I love the holiday season – the lights, the smells and the overall excitement, especially in the children. We have already started pulling out slowly some decorations starting with snowflakes for the front windows. I have to admit that I did an awful job with my paper snowflakes – my cuts made the snowflake look like a monster with eyes and ears! It is also a great time for reflection with your children, to understand how blessed we have been and the importance of giving back to others. We do this with our Advent calendar.
What I tend to dislike is the bills and the amount of money that is spent during these months! The holiday season can really add up when you factor in not only gifts but also the Christmas party dinners, host gifts, family dinners and the list can go on and on.
I have teamed up with over twenty other bloggers to bring you an AMAZING $450 CASH #BlizzardBucks giveaway! Yup, you heard that one right, CASH. Who couldn’t use a boost in their pocket this time of the year? I know I would! You can wrap up purchasing gifts, maybe spoil yourself or even take a small trip away with your family. The possibilities are endless and completely up to you – entering is easy so get to it below.
The #BlizzardBucks Giveaway!
One lucky reader will win this amazing prize of $450 CAD cash paid via PayPal.
To be eligible to win just complete the Rafflecopter below with your qualifying answers. This giveaway is open Worldwide to residents ages 18 and older, but is void where prohibited by law (ex. Quebec, Canada). Entering is easy and there are many options to enter so get those entries in. Good luck!
Christy is the new edition of Catherine Marshall’s inspirational classic!
About Christy
The train taking nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, might as well be transporting her to another world. The Smoky Mountain community of Cutter Gap feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions, and century-old traditions.
But as Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home, some see her – and her one-room school – as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove.
Yearning to make a difference, will Christy’s determination and devotion be enough?
My Thoughts
Do you ever just start reading a novel and left struck at how amazing it is? That is this one! A true gem. I could not put this novel down, I just wanted to read what happened next in her story.
Christy heads out on a train reading and with fresh ideas on how to make a difference. She is young, willing and excited. She is kind and good-natured but my heart goes out to her, she is not quite ready for what she encounters. While different then her own beliefs, the mountain community is not always wrong. They have good intentions, they just need to be taught and brought back more of their old way of doing things.
Christy is such a strong young woman and I loved watching her grow through each page of this book. She is very much human and questioned herself at time but I loved her resilience and love for others. She gives so much of herself to others. This is a good lesson for so many of us, to give selflessly without want for anything in return.
This is a definite must read book for young adults and adults. While some of the topics may be difficult for teens I think they can grasp what they are learning and that it is important topics for them to learn about. We learn about faith, superstition, resilience, faith, hope, neglect and so much more. What makes it even more incredible is it based on the life of a real woman. A woman who accomplished so much in a time when woman weren’t encouraged to do so. She brought so much hope and a brighter future while maintaining respect for their beliefs to this community. This is a definite must read book!
Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), The New York Times best-selling author of 30 books, is best known for her novel Christy. Based on the life of her mother, Christy captured the hearts of millions and became a popular CBS television series. Around the kitchen table at Evergreen Farm, as her mother reminisced, Catherine probed for details and insights into the rugged lives of these Appalachian highlanders. Catherine shared the story of her husband, Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate, in A Man Called Peter. A decade after Dr. Marshall’s untimely death, Catherine married Leonard LeSourd, Executive Editor of Guideposts, forging a dynamic writer-editor partnership. A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine’s enduring career spanned four decades and reached over 30 million readers.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Some stories are evergreen, their themes and lessons standing the test of time and connecting with readers generation after generation. Reconnect with Catherine Marshall’s beloved Christy as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new edition! As nineteen-year-old teacher Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home of Cutter Gap, some see her-and her one-room school-as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove. Yearning to make a difference, will Christy’s determination and devotion be enough?
Celebrate the new 50th anniversary edition of Christy by entering to win one of TWO $50 Visa cash cards (details below) and by attending a Facebook Live party on December 5!
TWO grand prize winners will receive:
One copy of Christy
One $50 Visa Cash Card
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 5. The winner will be announced at the Christy Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with authors who’ve been impacted by Christy and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!
RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!
Momentus: One person, one action, one moment can make a difference.
About Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change
One person, one action, one moment can make a difference. Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change provides tangible, real-life, and current examples that back up this idea. This book is more than a “how-to” guide―Hannah Alper gets to the heart of what sparks people to create change. A youth activist herself, Hannah explores the lives of the social activists who have inspired her and the significant impacts they are making locally and globally. Featuring 19 exclusive interviews conducted personally by Hannah with activists, youth change-makers, and celebrities, the book highlights practical examples of the power of positive change in the world, whether large or small. Hannah also shares her personal journey as a youth activist, blogger, motivational speaker, and WE Ambassador. Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change will motivate you to find your spark and give you the tools to make your change happen. “I believe we all have the capacity and responsibility to create change. I don’t care how old you are or how young you are, where you live or how much money you have. The ability to create change does not discriminate, it’s in everyone.” ― Hannah Alper
My Thoughts
Being a young adult is hard – you have these amazing and creative ideas because you look at the world in a different manner than adults do but it is hard at times to get people to listen to you. You may feel like you are too young to accomplish the things you want, that your voice will not be loud enough, that your help wont make a difference and would your peers treat and look at you differently if you don’t follow the norm?.
But what if our young adults (and pre-teens) are given the tools, the support and the encouragement to know that you can make a difference?
Momentus is an amazing story of a young girl who wanted to make a change and understood that it is little changes that make a huge impact and the world a better place. Hannah began her journey at the young age of nine! Yes nine – pretty amazing right?
I fell in love with the way that Hannah writes, she is so personal and has a way of reaching out to you from the pages. Her book feels more like a one on one conversation with her, with her there making you laugh, sharing the good and bad and encouraging you on your own journey. She shares both her good and not so good moments (like when her class mates can make unkind remarks about her ‘changing the world’) and I liked her honesty. This is a tough age for our youth when they are expected to act like adults but not always given the same independence in return. Sometimes they need that extra encouragement from someone who has already been there to help them along with their own journey.
The book is broken down with Hannah’s role models and they are all incredible. It was very interesting learning about their stories, some of them I never knew about before. We learn about the issue that they are addressing (anything from homelessness to environment to bullying), what their special gift is and Hannah’s reflection and suggestions on how you can help out in that area.
Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change is a truly special book written by a gifted young author. She has an amazing talent in writing and inspiring both youths and adults! This book is a must read for all young adults so that they can see even the smallest acts can make a great difference in this world.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Chapters. You can purchase a copy in store at Indigo, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart and Mastermind.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
As a young Canadian writer, activist, public speaker, and global citizen, Hannah Alper started her career in activism at the age of nine. Now 14 years old, Hannah has found power in using her voice to inspire, motivate, and empower people of all ages to identify their passion and take action for a better world. Her journey as a youth activist shows that when it comes to leading social change, there is no such thing as “too young.” Perhaps best known as WE Day motivational speaker and WE Ambassador, Hannah is committed to promoting that big change begins with small, everyday actions.
Last Christmas, my family and I made the trip to my husband’s home – South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. While we visited his family, we were able to experience the amazing wildlife and animal sanctuaries that can be found in abundance. This exposure really drove home for our children and us how important it is to protect our wildlife and that one person can make a huge difference in the life of an animal. Here were everyday people who were making a huge difference in the world one animal at a time by rescuing injured animals, nursing them back to health and if it was possible release them back into the wild.
When we returned home to Canada, our youngest was adamant that he wanted to grow up to take care of animals. Now whether this means he will be a Ranger in a park in Canada or leave us to go care for the animals abroad, we were so proud of him and wanted to continue to encourage him to do his part in caring for our wildlife.
But how could we do this?
World Wildlife Canada gives Canadians a unique opportunity to support a species while gifting an important person in their life with a special gift pack. For this holiday season, why not consider purchasing an Adoption Kit from WWF Canada! The Adoption Kit contains a plush toy of that species, personalized adoption certificate, reusable tote and information pamphlet and poster.
You can choose from a wide range of species that includes:
Canada Lynx
Atlantic Puffin
Three toed sloth
Red fox
Snowy Owl
Snow Leopard
and so many more!
For a complete listing of all the species that you can adopt, make sure to visit the WWF Canada shop where you can find the adoption kits and so many more gift ideas. The Adoption Kits range in price from $40 to $50 Canadian and can be shipped directly to the recipient or to yourself so that you can see their reaction when you give them their gift (which is honestly the most beautiful experience you can see, the happiness and shock in their face makes your day).
We received the Red Fox and I have never seen our son so excited before. His favourite part was the Adoption certificate, for him that paper signified that a red fox in Canada was being cared for because someone cared and made a donation in his name. He had a chance to make a difference in the life of an animal and this meant the world to him. We later framed his adoption certificate so he could place it on his shelf in his room to remind him everyday to care for others that need our help.
This holiday season please consider giving someone important in your life a gift that has the power to change the world – an Adoption Kit from WWF Canada. For a small cost, you not only help a species but you gift the most memorable gift a child (or friend) will ever receive.
Make sure you follow WWF Canada on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with the latest information and more.
Disclosure: We received an Adoption Kit, no further compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own.
