Archive for the ‘Admiration Mondays’ Category

Admiration Mondays: Jenny at Nourished Kitchen

May 24th, 2010

Quite a while back I did a regular series called Admiration Mondays and each Monday I wrote about someone that I admire. Today I’m bringing that back. I want to tell you about someone I admire:

Her name is Jenny and she’s the genius behind Nourished Kitchen.

I don’t know Jenny. In fact I don’t even know her last name, but right now she is someone I deeply admire for a number of reasons.

First, I deeply admire her food philosophy. Jenny is writes about and advocates Real Food – sustainable, unprocessed, traditionally prepared, whole foods. When I first heard about the Real/Traditional Food Movement it just made sense to me and in many ways Bryan and I already ate a primarily real food diet without even realizing it. But, it was Jenny and her beautiful site that helped me to see that there was a whole world of health and real food preparation that I had only dipped my toes in. Hers was the first real food blog that I discovered. She gave me the information and the courage I needed to start soaking, souring and sprouting our grains. She gave me the motivation to try and find natural, real food sweeteners here in the Czech Republic. She gave me the inspiration I was looking for when it came time to start feeding my son solid foods. There are a lot of truly wonderful real food bloggers out there (Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Food Renegade, Nourishing Days, The Nourishing Cook and Kitchen Stewardship are just a few examples that come to mind and I’ve learned so much from each one), but, for me, Jenny will always seem like the Queen of Real Food.

Second, I really admire her blog itself and how she seems to approach blogging. She writes quality posts with beautiful pictures. Her site is clean, easy to navigate, and beautifully designed. She has great branding – I really love the Nourished Kitchen logo. Her site isn’t cluttered with ads, but I know that she does make some profit from her blog, which I think is great and she really deserve its. I also love that she gives away some of what she makes from the blog to a food related charity or organization advocating real food.  I really admire her blog. It’s an inspiration to me and I’m sure to many other bloggers out there as well. I’m quite certain that my blog will never be on par with Jenny’s, but it’s still my “shoot-for-the-moon” bench mark for the place I would dream about my blog becoming.

There are a lot of admirable people in the blogosphere and a lot of admirable bloggers out there, but Jenny at Nourished Kitchen holds a special place in my heart, so I just had to share her with you today.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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Admiration Mondays: Laura Johnson

October 13th, 2008

I’ve known Laura Johnson since 6th grade when she was Laura Chambers. But, it wasn’t until high school that we got to be really close friends and since then our friendship has just continued to grow. Laura is one of those rare friends that I just always feel comfortable around, no matter how much time has passed since we’ve talked, no matter what has changed in our lives or what big things are going on in our lives I feel like I can always be myself around her. And that is largely due to who Laura is as a person. She is free. She is open. She is authentic. She is herself and that makes me by myself around her.

Laura is one of the best conversationalists I’ve ever met. She can talk with anyone on practically any subject and end up laughing with them within minutes and making them feel comfortable. I love that about Laura and it’s also been a trait of hers that I’ve always been a bit jealous of as well. Laura is just genuinely interested in people, and genuinely interested in any subject or topic that another person is genuinely interested in. I think Laura just finds life fascinating and that makes her able to talk with anyone on any subject with interest. I love that about Laura.

My friend Laura is also incredibly courageous. It might not be evident right at first, but I’ve seen it first hand for over a decade. Laura has more courage than most people I know. She has this courage that makes her willing to try things and do things and meet people and step out on a limb and I really admire that about her.

Laura is also brilliant. Seriously, she has the best vocabulary of anyone I know. She loves to read and learn and is constantly doing both. But, I think her brilliance shines most in interpersonal relationships. She has a way of seeing through the bull**** and courageously saying what’s really going on. She just sees things more clearly than most people and she has a way of communicating what she sees clearly and compassionately as well. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been talking with Laura and had her say something that just cut through it all and got right to the true heart of the matter. Everyone needs a friend like Laura, who can see the truth in their lives and isn’t afraid to tell it to them, and I’m so grateful that she’s my friend.

