** This giveaway has ended **
Happy ‘Home Study #1’ Day!!!
We’re SO excited to have our friend/social worker, Beth, coming over for a visit today! It feels like the first real big step in our “paper pregnancy“, so we’re feeling really blessed to be able to spend this time with her today.
We did some laundry yesterday, and we still have to secure of couple of bookcases to the wall in our bedroom, but we were told long ago that this visit isn’t about how clean your house is, so we’re not going to stress about all the chores that still aren’t done.
Instead, we’ve decided to spend some more quiet time with each other so that we can talk about our hopes and dreams for the future, and about what kind of parents we hope and dream to be to our child. That feels like a good way to prepare for Beth’s first visit, and we can’t wait to share more about it all next week!
I started my friend Angie‘s book last night. It’s called Mended.
I scooped up two of them the other day- one for me, and one for someone reading this post! (Note: Mended is on sale for $5 at Lifeway book stores right now if you don’t win the giveaway and would like to purchase it.)
Here’s a short video of Angie talking about Mended: (Email subscribers will have to click over to The Lettered Cottage to watch.)
If you’d like to enter for a chance to win the extra copy I picked up, just leave a comment on this post between now and Monday (January 14th, 2013) at 8:00am (Central Time), and I’ll randomly select a winner after that.
Angie doesn’t know I’m blogging about her book today, (Surprise, Angie!) but like I’m sure our social worker Beth will prove to be throughout our adoption journey, she’s been such a bright light in my life and I cherish our friendship so very much.
Good luck, and thanks so much for swinging by for a visit today!
For pics and updates in between posts, join us over on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram!
I’m not sure I can wait until Monday, might need to buy today!
Best of luck today! We’ll all be thinking of you 🙂
I love Angie’s honesty, I can’t wait to read this book!
This book looks great!
Would love to win Mended. Sounds intriguing!
Thanks for the chance.
Would love to read that book. I feel the same way – Gods light gets to shine through. We are a sum or our pieces and even broken and mended we are whole in Gods eyes. Lovely trailer.
I would love to win a copy! Congratulations on your coming addition!
I’ve frequently visited your blog and it never fails to be uplifting: a lovely blend of spirituality, friendship and DYI. Always enjoy my visits very much.. and now I have another blogger to get to know, your friend Angie. Thanks for the introduction!
I also enjoy the fact that you’re sharing your adoption journey. Two of my nieces came into our family through adoption and we thank God, and their birth moms, for the precious gift to our family. They’ve grown now to adulthood and I can’t imagine our family without them. It was truly meant to be.
Sounds like a great book. I would love to read it!
Best of times today with Beth and your paper pregnancy!
Looks like an excellent book. I would love to read it.
I love Angie! I would love to win her book!
Layla, we are also in the middle of our “paper pregnancy.” Longest labor EVER! We are waiting patiently for our baby to find us and we know that God is his/her birth mother’s guide. The homestudy will be great…and it sounds like your social worker is as wonderful as ours was! Blessings to you and Kevin on this journey!
Long time follower of Angie’s blog! So blessed by everything she writes! Bought this book for a special person for Christmas, but I would love to have my own copy!!
I would love to win the book. It looks good.
So excited for you and so thankful for the awesome giveaways you do! 🙂
I got teared up when she said she saw the light coming thru the cracks! Sounds like a great book! Good luck on your adoption journey!
Thanks for an opportunity to read Angie’s book. It feels like something I really need to read.
Maureen
Something about that video put me in tears. I love how the Lord can do that through other people 🙂 How inspiring!
Congratulations on your 1st Home Visit 🙂
love all of angie smith’s books! would love another to read 🙂 thanks!
Okay Layla, I spent 15 minutes researching the book, and reading just a part of Angie’s blog (while at work ha ha) what a remarkable women. I will read this book someday soon, everyone can use some inspiration. Thank you for introducing us.(even though se doesn’t know me)
Looks like a very good read. I’d love to win!
