Welcome to Guest Author Mindy Obenhaus

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Hello, and happy Friday!

Mindy Obenhaus here, coming to you from down Texas way. And while I may not have been born in the Lone Star state, I got here as quick as I could and married a man whose Texas roots run deep. We live on a ranch that has been in his family since the mid-1800s. Nine generations have enjoyed the land. But that wouldn’t have happened had it not been for one man.

You see, a yellow-fever epidemic claimed the lives of my husband’s great, great grandparents back in the 1870s, and their two toddler daughters went to live with their uncle in another town that is now only about a twenty-minute drive but would’ve taken much longer via horse-drawn wagon. A handful of years later, one of the girls died, leaving only my husband’s great-grandmother.

Back in the late 1800’s, it wouldn’t have been uncommon or even frowned upon for her uncle to sell the land that was a good distance from where they lived. Taxes had to be paid, along with wages for those who worked the land. But he preserved his niece’s legacy.

A century and a half later, my husband and myself, our children and grandchildren are still enjoying that land because of him.

That story was the inspiration behind my current Love Inspired Books series, Legacy Ranch. It revolves around four sisters and their spunky cowgirl aunt whose dreams for the ranch had been squelched by her brother, until his sudden death. Now, as Aunt Dee breathes new life into the century-and-a-half old cattle ranch, her nieces find themselves wanting to be a part of its transformation, as well.

Let’s talk about legacies. An inheritance, if you will. Something of value that you pass on to someone else. While our minds often go to things like land, jewelry, money, sometimes it’s simple things, like Granny’s favorite cake plate, even cherished recipes.

But how will your loved ones remember you?

It’s a question I asked myself not long ago. And I was rather dismayed by my response. You see, I tend to be a people pleaser. I want everybody to be happy. So, when our large family gathers, I usually find myself in the kitchen cooking up everyone’s favorite dishes while they’re playing games and enjoying the ranch. But do I want them to remember my peach cobbler or that I made them feel like they mattered? That I’m a best-selling author or that I love Jesus and want them to know Him, too?

Talk about food for thought.?

Have you ever contemplated your legacy?

I’m giving away a copy of my new release,

Their Texas Christmas Redemption.

Simply leave a comment to be entered.

Print copy US only, ebook international.

Here’s a little about the story –

’Tis the season for a second chance at love.
Back home at her family’s Texas ranch for the holidays, the last thing Audrey Caldwell expects to see is her ex-husband, Tyler, on her doorstep—with his orphaned niece. The sweet baby in his arms brings up painful memories that she’d rather forget, but when little Willow gets sick, Audrey can’t turn them away. She offers to care for the baby if Tyler agrees to do some construction projects on the ranch. As they work together on a community Christmas event, neither can deny their growing connection. Can they heal their deepest wounds and find their way back to the family they always wanted?

Best-selling author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner.

She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching heartwarming romance movies.

Learn more at http://www.MindyObenhaus.com

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67 thoughts on “Welcome to Guest Author Mindy Obenhaus”

  2. My legacy hasn’t been something I contemplated either. Most likely the fact that I spend a lot of time baking and cooking will be remembered (that and all the hours I spent with my nose in a book…).

    • Mary, it sounds like cooking/baking is your love language, too. Food can bring back so many fond memories that will them trigger other memories. My kids’ grandmother even compiled her recipes into a book and had copies printed for her children and grandchildren, assuring us that her Coconut Cream Pie recipe will live on. ?

  3. I hope that I would be remembered as “she walked with God”. I have tried to live out my faith to my husband and children. I have honored my parents and hope my legacy is one that honors God. I pray my grandchildren will know that not only did I love them, but I loved God most.
    I am sure if you asked my children what they thought- it would be that “Mom is a great cook”.

  4. Welcome Mindy! Goodness, my legacy? ‘My God, My family, and my country. And she sure liked SEC football and The Gators.” My grandson might think,”I loved Gram’s chicken vegetable soup and chicken and dumplings.”

