According to random.org, our winner is Shirley Martin who commented, "So beautiful! I would take it to journal on our next trip to India. And I would color the pictures with my daughter on the 17 hour flight. "
Shirley, email your address to christopherbethany@juno.com and I will see if I can get your journal to you before your India trip!
Don't forget, if you would like to order a journal for yourself, you will find them here.
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My last two giveaways are of a different variety; they're books.
Shannan Martin came into my life about 10 years ago as "Flower Patch Farmgirl". I had discovered the world of blogs through a magazine article by Kelle Hampton and during late night sessions of feeding my baby, I accidentally stumbled upon the fact that you could click on names in the comments and find even more blogs. I believe it was in the comment sections of Dig This Chick that I saw the frequent name Flower Patch Farmgirl and hopped over to check her out.
I am forever glad that I did.
Shannan may not look like me at all; may not have been brought up the way I was; may not believe all the same things I do, but I have learned so much from her. Not only have I learned from her but I realized looking back, our lives have had a strange sort of parallel-but-different story the past 10 years.
Shannan and her family lived on a farm in Ohio when I first 'met' her. They worked at great jobs and had adopted three children. They were living the American dream. Around the same time that we were struggling financially and making our decision to move to Ohio, Shannan and her family were in the process of letting go of all the things they ever thought they wanted and choosing to move to Indiana to the wrong side of the tracks. I moved in with my in-laws and she moved into a tiny, ugly rental. She began to open her heart to a new neighborhood and way of life and I began opening mine to a new community.
I don't think I fully grasp how much her life and testimony have spoken into mine. I quoted her book "Falling Free" here and here. I shared one of her blog posts on my blog here. I hadn't really stopped to think of it, but my inspiration to share 'How We Met' stories came from her, as did the ambitious idea to spend a whole month writing a series of posts on one subject. Y'all owe her a lot, just saying.
Shannan has graciously answered messages from me and returned emails; she even commented on my blog once! Some day I'm going to get up the nerve to meet her instead of being a shy stalker and looking up her house, only to drive by, when I was in the neighborhood (true story).
Shannan is by no means perfect but she follows the Lord with a whole heartenedness that is refreshing and inspiring. She tells her story in "Falling Free - Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted". Today I'm giving you a chance to win a copy for yourself and encouraging you to go buy yourself the book if you don't win!
To be entered for this giveaway, leave me a comment telling about someone who has influenced your thinking in a powerful way. Come back next Monday to hear about her second book, "Ministry of Ordinary Places".
10 comments:
My mother in law, is such an example in thinking positive!:) and changes my way of thinkin about life and handling life in general!:0 Tina
One blogger I follow is Andrea Dekker.com. She blogs on organization and simple living. I've learned so much from her and could've benefited majorly already years ago from all she teaches.
A person that influenced my life was "Papa" Richard Mummau.There was a time I was struggling with what my church was teaching and what the Bible actually said. I joined his email devotion group where he would send sound biblical teachings written by by wonderful men of God. He also directed me to wonderful Christian women who could mentor me in being a godly wife and mother. He's with the Lord now and my husband and I miss the devotions he would send.
My husband has changed my way of thinking! He encourages me to try new things and to step out of my comfort zone. And when I say I can't, he takes my hand and helps me through it. =)
My Mom has been a great inspiration and influence in my life. She was widowed at 42 with 9 children still at home. I was the youngest at 4 months old. My Mom always had a deep, unshakable faith in God. She has since gone on to her reward, but her legacy lives on. I would love to read this book.
Ohh!!!! I'm so excited and feeling so unworthy of this beautiful gift!!! Thanks so much Bethany!!!
A friend I met when I was in my twenties ended up impacting me profoundly, because she accepted me without reservation and did not "go away" when I messed up. I will never forget it, because it changed the way I saw myself, others, and God. Later, I met my husband and he impacted me further by doing the same.
Many people have had an impact on my life, but my husband has definitely been the greatest! He's changed my way of thinking and helped me declutter and simplify my life! Though I would have called myself an optimist, he's helped me a few times to see my cup as half full.
Two of our pastors wives have influenced me spiritualy and I'm so grateful for that. There are others too, my dad for instance and my husband. I have been blessed. I'd enjoy this book I think. :)
Our current pastor and his wife have positively influenced the way I think about pastors, their wives, and their roles in the church. We will be very sad when it's time for us to move and leave this church. MZ
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