AND THE WINNER IS -----

Retha

OF 
Retha's Rambles 
#17
who left this comment on 
Play it Forward 2013 blog post
"Seems bloggers are getting back to making real contact with others again.  This almost reminds me of the "old" meme."

Retha please go to the original post about the give away here and select whether you want
Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel
Mystery of the Holy Spirit by A.W. Tozer
or
Humility by Andrew Murray

CONGRATULATIONS
and thank you for being a faithful reader and commenter of
PENLESS WRITER.

Mug Rugs

Winning a drawing of a lovely Blog give-away is always a treat.  So when Angie had a drawing in April for her darling Mug Rugs (isn't that the cutest name!) I was thrilled when my name was drawn.  Not only did she draw my name but she let me select the color Mug Rug I would like for her to make.  I requested blue and white.

Today the mailman brought me a parcel with these two darling Mug Rugs.  Each shape that Angie quilted on them is a different, cute design.  I especially like the tea cup.  Not only did she send me the prize of the Mug Rugs but she also sent the dainty hand-made counted cross-stitch book mark.  The amazing thing is that the verse she selected, Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, is the very verse  I have been using in the new Real Christianity small group class that I have just begun on May 6th.  I absolutely love the way God does things like that!!!!  She also included a cute lined paper note pad and a lovely hand written card.  

Thank you so very much Angie for all of it.

Now, I wish some blog friend would drop in so I could serve them coffee or tea and a pastry of some kind on my new Mug Rugs!!  Who might that turn out to be?????

Who doesn't like a FREE GIVEAWAY

My blog friend, Brenda, has just started a new blog which is called B.E. Creative.  Now, you can see by that "creative" name just how creative Brenda is!!  So go here and find out all about it.  Trust me you won't be disappointed.

I "meet" Brenda not too long after starting my blog 5 years ago.  October, 2008, when my husband and I made a trip to Flagstaff, AZ, where we had married, to celebrate our 50th Anniversary I had contacted Brenda ahead of time about meeting her in REAL life.  It was a wonderful REAL connection.  One thing I remember most is her relaying to us that she had told her husband something about hoping I wasn't an ax murderer, or something to that effect!!!  One thing you'll learn about Brenda very quickly is she is not only very creative but she has a wonderful sense of humor.

Grace, Sunny, Brenda, Susan - October 2, 2008 

See, I even have the proof!!!

Back to the FREE GIVEAWAY.  She is having a 20 Day Spring Fling and is going to have a drawing on the first day of Spring for one of her CREATIONS.  Sooooooo- Go on over, check her out, and put your names in her pots for a change to win.

Finally in the mail

Six days after announcing the two winners for the above book, I have finally gotten them ordered and they are on their way.....

ONE to my dear friend, Retha, from South Africa

and

THE SECOND to my new friend, Sylvia, from the United Kingdom.  Just learned that Sylvia has been reading Penless but a lurker.  Ginger introduced me officially in early November of last year. 

The books are scheduled to arrive in each location between March 2 and March 22.  Sorry it is taking so long :o( but trust the wait will be worth it.

Retha also shared the following information on her recent post which I did not know and found so very interesting:

"It is a book written by Andrew Murray on prayer. Andrew Murray was a preacher in South Africa. I am aware that he was instrumental in many being saved. But have never read anything he wrote. I have heard of his words;

"May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love, and joy of God's presence."

In 2009 we visited the house where he grew up. It is now a period museum. His father was a preacher. I am not certain if he had one or two brothers who also became preachers.

He was the first president of the YMCA

In a sense this book is coming home. Home to its origin, also home to have a piece of Mrs. Susan whom I hope to meet some day."

Yes, Retha, in a sense the book is coming home and I, too, hope to meet you some day.

5 YEAR BLOGGOVERSARY AWARD

Drum roll please!!!

After 21 days of posting, I was too busy painting the bathroom to get the 22nd day posted on Thursday, the 26th, I celebrated my 5th year of blogging by drawing the winning name.

Having to do it the "old fashioned" way, and knowing I didn't want to get to the end of this and have to be writing down a lot of names I first drew out a grid on paper.  Each day I would enter the names of those who left comments on that post.

Yesterday, I took the sheets and first cut the strips apart. Then I cut each little square, with the name in it......

and dropped them in this basket.  I stirred them up a lot and then went in and asked Mickey to draw a name, holding the basket up where he could not see in it.  He had to give them one last stir before he drew the name!

And the winner is!!!!!!

RETHA who is from South America.

Retha began blogging in February, 2007 and we have become good friends through our blogging. 

Retha I'll be sending you an e-mail to verify your address. 

Congratulations!!!  I hope this book

Andrew Murray on PRAYER

blessing you as much as it has blessed me over the last 12 years.

-----------------------------

As a little surprise, which I did not tell any of you up front, I was planning to also send a copy of Andrew's book to the person who left me the most comments.......

So that book will be sent to

SYLVIA

(Sylvia was someone I didn't know - or at least I thought I didn't until I followed the link - HI!!!)

Sylvia please send me an e-mail with your address.

--------------------------

Thanks to all of you who read my blog this month and left me comments.  I truly appreciate it. 

BLOGGING Anniversary & Give Away

I begin this year wanting to get back into a regular routine of blogging. I remember those first years and what a close connection was being established with so many of us in the blog world.  I think there are many of us that desire to see that fervor return.  I'm going to do my part in posting, reading and commenting. 

As I was thinking on this I realized I will celebrate my 5th anniversary of blogging on the 27th of this month!

