In the wise words of Thomas Carlyle…
Rest is a fine medicine.
Since I started blogging all the way back in 2009, I never took such a long, extended break as I did these past two months. And let me tell you, it was good for my soul!
We did a lot of swimming. We did a lot of playing. We ate a lot of ice cream. I learned to cook some Congolese recipes. We took our first family vacation (yes, first one) to Adventureland wherein Brogan rode every single roller coaster, even the upside down one. WE PASSED COURT AND BECAME A FAMILY OF FOUR. But we are still waiting on various procedures and governmental steps before that joyous day when we can bring our daughter home and actually LIVE as a family of four. I edited a novel. I wrote a novel. I wrote a novella. I read some pretty fabulous fiction. And I was able to share the cover of my upcoming release with dear readers like you on Facebook.
But now Labor Day is past, summer is officially over, and my little man is in preschool. Which means, time to jump back into the blogosphere!
Let’s kick this new blogging year off in style, shall we?
Who likes coffee?
Who likes free books?
Who likes really pretty book marks?
Because I have all three and I’m in the mood to give stuff away!
I have 5 prize packages up for grabs, all of which include a $5 Starbucks gift card, a copy of Meg Moseley’s latest (Gone South), and a copy of my latest (Wishing on Willows), and these really pretty book marks.
Entering to win is a cinch. All you do is sign up to receive my blog posts via email (if you haven’t already), then answer the question below!
What have you been up to these past two months?
Curious about the new blogging schedule? I will be posting once a week, every Monday, about writing or books or Jesus or romance or adoption or….basically, whatever strikes my fancy. My hope is that whatever the topic may be, you will be blessed and entertained!
Who likes free Starbucks, free books & free book marks? @KatieGanshert’s giving them away! –> Click to Tweet
The last two months have been enjoying the last bit of summer with my two boys and getting settled into fifth and second grades.
My past two months have been full of mostly pleasant things. Diminishing a mountain of books on my “reading list” was what I did with most of my free time. There were also trips to the pool, finishing up some homeschool lessons with my oldest child, preparing that same child to start middle school at a small Christian school and attending a Women of Faith conference one weekend. Last but not least was a family “staycation” that was filled with exploring some of our beautiful state. All in all, it has been a pretty fulfilling two months.
getting my daughter threw a bad divorce .An making sure my 3yr.old grandson is doing okay.Just getting started reading again.Been awhile
Love your new book cover! =)
I can never say no to free coffee and books. These past couple of months, I’ve been editing (and completed) my second book, and have been promoting PURPLE MOON, my debut novel that releases Sept. 24.
Also, I signed up to receive your posts via email. Glad to see you’re back!
Hi Katie! I am not sure if your giveaway is still going, but I spent the last 2 months just enjoying spending time with the kids and my hubby. He had surgery at the beginning of Summer and has had to be off work, but the silver lining is that we all got to spend the Summer together-very nice! I have not had a chance to read either of your books yet, but I SO want to!!
I have spent my last 2 months trying to keep my 8 year old son occupied during summer break. The last week of August was the start of 3rd grade for my son. I am his learning coach with his online charter school. I have also been tending to my husband who has a painful chronic disease and keeping an eye on my son’s Crohn’s disease. I squeeze in the reading when I get the chance!
The past 2 months I reread books by Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers. I spent time with my baby granddaughter and her parents, introduced her to her great grandpa and took some 4-generation photos. And I continued waiting as patiently as I can for your next book to be released, Katie.
P.S. I signed up for your blog by email.
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi, Katie!
I have been sticking close to home this summer, & taking care of my aunt, who had a stroke, & fell & broke her hip; & running my mom back & forth to doctor appointments (my father also has stage 4 cancer). Free time has been spent reading, checking out blogs, & listening to music.
But God is good – all physical problems are better, or in remission.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
Summer went very quickly for us. My son started summer camp at a new school, since I work all summer. He did get to go the 500 miles to visit grandparents twice. We did do a lot swimming in the back yard and riding bikes.
The past two months entailed a rigorous unframed summer with my three kiddos. We stayed up late, ate when the pang struck, and had oodles of sunny adventures. Oh, and I had four sparse but productive writing sessions. Happy end-of-summer! #backtowriting
Since I recently finished school, the majority of my last two months was spent job hunting. I finally started yesterday! I also enjoyed reading during some down time and traveling to visit family! Thanks for the giveaway!
I started a new career, traveled to Florida to visit my best friend who moved away a year and a half ago, took my 8 year-old to horse riding lessons, tried to learn to knit with my 2 daughters, and then sent them to third and fifth grade. And prayed…a lot!
the last two months I had another grandson also, went back to work as a school janitor. and I have done a lot of bonding with all 5 grandkids god is very good!
