Friday December 11, 2009
The books have gone and are going out in shifts. I was amazed to hear that some people received their books in two days via media mail! So much for taking two weeks!
Now I’d love to hear from you! Just for fun, I’m opening a small contest / giveaway.
On Thanksgiving Day I played “Apples to Apples” for the first time. It was fun and frustrating at the same time. I love words; but being at the mercy of someone’s subjective connotations to them doesn’t allow any helpful strategy unless you know the people extremely well. I’ve tried and tried to think of a way to make this contest less like “Apples to Apples” and so far I haven’t come up with any good ways. So if you, like me, need strategy, I give you full permission to growl at these very vague rules.
In case you haven’t been here before, here is “My Brother’s Keeper” and here is “We Build A House”
To enter this giveaway:
Blog something about your books along with a link back to this post. This can be a photo, a video clip, something your child said (this includes funny stories or “read it again, Mommy,” or anything else you want to include), your own impressions about the books, or what you are planning to do with them (one person is planning to take them along to her photography class).
Come back to this post and comment telling me where you featured your presentation.
You do not have to be on xanga to enter this and if you don’t have a blog and want to enter, feature it elsewhere and let me know where.
Here’s where the apples to apples part comes in. The entry that creates the most “awwww” factor for me wins. (David shook his head when he heard this and said, “I think you should have a male judge.”) But hey, this is just for fun!
The winner receives his or her choice of
A: A set of the two books
— or —
B: A $10 Starbucks card (unless you win and hate coffee, in which case you and I will find a mutually agreeable place to get your $10 card).
I love reasoning and debate so help me out as the entries come in and lobby for the one you think should win.
To help you get started, here are a few things that have already made my heart go flip flop flip:
1. Benjamin’s grandmother (referring to, “My Brother’s Keeper”) said, “This sounds so much like them. I feel like I’m talking to their family.” I am pretty sure this will always and forever go down in my record of the highest compliment ever. Be glad she’s not on xanga or we’d already know who will win. š
2. The print broker’s dad who read, “My Brother’s Keeper,” and said, “This is an excellent book.” Choice words. Especially from one who sees thousands of books.
3. Miss Carolyn, who said, “Thank you for using your talents for GOD. I see, and you too have seen, so much of the opposite. It’s sickening.” I have her note taped onto my refrigerator.
And while these aren’t entry type things, I’m just going to add them because they are were such sweet little extras that made me smile. Sometimes, especially if you read the news or other popular pessimists, it’s easy to believe that everyone is out to get everyone else’s throat. That nothing except “myself to the top” matters in anyone anymore. It’s just all so dire. When we went shopping on Black Friday I was expecting shoplifting, selfish people shoving, and stampedes. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to see more graciousness and smiles then usual. (Ok, maybe it helped that I was at the mall, not Wal*Mart; but still!) So here’s my little applause to the people in the world who are doing positive things. Several people sent checks rounded up or handed over a $20 and said, “Keep the change.” I went slack-jawed the first time (that was you, Audrey!) because in this Christmas Season you always hear about people getting a little stretched and I was not expecting it (and it wouldn’t have been like me to do it, shame on me). Then it happened again, and again. A few other people sent cards or notes. Here are my two favorites that will definitely stay as keepers. One, because I love these angels. Two, because it is handmade and so pretty. 
Back on subject, I will leave this contest open until January 10th. That way, no one will be left out in the event of a slow postal system. Can’t wait to hear from you!
I have not read the books, but i hope to soon!! I’ll be happy to put this give away up on AMOMMYMADEIT.com. We have a give away going For the TIME KEEPERS Planner, I think it is going good so far!!
So did I mess up by ordering from the catalogue? I was making a larger order and added your books in with it. I’m looking forward to reading them with my children.
@tea_lady –
nope, you can still enter if you bought through Vision directly; but please link back to me on your entry.
@r4valilswitz –
Sure you can link it
@smilesbymiles –
It is linked!!
Our boys are getting their for our family Christmas on the 19th so I’m glad you are keeping this open for a little while and that I know it ahead of time so I can capture it and remember it. š
We all read the books the same day they came. That’s me and my 4 older kids, ages 16-21. “My Brother’s Keeper” was all of our favorite, even had Shanna and I in tears. Shane wanted to know what disease he has?? You did an awesome job! Adam’s book is great too, but the other one touches your heart! Btw, I loved the way, Adam also autograghed his book! š
OK, I bought these books as gifts but as soon as they came I had to read them, then the kids saw them and it was all over. They LOVE the books! These books are coffee table quality and they are going to be on mine. That is saying something because I really dislike clutter and the lamp is about all that stays on the coffee table whan I get to cleaning up. š
@Marita_Jo –
@yodertime –
Great stuff here, you guys, but you did see that you have to post it on your own blog for a valid entry? Just wanting to make sure so you don’t miss out on the fun if you want to join.
