April Graney
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
One Happy House
Thanks for visiting!
I am moving content from this site over to my NEW site! Please join me over at www.onehappyhouse.org! I'd love to see you there!
--April
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Mud House Mama: Sarah Barnett
I took a risk and messaged her: “This
might sound creepy, but are you at the College of the Ozarks spring musical? I
think I just saw you! I’m in row N with a red jacket on."
“Yes! I’m in the balcony.
I’d love to meet! This is so crazy!” she replied.
Moments later, I got to
meet a woman I admired from afar, a BIG dreamer, a woman committed do WHATEVER
the Lord asks, a wife and mother of three, and the founder of a business
supporting 20+ artisan groups in 12+ countries, International Blessings.
From a young age, Sarah Barnett
longed to travel and dreamed of being an agricultural missionary. She convinced
her parents to allow her to travel to Ecuador during her junior year of high
school. After college, she joined the World Race, which allowed her to travel
to 11 countries in 11 months, serving people in poverty. The things she
witnessed broke her heart. But in Burkina Faso, she says, “God began revealing
a deeper purpose, a greater need, a crazy dream that I wasn’t sure I could ever
accomplish.”
Graduation, marriage, motherhood, and pregnant with her second child, in 2012, Sarah Barnett founded International Blessings, a
company partnering with fair trade companies like one in Haiti that creates
jobs for mothers and fathers who do not want to give up their kids to
orphanages because they can’t feed them.
International blessings
offers fair trade items made by families living in poverty, to monthly
subscribers. Subscribers receive 3-4 handmade products typically including a
pair of earrings, a bracelet, and 1 or 2 other items such as a scarf, ring,
coin purse toy, or home décor items.
Just last month, Sarah bravely took her husband and three young children to Guatemala to visit with artisans
there! She is introducing her children to the world starting at a young age!
I
love that I got to meet Sarah, and hope that as my daughter attends College of
the Ozarks in the fall, she will get to know this incredible Mud House Mama even better!
Our meeting was a divine appointment only God could have arranged!
I sign copies of The Marvelous Mud House, with the
message: “You are blessed! Be a blessing!” I love that Sarah Barnett is empowering
people to do just that!
Allow me to challenge you in Sarah’s words:
“Together we can change
the world. Every person has the ability and resources to make a difference in
some way. It may be small, but it still matters. And if we all work together
and support each other, the impact will multiply and make a ripple effect.”
Friday, March 23, 2018
Why we all want MORE and what to do about it.
I’m heartbroken. The
church I grew up in is going through a split, families and staff
leaving or let go. Relationships shattered. The body of Christ in pieces. Sheep
left grieving over a divided flock. I love this church, the people still in it
and those who used to be there.
One time, my normally-passive
older son, gave his younger brother what he thought was “fair warning” and then
punched him in the face. Something about Legos.
I confess. Multiple times
a day, I impulsively check my book’s rating on Amazon. Unfortunately getting
published won’t fulfill all of my dreams. Somebody else’s book is always hitting
the best seller list over mine.
We all want more.
The conflict, comparison, and discontentment that results are a product of misplaced desire.
Because they refused to
enter the Promised Land, the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years.
God miraculously provided manna from heaven every day. It wasn’t enough. They
craved meat from Egypt. They grumbled and complained. They desired what God had
not provided. (Numbers 11)
The Levites were set
apart by the Lord to serve in and guard the tabernacle instead of going to war.
They ministered before the congregation, but that wasn’t enough for some of them.
They desired the priesthood and confronted Moses and Aaron. And the Lord caused
the ground the swallow them up. (Numbers 16)
Even Aaron and Miriam fell
prey to desire: “Has the Lord indeed only spoken through
Moses? Has he not spoke through us also?” And the Lord struck Miriam with leprosy for seven days. (Numbers 12:1-16)
“It’s a terrifying reality,” as I
heard a pastor recently say, “that people can believe in God, and yet still
love themselves more.”
Misplaced desires will
ruin you and those around you. Misplaced desire ruins families, marriages, and
churches. It causes fights, divisions, and quarrels.
James, the brother of
Jesus, wrote to the Israelite believers scattered among the nations, “What
causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that
battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but
you cannot have what you want.” (James 4:1-2)
The problem is that
misplaced desires is something we ALL struggle with, from those living in
poverty to the most wealthy, from the lowly to the most powerful. Every person
thinks of themselves first. Without the redeeming work of the Holy Spirit
transforming our hearts day by day, we are destined to be swallowed up by our
desires, as the ground swallowed up those Levites.