BTW: I LOVE Wishing on Willows!
Glad you’re back online, Katie!
The past two months I’ve spent 2 weeks on vacation w/ the entire family; sent a boy off to college; sent my baby girl to high school; took my high school senior on a college tour; and canned lots. God is good!
I have been playing with my kids, doing a lot of phonics lessons with them and of course reading!
I’m so excited you’re closer than ever to becoming a family of four. My family of three enjoyed Labor Day weekend at Lake Shasta not far from where we live in Northern California. We don’t get away very often as a family, so it was a blessing. Besides, we couldn’t very well stay home during our 30th wedding anniversary! In July, I took a solo trip to Montana to visit a friend and do book research. Montana is too beautiful for words.
The last two months I have been recuperating from a shoulder replacement surgery and going to therapy 3 times a week. I can’t really do much else. They’ve been giving me fits over reading because of how I how my book and turn the pages, and I do a lot of reading. I would love to have the books and bookmark. Would probably share the card with a sister. Thank you for your blog, enjoy it.
The last two months, I have been watching my father in law getting stronger and stronger after being weak for four years. We were ready for his passing and within days, he was up and moving like nothing was wrong. So, my kids and I have been spending time with him.
Besides keeping two kids amused, started writing a novel, then gave up because school vacation is clearly not the time to attempt this! We went camping twice and to a cottage twice and countless trips the the local library to catch up on reading time!~which I love!
Love getting to catch up with all of you! Busy summers all around! Lots of reading, it sounds like. 🙂
Reading, blogging, editing (3 rounds to be exact!), getting my son in preschool (tear), a birthday party, a few family get-togethers, and who knows what else? Busy but good:)
My last 2 months…oh boy! Reading & blogging like a crazy woman. Getting ready for classes start up again. (Finally back to school) Birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, etc. And it’s not stopping there!
The past two months have been spent working, yard work, walking, reading and running two teenage boys all over the place.
Hmm, Went to Trinidad then to Michigan. Participated in Vacation Bible School, brought my own van-load and took two of my teenagers to Youth For The Nations. :0)
They are back in school and I’m back to full-time work!
I am a D. C. M., so my summers are slammed, but I do find time to read a lot and I visit the local Starbucks all the time.. . . . .have a half-finished mocha on my desk right now. Love your first two books and look forward to the next one!
I’ve been working on digital scrapbooks for my 4 grandkids. I make one a year for each of them for Christmas which records in journaling and pictures everything they did that year. When they leave home, they will take with them a record of their entire life in a set of beautiful books! Even now, though they are 1-10 years of age, they love to look through the books and read (or be read to) about themselves.
The past two months have seen mine & my husband’s 2nd anniversary, my niece was born and my husband was in the thick of Field Training as a police officer. Other than that, it was business as usual with work, but it was a lot slower paced in the summer.
Thanks for the giveaway! I signed up for the email updates 🙂
Beth
Oh my word, you’ve been busy, Katie! Glad you got a break–you’ve been blogging for a while! I actually started a new blogspot/site in the past couple months and was lining up guest posts/Goodreads stuff/early readers for my Viking novel, which will release Nov. first, FINALLY. And YES I love coffee and books…I’ve been wanting to read both those books for a while. Sign me up (better make sure I”m an email follower but I think so!)! heatherdaygilbert (at) gmail (dot) com.
My husband and I moved back to Tennessee 4 months ago, waiting for God to reveal the place He wanted to plant us. So the last 2 months have been waiting to close on the farmhouse, getting into the house, and doing some home improvement projects. Working and dreaming have also been in the mix as we settle into a new lifestyle! 🙂
Katie, I recently discovered you through a friend and I look forward to reading more about and from you!
A lot of touring with my band, reading, and writing. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
Earlier this summer my husband and I took two trips without the toddlers. It’s nice to get a break from them occasionally and refocus on us. I highly recommend it.
I did lots of driving around getting the 4 year old to various summer activities.
We found a bigger house that we love and we move in next week! But I have not enjoyed all the house showings this summer and trying to keep our house clean with 2 toddlers.
Among all of this, I was able to discover 2 local Christian authors, you and Liz Tolsma.And I plan to get more reading done after the move!
I am glad the house stuff is almost done and we can be back to a nice routine, which is also including Christian preschool:)
Congrats on your daughter!
Good for you getting such a wonderful time to relax! We have been terribly busy, but enjoying the time together the past two months. Blessings to you!
What have I been up to in these past 2 months?
Completing the process to have my first book published! 🙂
My book is now available in paperback and hardback format on Amazon.com!
I invite you to “Like” my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexisAGoring
And if you go to Amazon, just type in my name (Alexis A. Goring) and my book, “Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories” will show!
