Sunday, May 23, 2010

HEART OF MY HEART: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

HEART OF MY HEART
365 Reflections on the Magnitude and
Meaning of Motherhood, A Devotional
BY KRISTIN ARMSTRONG

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Whether God is using Kristin to raise children or the children to grow Kristin, He is present in every moment and every page. This warm, real, and insightful devotional celebrates the journey of growth mothers take with their children. Since their births, Kristin realized she has "discovered more about myself and my God in the pursuit of discovering my children." Each entry in this 365-day devotional contains a Bible verse and a personal reflection from Kristin. It is on this intimate, daily walk that mothers can gain the courage to rely on God and emerge as a better woman.

About Author

Kristin Armstrong was married to cyclist Lance Armstrong for five years, raising their three children while living in France and Spain. She is the author of a children's book, Lance Armstrong: The Race of His Life, and a contributing editor for Runner's World magazine. Kristin is passionate about her Christian faith, her family, her friends, and her career. She speaks French and Spanish, is a marathon runner, and enjoys cooking, reading, painting, and traveling. Kristin now lives in Austin, Texas, with her family--her son, Luke, and twin daughters, Grace and Isabelle.

Audio and Video



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kristin Armstrong is the author of four books, a children’s book called Lance Armstrong: The Race of His Life, Happily Ever After: Walking with Peace and Courage Through a Year of Divorce, Strength for the Climb, and Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman’s Guide to Grace. Kristin is a monthly columnist for Tribeza magazine, and also a Contributing Editor for Runner’s World magazine and keeps a blog called Mile Markers at www.runnersworld.com.

Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, O – The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, Parentwise Austin, and The Austin American-Statesman. She is a regular contributor for Living Faith, a Catholic devotional. Her words have led to appearances on programs including The Today Show, Good Morning America, The 700 Club, Hour of Power at the Crystal Cathedral, Rachel Ray, and the Oprah Winfrey Show. Kristin is passionate about her faith, her family, her friendships, and her fitness. Her greatest pleasures are serving God, loving her children, and encouraging women to live authentic, healthy, faith-filled lives. Kristin loves to travel, cook, paint, read, hike, and run (she has completed six marathons). She and her three children Luke (9), Grace and Bella (7) live in Austin, Texas, and Santa Barbara, California.

MY REVIEW:

HEART OF MY HEART: 365 Reflections on the Magnitude and Meaning of Motherhood by Kristin Armstrong is a book that anyone would benefit from. I think mothers starting out would especially enjoy and benefit from it, but as a new grandmother myself, I found it also helped me after all these years to think about the daily devotionals Kristin Armstrong included in this book. The topics cover a wide range of interests and life experiences anyone can relate to in their own way. It is a small book physically and I liked that as it was easy to carry around and take with me on trips. Each of Armstrong’s entries, begins with a quote from the Bible and then she writes a brief devotional that one can think about and reflect on all day. With our lives so busy each day, Mothers especially can take this short amount of time to strengthen their reserve and their relationship with God. I found the book to be moving and motivational as Armstrong aims to have women use this book to help them strive to be the best mothers and women they can be.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO VALERIE AND THE GOOD
FOLKS AT THE HACHETTE BOOK
GROUP, I HAVE THREE COPIES OF
THIS LOVELY, INSPIRATIONAL
BOOK TO GIVEAWAY!


THE RULES:

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY



HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOME ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO NEW MOTHERS, OR IF YOU AREN'T A MOM, WHAT KIND OF ADVICE MIGHT YOU SEEK IF YOU WERE A MOTHER. IT CAN BE THEORETICAL OR PRACTICAL.

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY:
COMMENT ON IF YOU ARE A GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT FOLLOWER. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO FOLLOW IN OTHER WAYS, BUT AM ONLY LOOKING FOR CURRENT, OR NEW, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT FOLLOWERS AT THIS TIME AS AM TRYING TO GET TO 700

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JUNE 1

27 comments:

Edna said...

