WINNER of the giveaway and...let's talk weather.

CONGRATS TO BECKY 

on winning the giveaway this week with this comment : (chosen by random.org)

 becky said...

Letters to Pastors Wives. Because, well...I'm a pastors wife and can use all the help, guidance and wisdom I can get. Aside from that, this other very godly mother/pastors wife whom I admire recommended it to me. It woould be fun to win...thanks Mandi, and Happy New Year! Looks like God has some exciting things in store for you and your family this year! Thanks for being a blessing to me...even over all the miles! <3 i="">

Becky, your book will be shipped out next week, congrats again! Thank you to everyone for joining in the 2014 fun! Hoping to do more giveaways in the future :) 

Now, I don't know what it feels like where you live, but here in Iowa it is bitter, bitter, cold. I think last night it was -6 and I can hear our heater run and run. Wow, what a blessing when you stop to think about how important a warm home is. And beds, clothes, coats, etc. Trying to hard to teach my children to be thankful even for those things! 

We have been sticking close to home as its really too cold to go anywhere, but lastnight we ventured out as a family to the mall. The girls had some cabin fever and I had some Christmas money to spend :) I think several families must have had the same idea because even at 7pm the playplace still had several kids in it! 

I learned a lesson about myself - I'm not stylish. I purchased some of those tall boots that you see everyone wearing... you know, cute, tall, sleek. Only, I got home to realize in order to wear cute boots you have to have cute clothes to wear with them. I'm not a leggings, long sweaters, etc. kinda girl - more, jeans and cardigans. At first I was discouraged but came to realize that this is OK. It's ok to not dress and look like everyone else. I tell ya, even at 31 years old I still go through these "high school" phases of thought. Perhaps a life long battle? So, back to the mall we will go today to make another return. It was fun to pretend...but this momma needs something much more practical. :)

Stay warm out there today! And have a wonderful weekend! 

The month of celebration ends (and a GIVEAWAY!)

Me, being the coffee bar afficianado, at our youth Christmas party

Christmas Day has come and gone.

Cookies were swapped.

We have a 5 year old now.

I'm 17ish weeks along in this pregnancy.

Friends got married this weekend and we got to play a part.

Tonight is New Years Eve.

It has been a crazy, wonderful, busy, intense, blessed, season of Holidays for us. 

To be honest with you - our reality is that all this crazy, blessed, fullness just continues on. We have a youth retreat this weekend, I'm starting up our Mom's playgroup at church again, Hubs will be traveling for conferences and appointments, and life goes on. I guess I could look at life as ONE BIG FAT CELEBRATION all the time :) Yea, I'll do that. 

Even during the busy, God has been good in allowing me some time in His word {even when I'm lazy and not making it a priority...to my shame} and a few extra minutes to read through some encouraging and helpful books. I always want to be a woman that is learning and growing - it's important to not get stagnant. 

To kick off a NEW year and another 12 months to learn and grow - I'm doing a different type of giveaway today and I hope you'll join in the fun. I have chosen three books that I think are read worthy and if you are chosen the winner you choose the one you want! All you need to do is leave a comment stating which book you'd like to WIN and why. Simple, eh? I'll choose the winner this weekend - so you have 3 days to enter. If you aren't familiar with how to comment, or, aren't a blogger yourself - just be sure to at least leave your name and email on your comment so I can connect with you. 

Here are the options....{drumroll}....

"Letters to Pastors Wives" Edited by Catherine J. Stewart

This is a book of compiled letters from women who have "gone before" if you will. Here is what Amazon says about it: 

"There is no right 'type' of pastors' wife, only the one whose heart is wholly set on serving Christ."

Pastors' wives encounter special challenges as well as special joys. These letters from the seasoned wives of seasoned pastors provide empathy, wise counsel, and encouragement on a wide range of topics, including:

Campus Ministry, Church Conflict, Friendship, Hospitality, Ministry Abroad, Pastors' Kids, Priorities, Support for Your Husband, and more."

Some of the contributors were: Margy Tripp, Noelle Wilkerson, Pam Schweitzer and Sarah Ascol.

I am LOVING this encouraging and challenging book in my own quiet moments while my kids are asleep. I just finished a chapter about humility and it was convicting to the CORE - compiled with scripture and life stories, it's just exactly my type of reading. If you are a current pastors wife, hope to be one, or even just a ministry leaders helper - you would enjoy this book. 

"Glimpses of Grace" by Gloria Furman

"Sometimes life feels a lot like a burden—day-in and day-out its the same chores and tasks, challenges and discouragements, anxieties and responsibilities. Dust bunnies show up on the stairwell, social commitments clutter the calendar, and our families demand daily attention and care. At times, just catching our breath seems like an impossible feat.

