Let's All Be Brave

Jumped over here today in hopes of reading another good book by blogger and author AnnieDowns

http://www.incourage.me/2014/10/a-lets-all-be-brave-giveaway.html

So Excited to Host in our Home...

I was so excited to have guests in our home this last night. You see, we have been attending the same church for 23 years and years ago the church began an evening before Thanksgiving tradition of having a time of open mic where the people of the New Hope Church would be given a chance to give praise and thanksgiving publicly at the mic to the rest of the body of Christ. After this time all the attenders would bring a pie to share and we would enjoy a pie social after the service.

Several years later there was a decision to keep the service going but to not include the pie time. It was at this time that my husband and I choose to invite a few families to our home for pie and since then we have enjoyed the pie social time in our home.

It works well for us because we generally are not the ones to host Thanksgiving the next day. This year when we had family and friends over for pie I was able to set the table with this amazing silverware caddy thanks to Dayspring.

I also found that when not in use for company I could use this caddy for my colored markers, pens, and pencils that I use each morning at my kitchen table when I meet with the Lord.

Dayspring is graciously giving away a coupon code for $20 off their products to one reader of Conversations.

To Enter:
Visit Dayspring, come back here and let me know what product you would love to have: I will keep you posted on the winner in the very near future!

Drum Roll ... the winner is ....

Ladies, (you know who you are)

Thanks for visiting and entering the give-away!

I have to say that I love the way each of you is serving the Lord! You are bringing important, vital encouragement to those around you each and every day. You have brought encouragement to me through sharing how you are serving the Lord.

Now, drum roll please .... the winner of the Dayspring give-away is:

 Heather at High Heels and Scuffed Sneakers

You can visit her here, but I acutally loved this older post of hers and took the liberate to copy it here 'cause it was such a powerful post .... Congratulations Heather!

http://highheelsandscuffedsneakers.blogspot.com/

but I acutally loved this older post of hers and took the liberate to copy it here 'cause it was such a powerful post .... Congratulations Heather!


Saturday, December 5, 2009

Dawn

I went to see the movie, The Blind Side. I was greatly impacted because it reminded me of a personal story. The story is about a young man that receives unconditional love from an unsuspecting family. The young man, Michael, did nothing to deserve the love from the family... but most importantly the family did nothing to deserve the love from Michael. To know more about the movie, you'll have to watch (or you can read the book if you'd like). The movie impacted me differently than a regular viewer.... I would suspect that you may watch and hope that you had the opportunity to love someone like Michael or that your circumstances would allow your family to help others in a bigger way. However, for me, I have had the opportunity to give and receive love like the family in The Blind Side.

Here's my story:
When I was in the sixth grade, the Lord brought a homeless disabled woman in our lives. My mother was the first one to realize the magnitude of love that could be given by Dawn. After recently suffering from a miscarriage and realizing that God had called her to mother another child, my mama was open to the idea of helping someone in need. With an aching heart, my courageous mama invited Dawn into our home. The length of Dawn's stay with our family was unknown but mama was determined to keep her until she was safe.

When Dawn entered our home I did not know much about her past or her current situation. What I did know was that Dawn had suffered from a brain injury and had to take a lot of medicine. As a sixth grader, I also knew that my parents moved me out of my bedroom and made a make shift room in the garage of our home for me. When Dawn entered our home, we did not realize that we would have the pleasure of watching her develop into something that the doctors deemed impossible.

Since our time with Dawn, her medications have reduced significantly, her memory has improved and she has easily transitioned into part of our family. It has not always been the easiest road; financially, emotionally and mentally... but it's been the road that has been the most rewarding. Dawn has had many ups and downs-financially our family struggled to make sure that we were able to meet all of her needs. However, I will never regret the road we travelled to have her. Dawn is something so special!

Dawn calls me "Sissy". Actually, almost all of Dawn's friends call me "Sissy" now too. Dawn has the ability to make my heart smile like no one I have ever known. She does the funniest things. Her quirks make her special and make me love her more. Dawn's resilience is inspiring and her laugher is contagious. God gave my family a gift when they blessed us with Dawn.

After watching the movie The Blind Side and thinking about my own life experiences, I was reminded how special life can become when you reach out to others. I know that my family has done a great deal for Dawn by providing her with a life that she otherwise my not have had... However, I never fail to remember the things that Dawn has done for our family. She has molded us into the individuals that we are today. She has shaped the woman I am and taught me to love others not based on where they come from, what they look like or how they act. I have been shown that you truly can love people for what's on the inside... Try it sometime and see how you feel!

It's a Sale You Won't Want to MIss!

It's May and I'm talking sale ladies! Yep, that's what I said sale! Now I know you are like me when you hear the word sale you want the skinny  ...  Here it is.....just click... 
http://www.incourage.me/category/deals

This is where you can check out all the amazing gifts available for purchase this month, May Only ...

DaySpring’s beautiful wood carved wall hangings are on sale.
and the Ichthys hanging is just $29.99.

In addition, an ornate metal collection featuring a cross is on sale. You can get the pressed tin cross for $7.79, the cross serving tray for $17.99, the cross napkin holder for $11.99, the cross trivet for $6.59 and a set of coasters for $11.99.

Really, I'm serious, you are going to want to check it out.!I can tell you that I received a package at my front door last week and I was so excited that I took this picture ...

Then I opened this box and found that my product from Dayspring for review was inside. Go ahead, ask me "what's inside that box?" Gee whiz, I thought you would never ask. It was this ornate, beautiful, solid serving tray with a cross that says, "I love the Lord and how can I serve you all over it". Really, I must be honest the tray did not physically say those words, but  It's what I thought as I sat at my kitchen table and just enjoyed looking at my new gift. Then I decided that I could not just look at the tray I must get it ready for use.

Once the tray was prepared with some necessary
items  I was ready  to practice hospitality on
"the golfer" and serve up a bit of tea.














Again, I must be honest, I did not take this picture the golfer shot this photo and those tulips, my daughter gave them to me for Mom's Day and I thought they were a great addition to the tray. Oh, and you may notice that there is no tea in those cups yet ...

... did I already say that this beautifully decorated, ornate, serving tray is available to you for the low, low, sale price of $17.99 here ....?

OK you may be saying, but I don't need a serving tray. That's OK but whatever gift you may need or want that sends the message of faith to those you love you will want to get at Dayspring. And if you are a reader and love good books you will find them at (in)courage as well. I love their products so much you can find my link to therm by hitting the great gifts tab on my blog anytime, day or night.

(*disclaimer* I was given this frame at no cost from Dayspring in exchange for my honest opinion about their product. All opinions are mine and mine alone!)

One more thing .... You can purchase your own Great Gift from Dayspring using the coupon for $20 I will be giving away. In order to qualify for the coupon please leave a comment
1) telling me about ways you have served the Lord lately
2) telling me how you would spend the $20 gift certificate in the DaySpring Store (shipping and handling costs still apply)
3) make sure you leave your e-mail address so I can contact you. The winner will be selected and notified on Monday, May 23.