It never ceases to amaze me what an adventure blogging turned out to be for me.  When I began I remember thinking, "Who cares what an old 69 year old grandma has to say?".  Praise God even at 74 there are still people reading and caring.

I have been blessed to have met 12 wonderful blog friends in "real" life and am believing that I will get to meet more of you this year.  Everyone of the 12 have been everything I thought they would be and more. 
 What a fantastic treat it always is. 

So------to celebrate my 5th Anniversary I am going to be giving away a copy of one of my all time favorite books, Andrew Murray on Prayer.

I read this book, for the first time, back in 2000 and it was and still is such a blessing to my life and my walk with Christ.

Starting today - the name of every one who leaves a comment, telling me what they liked or didn't like about that days post, will be added into the drawing pot.  There are 23 days between now and then so you can get your name in the pot 22 times, if you are faithful to read and comment on the post.  I will record each days comment names when I get up the following day.  In other words, all who comment on this post today will be added to the pot in the morning.  So, you can't "cheat" by coming on a week from now and commenting on the past days post.  Oh, and by the way....this is my second post for today so you can get your name in the pot twice today!!! :o)

The cut-off time for the drawing will be 9 p.m. on January 26th and I will announce the winner here on the 27th. 

Here's to renewing old friendships and making some new ones.

Happy New Years!!!

A FABULOUS GIFT

What a wonderful gift I just won from a free give-away that my long time blog friend, Barbara, from London did.  How blessed I was to win this, as it is certainly an item I would NEVER have had otherwise.

Barbara and I became friends soon after I began my blog way back on January 21, 2007.  Wow, hard to believe that has been 4+ years.   Be sure and check our Barbara's blog, Ramblings From An English Garden from the link above.

Thank you Barbara for such a great give-away and for drawing my name.  I will certainly treasure this very English tea towel gift of Catherine & Prince William. Trust me it will NEVER dry a tea cup!!!

/

A GREAT GIVE-AWAY

If you'd like a chance to win this beautiful pendant then go here to put your name in the drawing.

I don't participate a lot in blogging about other people's give-aways but this is such a lovely, very unique piece that I wanted to do so today. Hope one of us wins!!!!! :o)

A GIVE AWAY with a BIG purpose!

Charity at Life with the Hildebrands is doing a giveaway that you don't want to miss.

See the cool new way that you can be involved in helping those in less privileged nations. You really have to see it for yourself at Get Bridged.

A SPECIAL GIVE-AWAY

One of my favorite blog friends, Maxine, is having a lovely Day Star giveaway at her Unspeakable Gifts web site.

Isn't this lovely?

If you love and appreciate Day Star products as much as I do, go here to participate in this Give Away.

THE WINNER IS????

Thanks so much to the 37 of you that left me comments on my 400th post and the give away of THE SHACK to celebrate. Out of the 37 comments 30 of you wanted to be in the drawing.

I know many of you use some fancy, blog stuff that selects the winning number for you but since I don't know how to do that Mickey & I once again did it the old fashioned way. I wrote down all the 30 names on a note pad with the numbers 1 through 30. Then we made little slips of paper with the 30 numbers on them and put them in our little basket and Mickey got to mix them all up and then draw the winner.

The winning # was 13 and that was Michelle of .Franzenfam. Michelle is my sweet, young missionary wife and mother of 3 serving in South Africa. She is also a blog friend that I got to meet when she and her husband were in Tulsa last year. Please e-mail me your address Michelle and THE SHACK will soon be on it's way to you.

Wish I had 30 of them to send you each a copy :o(

A GIFT OF BEAUTY FROM GERMANY

Anita from My Country Cottage Garden had a drawing of seeds from her beautiful Lupin flowers shown here. I was one of the three fortunate winners of the drawing and found out on August 3.

"And now, may I proudly present the three winners of my blue lupine seeds! The lucky winners are:
Jeanette from Australia over at Jen & Cazz's Chronicles
Susan from the US over at Penless Writer
Monika, my compatriot from Germany over at Country Living in the City"

Yesterday this letter came to Oklahoma all the way from Anita in Germany!!!

I was so excited when I saw it in the mail box and knew it was my seeds. Imagine.........!!!!!! If you had told me prior to January 31, 2007, when I began my blog, that I would be receiving Lupine seeds from a friend, Anita, in Germany I must tell you .....I would not have believed you. This is just one more example of this wonderful Blogland and the blessings that have come my way.

Anita sent the seeds in the lovely little package that says "To everything there is a season" in a little Teddy Bear Angel packet. Isn't that cute? This little packet was in the larger Teddy Bear packet in the upper left hand corner with her hand written "For Susan from Anita's Country Cottage Garden". As if this wasn't enough, she also blessed me with a Teddy Bear book marker that reads "In the garden of life, friends are the flowers in bloom" There was also a nice, laminated plant marker included that I failed to get a picture of.




Anita also included a hand written note & instructions that read " Important: Soak them in water overnight. This will make the seeds swell up and start the growth of the seed. Best wishes from Germany, Anita. P.S. I hope you'll like the little bookmark, too."

Once again, "But my God (who) shall supply all your (my) need (and above) according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19 What an awesome, wonderful, above what we can hope, dream or expect God we serve.

I really don't have the words, Anita, to tell you what a wonderful blessing this is me. I hope and trust sometime in the future to be able to post a beautiful picture of my lovely Blue Lupine all the way from Germany. Who'd of thunk it!!!!!