Three Year Blogiversary: {Blessing}

Three years ago, I wrote my first blog post here.  What began as a way to share our family news with family and friends spread all over the states, became a place for me to share my story: my faith, my struggles, and my victories.

I have met so many women and moms who have encouraged me, loved on me, and walked with me through some of my darkest places.  I never knew how freeing it would be to let my heart spill out in words on a page.  I have never been more thankful for this blog than this past year.

If I were to describe this year for me in one word, it would be blessing.  At the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have chosen that word, because I was in a hard and lonely place in my life.  But God has given me victory and revealed His blessings to me, day in and day out, in every little moment of my life.

And I am so thankful for each and every one of you who come here, read my words, and encourage me with your own words, thoughts, and prayers.  You are a blessing to me!

Would you do me a favor today?  I'd love to hear from you, every single one of you, even if you've never left a comment before.  Let me know how I can pray for you and what one word describes your year. 

(As a special bonus, one person who comments here just to say hello will have a chance to win ONE Wildtree beer bread mix! Also, stay tuned tomorrow for a Dayspring review/giveaway.)

A Shelter in the Storm & A Two Year Blogiversary Giveaway

A Shelter in the Time of Storm

The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

A shade by day, defense by night,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes afright,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

The raging storms may round us beat,
A Shelter in the time of storm
We’ll never leave our safe retreat,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

O Rock divine, O Refuge dear,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Be Thou our Helper ever near,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Last night, when Ted and I finally crawled into bed, I begged him to hold me so I could fall asleep in the safety of his arms.  He responded the same way he does every time I ask that, "My mom told me once that girls need to feel safe.  I don't understand that..."  I started thinking about his statement and what it really means to be safe.  I tried to explain it to him, but all I could come up with was that, after a long, stressful, exhausting day, being in his arms makes me feel like none of that "stuff" matters, because I can rest secure in his arms until a new day full of new mercies.

How much more can I be held safe and secure in the arms of my Savior?  This morning, I felt a strong desire to look up the word "safe" or "secure" in my bible so I could be reminded of the shelter I can always find in Him.  The first verse that stood out to me was Proverbs 18:10, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe."  What does the word "safe" mean here?  Strong's concordance defines it as to "be (safely) set on high...to be safely protected".  The picture of a strong tower in the first part of the verse is that when the enemy is gaining on us, we can run to higher ground, safely protected by a secure and mighty fortress.  So, when I find myself falling into that pit of despair from trials or struggles that are too much to bear, I can run to Him and He will pull me out and safely protect me from letting it destroy me.

Psalm 46:1 talks about God being a refuge or shelter - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  One of Strong's definitions for the word "refuge" is "shelter...from rain or storm, from danger...the person to whom one flees".  I love this definition because it is a reminder that I can flee to Him and He will protect me.  Jeremiah 17:17 translates the same word (in the KJV version) as "hope" - "Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil."and Psalm 91:2 translates it as "trust" - "I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"  These verses are beautiful reminders that, no matter what trials this life brings, I can have hope that God will redeem me from the pit and trust that He will be my refuge and my fortress.  The last few verses of Psalm 46 explains that God will have the final victory, so we can always be assured that He will be glorified and His enemies will be judged.

***

Can you believe it's been two years since I first posted here?  This little blog has meant so much to me; it is a place for me to share my struggles and my joys, a place to find encouragement from women and moms with the same struggles, a place to be reminded of the work God has done and continues to do in my life, and a place to record all the memories I don't want to forget.  Writing is a stress reliever, a comfort, an outlet for me and I'm so thankful for a place to let my writing be heard and enjoyed by others.  I have "met" so many wonderful women and am blessed by the friendships I've made here.  I also love being able to share with family and friends who live far away.

To celebrate two years of blogging, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my best posts:

Bigger Picture Moment: Chasing the Wind

This Is Love

I'm Not Perfect

In All Things, Give Thanks

Best Job In The World

I also would like to share some love with those who have been with me on this journey, who encourage me, pray for me, and love me through this blog, so I have a little something to giveaway.  Since I have so many sewing projects I want to do and so little time to do them, I decided to only sew a few Christmas gifts this year.  One of them was a cute little hobo purse from this tutorial.  I love how it turned out and it was so easy to make too.

Would you like your own custom hobo purse?  I am giving away ONE custom made (you choose the fabric) hobo purse.  To enter:

(Mandatory)

Tell me which of the blog posts I shared is your favorite and why or tell me why you love to read my blog.

