Roseanna White - Roseanna M. White

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Roseanna White | Nov 19, 2018 | Holidays

This week, in celebration of Thanksgiving in America, I’m going to be taking the week off from the blog. My kids and I have the week off from homeschooling, so we’re going to seize the chance to watch some movies, do some reading (and writing, for me) and otherwise relax. I hope everyone has a wonderful, blessed week!

And be sure to come back here next Monday to see what Cyber Monday deals are running in my shop!

Thoughtful About . . . The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

by Roseanna White | Nov 15, 2018 | Holidays, Thoughtful Thursdays

It’s once again that time of year when we set aside time to focus on giving thanks. Thanks to our God for all He has provided. Thanks for all He is. Thanks for all He’s made us.

It’s that time of year when I often pause to remember the start of the American tradition and stand in continual awe at the Pilgrims that first celebrated Thanksgiving on this continent. Who celebrated and gave thanks despite the fact that every single one of them had suffered the cruel death of a loved one in the year that had just passed. That families had been patched together, binding widows to widowers, orphans to parents who had lost children. That the community had chosen to hold steady, to move forward together. To give thanks. Despite the fact that they had so many reasons to mourn. So much grief burdening them. So many obstacles ahead.

When I’m making a list of things to be thankful for, I know what tops mine: my family, my friends, the chance to write, the Church, His Spirit.

But this year, as I’ve spent these last few months contemplating how I can #BeBetter, how I can stop viewing those who have different opinions or beliefs as my opposition or enemy, I feel like I’m being challenged to something new.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18, Paul instructs us (emphasis my own):

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Everything. That isn’t always easy. But God also calls us to offer our praise even when it’s hard. Even when it’s a sacrifice. Sometimes, thanksgiving is the same. Sometimes, He asks us to take a step back from the emotion that holds us captive–the pain, the anger, the grief…the happiness, the Joy, the victory–and see things through His eyes. To see that even when we feel loss, He is still at work. Even when death steals from us, He gives us life. Even when we’re prisoners, He offers freedom of the soul. Even when we cannot see the reason, He holds it all in His hands.

But not only that. The things we consider victory and Joy cause pain and fear for others. God cares about that, too, doesn’t He? He loves those who are confused about their identity…He loves those who fear bigotry so much that they extend the definition into things I don’t feel it should include. He loves those who think my faith is dangerous. Does He want us laughing in Joy when we score a “win”…or praying for those who are hurt by it?

This year, I’m going to be spending my Thanksgiving deliberately thanking God for the things and people that cause me stress. I’m going to thank Him for the people who don’t believe as I do–because they have opinions that challenge me, and it’s through challenging each other that we achieve intellectual honesty. I’m going to thank Him for what I’ve lost, because sometimes it takes stripping me of the things I cling to for me to really see Who matters. I’m going to thank Him for every single thing I hope changes in the year to come, because the fact that it’s here in my life means I need to learn from it.

We are all dealt hard blows. We all suffer. We all fear. It’s what we do with it that makes a difference. And if our “doing” is to praise God, to thank Him for the loss, for the pain, for the hurt, for the difficulty… Well then, we’re not going to be seeking revenge. We’re not going to be wallowing in those emotions–we’re going to be wallowing in Him.

And that, my friends, can change the world. One person at a time.

Next week I will be celebrating Thanksgiving and taking the week off from blogging, but be sure to swing by here on Monday, November 26th to see what Cyber Monday sales I’ll be offering!

Word of the Week – Vignette

by Roseanna White | Nov 12, 2018 | Word of the Week

I love learning things through my kids’ school! A week or two ago, my daughter came out with her vocabulary book in hand to ask if I knew about the history of the word vignette. I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard this before, but it’s a fun progression!

So back in the day, book pages that contained pictures were often decorated with a border–and one of the most popular images to use for a border was a vine. (French vigne.) By 1751, this vine border had become known as a vignette, which is just a diminutive of the French. But over the years, the word began to be used for the picture on the page, not just the border. By 1853, vignette was used for a type of small photographic portrait.

