Survey/Christmas Giveaway Winner Announced!

You really should check out the goods at The Open Arms Shop

Last week, I opened a Christmas Giveaway here on the blog.  Saturday at noon, Central Time, the giveaway and the survey involved officially closed.  THANK YOU for stopping by and for giving me your thoughts about this blog and answering some questions about yourself.  This information is truly gold for me as I look to the next year of blogging and plan to write about things that you are actually interested in rather than things I just happen to be excited about.  

Hey, I can get excited over bugs, write lame poetry and take an obscene amount of pictures...but maybe you're not looking for that...or maybe you are?!  Time will tell as I write and share more in the coming year.  Your opinion and your thoughts matter to me.  Thanks, friends!

If you skimmed over that last paragraph to just know who won...then wait no longer...

The winner of the Christmas Giveaway is...

CARRIE!  

Carrie, please shoot me an email at ordinaryalina@gmail.com to let me know whether you would like to receive a scarf (red or white) or a kilo of some awesome coffee from Hillkoff.  Also, let me know the type of roast you prefer.  Are you a dark roast kinda girl or someone who likes keeping life and her coffee a little lighter?  I will never know...unless you tell me.  THANKS!

As for the rest of you who come to read...there will be more opportunities to win goodies that I will most undoubtedly offer.  Who doesn't like a giveaway?  Stuff for free?  I'm game.  

But, of course, until then...I will be living life here in Thailand and telling you all about it and about the people and places we live around.  Keep dropping by!


Blessings!
Alina

ps, if you are still interested in taking my survey (a whopping FIVE questions)...let me know in the comments or shoot me an email. I would really appreciate it!

GIVEAWAY - Just In Time For Christmas! - A Survey

Who doesn't like a GIVEAWAY?

This week here at Ordinary Life in the Wild, I am hosting a giveaway just in time for Christmas.  If you have read for years now, or are visiting for the first time, you are welcome to join in the fun!  By fun, I mean a bribe of sorts...

In order to get a better idea of what my readers (that would be you) enjoy whenever they visit here, I created a poll!  And, while most of you are busy with your...well, busy lives...I thought I would give you a little incentive to fill out the survey form and enlighten me a little bit in the process.  

Of course, you can always fill out this survey to bless me with no strings attached...but it would be more fun to win one of these instead:

A handmade scarf made from recycled t-shirts...by refugees living in Austin, TX. And, in pretty holiday colors...(click here to read more about the makers at Open Arms)

Or, a kilo of coffee from these people at Hillkoff coffee in Thailand (our every-day choice to fill our mugs!!):

So, what do you have to do to enter for a chance to win one of these awesome gifts?  Fill out the form below (please be truthful and please please enter at least your first name so I know who to gift once this is over!)...by noon on December 14th (this Saturday!).  Thank you SO MUCH for helping me become a better blogger and giving me an opportunity to bless you, my readers, in the process! (If you are having trouble with the survey through my site, click here for direct access on PollDaddy).

Giveaway Winner For What's On My Bookshelf - Parenting Books

WE HAVE A WINNER for this month's book giveaway!

I posted a few weeks ago about what's on my parenting bookshelf...you can read that post by clicking here...and I asked my readers to comment with the titles they wanted to read and any other books that I didn't mention.  The response was encouraging!  Thank you, all of you who read and all that entered the giveaway!  I hope to have more like it in the future...so keep coming back to check for them! 

I counted up all the entries and entered my number in the random number generator and discovered that Katie was our winner for this giveaway!  Read her winning comment below:

___________________________________________________________________________________

Katie Friesen

 

I've read 'Raising Godly Tomatoes' by Elizabeth Krueger (it's cheapest on her website... http://www.raisinggodlytomatoe... ) and appreciate her approach to discipline, especially when it comes to the littlest ones and their new-found independence. Her advice in the book has helped make transitions through the "terrible two's" not so terrible and she's given Godly advice in other areas of training children (how to sit quietly in church, etc).