So where is God in all of this? Does he care about the way we unload the dishwasher or balance the budget? Do the little things like changing diapers or cooking meals make a difference? And how can we use our spheres of influence for God’s glory and our joy?

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working woman splitting time between the office and home, Gloria Furman—writer, pastor’s wife, cross-cultural worker, and mom—encourages us to see the reality of God’s grace in all of life, especially those areas that often appear to be boring and unimportant. Using personal examples and insightful stories, her richly theological reflections help us experience the gospel’s extraordinary power to transform our ordinary lives."

This book was given to me last year and it's on my top 10 list now! Gloria writes from experience and with a true grasp on the Gospel. I loved her transparency and the ideas she gave on really making the Gospel a priority in her day. 

And, just for fun - because I think we need that - especially as we raise chidren, live hard lives, and just face this broken world. :) 

"Princess Petunia's Sweet Apple Pie" by Big Idea and Karen Poth

I have TWO big "girl" Veggie tale fans in our home! They especially love Petunia - and I was glad to find these early reader type books. This cute book is about being helpful, something our children can benefit from for sure! 

Use this to spend some quality time with your kiddos - or gift to the Veggie lover in your life. 

So there you have it! I'm excited to hear your thoughts and pick the winner this weekend! (Drawing will be done with Random.com) Don't forget to leave your comment! 

It's a WINNER.

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway yesterday! I sincerely hope it was encouraging and refreshing to know that we all struggle to find that balance - but we "are more then conquerors"! :)

The winner of the booklet and CD set is -

FRITZ and AMY 

Congrats to you! And, enjoy! Fritz and Amy mentioned in their comment that one way they are able to stay on track is with the help of an accountability partner to text with. Great idea! 

Keep pressin' on, friends! He is worthy! 

A good day for a giveaway!

Happy Tuesday! Laid back day here. I worked allll day yesterday getting our entire first floor cleaned and organized. You'd think with a smaller sized house that wouldn't take so long, but, the holidays seemed to hit us hard this year - and, I'll admit that I was slacking for awhile. And then that week of sickness... and my excuses go on and on. But, all of floor 1 is done and we took just an easy morning here at home. Hubby went to work, I had some quiet time in Romans, the girls played nicely with their dolls. Lovely. We skipped preschool this morning and I think Ava is enjoying the break - which, is weird because every other day {even Saturday and Sunday} she's begging to do more school. 

It's nice to have a relaxed day. Until this afternoon when I conquer the upstairs. :) And then tonight... it's DATE NIGHT! Just me and the hubs enjoying a "quiet" meal at the Texas Road House. 

On to the giveaway, shall we?

As a momma to two small children, I'm familiar with how difficult it is at times to get in some really good {quality} quiet time with the Lord. Where do you begin? What do you read? How do I do this? Why doesn't this feel beneficial at times? All questions I've had myself. It's important to remember that there are seasons in life where quiet time will look very different. When my first baby was a newborn, I had amazing quiet times with her sleeping on my chest, any time. When baby #2 came around quiet time was when both children were sleeping, usually in the afternoon. Now, I have an early riser 1 year old {so early morning doesn't work for me} and a barely-napping 4 year old {so nap time doesn't work now either}. I'm finding creative ways and adapting. Honestly, some days it's exhausting just trying to think about and find a time for this supposed "quiet" time. This is where the Grace comes in :) 

So, while I don't have a solution per say, I will tell you - it's not about a specific time, I don't believe. We have to be flexible and in the moment and just the use the time we have, to the max. I'm still working on this every single day. I have friends who rise early and their kids sleep, I have friends who stay up late after the family goes to bed, and others still who have taught their children to play quietly mid-morning while they study God's word. We all have to find our flow. What's important is that we are seeking the Lord. 

I hope to encourage one of you with a lil' something to maybe jazz up your quiet time, or, inspire you to START BACK UP in making it a priority. 

These two items are nothing fancy. A small booklet on the names of God and a beautifully put together CD set. But, both of these things have been an encouragement to me at different times and I wanted to share! You have all day today to enter your comment and you can answer one of these questions :

What are you currently doing for your personal time with the Lord?

or

What is your biggest struggle in making time with the Lord a priority?

Remember, we've all been there - or are there - now. I'm eager to hear your answers and will announce a winner tomorrow morning! Have a super Tuesday! 

A retreat, deep thoughts, and... a GIVEAWAY

Last weekend I was able to hang out with some awesome people. Leaders, students, teachers. We had a great retreat and I cannot tell you enough how much I love this group.

The Lord taught me several mini-lessons while on this retreat and I was blessed and encouraged to see my senior girls stand up and take leadership. We are so thankful for our local church body. :) The weekend also may or may not have included stair surfing.