Laura Johnson is also exceptionally loyal and trustworthy. She is a friend you can count on to be there for you no matter what. I’ve gotten to be on the receiving end of that loyalty many times. Laura has stood by me at times when I felt like my world was coming undone. When God felt distant and unloving and at times unreal at all. Laura would talk with me, let me share my doubts without judging me, loyally stand by me, and gently remind me of truth. There are things that Laura knows about me that no one else knew for years (and there are still things that only she and my husband know). I always knew that I could trust Laura and I could rely on her to be there for me in the hard times and in the really good times. Laura was also one of the first people I told when I first got a crush on my husband, she was one of the few people who I gave permission to veto any guy I was ever interested in, and she was the first person I told when Bryan and I had our first kiss (my first kiss ever). Laura has seen me through a lot and I feel so blessed to have her as my friend.

Laura is also one of the few people I’ve ever met who just gets me. She understands me. I don’t often have to explain myself with Laura, she just gets it. She often will say something which is almost exactly what I’m thinking and we have definitely had times in our friendship where we finish each other’s sentences regularly. Our conversations often develop to a point where we are both talking at once and talking over each other, and finishing each other’s sentences but we both just understand and get it. I’ve always felt a little like an un-understandable outcast and like no one fully got me, but Laura is one of those few people that I don’t really feel that way around.

And on top of all that she’s just plain fun to be around. Laura likes to laugh and have fun and we definitely have done both of those things a lot over the years. Whenever I get together with Laura I know that I will laugh and enjoy life, I know that I will feel understood, I know that I will be able to share exactly who I am and receive grace and love, I know she will see me and my current life with clarity and wisdom, and I know we will have long, deep, meaningful talks about anything and everything we can think of.

Laura, may God meet you today exactly where you are.
May you feel and receive and know His peace and rest even amidst the craziness, busyness and un-expectedness of life.
May He take your hand and guide you to green pastures, to growth and freedom and newness of life.
May he surround you on all sides and protect you from all harm.
May he bless the work of your hands and the relationships in your heart.
May he bless your marriage and deepen the love that you and Aaron have for one another.
May he bless your classes and use them to shape you into a new creation.
May he bless your future and all the uncertainties that the future often holds.
May he hold you and Aaron closely in the palm of His hand and gently take you where He wants you to go.
And may it not be long before we again share a lingering talk over a good drink J

I love you, my friend. And I miss you deeply.

Rejoicing in the journey –
Bethany Stedman

Photographs by Beth Stedman

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Admiration Mondays: Tara Malouf

September 22nd, 2008

I haven’t done an Admiration Monday post in a while and I thought it was high time to bring it back. So, today I want to tell you about my friend, Tara Malouf.

I’ve known Tara since I was in High School. Her husband was my youth pastor and she was my discipleship leader my senior year. She has been an incredible source of comfort, encouragement and truth for me over the years. Tara has always been someone in my life who I could turn to when I needed advice and help. I always know that she will really listen without putting her own paradigm on what I share, and without judging me for the doubts and questions and struggles I raise. She will honestly listen and let me express and feel what I need to express and feel, but she also won’t let me get away with lies and half-truths. She is compassionate and empathetic, a wonderfully non-judging listener, but she is also not afraid to call things what they are and speak truth where needed and I love that about Tara.

Another thing I love about Tara is her authenticity. She has never hesitated to share her thoughts and life and struggles with me. I remember even when she was my discipleship leader in high school she didn’t put on this “I have it all together” mask and just teach us, she often brought in experiences from her own life and shared with us from where she had been and where she was at that moment. And she has continued to do that more and more as I have gotten to know her more. Tara is never fake. She never puts up a façade and pretends to be something she isn’t; she is truly and unapologetically honest before God and others. I really admire that about her.

