Rain on Me Book Give-Away

If you participated in my Inner Beauty Girlz Virtual Spa Weekend in May, you may remember Holley Gerth's post, God thinks You're Beautiful. Holley has also recently released the book Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times and she's giving away a copy on one of my other blogs, Harvesting Hope from Heartache™. Drop by and leave a comment there before July 31 to be entered for this drawing. :)

Dreaming of RVing

I've been blogging about our hopes to take an RV vacation over at http://classicRVadventures.blogspot.com/. Please drop by and leave a comment, share your vacationing tips or tell me about your dream vacation. :)

Free Book Offer, July 10 Only!

Order Skinny by Laura L Smith for FREE today only from the Nav Press website, using coupon code H20E1M3Y4. This is a book about teenage girls and eating issues. Enter your coupon code at the top of your cart before you head to check out. Shipping is also free and no tax!

If you are looking for another title to add to your cart, Nav is my publisher for Hannah's Hope. ;) I was pleasantly surprised that the free shipping extended to the other item I placed in my cart today (still had to pay tax, but I'm fine with that) and when my order confirmation came through, that email included a discount code for 25% off my next order from the Nav Press website! Great deal all the way around!!!

He is the Potter, I am the Play Dough?

Maybe you've heard the saying before, "He is the Potter, I am the clay" (based on Romans 9 and several other references). Tricia Goyer brings a delightfully fresh perspective to this well-worn expression in her newest book Blue Like Play Dough: The Shape of Motherhood in the Grip of God.

Though the book does not release for sale until the middle of this month, I had the delight of reading her first chapter this week. (Follow the link and you can too!) Though I know that Tricia was not an "Infertility Mom" many passages read as if they easily could have come from my own journals:

I loved dolls, and I loved imagining what it would be like when I would be a mom. Someday I’d have a baby of my own instead of a [play]-dough creation. But when I had kids, I felt like I was the one being squished and pressed. At times I felt like I was being poked as I tried to deal with the 101 needs of my kids. I felt stretched as I struggled through things I’d hoped I’d never have to face... I felt pulled when I tried to balance raising kids, taking care of our house, serving in church, and following my dreams. There were even days when I felt as if I was literally
being pounded—by life, by my hang-ups, by my own insecurities and doubts that I was “good enough” as a mom...

Some of my readers are moms, reaching this destination through a variety of paths. Others are still awaiting motherhood, longing and praying for such a blessing. But I think we can all relate to striving for a deep heart desire, then being surprised to find out that blessings can be costly as God shapes us after His heart in ways we never expected. I found this first chapter of Blue Like Play Dough to be such a refreshing example of how to live real life, messy life, crazy and unexpected life, by keeping God a first priority right there in the midst of it all. Looking forward to reading the rest when the book is available later this month!

Mothering with Chronic Illness

Another dear after-infertility mom-with-chronic-illness dear friend of mine recently posted a beautiful article entitled Yes, I amd sick, but I'm also a Mom that captured the journey so personally that it had me in tears. If you have either gone through infertility or face parenthood with chronic illness, this is a can't miss read!

Dyslexia

I am dyslexic. So is my father. He was told by his high school guidance counselor that he was too stupid to even attempt to graduate. I wish that guidance counselor could see him now, a sucessful teacher who not only graduated college, but even worked most of the way through a Master's degree program and has written Bible studies that have changed hundreds of lives, including many men that went into full time missions work after sitting under Dad's teaching!

While we have yet to have our child tested, I am seeing signs in 1 of our 3 that lead me to believe this one may also face the same struggles in learning. So to my brave father, to my beloved child, in thanks to my mother for helping me survive my own learning challenges when schools ignored it or refused to lend aid, and to anyone who has ever been told they are too dumb to learn, I want to share these touching videos I happened upon at YouTube. My story is much like the first one posted here (though my mom hooked me on reading with Janette Oke Christian romance rather than monster murder mysteries).

Importance of Socks

Who knew socks could make such a difference? My sweet hubby was able to share a pair with a homeless man last night. He also gave him bottled water and energy bars. The man was thankful for all the provisions, but most thankful for the socks!

I questioned why socks could make a difference in 100 degree heat, thinking maybe they were to keep his feet warm in the cool outdoor night as he sleeps on the street? My hubby looked at me and said, "Think of the blisters you would get if you had to walk everywhere and didn't have a pair of socks." He also pointed out that socks were probably low on the man's priority list, a true luxury, because he would spend anything he had first on the basics like simple nourishment and just put up with the discomfort of his feet...

Made me think. There are so many daily luxuries I take for granted, things I consider "needs" like a pair of clean socks, that much of the world, including many right here in our country, do without on a daily basis. Praying for this man and the many like Him, that God will meet them just where they are and provide not only their "daily bread" but overwhelm them with His love as He blesses them with some special "extras" as well. And may I never look at a pair of socks with such indifference again!

Edited to add the link to another socks story written by a blogging friend: Socks are Worth More Than Gold. Very touching (grab a tissue)!