Meme to Win Books

Here's a fun little meme that might win you some free books. Summer's coming up so you'll need some pool-side reading material. Join in the fun.

Three people will be selected at random to win Gourmet chocolate coins and all three books in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series by Tricia Goyer. To enter all you have to do is answer the MEME on your blog and then leave a comment here.

Here's the front cover of one of the books for those of you who judge a book by its cover. (Just admit it. You know you do it!)

I've never read this author, but I have big plans this summer to read some new authors as well as to catch up on the newest releases from my favorite authors.

Here's the meme and my answers.


1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!) First off, I'd cash it in for paper moolah. Then I'd:

-pay off our camper,

-buy new living room furniture,

-and sock away the rest for a rainy day.

2. List three charities/missions/organizations you support (and why).

-World Vision, because I felt like we needed to be giving to someone who has far less than we do so we'd appreciate our blessings more.

-Also, I support our church's mission work with a town in Nicaragua, partly for the folks who live there, but also as a way to encourage the people in our church who have made it a very personal ministry by visiting the area several times.

-Finally, I support a couple who I have known for 16 years who I served on a mission team with in the states. They now do international missions with their family of five kids. I do it out of a love for the family. I'm a better person just knowing them.

3. List three ways you have volunteered your time/services.

-Teaching Sunday School or VBS,

-helping man the Nursery and Children's Church at church,

-being in the classroom at my son's school.

4. List three things you keep "hidden" when company comes over.

-The toddler wipes for our youngest kids, who have by now outgrown them. I should toss them, but my pack-rat tendencies won't let me.

-Our shoe and coat closet, because it's a mess.

-And the entire "living room" gets blocked by a tri-fold screen because it has never been a true living room, but lives to be a catch-all place where things are stored until they are needed or tossed.

5. List the last three things you've lost.

-My cool,

-my mind,

-and a $50 reimbursement check from our insurance company.

Ironically, all three losses occurred within the same hour.

6. List the last three things you've found.

-My daughter who ran off while we were on a recent camping trip.

-A library book that was overdue.

-Sunscreen, which I needed to find quickly before I sent my son to school on Field Day.


Your turn. Don't forget to post a comment on the author's site to be included in the drawing for free books.

Thankful Thursday - Sharing and Game Balls

Tuesday night, while I was at Spencer's t-ball game with the kids, Bruce led his second-to-the-last Financial Peace University class.

Afterwards, he went to his parent's house bearing gifts: A late Mother's Day card for my mother-in-law, because we didn't get to see her on Sunday. And a bag chock-full of creeping phlox I had dug out of one of the barrel containers in our front yard. (Those barrels are old and need to be trashed.)

I transplanted several bits of phlox into different places on a bank in our yard, but had so much leftover that I offered it to several friends. My father-in-law always gets first dibs on any garden pass-alongs I have though.

When Bruce got home, he had a few things for us from my in-laws. A loaf of Sharon's famous sourdough bread that we call simply "Meemaw Bread." We all love it, but Spencer is the most shameless in asking Sharon for a new loaf.

And... and... and...

Roy sent seven tomato plants that he had leftover from planting in his garden. My father-in-law is a great gardener. I want to be just like him that way. But I'm not. Every year he grows tomatoes from seed. I'm too impatient for that. Usually, we bum garden-fresh tomatoes from his overflow. But occasionally, he's passed on leftover plants to us. And that makes me and the kids very happy.



I think the tomato is the very best vegetable alive. I'm just partial that way. And the kids seem to be following in my footsteps. My father-in-law caters to their love of tomatoes, too.

So today I'm very thankful for shared Meemaw Bread and tomato plants.

Ahh, but there's more.

Our Spencer received the game ball at his t-ball game on Tuesday.



He is so proud. He wouldn't leave the field until they took his picture probably a dozen times. I don't really know the criteria for winning the game ball, and I don't care. Friends know that I'm not a huge t-ball or baseball fan. I am, however, a ginormous Spencer fan. And he is feeling mighty fine about his efforts on the field.

He hit a home run during the game his first time at bat. I have to admit I don't know how he did at his second time at bat because I was yakking and missed it entirely. But don't tell Spencer that. He told me in the van before the game that I needed to be cheering loudly for him.

