No w Lasts fo
No spring skip
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Photography By Katrina Swartzentruber ::Cover photo by Cecilia Brown
winter orever
ps its turn
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Now in every issue
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A note from the editors
fem路i路nin路i路ty
Noun the quality of being female; womanliness. Femininity. I love the sound of that word! Growing up with three brothers and no sisters, I have loved being very feminine. So with that being said you can imagine that I was thrilled when we decided that it was going to be our 'theme' word! Working on this newest issue of the magazine, has been a very growing time for us girls on staff. we've grown closer together and have learned to thrive more through each others personalities and perspectives. Through working on this magazine God has shown me how to have more patience, a love for sharing and also more of a desire to learn and hear what others have to say I hope that you can be as encouraged as I was after reading the articles and that you can come away feeling re-
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!
freshed and invigorated ~Cecilia Brown
We Would like to thank everyone who put time and effort into this issue of our magazine! A Special thanks to Kimberly Amstutz and Andrea Powell who continue to write for us. You gals are awesome! Also thanks to the new staff Crafter Alaina Burwell, we were sad it didn't work out for to do it this time, but we are looking forward to see her work in future magazines! And last, but not least, Thanks to our guest photographers Rosa Yoder, Caleb Swartzentruber, and Kelsey Amstutz and to our guest writer, Tanya Knepp. None of this could be possible without y’alls help. And without the encouragement and support from our readers. Thank you for Reading ~The Virtuous Daughter Editing Team Photography by Cecilia Brown
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F Meet the Staff ‌.
Several Mennonite girls striving to be like Jesus Christ, and sharing his love to other girls! Through this magazine we hope to connect with other girls, with a similar goal, and encourage one another in our walk with God.
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Photography by Katrina Swartzentruber
Katrina Swartzentruber– Editor, Creative Director Hey everyone! I am so excited to finally be able to share this magazine with you! My name is Katrina (Trina) and I am 14 years old! I live in the hilly country of NE Missouri with my 3 sisters (two of which are now married) and 1 brother. I enjoy photography/design and making music! Most of my days consist of doing school, playing piano, and reading. I really hope you enjoy our magazine!!Trinagrace.wordpress.com
Cecilia Brown– Editor, Creative assistant Hey there! I'm so excited to be working on this magazine with the other lovely girls on staff! I am 16, and I have 2 older brothers, which are both married, and one younger brother (he's my sidekick). I love hanging out with friends, playing volleyball, hunting, and big cups of chai. I enjoy photography, especially newborn and still life. Check out my blog @ www.ohcecilia99.wordpress.com
Juliana Ebersole– Editor, Public Relations Hey there! Thanks for taking the time to ready this and may God bless you every time you do. My name is Juliana Ebersole. I'm 14 years old, and believe it or not 10 of those years have been spent in the beautiful country of Mongolia (that's in Asia. Right in between Russia and China). My family moved to Mongolia in 2006. We've been doing several projects there over the years, and it's been a wonderful life! The Lord has done some amazing things throughout all my years and I hope and pray He does some pretty awesome stuff in yours as well.. God bless! Stopbyforcoffee.wordpress.com
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Meet everyone who helped out with this issue
Ki m berl y Amstutz– Staff Wri t er My name is Kimberly Amstutz. I am 16 yrs. old. I live in Jonesville, Michigan. A friend of mine asked me to be a staff writer for The Virtuous Daughter Magazine. I felt like this was something God wanted me to do, and I have enjoyed writing the articles SO MUCH! As far as hobbies go, I enjoy writing, reading, (mysteries, mostly) and baking. My favorite is probably riding my horse! Cats also hold a special place in my heart!
Andrea Powell– Staff Writer My name is Andrea Powell and I am from Lake Butler , Florida. I am 14 and I have enjoyed writing ever since like third grade. I enjoy other things too, like swimming, riding horses, babysitting little kids, playing volleyball and also I love to sing (just ask my family). Overall though, I am just a normal girl, trying (like the rest of you) to be like Jesus and to reach out to others. I hope to encourage and inspire you to love Jesus with all your heart and to give your life to Him if you haven’t yet.
