And the Winner is . . .

* * * * * * * CATHY!!!!!!!!!! * * * * * * * *

My dear long time blogging friend has won our DaySpring giveaway! Cathy and I have a running joke about her winning prizes from me, especially from the days when she would guess the puzzlers on this blog. So now she's won this special coupon code from DaySpring and I'm tickled pink. When my daughter picked her name, my first reaction was amazed delight. I love Cathy a lot! She's such a humble sister, making her blog a place where others and Christ are lifted up, and not herself. So God wanted to bless her once again with this prize. Visit her at her Melodies and Hymnsongs blog when you get a chance. I hope she enjoys her shopping trip at DaySpring.com. (Oh, and thanks for the Facebook plug, Cathy.)

Thanks to all of you dear folks who participated. It certainly was a lot of fun for us, reading your comments and getting to know new people. Hope to get around to visit a few folks later on.

Blessings from DaySpring and Speakable Gifts.

DaySpring Giveaway

See the above photos? They're examples of things you can choose if you become the winner of this, our latest giveaway! The DaySpring online store is offering a $20 coupon code and you can win it here on this blog. You could use this code to purchase the Seeds of Joy canvas tote bag or the organizer box. But you are definitely not limited to these products; there are many to choose from! So you get a nice gift for yourself or someone else and only have to pay shipping costs. And you have until November 1,2010 to use your code. That's good timing for all the special events that come in the fall, and of course, for Christmas.

Leave your comment to this post and you are entered. Here are several ways to enter your name. Please leave a comment for each time you do one of the following:

1. Comment and let me know you would like to have your name entered.
2. Blog about this giveaway. Please include a link to this post.
3. Write about it on your Facebook page and include a link to this post.
4. "Like" DaySpring on Facebook.
5. If you haven't already, "Like" Speakable Gifts on Facebook. (There is a link on the sidebar.)
6. If you haven't already, become a follower of this blog. You can choose one, two or more of the above, but please remember to comment for each so your name will be submitted that number of times.

Contest closes on Monday, July 19, 2010, and the winner will be announced on the next day.

Oh! Check out their line of teapots and teacups. I really like some of them and if I were to win (which I can't, of course), I would get one of those teapots!


Note: For those of you who like giveaways, we have the perfect place for you: Visit Giveaway Scout to find loads more. The are updating all day long, so you'll want to subscribe to their feed and visit them several times a day. They have a Facebook page as well. If you have the time, go there and enjoy yourself!

Wedding Blog Party

Today a blogger friend of mine had a very nice post about her wedding, with loads of lovely pictures, wherein she indicated she was taking part in a "Wedding Blog Party." I was immediately interested, partly because I'm a June bride and just had an anniversary, and also because our home business is diligently seeking to venture out and minister to brides with a new line of gifts and favors. So because of that, lately I've been particularly interested in all things wedding related.

After thinking about it and wanting to take part, I then wondered what in the world I would do, since I'm too short on time to copy a bunch of photos from our album, and since presumably we were to tell our stories, that might take me a while. Then I thought of a post I made in 2007 for our anniversary, and thought it would be fitting and proper to post it again for this occasion. Hope you like it!

Stephanie at Angelic Accents is the host of this little party, so if you like wedding stories and photos, you might want to visit there. Wow, you should see Stephanie's collection of wedding things and lots of other items as well! Now, here's a trip down memory lane from a thankful wife:

The Tale of an Arranged Marriage

Once upon a time there was a young lady who dwelt in a humble house in a humble little town in a nearby land. It came to pass that this young lady, who was an ardent baseball fan, became friends with a married couple who lived in a house which was on her selfsame block.

So it was that a few years before, in a faraway territory of the country, this married couple had met a nice young man who was on tour with a minor league baseball team. It later happened that at the time of our tale, the man of the married couple became employed by a local soft drink company. Lo and behold, he was amazed and delighted to find the same young man working there whom he had met some time before as a baseball player in that faraway territory.