Yep. I know. Just wanted to give you some warm fuzzies now, not wait till I get around to blogging:D.
ok, can you send me your address again so I can put my check in the mail in the morning- somehow, I lost it:). thanks so much. I would like both books… refresh my memory on the amount too, please. – shanna
Experience stories are such great learning tools. Your books are just that. We had two children with hearing impairments. We would record real life situations with a drawing and a few sentences to develop language with them. One example I remember was making mashed potatoes- drawing a picture of the child on the chair watching the process, adding milk and butter. Your books are a deluxe version of the notebook we used. Now we have a grandson who is hearing impaired. I am eager to show the books to him as well as my other grandchildren. Since we are scattered this hasn’t happened yet.
Photography is certainly a selling aspect of your books. Blessings on your journey. I was librarian for a Christian school in the past. I was always looking for true to life books versus books that are “imaginary”. I will recommend your books. And yes, they are on my coffee table too! Good conversational pieces!
it is fun reading all the comments and seeing pics of people enjoying your books! We want to get one of each sometime in the near future. (for sure before your first printing is sold out! š sounds like they are flying out of there!
Good job! I am so happy for you!
I haven’t gotten the books yet; must be a really slow postal system. š And, secondly, I hope you were not under the impression that I actually made the card, because it was a hostess gift from a girl who was here with a chorus. Her mom made a little pack of cards for everyone she stayed with on the chorus tour. So, it is handmade and very pretty, but the credit goes to a person I don’t know the name of. š
@ewaldro –
Hmmm. Yours got shipped the 15th. Maybe tomorrow? And to whoever made the card, very pretty! But it honestly looks like something you might have done so you can still feel honored. š
Did I do the linking properly Michelle? I posted it on my xanga site with a link back to here. Is it ok if I add some pics later. I have some good pics of when they got the books but they are on my MOm’s camera. Or would it be better to enter another xanga entry?
@Becuz_of_Jesus –
You did that perfectly and aaaawwwww it is SO cute! You can put stuff in the same entry. The entry that wins is going to have each component thought of as a separate entry. Like what your boys said about it is one component and the pictures are another. Oh, my goodness that is just TOO cute that they are acting it out!!!!
Thanks Michelle! You did such a good job!!!
I cried when I read “My Brother’s Keeper”. Jeanne and I were pg together and comparing stories. Later comparing our babies. Then they began to notice something was wrong. I cried because it could have been us, and they have made the sacrifices so beautifully – could I have done that if it had been our Jessenia instead of their Benjamin? My tears were tears of sorrow for what could have been and tears because of the beauty of how they live with it and love him unconditionally.
I could have a fit I just got done reading those 2 books recently to my youngest.Tealady just got them for our church library and I had no clue until now that you wrote them!!!!The one about lets build a house was very interesting to him, esp. of litlle boys and ladders!!! Now it makes me want to go check them out again and REALLY look at the pictures as I feel like I should know you at least slightly!!!
BTW, they were very well done!! For some reason I couldn’t pull my other post back to add this to that!
Mine is up here.
Michelle. These pictures (of the children) were taken before the contest was announced. So, they aren’t very “dressed up” or hair combed! ha! Anyway, we are really enjoying these books! My dad gave us another set for Christmas! =) Here’s my link… http://clearlyhis.xanga.com/weblogpreview
Michelle, I’ll try that link again here
http://clearlyhis.xanga.com/719696782/new-series-of-childrens-books/
I just had to post another blog on these books. I guess if I’m the only one then I don’t need to worry about competition and I can post as much as I want right.:) What a bummer though I thought you would have tons of pics and posts to go through!
Thanks for allowing me the fun of entering š Please don’t select me as the winner, on the slight chance that you might want to. I feel kinda like someone who cheated in the game! The others deserve them more, but I had fun dreaming. In fact, I am scheming of a way to get them without breaking my rules about buying books! I’ll contact you sometime to let you know what I’m thinking! Have fun picking a winner!
@richlyblest –
I’m thinking we need to get these on Amazon! š