Alaina Burwell– Staff crafter
My name is Alaina Mae Burwell and I am 13. My mom and dad and my four younger siblings moved to Mongolia when I was nine and we are missionaries to the herdsman here. :) I really enjoy arts and crafts and writing!
y e
Tanya Knepp– guest writer I live in Colorado with my husband, Leslie Knepp, who helped me write this. He works with New Horizons Ministries, and I am studying to become an Elementary/Special Education Teacher. We blog occasionally atKneppDuo.wordpress.com , and also like to take walks, make and refinish furniture, and just hang out together. I play piano and sing, and hope to one day have a flourishing passel of students.
Kelsey Amstutz– Guest Photographer Hey There! My name is Kelsey Amstutz, I'm 15 years old, and from Jonesville, MI. A few of my hobbies are playing the piano, and hanging out with friends, and photography. I'm really honored to be able to be a guest
photographer in this issue!
Rosa Yoder– Guest Photographer Hi there! My name is Rosa. Rosa with the s' as in snake sound. There are really to many things I could say about myself, that I don't know where to begin. I've been learning a lot about Trust recently. It's amazing how when you trust, you feel loved. That's how it is for me anyways. It was fun doing this project for VDM. Hope you guys are blessed with this magazine! Have an awesome day! Don't forget that you are loved. -Rosa
Caleb Swartzentruber– Guest Photographer Caleb is a sports fanatic and enjoys whatever is in season– baseball, football, hockey, and basketball. He always enjoys a good Tintin and playing a game of hockey with his sister on the wii.
Staff Photographers Katrina Swartzentruber Cecilia Brown
G Connect with us
Find us on the web or on social media sites!
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Website:
Thevirtuousdaughter.wix.com/magazine Blog:
Thevirtuousdaughtermagazine.wordpress.com Instagram:
@thevirtuousdaughter Google + :
+thevirtuousdaughter Pinterest:
Virtuous Daughter Magazine
Thevirtuousdaughter@gmail.com Photography by Cecilia Brown
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S Biblical Womanhood Written By: Tanya Knepp
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Photos are of Tanya and Les’s wedding. They are used by permission.
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Worldview and Womanhood What is the core of a biblical woman? We throw around the term, “Biblical Womanhood,” but what does that really mean? I think usually when we say “Biblical” womanhood, we are making a distinction between a worldview that is centered on and shaped by God and a worldview shaped by the world.
quently, two very different lifestyles.
We could spend a lot of time looking for what the Bible says specifically to or about women, and creating a philosophy of womanhood from that. It really wouldn’t be that hard for you to do a word search and find that for yourself. However, I think it Our worldview is what we believe is most important for you to about origin, destiny, purpose, learn to develop a biblical and morality. It answers the ques- worldview. tions: A biblical worldview will shape Where did I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here? What is morally right? As Christians, we look to the Bible for the answers to these questions. In contrast, the world seeks for answers in current cultural knowledge. This creates two very different worldviews, and conse-
you as a woman, no matter what life stage you are in. It will shape you as a teenager and student, and it will shape you as a thirtysomething wife and mother, business owner, missionary, or whatever you become. So how can you cultivate and grow your worldview?
