Gazette The Magazine Little Women Photo Contest Entries! Sisters in Faith share about fulfilled dreams.
Enjoy a special section dedicated to L.M. Montgomery’s “Little Women”!
Read a special guest writing,
Radiant Modesty. And More!
Radiant Modesty: Cherie Barkman Page 14
A look at the creation (and the creator) of Little Women.
Page 11
Page 4
Enjoy this issue’s Featured Resources!
Page 16
Page 12
************ A Note From Monica I’ve broken down and decided to give putting the Girlfriend Gazette online a whirl. I’ve tried to keep away from this tempting idea for awhile now, but I’m giving in. I just feel like it will get rid of the stress of the paper and put in the fun again! I’m counting on your feedback to see if this is the way to go...and if I don’t get feedback, I’ll come and ask all of you personally! MUHAHAHA! Thank you so much for joining me in this little “test drive”. You all are the best. -Monica Creator and Editor
girlfriendgazette@gmail.com Monica Miller, Girlfriend Gazette 2950 E. Main St. Canon City CO, 81212
Monica (14): My favorite color to wear in the summer:
Hot pink, yellow, and blue. My
Favorite Summer Beverage: Pina Colada and Peach Tea. Favorite Book I’ve Read This Summer: In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson Favorite Music Piece To Play On the Piano This Summer: Fur Elise, Beethoven and See What a Morning, Keith and Krysten Getty Favorite memory this summer (so far): Our family went up to a hotel in Denver for the weekend...nothing like family time!
On
Monica Miller
I wrestled long into the night. “God, I gave this dream to you didn’t I? Why am I struggling with this so much then? Why am I crying like this? Why do I feel so broken?” “You didn’t really give the dream to me, you only said you did.” “God, that’s not true is it?...It is.” Have you ever wrestled in your spirit like this? Have you found that the hardest thing to give God are your dreams? I have. What is it about dreams that make them captivate us?
Could it be because our dreams are Godgiven? Do you think God ever gives us dreams, even if He doesn’t fulfill them? Sometimes I think so... our dreams have a huge role in forming who we are, and the way we think. They draw us closer to God, and show us who He is, don’t they? Don’t be afraid to dream! God enjoys giving us the desires of our heart, he really does! I know that for a fact, I’ve had
Our dreams have a huge role in forming who we are.
dreams fulfilled that were totally because of God, why would He fulfill my dreams if He didn’t enjoy it? Despite the feelings you may have at moments, God isn’t against you. In fact, God is totally for you. (Romans 8:31) I have had dreams that I’ve just about given up on, because of the impossible-ness. But I have a hunch that God loves to fulfill our impossible dreams even more. He’s a God that can do the impossible (Mark 10:27). See, when God fulfills the dreams that are impossible He is proven more powerful...and He gets the glory for it (1 Cor. 12:19). So why not dream the impossible? Why not ‘reach for the sky?’
“In fact, God is totally for you.” Monica’s Photography
“...who *the Lord+ satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.”
There’s also another beautiful aspect of dreaming...surrender. Surrender never feels beautiful...but it is. Don’t you think it would be beautiful if we gave the desires of out heart to the only one who can fulfill them? Just recently God fulfilled a dream of my heart in a very radical way. I’ve always dreamed of (since I can remember) being a photographer, and I’ve never grown out of that dream...just into it. So I was telling God about this desire. I felt like I couldn’t move forward in my gifting of photography with the camera I had. I prayed about it off and on and one day, someone walked up to me with a check and said, “this is to enhance your gifting's.” With that money put together with some of mine, I had enough money to buy and SLR that I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise! Anyways, all of this confusing rambling to say, please, never stop dreaming!—
God will satisfy our desires with good things. Do you remember the words of Jesus?: “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Why do we have the mentality that God doesn’t want to give us good things? Why on earth should we be afraid to dream big?
