Monday, October 24, 2011

It's my birthday and I'll do a giveaway if I want to


This week is my birthday.  I'm turning 32, and I'm told I don't look a day over 35 so there's that.  I was thinking about what I wanted for my day, and one of the things that came to my mind was "comments."

If you are not a blogger then this probably does not make any sense to you, but getting a comment on a post you wrote is truly a gift.  I love getting to hear what someone out there thought about a topic, I love knowing that at least one person read my blog, and most of all it is through comments that I have made new friends, some of them who have become people I adore and talk about constantly (although I do always preface it with you know my friend I've never met....).

Then last week I finished reading, No Biking in the House without a helmet by Melissa Fay Greene, I knew that I had to do my first giveaway.  It's the perfect combination, I get to give you a book I think you'll love and at the same time I get to meet some of you out there who read this blog :).

The memoir, No Biking in the House, is one of the best books I have read in a really long time. Bottom line, it made me happy and I didn't want it to end.  I completely fell in love with this family, I wanted to move next door so that I could spend time with them everyday.

Melissa Faye Green's is the mother to nine children, four by birth, and five by adoption.  This memoir begins when they have reached a point in their life where they must decide whether or not to try for a fifth child and tells their rather gradual and perhaps accidental path to adoption from there.

I must tell you, this book is just the story of their family, it is not a how-to on international adoption, or a book on dealing with the issues sure to come with adopting older children (though she certainly could write either of those books).  There is no preaching to be found, instead it is full of honesty in their successes and failures, including their doubts and second thoughts during each adoption.

This book made me laugh out loud, which is something I rarely do while reading.  I was inspired by her ability to relax about the craziness of having a family of eleven, her laid back approach was contagious.  It also made me cry, admittedly it was because of my own life experiences, but her love and devotion to her children and the journey they take to bring each one of them home is very touching.

It's hard for me not to not just start over on page one, but I figure the next best thing is not let you start on page one, then we can discuss. :)  So if you would like a copy of No Biking in the House without a helmet by Melissa Fay Greene, leave a comment telling me the last book you told all your friends about.  

If you would like to blog, facebook, or tweet about the giveaway go for it, please leave a *new* comment for each one you do.  Each person is allowed up to 3 comments.  The chance to enter the giveaway will end Friday at 5pm and I will randomly pick a winner and announce it by next Monday!

*I just wanted to give away a book I loved to one of y'all, it's a gift from me to you, Melissa Fay Greene has no idea who I am.*

10 comments:

Sarah said...

Woo hoo! I'm the first to comment! Happy Birthday, Jenny!! (Though isn't your bday really tomorrow?) 32? Such a babe. Thanks for hanging out with oldies like me. :)

The last book I think I told all of my (blog) friends about was Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel. I should probably pick it up and read it again once a year.

If I win, will you promise to deliver the book in person?

Barbara said...

Happy birthday!! I've had my eye on that book for a while now, so I'd love to win it!

I'm pretty sure the last book I told all my friends about was, "The Help"...such a good book.

Yvonne said...

Happy, happy birthday! Isn't it funny how as we get older, the things we want for our birthday are much simpler? :)

I have seen this book in "Adoptive Families" magazine and have been thinking I should read it, so I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it. The last book I shared with others was "The Search" by Nora Roberts. Because I love my romance/mystery novels that I know are going to have a happy ending. And this one was really good.

Hope you have a great day!

Nilam said...

Happy Birthday! (Somehow I was thinking it was tomorrow, though.) Anyway, we all hope that you have a great birthday!

Unknown said...

Happy birthday, Jenny! I love reading your blog and often wonder if I'll be calling you up one day to chat about adoption. This book sounds like one I need to read! Thanks for sharing about it!

Ken Bergdalia said...

Happy Birthday! I love you, Dad

Lauren said...

You're sure not writing to no one; look at all the birthday wishes already (quickly adding mine to the pile!).
The last book I raved about was Deep Nutrition. Loved it. AND it has relevance for adoptive parents: epigenetics tells us that our genes are turned on or off due to environmental cues, like food, so score one more for the 'nurture' side!

TheLudlows said...

Happy Birthday!
Radical by David Platt. It's what it says- Radical!
I personally don't think you look a day over 29! ;)

Amanda said...

Happy Birthday!!!

I think the last book I talked about with friends was The Virtuous Woman.

amanda.corley@ymail.com

Anonymous said...

Thank you for commenting on my blog, Jenny! So nice to meet you. I just started reading about your beautiful family and saw the giveaway! I have not heard about this book, but it looks like a great one. The last book that I told all my friends to read was "The Help". I know everyone has probably read it by now, but I did really love it.