2019 Winter Is Coming Giveaway Blog Hop

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

“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”

The Joys of Reading

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Ps 32:8)

As a child, I would read until I heard my mom’s raised voice, asking me to dry dishes for her. I knew I was in trouble at that point – it meant she’d called for me at least two or three times. I wasn’t ignoring her; I just didn’t hear her because I’d been transported to another world.

My mom’s voice brought me crashing back to the real world pretty quickly. I would hurry through the task so that I could get back to my book. I took books to family holiday gatherings, and I always had enough books to fill an entire suitcase when I went on vacation. (This was before the Kindle.) I even had to pay extra for my luggage one time because I bought so many books while on vacation. Continue reading “The Joys of Reading”

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

Congratulations to Steven Weber from Wisconsin, the winner of the $10 Starbucks gift card in the Oh! The Places You’ll Go! blog hop!

 

As a child, I looked forward to the first day of school every year. I was one of those rare kids who absolutely loved school. For me, the start of school signaled several things: friends; sports; sweater-weather; learning more cool stuff; and my birthday, which was always on or around the first day of school. Even as an adult, I’ve continued my life-long love of learning by earning advanced degrees and attending workshops and webinars as often as possible.

To celebrate going back to school, I’m joining The Kids Did It blog and The Mommy Island blog to participate in the 3rd Annual Oh! The Places You’ll Go! Giveaway Event, which runs from September 4-18, 2018. The winner of this giveaway will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card.  Continue reading “Oh! The Places You’ll Go! Giveaway Blog Hop”

Rain Rain Go Away! Giveaway Blog Hop

Spring is a time of renewal, when everything is bright and fresh. Trees begin to bud, perennials push their colorful heads out of the ground, and the grass turns from a dry, course yellow to a soft, vibrant green. Spring is the rainy season in many parts of the world, and we are no exception here in Oklahoma. Our rainy season often consists of storms, with mighty strikes of lightening, rolling thunder, and the occasional tornado. But without rain, none of the growth of spring would happen.

To celebrate the advent of spring, I’m joining The Kids Did It blog and The Mommy Island blog to participate in the 3rd Annual Rain Rain Go Away! Giveaway Event, which runs from April 10, 2018, to April 24, 2018. The winner of this giveaway will receive a $15 Amazon gift card.  Continue reading “Rain Rain Go Away! Giveaway Blog Hop”