Until We All Come Home Book Giveaway!

As I wrote in my previous post, I was so honored to be a part of the Launch Team for author Kim de Blecourt's new book entitled "Until We All Come Home". I was especially excited because this book is about something that is very close to my heart: adoption.

 This book is described as "A Harrowing Journey, A Mother's Courage, A Race to Freedom" and let me tell you, this description is 100% accurate! I couldn't put this book down and read it...start to finish...in a 24 hour period. It's riveting and intense, frustrating and emotional and ultimately, it's so encouraging and victorious!

 I'm amazed at Kim de Blecourt's tenacity and her crazy-strong faith that she would not give up what God has promised her! What blessed me even more so is her honesty in how this journey changed her. I, too, have been on a harrowing journey and while I've stood firm in my faith in God, I've been changed as well. Changes that I don't like. I read a lot of books and no one ever talks much about how the very difficult times can change you in ways you don't want...but de Blecourt poignantly shares her heart. And in her doing so, has brought a special peace to my heart and mind and proclaims, "Michelle! You aren't alone!" For me, because of the author's honesty, a fresh healing has begun within me.

Faith Words offers this description of the book: “When Kim de Blecourt and her husband decided to adopt a child from Ukraine, they knew that the process might be challenging. Nothing, however, could have prepared de Blecourt for the twisted nightmare she would endure. During her year-long struggle to extricate her newly adopted little boy from that post-Soviet country’s corrupt social service and judicial systems, de Blecourt was insulted, physically assaulted, and arrested. Worse, her months of loneliness, worry, and fear drove her to the brink of spiritual despair. But God had no intention of abandoning de Blecourt or her family. Her amazing story-culminating in a spine-chilling race to freedom-offers dramatic proof that God’s light shines on even in the deepest darkness” 

 The author has given me a beautiful, hard back copy of "Until We All Come Home" to share with my readers! All you have to do to enter to win is comment below why you'd like to receive a copy of this book. The winner will be chosen on Friday, Nov. 16. Spread the word! 

Until We All Come Home book review

Until We All Come Home: A Harrowing Journey, a Mother's Courage, a Race to Freedom by Kim De Blecourt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A stunning account of an American woman in a foreign country fighting for what God told her was HERS! This book is so captivating that I read it in one day! I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of the book. I decided to take a nice hot bath yesterday and start the book. I could. not. put. this. book. down. I had to refill the tub with hot water twice! The raw emotion that Kim De Blecourt writes with...the stunningly honest sharing of her fear, anger, exhaustion, faith, tenacity...makes this a story I won't soon forget! Bravo!


View all my reviews

What would you do??

Last summer, a few weeks before my father-in-law passed away, we were able to go back to my hubby's empty childhood home and go through the house and farm grounds one more time. 

Our little one on the side porch of my Hubby's abandoned childhood home. 

While in the house, with the aid of flashlights, we were able to find the baby clothes his Mama and Dad brought him home in from the hospital in 1970, as well as his baby blanket. We found his old Jenny Lind crib, lots of his books and his desk! 

Daddy & Ryleigh loading up his baby crib!

And the desk!

This desk was "the" place my school-loving-husband-to-be did his homework all the way through high school! We lugged this desk home...not having any clue where we'd put it, etc. Well, a year later, I finally drug it out of the massive storage room that most people call Dining Room and I sat it in the kitchen. We have a huge kitchen and the desk fits perfectly. 

My problem is this: do I leave the desk as is or do I refinish it? When we were dragging it out of the super-hot-dusty-old-farmhouse last year, I mentioned refinishing it, but Hubby said, "Oh I don't know. I like it as is!"

Of course, we were looking at it through 20+ years of DUST. Major dust. Now that I have it washed off, all the yucky-ness major wear shows. Now, I'm all about being sentimental. Years ago, according to my counselor, because of my childhood trauma, I now assign "feelings and emotions" to non-living things. Like...I'm devastated for the last Christmas tree in the lot that didn't get chosen or at the end of Autumn, Hubby has to throw our outdoor pumpkins away because I can't bear to do it...that sort of thing. I can relate to being "not important" enough to be chosen or to being tossed away/aside. Before you feel sorry for me or think I'm too strange, God has brought me much healing and I do believe that I was the one who through the pumpkins away last year. ;-) The fact that they were terribly moldy might have had something to do with it...lol

I'm posting some pix here of the desk in all its glory. It truly looks much worse in person. lol What would you do? Leave it as is? Refinish it? Throw it away?