Monica’s Photography
I’ve asked a few sister’s of faith to tell about times that God fulfilled the desires of their hearts...times when dreams
came true.
The Fulfillme Jess (20) “Dreams. I have dreams. Some of my dreams are big (or to me they look big. To God? Not so much!) and some of my dreams are small and not real important, but dreams nonetheless. Dreams of skydiving, white water rafting, becoming good at driving stick (and by good, i mean NOT freaking all my passengers half to death) and drive a car that can go from 0 to 60 really fast. There they are...nothing big, but they are dreams. One Dream that I had for years was to go to Asia....it was one of those dreams that i never really thought would come true...But it was always there, something i longed to do. Finally a chance came for me to go, but there was one small thing holding me back...actually there was about 3,000 small things holding me back....they were called dollars. There was no way that i could get that money around on my own for this trip....i prayed about it, but it still seemed like there was no way....finally, one evening I told God that if he wanted me to go on this trip he would have to provide a miracle because there was no way that I could do this on my own. The next day at work my boss comes to me and tells me that they would like to give me a very large raise....large enough that i would have plenty to money to go on this trip, plus extra to give away! Does God care about your dreams? Absolutely!”
Blyss (16)
Blyss’ hors e, Cosby.
“I remember as a little girl I ALWAYS wanted a horse; ‘you’re too young’ and ‘maybe next year’ or ‘maybe when your 10’, were some of the things that I would hear year after year. Until finally we heard, from a friend, about a welsh/ thoroughbred that was for sale and cheep too! Wow! was I EVER excited! We went to go see him and I have to say that It was love at first sight! And stranger yet; Several weeks later the same lady called and asked if we wanted ANOTHER horse, for FREE!!! So after years of waiting for a horse, here I went and pretty much got ‘buy one ½ off and get one free’. It was totally a God thing! “
ent of Dreams Kristi (28) “God sized dream: You may wonder what a God sized dream is and I would love to share
with you one of those God size dreams in my life!!! Come along now as we board a plane and cross the ocean. You see I love to travel and had a perfect opportunity to visit a dear friend in the beautiful country of Thailand. However, there were two big problems....one, I thought I didn't have the money, and two, I thought I didn't have enough vacation time. After all if I travel that far and spend that much money I would certainly want to make it worth my time. So under that mind set I let it go and said "God if you want me to go I know you'll get me there". For a year I just dropped it and thought it would never happen and then randomly out of the blue one day a friend and I discovered we were both thinking along the same lines and decided we would save our money for a year and see were we were at. You see at the time I was serving at New Horizons and I thought with my VS allowance there was just no way. Hmmm, did I put God in a box or what! Friends today I stand here to say my God is not controlled by money. I started saving every little bit I could and before my year was up I discovered I not only had $1200.00, enough to cover my plane ticket but I had enough to cover my expenses while traveling in the country of Thailand!!! Yes, ladies I say to you dream BIG!!! You may say ‘I have no money’ or ‘I'm to young’ or ‘I could never do that’.....wrong ladies. All God wants from you is to see you dream big, and he will bring those dreams to life!!! So if you've always wanted to travel to the other side of the world I say "KEEP DREAMING" or if you have a heart for city kids but don't know how to get involved, I say "KEEP DREAMING"!!! Don't stop with one dream, no, let your dreams take you across the ocean and around the world!!! As your dreams become a reality you will discover more of who the Master created you to be!!! His temple, His princess, His Bride!!!”
Monica’s Photography
Teresa (21) “Ever since I was a little girl I would dream about India. Every time I would hear about the culture or read about a missionary I would long to go. Last year God let me spend 8 months in India teaching school. I never thought my dream would come true! But God is my dream giver.”
