Comfort Read Give-away

Do you have books you return to time and again for a good read? I call them comfort books for comfort reads and one such author, for me, is Alexandra Stoddard. I'm re-reading Living Beautifully Together. Seems strange, perhaps, because there's no together since Dave has gone ahead but now, more than ever, I need the cozy comfort, the peace, the serenity of h.o.m.e. 


The subtitle says "How to Live Graciously in a Hectic World by Finding Time to Love Your "Family, Your friends, and Yourself. There! At the end...loving myself. Dave was sick for a long time and all my energy, efforts, prayers and time was spent, willing, on him. So now it's time to think of myself and begin to build my life, all over again. Baby steps all with room to be stationary as needed; even regress a bit should need be.


My giveaway copy of Living Beautifully Together was published in 1989 and is the older cover...blue willow plate with glass of red wine and yellow flowers in a basket in the back ground. This book has hundred of ways to touch lives and make a difference. At the end of each chapter, Ms Stoddard offers up Grace Notes as ways to add more to our lives. There are 3 parts, each with different sections:

Part 1: Nourishing Yourself

Part 2: Living Together, Twenty Points to Remember

Part 3: Enjoying Others, Children, Friends, 

Relations, Unknown Others

As Ms Stoddard says, "Nothing of value comes quickly. Everything is a great deal easier, however, if we open up and know ourselves better by letting our defenses down, understanding that we are all equally vulnerable.' and "The difficult struggles we've all experienced--our losses--are our muscle and strength. We learn through loss not to hold on too tightly." Yes, I am learning.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "scatter joy."

You've encouraged me to both open up and scatter joy; for that, and so much more, thank you. Your prayers have been my constant companion, along with Jesus, and keep me standing, whole even though bruised, tattered and worn, while I navigate new and uncharted waters. That's what I want to do...scatter joy so if you'd like a chance to win this book, please leave a comment and tell me one of your favorite authors, one of your favorite books and why you like both. If you'd like two chances to win, tell others about this give-away on your blog, then come back and leave another comment. I'll give it a week, then draw a name via random.org on Wednesday next at 5:00 p.m.


It's my hope Living Beautifully Together brings you as much joy and comfort as it has me.


Blessings ~ Living Beautifully Together ~ joy ~ grace ~ comfort books ~ 

Thankkful Give-Away for Followers

THANK YOU!

Dave would, in great excitement, call out to me, "You've got another Follower!" That tickled him, and me, so much; thank you for that gift, that great memory. He would click on your names, visit your blogs...never leave a comment though -smile-...and tell me, "you have the nicest followers!" Very rarely did he leave a comment on my blog and mostly as "Mr. Stumbles".

Yes, there is a give-away...just keep reading!

He was right. You are the nicest folks and, a lot of times, leave the nicest comments. You've tucked me into prayer, commiserated with me when things were going not so well, blogged about me, stood in the gap for Dave and I, written Sabbath Keeping when I was unable, sent me cards with actual stamps, e-cards, gifts, poems. Truly, you have blessed me greatly and there have been dark days when I would go back over each and every comment just to feel love and loved; to know I wasn't alone in my miserable grief. When I was unable to pray, you prayed; when I was unable to post an entry, you said, "it's your blog, post when

you're able"; when I felt so absolutely bereft of life's longing, what kept me going was knowing someone was standing in the gap for me. Bless Ezekiel's heart, he found no one but God sent me you! If you're not a Christian, you can't understand what it's like...knowing someone, somewhere is taking your name to the throne of God and beseeching Him, the creator of the Universe, on your behalf. I'm telling you, it makes me want to have church...right now!

Mercy Father, please bless us each and every one!

Thank you for your prayers, your comments, your outpouring of love. 

As Robert Frost wrote:

"Where had I heard this wind before
Change like this to a deeper roar?
What would it take my standing there for,
Holding open a restive door,
Looking down hill to a frothy shore?
Summer was past and the day was past.
Sombre clouds in the west were massed.
Out on the porch's sagging floor,
Leaves got up in a coil and hissed,
Blindly struck at my knee and missed.
Something sinister in the tone
Told me my secret must be known:
Word I was in the house alone
Somehow must have gotten abroad,
Word I was in my life alone,
 Word I had no one left but God."

So, for the giftie...a beautiful china cup and saucer with a ten bag packet of green tea and a beloved book, The Mercy Seller. I enjoyed this book, greatly, and hope you will also. I'll ship all of it to anyone, anywhere because you only have to be a follower; this is my way of saying you're the best and I thank God for you!

The rules...

~open to TCF followers world-wide  

~comment on this post for your chance to win

~leave a way for me to contact you...sorry, but no searching for e-mail

~comments taken until Sunday, February 5 at midnight

~when your name is drawn, Monday, February 6 at 9:00 a.m. and then you're notified, you have 24 hours to send me your snail mail address...at Tuesday, 9:00 a.m., if necessary, I'll do a random drawing again

Blessings ~ followers, each and every one ~