    Thank you for stopping by and sharing your story! Many blessings to you Mindy!

    • I just thought of something! No, it’s not jewelry, but it’s a talent that the Lord gave me. I have many works of art that will be left. I have several at my mother’s house and some here. Also sketch books. It least it is something that can look at from time to time. You asked that question, and we live such a simple life here….kinda threw me! But, after posting that above and it’s true…I wasn’t thinking “things” and I guess most of us don’t! LOL

      • Thank you for joining me, Tracy. I think your list sounds great. Except I might sub the Aggies for the Gators, but we won’t go there. However, I’m guessing you will start thinking of your works of art a little differently now.

  5. Many years ago my husband and I decided that we wanted to leave special memories for our grandchildren so we decided to take each one on a two-week Great Adventure when they turned nine. Unfortunately my husband passed away when our oldest grandchild was only seven. However, I decided that I would follow through with our plans. Each grandchild got a two-week road trip where they didn’t know where they were going, what they were going to see, or what they were going to do. They recieved a clue each morning about the activity for the day. Every trip was different and the activities were geared towards their interests. At the end of the adventure, they were given a photo album of all the places we went and all the things we did. I just finished the last grandchild this past June. My first grandchild is now 24 and still talks about her Great Adventure.

    • I love this, Rhonda! They got the gift of time with you, some great experiences that you chronicled for them so they could relive those experiences over and over again. Not THAT is really cool.

  6. I read my first book by you (The Cowgirl’s Redemption) last week, and I loved it. It definitely won’t be my last. I have contemplated my legacy and the legacies I inherited. I think history and family are important, and heritage and legacy are a part of that.

    • Thank you, Janice. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story.? You know, family is something we sometimes take for granted, especially when we’re young. But there’s something exciting about having that family history. Learning what sort of stock you came from. It may be encouraging, or you may learn that it’s time to start a new legacy.

  7. Good morning, Mindy. Nice to see you in another venue. As I grow older, relationships become more important to me and I want to be remembered by who I was, not what I did. That said, cooking people’s favorite dishes IS love.
    There’s a lot to think about here.
    Kathy Bailey

    • Kathy, my friend! Long time, no see. I’m sending virtual hugs your way. Wise words. And yes, we are showing love by cooking their favorites. I just need to work on my timing and learn to prepare things in advance.?

  8. We’re raising our 11 year old granddaughter (since she was about 4) and my biggest prayer is that we leave a legacy of teaching her who God is, what Jesus did for her and that she would live the rest of her days serving Him. I think that’s the richest legacy anyone can leave!

    Oh, and I think she will always remember grandma’s (me) cooking & baking ? Especially my homemade pumpkin pies at both Thanksgiving & Christmas!

  9. My Granny left her legacy of chocolate pie to us, so sometimes food IS a cherished part of family history.

  10. What an amazing story! Thanks for sharing. The legacy I leave for my children may not be so big but they know they are loved and all three share that love with others.

  11. Mindy, welcome to P&P. We hope this won’t be your last visit. Legacies are important but I won’t have have much to leave other than the 50-odd books I’ve written. It’s taking all my money plus savings just to live and I don’t own any land. But, I am proud of the books that bear my name. Congratulations on your newest. That’s a great cover and I wish you much success.

    • Glad to be here, Linda. And thank you. I think our books are a legacy in the sense that we reveal things about ourselves in them. How we think, what we believe. We put our hearts on each page, so even when we’re long gone, they can get a glimpse of our character through our characters.

  13. Hope my family remembers that I was always happy and had a smile on my face. I hope that they realize that I tried!

    You books sounds really good. i have added it to my TBR list.

  14. I don’t really think much about my legacy. I don’t have any children, never married, though I do have ten nieces and nephews and a lot of greats. However, I see my legacy as something contributing to God’s kingdom after I’m gone, so I’ve decided that some of what I have will be going to different charities that mean a lot to me. That way, even when I’m not here, I will have contributed to something more lasting.

