically clean, and keeping Torah.

I have the privilege of serving through Standing in YHVH’s Hand Ministries, which I founded in February 2011, where the mission is to train believers how to be stronger in their walk with the Messiah and free of the "world" through lifestyle, finances, and relationships. Since I worked for Crown Financial Ministries (founded by Larry Burkett) and was over the financial coaching department with approximately ten thousand coaches, I brought that passion for Biblical finances into my ministry. I have also always had a heart for purity and have taken that into working with singles particularly focused on that topic. Also, I have had the blessing of working with many of the top Torah Teachers here in the US and learning much from their willingness to mentor and teach. My life goal is to take what I learn and pass it on to others. Luke 12:48 (CJB) “From him who has been given much, much will be demanded.” I want to encourage others to come along on the journey with me!

One question I was asked to address in this post was “What words of encouragement would you give to other young ladies who are seeking to please the Most High with their lives?” I would say that the three most crucial pieces for me personally growing in my walk as a believer are having a daily quiet time of reading the Scriptures, faithfully praying and communicating what is on my heart with Yahweh, and having an open relationship with my parents. If you are not connected with your Heavenly Father, you will struggle in all areas. I would encourage every young lady to make sure she takes the time in our busy world to be connected with and have a deep relationship with Yahweh. He cares about us and wants to know us intimately. If you are not healthy in your personal life at home, then it will play out into the rest of your life. I feel that I can tell my parents everything that is on my heart, and they will be a good sounding board helping me think through each area logically and Biblically while understanding my emotions that play into the situation. I have also been blessed to have two close girlfriends who are believers. We encourage each other in our walk and do not mind holding one another accountable when needed. Taking the time to have deep relationships where you can be open and vulnerable is very important.

Finally, I was asked to share some lessons that Yahweh has taught me in the past year. This past year has been one of learning to trust Yahweh even more so…and I continue to learn that lesson every day.

I had the privilege of hosting Purify 2013 – Retreat for Hebrew Roots Singles a little over a month ago. The entire seven months leading up to the event was a faith walk of seeing Yahweh work from the smallest detail to the grand climax. I had to take a leap of faith that the event would even go, and as I followed His leading by faith and obedience, He blessed beyond measure. You can read the entire story here. It encouraged me to be secure in His plan for my life and know that as long as I’m in the center of Yahweh’s will, He will take care of even the most minute points!

I hope and pray my sharing has been an encouragement to you! Feel free to write me at jocelin@standinginyhvhshand.org.

1 Comment

How to Make Your Own Penny Stove- Guest Post by Clayton

6/18/2013

2 Comments

This is the finished product.

Here is what you need:
Two pop cans
Tin snips
A metal file
Gasket glue
A pair of needle nose pliers
A punch and small hammer
A sharpie
1 penny
a small handful of attic insulation

Draw a level line around both pop cans, one should be slightly higher than the other, the higher one will be the top of your stove.

Cut about an inch above the line on both cans.
This gets the can out of the way so you can cut on the line.

After cuting, file the sharp points off.

With your penny mark where it will sit in the center of the larger can.
Within the penny's cirle punch 5 small holes.

mark 16 dots around the edge,
then punch holes carefully.

bend in the edge of the smaller can and put attic insulation in the larger one

Push the cans together leaving about a 1/4 " showrng on the smaller can.
File off sharp edges.

Glue all the way around the place where the cans meet. This is to make a seal.

Fill with denatured alcohol through the center fill holes.
Light and slide the penny over the fill holes in
the center.

I like my short one better.

Be safe!

Clayton

2 Comments

A Hope Chest Filled With Love

2/19/2013

1 Comment

A hope chest is something filled with love. Where your whole family can put
something in. Your brothers can put in an invention, your sisters
something they sewed, your mom and dad could  add billion special things.
If I get married when I grow up then I hope to use the things in my hope chest.
If not they will be very special memories and still be useful.

Some traditional items found in a hope chest between 1600-1900 A.D might be:

A sewing basket

needles, needlecase or cushion, thread, yarn, kitting needles, crochet hooks,
crochet or knitting patterns, quilt and quilting patterns, clothing patterns, woven
fabrics, scissors, buttons, snaps or other fastenings, pins, needlework hoops,
a sewing bird, emery bag, bod kin, bees wax, measuring tape or yard-stik, etc.

Weaving supplies

Cards for cleaning and fluffing wool, drop spindle or spining wheel, table loom or barn loom, pattern drafts for the loom, dried flowers for dying yarn or woven fabrics and other weaving items and supplies.

Seeds

Herb, vegetable and flower seeds, plant cuttings, bulbs and seedling trees.

The List Goes On.......................

I have a hope chest, (well it's just a plastic tub but I use it as a hope chest).
I keep things in it that I can use for my house and family when I grow up, or things
that remind me of special memories. Like: Gifts from loved ones, my old journals, a burp cloth Bethany made for me, books, old stuffed animals, a baby outfit, old Bibles from when I was really young, pot holders, cards and letters and ceramic dolls my grandma made.

Things suggested for putting in a hope chest: Quilts, silverware, dish sets, table cloths, baby outfits,
candles, aprons, books, favorite cooking recipes, scrap books, old cards and letters, old pictures, wash cloths,
things to decorate your house, toys, baby blankets, pictures you drew, clothes you've made, special accessories,
letters you receive or you write to yourself, and filled journals.

I started my hope chest when I saw Bethany's, I thought it was so awesome and loved the idea.
Every once in a while Bethany and I get out our "hope chests" and look at them together.
A hope chest is designed to be filled with love, it's not the things you put in it or how expensive they are, it's the
time, effort, love and kindness.

“For wisdom is better than rubies, And all delights are not comparable to her.”
Proverbs 8:11

Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
Proverbs 14:1

Some of the things I used in this post came from the book "The Hope Chest" by Rebekah Wilson.

                                                                                         With much love and care,
                                                                                                          Lydia
                                                                                (here's a song I like, maybe you'll enjoy it too!)

1 Comment

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Bethany's Announcement

Life Changes

Preparing to be a Stay-at-home Wife

Rise up - review 2!

Cardboard Boxes

Whole Wheat Banana Rhubarb Bread Recipe

My Journaling Journey

Daughters of Yah- Jocelin

How to Make Your Own Penny Stove- Guest Post by Clayton

A Hope Chest Filled With Love

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