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All done!!
When my kids were babies, we taught them the Baby Signs. This was hands-down (no pun intended) one of the best things we ever did for our kids. They were finally able to express themselves, which reduced frustration on both sides. So now that school is out for the summer, I want to do my big ALL DONE sign. Yippee!!
What are your summer plans? I’m looking forward to visiting with family and friends. Lots of lazy days by the pool, many mornings spent in the garden, and perhaps a few Dollywood Days built in. I’m going to try the next beauty products in my BeautyBox5 and I’m also going to read lots of books! I just finished Thankful by Shelley Shepherd Gray. This is the next in the Sugarcreek series that I started in February. In this novel, we meet a couple who are meant to be together but are separated through circumstances. The awkward thing is, they live in the same house! There are a few familiar characters as well (if you read the first book in the series). Although this is a companion novel, it can definitely be read on its own. Like most Amish fiction, this book is very sweet and has a quiet grace to it. It’s hard for me to relate to many Amish stories because they seem so flat. This book has a depth of emotion that only Shelley Shepherd Gray could create. I highly recommend it!
In Thankful, New York Times bestselling author, Shelley Shepard Gray captures the beauty, devotion, and warmth of Amish life in this engaging tale of family, commitment, trust, and love set in the beloved community of Sugarcreek.
Enter to win the first two books in Shelley’s Return to Sugarcreek series, Hopeful & Thankful.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
When my kids are lounging in their pj’s on lazy summer days, one of my favorite things to do is enter giveaways and contests. It’s so much fun to win and it’s EASY to enter. There’s really something for everyone. For example, check out this Make the Cut Contest from ModCloth. This is a fashion design contest, and in this edition, they’re giving contestants a template on which to create a print pattern for a scarf. The talented winner’s design will be produced by and sold on ModCloth, plus they’ll receive a $500 prize! The top 10 submissions will be hosted on the Be the Buyer page. The ModCloth community will vote for their fave designs.Contest submissions will be accepted now until Friday, 5/30, and the voting begins on Monday, 6/9. Official contest rules can be found here. Are you already thinking of a design?? Head over and enter!
Another fun chance to win is here in the No More Frumpy Mom contest! USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer wrote the novelization to the much-anticipated movie, Moms’ Night Out. Don’t miss this hilarious family comedy that celebrates real family life—where everything can go wrong and still turn out all right. I read this book and laughed the whole time. It made me think of my sister and how we try so hard not to forget who we *really* are even though our identities are so tied up in being Mom. There have been many times that she and I muddled through an outing, coming home disheveled and slightly askew, wondering what happened. This book (and movie) will resonate with mommies everywhere!
To go along with the book, check out the companion devotional written by comedian Kerri Pomarolli, Moms’ Night Out and Other Things I Miss: Devotions To Help You Survive. This devotional is extremely timely. The author even mentions her trip to see Frozen with her daughters. When I became a mom, it’s like my emotions went on overdrive. At first we attributed it to pregnancy hormones, but now I can see that my heart is permanently altered. When something happens to another person’s child, my heart instantly feels connected and wants to help. God made mommies special! This devotional really reaches to the heart of the matter and gave me a take-away each time I read it.
I am looking forward to time in the pool. Also, I am hoping to get my grandkids for a week. That is always a fun, energetic, crazy time. I would like to relax but also have a lot of projects to get done. The warmer weather brings fun but also outside work.
How nice! I wish my kids would be able to stay with their grandparents for some time this summer. That’s a special time I enjoyed as a kid, but my children never get to do it. 🙁
Ditto on pool time! My apt. building has one and it should be opening this weekend, or maybe the next.
Moms’ Night Out was a funny movie, too 🙂 I enjoyed it.
Boy do I need a moms night out. And I love Modcloth. Thanks for sharing!
I am always looking for a good devotional. I am just finisnhing up Resolution, so I will add this to my list.
We have a mom’s night out planned for next Friday. I can’t wait! We did baby sign with our kids too. Loved it!
This summer we are looking forward to lake time with friends! the rafflecopter’s not showing up. I loved the MNO movie. I loved it so much I’ve seen it twice! 🙂
I want to go out – like a huge time. Maybe right now?
Most schools are out now, and kids are excited about summer. We’ve had a lot of rain so haven’t’ been able to open the pool, but that does lead to some reading. I find the idea of them living in the same house interesting. I wonder if that is harder to write – living so close but keeping them apart.