Deep thoughts.
Yesterday I read an article on moralistic parenting, put out by Resurgence. Wow. It has been on my heart and mind ever since. I might do a whole post about thoughts on this sometime this week - seems like something I'm battling with, and couldn't put a name on it. It has now been named. CONVICTED. If you haven't taken the time to read it - let me encourage you to do so. Our children NEED us to teach truth to them - not a morality based gospel. Check out "The Danger of Moralistic Parenting" here. Seriously. Do it.

Last, I have a lil' giveaway planned for sometime this week. :)
It's been A-while and I'm excited to bless some reader with TWO fun things. On a personal note - I've been having a difficult time getting into a good 2013 groove. I had high hopes and plans of how to revamp my prayer life, deepen devotional time, etc. All my plans have failed as we battled traveling, sickness, chaos and just the general start of a new year.  {my tree just came down this week} But, the Lords mercies are new EACH day and I'll start again anew tomorrow. My point is this - sometimes we have all these grand plans and even the really great ones fall flat. I'd like to encourage one of you with some tools I think aid in a good quiet time during your day. :) Hint - music might be included!
So, stay tuned. And, do share how you are going deeper in your walk with the Lord.

And the winner is...

Thanks to all of you who participated in the "Everything Christmas" review and giveaway! I loved hearing your Christmas memories from this year!

And the winner is...

Emily over at Pocket Full of Posies !!!

Em, your book will ship out this week :) And, good luck in the blogging world as you begin! Emily is just starting out with blogging - so, take a peek at her super adorable site! I know she'd appreciate it!

As for me and my little fam... we are heading out for dinner tonight. And speaking of all this Christmas stuff - we are still using good ol' giftcards. :) Thank you Ober's for sending this momma to the Cheesecake Factory!

"Everything Christmas" - Book Review and GIVEAWAY

While most people have now packed away the Nativity Scene, Christmas tree, house decorations, cookie tins and cutters, and all the other Christmas-themed stuff... I'm now ready to do my Christmas book review. {hehehe} Who says you can't keep the Christmas spirit alive?!

"Christmas is a time of celebration and wonder, a time to embrace longstanding traditions and establish new ones. It's a time for meals filled with memories and heartwarming stories shared around the fireplace. It's a time for worship, reflection, and remembrance of God's greatest gift.

Everything Christmas brings all of the best ideas for the holiday season together in one volume. In this book, you'll find your favorite classic Christmas stories and a few new ones destined to join them. You'll discover the most delectable holiday recipes, enjoy the words to treasured hymns and carols, and be encouraged by inspirational Christmas poems and the joy of the Nativity.

Organized by the days of Advent, Everything Christmas includes everything you need to make the holiday bright. From decoration ideas to Christmas trivia and humor - it's all here! Opening Everything Christmas is like opening a box full of Christmas cheer."

My review:

Everything Christmas, written by David Bordon and Tom Winters.

I got this book in the mail about 3 weeks prior to Christmas and couldn't wait to dig in! And the back cover description is absolutely right... it has a little bit of everything Christmas. My favorite things about this book were the historical accounts of Christmas in days-gone-by, meanings behind Christmas carols and hymns, the international Christmas dinner menus and the tear jerking stories. As a young family and new-er mom, I'm always looking for ways to build traditions into our family and this book offered so many great ideas!

This book is full of quotes and sayings about Christmas. I found myself writing so many down in my journal. The same thing with recipes and decor ideas. On day December 16th, "Christmas Gift Ideas for the Clergy" was the chapter title. Hilarious! Maybe the "Early Exit Alarm" was my favorite idea -

"Tired of all those people leaving church before the end of the service? A simple laser projector at each door sends out a piercing alarm each time the beam is broken. This splendid device will encourage church members to remain dutifully seated until dismissed."

So, while the book did have so many tear-jerking stories and heartfelt memories, it was also lively with funny quips and chapters like the above mentioned.

This book would make a lovely gift for someone who is a Christmas-all-year-round person, or would look beautiful on a coffee table during your holiday season. It's a little book full of all kinds of Christmas fun! I especially liked that it ended with some post-Christmas prayers and ideas. An adorable, thoughtful, book that will be loved by whoever receives it!

If this sounds like something you'd like to own or gift to someone - you can check out more info here. Or, catch a sneak-peek at the book here on video.

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Now, if you like just plain ol' FREE... here's how you can win your own copy:

- Leave a comment on this post. And since Christmas IS over and you have all this spare time... {chuckle}... write your best memory made this past Christmas! I'll do a random drawing tomorrow at some time - and contact the winner after that. Be sure to leave either a link to your blog so I can let you know if you won - or, some type of contact info!

And, I think it would be appropriate to say... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And the winner is....

... Jackie!

Congrats, Jackie, on winning the "Life, In Spite of Me" giveaway. I'm ready to send you your copy - please be in touch with how I can get this book to you. Leave a note on this post with some mailing info.

And thanks all for participating in my first ever blog giveaway!