Rhonda “When I was a little girl my parents started taking me into the SC prisons for church with Gospel Express Prison Ministries. They had young girls who would sing and Nelson would preach God’s word. I was so blessed by these young girls singing with their family. As we continued to go into the prisons year after year, God started to place a tremendous desire in my heart to have a family and sing and travel as well. Soon, after I was married, God started opening up doors for my husband and I to sing a travel. Four years after we were married we started having our family, and of course the kids began singing at a very young age. It was a tremendous blessing to take our family into prison after prison and church after church sharing in song and testimony.”
Dawn
(14)
“I’ve always had this dream of going to Hawaii. I’ve never really thought it would come true...at least not before I’m an adult. But believe it or not...one day we got an offer to go to Hawaii along with some major discount for the trip! We were all so excited and we ended up being able to take another family along as well and we all had a BLAST! It’s amazing how God cares enough for us that he even fulfills our dreams!” Monica’s Photography
Quotes and Other Such Stuff:
ou dream y s a r o f … “Dream big nown k n u ” . e m o ec you shall b
but a spirit of adoption. And by Him we cry, „Abba, Father.‟” -Romans 8:15
In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day Mark Batterson
otography
shut the eye of reason.” -Benjamin Franklin
Forgiven: and paid in full. “N oo wor ne is us l loa d who eless do i f so lighte n thi s me ns -Ch t o h ne a rl else e es D .” ick e Monica’s Photography
“I think there are basically two types of people in the world: complainers and worshipers . And there isn’t much circumstantial difference between the two. Complainers will always find something to complain about and worshipers will always find something to praise about.”
faith is to
Monica’s Ph
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear,
“The way to see by
ns
“Whoever
claims
to live in Him must walk .”
-I John 2:6-
Louisa May Alcott‟s,
Little Women Entry From Londa
Quotes
Lemon Cream Cheese Scones 1/3 cup firm butter 2 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 Tbsp. grated lemon peel 2 tsp. salt 1/3 cup milk 3 ounces of cream cheese, softened
―I only did as I’d be d one by. Yo cause I wa u laugh at nt to be a me belady...but I woman in m e an a true g mind and entlemanners, I know how and I try to . I can’t ex d o it as far as plain exac above all th tly, but I w e little mea a n t to be nness and spoil so m follies and any wome faults that n. I’m far fr best, and om it now, hope in tim b u t I do my e to be wh at mother is.‖ -Amy “I wish w earing fl atirons o n our he keep us ads wou from gro ld wing up. roses, an But buds d kittens will be cats-mor e ’s t h ―Oh, Jo. Jo e pity.” -J , you have o so many e can you ex x tr a o pect to lea rdinary gif ts, how d an ordin go out and ary life? Y —and find o u ’r e re ady to a good us don’t know e of your ta what I sha le n t. T ll ho’ I d o without m brace you r liberty. A y Jo. Go, a nd see wh nd emat wonderf ul things c of it. –Marm ome ee
“Love is a gr
eat beautifie
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1 egg Lemon juice Sugar Preheat the oven to 400˚. Cut butter into next 5 ingredients with pastry blender until it resembles course crumbs. Combine milk and cream cheese till smooth. Stir into flour mixture with egg until dough leaves sides of bowl and forms a ball. Turn onto floured surface. Roll in flour to coat. Knead 10 times. Pat into 9” circle on cookie sheet. Brush with lemon juice and sprinkle with sugar. Cut into wedges, but do not separate. Bake 16-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm with Devonshire cream and jam.
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-Louisa May Alcott
A Resemblance: Louisa’s mother was like “Marmee” and her father like “Mr. March”. Louisa’s eldest sister Anna was much like “Meg”. Louisa’s sister Elizabeth who was like “Beth” was called the family’s “angel of the house” and died at a young age. And like “Amy”, Louisa’s youngest sister May was an artist.
(Above) The home of Louisa May Alcott, where Louisa wrote and set her beloved classic, Little Women. Go to this address to take a virtual tour of “Orchard House”: www.louisamayalcott.org/panoramas.html
Little Women Giveaway Entries
“Oh Jo, I’ve sprained my ankle!”
