The Mailbox Giveaway with Marybeth Whalen
Published June 7, 2010Summertime is the perfect time to curl up at the beach or on a back porch and read in the afternoon. If that sounds like a grand way to pass the time, then I’ll tell you a grand book to read this summer: The Mailbox by my friend and fellow Proverbs 31 speaker Marybeth Whalen.
One of you who leaves a comment on this post will be winning a signed copy of this fabulous book!
Centered on a real landmark on the coast of North Carolina, The Mailbox blends intriguing folklore and true faith with raw contemporary issues that affect every woman.
Returning to Sunset for her first vacation since her husband left her, Lindsey struggles to put her sorrow into words. Memories surface of her first love, Campbell — and the rejection that followed. When Campbell reappears in her life, Lindsey must decide whether to trust in love again or guard herself from greater pain.
The Mailbox is a rich novel about loss, hope, and the beauty of second chances.
I first learned about the real mailbox when my kids and I stayed with Marybeth at her uncle’s beach house in 2008. It has been fun to see an idea she had then blossom into a full-blown fiction book release!
I’ve asked Marybeth to share a little behind-the-scenes with us about The Mailbox. Here is what she had to say:
When did you first decide to try your hand at writing fiction?
In August of 08, through the urgings of my best friend, I decided to finally take the plunge and try my hand at my dream of penning a novel. Before that I had been too afraid to try. I didn’t want to face rejection over something so important to me. I didn’t want to know if I couldn’t cut it as a novelist. Ignorance, I felt, was bliss.
How did the idea for The Mailbox come about?
I have been visiting the real mailbox on Sunset Beach for years. I love going there and feel it is a very cool place. One day I had the idea for what a great love story it would make– two people linked by this mailbox and how special it was to them both.
Are any of the characters based on real-life people?
No. There’s a bit of me in Lindsey, the main character. But then there’s also a bit of me in Nikki, Campbell, Minerva, and LaRae (the other characters) too!
How was writing fiction different from your other works?
I love writing fiction because I can take a nugget of truth and turn it into whatever works for me. With nonfiction you have to be so careful to present the truth exactly. I love not being inhibited and free to embellish and extrapolate.
What do you hope your readers gain by journeying with Lindsey through the pages of this book?
A sense of God’s pursuit of them– how much He loves them and cherishes them.
Okay– now leave a comment today on anything (we’ll make this easy!) and you’ll be entered into the random drawing for a copy of The Mailbox. If you can’t think of anything to say, simply say, “I’m in”!
Summer-time blessings,
Every Kid Oughta See This….
Published June 3, 2010Many of you know what a crazy baseball mom I am. Two sons on four teams; one a right-handed pitcher; one a southpaw. (That’s a lefty for you non-baseball crowd) 
I counted and this year, as parents, Todd and I will sit through over 95 games. Not to mention the many the Mitch, our 15 year-old, will ump at the city fields as his summer job.
There will be hits, errors, runs and wild pitches; diving catches, near collisions in the outfield, and several strike outs.
And, there will also be some close calls.
And some bad ones.
A horrible call was made last night during our beloved Detroit Tigers ballgame. The pitcher, Armando Galarraga, was one out away from a perfect game–a real rarity in baseball. (Again, for you non-baseball crowd, this means in every one of the nine innings, the first three batters get out. No one ever gets on base.)
For the 27th out and to clinch that perfect game, the batter hit a ball near second base. The fielder snagged it and threw it to first.
The batter was out.
There was just one slight problem.
The ump called him safe.
What I thought would ensue after such a botched call did.
Fans booed.
Players were incredulous.
The Tigers manager went out and had a rather heated talk with that blind…um…I mean…that first base ump.
But something made me stop dead in my tracks.
Galarraga, the pitcher, just smiled.
No cursing.
No arguing.
No throwing his mitt at the ump.
No scene.
When questioned later he simply said, “I understand that nobody’s perfect, and it’s a hard job. Hopefully (a perfect game) will happen again. But I’ll tell you something: I’m going to keep that CD (of the game), and I’ll tell my son, ‘I got one. It’s not in the book. It’s not official. But I got one.’ ”
People…every one of us should learn to respond with such grace.
Watch it for yourself.
Better yet, call your kiddos over and have them watch it. Whether they are in sports, music, techy stuff or the chess club, they’ll face officials and umps and refs too. And, as parents, we will be there watching in the stands.
How will we respond?
What an amazing ball player.
No, not his pitching arm.
His heart.
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
Interview and Giveaway with Arlene Pellicane
Published June 2, 2010Congrats to Amy V. (comment left May 27th at 4:16 pm). You are the winner of the friendship basket giveaway featuring two copies of Lisa Welchel’s new book. Send me your address at karen @proverbs31.org so I can get your goodies out to you right away!
