Want to win a spa/mentoring weekend with me and Sarah Mae?
Click here!
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE HELPED US PROMOTE THE BOOK!
Without your generous help and encouragement, we would never have made it to the top 100 list on Amazon and Barnes and Noble–and now already into the second printing. We are so excited to be a part of a movement of wonderful moms all over the world who are building community and support in gaining strength and hope as moms. So exciting and you are such a wonderful part of this. Thanks a gazillion!
If you haven’t purchased a copy yet, you can get it wherever books are sold (make sure to peek here because there are gifts if you buy multiple copies!)
HOW NOT TO EXPLODE: MOVING FROM DESPERATE TO CALM–REGULARLY!
I get a giggle out of this little saying, because it is so true … “Mothers of little boys work from son up to son down.”
It certainly works that way for mothers of little girls, too–and the sun being down doesn’t seem to have much effect sometimes, as breaks in my sleep from asthma, ear infections, bad dreams, etc. can disturb even that!
The pressures of being a mom aren’t small, and they don’t only come when you are ready for them. Since we know they’re coming, the trick is getting ready for them in advance! Today, I wanted to share a few things that have helped me over the years to not explode under the pressures of being a mom!
- A bit of variety. Though it seems there’s little chance of it happening now, when my children were young I found that if life got too stale, I would go under. So I made it a priority to create adventure for me and for my children! We would take a trip to the park or the zoo, meet with friends for a picnic, or get in the car and drive just to shake things up a bit.
- A bit of quiet for me. If I am around people all the time for days and months at a time, I will indeed explode! Clay and I figured out that I could go to a coffee shop early a couple of days a week at 6 a.m. and have coffee and a quiet time and write in my journal and then come home by 7:45 a.m.–before he left for work–and I felt like a different person. I can’t live without my quiet time, to think and plan and get perspective. (or my quiche and coffee!)
- A bit of quiet for them … okay, all of us. Each season was different. I had each child have a quiet hour every afternoon in the early years–I would put books and fun magazines in a basket for them and let them have a cup of something to drink–like hot cocoa, white grape juice, tea,–and then they would all have to stay in their own areas for an hour. It helped my kids to become readers and to learn to enjoy time alone, un-entertained. But it also gave me time to look forward to every day, where I could have my own cup of tea that no one else could drink and a little time to regroup or rest or make a phone call. I trained them early and gave great rewards for being able to stay in their rooms–it happened little by little but oh the rewards!
Of course, these ideas are not meant to become standards for you–you might want something different or have a whole different set of preferences to work with!
Have you picked up your copy of Desperate yet? SarahMae and I wrote this book to encourage moms to find their strength in God, to listen to their soul’s cry, to understand the wonderful importance of their calling as moms and to rest in God’s grace with their children each day. We’re so excited about the wonderful feedback we’re getting on the book and pray it will be an encouragement to thousands of moms.
Consider gathering a small group and reading it together! There are wonderful giveaways happening each day at Desperatemom.com; don’t miss them!
The New Gifts for Those Who Purchase 8 or More Copies of Desperate!
Convergence – Parenting: Helping Your Kids to Become Adults Conversations with Donald Miller and Dr. John Townsend
Enter into a conversation with Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz) and Dr. John Townsend (Boundaries) about parenting and what the Bible has to say about raising kids. This DVD explores how God designed parenting, why it is so challenging, and ultimately the rewards that come from the process of helping kids grow up.
Buck Denver Asks…What’s in the Bible? – Volume 1 (Genesis)
All-Together if you purchase 8 copies of Desperate this week:
- One free custom print from Red Letter Words (400 available)
- One free “Mother’s Love” art print (unlimited)
- *New! Convergence DVD: Parenting: Helping Your Kids to Become Adults - Conversations with Donald Miller and Dr. John Townsend
- Desperate, a DVD Companion study (available in March)
Very Important if You Want to Receive Your Gifts!