The married couple thought that it would be a good idea if this young neighbor lady, who loved baseball, could meet this young co-worker man, who once played baseball. So they asked the young lady, who said “okay.” Then they asked the young man, who said “okay.” A phone number was given to the young man, whereupon a phone call was made to the young lady, and forthwith a first date took place—to where else? A baseball game

Time passed, and by and by, on the 12th day of June, in the year 1971, the young lady from the small town was taken as a bride by the young man who worked for the soft drink company. It was shortly thereafter that this young married couple officially began journeying together with the very One who had arranged and orchestrated all of the details of their lives in order that the aforementioned marriage might take place. This same kind Benefactor has kindly provided them with two daughters, a son-in-law, and a precious granddaughter. He also has bountifully supplied them with love, peace, and harmony.

The picture above is of the newly married couple as they were cutting their wedding cake. Thirty-six years have passed since the hot, humid day in June of that year; the couple is no longer considered young; they have continued to abide in humble dwelling places; and baseball is no longer an important factor in their lives. They are still together by the mercies of the same One who arranged the whole union in the first place. Even though they continue to be recipients of abundant blessings from His hand, it will not be until both of them reach their real home in a far better land, claiming their mansions there while living in the presence of their King, that this couple will live happily ever after.

From me, the once young lady, to my dear hubby, the once young man:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

CMB Resource Giveaway

Christian Moms Business Resource is giving away one of our (Speakable Gifts) products on their blog! I sure would love it if one of my bloggy friends could be the winner. Go here to enter.

Hobbling Along

"He who limps is still walking." ~ Stanislaw J. Lec

I ran across this quote a few weeks ago and took note of it then. I don't know who this fellow is that said it, but I said to myself "Now that's the right attitude to have." Then, a couple of days ago, I saw it again and it had an even greater impact. You see, when I got up on Monday morning, I realized that my right big toe was hurting when I walk. I have no idea why; it's almost as if it was injured, but when and how who knows? Well, it still hurts to walk on it, but thankfully I am walking, even if it's not a very pretty walk.

Even worse than that is my husband. He went for an MRI on his hip Monday (it gives him trouble off and on) and since then, he's been in a lot of pain, probably because of lying in an uncomfortable position for that long. At least I only hurt when I walk, he hurts all the time right now, and getting into a comfortable position lying down is quite a challenge!

I talked to our daughter Bev earlier and she has this sciatic type pain from time to time and is having it pretty big time today! So we're quite a crew, aren't we?

Neesie has to work extra days this week so Chuck and I are needing to take her back and forth to work more days than usual, so that has added to the fun. At least, driving isn't painful for me, and for him I guess it's no worse than lying down.

So that's where we are with things right now. Thought I better check in. The taxes are done; third quarter grades were mailed in on Tuesday; and we've started putting our new products online. Go check them out when you get a chance! And please pray for us!

Thursday Already

Well, hi dear friends. I have been neglecting my poor little blog here, I know. Can you believe it's Thursday already? Where in the world has the time gone?

In this household, it's the usual. Poor Neesie is bogged down under with schoolwork, and me? For one thing, I have started the income taxes and wonder of wonders, have remained sane so far! But then, I've only gotten ten percent through it, so that's not saying much. Seriously, though, since we switched to the H & R Block online tax service, it has been far far better than the old days. So much of the info is saved from previous years, and they do help guide you through the process. For us, it is worth the $29.95, so this is a little plug for the H & R online. Also, my sanity has remained more intact since I start it a bit "earlier" (that is, late March instead of early April!), and only do a small segment at a time. Somehow, it's seems less painful that way. I guess you can tell, there is not a lot of love for the IRS around here, and we don't even usually have to pay them anything! Unfortunately, it must be an area of besetting sin which should be given over to the Lord. That's not a joke.

Also, we're in the middle of developing new products at Speakable Gifts, some which are wedding related, so please pray for my daughter Bev and me as we seek God's help and direction in this. I'll let you know when we have it pretty much all together.

But we're still looking to Jesus in our little corner of the world. I know many of you are too. I'm going to try to "steal" some moments here and there through the course of the day to check on some of you to see what you're up to!