Vain Little Amy
Entries By Savannah Sadie’s Beth”
Entry by Diana
Entry “
a’s En try
Entry By Christy
Claris s
Meg Goes To Vanity Fair Entry by Cheyenne
And the winner is…(*cue the drum roll*)
My favorite audio version of Little Women:
...Sharayah! She has received Jo’s ‘writing book’
Focus on the Family Radio Theatre,
[Genuine Leather Journal]
Audio Drama.
A BIG thank you to all participants! Till the next giveaway! (Winners were picked at random...it would have been far to hard to choose a favorite!)
LIFE As We Know It:
Marissa Youngman
Vacation Bible School, Tuesday night, third grade. Two little girls, age 9, in the small span of time where innocence is still there, yet they're beginning to mature. And who has the privilege of being these precious young ladies' teacher? That would be me! *smile+ Upon being asked who wants to pray before we start our class, they both raised their hands, with eagerness shining in their eyes. Teacher decides the best way to solve this would be to allow both girls to pray, so with heads bowed and hands clasped, Hope prays to Jesus. After she said "Amen", little Jenny looked up at me between the cracks of her fingers with a questioning look of "is it my turn now?" I smiled and nodded, and she begins her prayer. "Dear Jesus, thank You that we can come to church tonight. Thank You for life as we know it..." and from there, my mind began to drift. Life as we know it. Thanking God for life as we know it. Really Jenny? Here is a little girl, thanking God for the life that she knows. I know her life isn't perfect, and it certainly isn't the way every girl dreams of living. I don't know what her home life is like, but I know she hurts sometimes. And she wonders why life isn't fair. Yet she closes her brown eyes, her dark hair brushing her forehead, and thanks God for her life just the way it is. I thought about my life and how I don't always like the way it is. Would I be able to thank God for life right now, as I know it? I became irritated at myself *you don't do that, do you?+ for how dense I am. Why is gratefulness a struggle sometimes? Being content with where God has me in life. Loving life deeply, and living it with enthusiasm. Finding joy in every day. How is that so hard? After I was done being irritated, I found myself feeling ashamed for how ungrateful I am. I should be the happiest girl in the world, simply because Jesus loves me. Everything I need, my all, is in Him. I may not have everything I want, but God has blessed me with everything that I need for my present happiness. Oh, and much, much more than what I deserve or need. The prayer of my heart is to cultivate a thankful spirit, to treasure each moment as it comes, and to be grateful in every circumstance. I have been promised by Jesus Himself that everything works together for good to those who love Him. *smile+ What more do I need? Absolutely nothing. *Oh, God is so good to one so undeserving as myself!+
Marissa:
My favorite color to wear in the summer: pink, year round! :) My favorite summer beverage: ice cold meadow tea Favorite book I've read this summer: currently reading "One Thousand Blessings" by Ann Voskamp and loving it! My favorite piano piece this summer: "Hunting Song" from Songs without Words" by Mendolssohn. Favorite memory this summer (so far):...spending the weekend at the cottage by the lake with my family. Something I want to do this summer: dance in the rain.
GIVEAWAY! Sheri is giving away one copy of The Bride by Rhonda Calhoun! (See page 15) All you have to do is email or mail Girlfriend Gazette (see page 3) with your name, and mailing address and you will be entered into the drawing for this book! All entries must be received by August, 28 2011.
Radiant Modesty:
Cherie Barkman
Before you read this section, stop for a second and think about this question: What do you think of when you hear the word 'modesty'? Hmm . . . several things might pop into your head. Baggy shirts? High collars buttoned to the top? Knee-high stockings? Jumpers? Pilgrims?
like 'modest' and 'pure' looked dull and dry compared to words like 'glamorous,' 'alluring' and 'famous'. It was only after I decided to choose modest standards (grudgingly, but chose nonetheless) that God showed me how modesty can be . . . (wait for it) . . . beautiful ! Most of you who are reading this I have never met, but you probably know at least a little about modesty (which means I won't have to explain it to you). However, I'm tiful. I have. 'People may call it beautiful, but it sure isn't popular! No one notices someone who is modest.' (By the way, that last sentence is not true.)
doing and does it because of a genuine love for God and His ways. When a girl is confident in her identity and loves true beauty. When she enhances this beauty with attractive but appropriate clothing and when her most noticeable accessory is her radiant smile. Yes! Do you see the beauty that is in you?
