My name is Bethany Riehl and I love to read, to write, and to cheer on other authors/creatives. I’m not competitive (except when playing games with my family), so writing is the perfect craft for me. Authors do not have to be in competition with one another–in fact, we need each other!–and I love recommending good, clean books.
I enjoy Christian romance, historical fiction, and a good mystery. I love books that make me think and feel and dream. Don’t you? Give me all your book recommendations!
When I’m not writing, I’m with my family or serving in church. My husband and I are both home and we homeschool three kids – two in high school, one in middle; we are in the home stretch, people! And yet, I still am not sure what I’m doing – ha! My favorite place to serve at church is the connect team where I have the joy of trying to help others feel welcome and loved. My husband and I lead a small group in our home on Sundays, which fills my soul right up. We have the best Life Group at our church, but keep that to yourself, please; I don’t want to make the other groups jealous.
Since we host weekly potlucks, I’m usually cruising Pinterest for recipe ideas, which I will gladly share with you!
When I was praying about homeschooling my kids, a friend said something off-handed to me that made my decision for me: She said that she hated that she got the worst part of her kids’ day, while the teacher got the best. I don’t believe one choice is right for everyone, but homeschooling was absolutely the right choice for us, and I am so thankful that we’ve been able to make the most of our days together. Plus, over the years we have read a lot of great books together! Some of our favorites that we’ve read more than once: All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor, A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen, and The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, and Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt.
When I was a teen, I missed all of the classics because I was into R.L. Stine, Mary Higgins Clark, and Christopher Pike. Now I’m learning what I was missing by reading books such as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice.
And the long version of P&P is by far the best, but in a pinch the other will do.
I love to cook and bake and adore having people over for dinner, as most good conversations happen around a proper meal.
I’ve recently begun to say yes to much more: adventures, theater, late night talks, a house-full of teens looking for a place to fellowship; I haven’t regretted a single yes.
I love the idea of book clubs but haven’t successfully been in one; I tried to start one a couple of years ago, but, alas, it sputtered and died soon after our second meeting. Would love tips on how you make this work!
Most of all, I love Jesus. I love to be in the Word and encourage others as best as I can to press into Jesus. I hold fast to this truth: His Word is sufficient; He is sufficient, and He can and will make old minds new if we only surrender to Him.
Happy Reading, friends!
Now tell me more about YOU!