Value of quality time with children . . . .by guest blogger Amy Wiener

A precious friend of mine, Amy Wiener, shares such love and joy when she talks about relating to children. So much of our own significance is patterned into adult thinking and relating to others from our childhood, is it not? Amy's amazing sweetness and wisdom with children is too awesome not to consider, so I asked her to write something for my website. May you be an inspired blessing to children from this day forward.

This guest post from Amy Wiener:

Value of quality time with children . . . .

As we all know, time goes way too fast! Every year seems faster and faster. Getting kids ready for school, running to after school activities, homework, dinner, play and off to bed . . . where do we fit in just being with children before they are adults? How do we value our time with children in our lives and raise them to feel valued in our society?

Even though I don’t have my own children, I’m a teacher who works with children all day. Kids are precious! In the early childhood years, most likely they don’t remember what they’ve learned. They remember if they liked their teacher or not, or had fun with their friends. If you like children, chances are you will naturally have quality time with them.

It’s important to listen, celebrate, and be sad with them in their adventures of growing up.

It’s important to listen, celebrate, and be sad with them in their adventures of growing up. Children are impressionable. They’re like sponges soaking everything in. There are many ways that can influence them such as; friends, T.V., movies, social media, sports, music, books, food, teachers/coaches, and hopefully family and Jesus! Spending time and being involved with them throughout their whole childhood will help them feel loved and connected to people. As a Christian, I feel it’s important to instill Biblical, everlasting truths in them. God is always with us and is faithful.

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or a good neighbor, quality time with children might include: read the Bible and pray, go to church/Sunday School, attend activities they are involved in or ask them about it if you can’t make it, eat dinner at the dinner table with everyone-if possible, limit social media or use it as a reward, play with them, say, “I love you,” hug, exercise politeness, communicate about problems and forgive if needed, take pictures, and laugh! Just taking time and being with children is valuable because they will never forget it!


Amy Wiener
Children’s Author and Teacher
aw3dance@aol.com
https://www.facebook.com/amy.wiener.58
abw3 Amy W (Instagram)

12 STONES

Imagine! Something new and exciting was about to happen for the Lord’s people. They were at the cusp of their conquest of Canaan—their promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. But the officers of the Israel’s camp brought a surprising command to the people. Once the Levitical priests bearing the arc of the covenant of the Lord their God began to move, they were to follow, though at a safe distance of 2,000 cubits. Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves for the Lord would do wonders among them!
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Their great numbers, camped next to the Jordan’s swollen banks, were to cross those rushing waters. Can you put yourself in their shoes? Can you hear the rushing waters, see the overflow of the banks, and realize this is an impossible task for anyone wishing to cross in their own strength?

That next day, as soon as the priests put their obedient feet in the water, the Lord of all the earth rested in the water. Jordan river backed up in a heap all the way back to the city called Adam. Israel crossed over on dry ground, much like when Israel crossed the Red Sea. God’s miraculous timing showed that at the obedience of the priests, this powerful, living God parted the rushing harvest-time waters so wide that the people could cross with their great numbers and possessions. Joshua declared the words of the Lord their God. “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and He will assuredly dispossess from before you. . .”  God had a plan and he wanted Israel in the promised land He’d chosen for them.

Twelve men chosen from the twelve tribes of Israel took up twelve stones from where the priests stood firm in the midst of the Jordan. They obediently followed Joshua’s order to carry the stones on their shoulders to the place where they lodged. When everything was finished that the Lord commanded then Joshua told the priests to come up out of the Jordan. As soon as the priests stepped on dry ground the waters fell into place and overflowed the banks as before.

Joshua set up these stones in Gilgal as a memorial to the children of Israel forever. Forever for all the people of the earth to know that He had dried up the waters of the Jordan for Israel to cross, because the hand of the Lord is mighty and for us to fear (revere, respect, hold in esteem)  the Lord God Forever!

I taught this lesson for Sunday school and this powerful message gripped me and wouldn’t let go. When I think of the details in chapters three and four of the book of Joshua, I imagine the feelings that I'd experience in that situation. So encumbered by human weakness, I'd see the impossible move out of the way, so that I could move forward into His blessings and promises!

I went to Bible study with friends the next day and found these stones stacked one upon another in a gift and sandwich shop. I felt this could be my memorial to my mighty, loving, and all powerful Father. I’m sure that Joshua placed the twelve tribe’s stones in a much different construction, but no matter—when I look at my stack of river rocks, I remember my Jordans and smile!