In order to receive these free gifts, please email a copy of your receipt and your mailing address to desperatebook@thomasnelson.com. This “Launch Week Giveaway” is running from 12:00am EST on 1/7/2013 to 11:59EST on 1/12/2013. Your receipt must show the purchase of 5 or more copies of the book during this time period to receive your free gift. Once your receipt has been reviewed, you will be sent an email confirmation and further details on the delivery of your gift.
Open to U.S. only.
(It’s less than $10 at Amazon!)
Today’s Giveaway – FREE Coffee for a YEAR from Avodah Coffee!
Today my friends, you have a chance to win a years worth of coffee! Just think, freshly roasted coffee delivered to your door each month for a year. You can just smell it now, can’t you? Up for grabs:
- Two bags of Avodah coffee a month, for a year!
All you have to do is fill out the form below!
I love my coffee time. This would be an extremely great blessing.
Coffee is the best part of my day some days, some days. Would be amazing!
I am so excited to read Desperate. It’s loaded on my kindle and ready to go!
I love how you write about losing sleep. The thing is, if you have multiple children then it may be a different reason and kid that wakes up each night. Recently I’ve been having problems with my 4yr old waking in the night. The 1 night she stays in her bed all night, my 16 month old is up and ready to start her day at 2am! I love coffee! It grows in Heaven I just know it!
Hot coffee each morning in my Polish Pottery cup that says Boleslawiec, with a print of the castle on it. I just love it. And I love you, too Sally. Thanks so much more than I could ever begin to describe to you for your teaching and raising me up to live life for Him!
This book has come at exactly the right time for a lot of people. I’m 5 weeks into mothering with a 4th, just started back to homeschooling, trying to find our new normal….and though I’ve been a mom for almost 8 years, I still don’t and never will have it all together. But I’m ok with that. I wanna be desperate enough though to come to the cross daily, and filled enough to give that grace to my children also! THANK YOU, thank you, thank you for this book!
Wow! The prizes just keep coming.
Thank you for offering–it’s really gonna bless some desperate moms. The book alone will be a HUGE treasure-chest in my life, but I could definately use the coffee to accompany my early morning reading times 
.
I love reading your blog and am looking forward to purchasing this book. I am a mom of four, homeschooling two and both the encouragement and instruction are very appreciated. I love being a mom and don’t want to miss out on opportunities with my girls! Thank you!
Love all these wonderful prizes!
Perfect giveaway for my coffee-drinking husband!
Coffee for the new coffee pot! Thank you!
Looking forward to reading Desperate!
Ahhhh… Coffee. My favorite.
if I wasn’t nursing a babe it might replace water in my life! 
(well, not quite).
I love coffee. This would be a great giveaway to win!
Ah, yes.
My babies woke up early today – right as I was getting ready for my quiet/prayer time. And oh, I needed a quiet/prayer time today.
I’m thankful…I’m thankful…I’m thankful…I’m thankful – Lord, help me this day!
Thanks for the encouragement, Sally
Kind Blessings,
Kate
Early morning hours is my favorite time to sip a cup of coffee with my hubby before the kids get up, when all is quiet and we can chat or just sit and have our quiet times. Thanks for this!
Oh how the little saying in the beginning makes me giggle too. I’m going to stick that somewhere so instead of getting exhausted I can laugh part way through day with my energy-filled son.
So excited for you guys! Will be making my blog post about the book today:) Be blessed! I feel like we are life friends from reading your books and blog:)
Coffee and a great book! That is a one woman get-away;) You are a blessing!
As a mom of boys I totally get this:) Thanks for your wisdom…
Fabulous blog post… so encouraging (as usual!)… Looking forward to reading Desperate… Possibly over cups of Avodah coffee
I’ve ordered the book, and I can’t wait for it to get here!!! Loving the giveaways while I wait.
I love Avodah coffee! And I love you both!!! Thanks for the once again amazing post.
Coffee!! Encouraging post this morning. Thank you!
I love this practical advice and I do enjoy coffee!!
I would love to win for my hubby and my baby {13 and a coffee lover
} Hahaha…may His joy overflow your heart today and thanks!