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Hi Wednesday Weight Loss gals! Please check in as usual today, We love hearing how you are doing and knowing how to pray for you too. And please enjoy this guest interview with my friend Arlene Pellicane from www.LosingWeightAfterBaby.com. She and I met at a Hearts at Home event in California a few years back. She has an awesome ministry that encourages new moms in specific, but is also chock-full of info all women trying to lose weight can relate to. Enjoy! (And check out today’s giveaway!)
An energetic speaker and writer, Arlene Pellicane has been featured on The Hour of Power, The 700 Club, and Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah. She created a website www.LosingWeightAfterBaby.com to encourage moms with podcasts, videos, articles, eBooks, and the audiobook, Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You.
Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Arlene worked as the Associate Producer for Turning Point Television with Dr. David Jeremiah. She has also been an on-air features producer for The 700 Club. Arlene earned her BA in Intercultural Studies and Communication from Biola University and her Masters in Journalism from Regent University. She loves speaking to women at moms groups, seminars, and retreats. Arlene lives in San Diego with her husband James and three children, Ethan, Noelle, and Lucy.
You have a ministry designed for women who need to lose weight after giving birth, tell us how you got started in it?
I found myself in my mid-thirties, pregnant 5 times in a span of 6 years, so I had a lot of firsthand experience with gaining and losing baby pounds! Two of my pregnancies ended in miscarriage but they still involved gaining and losing weight. I noticed so many moms around me were discouraged and hopeless about ever shedding those last 10 (or so…) pounds. I wanted to develop something to help them recapture that hope and make healthy choices for themselves and ultimately for their children.
Why is losing weight after a baby so hard for many moms?
First, you feel entitled to eat. You’ve been caring for one or more kids all day, so it’s easy to turn to food for comfort and a pick-me-up. Next, you are pressed for time so you don’t plan your meals or exercise. That’s why so many moms end up in the drive thru which is a killer for losing weight. Then you look around and see that most of the moms you know haven’t lost their weight either. It’s easier to go with the flow then put out the effort it takes to lose the weight.
Arlene's newest-sweet Lucy at 3 months
Being a mom is a huge job in and of itself. How can women carve time out to take care of themselves when they are so focused on taking care of their child or children?
That’s a great question because many moms get stuck here. We are “mom martyrs,” doing everything for everyone else and thinking that is so noble. Being worn out as a mom doesn’t serve anyone. When you take time for yourself to exercise, you will be a better mom for your kids. You can exercise out of your home. For instance, I bought a used spin bike on Craigslist. I pump up the music and ride while my 5 & 3 year old run around the house and go crazy. They call it “exercise time!” and they love it. Learn to incorporate exercise into your family’s schedule and/or have times when the kids are watched and you work out maybe 1 or 2 times a week. In terms of food, when you make wise choices for yourself (an apple instead of a bag of chips), your kids will follow suit and that’s good for them.
What are some important facts for moms to remind themselves of in their quest to drop post-baby weight?
Nine months on, nine months off. Don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t all just fall off with nursing. Keep eating healthy and exercising until you reach your goal. Set small doable goals (lose 3 pounds this month) and long term goals (back to pre-pregnancy weight in 9 months). Losing weight is simple – mathematical really – to lose one pound a week, you’ve got to cut 3500 calories out. That’s 500 calories a day that you have to exercise away or skip eating. So losing weight is simple; but it’s not easy. It takes a lot of diligence and perseverance. Which is actually a selling point, because as you’re working on your waistline, you’re also working on self-control which is essential to mature as a Christian.
Any words of advice or encouragement for all women out there trying to reach or maintain a healthy weight?
Take small incremental steps and then celebrate your victories. If you love soda, try to skip 1 soda a week. And then the next week, skip 2 and so on. Make small incremental changes that you can live with. Meditate on meaningful Scriptures about dedicating your body to the Lord like Romans 12:1-2. Rehearse positive affirmations in your mind like “I am a healthy person and my best days are ahead of me.” Make losing weight as fun as possible by exercising with friends, having a biggest loser contest, and rewarding yourself for pounds lost (my rewards are massages from my husband). You can do it mom!
Now for the giveaway!
One of you will win her audiobook, Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You. For 31 days, you will receive a 5 minute audio message from Arlene in your email box to encourage you for the day. Daily action steps will give you direction and Arlene’s friendly style will keep you motivated and upbeat. All you have to do is listen for 5 minutes at your convenience on your computer, iPod or MP3 player!
More details about this wonderful feature can be found here: http://www.losingweightafterbaby.com/product_details.php?id=24
Okay gals, leave a comment checking in for the week or on a topic Arlene touched on above. You’ll be entered in the random drawing.
Have a wonderful week!
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