The way I raised my children was that I was always home when it was time for them to get there. I always checked their room for anything that should not be there, as I cleaned their rooms once a week. I raised them in church and never had anything in my house that I would not want them to use as alchol or cirgerattes, never smoked not drank anything stronget that soft drinks. I raised 3 sons and 1 daughter and they all are great adults, never had any problems with them at all.

Please enter me

mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

holdenj said...

I am a google friend connect follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

What I always remind someone with a newborn is how quickly they turn into 'infants' and to be sure to hold them and listen to those little newborn noises, when they're gone, they're gone!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Tea said...

+1 I would say to cherish all the days of their child's stages of growth. All too soon, they fly the nest. You miss them underfoot terribly.

teakettle58(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tea said...

+1 I tweeted about the giveaway from Bookin' for Bingo to http://twitter.com/Pinkpebbles1/

teakettle58(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nancye said...

Old, Old, OLD Follower via GFC :)

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/14580673399

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

My advice for a new mom would be to listen to all of the advice people give you and the follow your heart and do what YOU think is right for your chils.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

traveler said...

Raise your chidlren to be responsible and productive adults. Having values and principles are extremely important and don't rush them into becoming adults. You will miss them since life is fleeting. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Amy said...

I follow on Google reader

avennett AT verizon DOT net

Amy said...

Advice for new moms (wish I would have listened)....take a nap when you baby takes a nap!

Charleydog said...

My advice to any mother is to not undermine your child's confidence by commenting on their: big knees, funny nose, etc. Try to accentuate their good points, like their first-place standing at school, their sense of responsibility, etc. All lessons my mother could have learned.

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

Linda Kish said...

GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

My advice is all kids are different. Don't listen to everyone's advice. All kids learn and respond at their own rate, not your friend's kids rates.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Always try to live in the moment - before you know it - they are grown up and you'll miss out. Giving of your time and doing simple things is what they remember! I cherish my cuddle time with my nearly 7 year old - he still wants and needs me - or is it the other way around?!

Jann Rush
jann.rush@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

I would seek advice on what are the lessons you wish you could teach their children when they're young, before their old enough that they don't want to listen anymore :-)
june_spirit2628 at hotmail dot com

Suburban prep said...

I follow via Google reader.

Suburban prep said...

I do not have children but I have younger brothers and sisters who have young children. I know when to say yes and no to them. The children have to know who is in charge and that they are not running the roost.

msgb245 at gmail dot com

gcpeach17 said...

There is so much to learn and you keep on learning..sometimes too late. Love them, teach them, but, don't be afraid to let them amke mistakes and do not expect them to be perfect.

I'm a rather new follower via Google Reader even though I have been a book reader since very young.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

MarionG said...

I follow on GFC as MarionG.
polo-puppy-fluffy[at]hotmail[dot]com

MarionG said...

The advice I'd give a mom is decide how many children you'd prefer in advance and be open to change. When you have one child it doesn't seem like much and when you have a second it's not even double the work. However once you have that third child your work will quadruple. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's been my experience. There is no question though that children are worth it.
polo-puppy-fluffy[at]hotmail[dot]com

Elise said...

GFC follower
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Elise said...

I would seek advice on is what if your mother in law is adamant on how to raise my child and I don't agree. And how to not create a tension btw the two of us.
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I follow with GFC.
dianarod23 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

To appreciate the little details and cherish your kids when they are young because they grow up so fast.
And that it's ok to have lots of questions as a new mother, you have plenty of time to learn and grow.
dianarod23 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

GFC Follower
dakotasky55 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

To be a disciplinarian to an extent. But don't sweat the small stuff. If they dont clean their room, or get a C on one test, take it with a grain of salt because these things are not the most important things in life to worry about. You never know when it is someone's time to go.
dakotasky55 at gmail dot com

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