For Such A Time As This
by
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Mannie shook her head breaking her train of thought, "Jamey, are you telling me you have no way of knowing what's going on here?!"
"Uh . . . yea, that would be it!"
"You know, I am about ready not to speak to you for the rest of my life!"
"Uh . . . honest . . . Mannie, I have no idea why you are not going to speak to me for the rest of my . . . uh . . .I mean . . . your life." Jamey replied in a sincere questioning voice. "So do you mind going ahead telling me, because you won't believe what happened at the ol' Benson Mansion last . . ."
"Jamey McBaines! Will you for once try to keep on track what I am trying to say here?!"
Jamey looked at the ground, he decided that maybe it might be best if he went along with Mannie this morning, she seemed a little testy.
"Okay, now that I have your attention, what about MY EARS?!" Mannie was weary of Jamey's blase attitude and she couldn't contain herself any longer.
"Yea . . . okay . . . you have ears . . . and . . . I have ears . . . all God's children have ears, okay, I've got it!" Jamey paused for a moment. He was having some technical difficulty trying to figure Mannie out this morning. He thought her ears were ok, ears are ears, right? It's what seemed to be going on between her ears that had appeared to be short circuited.
"All right, if you are just going to stand there like you don't know what I'm talking about, I'll slow down. My ears, look - at - my - ears!"
Jamey decided he'd better play along with whatever Mannie was talking about. He turned his head to the left to closely look at where her left ear was located, then slowly turned his head to the right as if paying special attention and consideration to the location her right ear. Meanwhile he was quietly muttering, "Mmmmmm-mmmm, I see, mmmmm-mmmmm, very interesting. Okay, what about your ears, you've got your hat on1"
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About the Book
Mannie is an unpredictable, determined, twelve-year old girl with a large imagination and lots of questions. Her own self-doubt is fueled by wondering why God made her ears stick out? Why Jamey, a fun and likeable 6th grade boy, chooses Mannie to be his best buddy? Why Cynthia Colbert, the most popular girl in school, keeps pestering and making fun of her in front of Mannie’s classmates? Why does her homeroom teacher never smile at Mannie? Biggest question of all? What is going on behind the doors of the old Benson Mansion?
Through prayers Mannie begins to realize that she is fearful of a lot of things. This awakening prompts her to do something about this feeling of dread she faces every day. Mannie searching for answers to her dilemma discovers how much her Father in heaven loves her, and with her parents’ loving guidance they begin to read the story of Esther together from the Bible.
Mannie still wondering about her abilities begins to gradually take steps of faith each day and see God at work in her life. Taking the chip off of her shoulder she begins to lose fear as her companion and replaces fear with strength, self-discipline, and kindness. Mannie realizes to embrace those ears she felt were unreasonably silly and out of control as a gift from God not a curse. Meanwhile, Mannie and Jamey take a journey together to solve the mystery of the old Benson Mansion. The answer to the noises and happenings will leave the reader feeling just as surprised as Mannie and Jamey.
This is a fun packed adventure with struggles, intrigue, and a touch of mystery. Find out how Mannie does work through her difficult circumstances with Esther as her new mentor. Mannie starts to live her faith and begins to understand that this is her time in the 21st century, in her school, with her classmates, with Jamey, for . . . such a time as this.
About the Author
Susan Baker is a wife, mom and recently a grandma, all taking first place in her life. Susan is now a retired educator. She completed her teaching career by working at Northwest Missouri State University as a parent educator, instructor in child development classes, and Coordinator of the Early Childhood Center. She enjoyed writing articles for parents for 10 years with the local newspaper in her home town of Maryville, Missouri. Now she is enjoying her writing as a freelance writer.
Susan has been featured visiting several different women’s organizations throughout northwest Missouri speaking Biblical topics to restore women and families in God’s powerful and loving ways.
Susan leads a women’s Bible study group in her church and with her husband, Roger, leads a Sunday school class. She counts it as an honor and privilege to have this time to be involved in God’s word and be able to share His teachings through many opportunities with her church family, friends and community.
Roger and Susan are also busy owning and running a third generation office supply, furniture, computer store. With her writing and teaching Susan loves trying to keep up (but not be a pesky mom and mother-in-law) with her grown children who are all living in different areas in the state of Missouri.