Once he finally was escorted away from his picture taking with his new ball, he ran up to me and said, "Mom! Mom! I got the game ball! I earned it."

I love his coach. I'm not sure what he said to Spencer when he gave him the ball, but whatever it was made an impression on my boy. He earned that ball.

I'm so thankful that even though I do not care for t-ball, my younger son is giving it his all. And he loves it. And it has made him feel like a million bucks.

That's just good stuff.


If you like Karen Kingsbury books, go here to enter my giveaway contest. It's limited to residents of the U.S. I updated the original post to add that, but I'll include those first few who commented originally. But it applies from here on out. Thanks.

The End

Today has been an odd day. And it's only lunch time.

Today was the last day of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for this year. Next week is Sharing Day, a time when everyone comes together to share what they learned throughout the year. It's usually a very moving time and I enjoy the ones I've attended. But, because even the children's leaders join in, there is no childcare, so it's likely I won't go.

For all intents and purposes, today was my last day of the year for the Matthew study.

I always enjoy the last day, because of that sense of completion. I can look back and see where God has enlightened me throughout the year. Where previously unknown verses became meaningful because of something that was happening in my life at that point. I love that about the Bible... that it's alive and fresh... that it's applicable for today and tomorrow and every day after that.

I'm a little sad today, too, though. This has been my fourth year of study with BSF. And I've always gone to the day classes. But next year I am switching to attend the night classes. Because my oldest son has practically begged me to change so that he can start going with me again. (During day classes, kids can go from age 2-5. Evening classes include groups for kids in first grade and beyond.)

Spencer and Allison have been with me three of the four years I've gone; Clay has been with me only one year.

I am more of a morning study person. I know these women from the day classes. I love these ladies. Many of them have shared much with me and have heard my challenges in exchange. It's an odd sort of friendship in that they know me spiritually better than most of the ladies at my church, but they may not remember the ages of my children. Or even their names. It's a true fellowship of the heart. And I'll miss them. Especially the ones that have ministered to my children.

I am not going to be a ship adrift in completely unfamiliar waters next fall when I start the evening classes. My husband's Aunt Jo attends BSF in the evening, and I think it'll be really special for her to see Clay each week. She's great with my kids.

My group leader from last year switched to evening classes this year. So when the school year starts again, I'll likely get to see Jennifer more than just every now and again in Wal-mart.

And another wonderful friend that was in my group a couple of years ago is switching to evenings next year as well; and Becky and I have shared a lot, so it will be a blessing to still have a constant fellowship with her.

Even though I won't be in the day classes... maybe ever again... God is so good to me.

I almost didn't get to make today's class. Allison woke up barking with a croup cough. No fever. No green snot. No red, hamburger-looking sore throat. But she sounded horrid, and I thought another mother would balk if she heard my girl coughing next to her child.

We got ready with the plan to go, get my notes and end-of-the-year magazine, and swing by and let the kids say "goodbye" to their teachers. But when we got to the kids' class, the teachers and the children's department director said to just stay. I could see Spencer and Allison really wanted to. So we did.

And it was so wonderful.

If you need a good, in-depth Bible study... non-denominational... with some female fellowship thrown in, check out BSF's site to find a study in your area. Men have classes, too.

Next year's study is going to focus on the life of Moses. That's a lot of ground to cover. I can't wait!

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
-Romans 15:4

Ten on Tuesday - What Are You Good At?

Found this meme a few weeks back and planned to do it then, but never got to it. Click here for more info.

Today's topic is Ten Things You're Really Good At.

Of course, this is all subjective, so if you disagree... just keep it to yourself.

10. Sarcasm.

9. Empathy.

8. Loyalty.

7. Brutal honesty.

6. Being funny (but the mood has to be right).

5. Teaching (but only if it's something I'm passionate about).

4. Loving my peeps (that would be my family).

3. Being thankful to the Lord for His blessings.

2. Writing (I've been told).

1. Following directions (ever since I made my first Duncan Hines Devil's Food Cake all by myself. It was a huge step up from my Easy-Bake Oven cakes.).