(Extra entries)

1. Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect or by email (but remember to verify your email subscription).

2. Share this giveaway on Facebook or on your Blog.

3. Tell me which fabric you would choose for your own custom hobo purse.

This giveaway will end on December 23rd at 2:00 PM (CST) and the winner will be announced sometime after Christmas. 

***

Also, since the winner of my Old El Paso Family Taco Night giveaway never contacted me, I picked a new winner.  Congratulations to comment #4 - Kristin!  I already have your contact information, Kristin, so I will let MyBlogSpark know right away so you can get your prize.  Enjoy!

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful...

We had our first snow storm of the winter over the weekend, which turned into a blizzard with 50 mph winds.  I woke up Sunday morning, because it sounded like someone was trying to break into our house only to realize it was just the wind.  The wind was so crazy, it felt like our house would blow over with a huff and a puff.  We got about 10 inches of heavy snow.  My poor hubby spent over two hours outside shoveling, because he offered to help our neighbor out since her hubby was gone.

Our church service wasn't canceled, but most church services in the area were canceled.  When I woke up, I told Ted what it was like outside and he said, since our road is usually the last to get plowed, that we should just wait and see what it's like for church service instead of trying to make it to Sunday School.  When he woke up around 8, we were surprised to see a snow plow on our road already.  But, we still couldn't see our driveway or the sidewalk.  Around 9, he went outside to start shoveling and, by the time he finished our driveway, we were already 10 minutes late for church.  So, we decided to stay home and he went back out to help our neighbor with her driveway. 

I was glad to stay home, because, after driving to go skiing, Ted told me the roads were not so good.  The wind was causing snow drifts and made for a very slippery, slow drive.  This morning, there was a wind chill advisory.  It was 4 degrees when I woke up, but the wind chill made it feel like -15 degrees.

I had to laugh when Veronica posted on my Facebook wall wondering how in the world we can survive storms like this, because, when you grow up in the Midwest, these kind of storms are just a part of everyday life in the winter.  We learn to dress warm, keep extra blankets and sturdy boots in the car, start our cars several minutes before we need to go anywhere, and stock up on food and necessities in case we need to stay inside for more than a day.  We are also used to driving in snow, but I gladly opted to NOT drive anywhere during the blizzard.  Also, I am very much looking forward to leaving the cold behind for a few days really soon to visit you, Veronica!

Kristin also told me they were feeling cold in 40 degree weather down in Texas.  Right about now, 40 degrees sounds really, really warm!  But, I must admit, it does look beautiful outside and, as my hubby said, December snow is the best snow because it is fresh and new and we've had all spring, summer, and fall to forget how long and old winter gets in March...or April...and, on occasion, May...

Today, we are choosing to enjoy the beauty of the snow within the comforts of our warm and cozy home.  The kids are feeling better, other than runny noses, and I am just feeling the start of another sinus/allergy sickness.  I'm really hoping this is not sinus infection number 2.  Thankfully, I have a neti pot, green tea, and a lazy day to spend at home.

***

Can you believe it's been TWO whole years since I first started blogging here?  I finally had some time yesterday to update my blog design for Christmas and will probably keep it up until spring.  What do you think?  Also, stay tuned tomorrow for a fun little giveaway to celebrate two years of blogging.  Thank you to all who read, comment, and encourage me as I share my joys and my struggles here.  I am so thankful for this little space to write, to share, to connect, to encourage, and to be reminded of a God who is faithful always and forever. 

Blogiversary Giveaway Winner

I finally picked a winner for my Blogiversary Giveaway (yes, I know it's a day late...). So, without further ado, the winner is...

Congratulations Diana!  I have emailed you and will get the book mailed out to you as soon as I can.  Enjoy!

Giveaway Reminder

Don't forget to head on over to my Blogiversary post and enter for a chance to win a copy of "The Shack". There are only SIX comments so far and the giveaway ends Saturday. Even if you already have it, you could save it for a gift or share it with someone you think would really enjoy it.

Blogiversary

***Comments are now closed and winner will be announced on Sunday, December 20th.***

Exactly one year ago today I wrote my first post here.  I first started blogging on our old blog using Xanga, but decided to make the switch to Blogger after seeing how much nicer blogs looked with all the great features Blogger has.  (Plus, I was always forgetting my password for Blogger when I wanted to leave comments on blogs I followed!)  I am SO glad I did, because I am much happier with the format of Blogger.  Blogging has been such a wonderful creative outlet for me and a great way to keep in touch with our family and friends.  Plus, I've been able to meet a lot of great blogging friends, including Veronica, Kristin, Becca, Angela, Stephanie, Hilary, Lynnette, Joye, Lisa, Kate, April, and Amanda.  What a blessing each of these women has been to me!  Be sure to check out each of their blogs - you won't be disappointed!

