Give-a-way

(Be sure and read all but the give-a-way information is at the bottom)



"I haven't met anyone recently who speaks of their desire for a faster pace to life with more events on their calendar. No, most desire simplicity. This, perhaps, is the reason why Christian fiction has exploded with novel after novel on the lives of the Amish and Mennonite communities. Some writers have even based their entire career on this specialized genre. Not to be left out, non-fiction readers can find books of essays extolling the virtues and exposing the vices of the ways of life of the Amish and Mennonite, inspirational books of daily wisdom from the simple life, and pictorial journeys through life at the reins of a buggy."

"Readers desire a glimpse at something so different, so foreign, yet, so entirely familiar and comforting. The live-off-the-land lifestyle seems to have all the answers to the worries of this life. It seemingly relieves the stresses of mounting fuel and grocery prices, increasing rates of national obesity, and the clouded world of politics. As with any story, though, there are two sides. Viewing simple living from both sides of the barn is what demystifies the romantic notions of the fictional "depiction and illuminates the true nature of what it means to "go simple."

"To some, the point of view of dinner coming from the backyard instead of the corner grocery is heaven. To others, it is horror. Having at your disposal acre upon acre of fertile land crowded with crisp lettuces, stalks of sweet corn, beans climbing so high you need a step ladder to get to the top, and fresh eggs waiting to become your next omelet is the stuff of bliss or not. Maybe it is just an endless list of chores. Perhaps the draw is the encompassing sense of community and connection. Everyone wants to be around likeminded people. The Amish and Mennonite embody community. The downside is that individuality is squelched and secrets have no place among the brethren. If ever you wanted firsthand accounts of the life of the plain people, you have opened the right newsletter…."

New Giveaway!
We're helping one winner find the true nature of simple life with the first of our all new giveaways with a prize pack worth over $70!

Enter to Win:
1. "A Journey Home" from Franklin Springs Media
2. NEW BOOK - "Beside Still Waters" by Tricia Goyer
3. Well Planned Day Planner, 2011-2012
4. 1 year subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine

Contest Dates: June 23, 2011 through June 30, 2011.
One entry per person unless you share this contest. Let us know where you shared, and we'll give you a second entry! Be specific so we can verify it for your entry.

http://www.wellplannedday.com/contest01.php

Weeding is Quality Time? You bet!

It has been so hot here lately. I have not had my period of adjusting to the heat like I usually do, so basically I just haven’t adjusted. We have just focused on inside activities, school, cleaning, lots of reading. So, when do we get the “quality time” of the summer? During my favorite time of the day, about 6 pm. The sun isn’t scorching. The animals are all lying around the yard cooling off from the day. The kids are laughing on the swing set. And major heart to heart talks are going on in the garden with Craig. It is amazing what a little “weed pulling” can bring out in a relationship.

Garden Time Again

It is that time again. We have once again planted a garden and since my amazing hubby can help out this year we have tripled the size of last years’ garden. Wow, am I glad he can help because just looking at it makes me want to run inside and hide under the covers. I know the work involved in keeping a garden so I am sometimes intimidated by it, being a former city girl and all. Last year hubby prepared the raised beds and said “have at it.” I was thrown into the art of gardening. This year we have made it a family affair with everyone in the family working in the garden.

It is work but I know how satisfying it is to watch how the Lord provides food and all he requires is a little work on our part. So, here are some pictures from the preparation of the garden, which started at the end of March, until the first tiny signs of production this first week in June.

Contenders for the Faith Camp Out

My husband has enjoyed getting together once a month with a great group of little men. They are learning skills that have become extinct to most young men. They are learning to be contenders for their faith. They are learning to be leaders for their future families.

This weekend they celebrated their first “official” year of the Contenders for the Faith group by having a camp out at our home followed by a hike through the woods of our property. They ate dinner over the open fire and stayed up till midnight playing flashlight battles. They then got up bright and early at 5:30 for a breakfast of pancakes and biscuit rolls cooked over the fire. Hiking through the woods followed after another battle with guns and swords. What an amazing weekend for the boys (and for that matter the Dads.)