I don't know about you, but there was a time for me that words
sure you've wondered if modesty really is beau-
passionate, joyful heart--when a girl believes in what she's
When you make wise choices (that are still lovely, classy, attractive and feminine) in the style of clothes you wear, and you do it with joy, 2 things happen. 1. Because they are not distracted by the immodesty or shabbiness of your clothing, people's attention is drawn to your face. Beautiful! What will they see there? Joy or gloom? Confidence or insecurity? Love or rejection? What is in your heart will show on your face. So ask God for a joy so radiant that it
“...you are beautiful. I know this for a fact because I know who made you.�
So, the question of the day:
When does modesty really become beautiful? Well, let's have a quick review of the term 'modesty'. The dictionary says this: "The quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc." To zero in on the definition, let's call it "dressing with consideration and prudence, avoiding provocative or suggestive styles." Can someone be modest without having a beautiful spirit? Ab-
cannot help but shine in your countenance! Something like this can't be forced; we can paste on a smile ourselves but if we aren't free and rejoicing inside, people will know. Let me tell you that your beauty is infinitely enhanced when you are wearing a genuine smile.
2. People do notice you. And in a good way. They'll be drawn to you without really knowing why. (P.S. It's because of the previously-mentioned JOY in your face and the natural beauty that God created you with!) Your life will influence them and point them to Jesus. You will truly be called beautiful because you reflect Him. That is something I want for myself and all of you very much.
solutely. I'm sure you've seen a few women who give you a dis-
A wise, beautiful young woman filled with discretion will
taste for their sort of modesty because it is drab, lifeless, forced,
redefine 'modesty'. It will now inspire words like: Pure. Femi-
unfashionable or just plain ugly, making it clear that they don't
nine. Beauty. Graceful. Precious. Lovely. Princess. Smile. Pas-
care how they look.
sion. Alive.
Okay, back to the question: When does modesty really become beautiful?
And in the end, those things are so much more important than what the world has to offer.
I'm only beginning to learn how to live a life of radiant, Christ-like beauty. There are days we don't feel beautiful; those days we need to purpose to let Christ's beauty shine through us. He is the one who made us. Let me also tell you that you (yes, I mean you) are beautiful. I know this for a fact because I know who made you. Let your beauty shine! Choose a pure lifestyle but most of all a pure heart . . . for Christ, for your family, for the husband you'll one day meet (Lord willing), for anyone you'll come in contact with. If you have any tips for me on this subject, I'd love to hear them! Email me and share them with me. In the meantime, here are some Monica’s Photography
great resources that will help you in practical ways to live the radiant life God has called you to.~ Cherie
Cherie (17)
My favorite color to wear in the summer: Green. And yellow. And pink. My favorite sum-
mer beverage: Iced coffee Favorite book I've read this summer: Shadow of the Almighty (I haven't finished it yet!) Favorite piece to play on the piano this summer: 'Still, My Soul Be Still' (Keith Getty), 'Waltz in C# Minor' (Chopin) Favorite summer memory this summer (so far): One of them would be my trip to the Northwoods! Something I still want to do this summer: Witness more
Cherie Suggests: Books:
Websites:
-A Young Woman After God's Own Heart (Elizabeth George)
www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com - blog, videos, stories
-The Divine Dance (Shannon Kubiak Primicerio)
www.purefashion.com/modesty - practical modesty tips
-God Called a Girl (Shannon Kubiak Primicerio)
www.feminineuniquestyles.com - tips, styles, crafts
-For Such a Time as This (Lisa Ryan)
www.femininityinafeministworld.blogspot.com - devotionals by a girl like
-Lies Young Women Believe (Nancy Leigh DeMoss & Dannah Gresh) -The Lost Art of True Beauty (Leslie Ludy) -Authentic Beauty (Leslie Ludy) -Secret Keeper (Dannah Gresh)
you www.feelinfeminine.com - with links to a lot of other great blogs
ed r u t Fea s e s r ou c e R Featured Online Resource: Set Apart Girl A great resource for all set-apart young women! Leslie Ludy (author of Authentic Beauty, and other titles), has an online magazine (which started me up on the idea to go online!) that has many articles that have challenged my way of thinking and have given me inspiration. Also, check out her videos in Set Apart Thots and free MP3 downloads of her music (My personal favorite is “Sunrise”)!
