spring giveaway winner announced!

So Jonny and I were sitting around watching an episode of "Restaurant Impossible" tonight when I realized I had yet to pick a winner for my little spring giveaway.  So with my highly reliable, high-tech system (aka Jon), we selected a winner:

Jaimie!

Jaimie, I'm delighted you won!  You're such a dear (and I really look forward to being with you at our friend's wedding this June)!  Send me your address and I'll get a little spring package out to you soon.  

Happy Weekend, friends!

Spring is here (and a giveaway reminder)!

Happy First Day of Spring!

Even though I'm merely dreaming of heavenly-scented lilacs,
my heart is filled with hope as I hold on to the One who made them.
The barren trees will eventually give way to green buds.
The dormant bulbs will push forth out of the ground, bursting forth with color.
The robins will return, singing their familiar choruses.
And the God who gave us winter will,
in His perfect timing, make all things new this Spring.

What are you making for Easter this year?
For the last number of years, I've been asked to bring dessert.
While my offerings change from year to year,
I generally make three different selections---
something for every palette.
I will say, though, I think I might suffer bodily harm if I neglected to bring my peanut butter eggs.
While I still haven't finalized all my plans,
I am planning on P-Dub's strawberry shortcake cake this year.
I made it for our annual cake auction last year,
and it went for a pretty penny.

So whatcha got cooking at your house this Easter?
Any favorite recipes to share?
Oh, and have you entered my spring giveaway yet?
Leave a comment here to be entered for a box of spring lovelies to brighten your day!

so, about that giveaway...

Some of you are being shy.  *grin*

As I shared yesterday, I'm doing a little spring giveaway here in my little corner of Blogland, and you can be entered to win simply by leaving a comment on yesterday's post.  Just let me know you're here and you'll be entered to win a box of spring lovelies insured to help get you over the midwest winter hump---or, if you're one of the blessed people living in a region already experiencing spring, it'll help you embrace it in all its glory!

Thank you for stopping by, friends!  I appreciate you!

{2013 spring giveaway}

Umm...anybody remember last March?

I, for one, will never forget it.

Here, in a region that typically is a hold-out in welcoming spring, I heard a lawn mower on March 13.  A week later I was swinging on our porch swing, admiring the sight of budding trees and inhaling the sweetness of spring.

Yeah, it was unusual.

For just moments ago, I heard the meteorologist's forecast:

something about a wind chill of -5 

(again, unusual to the opposite extreme).

Anybody else ready for a little spring?  

A little hope-filled reminder that spring, indeed, is on its way?

As has become my custom here at Kindred Hearts,

each spring I host a little spring giveaway.

It's my way of saying thanks for hanging out here;

thanks for reading and commenting and offering me so much encouragement.

I value your presence and want you to know it!

Just leave a little comment to let me know you're here.

You'll be entered to win a box of spring lovelies from me to you.

Go 'head...you have from now till Friday evening, March 22.

Winner will be announced Friday night!

A winner!

Thanks to each of you who entered my little spring giveaway!

My eyes-closed, hand-in-the-bowl, highly reliable husband pulled out a name this morning.

And the winner is...

Gwen

(or Gwen in Texas as he's been taught to say)  :)

Congratulations, Gwen!  I'll get a package of spring lovelies out to you in the coming days.

As always, thanks to you and everyone else for spending time here at Kindred Hearts.  I pray this is a place where eyes are directed to Jesus; where tired souls find hope and encouragement based on the Word of God; where hearts are turned toward home and their families.  Thanks for encouraging me to do the same---I'm grateful for each and every one of you!

my little spring giveaway...

...have you entered yet?

It's my way of saying thanks to all those friends who spend time here in my little corner of Blogland.  Comment here to enter!

for $1.04... (and a giveaway)

[In case you didn't see the original post (below), I'm hosting a little spring giveaway this week.  You have till Friday night to leave a comment on this post, simply telling me you're here.  It's my way of thanking you for sticking around these parts and encouraging me in so many ways].

Onward...

Have you discovered the day-old bread section at the grocery store?  I make a beeline for this display each time I'm there and stock up on French Bread.  For $1.04 (plus a few added ingredients), I can quickly pull a loaf from my freezer and make a whole array of inexpensive dishes.

Cinnamon Baked French Toast (minimal ingredients, always a winner)
Stuffed French Toast
Sausage Kale Breakfast Strata
Garlic Tomato Bruschetta (one of my most frequented and requested recipes)
French Onion Soup
French Bread Pizza (any variation; easily customizable for every member of the family)
Pumpkin Bread Pudding (though it's not currently in season, this is my favorite bread pudding recipe)

...not to mention garlic/cheese bread, grilled cheese, croutons, etc...

