Announcing another chance to pray . . .

Yes. 

You can pray once and be done.  Like asking Jesus into your heart. 

Once and it is a done deal.  A changed life.

And there are prayers where you can be persistent.  Like when it involves your children. 

Announcing such a time as to be a nag.  A nag at the feet of a loving Savior who simply likes to spend time with you.

Who:  You and some other moms, grandmas, husbands . . . people who have invested in a son.

What:  21 Days of Prayer for Sons

When:  September 6-21, 2011

Where:  your quiet times . . . on your knees . . . or flat on your face

Why:  You love your sons . . . you want them to be sold out for Jesus, and you need the help and the accountability this challenge provides

To learn more about the 21 Days of Prayer for Sons, check out the original blog post, where you can order your book.  Or check out the Facebook page . . . chime in on Twitter. 

Summer Reading Program Continued

I finished the last two books for the Tyndale Summer Reading program that were on my list.

I was what you might call . . . excited. 

Perhaps I am competitive.  I love the thrill of acquiring something for free.  Combine competition and prizes.  A win win situation in my book.

I figured with my bonus reading points, I would transfer them to my kids cards and we could get something from the cart of enticing plastic products that end up in the Goodwill pile trash  two weeks later.

I discovered that our local library only counted books that you read to your children. 

Shouldn’t the parents get rewarded for independent reading?

Embarrassing.  My giddy smile crashed to the floor along with my books and my slowly cascading bright yellow Summer Reading Program point card.

My accomplishment wasn’t in vain, though.  Tyndale promises to reward my literacy.

“Thank you,” says the little mom whose bubble was moderately burst, causing my sons to in turn get their feathers ruffled and threaten to beat up the rule-following librarian. 

Good boys. 

Without further ado, The Twelfth Imam by Joel Rosenberg.

 

I am a big fan of Mr. Rosenberg, having first learned about him through my IRL friend Nicole, who has been known to stay up until a crazy hour reading his almost prophetic literature, that eerily resounds with modern-day-times. 

I wasn’t as compelled to prop my eyelids open until 2 AM, but the book was good, albeit slightly cheesy in the romance department.  Mr. Rosenberg should probably stick to action and turning scripture to real life events.  

Be prepared to pee  your pants within the first few pages as you are drawn into the volatile action that did occur at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran in 1979.  As you find yourself immersed in this growing plot, you will find yourself escorted through many years . . . into a new generation of action.  Events in your childhood can and do affect the future. 

Get it.  Read it.  Enjoy it. 

(But know, it wasn’t my favorite of his jihad books.)

_______________________________

I told you that I wasn’t sure if I would finish this series . . . and many of you balked.  You emailed me. You told me that it was worth the agony I was feeling, though you didn’t understand my mixed emotions.

It is just a book.

 

Well, I trusted you ladies.

And I didn’t agree with you  . . . until the very end. 

My discomfort with these books from Francine Rivers was worth it.  Turning the painful pages of such a hurtful story . . . that is really a gong of what is sadly true in many families. 

Poignant examples of misunderstanding.  Lack of communication.  Issues never resolved.

But the truth that Jesus does cover a multitude of sins.  Hope. 

And so, I would recommend Her Daughter’s Dream . . . so long as you become invested and read both books of Marta’s Legacy. 

Still, I would cut out the sultry scenes.  The pictures of violation.  Young eyes do read this books . . . and I just don’t know that even adult eyes really need to have sexual images painted with words in their head.  My head. 

So, I’ll recommend with this caveat:  read with caution.

 

(I do review for the Tyndale Blog Network, but the above books I actually checked out from our library.  I was inspired to do such a thing for the Tyndale Summer Reading Program.  Anything for a free book.  And a chance for an e-reader.)

Writing Prompt: New

New.

Giddy with excitement as I re-enter my former life.  Writing.  Dreaming.  Creating.

I once thought that my life would be filled with words.  Words needing a dictionary.  People needing a dictionary around me.

Because heady words mean a smart person.  Right?

But instead I find that my grammar is rather simplified.  I teach beginning English.

New.

New is taking beginning English and with it painting a vision for my sons.  Turn your blanket into a tent.  Take a silk and become a superhero. 

What are you baking?  French silk pie?  Apple crisp?  Oh, a three egg cheese omelet.  Your mommy is raising you healthy.

New.

A new book.  The one I want to right with my simple words.  A book about our new dog.  To do this I must write a new email to a new friend.