[Sticky Note] Come and Get It!

We're having another giveaway at the Speakable Gifts blog. . .so come on over and let us give you something. (See it up above?) I think you'd really like to have this if you won it. A way to bless either yourself or someone else. Read all about it at the SG Notebook and please tell others. It's easy as pie to enter.

NOTE: Drawing is on Monday, March 1st, so if you haven't entered, hurry up!

UPDATE: We have our winner! Thanks to all who participated! Come over to visit when you can--we'll be having a lot going on.

Bird Forecast

A little while ago, about an hour or so before sundown, I looked outside and my yard was COVERED with birds, especially the little juncos. This picture is of just a few of them. Now, this said something to me, even though all day long I've been hearing on the forecast that we were supposed to have "snow showers" with little or no accumulation. I've also been reading on the news that folks who live in the southeast were being bombarded by a huge snowstorm. This made me suspicious because usually when storms come up from the south, we get hit really hard. Also, I went out earlier in the afternoon and saw that the feeders were more empty than usual for that time of day, so I refilled them. When I got back two hours later, I had to fill them again! The birds were really eating. Do you think they know something that the forecasters don't know? The weather people have been saying all day that the northeast would miss anything of any consequence. Now I'm starting to get nervous because I'm looking outside and see the ground covered with what looks like a couple of inches and it's still coming down! Whose forecast would you listen to--the birds or those with all the education and equipment?

Well, I'm due for a hymn post and looking out at the little creatures today made me think of a children's hymn which I particularly like. It was written by a lady after my own heart, because she had a particular desire to teach the truths of God to children. And she did so in poems, many which are now favorite hymns of the church, particularly for Sunday School, which was also dear to her heart. This delightful little song would be a great one to teach to your children and grandchildren if they're still quite young. There are several tunes, all perfect for sweet little youngsters, and they are learning some important things about our great God when they sing the words! We include this song in our children's cassette (a little plug for Speakable Gifts!), and our three year old granddaughter loves it.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden—
He made them ev'ry one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The flowers by the water
We gather ev'ry day.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who doeth all things well.

Refrain:
Yes, all things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
And all things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.


~ Cecil F. Alexander

Praise Him, All Ye Little Children

This little children's praise song is a favorite of mine and I felt inclined to share it with you today. Some of you may not know, but one of the earliest publications which we did in our home business was a photo album entitled "Verses and Hymns for the Very Young." Shortly after publishing it, we produced a cassette by the same title, with voices of my own children and the children of some very close friends of ours. Of all of our publications, the popularity of this little cassette exceeded everything else. We still have folks asking us to put it into dvd form, and we are hoping that it won't be long until we're in a position to do so.

"Praise Him, Praise Him, all Ye Little Children," is one of the songs included and may be my favorite one on the cassette. The reason is personal. You see, the two children singing this particular song are my two daughters. It's the only piece on it which has just the two of them singing together. They were seventeen and five at the time; not professional singers, but two young hearts singing the praises of a great God. The older one understood what she was singing about; I think the younger one didn't then (she does now), but it will always be a special blessing to this mother when she hears it:

Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children,
God is love, God is love;
Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children,
God is love, God is love.

Thank Him, Thank Him, all ye little children,
God is love, God is love;
Thank Him, Thank Him, all ye little children,
God is love, God is love.

Serve Him, Serve Him, all ye little children,
God is love, God is love.
Serve Him, Serve Him, all ye little children,
God is love, God is love.

There is also "love Him." That is most important. Don't you pray your children and grandchildren will love Him? If they do, then they can truly praise, thank, and serve Him in the days to come. Do you know the tune? Here is a piano version I found on YouTube, but the singing on our cassette was at a much slower tempo:

Come On Over

Over on the sidebar, not too far down, you'll see the link to "The SG Notebook," which is the blog for our home business. As some of you know, Speakable Gifts provides inspirational publications and other gift items for families, especially children. Kids are important to us, and we do as much as we can to promote their growth in every way, especially in character. If you have youngsters at home, you also might want to try out the writing activities we have on our site.