www.setapartgirl.com
Don’t Let Me Lose My Wonder: Keith and Kristyn Getty
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Radio Theatre (Focus On The Family, Audio Drama)
Trip To Green Gables: Hagood Hardy
:The Bride: Rhonda Calhoun: One of the best novels I have ever read is The Bride by Rhonda Calhoun. It is an allegory based on the Song of Solomon where a poor, young shepherdess is wooed by the King of kings. Rhonda writes a great story while maintaining Scriptural integrity. Reading this book helped me to understand better Jesus as a Bridegroom and my identity as a lover of Him, as well as understanding more the Father and Holy Spirit. As you read you will be gripped with the reality of His passionate, pursuing love of your heart, no matter how you've failed Him in the past. His love does not increase or decrease depending on your actions, it is constant and never changes, even though our emotions often feel varying levels of His love and acceptance. This is a beautiful work displaying so much of His heart towards us and how He wants to reveal Himself to us in big ways. His ultimate desire is an intimate relationship with you! Journey with the shepherd girl as she comes to a purer, more complete consecration and devotion to Him in response to His tender love. Sheri is giving away one copy of The Bride! See page 13.
:DADDY-LONG-LEGS: Jean Webster: "Jerusha caught only a fleeting impression of the man - and the impression consisted entirely of tallness. He was waving his arm toward an automobile waiting in the drive. As it sprang into motion and approached, the glaring headlights threw his shadow sharply against the wall inside. The shadow pictured grotesquely elongated legs and arms that ran along the floor and up the wall of the corridor. It looked, for all the world, like a huge, wavering Daddy-LongLegs."
Jerusha Abbott, an imaginative eighteen year old orphan in the Orphan Asylum, never had any surprises. Everything was routine. Until the day that her life drastically changed for the better, that is. It was the day that the Orphanage Trustees visited, expecting to see their orphanage managing well, with all the children in order. Jerusha was called downstairs to Mrs. Lippet's office. "The gentleman who has just gone - has offered to send you to college." Jerusha knew nothing about her donor, except for the very vague facts of him being a man, very tall, and very rich. The only thing that he required was that she send a letter every month, to his office, describing how her schooling was going. Read her letters to "Dear Daddy-Long-Legs", and see her learn about the world outside of the orphanage. Will she ever find out who changed her life so drastically?
Christy (15)
My favorite color to wear in the summer: pink, blue, green . . .My favorite summer bever-
age: Must I say? ;) cofffffeeee!!! oh, or garden tea. My favorite place to read this summer: um, my room. i should try it out on the hammock! My favorite music piece to play on the piano this summer: probably the Butterfly Waltz. My favorite memory of this summer (so far): Probably the ATI Convention, or when our family went to Cape Charles.
Thank you for joining us! Monica Miller girlfriendgazette@gmail.com
This Month’s Cover Models: Hannah and Monica Your Picture could be on the next issue’s front cover! Send cover photo entries to the address on page 3. [Note: Especially in need of fall and winter themed photos!]