So how 'bout you?  How do you work wonders with a loaf of French Bread?

it's time for a little spring giveaway

It's been unseasonably warm for this portion of the country.
Yesterday, March 11, felt like a holiday at 60-some degrees.
It seemed like the entire city had shed its winter layers
and burst forth with newness and joy.
Children flocked to the parks.
Runners ran with an extra bounce in their step.
Dog-walkers lined every street corner.
Everything felt new and fresh and alive.

With the exception of today (overcast and rainy),
the entire week's forecast looks phenomenal.

Every once in a while---generally in spring and fall---
I like to host a little giveaway here in my little corner of Blogland.
It's my way of thanking you, my loyal readers,
for making the time to read my heart's ponderings;
for encouraging me like crazy in so many ways.

So if you're reading right now,
I urge you---yes, YOU---to leave a comment. 
Just let me know you're here.  :)
You'll be entered in a drawing to win a package of spring lovelies from me to you!
You have until this Friday, March 16 at 10PM (CST) to enter.
I'll announce the winner on Saturday.

Thanks for reading, friends.
It's a joy to grow in grace and truth with each of you!

"The winter is past; the rain is over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come..."

The Song of Solomon 2:11-12

The Time of Singing (and announcing a winner) Has Come ~ Day 24

The official results are in!
The winner of my little spring giveaway is...

Lynn! 

Lynn, are you still at the same address?  Why don't you drop me an email to confirm your address and I'll get your package in the mail as soon as possible! 

Thanks to all who shared and encouraged us with their favorite Easter traditions.  I pray that this week leading up to Easter Sunday is a meaningful time for your families as you prepare your hearts to celebrate the one who paid our debt and raised victorious from the grave!

The Time of Singing (and Giving) Has Come ~ Day 23

Because Tax Day is approaching
And because that tends to make me cranky
And because there's really no good reason to be cranky
(but instead a million and one reasons to be over-the-top joyful with thanksgiving)
And because I appreciate those who stop by here,
read my ponderings,
and encourage me in so many ways
(...phew!)
I'm hosting a little spring giveaway. 

From now through Sunday evening, April 17 at 10pm CST, leave a comment and share your favorite Easter tradition.  My high-tech system (aka Luke) will randomly choose one winner which will be announced on Monday morning.  The winner will receive a gift box of spring lovelies from me to you!

Fall Giveaway Winner!

*~* ~* Winner of my fall giveaway announced! *~*~*

My youngest son helped me choose our random winner last night, and the name he picked out was...Christine!

Christine, I am sooo delighted you won! Email me your address and I'll work on getting this package out to you soon!

Thanks for all your kind words, reading friends. You've both humbled and overhwhelmed me with your sweet affirmations and love. Happy Fall, all my fellow autumn-loving friends!

[school-fall-blog] giveaway

In addition to the kick-off of a brand new year of school, we're celebrating for a whole lotta other reasons, too! We've officially enterered my most favorite time of the year! Long before the calendar tells me it's fall, my heart tells me it is. There are little indicators along the way...a crispness in the morning air...a golden hue on the trees...an innate yearning to bake and create. So though the calendar might tell me otherwise, the fall season began last week as I broke out my fall decor and dressed my home in the season's finery. Yeah. I reeeeeeally {heart} fall.

On top of that, I recently reached a milestone, likely noticed by no one but me, but sweet nonetheless! I celebrated my 5-year blogging anniversary! Writing is the frequent means by which I process what God is doing in my heart. Five years ago, I sensed Him telling me to share these thoughts, ponderings, and prayers with you. Perhaps you can identify and relate. Perhaps you're an older woman able to offer wisdom and perspective. Perhaps you're a younger woman searching for that wisdom and perspective. Whoever you are, I thank you for reading and offering so much encouragement in your comments. I hope that through reading my blog, you'll be reminded you're not alone; that this will be a place where questions are not only asked, they're answered; where lessons are learned and hearts are emboldened---all because of this faithful, unmovable God who is the Answer to all of life's questions. In Him we have hope.

In celebration of back-to-school...and fall...and blogging, I'm hosting my first-ever giveaway! If you're reading my blog, I invite you to leave a comment on this post before 10pm central on Friday, September 3. I'll randomly choose one reader to receive an autumn package filled with some of my favorite fall things!

Once again, blog friends---thanks for reading!

Ten Things

My friend, Bo, over at the Lilliepad , compiled an interesting list of her likes and dislikes. The catch was that they all had to begin with the same letter of the alphabet...in her case, "P." I learned a lot about her through this simple exercise, and I thougt it would be a fun way to express myself.