Coffee, my husband and my bible. What a way to begin my day. I should make sure and do this more often. I Can’t wait till my books come in.
mmm! coffee! my best friend!
Love coffee, would love to win!!
Thank you for this chance to win coffee!!!!!!
Awesome giveaway! I love coffee!
My husband would love it! I am the tea drinker, but I love the smell!
I love your idea of going to a coffee shop for your quiet time. I have never thought of doing that.
I’m excited about these giveaways! I’m entering so many, my chances for getting one of them are surely increasing! I so need quiet time alone. It energizes me to do the job to which God has called me. Thanks for letting us know that’s ok!
I love my coffee during my quiet time!
I really appreciated this post~ I think it is good to remember to think outside the box to make sure you are getting that down time you need as a mum. I really like the idea of getting out of the house first thing in the morning before everyone wakes a few time a week~ that’s something that would work for us for sure! Thanks again for the thoughts and the chance at the giveaway
I think about my morning coffee when I go to bed at night…what a treat this would be
Thank you for a generous giveaway!
What an excellent idea! Thanks for sharing.
When I had my 3rd baby, I used to think it was too much work to leave the house with them in tow. I soon began to retrain my thought process (with the prodding of a few friends) from thinking of outings as difficult to adventures. Even just a walk up the road to the park does wonders for my soul! Oh, and coffee helps too!
Would love this for my hubby! I’m a tea drinker, but have coffee once in awhile. Thanks for sharing!
Now, this is my kind of giveaway! I hope I win!!
Great, great giveaway! Thanks for the great idea on having ‘afternoon quiet/book’ times for my kids. I can see that this would be a huge breathe of fresh air in my afternoon!
My oh my… Free coffee for a year?! Why yes please, that would be FABULOUS!!
I’m sure you ladies are having just as much fun giving all this amazing stuff away as we are hoping to win it, lol. I can’t wait to get my book in the mail and start reading it!
This IS a great idea for a giveaway! Coffee is a wonderful thing!
Coffee, Coffee! Yum!
Thank you for the suggestions. Coffee… yes please!
What an awesome giveaway coffee for a year! I’m in!
thanks for this wonderful blessing!
I would live coffee for a yea… And I already started desperate. Loving it!
lol, I just told my husband I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin (eh-hem, “exlpode”), and he took our boys and told me to go have some alone time. It was a long day. Thanks for the refreshment. And the opportunity to win some coffee.
LOVE COFFEE! Hot coffee, iced coffee, coffee with family and friends…or just to wake up to the smell is delightful!
I just love this book! The little videos at the end of each chapter were so wonderful…I found that I loved listening to you speak all of that beautiful wisdom to me after every chapter
I’m looking forward to reading the book! Thank you for all the extras as well.
Can’t wait until I have the time to read the book.
<3
I tried this coffee last month for the first time. So good.
I am about to order this book. I need it so desperatly in my life. As the mom of 4 girls under 5, I sat down after bedtime and cried at my long horrible day. Ordering this right now!
Sally, I am so excited to read this newest book! Thank you both for your desire to encourage moms at all stages. God has used you so much in my life! I asked my kids today what do you think you might remember from your childhoods the most? “READ ALOUDS!’ was the first answer. heehee! I’m so glad they had happy things to shout out. What a blessing!
oh, yes, we love coffee too!
Robin
This book is on my wishlist! Can’t wait to read it. Thank you so much for hosting the giveaway as well.
i bought their coffee as Christmas presents for my family! what an amazing gift this would be!
Another cool gift I’d love to win…but the GRAND PRIZE is still my dream!
Thank you!
Coffee time is my favorite part of the day!
not needing to buy coffee for a year would be a wonderful treat
I don’t drink coffee myself, but would love to bless others with this wonderful gift!
Thank you the giveaways. Coffee is a must have staple in our house. Can’t wait to read the book.
I’m sure winning this awesome gift would help this coffee lover feel a whole lot less desperate!!!
thank you for all these fun opportunities!
I can not wait for my book to be delivered!!
Mmm – coffee!! Alongside a good book – sounds perfect!