God bless you and your readers, Katie! So happy for you that you’re now a family of FOUR and that you have a new book! I can’t wait to read it! 🙂
The last two months….well…our church is moving to a different building. So there have been many hours cleaning, painting and getting ready to move! Such a big job, but so worth it. We had to have our furnace and AC unit replaced. I have been keeping up with normal house stuff and getting ready to start school. And of course…reading!!! One can’t neglect reading, no matter how busy! 🙂 You are a new author to me, so it has also been fun “getting to know you” a little bit. 🙂 So excited for you and your growing family!! 🙂
I have been training for a 5k for brain cancer and dealing with my dads brain cancer. I have also been really busy with my blog. Thanks for the giveaway!
We have been busy with a move for the past two months. We are a family of eight so moving is quite the process. We also homeschool so in between setting up house, I have been setting up our homeschool for this upcoming school year. All of this has been taking place with a sweet six month old who does not like to be put down. 🙂
I have just been taking care of kids and staying close to home, would love to win this giveaway
Shirley B jcisforme@aol.com
Well lets see – I work a lot at my home business and since the summer in Florida is a good time to stay inside we have just been working until last week when we made a trip to visit some friends in Michigan. They winter missionary here in Florida with NTM and stay with us but we have never visited them – and we spent a great week with them. And I got some nice relaxing reading done on the plane also.
The past two months I have been a book reviewing maniac.
Have been taking care of my dad,in a nursing home,and my family.
Well, I have those books but I’d love to win to gift them to someone else.
What have I been up to? Well, let’s see: that would be reading, reading, reading. I’ve done some canning this summer, putting up hot pepper relish, jalapenos and pear preserves, too.
The last two months–let’s see.
Single-parented three kids while my husband went to Romania for eleven days for a family wedding.
Took my kiddos to Minnesota to celebrate my grandparents’ 65th anniversary (!!!!!) and hung out with family I haven’t seen in a decade or so.
Finished draft two of my book.
Read a lot of fiction (like WOW and Gone South!) and slept in some.
Grew our first garden and sold the extras at the farmer’s market (like nine of the sixteen cantaloupes and five of the seven watermelons that came ripe at the same time).
Wow, it was a good summer. Thanks for the reminder, Katie. 🙂 Looking forward to meeting you at the conference this week.
We have added one to our number of grandchildren, bringing that number to 5. We have learned that number will change to 6 in March. We hosted a summer Japanese exchange student. Had some fun times, endured some not so fun times, but all in all, God was, is, and always will be faithful!
My summer vacation consisted of a long weekend at Hilton Head Island. It was fun but not long enough.
I am actually taking off a week from work and leaving this Thursday on a jet plane to visit family in WA state.
On another not I just finished Wildflowers from Winter last week, so I would love to win a copy of Wishing on Willows!
I signed up to get your blog via e-mail…
Well I have been working and reading!!
In the last 2 months I have:
-traveled to the ocean with my family of 5
-read some pretty good fiction (finally, after a very long reading dry-spell)
-slept a little bit (but realistically, not much at all thanks to my anti-sleep child)
-built a deck (ok, that was my husband)
-watched a lot of Duck Dynasty
-became an aunt for the 5th time
-made lots of homemade salsa
-sent my middle child off to kindergarten, sniff 🙂
Oh these two months have been packed with…writing. HAHA! I haven’t done a lot of traveling this summer, though I DID get to hang out with some of the coolest writer friends ever up in Minnesota for a few days. That and also receiving a copy of my first book in the mail were my two big highlights. 🙂
Glad to see you back around the blogosphere…and even more, to get to see ya in person later this week!!
The last two months have been a mixture of joy and sadness. My second book, Shenandoah Crossings, came out – Joy! We lost two wonderful family members, one only 47. God is faithful, though, and he is redeeming every situation.
Just loving on my kids a whole lot! We traveled for the first time with 4 kiddos and it went surprisingly awesome. We didn’t even have any electronics for the kiddos! Added bonus! Lots of reading, car games, talking and sleeping too! 🙂
But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. (1st Cor14:3)Many things changed at the cross. One is the predominant nature of prophecy. Are you encouraging others? Are you building others up? Are you strengthening others? Are you speaking words of comfort?Take an opportunity today and ask Holy Spirit what words you can say to someone else that will help build them up. Try it. You can never go wrong building others up.
CORA MAEÂ
The past 2 months? Let’s see…saw my father-in-law off to Heaven. Sent two sons out into the real world, one son off to college, and one daughter out the door to 10th grade. Read a lot of books, drank an especially large amount of coffee.
Wow, Michelle – that’s A LOT of transitions. Coffee would be a must. 🙂