At Work in Life’s Garden - Grand Opening Giveaway!
To celebrate the big move to dkMommySpot.com, I’ve got some nice giveaways lined up. Today’s is quite special. I have here a copy of At Work in Life’s Garden, which is a beautiful book full of essays on parenting. The essays are written by some amazing authors I’m sure you’ve heard of - like Barbara Kingsolver, Anne Lamott, Alexandra Fuller, Scott Russsell Sanders, and a whole host of others.
What I loved about this book was the wide variety of experiences shared by the writers. Each story reflects their personal parenting anecdotes, and how those experiences have made their lives richer. I felt myself relating to some stories, grasping for advice from others. The book is full of humor, spiritual uplifts, encouragement, and tears.At Work in Life’s Garden, by Eastern Washington University Press, is one of those lovely books that looks and feels good, and although it’s an ideal gift book, it’s the kind of thing that once you hold it and flip through the pages, you want one for yourself too.I have a feeling this is the perfect item for dkMommy Spot’s first official giveaway. If there’s one thing we all have in common here, it’s that we all know we’ve got the most important job in the world: Helping to raise and mold another human being! You’ll find this sentiment reflected on every page of At Work in Life’s Garden.
To enter to win a copy, please leave a comment here telling me what you find most rewarding about being a mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather. I’ll draw a winner on Tuesday, February 19th, 2008. Once the winner has been contacted, I’ll post it here.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Wow…this book sounds wonderful. My daughter will turn one next month. The most rewarding part of the past year has been watching her grow and develop into a lovely little girl who makes me swell with pride. She’s helped put my life into perspective, and when I see her smile at the end of a day, I am magically able to put all of the stresses of the day aside and smile back and remember what is most important in my life–her.
Congrats on the new site…looks great!
February 15th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
There are not too many things about parenting that arent fantastic! But my favorite is getting to experience everything again “for the first time” with each child! So exciting and reminds you why its all worth it!
February 15th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
No matter what kind of day I am having, hearing one of my sons tell me that they love me makes me feel better. Knowing that someone loves you unconditionally is awesome.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Hearing my children tell me “I love you” unprompted and unexpected. That means the world to me, and makes all the hard stuff seem so silly. ( meg.wilson@gmail.com )
February 15th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
My two and a half year old is pure entertainment! I love watching her grow and understand more and more every day. Just the other day she told me, “Mommy, I need to get rid of some of my panties, they are too small, and give me wedgies”!!!!! Ha - she is HILARIOUS.
Congrats Diane on the new site! It’s fabUlous!
February 15th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I know it sounds lame, but almost everything is rewarding. There are always those days where they just wear you out, but somehow they always seem to leave me with a smile! Yesterday they were hyper and crazy all day, I was worn out for our nice Valentines dinner, but right before bed, both my son and daughter came over to my hubby and I and gave us “big sloppy kisses” and hugs. I couldn’t help but smile even after the exhausting day they gave me! Moments like that make it grand!
February 15th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
The most rewarding thing about being a parent is knowing that I have done nothing to deserve this little guy’s love and yet he completely trusts me and smiles and lets me know he loves me unconditionally. I’ll probably make many mistakes as a parent, and I’ll fail him sometimes, but knowing that he loves me despite my flaws and trusts me to take care of him makes me want to try all the harder to do my best! It’s so hard to believe he’s almost a year old! I don’t know who I was before I became a mom.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Hi, I love the sound of this book. I enjoy gardening and my sons! What a big question. The first thought that comes to my mind is the unconditional love I am able to give them. As a women and now a mother, I never thought I could love anyone as much as I love my sons. One of the most precious aspects of being a mother/parent of sons is watching them grow and seeing the type of men they are becoming! Thanks…..Cindi
February 15th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
The most rewarding thing about being a mother is seeing how your love can help a tiny person grow.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Hmmm, the most rewarding about being a mom is being able to teach and grow you little one…to help them to learn more about the world every day…Thanks…
February 15th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
It has to be when my two year old runs up to me and says, “I love you mommy.” That makes it all worth it…
February 15th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
seeing my children love each other is the most rewarding part of this job. and seeing them fight is perhaps the most painful part!
February 15th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
watching my twins learn to communicate with each other and us! it’s wonderful!
February 15th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
The most rewarding part is when my kids call my bluff on things. Like when they ask me a question and I say that I don’t know, they make me look it up on the web!