NEVER MARRY A MARQUESS by Regina Scott, Fortune Bride Series, Book 6

London, England, July 1812

While Matthew and Charlotte Batemen were away, Ivy Batemen and her sister and Miss Thorn attended a soiree that would change the lives of so many. Someone trapped Ivy and the Marquess of Kendall in the library with a candlestick that blocked their exit. Ivy has a feeling that she knows who did this deed, which put The Marquess and her reputations on the line.

Being the gentlemen that he is and holding the desperation for his daughter close at hand, Lord Kendall makes an offer for a marriage of convenience. The season for meeting a wife is coming to a close and he is anxious to return to Surrey and his frail baby girl.

This story unfolds from here and as always, Regina Scott, delivers with interesting and varied characters and story line! I have enjoyed this whole series, but I must say that the situations in this particular story touched my heart in a special way. When my own mom passed away my father remarried a wonderful and loving lady. This story reminded me of my deep love and appreciation for Mom Kay! The Lord gives us gifts during our lives on earth and some of those gifts are in people form. 😊 Ivy Bateman is certainly an absolute beauty because of her grace, love, and unselfishness. I found myself cheering for her all the way through this story.

Questions for Regina:

How old were you when you first heard of a Marquess?

You know, I’m not sure! I believe late high school/early college, because that was about the time I fell in love with Regency romances.

Is the home of the Marquess modeled after an actual home or did you design this from research?

The exterior is based on Marble Hill House outside London, but I modeled the interior after later homes with conservatories at the center. Of course, instead of plants growing in the center of his home, Villa Romanesque houses an original Roman pavement.

I love how you plunge into the characters and make them move on the pages of your books. How did you come up with Ivy’s and Lord Kendall’s characters?

Ivy sprang to life in Never Kneel to a Knight as the oldest sister of Matthew “Beast of Birmingham” Bateman. Knowing Matthew’s difficult upbringing, I realized his oldest sister would have to be someone special, with an enormous heart and incredible kindness. So, who to pare her with? A broken-hearted widower who needed her so much, even if he doesn’t realize it at first. Thus, Kendall came to be.

The pavement room with the Roman mosaic is so special. Is this tidbit from a real collector’s holdings? Or a museum? Or imagination?

There are homes in England with Roman mosaics. Most have been carefully lifted from their original locations and brought somewhere out of the elements to be showcased. I wanted Kendall’s family to have built their home around such a treasure.

This is a drawing of Marble Hill House, the house on which Regina Scott based Villa Romanesque. 

Would you like to share anything about your experience with writing this novel?

The biggest challenge was figuring out what Ivy bakes. That’s one of the ways she expresses her love for people—to bake them sweet treats. You wouldn’t think settling on her specialty would be so difficult, but indoor cooking was actually pretty primitive even in the Great Houses during the Regency period. Very few homes had stoves as we think of them today. Most didn’t have ovens. So, my first inclination—sugar cookies—wasn’t going to work. I decided to go with something closer to a Sally Lunn bun, only with cinnamon swirled throughout. Sally Lunn made “Bath Buns” famous years before the Regency. You can still buy them from her original shop today. I’ve taken tea at Sally Lunn’s. So delicious!

What will your next novel be?

October sees the publication of the first book in my American Wonders collection from Revell, A Distance Too Grand. Meg Pero is determined to take over her late father’s photography business—even serving on a survey of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. But the leader of the expedition is the man she once refused to marry. Captain Ben Coleridge would like nothing more than to leave without the woman who broke his heart, but he cannot delay. This survey is a screen for another mission, unknown to any other member of his team. As dangers arise, Meg and Ben must work together to stay alive and, just maybe, rekindle a love that neither completely left behind.

Where can your readers find you, Regina?

I’ve recently joined with other authors of sweet Regency romance to host Regency Kisses: Lady Catherine’s Salon on Facebook. We share our love of Regency romances, talk about our latest releases, and host parties and giveaways. Readers can request an invitation to join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/LadyCatherinesSalon/.

Regina Scott's website:  http://www.reginascott.com/  (Regina's website has a lot of interesting historical facts located on her blog page and another page has her series listed! 

Thank you for another WONDEFUL novel! I so appreciate you, Regina!  😊