Thursday, September 23, 2010

Simple Pleasures Carnival Winner

I’d planned to choose the carnival winner last night and announce her this morning because I knew I had a busy day ahead. But then my daughter came to me last night after church with a page of math problems that all looked something like this:

3a - 8(2a +5b) - (a-7b) = ___________

In chapter 4 of my new book It's No Secret I confess that fractions, equations and I just don't mix. Apparently, my daughter takes after me – we spent 2 hours completing that worksheet.  And a couple of them we never did figure out! So I crawled into bed with coefficients swirling through my head and then hit the ground running this morning with an early morning meeting with my insurance agent – he’s a lot better with numbers than me.  Thank God.

What a simple pleasure it was to cruise around all of your blogs this week and read what you wrote.  There were inspiring posts, thought-provoking posts, posts that planted scripture in my mind, posts that gave me fun ideas, posts that made me nod in agreement, and posts that made me think what a blessing it is to have cyber friends. My thanks to each of you for sharing!

And I hope it had the same overall effect on you as it did me – I enjoyed this week more intensely and more  intentionally. I savored my pumpkin spice latte.  I decorated for fall. I took a bubble bath. I met my hubby for a middle-of-the-work-day lunch.  I enjoyed being outdoors. And even my morning quiet time took on an intensified pleasure.

It was hard to choose a winner. Often I do this with a random drawing.  Occasionally I do it based on “writing merit.” This time I did it just with prayer and the intuition of my heart. So the winner is Heidi.  Congrats Heidi, email me your address so I can get the book out to you. If you didn’t win, I hope you’ll order the book anyway – you can read it outdoors by the pond while the dog swims, you can read it on Saturday mornings under your quilt on the porch, you can read it in a bubble bath, or discuss it with friends over a once-a –month girlfriend’s breakfast with tea (just don’t forget the spoons in the cups).

 Thankful for all 23 of you who participated!

10 comments:

  1. Thank you Rachel for having the blog carnival. It was so much fun reading everyone's posts, but it was also fun reading the comments that were left on each others blogs and the little something different everyone took away from doing this. I can't wait to find out what the next topic will be about.

    Thank you again.

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  2. I have your book and finished Chapter 2 today. You have a very unique way of writing that keeps your attention. I would recommend this book to everyone based on the two chapters I've read and I love the cover.

    Congratulations to the winner of your new book. She is in for a pleasant surprize.

    May God continue to use you as one of His writers.

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  3. Thanks Rachel for this "assignment." I have so enjoyed making new bloggie friends!
    Blessings to you and yours~

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  4. Thank you Rachel, I looked forward to drinking my coffee and spending time with Sisters in Christ every morning.

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  5. My pleasure, girls!

    Alice - so glad you are enjoying my book.

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  6. Thanks Rachel, I loved reading the blogs and making new friends. I am looking forward to the next one.

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  7. Thank you Rachel! The carnival was so much fun and I loved reading all the other "Simple Pleasures"!
    Congratulation to Heidi and I will be ordering the book today from
    P31!

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  8. Rachel, thanks so much for the devotion carnival!

    I loved what a great writing exercise this was by having a prompt. As always, reading others' devotions was encouraging, and I also benefited from viewing others' devotions from a writing standpoint!

    Thank you again, and I can't wait until next month's topic.

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  9. So glad to find you here. I'll be back again.

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  10. I posted your devo on my fb page. Praying it will encourage others.

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