Category: Books

6th Annual Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Congratulations to Annette E. from Peoria, AZ, the winner of the blog hop giveaway!

Stocking stuffers have long been a tradition in my family. On Christmas morning, my brother and I would run into the living room to find what Santa had left under the tree. Then, we would turn to our stockings. From toothbrushes to candy to socks to books to gift cards, we always found a treasure trove of goodies. This tradition still continues in adulthood as my parents find fun items to put in our stockings.

This Christmas season, I’m joining The Kids Did It blog and The Mommy Island blog to participate in the Sixth Annual Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop, which runs from November 10, 2020, to December 1, 2020. The winner will receive a signed copy of Echoes of Joy: A Daily Devotional for Christmas and a $15 Amazon gift card.

Continue reading “6th Annual Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop” →

Read Books That Renew Your Mind

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom 12:2).

Would it surprise you to learn that 26 percent of people didn’t read even part of a book in the last year? As an avid reader, that statistic boggles my mind. Books compete with a host of other forms of entertainment for our attention. If you’re not reading, you’re missing out on some great benefits, including a reduced amount of stress and improved memory and focus.

If that’s not enough proof of why you should be reading, check out this statistic: a study by researchers at the University of Toledo reported that 77 percent of participants who watched more than two hours of TV each night felt significantly more depressed, stressed, and had higher levels of anxiety than those who watched less. Continue reading “Read Books That Renew Your Mind” →

2019 Winter Is Coming Giveaway Blog Hop

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Congratulations to Sarah M. from Wisconsin, the winner of the $10 Amazon gift card!

Christmas is my favorite holiday by far. Like many of you, I have cherished memories of family gatherings. I’ve spent many hours throughout the years creating handmade gifts for others and baking sweet treats with my mom. As adults, we can feel overwhelmed and stressed by the season for many reasons: financial difficulties, too many activities, family members who don’t get along…the list goes on and on. Joy seems elusive, but we can experience the joy of the season when we remember why we celebrate this season: Jesus.

This Christmas season, I’m joining The Kids Did It blog and The Mommy Island blog to participate in the Third Annual Winter Is Coming Giveaway Event, which runs from December 3, 2019, to December 21, 2019. The winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card. Continue reading “2019 Winter Is Coming Giveaway Blog Hop” →

Finding Common Ground

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (1 Cor 9:22b-23 NLT)

When I lived in Germany in the late 1990s, I spent most of my time at the Army base’s library. My then-husband worked and was out on maneuvers a lot, and I couldn’t find a job on the small base, so I had a lot of time to myself.

An older, retired Army man served as the base librarian. With his white hair shaped in a crew cut and his gruff demeanor, I felt intimidated by him. Sometimes, he was friendly, but more often than not, he would bark out a hello or glare at me when I entered the building. Even so, I didn’t stay away. The library was my refuge, and I wasn’t going to let a gruff old man keep me away. Continue reading “Finding Common Ground” →

2019 Oh! The Places You’ll Go! Giveaway Blog Hop

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Congratulations to Madonna D. from West Virginia, the winner of the $15 Amazon gift card!

Because the first day of school is usually in the fall, August is considered one of the best months for tourism as people scramble to fit in one last fun-in-the-sun vacation. This summer, I visited the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I’d never been before, and a friend who’s moving there wanted to scout for apartment locations. I hadn’t taken a vacation in over three years, so this sounded like the perfect opportunity to get away and see something new.

So off we went, exploring downtown Minneapolis, St. Paul, various suburbs, and the Mall of America, which is a community unto itself. The weather, which we hear so much about in the rest of the country, was perfect – sunny skies, mid-80s, a light breeze. The calm surface of the lakes reflected the glorious sunlight, and people walked, biked, or skateboarded to their destinations all around us.

To celebrate summer vacations, I’m joining The Kids Did It blog and The Mommy Island blog to participate in the 4th Annual Oh! The Places You’ll Go! Giveaway Event, which runs from August 6-20, 2019. The winner of this giveaway will receive a $15 Amazon gift card. Continue reading “2019 Oh! The Places You’ll Go! Giveaway Blog Hop” →