Your turn. What are you really good at? Comment here if you decide to write about this so I can learn more about you.

Roan Mountain

Camping at Roan Mountain this weekend was wonderful. Simply the best way to spend Mother's Day.

We hiked... a lot. If this says anything, I lost a pound. And, trust me, that shouldn't have happened considering all the s'mores I ate. It was the hiking that saved me from myself.

We had a few mini-adventures. After we got set up Friday night, we sat around the campfire, roasting marshmallows until we heard the clatter of the metal lid from the trash can behind the camper. Where we had thrown away our McDonald's leftovers.

My first thought was... bear. Mostly because I recently read in the paper about the woman who lost her daughter last year after a bear mauling in Cherokee Forest. It was heartbreaking.

So I hopped up as fast as lightning and told the kids, "Get in the camper. Now!" They must have picked up on the note of hysteria, because all three of them ran to the camper, sticky little marshmallow fingers and all.

And Bruce went to be the man. While the rest of us scaredy cats hid. It struck me that he could really scar us all for life if he came back around the corner, screaming his head off, as a joke. But he knows me well, and how much I do not like to be scared, and he didn't. Even though he admitted he thought about it.

Our noisy beast was a raccoon. Realizing imminent danger was not at hand, we took the flashlight around the corner and watched him munch on our leftover french fries. We covered the trash can back up, but within 30 minutes, it clattered again. Henry was back. (Yep, we named him.)

After awhile, he rambled back into the woods. The next morning, Allison took it upon herself to solve the problem.



We never heard from Henry again.

Saturday, we went hiking around Elk River Falls. With Bruce's GPS in hand because he wanted to search for geocache treasure. I do not enjoy this past time... because we never find anything. We hiked one way for over an hour, watched Bruce tromp around in the woods for another 20 minutes and then dejectedly walked for another hour back down the hill.

And then we came across the snake. Spencer and Allison were leading the way when I noticed Allison stumble and fall down. She picked herself back up with no crying and continued. But a second later, Bruce saw a snake very near where she had fallen, unknowingly. But Bruce, Clay and I were knowingly watching that thing... very closely. Until he slithered away and we scurried away in the opposite direction.

At the end of our hike, Spencer fell down and scraped open a wound on the palm of his hand. I went to the truck looking for bandaids, while Bruce took the kids to some other supposed geocache site. And they actually found it! Which very nicely took Spencer's mind off of his ow-wee.

Until we got back to the camper and Drs. Mom and Dad had to hold him down and scrub that wound free of dirt and grime. Wore us all out.

After a late lunch, we got back on the trail here.



It was gorgeous!

We hiked until dinner time and called it an early night after eating hotdogs and s'mores.

Here's just one more picture of Clay being a cheeseball.



And now we're back home, back to the daily grind. But school is over so soon and we are looking forward to more camping adventures.

Happy Mother's Day

We are camping this weekend, but I've set this up to post this morning, even in my absence.

I am so blessed this Mother's Day. There were years that I did not think I'd ever be a mother, and now, nearly eight years later, we have three little pumpkins. I tell my "babies" (who have recently started telling me that they aren't babies) all the time that next to their daddy and Jesus, they are my greatest gifts from the Lord.

I have read a lot this last week about people and their mothers. And then I got the sweetest note from a dear friend of mine. She's my neighbor, Harriet. Actually, she just sold her house, so she isn't my neighbor anymore, but she remains my friend. And more... she's one of my mentors.

Here's what she wrote:

"To my friend, Tanja: (I know you have probably gotten the devotion below today as well, since you introduced me to the Proverbs31 site, but I just have to share this with you, too!) I have so enjoyed watching you from across the street these past several years as you have interacted with Clay, Spencer, and Allison. Your children are precious, and you two have provided a strong love and dedication as you have raised them. Tanja, you and I have talked - A LOT - about this 'child-rearing' thing, and despite your occasional lack of faith in yourself, believe me, you are a wonderful mother! These years will fly swiftly by, and soon you will be enjoying your grandchildren as well. You and Bruce are such strong Christian people, and you are truly raising your children in the fear, love, and admonition of the Lord. I love you both, and pray God’s blessing and guidance for you."