I often have to ask
myself why I want The Marvelous Mud House to be a bestseller. Is it because I want His glory or my own? I need the message of contentment in the story as much as anyone else.
Moses was the humblest man alive because he knew that nothing here on earth compared to the glory of God. The only true place that we can put our desires is on our good shepherd. Only the good shepherd
can lead and fulfill his sheep. Even when they are broken and hurting, biting
each other and bleeding. Our shepherd, the Lord, will continue to guide, lead,
protect, discipline, and comfort us, when we place our desires at his feet.
"Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken."
Psalm 62:5-6
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Mzungu!
Guest Blog Post by Dr. Jason Peters, CEO of Hope Haven Rwanda
Mzungu!
I couldn’t help but notice the variety of faces as we
bounced along the dirt road to Hope Haven Rwanda in our dusty Toyota Hilux.
Shouts of “Mzungu! Mzungu!” flooded through our open windows as children
grinned and reached out their hands excitedly. In the midst of the chaos, there
was a special connection between us as we exchanged glances, waves and smiles.
The word
“Mzungu” has its historical roots in Niger-Congo languages and is thought to
have initially referred to people of European descent who “wandered” or
“explored.” The interesting thing about “Mzungu”
is that it can be used in an affectionate or insulting way. Like some English
words, the meaning of the word is often dependent on the nature of the
relationship and the context in which it is used.
The variety of
humanity is both stunning and beautiful! Do we see every person we encounter as
created in God’s image, what the Church Fathers referred to in Latin as the
“Imago Dei?” When we view people as intrinsically valuable, as image-bearers of
God, we are able to develop healthy reflections of the intimacy shared by our
Triune God.
When Jesus
washed the feet of His disciples on the night He was betrayed, He challenged
them to reflect God’s love in the way they loved each other: “By this everyone will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Jesus calls us to treat
everyone we meet with deep respect, to treat them as we wish to be treated, and
to convey His love to them as fellow image-bearers of God.
At Hope Haven Rwanda, we want to promote a culture of love and respect within our staff,
faculty, students and the families that we serve. My prayer is that every time
we hear a child cry out “Mzungu!” it is a term of affection because they sense
that our team loves them, that we want to listen to them and to honor them with
the dignity that they deserve as image-bearers of God. This is a critical part
of our mission to transform Rwandan families through a holistic approach to education and
discipleship, actively demonstrating the love, hope and truth of Jesus Christ.
No matter who we
are, or where we live, we are deeply loved by God and we are called to love
others deeply. In the fast-paced bustle of daily life, how can you be used by
God this week to hear the heart of someone in need? May God help us all to be
willing to listen to His promptings and to love and serve whomever He places on
our path.
Dr. Jason Peters is a follower of Jesus, husband, father of five,
speaker, author, and CEO of Hope Haven Rwanda (drjasonpeters.com). Jason has
traveled to 48 countries around the globe to meet with Christians and to help
share their stories. He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Dallas
Theological Seminary, is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel and was host and
producer of the national award-winning I Am N video curriculum.
Please check out Hope Haven Rwanda HERE!
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Mud House Mama: Vanessa Jones
A thoughtful writer friend of mine gave me the inspiring idea to
write features about “Mud House Mamas," women who embrace
God’s incredible heart for the world, live their lives accordingly, and boldly
share that passion with others.
As I considered writing my first post for this, I was compelled to tell you
about this woman!
She is soft spoken, wise, gentle
and kind. I first met Vanessa when she worked as a summer camp counselor at New
Life Ranch. I was pregnant with my first child, and scared because I just found
out I might have gestational diabetes. If my husband couldn't make it to the
appointment with me, the first person I thought of asking was Vanessa. She was
a comforting person, a balm to the soul.
And yet, as I would soon
discover, surprisingly so fiercehearted!
Growing up, I always imagined
that women who chose to go to the mission field to places like Kenya, must be
loud, passionate, strong, warrior type women. She wasn't the personality I
thought would be headed to Africa. I was wrong.
Several years after our meeting, Vanessa married my brother, an
aspiring medical missionary doctor. Together, they survived his medical school
years, and the birth of 3 boys. Then they packed their belongings in 12
suitcases, and moved to Kenya.
While Kyle serves at Kapsowar Hospital, Vanessa is cooking meals
from scratch, homeschooling their now four children, hosting guests and visitors from
around the world, and leading Bible studies with women in Kenya. She has
supported and come alongside Kyle starting a medical clinic and a Christian
school in the remote Lodengo area four hours down a dangerous winding mountain
road from their home. Her children are growing up to be compassionate, energetic, souls who love Jesus.