You mentioned Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp. He also does a audio series along with Todd Friel (http://www.wretchedradio.com/s... called Drive By Parenting. It's fabulous. They are 31 lectures, each lecture being around 15 mins, giving a good overview of various topics, answered Biblically. Our family has really benefited from them. I go back to these audio clips over and over again.

'Creative Family Times: Practical Activities for Building Character' by Allen Hadidian and Will Wilson. Some things they suggest borderline "cheesy" :) but 90% of what's in there has been very useful! One thing I really like is how they instill a verse of scripture to go along with every life choice "Wisdom" has a verse, "Obeying your parents" has a verse, etc, so children are taught to think of Scripture when they encounter daily choices.

And while this isn't a parenting book (as in helping train your child) I have really appreciated "Shopping for Time" by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, and Janelle Bradshaw. Instead of it being a book about child-training, it's more about mom-training...and I've seen what I've learned and are now modeling to be influencing my boys too.

___________________________________________________________________________________


Congratulations, Katie!  Email me your mailing address or email address (if you choose your book to be in e-book form) so I can send your book right away!  Oh yeah, what book did you mention you wanted to read?  In your other comment, you listed A Love That Multiplies by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar.

Happy reading!

And, thanks again to all of you who stop by here to read and connect a bit with our sometimes wild, sometimes ordinary life here in the wild of Thailand!

Love, Alina

Giveaway!: What's On My Bookshelf - Parenting Books

UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY HAS BEEN CLOSED.  THE RESULTS WILL POST SOON.

This is a giveaway post!  Details are listed at the bottom!  Happy reading!

 

My new friend, K, asked me a few weeks ago about the parenting books that I have read and would recommend.  I started to list out a few when another friend, Wendy, who was sitting nearby, said that I should just post it here at the blog.  Genius.  As a mom with three kids (who hasn't run away to live in the wilderness by herself and refer to herself in the third person like a madwoman...oops...just did that), I have had this question asked of me more than a few times.  I love to read, and although I don't do everything that I have read about, parenting books really help to guide my methods and attitude about being a mom who doesn't just survive, but thrive.  Not sure yet if I am quite in the "thriving" stage, but we can always hope for that.  I have been influenced by all the books I'm about to list out, and writing a thorough book review about each one would take hours I don't have...so if you have any more questions about a particular title, comment below or email me at ordinaryalina@gmail.com and perhaps I can remember why I liked it so much! 

On the bookshelf in the picture above (left to right):

The Holy Bible - I can't go on without listing this first.  I simply would be sunk as a mom without the Bible.  If you have no spare change and no friends who can lend you their own parenting books, at least please pour over the Scriptures and see what God Himself has to say about how to be a great parent and how to raise your kids in the ways He sees as best.  I guarantee you will not be led astray.  Seems to be without saying, but for some of us, we can skip over the Bible and get onto the books with lists like: "10 Ways To Not Screw Up Your Child" and such.  Those don't hold a candle to the Bible.  Grab a good concordance and search for words like "mother, father, child, train, discipline, raise, love."  That's a good place to start.  And, if you hate the concordance, then just read through Proverbs (one chapter a day for a month is a great plan) and write down/highlight everything that has to do with parenting.  There's a LOT!

The American Academy of Pediatrics: Caring for your baby and young child, Birth to age 5 - This is a great resource that I have poured over three times now and that I refer to especially in the first two years of my kids' lives.  I disagree with a lot of their later year parenting theories/techniques (IE: their issues with discipline), but this is a great book to have when the Internet isn't working and you need some answers fast! 

Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas - I love his Sacred Marriage book, too!

No Greater Joy (Volumes 1-3) by Michael and Debi Pearl - Some people love 'em, some people don't, but the Pearls have led their five children well by my observations!  Of course, we're not BFF's, but I base my opinion off of their children's own testimonies!  I love how these three books get practical and real in their letter/answer format.  There's an article for just about every situation.  Give the Pearls a chance and read these books!

A Survivor's Guide to Homeschooling by Luanne Shackelford & Susan White - I realize this isn't simply about parenting, but it is a great mix of that and how to balance homeschooling in the midst of parenting!  I got this book for free this summer and would have paid double the retail price for it.  I loved it!  (It was printed over twenty years ago, so the sections on curriculum are quite outdated, FYI).