Harriet is a grandma. She's been one of the best examples of a person living out God's grace that I've ever seen when she faced the illness and imminent death of her sweet husband more than a year ago. She's told me their love story, and it's beautiful. And now she's been given another chance at a sweet love, and we talk about that, too. I pick her brain and spirit as often as I can, and intend to continue doing so with even more opportunities once all three kids are in school in the fall. I've already told her that I'll be calling her to "do lunch" often.

She included the following Proverbs 31 Ministry devotion, which I had received, but it's so great it's worth sharing. Here you go:

Mother of the Year
by Micca Monda Campbell

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
Proverbs 31:28 (NIV)

I long to be a godly wife and mother, but my efforts to become this "ideal" woman stated in Proverbs can leave me grieved and depressed. I felt especially defeated the year my youngest son started kindergarten. In Tennessee, kindergarteners follow a scattered schedule the first two weeks of school where half of the class attends one day and the rest comes the following day. It helps them adjust. For me it brought confusion.

On Tuesday, I took my son to school, kissed him good-bye, and headed home to work.
I was busy at the computer when the telephone interrupted my pace.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Campbell, this is Parker's teacher. I was wondering who would be picking him up from school today."

Stunned that I had forgotten my child, I jumped in the car and raced to the school. He stood on the sidewalk holding his teacher's hand with tears in his eyes and REJECTION stamped across his heart. I took him home, apologized profusely, and made his favorite meal for dinner. I felt like the worst mother ever.

Thursday, we returned to school. All was going well until I was, once again, interrupted by the phone. I had forgotten to pick up my child not once, but twice in the same week!

I sped to school on two wheels. This time he was standing with the room mother, who was obviously a true Proverbs 31 Woman. As she helped him buckle his seatbelt, I tried explaining myself.

"You're not going to believe this, but I did the same thing earlier this week."

"Yeah, I know," she replied bluntly.

I felt I’d been labeled a "bad mother," and I felt like a complete failure.

Later that same year, God encouraged me as a mother when ParentLife magazine named me one of eight "Mothers of the Year!"

Parker's reaction to this surprising news was, "If they lived with us for a while, they'd probably reconsider."

Those were my thoughts exactly. In fact, I asked my husband how I could be given such a great and undeserving honor. With wisdom, he shared that maybe it was God's way of saying I'm doing better than I think. His wisdom helped me put things into perspective.

God never said I had to be perfect. That was my expectation. He never said that I wouldn't make mistakes or a wrong decision every now and then. Again, that was my hope. I had assumed that the Proverbs 31 lady did everything right and I was suppose to as well.

The problem was, with all her great accomplishments, I never considered her "not so good" side. Sometimes I let the bad out weigh the good. Perhaps the "Mother of the Year" award was God's way of saying, "Hang in there. You're doing better than you think, and I'm not the only one who notices." Despite my many mistakes, perhaps my children will some day arise and call me blessed.

The next time you need encouragement, let God whisper to your heart: "I hear when you pray for your children, and I'm there when you teach them about who I am. I watch you love, care, and sacrifice for them. You’re not perfect, but hang in there. You're doing better than you think."

Dear Lord, help me to be the mother my children deserve. Encourage my heart when I feel like a failure. Erase my errors from the hearts and minds of my children. Instead, help them to see Jesus in me, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Power Verses: Deuteronomy 11: 18-21, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” (NIV)


Isn't that wonderful? I've always felt really put out with that Proverbs 31 woman. But this perspective is so much more real to me.

Have a wonderful day, all you mothers, and would-be/could-be mothers. And all you other folks... go call your mom and tell her you love her! Being a mom is hard work. She deserves some recognition.

A Giveaway

I'm doing my first blog giveaway! I'm so excited.

I've pondered what to ask you to answer to get your name in the hat (the one I'll randomly pull a name out of). And I hit on the perfect question while vacuuming.

We have a central vacuum system, and the hose has a hole in it right near the part that connects to the metal, which in turn connects to all attachments. Either the hole gapes open and it doesn't suck, which in this case is a bad thing, or I'm turning the thing every which way to keep the hole pinched shut. And often I'm the one who ends up pinched.

