Every year I PROMISE myself that I’m going to make the most of Christmas. I’m going to start preparations WAY ahead of time, so that I never once feel rushed–the whole month of December. I’m going to spend quality time with my daughters, instilling in them the hope and true meaning of Christmas. I’m ONLY going to purchase gifts that are meaningful and fraught with eternal value (not to mention economical). I will NOT succumb to the horrors of last-minute shopping. I’m going to bake, bake, bake and give, give, give. Our home will be filled with greenery and candles and nativity scenes and music and people and laughter and a variety of delicious soups simmering in the Crock-pot.

It never happens.

The Advent Calendar, the Joshua Tree (okay, Jesse Tree–see what I mean?), the caroling around our neighborhood bearing homemade goods? Never happens.

So, this year? I have no lofty expectations. And keep this on the down-low, but I’m thinking that this might be the year that BIG things happen.

It’s already started. I got this book in the mail a few days ago and read it in no time flat.

And promptly wrote an Amazon review.

Touching Wonder by John Blase

Many of us have heard the Christmas Story a bazillion times. It quickly becomes impersonal, just some plastic story about people who aren’t even real. The last few Christmases, I’ve tried hard to put myself in the story as much as possible. To imagine the characters–Mary, Joseph, shepherds–as normal people just like me. People with feelings, weaknesses, fears. I love reading historical fiction accounts that help me empathize, relate, appreciate. (Two from Galilee and the Nativity Story are favorites.) I love how Touching Wonder takes actual Scripture (mainly from the raw, poetic Message Version of the Bible) and then extrapolates on those verses with poignant narration from each of the main players (and some “extras” as well). I’m adding this book to my collection of books that help me truly experience the Christ in Christmas.

I don’t know the author personally, but I feel like I know his wife after reading her blog and chatting with her online a bit. Meredith lost her daddy a little over a month ago to pancreatic cancer (the same thing Patrick Swayze had), and her post yesterday about him really touched my heart. Sending prayers and hugs out West to you, Meredith!

John has graciously offered to let me keep my own copy of the book (woohoo!), and he’s going to send the winner their very own personally autographed copy! And he said he’d sign any name you want. For example: To Krista, Christmas Blessings! Yours–Max Lucado. Seriously, he said he could do that.

So, for a chance to win Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas, tell me one thing you’d like to do this season to make Christmas meaningful. I’ll draw a winner randomly at noon on Friday. And John’s giving away a few copies on his blog as well.

For an additional entry in the give-away, all you have to do is dress up like Santa today and walk up and down the streets of your city/town wishing people a Merry Christmas.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

And the winner of the Scenarios Books #1 and #2 is…

Here are your random numbers:

23

Timestamp: 2009-09-08 16:19:02 UTC

Stephanie your sister, that’s YOU!

Wait a minute! That’s Stephanie MY sister! Is this allowed?? Of course it is! Congrats, Steph! Love you! Now you’ll have something to read when your new baby comes, and you’re tired of soap operas and bon-bons. And no need to send me your address (unless of course I’ve misplaced it for the 14th time).

More give-aways coming soon!

I read a couple books–Truth or Dare and All That Glitters–over the past week or so and wanted to pass them along to one lucky reader. It could be YOU this time!

Remember those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books from back in the day? I used to get them at our church library all the time–or was it the school library? The regular library? Anyway.

Nicole O’Dell’s new Scenarios books for tween girls are similar to those. In each book, the main character is faced with a tough decision, and you help her make the choice. There are alternate endings and everything. Pretty cool concept.

Here’s the deal: I’m tempted to gush about the books and tell you to rush out and buy them. All the reviews I’ve read have been stellar, and I don’t know the author personally, but from what I’ve read on her blog and website, she seems stinkin’ awesome. I love, love, love that people are writing wholesome fiction for my girlies to read in the months and years ahead.

But.

I didn’t love the books. They were just a little too Christian-bookstore and contrived for me. From the way the characters talked to the sermons they sat through at church, I just didn’t buy it. I love reading secular YA (young adult) fiction, and this just didn’t measure up to some of the great stuff I’ve read.

HOWEVER, I don’t know that it’s even possible to write good, clean fiction for young girls AND share the message of the Gospel AND impart the values that Christian parents want instilled in their kiddos AND leave the reader thinking, “Wow, what literary quality!” I certainly don’t have the writing skills to do it.

So, bottom line. The author is awesome, the books are beautiful, and chances are, your daughter/niece/granddaughter/little sister will love them. Don’t let my opinion discourage you from getting them. I just have to be honest, so you’ll trust me when I review books.

Here’s Nicole’s website, her blog, and an interactive site for young girls. Girls can even ask Nicole (and her 2 daughters!) questions. She has six kids–including one-year-old TRIPLETS!! And I love this guest post she did for author Mary DeMuth about her unconventional journey to publication. Super encouraging for those of you who dream of writing a book!

One lucky duck is going to win both books. All you have to do is answer ONE of these simple questions:

1. What was/is your favorite young adult book?

OR

2. If you had triplets, what would you name them?

U.S. addresses only. Winner will be announced Tuesday at noon. Have an awesome Labor Day Weekend!

Comments now closed. We have a WINNER! I’ll announce the happy news on Thursday’s post. Thanks for playing! Stay tuned for lots more book give-aways in the next month or two!

I’m giving away not one, but TWO, books today! One lucky (blessed) winner gets a copy of The Devil in Your Garden by Natalie Witcher and Misplacing God by Joanne Heim.

Let’s start with Natalie. I don’t know her personally, (as in, we’ve never met in person) but we’ve chatted online, and I know she loves Jesus to pieces. She’s a wife and mom to three kiddos (with another one newly on the way–congratulations, Mama!) and a gifted writer. Her blog will make you laugh, it’ll make you think, and I guarantee you–you’ll be able to relate to something (or a lot of somethings!) she’s written.

