Women Living Well {GIVEAWAY}

UPDATE...The Winner is...

domdandevdil!

 Please email me your mailing address so I can get the book sent to you!

Congratulations!

I am so thrilled to be chosen to be a part of Courtney's "Women Living Well" Launch Team for her new book that was just released today!  It's called Women Living Well:  Finding Your Joy in God, Your Man, Your Kids, and Your Home.

I have been reading Courtney's Women Living Well blog for several years now.  She is very inspirational and very honest and extremely down to earth.  She is the type of Christian witness I always dream of being.  In her book, she shares her testimony and a TON of practical ways to "walk with the King" in our daily lives.

I have had the honor to receive an advanced ebook copy and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it (when I haven't been packing or planning Ethan's birthday party or moving, etc) during the last few weeks.  Actually, it has been nice to read it after I collapse onto the bed from exhaustion at night. :)

The book is divided into 4 parts:  

1.  Your Walk with the King

2.  Your Marriage

3.  Your Parenting

4.  Your Homemaking

I will be reviewing each of these sections during the month of November.  However, if you'd like to try to win a FREE signed copy of the book, just leave a comment on this blog post.  The GIVEAWAY will end on Sunday, October 6.  

If you don't want to wait, you can purchase your own copy here.

**I was chosen as part of the launch team for this book and was given an advanced PDF copy of the book in exchange for an honest review and promotion of the book. 

Happy 7th Birthday, Ethan!

There are a few days each year that I get very nostalgic--May 27 (our anniversary), May 16 (the day my Aunt Dixie died), Mother's Day weekend (because my grandma died the day before I graduated from college), March 18 (the day Evan was born), and today. September 5. The day Ethan was born!

When I delivered Evan, all I remember is how I didn't have any medicine because it was "time to push," Eric stepping on my IV and blood was running out of my body & onto the floor, and how they covered me with these really heavy warm blankets right after he was born because I was shivering so badly. I didn't get to see him get his little bath or get weighed. I didn't really get to see him for quite awhile.

But with Ethan...it was quite different. I didn't have ANY physical pain...yes we were all happy emotional wrecks...but no pain!  We had the blessed opportunity to be in the nursery with him when the nurse gave this 9 1/2 pound sumo wrestler his first bath. We even got to spend a few hours cuddling, holding, and oohing & ahhing over him! 

 You see, God blessed us with such a unique opportunity to have two miraculous sons--one by birth and one through adoption.  "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY!" Psalm 126:3

Now, going through the difficult and painful process of years of infertility, numerous doctor visits, completing the mountains of adoption paperwork, having one mom choose us & change her mind right before the baby was born, and then having to wait another 9 long Months were NOT times that I would call JOYOUS or even fun, but oh the blessing we received when God worked all of this out for His (and our) good! (Romans 8:28)

Looking back, I would not have it any other way.  You see, I'm a little stubborn (ok maybe more than a little). And I was bound & determined that I wanted to birth another child. I loved being pregnant with Evan & I so desired to experience that again.  I truly thought it would be great to even have twins. 

I learned to claim Psalm 37:4 as my verse through these times.  "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  I learned that meant that I needed to DELIGHT in the LORD and then HIS desires for me would become my desires.

And God, in His wisdom, knew I needed to experience all that we did with our numerous drives to the Shreveport doctor in order to break MY will and get to a place that I would be willing to adopt.  

And God, in His wisdom,  also placed some wonderful friends, Monica & Shawn, in our lives who adopted two beautiful children through Christian Homes in Abilene.  And as we finally began the process, we met several others who successfully adopted children. 

And would you believe that my sweet friend, Monica, also experienced a mom choosing them & changing her mind a year or so before we experienced the same exact thing? So she was able to minister to me during that devastating time!  God is so good! His plans are perfect!

So today...as we celebrate Ethan's SEVENTH birthday, words cannot express the gratitude in my heart for this sweet, compassionate, creative, intelligent young whipper snapper that God uniquely designed for our family! He brings so much joy and laughter to our days!  

And words cannot express the gratitude in my heart for his sweet birth mom who chose to give us Ethan.  She is truly a blessing to us as well!