In order to obtain a letter, I visited Mary Beth who assigned me the letter "G." And so, without further ado, I present my list:

Ten things I love that begin with the letter "G."

God’s Grace ~ "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Guys ~ ...my guys, that is. God certainly blessed my life when he surrounded me with my amazing husband and precious boys. It’s a joy to love them and be loved by them.

Girlfriends ~ Spending time and heart-to-heart conversations with my cherished friends is one of my heart’s greatest delights.

Genealogy ~ I love to explore our ancestry and learn the stories behind the names. Afterall, it’s my story, too! I enjoy tracing God’s faithfulness through the generations...which by the way, is a freebie G.

Gentleness ~ Aren’t you just drawn to those women who have a spirit of gentleness about them? Women who clearly reflect a gentle and quiet spirit?

Giving ~ I s’pose giving is one of my love languages, I love, love, love to give gifts from the heart. And let’s face it...receiving gifts is always fun, too. :)

Genuineness ~ When I hear the word "genuine," my thoughts instantly go to my husband. He truly is the genuine article. He’s not one way here and another way there...what you see is what you get. And I’m so glad that I get to "see it" and "get it" everyday of our lives!

Gardens ~ Though I do not have what you would call a "green thumb," I greatly enjoy reaping the benefits of those who do. Strolling along garden paths and inhaling the sweet fragrance of flowers is truly a pleasure.

Gooseberry Patch ~ I love this company's cookbooks and catalogs!

Growth ~ I’m so glad that God is at work within me. As much as I’d like to be a more mature, well-studied follower of Him...an always submissive and respectful wife to my husband...an always patient, loving, and nurturing mama to our boys...God is working in me, day in and day out. And He promises that He will be faithful to complete the work He started in me! What joy!

Ten things I do not like that begin with the letter "G."

Gossip ~ It grieves my heart to hear gossip...especially among the family of God. I try to make it my practice to flee...quickly...when I hear it. But do I always? Sadly, no, but I’m thankful that this is an area where God has been working in my life.

Going to the dentist ~ ‘Nuff said.

Gross stuff ~ And let’s face it, as the only female in a house filled with guys, I’ve seen my share of it!

Gray hair ~ on me, anyhow. I’m too young for this...aren’t I?

Goat meat ~ Yep, I’ve tried it...at some sort of African feast we attended. It actually didn’t taste too bad, but the thought of it was more than I could take.

Grease spots ~ Why do they always find their way on to our favorite clothing?

Greed ~ I especially dislike it when I see it crop up in my life.

Grumbling ~ A lot of times I find myself correcting our boys for grumbling and complaining, only to realize that just moments before, I had been the one grumbling about this or that. These boys of ours are watching and listening...

Garbage ~ I love trash day when it all gets flung into the back of the garbage truck!

Garbanzo beans ~ Never have been able to stomach those little chickpeas!

It's my blogging anniversary!

Happy 1st Anniversary!!!

I began blogging one year ago today, unsure of where it would take me. I doubted my ability and creativity to write, and was even more hesitant to share those few simple thoughts with others.

At the same time, I sensed this gentle urging from God to share my heart...the failures, the victories, the prayers, and the milestones...'cause you know what? We're in this thing together! My heartbeat is to follow hard after God and to joyfully embrace the role He's given me as my husband's wife and our boys' mama. I don't always get it right. In fact, lots of times I get it wrong. But I hope that you who read my blog are encouraged to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. My prayer is that we can encourage one another in loving our husbands and children, and that we can furthermore challenge one another to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and submissive to our husbands.

My heart has been overflowing with joy this week as I consider God’s grace and goodness to me. And so, from a thankful heart come these few thoughts...

J*O*Y is...

....waking up in the middle of the night to hear my husband whisper in my ear, "Words can’t express how much I love you."

...listening to (and crying through) Mark Harris’ song, "Find Your Wings" while our sons sit beside me in the van (looking rather bewildered, I might add).

...sitting quietly before my Father God and hearing His loving...yet challenging...words.

...sharing treasured (and far-too-rare) moments with my heart and soul friend.

...parents who lovingly support our decision to homeschool. Thanks, Dad & Mom!

...rediscovering and establishing contact with a long-lost friend. A...it’s been a joy to reconnect with you! I’m so thankful for God’s blessings in your life!

...spending time with my sweet sister-in-law and nieces who are visiting from out east.

Blogging friends...thank you for your encouragement throughout this past year! I’m grateful for the inspiration you've given me through your ideas, the comic relief you've provided through your crazy stories, and the lessons God has taught me through your words.