And this might lead to a new adventure for our family’s big new adventure.

I simply can’t wait.

New is fun.  New is new.  Like a blank page.  Like an unopened fresh book.

An Amazon package sitting on my doorstep.

The first time I wrote for 5 minutes without a plan.  That was new to me.

STOP

If you are wondering what just happened on my blog post – it’s called 5 Minute Friday. 

I was given a writing prompt: New. 

And 5 minutes to write about ANYTHING that came to mind in that 5-minutes.

Forgetting about who would read this and how my grammar found itself to the page.  Simple writing. 

Because it’s good for you.  And it’s rather healing to my brain as writing/literature was my college major.

Thanks for reading.

Aren’t They Pretty?

Aren’t they pretty?

 

They are my roommates . . . for Relevant, that is. 

Just wanted you to know that we had dinner together the other night. 

It was delish.  We didn’t stop talking.  Once.  A bunch of chatter boxes. 

Blogs.  Coffee.  Blogging.  Homeschooling.  Kids.  Girl stuff.

Fabulous. 

Real friends in real life. There are people behind these blogs.

Meet my friends, Sarah from Simply Sarah, and Maureen from Spell Out Loud.

If I Gave You A Baby Gift: An Amber Necklace

My baby girl is growing before my very eyes it seems.

It seems like she was born yesterday.  Her birth so vivid in my hands still. 

This month she has learned to sit up unassisted, mimic sounds, potentially greet us with “ma ma ma” and “da da da” at appropriate times . . . and crawl. 

Her curiosity and wonder is delightful to watch and necessary to contain.

As she emerges from puréed homemade baby food to chopped up dinners . . . it really causes me to reflect on how fast this whole thing called baby goes. 

A few weeks ago, it was surreal for me to sit and nurse what seemed like a monstrous child at our Auntie’s baby shower  . . . knowing how small the little one growing in Auntie’s belly will appear after she emerges from the water.

 

Naomi will seem like a toddler.  A mammoth.

And so . . . I thought I would reminisce.  Reflect on all things baby.  Tell you about my favorites.  My must haves.  The things that are in my baby basket. 

An amber necklace.

My favorite ones come from Inspired by Finn. 

In fact, that is where this lovely necklace came from . . . including the box and informational literature. 

 

Which is good . . . because I NEVER have boxes this small. 

Why amber? 

Or rather why on earth would I allow  my daughter (actually all of my kids) wear a necklace?  They might choke, right?

“When baltic amber is worn on the skin, the skin's warmth releases trace amounts of healing oils from the amber. These oils contain succinic acid and are absorbed into the skin.

Baltic Amber has some of the highest concentrations of succinic acid found in nature, and this is what makes it so special. Succinic acid is a natural component of plant and animal tissues, and it's presence in the human body is beneficial in many ways.

What do babies suffer from?

Teeth.

My kids have all worn baltic amber necklaces during those long months and sleepless nights perpetuated from teething. 

However, I never stopped having them wear their necklaces . . . because I just think they look cool. 

But baltic amber has some other great properties:

• Its analgesic properties help take the edge off of many types of discomfort associated with dental issues, headaches, and joint pain, etc.
• Strengthens the body's immune system
• Restores energy
• Maintains wellness
• Helps to break a cycle of (chronic) inflammation – and where chronic inflammation is present, disease lurks.

So . . . consider purchasing a baltic amber teething necklace for the next baby shower that you attend or get one for your teeth growing baby. 

Naomi is sporting a raw baltic amber necklace . . . in the smallest size sold at Inspired by Finn.

And just so you know . . . I have one too.  I have seen all the benefits listed above . . . but I mainly wear mine to look cool. 

Just being honest.

I recommend Inspired by Finn . . . their shipping is sooooooo reasonable -- $2.95. 

I bought the necklace in this post (at a discount) for an honest review.  I must like it, if I paid to review it.  I’ll purchase one for you too. 

What would you like?

 

To Win:  Visit Inspired by Finn and tell me your favorite necklace.

Extra Entries (make sure to list each entry as a separate comment): 

• Tweet daily, making sure to include to include @GranolaMom4God in your verbage (is that a word?).
• Subscribe to my blog, so that you can learn about my other baby must-haves.
• Like Granola Mom 4 God on Facebook .. . and share about the giveaway on Facebook.
• Become a Fan! 

Contest ends:  Midnight, September 1, 2011.  Winner will be notified by email and given 48 hours to respond.  Open to US and Canada.