Tara also has a very real and authentic and genuine desire to follow God in everything she does. She strives to listen to God and then obey and follow where He leads her even if the way looks dark and uncertain. God has definitely taken her and her family through dark and uncertain times and I truly admire the way she whole heartedly followed Him through everything that He brought her way. Tara’s faith is real and messy, alive and whole. There is no area of her life that God isn’t involved in and that is truly admirable in an age where we so often compartmentalize our lives and relationship with God. While others talk about and strive to make their life and relationship with God holistic, Tara’s already is.

Tara is also one of the most creative individuals I know. Her creativity pours out in all areas of her live – in her photography, in her writing, in various activities she plans, in the way she treats and interacts with her kids, in the way she encourages and mentors others, and so much more. Tara oozes creativity and I love that about her. Every time I talk to her she has some new project she is working on or some new way in which she is using her creative talents for the kingdom of God.

I was blessed to be able to live with Tara and family for a while back in college and I saw so much beauty and splendor in her. But, one thing that really sticks out to me from that time is the way she interacts with her children. I’m sure she has her bad days with her kids, just like every other mom, but Tara is an amazing mom, one of the best mom’s I know. And I got to see firsthand her being a mom to her two beautiful kids day in and day out. I loved watching Tara play with her kids and I loved watching her teach them, and I loved that so often the lines between teaching and play became blurred. I have often prayed that God would make me as good a mom as Tara.

There is so much more I could say about my friend, Tara. She is truly an amazing and beautiful woman. I wish everyone could know Tara, but I know that’s not possible, so for now I count it my blessing to be able to say I know her, and I encourage you to at least check out her blog or family web site or this amazing project that she is working on so that you can know her a little too.  

Lord Jesus, Bless my friend, Tara!
Circle her, Lord,
Be beside her, on her right and her left,
Be before her, and behind her,
Be above and below her.
Surround her, Lord,
so that all who meet her would meet you.
Lord, give her the fruits of deep friendship.
Use her creativity and talents and authentic heart for the glory of your kingdom.
May she continue to dive deeply into you
and to lead others to dive deeply into you.
Lord, give her more and more the life that you promise, full life, abundant life.
Provide for all her needs, that she may in turn provide for the needs of others.
And as you call her to new land and new areas of influence give her peace and courage to follow you through each bend in the road.
Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon her,
And establish Thou the work of her hands.
Establish Thou the work of her hands.
Amen.

I love you, Tara!

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph of Tara, me, and Kathi in Prague taken by unknown stranger

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Admiration Mondays: David and Sarah Baker

September 1st, 2008

Today I want to tell you about our friends, the Baker’s. We met David and Sarah Baker back in January and though we have only known them for a few months they have become fast friends. I think the best way to tell you about the Baker’s is to tell you a little story about the last time we hung out with them…

It was about 7:30pm Saturday night when Bryan called David to see if they wanted to hang out. The Baker’s had just gotten off work, they hadn’t eaten dinner yet and their house was still a little messy from the house guests who had just left. If it was me I would have said “sorry, but I think we will take a rain check and hang out another time, we’re tired and the house is a mess.” But, that’s not what the Baker’s said, “Sure come on over” was their immediate response. Of course they made apologies for the house being messy (which it really wasn’t much at all), but they welcomed us into their home with open arms any way.

We sat and talked about life and work and the past week while they ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Bryan and I snacked on some chocolate they pulled out. Then we all played Settlers of Catan but instead of playing the normal way we decided to get creative and played on teams with our spouses – Baker v. Stedman. It was a rowdy game filled with making up rules as we went and of course some competitive energy flying about. In the end Bryan and I won but one more turn and the Baker’s would have won so it was a really close game.

After playing settlers we started talking about some business ideas and ventures and ended up spending a good couple of hours dreaming and envisioning one business idea in particular. We pulled out the computer and did some brief research. David pulled out a sketch book and we started brain storming names and what we would need to start and how much it would cost and all that good stuff. Ideas were bounced back and forth and before we all knew it was after midnight.