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Be a Thinker Cultivate your mind. Read good, intellectual books, not just fluff. Study well in school or on your own. Listen to ideas that perplex and challenge you. Dialog with people that make your mind work. When you hear sermons or sit in Bible classes, keep your mind in gear. Evaluate what you are hearing. Don’t become cynical, but learn to use discernment. When you hear things you don’t understand or aren’t sure of, dialog about that with people you can trust. Don’t just say, “Well, I don’t understand it, so it must be
beyond me.” We’re talking about shaping a Biblical worldview, so remember to evaluate what you are hearing, reading, and seeing. What humans say is never perfect, but we can always trust God’s word to be true. If there is a contradiction or someone is wrong, it is not the Bible. With this in mind, we can learn from others that believe differently than we do. Dig into the Bible and find out what it says for yourself. Learn to use resources like concordances, interlinear Bibles,
and commentaries. Biblehub.com has many resources for free, and they are very easy to use. Don’t just focus on certain passages, study whole books. The passages on womanhood are very helpful, but the rest of the Bible is equally important to us as women. For instance, Colossians 3 talks to everyone, male and female, but has huge ramifications for myself as a woman, in ways that are different than if I were a man. I won’t discuss that here—you can consider it your assignment to look at that passage and
see what I mean. Why is this so important? Your worldview will shape who you become. You can do the “right” things for Christian women to do, without having a Biblical worldview. However, if you do the things that make you different just because your church, parents, or peers tell you that this is right, ultimately you will leave it behind. However, if you choose to be a different woman because you have deep convictions and an unshakeable faith in Jesus, you will have the courage to remain
countercultural. So be a thinker! Open your heart and mind to Jesus, and let him shape your worldview and your womanhood.
Recommended Resources Worldview Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey Anything written by Francis and Edith Schaeffer—Edith also has some books on womanhood. The Reason for God by Timothy Kellar – This book has some things I disagree with in regards to creation, but is still beneficial. Think by John Piper Bible Study Kay Arthur has many books and study guides using the Inductive Bible Study method. SheReadsTruth.com has a free daily devotional and
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reading plan to get you started. The SOAP Bible Study method is easy and good— an internet search will give you the basics and many free resources. Womanhood Fierce Women by Kimberly Wagner
Who can find a Virtuous Women? For her price is far above rubies Proverbs 31:10
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Amelia Emily Jones Chapter 2
“Christmas Chaos” Written and Illustrated by Kimberly Amstutz
“All right! Let’s run through that one Drama’s had been spectacular. Now more time, and this time let’s do it that Amelia was attending the High right!” Coach Elliot blew her whistle once School, she had signed up for the again, as the weary cast members filed Drama club, not knowing what a backstage. Amelia was tempted to turn ruthless coach Miss Alaina Elliot really and scowl at Coach Alaina Elliot, but she was. Her friends on the Soccer and stopped herself in time. Coach Elliot had basketball teams had told her stories of earned every letter of Coach Elliot, but Amelia had alher title, coach. She ways figured they were all coached the Girls’ embellished a bit. But today, soccer team, girls’ Amelia believed every tale she basketball, and she also had ever heard about Coach coached the Drama Elliot. club too. Amelia had to Amelia joined the rest of her admit that she was a friends in the girls’ dressing good coach, both in room. As she stepped into her sports and drama. But soft violet Costume, she today, Amelia felt little thought how lucky she really less then grateful towas. Her first time in the ward the tall, brown Drama club and she cast the haired women. role of Mary! She couldn’t help Amelia and her 27 but feel a little proud of classmates were herself! practicing for the As the rest of the day wore Annual Christmas Draon, and Play Practice came to an end, all ma that Ellwood Christian High school of the cast gathered in the auditorium put on every year. Under the coaching of the drama hall. Everyone took a seat of Alaina Elliot the past two Christmas and Coach Elliot hushed the tired crowd
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of high schoolers.
Coach Elliot addressed the group, “I’m very proud of each and every one of you. Practice today was good, could have been better, but we’ll keep working. You are all showing amazing progress since our first practice. I have one question I want to leave you with. I want each of you to seriously think about it. Here it is, you are presenting, through this drama program, one of the most phenomenal occurrences in History. You are presenting the birth of a King, and not just any king either. The King. Here’s my question for you. When you’re up on stage there, are you just saying lines, or are you presenting His birth as it should be presented? Is your heart in it? That’s what really counts. Ok, now all of you get back to class.”
Amelia ripped her ponytail holder out once again and put it in again. As she was wrapping her ponytail into a bun, her brother Andy burst into her room. “Melia’, Dad said to tell you we’re leaving in 15 minutes!” and with that he was gone. Amelia slid her veil into place, clipped it on, and rushed downstairs. She was ready to do this, nervous or not!
