Here for a good time

Last Thanksgiving we were camping with some dear friends.  It was unreal because the weather was unusually warm for that time of year.  We spent our afternoons relaxing on the beach, reading, throwing a football and the kids even swam in Lake Erie.

On the last afternoon, two of the families had already packed up.  It was just Perry, Dee, Steve and I and our girls and we were lounging on the beach.  None of us wanted to leave.  We were hanging onto every second of that beach day.  The kids were playing happily and somehow the adults got to talking about books.  I was in the midst of reading The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels.  Perry and I were talking about the part in the book where Hybels challenges his readers to choose and live out a life verse.   Naturally, I posed the question, "do you guys have a life verse?  If so, what is it?'

Before any of the adults could even answer, Eva (my-at-the-time-9-almost-10-year-old) who was playing close by in the sand piped up.  Without missing a beat, she said something like, "you know we're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time - so, I want to make it good"  at which point we adults started roaring with laughter realizing that maybe, just maybe Eva has been listening to a little too much country music....ha!  I love that girl!

Just for the record, my life verses are:

• Jeremiah 17:7,8
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• Micah 6:8
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• but all that is for another post:)

One last thing,  I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway!

I'm giving away an audio copy of The Power of a Whisper!

To qualify, all you have to do is be a new subscriber via email to my blog between now and Friday, May 25th.  On Friday at 6 p.m. I will use random.org and pick a winner and contact them.  Best of luck.  You can find the spot to subscribe via email at the top right corner of my blog.

Happy Long Weekend Friends!

Jesus Storybook Bible - a review and a giveaway!

These days I am loving reading to my four year old at bedtime.  (I'm embarrassed to say that that hasn't always been the case...sometimes I feel like I have nothing left by the end of the day!).

Over the last little while, I have heard raving reviews about the Jesus Storybook Bible.  I had been looking for a bible for Beth and am so glad I got my hands on this one.  It has really revived our bedtime routine.  Yay!

It's beautifully written.

I love the illustrations.

So bright and colourful!

I had really wanted something for Beth to help her really understand the central message of scripture, and to read with her at bedtime.

Here's how the Storybook Bible is described on the website:

Written for children ages four and up, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the one story underneath all the stories of the Bible and points to the birth of a child, the Rescuer, Jesus. Complete with 44 Bible stories, The Jesus Storybook Bible paints a beautiful portrait of Jesus and invites children to see that he is not only at the center of God’s great story of redemption—he is at the center of their story too. Children and adults alike will be captivated by the beautifully written narrative and the original and unique illustrations by accomplished artist Jago. Lloyd-Jones’ powerful gift of storytelling draws the reader into the greatest adventure of all time in an exciting page-turner that kids (and adults) find hard to put down.


Sally Lloyd-Jones is a leading writer of inspirational books for children and is an expert at conveying biblical truth to young children. She is the author of three bestselling children’s Bibles, including the Gold Book Award-winning Baby’s First Bible and, most recently, the Moonbeam Award Winner The Jesus Storybook Bible. She has written many picture books for children, including Handbag Friends, Time to Say Goodnight, and the critically acclaimed How to Be a Baby: By Me, the Big Sister. 

On a whim, I contacted the publishers at Zondervan and they provided me with 2 bibles to giveaway on my blog!  Just in time for Christmas.

To be entered in the draw, just leave a comment with your name below.  Let me know who you would love to read/give this book to :)

You have until next Friday, December 9th, at midnight, to enter, and you can only enter once. The winners will be chosen randomly. I'll announce the winners the next day, so be sure to check back then.

I'll post the two winners on Saturday December 10th.

Best of luck!

Mom of Three Girls

Every once and a while, people will ask me how I feel about having three girls.  Was I hoping for a boy the third time around?  Was I disappointed with having all girls?  Now, please understand,  these people mean well.  And often, they are just making conversation.

But, here's the thing.  Time for confession:  deep down, I always wanted girls.  Raising girls feels natural to me and I honestly don't think I would know where to begin with raising a boy.  Without wanting to sound "cheesy", I feel like I was made for this.  Like I was made to raise a house full of girls.

If you're a mom with a house full of girls (or even just one), here are a few reasons why I love having daughters:

* they love celebrating my birthday, Mothers Day, Christmas, Valentines Day and pretty much every holiday in between

* my girls are often writing me notes and giving me crafts they made me to hang on the fridge.  Very expressive.

* it's really fun to shop for girls.  Well, at least most of the time it is :)

* Thinking about some of the unique challenges that girls face and reflecting on my own personal journey, I'm hoping to pass on some unique and hard learned wisdom to my girls. You know, things I wish I knew when I was younger.

I want to teach my girls what it means to be:
- tender and compassionate as well as courageous and strong.
- secure.
- virtuous.
- a world changer,  part of the solution.
- one who cultivates inner beauty.
- someone who stands up for truth and for those who have no voice.
- able to honour the unique voice and talent that God has given them.
- true to who they are.
- able to learn from mistakes and be gracious with themselves.

These are big challenges and not ones that I take lightly.  It's a journey that I continue to be on.

I know there are lots of other challenges that come with raising daughters.  Don't even get me started about whining, mood swings and hormones.  And I know that there are a million reasons why boys are a blessing to raise.  But, for today - I'm going to celebrate the girls that I have the privledge of raising...

Embracing a new season

Last week we were in Florida and for whatever reason, I keep noticing babies everywhere I went.  At the airport.  At the pool.  In strollers.  And so on.  And then I'd get teary.  And feel all emotional.  And then I find myself longing for and reminising about those days.  I find myself wanting to go up to these Mom's that I have never met and tell them to treasure the season they are in.  I wanted to say, "I know it's hard and it's exhausting.  I know you get hardly any sleep and your hair is in a pony tail.  But to me, you are the picture of beauty.  I wish I was in your shoes".  I never thought I would say this - but I miss those days.  A lot.  Everyone told me those years would go by fast, but I didn't believe them.

I'm one of those people who loved the infant stage.  I mean, I know it was hard and all that.  But I loved pregnancy and breastfeeding and felt a peace like I had never known before when my girls were babies.  A sense of simplicity, of quietness, of slowing down and contentment.  I loved the co-sleeping and hated being away from my baby girls.  I know, sounds crazy - but I felt like I was born for it.  In some ways, being the oldest of 5 kids - it came to me naturally.  One of the main reasons that I spaced my girls out as much as I did is because I loved the baby stage.  I  wanted to make it last as long as possible.

Last week I realized that I am definitely out of that stage.  No more strollers.  Or diapers.  Or baby food.  No more diaper bags.  Or jolly jumpers. * Sigh*

I've been in denial - but last week it hit me.  I am in a new season.  When I see pregnant women and Mom's with babies and toddlers - I am not them.  In fact, I have less and less in common with them.  I am now a Mom with a soon to be school aged girl and two tweens.  Two of my three girls can go to public restrooms by themselves and our dinner time conversations revolve around Taylor Swift, Hannah Montana and Shake it up.  Yikes!  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was with pregnant with these girls?

I guess I am grieving that loss.  And at the same time, embracing my new reality.

As much as I miss and even long for at times those early years with my girls, I am choosing to fully embrace this new season God has for me with both hands.  It doesn't come to me as naturally and clearly, I am in over my head.  I am daily humbled and dependant on God.  Wanting to be fully engaged.  I know that my girls need me just as much now, maybe even more than ever.