  16. Yeah as an adult you never know how things will change with the death of a parent – after being sued by a younger sibling and having to sell my Dad’s farm – greed comes into play way too often!

  20. Hi Mindy, your book sounds and looks like a great read! I hope my grandchildren remember for different things, I always enjoy playing board games with them, I loved reading to them and I volunteered as a Catechist for over 25 years , after that I was my 2 grandchildren catechist here at my home. I taught my grandaughter since she was in the 2nd grade until she was a senior in HS, she is now in her 2nd year of college. I also taught my grandson(her brother) since he was in 1st grade and he is now in 12th grade and I am teaching him also and have been teaching him ever since. We have had so many many good times together.

  21. Family history and genealogy can be a surprising lesson to a person.
    As for leaving my children and grandbabies a legacy, I suppose it would all depend on what they valued from my life with them.
    My Gran left me and my boys with the knowing that she always had time for us. When they were young, we’d meet up at the local playground. The boys ran around and played while Gran and I watched and chatted. Those times are my most favorite to remember about her.

  22. Yes. I do all the time. I’ve started giving some of my “special” dishes to children and grandchildren. I, too, find myself busy with cooking on holidays!

  23. Welcome, Mindy! I’ve been thinking about my legacy a lot lately, wondering what of value I’ll leave behind for those who come after me. It’s quite a humbling thing to consider.

  24. What a wonderful legacy and how great that the uncle saved the ranch for your husband’s side of the family. I hope and pray my children and grandchildren will remember that I love the Lord and love them.

  26. I also have been thinking about what legacy I will leave. Most importantly I want them to know Jesus. On a less important note I’ve asked what they want when I’m gone. Some of the grandchildren are still thinking, although some of them have told me things they would like to have.

  28. I would love for those who know me to say that I lived my life to give all glory to the Lord. We have no children. What I leave in this world will fade. What is done for the Lord will last for eternity. God bless you.

  30. Those who have A family legacy are lucky. If they have someone to pass it on to, they are even luckier. As the oldest grandchild on my father’s side, my grandmother and aunt passed many family items down to me. I have my grandmother’s cradle that has been in the family for at least 6 generations and her silverware, among other things. My aunt left me her set of dishes she got for their wedding, some furniture, and her salt and pepper collection (I have no idea what I will do with them. I was going to divide them among my siblings but we don’t live near each other and rarely are in the same place all together. We have a house full of antiques from both my and my husband’s family. We had planned to give them to the children, but their houses ar furnished and their tastes are different. It doesn’t look like our grandchildren are planning on having children of their own. I want to keep the cradle in the family, so when the time comes, I will likely have to find a niece or nephew to pass it along to.
    We have tried to keep up the holiday traditions we grew up with, but some of the favorite ones can’t be duplicated. With family scattered all over the country, the family gatherings that were so wonderful just can’t happen anymore. We have copied some things from those holidays and do the best we can to duplicate them with our family. We have managed to work around in-law traditions to keep our holiday traditions alive and include new family members.
    The real legacy I hope we leave is the importance of family and that family is more than just those we are related to by blood or marriage. We have always stressed the importance of being active in our communities and helping others whenever we can. We have always volunteered with our children as they grew up. We are proud to see they are continued that tradition and are active in their communities, always ready to help when needed. That is so much more important than things.

    • Patricia, serving and helping others is, indeed, a legacy. I think of Mother Theresa who spent her life doing that. I feel your pain on the dishes and antiques. Such beautiful pieces, but my kids don’t have any interest in them.

  31. I have thought about my legacy somewhat and I know the importance of making memories. My family have particular traditions that we enjoy following and some traditions we have outgrown. One of the ways I express my love language is through baking. Often when my son or daughter learn about something special I am going to make one of them will tell me that it gives them something to look forward to that day and hearing that makes the extra work worthwhile.

    • Cherie, whoever said food is love was correct, weren’t they? Cooking and baking are definitely love languages. Food brings us together and that results in conversations that draw us closer to one another. And that is always a good thing.

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