We left with our hands full of things that the Baker’s were generous enough to share with us – a Nooma video I hadn’t seen yet, the book The Kite Runner, a new translation of John, an electric razor so we can cut Bryan’s hair. We always seem to leave the Baker’s with our hands brimming over and our minds and hearts full.

David and Sarah Baker are a truly remarkable couple. They are open and generous. They are fun and creative. They are intelligent, but not pretentious.  They aren’t afraid to step out of the box and take risks sometimes. They really care about the people around them and you can tell that they really love each other deeply. David and Sarah Baker show love in very real and tangible ways to everyone they meet. And I feel blessed to call them my friends.

David and Sarah, may God’s blessing on you extend and exceed the great way in which you bless those around you.
May He bless the ideas of your minds, the dreams of your hearts and the work of your hands.
May He continue to draw you towards one another and fill you with love for each other all the days of your life.
May He strengthen the friendships you have and bring more and more friends into your lives who can love you as much as you love those around you.
May God truly do more than you could ever ask or imagine in you and through you in the years to come.

God bless!!

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman


Photographs by Beth Stedman

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Admiration Mondays (a day late): Scott Nelson

August 19th, 2008

Yesterday was our anniversary so I didn’t write an Admiration Monday blog and decided to write it today instead.

Today I want to tell you about my dad, Scott Nelson.

I’ve always been a daddy’s girl. My dad was always able to understand me even when I felt like no one else could. One of the best complements I have ever had given to me was being told that I was like my dad. I always strived to be like my dad, but he has some pretty big shoes to fill.

My dad is literally brilliant. He has an analytical and very mathematical mind. He never graduated from college, but he has always been learning. He’s taught himself most of what he knows and has been very successful. When I was just a baby my dad got sick and his friend let him borrow his computer so that he would have something to do while stuck in bed. During that time he fell in love with computers and taught himself computer languages. He went on to actually write his own computer language and start a software company that he has built up from nothing to an international presence (a small international presence, but still a presence). I’m really proud of my dad for all that.

But, my dad is not just brilliant when it comes to computers and math and running a business, he’s also incredibly wise. For as long as I can remember he was a guy that other people went to for advice. He just has a way of looking at a situation and seeing it for what it really is. This was a quality in my dad that I more than admired it was one I wanted to develop as well. I vividly remember as a little girl praying to be wise like my daddy.

Something else that I have always admired and loved about my dad is his natural gift for storytelling. He has a way of pulling people into a story. He’s dynamic and passionate when he tells stories and it makes people want to listen to him. I love listening to my dad. When I was little I remember that I would rather sit and listen to my dad talk to the adults then go play with the other kids. It’s a real skill and it’s one of the things I love about my dad.

I think more than anything else though I love that my dad has taught me what it looks like to walk authentically and holistically with God. My dad taught me from a very early age that all of life was ministry and that we were all missionaries. He taught me to be open with my faith but never pushy or overly preachy. My dad taught me to value the local church (he was always very involved in the churches that we went to), but he also taught me that people are what really matters.  My dad taught me that the only thing that was really important was to love God and love people and then he modeled that for me. My dad taught me that each person is different and that God’s calling on each person is different, but that we are all called to be ministers of God’s grace in the areas that God places us. My dad has taught me that life with God is never stagnant, it is always moving and growing and God is always showing us new things and taking us to new places. I’ve been blessed to watch my dad as he walks through life with his God and I have learned so much from it.

I love you daddy!

May God continue to bless you and the work of your hands.
May He bless you with ever increasing wisdom in the years to come.
May He bless you with rest after many years of hard work.
And may He continue to use you to bring his grace and redemption more fully into this world.
May God bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you, and give you peace!

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany

 

Photograph by Beth Stedman

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