Wow! What a profound way of demonstrating God’s faithfulness…even though each of us is so far from perfect! Looks like a great book for just about anyone! Especially me.
Wow! I just watched the book preview and the Lord has been working on this very thing with me. I so want the Lord to shine through me and that the world would see Him and not me! Thank you for this giveaway!!!
Blessings
That video gave me chills, so beautiful and inspiring, Thanks for sharing and good luck with your first home study 🙂
Sounds like a beautiful book. Prayers to you on your journey to parenthood!
Such a fantastic journey! One that takes lots of prayers and patience, but so worth it!
What an inspiring book!
Would love to win a copy. Thanks!
Sounds like a great book! We were on the adoption journey 20 years ago. Such a joyful time. Enjoy every minute.
Love the analogy of the light shining through the brokenness. That’s all of usu really, if we just let him mend us. Exciting news about the home visit, means your one step closer. Based on what I’ve seen on your blog I think you will make great and fun parents. God Bless!
oops – *us* and *you’re* Can you believe I’m a former English teacher? 🙂
That short video spoke volumns to me. I have to have this book because I can relate to what she’s saying. I love the story of the pitcher and how God spoke to her through that experience. I can’t wait to read Mended. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Praying for Angie’s family and for yours Layla… God has such a special little one that was made for you and your husband. I look forward to reading about you meeting that child.
I love the video and this really sounds like something I need to read.
Feeling very sad, alone, and broken; after many major surgeries, 4 failed IVF’s, and a husband who decided to leave me because of my health issues in pursuit of his own happiness has me mourning a life that could have been and never will be. It’s a very dark place that seems unsurmountable. Hanging on by a thread….. will definitely read this book and pray to be uplifted in some way.
Oh my gosh. The video brought tears to my eyes. Awesome story!
Wow — what a powerful video! I would really, really like to win this. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! First homestudy visit….one step closer! I love the video and concept of God shining through the broken parts of our lives. I’ve experienced that myself, and it’s such a powerful, humbling thing. So excited to follow your adoption journey! Sending love from Memphis, TN!
I cried throughout this entire video. And then I had to watch it again. God’s presence is so real, even through her words. I’m looking forward to reading this book. Her name sounds so familiar to me…it seems as though I have read something of hers about a baby. What a blessing it is to be mended.
I love the story of the pitcher… and aren’t we all at least a little bit broken? I’d love to read this, thank you for sharing, Layla. Blessings and prayers for a wonderful visit with Beth.
xo Heidi
This book sounds just like what I could use right now!
You’re both in my thoughts and prayers for a fab home study. I know you’ll do great!
Can’t wait to follow you guys on your journey!
Her book tailer has me curious…maybe I’ll have to pick this one up on my next bookstore visit!
You guys are going to be the greatest parents. You already ARE parents to your 4 legged babies. Your hearts are amazing, loving, and giving. How lucky is the child that is coming into your lives??!!
No worries on your social worker visits, Not that you need to be told….. but JUST BE YOU 🙂
Have a beautiful weekend.
How wonderful that you adoption journey is beginning! Good luck!
sounds like the perfect way to spend some time pre-study. 🙂 so excited and happy for you on this new journey in your lives!
p.s. the book looks awesome!
Yay for you two and yay for the new book – anticipating both!
I’ve read some of Angie’s other stuff, and would LOVE to read Mended!
oh, this book looks amazing!
thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I love Angie Smith and she is an amazing writer! I’ve read her two other books and I can’t wait to read this one too 🙂
I heard Angie speak at the Women of Faith conference here in Mn. She spoke to thousands of women, but also, just to me. You two are blessed to call each other friends.
Wow, I think that so many of us can just relate to that short clip. I know I can.
This would be the perfect gift for my sister who is going through a ‘broken’ period in her life right now. Thank you for such a wonderful blog, I love being part of your lives.