Naturally, I'm vacuuming less and less these days. Of course that makes more sense than actually buying a new hose. Doesn't it?

My question for you: What is broken or unfinished in your home right now that is just really bugging you?

It could be an unfinished project (like say, a playroom in the basement that was built more than a year ago, but still lacks a banister going down the stairs).

It can be something simple (for instance, a bulb is burned out of your motion sensor light as you approach your garage doors so that when it's night, you are always in the dark).

Or it might be something you don't think about every day, but when you see it, you don't like it (hmmmm, maybe that hole in the ceiling in the laundry room that's there because your upstairs heat pump, which is located in your attic, leaked condensation. A lot of condensation.)

Oh, you want to know what you're playing for?

Books. These two babies by Karen Kingsbury.

Gideon's Gift and

Maggie's Miracle.



Both are "like new". I didn't read them. They were passed on to me and, before I got to them, I ended up listening to them on audio books on a recent solo road trip. They are both wonderful stories. But you know that already if you've ever read anything by Kingsbury.

So, whatever needs fixing in your home... please share. I have a real need to know I am not the only person living in a state of continual "unfinished-ness". Yeah, I made that word up.

I'll draw a name next Saturday and let you know who won.

UPDATED... I'm limiting the giveaway to those who live in the U.S. I forgot to add that originally, so I'll include those first few who commented, but from here on out it applies. Thanks.

Warfare

What is it about boys that no matter how well you try to shield them, they turn everything into a weapon?

For years we wouldn't let our boys play with guns. The toy kind. You know I didn't mean the real thing, right? But because so many toy guns can look authentic, I've even had a talk with my oldest about touching any gun at the homes of friends or other family members until he checks with an adult that it is a play thing. Bruce says I go overboard, but accidents happen, so eagerly overboard I go.

Still, somewhere along the way, the boys started pointing sticks found in the yard at each other and shouting "Bam, bam, bam. I gotcha!" They did that until I went overboard and said, "No pointing even pretend guns at people."

If they were stick poor that day, they'd just point their first finger and tuck the rest back and shoot stuff with their "hand" guns.

I've seen Tinkertoys turned into weapons. Legos as well. Even the empty, cardboard paper towel holder. In their warped little minds, with enough imagination, anyone can be the proud owner of a nice, shiny Uzi.

The other day, Spencer crossed into some spiritual warfare. But not the kind talked about in Ephesians where it says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (6:12)

On second thought, maybe it was exactly that kind.

We were at the post office to mail Mother's Day cards. There was only one person in front of us, and nobody behind us while we waited our turn. But about four people walked in as our turn came. Because we always need an audience these days.

I stepped up to get the appropriate stamps for my cards to Germany, and Spencer points at Allison and says to the clerk, "She doesn't love Jesus."

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. But that precious boy was not finished.

"She doesn't love Jesus," he continued, "because she doesn't read her Bible."

Allison's eyes nearly popped out of her head. I was determined not to make a big deal out of this. Because of the audience. But Allison didn't see any reason to hold back.

"That's not true!" she shouted.

Yippee! Now we're really center stage. What I love most in the world.

And still, Spencer was loaded and cocked to fire off his next round.

"And Jesus doesn't love her either."

I was flabbergasted. And Spencer had that little smile on his face that he gets when he knows I'm cornered and can't spank him at that moment. He was obviously enjoying himself. I told him to hush and that "Jesus loves everyone."

I looked at the clerk, shrugged, and said, "No matter what you teach them..." I hoped that was enough of an explanation.

You know what the clerk did? He looked at Spencer and smiled and started singing, "Jesus Loves Me." Yep, he was slightly off key, a little warbly, but he got all the words right.

However, Spencer's right to terrorize could not be denied. He said, "But Jesus doesn't love her," and he pointed at his sister.

I could have throttled him. In Jesus name. (Thanks to Chonda Pierce for that little bit.)

Again, I looked at the clerk and said, "You think maybe we need to spend more time at church?" He laughed and we left.

After a good tongue lashing, Spencer apologized to Allison.

All this happened as we were on our way to Bible Study Fellowship. I think Jesus knew exactly where we all needed to be that morning.


"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
-Proverbs 22:6