February 15th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Watching her grow and become more and more her own person.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
What makes me proud? Having a daughter like you with such great talent. That is
what makes me proud. Poppa
February 16th, 2008 at 1:05 am
There are so many rewarding things but what comes to mind at the moment is watching my son grow and discover new things for the very first time. Listening to him make all sorts of crazy noises to test out his vocal cords just makes me smile.
February 16th, 2008 at 1:55 am
The most rewarding thing to me so far has been watching my boy discover new things. What must it be like for everything to be completely new? The looks of wonder and excitement will never stop making me smile.
February 16th, 2008 at 1:59 am
I love going in to get my son up in the morning or up from his naps and the grin and occasional laugh i receive when he sees me is priceless.
February 16th, 2008 at 3:21 am
I have a million answers, but the best part about having children is I laugh like I have never laughed. My daughter is only 5 months but still brings so much joy. My two year old son is constantly making me laugh. He is such an entertainer and does anything he can to make my husband and I laugh! Our kids are awesome!!!
February 16th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
The most rewarding thing about being a parent is becoming a grandparent! When my children were young I was so busy, I don’t feel I enjoyed them as much as I could have. Now with grandchildren I can devote as much time as I want to with them.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
The most rewarding thing was when I realized that it was not about whether I was placed here to teach my child, but that she was given to me to teach me. My daughters have opened up my life to a whole to world of things along the way that I would never have experienced. And an innocent child’s comments on everyday happenings gives you a whole new propesctive on life.
February 16th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I am the mom to a former 28 weeker, (read my blog) and every single moment with my baby boy is so treasured. I love being his mom and seeing the life that God has given him.
February 16th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
My 5 month old son’s laugh is the sweetest thing in the world.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I love the hugs and kisses from my three kiddos!
February 16th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
The Wonder.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I’ve loved watching my little girl’s mind begin to understand the world around her and I can’t wait to introduce her to more!
February 16th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I love being a mother, especially when there are hugs and kisses involved. The best part, however, is when one of my (now grown-up) children tells me “thank you” or “I love you.” Now I’m looking forward to being a grandmother! This book would be perfect for my daughter and her husband.
February 16th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
This looks like a wonderful book. I am blessed to homeschool my two children and I love being able to spend time with them and watching who they will become. Raising my children has been the best thing I have ever done.
February 17th, 2008 at 12:01 am
I never knew that I could love someone so much and in such a unique way until I had my son. I am amazed that in the last 7 months he has grown and developed tremendously. Everything about being a mom is rewarding from experiencing his first smile, his first laugh, his first squeal, his first “rolling over”, his first “scoot”…I love the firsts and can’t wait for more.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:38 am
i’m a first-time mom and it would be a lie if i say that it’s easy. it isn’t.
but as days, weeks and months passed by, i am beginning to get a hang of everything about being a mommy. it’s fantastic. my heart swells with great love and pride for my baby boy. he’s growing so fast and i’m loving every minute that he’s with me. i ant all the best for him and i promise that i’ll do everything for him and make him grow to be a kind, loving and thoughtful boy…
February 17th, 2008 at 1:57 am
What do I find most rewarding about being a mother? The love that my two boys show me on a daily basis. I love the random hugs & kisses! I love that each and every day they teach ME something new, or just the fun times and the loads of laugther always.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:46 am
the most rewarding thing about being a parent is the unconditional love!
February 17th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Beautiful new layout.
My reward? The hugs.
February 18th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Look at my son and knowing he’s part of me and my husband
Cheesy but true.
February 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
The most rewarding part of being a mom is seeing them grow. I have a 16 year old and a 7 month old and I am getting to experience 2 full lives unfold before me and I just can not believe how blessed I am. When my oldest won MVP for his football team 2 years in a row I allowed myself to say “I raised that boy!!” and feel that I had something to do with what a great kid he has become. And now I get to do that all over again - I can hardly wait.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
[...] - if you hurry, there’s still time to sign up for a book giveaway on my other blog, dkMommy Spot. It’s for a book of essays called At Work in Life’s Garden, so go check it [...]
February 19th, 2008 at 1:08 am
You had me at Anne Lamott!
The most rewarding thing this week was overhearing my daughter talking to someone on the phone and saying, “Have you tried those Cascade things in the plastic holder? They don’t seem to be working in our dishwasher.” She not only DOES the dishes, she seems to care about the QUALITY!!!
March 10th, 2008 at 1:10 am
watching my kids turn into young adults is worth all the late nights and worry you go through when they are young to see the wonderful people theyare turning into makes it all worthwhile