Keepers at Home Celebration with Tea

Titus 2: 3-5 “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

A celebration of a year’s worth of hard work with a tea party. So proud of these little girls and their moms that want to live out Titus 2:3-5. So glad they were able to hear from Olivia Brodock who, because of the training of her mother Kathy, is an example of how Titus 2:3-5 should be lived out.

Ladies: Here is a Summer Book Club

Just wanted to share with you all about a summer book club that I learned about through Raising Homemakers. I LOVE book clubs especially ones with flexibility and this one has it. Given the tragedy’s that have affected Alabama lately I really wanted to “look forward” to some time digging into a book that could teach me something about motherhood so I thought I would share with you as well. The following is a quote from the website about the book club:

The Ministry of Motherhood is the story of one mother who has dared to go beyond the ordinary in loving, leading, and training her children to follow Christ. In this honest and inspiring book, Sally Clarkson paints a stirring vision of a mother’s mission and challenges women to disciple their children to be passionate, devoted servants of Christ.”
-NANCY LEIGH DeMOSS, author and host of Revive Our Hearts Radio

Would you like to join a summer book club, today I’d like to give you a little more information about an upcoming book club at Good Morning Girls!!!

Summer Enrollment begins: May 1st
Starts: Monday, May 16th
Ends: Monday, August 15th (3 month commitment)

What is Good Morning Girls and how do I join? If you are new to Good Morning Girls please watch the videos here .
Do I have to be in a group to join? No, you can do this individually if you would like.
Book: Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
Where can I purchase it? You can purchase Ministry of Motherhood from Sally’s own website at WholeHeart.Org or by going to Amazon or your local Christian bookstore.
What is the book Ministry of Motherhood about?A mother’s day is packed with a multitude of tasks that require energy and time: preparing meals, washing clothes, straightening and cleaning the house, and caring for children. These jobs all are necessary and crucially important. But in the dailyness of providing for a child’s physical, emotional and social needs, vital opportunities for spiritual nurturing and training can be overlooked.

What will the weekly Good Morning Girls blog schedule look like?

Monday: Video from Sally speaking on that week’s topic. Normally the videos will last from 4-6 minutes. I LOVE listening to Sally speak, she has so much wisdom to share!

Wednesday: Our Women In the Word link-ups as well as some exciting GUEST bloggers sharing what they have learned from Ministry of Motherhood!

Friday: Courtney and I will conclude the week with a discussion on what we learned through this week’s reading and our quite times.

(Note: you will contact your Good Morning Girls group Monday-Friday either by email, Facebook, Twitter or texting- holding each other accountable to be in God’s Word daily)

http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/2011/04/ministry-of-motherhood-book-giveaway/

Book 3 of 52 Books-in-a-Year

Sarah’s Gift by Marta Perry

Again, more fluff but I tend to burn through fluff faster than the good stuff. However, a lot can be learned from fluff. I have posted on facebook before some very deep stuff and it originated from fluff. Sarah’s Gift is about an Amish midwife, which happens to be two of my favorite subjects, the Amish and midwifery. A great read that I highly recommend. I love babies and I love learning about the simple ways of the Amish (although I don’t agree with them on their religious views I think their lifestyle is spot on!)

I may not be posting as frequently as I am preparing for a Homeschool Moms Renewal Saturday set for April 30th. If you are local to the area I would love to see you there. The cost is minimal $20 each (might be less depending on the number of participants) and all you have to do is bring a breakfast dish, lunch dish, and a drink to share. We have two phenomenal speakers lined up to share their knowledge with us: one is speaking this year at the CHEF convention and another who has been published in Old Schoolhouse Magazine. These ladies will be sharing their knowledge with us and I cannot wait. If you are interested in learning more please contact me.