The curtain pulled back, and the Choir opened the presentation with singing a few Christmas carols. Once they finished the curtain closed and Amelia, and all the other cast members moved into position. As the curtain parted, and the spotlight shone in Amelia’s eye, the nervous feeling in her stomach melted away, and Amelia let herThe class all stood and started filing out the self get caught up in the Story. door. Amelia moved slowly, stepping into the In the last scene, Amelia, or Mary, knelt at back of the line. Her mind raced “Has my the manger. Joseph stood behind her with
heart really been in it? Am I just saying his staff. As Amelia looked into the manger, lines?” Amelia bit her lip. She knew she had some work to do. ____________________________
Amelia stood in front of her full length mirror, and groaned. Her hair was just not going up like it should, and tonight of all nights she had to be ready to leave in 15 minutes. Tonight was the Ellwood High School’s annual Christmas Drama. Amelia’s stomach flipped just saying the word drama. She was so nervous. This was her first drama she’d ever acted in. She’d thought after 10 weeks of practice, she’d be ready for it, but she was still nervous, even though she could say her lines in her sleep.
at the baby doll portraying Jesus, an amazing feeling swept over her. The lights shone in her eyes, but she didn’t care at all. She felt overcome with emotion. She had just had a glimpse of what she thought Mary might have felt. A tremendous feeling of love and awe of a baby sent to save a world. Amelia stood up to finish the program but when she left the building that night, she knew something in her had changed, and she knew what it was too. Jesus had changed her heart, and he had used a small insignificant program put on by a bunch of high school kids to do it. In Amelia’s heart, she knew, she would never forget that one night when Jesus became so real to her!
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Book Recommendations
Reading someplace to go when we have to
Stay we are
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Photography by Katrina Swartzentruber
A Charmed Life Series
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest
The Christmas Joy Ride
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Becoming who God intended for us to be By Kimberly Amstutz
Feminine! What a
flowers instead of guns,
beautiful word! We are so
and shopping instead of
blessed to be girls! God
fishing! God has designed
chose us especially for this us to bring glory to his task! Being a girl seems
name, and the way we are
easy on the surface, right?
supposed to do that, is to
I mean, we’re born that
treat our femininity as God
way. We have no choice in designed. So, how exactly the matter. But really, there do we treat our femininity is a lot more to it than
as God has planned? Well,
wearing dresses and liking let’s take a look!
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I personally think God
nature tells us that we need
created some things to just to do stuff to be beautiful be beautiful. Flowers are
but that’s not true! Just like
such an amazing example. the flower, if we allow What do flowers do to be
ourselves to be completely
beautiful? Do they use a
and totally used by God, he
special hair tonic, or buy all will create a beauty in us the expensive clothes?
that no make-up or dress
Well, obviously not! They’re can compete with! only flowers, but they are still beautiful. They have a natural beauty that they
Lots of girls say, “Well, I’m just not pretty!” EXCUSE ME?!?!?!? Are they
had no choice in, and their saying God messed up? only job is to bloom! That is Not every person looks exwhat flowers live to do,
bloom! And when they do, their beauty is breath taking! We are like the
actly the same! What a boring place this world would be if everyone looked the same! I believe
flowers. God created us to that every person in this bloom, too. Our human world is beautiful to God.
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We are like the flowers. God created us to bloom, too.
Photography by Kelsey Amstutz
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. Even if you don’t think your eyes and on your face, so - even if your friends
and that is the true beauty!
don’t think so - God created The beauty that’s not from you, you are beautiful!
a bottle, but from a book -
Again, look at the flowers!
God’s book. Read it, it’s
Some are small and petite, your ‘Beauty Manual’! If such as a violet. Some are you follow God’s direction, big and bushy, such as a li- you will have that inner lac bloom. And then some
beauty!
are extremely delicate, like the rose. But even though each of these flowers are different, they are each beautiful in their own way! Let’s look at ways to find this inner beauty! Let’s start with, obviously, giving your life to the Lord. The peace that comes with having Jesus as your personal Savior radiates in
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Cecilia Brown
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Kelsey Amstutz
Katrina Swartzentruber
Kaitlin Shank
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DINE
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Ingredients
4 Egg Whites At Room Temp 1/4 tsp. Salt 1/4 tsp. Cream of Tartar 1 1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar 1-2 Drops Peppermint Oil 4-5oz Melting Chocolate Red Gel Food Coloring Makes approx. 36 cookies.
Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F
Peppermint
meringues Light and airy, sweet and minty, these meringues are a must for me. I love them with a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter day. This recipe actually instructs you to dip them in chocolate when finished, but you don’t have to do this extra step if you don’t want to.
and line 2 large baking pans with parchment paper. 2. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat egg whites on low until they become white and foamy. 3. Add in salt and cream of tartar, beat until soft peaks form. 4. Set timer for 7 minutes and beat on medium-high the entire time. Throughout the 7 minutes gradually add in granulated sugar taking the entire 7 minutes to do so. 5. Add in 1-2 drops peppermint oil, mix for a few moments until fully combined. 6. Prepare a large piping bag with a large round tip. To make the red striped use toothpick to paint red stripes inside the piping bag starting down at the very tip. 7. Fill piping bag with meringue. Pipe 3.5in-4in “coils” onto parchment paper. 8. Bake at 200 for 2.5-3.5 hours. Baking time will depend on humidity, difference in oven, and size of cookies. Cookies will be crisp when broke, but melt in your mouth. 9. Carefully slide parchment paper off pan and allow to cool. 10. Once cookies have cooled, melt chocolate. Gently dip one end of cookie into chocolate and place back on the parchment paper and allow chocolate to firm.
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Every Mennonite girl
braided hair or gold or
probably hears about
pearls or costly cloth-
modesty a lot. Or at
ing.”
least that’s how it feels
Now this doesn’t
sometimes, huh? Well, mean you just go the Bible actually spe- around in sack-like gray cifically talks about
modesty for a woman (applies to girls too). “...in like manner also,
dresses and have greasy hair pulled straight back with absolutely no clean, graceful
that the women adorn
look to you. God made
themselves in modest
color and beauty.
apparel…. not with
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He made each one of us beautiful in His eyes and we are to enhance it and make ourselves attractive and feminine. This doesn’t “It’s not wrong to want to look pretty and attractive. God made girls with a want to look beautiful and feminine. But it’s important to remember that God’s desire is for us to be beautiful on the inside as well and not to get all caught up with the outside appearance.”
mean caked on makeup and buying expensive clothes just to be pretty. God made each of us with natural beauty. It’s not wrong to want to look
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beautiful and feminine.
up with the outside ap-
But it’s important to re-
pearance.
member that God’s de-
“Keep thy heart with all
sire is for us to be beau- diligence, for out of it are tiful on the inside as well the issues of life.” and not to get all caught
Modesty is so important for us as girls. Especially today when it seems like all girls ever think about is how much of their body they can show off and how much attention they can get from guys. Well? God’s word doesn’t quite line up with that. Purity is a big teaching in the Bible
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“Older women as
one to notice them, but
mothers, younger
for the wrong reasons.
women as sisters with
When you dress re-
all purity,”
vealingly, you are mak-
“Blessed are the
ing it hard for guys to
pure in heart, for they
guard their eyes and
shall see God.”
hearts. Yes, it goes
Girls who are not
both ways. Guys need
committed to following to guard themselves Jesus, dress to expose anyhow but, if we
certain body parts and dress appropriately it choose clothes that do will help both sides that. They find security out. in having the best
A respected woman
shape in the school. Or once said, “You want having a lot of guys
to attract people to
trailing after them.
your countenance with
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They want every- how you dress.”
You want your dress to
caught up in dressing
draw people to your
with the latest fashions.
face and the radiance
But do get caught up
that you will have if you with trying to please Jeare fully committed to
sus, keeping your heart
Jesus.
pure, and becoming
Well, I hope I could be
more like Him every day.
of some help to all you girls out there. Just remember, don’t get
You can do it!! ~Andrea Powell
Photography by Rosa Yoder
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