The subtitle of her book is Finding Victory Over Shame, and I love her courage in sharing what God has done in her life in hopes of giving hope to so many other women struggling with this same thing. Bless you, Natalie!

And Joanne. After two-and-a-half years of online friendship, I can finally call Joanne a real-life friend! She and her family were going to be driving through Ohio on their way to Pennsylvania on July 1 but decided to move from Denver to Phoenix that day instead (!!). So, we decided to add Phoenix to our California Zoo Trip, and we got to meet after all! Love you, friend!

Just like Natalie, Joanne is one courageous woman. At her Simple Wife blog, she blogs about her girls (love those two!), her home, her crafty nature, food, what God is teaching her, things she loves, lessons from seminary, and all kinds of wonderful stuff. But she and her husband Toben also write a blog together–Our Crazy Marriage–about surviving mental illness in marriage. If you, or someone you love, are in a marriage affected by mental illness, you’ve got to read T & J’s story. I’m so proud of them for allowing God to use it to help others!

So, hey. I didn’t say much about the books. Natalie’s is pretty self-explanatory. Need help in overcoming shame in your life? Natalie shows you how to do it through the power of Christ’s love!

And Misplacing God (and finding Him again)? Do you desire a relationship with God but aren’t sure how to go about it practically? Do you want to spend time with Him, but it just keeps getting crowded out by everything else you have to do? Joanne’s passion for God’s Word will inspire you to make it a priority in your own life.

To be entered to win BOTH BOOKS, tell me about a book you’re read lately that has had an impact on you in a positive way.  If you’re not a reader (then why are you entering this give-away?), tell me your favorite school supply.

Give-away ends Wednesday at noon (ET). Only U.S. addresses eligible to enter.

Thanks, and have a super-duper day!

Who wants to win a one-of-a-kind t-shirt?? Well, it’s not technically one-of-a-kind, but as of this moment, I believe there are less than 50 in print. That is soon to change once you see how CUTE!

Now, I’m going to preface this give-away with a disclaimer (me and my disclaimers). This t-shirt makes a bit of a political statement. If it’s not a statement you want to make, no problem. Just don’t leave a comment. Because leaving a comment on this post says, “I like this shirt, and I want to win one.”

If you’re not a fan of the shirt, fine. Send me an e-mail. But don’t say a single rude or negative thing to my sweet, kind, people-loving friend, Jess, who designed the shirts. I’m not cool with that.

Jess wrote a blog post a couple months ago when her sister-in-law found out her baby’s heart had stopped beating at 15 weeks. Many of Jess’s friends had also lost babies or were trying desperately to get pregnant. This is what she said:

My heart breaks a million times over when I think about the fact that so many are hurting to have a baby, while others are hurting their own living babies. I could rant & rave, but I’m weary & it’d probably come out all wrong.  Lord, forgive our country and its blindness to the value and beauty of life.  5 day old life or 105 year old life.  Life is beautiful.  Please stop us from taking it away.  And grant new life to those who want it so badly.

Then she added this the next day:

Just to clarify yesterday’s post… I’m not anti-environment or anti-animals.  I think taking care of the environment is a good thing & an obligation, and I think cruelty to animals is horrible.  I wouldn’t call myself an environmentalist or animal rights activist by any stretch though.  I recycle like mad, but I don’t sit in trees to prevent them from being cut down.  I don’t even mind environmentalists or animal rights activists (to an extent).  Some are extreme & I think they’re just crazy (i.e. human breast milk in Ben & Jerry’s ice cream).  I just don’t understand when those people are pro-choice.  I don’t understand saving the whales & the sequoias, but giving women the choice to kill a human life.  That’s all I’m trying to say.

I’m not here to start another abortion debate. Really, I’m not. So let’s not turn it into one.

And I know many of you reading this love to hug babies and trees. And that’s awesome, because you hug the babies first. Which is what Jess’s shirts say. Love The People & Then The Trees.

Anyway. Without further ado (love this phrase–even though I overuse it–and tend to add further ado even after I say I’m not going to)…

The Baby Hugger t-shirt!

If you can’t read the text, it says, “Love The People & Then The Trees.” And it also comes in gray. And the cute little feet? Those belong to Jess’s third baby, whose round cheeks, fuzzy blond hair and blazing blue eyes are to die for.

Here’s how you can win:

1. Leave a comment with your favorite color (aqua or gray) and t-shirt size (XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL).

OR

2. Leave a comment telling me a.) one person you’re going to love on today and b.) one way you’re going to be a good steward of God’s green earth today.

OR

3. Just tell me, “Dude, I want a shirt.”

You can buy the shirts directly from Jess for $10 (+$4 shipping). Any extra you send will be donated to a pro-life organization. Contact her at: babyhuggertees@gmail.com. Jess has a heart of gold and wants so much to make a difference for Jesus in our world. This t-shirt thing is her jumping-off point. Hopefully, it’ll inspire you (especially you moms) to think of what you’re passionate about and find something you can do today to make a difference. (and I’d love to give something of yours away on my blog!)

Thanks for sharing, Jess!

Since I’ll be out of town tomorrow and Wednesday, then leaving early Friday a.m. for the Wild, Wild West, I’m going to pick the winner TOMORROW (Tuesday) MORNING. So don’t wait to comment–you might be too late!

And just as a heads-up–I’m working on several blog entries that will post automatically while we’re gone. I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to blog from the road much or not. So, if you want real-time Zoo/Life Updates, be sure to follow me on Twitter or friend me on Facebook.

Have a great Monday, friends!