Ethan, our big first grader, we are so very proud of you!  We love the way you are curious about EVERYTHING! Yes, you may wear this old mom and dad down with your constant questions, but never stop asking! We love your vivid imagination and your ability to remember all sorts of random facts about world geography and animals!  We love how you giggle when you wrestle your brother. You are also very compassionate and friendly and kind to everyone.  We know that God is going to use you in a mighty way as you grow!  We love you! Mom, Dad, and Bro Bro (Evan)

Memory Verse 17

We are two-thirds of the way through our Scripture Memory challenge for 2013!

Here is my verse for this time around:

"For You, O Lord, have made me 

glad by Your work; 

at the works of Your hands

I sing for joy". Psalm 92:4 (ESV)

A Fun Way to "Explore the Classical World"

Knowledge Quest has recently published "A Child’s Geography: Exploring the Classical World" by Terri Johnson.

This book is a wonderful way to introduce your children to Ancient History!  Terri Johnson did a spectacular job writing a “living history” book that teaches children (and adults too) about the “Classical World” as you journey around the Mediterranean Sea.  The book is written much like a travel log, describing life and culture in various countries such as Greece, Macedonia, and Italy.  Not only does she describe how people used to live, she also relates it to how people live today.  The stories are so interesting and the descriptions so vivid that it makes you want to “travel the world!”

In addition to the narration questions at the end of each chapter, the author has also included several internet links (like this one) to videos that describe the topics being studied.  The included CD contains recipes from the Mediterranean countries, extra reading suggestions, timelines, travel log, and additional activities for each chapter.  There is even a prayer guide for each country!  I am thankful that the book is written with a biblical perspective as well!

My boys and I look forward to learning so much this year as we study “A Child’s Geography: Exploring the Classical World!”  

Memory Verses 6 & 7

I  didn't realize I had forgotten to post my memory verse in the middle of March.  I was trying to remember why...maybe it was because we were so busy with this...

Our church performed an Easter Musical called Bow the Knee.  It was a TON of work but so worth it...several people got saved.  I think it had been 15-20 years since Center had taken on a musical like this. And it left a HUGE impression on so many...especially the CHILDREN!

So here are my verses:

#6
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."  
Romans 14:17

#7
"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;  indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."  
Psalm 16:5-6

Flat Ethan Travels - South Africa

This year we are Exploring Countries and Cultures as we learn about World Geography.  As a fun addition to our curriculum, we created a "FLAT ETHAN" to travel around the world.

We got the idea from some friends that told us about their Flat Stanley projects.  We quickly checked out the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown from the library.  The book is about a young boy named Stanley who is accidentally squished "as flat as a pancake" when a bulletin board falls on him.  Stanley is very, very flat but otherwise fine.  The story tells of Stanley's adventures being flat.  He can slide under doors, go down into sidewalk grates, and even fold himself up small enough to fit into an envelope and be mailed to excited and interesting places.

So...we started asking people we know that either live in other countries and states or are traveling abroad.  We are hoping that "FLAT ETHAN" travels to every continent.  We have almost accomplished that!  We have had a blast learning about different countries, cultures, and people as we have received pictures from our friends throughout the year!

I will post highlights from all of his travels in the coming weeks.  Here is the first one...FLAT ETHAN's TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA!

Laura (Green) Orr, one of my former PALs from Redwater, is living in South Africa this year.  She was so sweet to take all of these pictures and to write a really cool letter to Ethan, explaining his travels with her and her husband!  Just click on this link to go to her blog and read about her life in South Africa right now!  Thanks, Laura, for helping us!

Scripture Memory 2013

I'm participating in Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory challenge again this year.  We are already on verse 5!  (I am so behind in blogging!)  It's not to late to begin if you'd like to join us!  It's never a waste to "hide God's word in your heart!"

Verse 1
James 3:17-18
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and good deeds.  It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.  And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Verse 2
Isaiah 26:8-9
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You;
Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
My soul yearns for You in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for You.

Verse 3
Deuteronomy 6:23 (ESV)
And He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in and give us the land that He swore to give our fathers.

Verse 4
Deuteronomy 10:20-21
Fear the Lord your God and serve Him.  Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.  He is your praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Verse 5
Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.