Toward the end of the 19th century, this idea of a small image or sketch expanded into the literary world and began to be used for a short work of writing too–which is the meaning I’m most familiar with. I had no idea it had come originally from a vine used as a decorative border!

Do you have any books in your house with a vignette border on any pages?

Remember When . . . He Made Us His Own

by Roseanna White | Nov 7, 2018 | Remember When Wednesdays, Thoughtful Thursdays

I have been adopted by a king. And so have you.

I remember when I was in high school, on one of my piano recital days, I was battling nerves by praying and just dwelling on Him. I can still see the church sanctuary in my mind’s eye, with the baby grand piano that I’d soon play for the collection of family and friends gathered there. I can still see the sunlight streaming through the window. I can still feel the creased, worn pages of the music book in my hands. I was maybe fourteen or fifteen…that detail escapes me. 😉 But that day, as I dwelt on all He’s done for me, I realized something pretty cool. That He was the King of kings…and I am His daughter, His heir. I am a princess of the Kingdom of God.

Now, this was before the days of memes and social media. These days, I see beautiful images and catchy phrases that share this idea left and right. But at the time, it was a revelation. And it was one that has always stuck with me.

My God sent His Son–the true heavenly Prince–to this earth to die for me. To die for you. And so to provide a means for us to become joint-heirs with him. How amazing is that?

I loved learning that in the day and age when Jesus walked the earth, adoption was something very serious. Under Roman law, when a child was adopted into a family, they were entitled to the family name, legacy, and inheritance. They could inherit titles. Thrones. Everything a natural child could. This hasn’t been the case throughout all of history–but it was then. Which makes it all the more important that it was that moment of history that hosted the arrival of our Savior. Because when He then offered adoption into His family, it meant something complete. Something profound. Something irreversible. We will inherit the kingdom of God.

A fitting contemplation now that we’re into November ~ Adoption Awareness Month.

For those of you who have read my Shadows Over England series, you know how much I loved crafting a family of adopted-by-each-other orphans as my heroes and heroines. This family understands that it’s love that binds us together, not blood. Love that makes a brother or a sister, a parent or a child.

I love that God gave us such an always-present illustration of what He’s done for us. And as we thank Him over and again for all He’s done for us in that respect, it seems like a great time to contemplate how we in this world do the same. I have some friends who went through the fire to be able to adopt children in need; I have family who has acted as foster parents to countless boys and adopted several of them over the years; and I had the privilege of helping edit a book about a birth mother who chose to give up her child, and who was finally reunited with her many years later. This tender memoir has snippets from the birth mother, the child, the adopted mother, and a few glimpses into other families’ adoptions as well.

Paperback | Kindle (on sale for November!)

This November, let’s make it a point to remember, as we gear our minds toward thankfulness, what our heavenly Father has done for us. And also to dwell on how His children follow His example even today.

Thank you, Father, for making us your own. And thank you for equipping us with hearts to mirror you and bring others into our families as well.

Word of the Week – Stumped

by Roseanna White | Nov 5, 2018 | Word of the Week

Ever wonder why, when we’re stymied and/or confused, we say we’re stumped? I’d never really paused to wonder about this one, but my daughter learned this etymology in her history class and had to share, and it made me go, “Oh, of course!”

As early as the 13th century, this word was used to literally mean “to stumble over a tree stump.” It was in the early 1800s that Americans began using it in a metaphorical sense, and it’s believed to be because the literal use became so common as wagons ventured west–often getting stuck on stumps that hadn’t been cleared fully from the trail–and when clearing a field for plowing that it became a part of the everyday vernacular and so took on a broader meaning.

Etymologists also point out, though, that it probably stuck because it also called upon an earlier meaning of “to challenge or dare” that was used in the 1760s.