Created for Work: Practical Insights for Young Men by Bob Shultz - I actually haven't read this one yet!  But, I ordered it a few months ago because the title intrigued me so much.  With two boys who struggle sometimes with a motivation to work, I am excited to learn from this book!

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic - This is a hilarious, Christian parenting book written by a mom with 5 kids 5 yrs. and under.  Enough said.

The Joy of Training DVD by Michael and Debi Pearl - OK, this isn't a book, but I think it is incredibly helpful resource from the Pearls.  It brings their other book, To Train Up A Child, to life in a way that's easier to understand and adds a warmth to their message.  I highly recommend it!

E-books on my Kindle:

A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make It Work by Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar - I love this book so much!  Whether or not you approve of how (wonderfully!) large the Duggar family is, if you have ever seen their show on TLC or read their books, you can observe that they really know how to parent well.  Their kids not only behave well, but seem to sincerely love Jesus as they grow up.  It is beautiful to see and read about their journey. 

The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart For Eternity by Sally Clarkson - I am currently reading this book and am excited to read more, as this book comes highly recommended from several different friends and sources. 

Training Children to Be Strong In Spirit by Michael Pearl - This is the newest parenting book from No Greater Joy and I loved it.  The foundation is very biblical and he pulls from tons of real-life stories from training his own kids to not only be self-controlled (which is not our chief aim!), but to be strong in their spiritual relationship with the Lord.

Books are currently being lent out:

Don't Make Me Count to Three! by Ginger Plowman - This one isn't on my bookshelf because it is currently being lent out, but it is one of my TOP favorite parenting books!  It has been called the practical (unofficial) sequel to Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp.  If you liked that book, then this one is a great and necessary next-read.  Also, right now it is only $1.99 on Amazon (the Kindle version - which also can be read on a mobile-device, tablet, or even just your computer!).  Skip your next to-go coffee and buy this book instead! 

To Train Up A Child by Michael and Debi Pearl - This one is a little controversial because some of the issues they discuss is very polarizing; spanking, discipline, homeschooling vs. public school, television, etc. But, I still love this book and I think it has been very foundational in the way we train our kids...and I just tend to pass over the things I personally disagree with or aren't quite sure of.  This could be a great approach to every parenting book you read...except the Bible, of course!

Books I have borrowed:

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp - This one should be on your must-buy/borrow/check out from the library book list.  It also, ironically, is only $1.99 on Amazon for the Kindle edition.  I laughed out loud when I saw that!  Two of my fave books for less than $2 each!  Seriously!  Skip your to-go coffee next week, too!  Buy this instead.

The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families - How They Do It by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar - This is the Duggar's first book and it covers all the normal questions..."How and why do you train?" "How do keep on top of laundry?" and "Why in the world do you have so many kids?"  It is a great, eye-opening read for those of us who feel overwhelmed because it feels like we have 19 kids, but we actually just have one, or two or five!

Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson - This is a probably already a mainstay for any household with boys.  Dr. Dobson uses some great anecdotes from his experience of raising his own son, and from stories that countless others have shared with him.  He uses several eye-opening stats about boys today that even though they are from 2005, they are still very helpful.

God, The Rod, And Your Child's Bod: The Art of Loving Correction for Christian Parents by Larry Tomczak - (One of the cheesiest titles around, but a great book, nonetheless!  And out of print!) But, you can find it on Amazon for as little as one cent or another used book store if you want to search some more.  I really should try and get some royalties from Amazon or something!  I link to them a lot!  To stay on topic, though, this is one of the very first books that I read on child training and it was very fun and very straightforward and practical.  A great read and a great help!


That's it for my list (or, at least, all the ones my brain could manage to remember!)...but, now, I want to hear about some titles I didn't mention that YOU really have enjoyed.  I wrote this post to be a sort of referencing point for anyone wanting to get a good list of resources to learn from in the journey of parenting.  I have come nowhere close to reading all there is to read, so that's where you come in!  Help me fill in the gaps!

