Monday, March 29, 2010

Prayers Heavenward (and a giveaway)

Benjamin woke with a fever. With a touch to his head, I knew my list of plans for the day would be shortened.  Instead of tackling the cleaning I had been neglecting in my weeks of morning sickness, I put down the broom and picked up my boy.  He asked for grapes for breakfast so I settled him on the floor with his bowl and went to sneak my hands into the soapy dishwater.  But before I could scrub a fork or a glass, little feet toddled in and little arms reached up for me.  Having grown quite independent since turning one, I can't say I minded the extra snuggles so we retired to the couch and a pile of books. 

Burning head rested on my chest and warm fingers caressed mine as we opened the first page of  This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano.  The other children joined us before a word had been uttered.  Owen snuggled on my left and the older two squeezed in around the edges.  We let the simple words of this prayer-poem quiet our hearts.  Gentle illustations (by Mark Elliot) brought smiles as we absorbed the words and Mama held onto a few lines and whispered them over her feverish boy. 


When I feel all mixed up,
unsure of what to do,
please show me what the right path is
and help me follow you.


 
The words flowed as the prayers of request turned into prayers of thanksgiving and we turned our eyes away from our own needs and focused on all that He had given on this spring day. 


But most of all I'm grateful
for your love that never ends.


We neared the end of the book and my sick boy nuzzled close.  I kissed his wispy hair.


Please love me God, forevermore.
That's all I want.
Amen.


And Benjamin, still settled back against me, piped up his baby voice, "Amen."

*****

To order a copy of you own, click here.  Or enter to win a copy for your little ones.  There are three ways to earn an entry:
  • Earn 1 entry by leaving a comment describing your favorite place to read.
  • Earn 1 entry by blogging about this contest. Don't forget to leave a separate comment with the link to your post.
  • Earn 1 entry by sharing this contest with your Facebook or Twitter friends. Again, be sure to leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
Giveaway ends Saturday, April 10 at 9 pm ET. Open to U.S. readers only.


 


This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

32 comments:

  1. My favorite place to read with my son is on our couch. My favorite place to read by myself is anywhere quiet :)

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  2. Way to Average...but I read to the kids from Hubby's recliner. I'm usually nursing Judah. Wesley sits on one side of me on a blanket, TJ on the other. Connor and Korinne share the couch. Ben is in his playpen (usually falling asleep), and Kylie plops down in the Rocking Chair.

    *I* read wherever/whenever I can. Really.

    The book looks Wonderful. I'll try and put a post up tomorrow (but my In-Laws are coming for a 4 day visit). So, if I don't get to it soon, I'll post Friday Evening. I Twitter, but not well. I'll try and figure it out:)

    Hope your Little One is feeling Better soon.
    ~Kathi

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  3. We read lots of places, but my favorite is snuggled in bed at the end of the day. I wish you all a swift recovery.

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  4. I posted about it...I combined it with a few other tidbits...hope that is OK.

    Have a good week.

    ~Kathi

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  5. My favorite place to read is either the front porch on a spring or fall day or my bathtub!!

    Christie
    ropp(dot)5@wright(dot)edu

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  6. I love to read in bed right before I go to sleep.

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  7. Our favorite place to read is the couch, where everyone can snuggle in together.
    a_heart4home[at]yahoo[dot]com

    We hope Benjamin is feeling better :)

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  8. I tweeted here
    http://twitter.com/heart4home/status/11374888742

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  9. blogged here:

    http://a-heart4home.blogspot.com/2010/03/this-little-prayer-of-mine-book.html

    a_heart4home[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  10. I also did a review of this book and FELL IN LOVE WITH IT!!!!!!! My 3 and 4 year olds have memorized the words and now read it to ME! They won't let me read it anymore! =) It's a great book. I was so honored to have read and reviewed it!

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  11. My favorite place to red is in my little girl's bedroom, next to her crib, while she sits in my lap. Nothing beats it!
    egreca (at) hotmail {dot} com

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  12. My daughter's favorite place to read is sitting in my lap.

    inman@Mobap.edu

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  13. My favorite place to read with my son is in the rocker. He's one and he loves when I read and sing to him. We do this everyday maybe 3 times a day. :)

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  14. Oops, I forgot to write my email address: shondaet@gmail.com

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  15. What an uplifting giveaway, my granddaughter attends church with us every Sunday, she would love this little book. I read to Carley before bedtime on Thursday and Saturday evenings when she spends the night.

    For myself, I read right before bed....I'm reading a sad book right now so I find myself crying....

    Donna
    dwarrington1@gmail.com

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  16. I love to read and pray under a weeping willow that is buy a fountain/pond in a park near my house . . . with my little baby cooing on the blanket beside me :)

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  17. I love to read to my daughter in her bed.

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  18. I love cuddling up on the couch to read, with one on each side.

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  19. I love reading to Brea at bedtime so my favorite place to read would have to be bed!
    dreamweaver21us(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  20. I like to snuggle with Sidney in the recliner by the fireplace. In summer I add candles to the fireplace and it makes it so peaceful.

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  21. I tweeted http://twitter.com/cstironkat/status/11511977632

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  22. My favorite place to read is curled up next to my son in his bed for bedtimes stories. If i am reading on my own, I like to do it on our loveseat while covered with a cozy warm blanket.

    kerrie@mayansfamily.com

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  23. I like to read in bed or if I'm reading to the kids, I like to read in the recliner :-)

    khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  24. My favorite place to read is in our family room
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Amy B.
    adennispac@Yahoo.com

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  25. My favorite place to read is either on the couch in the living room or snuggled with the kids on a bed before bedtime

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  26. Here is the link to my blog posting.
    http://my-art-full-life.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-contest-to-enter.html

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  27. My favorite place to read is in the glider in my daughter's room, with her in my lap.

    zaydainjapan at yahoo dot com

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  28. I'd love this for my daughter! We like to read in bed...

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/04/this-little-prayer-of-mine_4716.html

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  29. My favorite place is my recliner in the family room.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  30. When its nice outside, we enjoy reading under a big shady tree that we have in our yard, if its not nice out then in the library room in the big comfy chair.

    unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

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  31. I like to read in bed before I go to sleep.

    Wendy
    ebeandebe at gmail dot com

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