 In the spirit of celebrating my blogiversary, I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane and share some of my favorite posts from the past year.

• But God Intended It For Good - one of my many bible posts where I shared a specific bible passage that God had laid on my heart 
  
• Guess What? - remember this cute picture of our Sweet Pea when I announced our big news? 
• Best Job In The World - I am so thankful I am able to stay home with my children as a stay at home mom.  What a blessing! 
• Etsy Shop Featured Item: Peek-A-Boo Nursing Cover - When I first started my Etsy shop, I had no idea if I would even sell anything at all; while it certainly isn't a huge money maker, it has been a great creative outlet and a fun way to share my love of sewing.  I have sold four of these nursing covers and have even made several as gifts.  My friends keep telling me how much they love them and I love using mine too! 
• Learning to Crawl & Getting to Know You - I can hardly believe less than a year ago our Sweet Pea was just learning to crawl; now she's running and climbing all over the place!  This post also reminds me of what a blessing the blogging community has been - I have met so many wonderful bloggers who continue to encourage and uplift me each day.
• TGIF - I love looking back on all that God has given me to be thankful for.  He is ALWAYS good!
• It's A... - What a blessing that God chose to bless us with a daughter AND a son!
• Celebrating Valerie's First Birthday - I still can't believe how fast that first year went...and yet, I can hardly imagine my life without our Sweet Pea!
• Our Whirlwind Adventure - After an amazing bike race in the UP, my hubby won a trip to compete in a bike race in Boston.  It was a fast but fun weekend.
• Introducing... - Can you believe this post was two months ago already?  God has been good and faithful to our family - we are SO thankful to serve such a great God!
• The Sounds of Christmas - My blogging friend, Joye, is having a fun blogging meme about experiencing Jesus at Christmas through your different senses.  The song I shared, O Holy Night, brings chills to my body every time I hear it as I think about what that night Jesus was born must have been like. 
  

And, of course, what better way to conclude a blogiversary celebration than with a giveaway?  Pretty sneaky of me not to title the post as a "Giveaway", right?  My blogging friend, Kristin, recently celebrated her blogiversary by giving away a signed copy of Lynnette's book, In Faithfulness, He Afflicted Me, so I decided it would be fun to do a book giveaway here too.  (And, as a side note, I can't wait to redeem some of my Swagbucks for Amazon gift cards so I can finally order Lynnette's book.  If you read her blog, you know that she has an AMAZING story to share - I can't wait to finally read her book!)  I am going to giveaway a book that I recently read and could NOT put down:

I actually bought this book for my dad for his birthday last year, but just had a chance to read it myself recently.  It is a beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption as well as a wonderful allegory about the nature of the trinity.  The main character, Mack, becomes angry and bitter towards God after his daughter is kidnapped and presumed murdered.  He receives a letter one day that is an invitation from God to meet him at the shack where his daughter was taken to.  While there, he has an extraordinary meeting with God in the form of three people representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Here is a quote from the book that I just loved:

"Both evil and darkness can be understood only in relation to light and good; they do not have any actual existence.  I (God) am light and I am good.  I am love and there is no darkness in me.  Light and Good actually exist.  So, removing yourself from me will plunge you into darkness.  Declaring independence will result in evil because apart from me, you can draw only upon yourself.  That is death because you have separated yourself from me: Life." 

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment telling me how you came across my blog or share a fun family tradition that you have for the holidays.

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway: @Mom2Valerie is celebrating her blogiversary by giving away "The Shack" -  www.tjsmhanesfamily.blogspot.com.  You may tweet once per day, but must leave a separate comment here for each tweet. 

2. Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your post.

3. Join Swagbucks using my referral link (just click on the hyperlink here or the link on my sidebar). 

4. Follow my blog using either Google Friend Connect (see the Follow button on my sidebar) or an email subscription (enter your email address on my sidebar and make sure to Verify your subscription).

5. Publish your own "A Very Etsy Christmas" post (see previous post).

This giveaway will be open until Saturday, December 19th at 9:00 pm CST and the winner will be announced on December 20th.