Giveaway Details: Please comment below about one title that you have never read and are interested in reading next, and to qualify for a second entry, please list out some of your favorite parenting books that I didn't mention in my list above.  For a third possible entry, you can subscribe to my blog and then comment after you did it!   On December 16th, I will randomly select a winner from the entries in the comments and will post the results here by the end of that day.

  The winner will receive the book title that you listed in the comments - hopefully just in time for Christmas! 

Make sure to check back to see if you've won, and email me your mailing address (or email address for a Kindle edition of the book) if you are that blessed person!  And, feel free to share this with your friends!  Don't you just love giveaways?  I know your friends will too!

 

 

Redefining Home Book Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Redefining Home book giveaway!  

The winner is...

Alicia Nahirny!!!

She commented below:

Alicia NahirnyCollapse

Oh yes, definitely used a squatty potty! Spent a month in Thailand many years ago now with YWAM :)

You have won one copy of Carrie Anne Hudson's new book - which will be mailed to you as soon as a mother-of-five-living-overseas can manage it!  Please send me your mailing address to ordinaryalina@gmail.com as soon as possible to get the process going.  Carrie will be mailing it directly from her home country, so give it at least a couple of weeks.  Congratulations!  You are going to LOVE this book!

To everyone else who didn't get randomly chosen by the computer, you can find her book on Amazon here!

***Public Service Announcement: our family will be traveling back to Thailand in just one week!  Stay tuned for more (frequent) installments of Ordinary Life In The Wild here!  Can't wait to jump back into it soon!  Thanks for reading!***

Redefining Home Book Giveaway!

This book could be on YOUR shelf soon!

Last Spring, I ordered the book (seen above), Redefining Home: Squatty Potties, Split Pants & Other Things That Divide My World, written by a new friend of mine, Carrie Anne Hudson.  I first knew about her writing through my BFF, Steph, and instantly fell in love with her hilarious, insightful, thought-provoking, smart and honest blog, Rescued Remnant.  I just knew her online, but then...


...I got to meet her in person!  Her family, who lives in our area of the world, was on holiday in the city we live in and Carrie, Steph and I got to meet at Starbucks (that blessed establishment) for some girl chat.  She is exactly as she portrays herself in her writing; transparently real, funny, wise and truly fun.  


As she is, she writes about her life learning Chinese, mothering five little ones, living in a very foreign, but now familiar culture...keeping her head afloat and thriving in what can be a very stressful way of life.  


She wrote a book chronicling her wild, but awesome life - and you're gonna need some serious bladder control if you want to get through some of the more hilarious moments.  Trust me. 


In her own words about the book. "It's a look at real life overseas. From the humiliating encounters with a fruit vendor to being swept into a Chinese funeral procession, we are kept humbled and alert."


Carrie has offered to give a paperback copy of her new book to the winner of a giveaway I'm hosting here on my blog.  You ready?

To make an entry, please answer one or more of the following questions in the comments below:

1.  What is the current population of China?

2.  Have you ever used a squatty potty?

3.  What exactly ARE split pants?

Other ways to enter:

4.  "Follow" my blog.  (Scroll to the top right of this page to see how to follow)

5.  "Follow" Carrie's blog (click here to visit Rescued Remnant)

6.  "Like" Carrie's Facebook Page (click here to go to her page)

7.  Tweet about her new book Redefining Home (click for the Amazon link)

8.  Share about her new book Redefining Home on Facebook. 
(make sure that you comment and tell me about #4 - #8 if you do them!)

Look at that!  You have eight different ways to enter this giveaway!  What are you waiting for?  Crack open your Google search page, visit our blogs or blab about this book on the WWW.  Go ahead! Better your chances and win this book!


The deadline for this giveaway is Monday, July 23rd at noon (Mountain Standard Time).  I will announce the (randomly-picked-by-the-computer) winner sometime that evening.  Make sure you don't post anonymously (at least leave your first name or log in)!


Hope you win!  I LOVE this book!