Well, today I just posted that we're hosting our first giveaway and wanted to invite you to come over and leave a comment (or more) so that you can be in the running. Everything is explained there and when you get there, you'll see what it is that we're giving away! I sure would love it if one of my friends from this blog could end up the winner. And yes, Cathy, I want you to enter too!

I'll probably tell some folks when I comment at your blogs, so that some of your readers may come too. We want folks to know where we are and to know about Speakable Gifts. So thanks for helping out! All ages welcome!!

Ah, a Wedding

I’m on my way to a wedding. I want to wish God’s blessings upon the bride and groom, who are to be wed at 5:00 PM today. They are two godly people, both thirty-four years old, who have waited on the Lord for a spouse and have remained faithful to God, in every way, throughout their single years. I am posting this as a tribute to them, though they will probably never view it themselves. The groom is the son of one of my dearest friends and I’ve known him since he was a little boy. I have watched his growth in Christ and seen his faithfulness to his Lord, throughout even his teen years. He has been looking for a godly wife (which he deserves) for about ten years now, knowing that the Lord would do what is best for him. From what I’ve heard, his bride has had a similar experience. Well, God has brought them to each other, and has given them each what is right and fitting.

There is nothing more beautiful than a Christian wedding, which I am sure theirs will be. And there is nothing that shows the love of Christ better than a Christian marriage. I have little doubt that this couple will reflect that well known picture of Christ and His Church.

I don’t know if any of you have read Aunt Jane’s Hero, by Elizabeth Prentiss. What a wonderful book! Every single young person, eighteen and over, who contemplates marriage should read this book! (We sell it at Speakable Gifts.) I’ve written a companion to this book, but for reasons which I don’t need to go into here, it’s on hold for a while. The principals, Horace and Maggie, and Maggie’s sister Annie and Tom, were married in Chapter 10. Here is an excerpt from my summary prior to the questions for that chapter:

“It 's now that we do indeed cross the threshold with these two couples into a new abode—that blessed estate of matrimony. This estate, while often not revered by man, is highly revered by God. We particularly follow Horace and Maggie in the early days of their formation of a new home, a new family. Let us hope that they learn. . . that it is not their love which must keep their marriage dwelling intact, but it is the marriage itself, and their commitment to it, that must sustain their love. And don’t we all know Who must sustain the marriage?”

~Maxine A. Randall, Companion to Aunt Jane’s Hero.

This is indeed my desire and prayer for my two friends being wed today. Congratulations and best wishes – Fran and DeJay!

Our Gift to God's Gift

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3

So far, Miss Selena is living the typical life of a newborn. She loves to eat. She loves to sleep. She loves to do that other thing that newborns do so well. God’s factory is abundantly sufficient, so that at her one week appointment she had reached and surpassed her initial birth weight. Thank you, Lord.

Yesterday, we gave her the special gift that we had been waiting to give until the time of her birth. My husband and I gave her the Speakable Gifts photo album that I’ve made for so many other babies. Anyone who is familiar with us at Speakable Gifts knows that a companion cassette of verses and hymns was made to accompany this photo album, and after it was produced in 1998, until about two years ago, this cassette had been our best selling item. It has been a blessing to us that so many people have appreciated its simplicity, and many, many babies and small children have heard the voice of Selena’s mommy, then seventeen, who sang the greatest portion of the hymns and songs. Now she (Selena) will hear it, and it will be her mommy singing to her. Also, she will hear the singing of children who are now big kids and are her friends. And, she will even hear the then five year old voice of her own Auntie Nee.

I hope all of this means something to her at some point in the near future. I guess not for a while, though. Yesterday when I excitedly gave her the gift, she was totally bored with it all. She continued with the same facial expression that’s on her photo here. She even grimaced just a little bit.

I’d like to talk about some of these verses and hymns from time to time in future posts, as I did once with one of the songs, “O Be Careful.” Her Nanna is there too at the beginning of the recording, by the way. My voice will be telling her that we all want to help her learn about God. I trust that she will. One thing I’m sure of, she’ll love listening to her mommy!