And last week, Vanessa saved my brother’s life. While on
vacation at a hotel in Kenya, Kyle hit his head on a faulty designed water
slide and went unconscious. Thankfully, Vanessa saw the accident, quickly jumped in and
yelled for their 12 year old son, Hudson to help her get him above and out of
the water. Likely the scariest moment of her life were those 2 minutes he lie
unconscious at the poolside, and the 30 minutes he was confused afterwards. (He’s
recovering from a concussion, but doing well now.)
My sister-in-law is a fiercehearted HERO. I’m delighted to name
her the first “Mud House Mama.” She loves the Lord and the people of Kenya with
her whole being. She is living for Jesus and changing lives! I am forever grateful for her impact on my life! (and my brother's :)
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Free donuts and an Invitation to the Movies
He was probably there for the free donut.
We were too.
My son and I bought two more donuts and a chocolate milk.
From across Krispy Kreme, I watched him drinking coffee, eating his donut, and looking dejected.
Lonely. Bored. Clothing tattered. Was he homeless?
After our donuts, I planned to take my son to see The Greatest Showman.
A crazy thought popped into my mind. Would the homeless looking man enjoy this movie too? Should we ask him to join us? No, that would be crazy. Unsafe. The thought wouldn't leave me. I mentioned it to my son.
Who PROMPTLY turned and STARED at the man. Just briefly. From across the doughnut shop.
Now we had to invite him to the movie. Otherwise, he might think we were staring and talking about him unkindly. I suddenly felt very brave.
"Excuse me sir. Hello. How are you?"
"Okay I guess."
"My son and I are about to go see a movie. Would you like to join us?"
"Oh no, no, I couldn't do that." he said waving his hand across his chest.
"Are you sure" big smile.
"No no, I couldn't." he said.
"Okay, well, have a nice day."
My son may always remember the day his crazy mother invited a stranger to the movies.
I will always wonder how our invitation made this man feel. Did it make him feel less invisible to the world? Brighten his day a little? We may never know.
If I could go back, I would do it differently. Introduce ourselves first. Sit down and get to know this man's name and his story. Maybe he would have felt more comfortable with us inviting him to a movie. Maybe we would have made a friend that day.
If you live in the Tulsa area (we don't), and feel like swinging by Krispy Kreme (who doesn't!?), would you do me a favor and keep an eye out for this man? If you find him, tell him we're sorry. We're sorry we didn't spend more time talking to you. For not asking your name first. We'd love a second chance.
My son would love to meet you, properly.
Book a Reading of The Marvelous Mud House
"When you have a
relationship with the Lord,
a little seems like a
lot."
—3rd grade students after hearing The
Marvelous Mud House
I love to share my children's book, The Marvelous Mud House with
children at schools, churches, and libraries! Book readings with discussion
afterwards take 20-30 minutes. Below are the responses from some of the schools
and churches I have done readings for:
Our school had the privilege of not only
getting to see a beautifully illustrated book, “The Marvelous Mud House”, the
author actually read it to our students. April Graney has written a
wonderful book that children of all ages will enjoy. As I looked around
the auditorium while she read her book to the students, I observed that they
were totally engaged and listened as she shared. Our students range in age from
4 years to 12 years old. Each child loved the book, which was evident by the
way they stayed attentive throughout the story and by the rich questions they
asked at the end of her presentation. “The Marvelous Mud House” crosses cultures
in a beautiful way and teaches some great life lessons about contentment with
what you have, less can actually be more, working with a good attitude, and
sharing with others who have a need. We hope she will write another book and
come back again!
Libby Jeffers
Teacher, Chapel Coordinator
Mingo Valley Christian
"Our
Kindergarten through fourth graders loved Mrs. Graney ‘s read aloud
of The Marvelous Mud House. By evidence of their comments and
questions, students engaged in perspective, empathy, and problem solving
during the read aloud all the while experiencing “the God who provides” in a
new way. Our students and team greatly enjoyed the experience and learning that
Mrs. Graney brought to us, and hope to partner with her again in the
future."
Ryan Schmuck
K2 Coordinator
Fellowship Bible Church, Lowell, AR
"The Marvelous Mud House is a delightful book which opens the hearts and minds of the reader to the possibility of joy and happiness while living in needs. When reading aloud, April Graney has an engaging manner that pulled my students into the world of Kenya. She interacted with the students and graciously answered the questions and listened to the comments of my little ones. The Marvelous Mud House would be a great addition to any classroom and an excellent resource to start a discussion about having an attitude of gratitude and way we can make a difference in the world."
Mrs. Karen Hodges
Elementary
Teacher
Cookson
Hills Christian School
You may contact me
for book readings or speaking engagements at: april@newliferanch.com!
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