Link Up Your Giveaways Sunday

My Current Giveaways
$25 Sam's Club gift card 2/10
My Very Own Name personalized book 2/12
$20 Amazon gift card 2/14

Come and list any giveaway you have going on at your blog, website, or even facebook page.  Post your direct link to your giveaway in the website field and post the name of the giveaway and ending date in the name field.  You can include the name of your blog if you want but you don't have to.  Thanks for visiting my blog and joining the linky!  Look around and comment on some of my blog posts if you'd like and enter my giveaways.  

Tough Subject Saturday (at least for me)

(I have written, erased, and re-written this post.  It's a hard one for me.  I definitely do NOT want to be preachy or descending because I have a hard time with forgiveness.  It doesn't come easily for some people, especially those that have lived through abuse, rape, or any similar things.  This is somewhat of a cathartic post for me.  It has helped me process the forgiveness issue.  Maybe opening up about my own heart might help someone else in the process.  If not, it can just let you know that I am human like everyone else.  I am no super mom with everything figured out.  I am not always on top of everything with my own life, my blog, and my family.)

I try to live completely free from my resentments and anger. It is something I struggle with and have especially struggled with it the past few months. I know I must let go of the pain people have cause me; unless I let it go and forgive the people, the pain will continue to hold me prisoner.  I am not hurting the people I am mad at by being bitter, I am only hurting myself.  Bitterness is like a virus; If I let it fester and take hold, I lose my patience and get angry at things easier. 

One thing I have had to learn in my life is that forgiving is NOT forgetting.  I have always heard the phrase forgive and forget but it is not accurate.  I can forgive and forget a small argument I might have had with a friend or family member but I do not forget the bigger issues.  You do not forget major neglect, any abuse, or deep hurt or regret.  If you still remember those things, it doesn't mean that you haven't forgiven.  It's something you can only decide in your heart, whether you have truly forgiven a person of a wrong doing.  Also, I have learned that you can forgive but not let a person back into your life.  You can forgive a person of a wrong doing but if they haven't changed then there is nothing wrong with keeping up boundaries.  You need to keep yourself and those you love safe.  Having kids has made me slightly more aware about keeping up boundaries with people.  I have to be careful who my husband and I have in our lives.  I learn who is trustworthy and who is not.

I started a recovery program once at my old church but I never stayed to finish it.  The major thing I got out of it and have carried with me is that forgiveness is a me issue.  Unless I forgive those who have hurt me, whether to their faces or just in my heart, I can't move on or truly reach joy.  For me that is an ouch!  Not easy to hear but I feel like it is true.

Some verses that speak to me on this issue:

"Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you." (Luke 6:37, GNB)

"Happy are the merciful." (Matthew 5:7)

"Happy are the peacemakers." (Matthew 5:9)

Beautiful personalized children's book #WIN

I love personalized children's items whether it be clothes, blankets, toys, or books.  It is something that each of my children can claim as their own; in my house almost everything is community property except personalized items and items they keep in their own rooms.  Books are the best because they can be cherished and put on display for their entire lives.  Even grown-ups love books with their own names.  I came across I See Me! inc., and I instantly loved their products.  It is personalized, cute, and very colorful.

Micah received the My Very Own Name personalized book.  It is written by Maia Haag and illustrated by Mark Mille.  Micah loves the book but I think I might be even more excited about it than him.  The illustrations are just beautiful and pop out on the page with their color.  The story is fun with catchy verses and engaging.  Micah was pointing out the letters of his name and was very animated when we read the story.  The book is such a joy to read to my son.  It isn't one of those books that I am wondering if it will ever end.  We have fun with it and it is teachable.  My 2 year old is learning to spell out not only his first name but his last name as well.  And it is such a beautiful touch that the story starts out with a baby being born on Micah's birth day and the animals have to name the baby boy.  This book is a keeper for sure.  I will be trying to keep it in one piece so Micah can keep it always.  I want one for all my children.

They have other adorable products as well.  There is a matching personalized floor puzzle (pictured above) that you can buy in addition to the book.  It's personalized with the child's name and birth day.  There are, also, more titles in the My Very Own personalized book series:

• My Very Own Fairy Tale
• My Very Own Pirate Tale
• My Very Own ABC's

These would make a perfect birthday gift for a child of any age.  It is a beautiful book. 

BUY IT: You can buy the My Very Own Name personalized book for $32.95.  And if you order before January 30, 2012, you will receive 16 FREE Valentine's Day cards printed with your child's name and animal illustrations from the book.

Disclaimer: I received the book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.  I was not otherwise compensated for this post.  All the thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.  Thanks!