See all the pencil marks my hubby made on this poor desk sometime in the late 70's or 1980's?? (I kind of don't mind the pencil marks)

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I'm really sorry my pix aren't that great...cell phone, ya know? So, let me know what you would do! I can't wait to hear!

And this isn't all we brought home! Stayed tuned for more posts!

Be a Blessing

Everything

YAY! I'm SO excited to learn that I've been chosen to be a part of a Launch Team for author Mary DeMuth's book Everything. Are you familiar with Mary? If not, why don't you take a minute and check out her web site HERE. Her posts and books are so encouraging and life-changing! Stay tuned for more on EVERYTHING! ;)

Pinterest Challenge: It's all about strawberries!

I recently decided to join up with a Pinterest Challenge link party, because let's face it...I've done lots of pinning but little recreating!

Months ago, my 3 year old daughter decided she'd like to have a Strawberry Shortcake 4th birthday party. The SS things on the market are cute, but I wanted to add my own touch to the party. Hello, Pinterest!

Here's the link for my Pinterest Board where I gathered ideas: 
Michelle's Strawberry Shortcake Inspiration Board

 And now for my interpretation:

First off, I bought a pack of papers at Joann Fabrics and used these papers for everything I did. I used them on the drink wrappers, the circle punch outs you see around the cake, etc. The paper I used is:

First up is the awesome cake my sister made!!

I thought it turned out adorable!!

The large strawberries around the side of the cake are a pack of 8 coasters from the $1 spot at Target! I also randomly dropped card stock circles punchies around the cake as well. 

I bought these strawberry recipe cards at the $1 spot at Target as well. I used them to make little signs. I bought 4 little metal buckets from the $1 spot to hold the snacks. The clothespin holders (holding the little signs) I made with regular clothespins and adhesive ribbon found at Joann Fabrics.

Below is my interpretation of the framed invitation. I bought an 11 X 14 frame at Michael's on clearance for $6.99. I used a sheet of scrapbook paper for the background. I cut out the flower and the 4 using my paper pack from Joann's. 

Last minute addition: cute flowers! :)

Below: even the hand-wipes container wasn't safe from my paper pack! lol

Below is the goodie bag topper we made. 

The goodie bags were filled with awesome finds from the $1 spot at Target! Strawberry shaped note pads, Strawberry lip gloss, swirly straws, candy and more!

The birthday girl!!

I'm sorry my pictures didn't turn out the best. The lighting wasn't the best, but I hope you've enjoyed seeing my favorite party pins come to life!

Summer time!

Wow! My last post was in January! Crazy! But here we are now in the midst of temps in the 90's! We had very little winter to speak of here in Indianapolis...but who's complaining, right? lol

Our family spent the first 16 weeks of this year going through grief counseling. After losing so many family members and friends (8) in 13 months, we were stuck...couldn't move forward in the grieving process. It was too much loss in too short of a time span. We just passed the first anniversary of the loss of my father in law to cancer. One more "first anniversary" for my grandpa and we'll have made it through the "firsts" for each person lost. What a long, painful journey. But as a Believer, I KNOW God carried us through. He didn't lead us...He carried us!

My DD turns 4 in 2 weeks! Wah! How did that happen?? And, DH and I will celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary two days after DD's birthday! My mind is already spinning with big plans for our 20th anniversary!

Our little Princess!

She finished up her first year of preschool and is currently splashing in her Aunt and Uncle's pool for the summer! lol

I hope summer treats you well!

The Covered Front Porch Designs

I recently stumbled across The Covered Porch Designs ~ a gorgeous etsy shop and blog.

Check out the snappy cards she created for me using my initials!

I also adore her Personalized Monogram Flair Gift Tags:

Hop on over and check her out! You just might find a goodie or two you can't live without!!