{"id":570,"date":"2011-12-03T12:54:00","date_gmt":"2011-12-03T17:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/saturday-december-3-2011\/"},"modified":"2011-12-03T12:54:00","modified_gmt":"2011-12-03T17:54:00","slug":"saturday-december-3-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/saturday-december-3-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday December 3, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

LIFE IS A GIFT<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

I feel wordless. This book is unbelievable, yet it’s a true story. It is heart-wrenching grief and the ability to live with great joy. <\/p>\n

I would rather not tell you the story, because I hate when someone robs me of the element of surprise in a book. Caught between that and the deep emotions I felt while reading, I’m left with few words to give you. So I will say this.<\/p>\n

Jenny Miller is my new hero.<\/p>\n

She has walked places in her life that most of us would quake to think about. She shares the story of her life and her journey with God through it all in a rich, honest, powerful, vulnerable way. Yet, in spite of the fact that her pain tops most of the ones we live with, I never felt any vibes of “well, I should just be grateful that I only struggle with xyz because she has it way worse.” We all have those moments of total surrender to God. Of giving up something we desperately long for. Because in those moments of surrender, we truly find God. So even though her story is one no one would ever wish for, her story also makes her so easy to relate to. At the end of the book I had this enormous urge to call her and ask her if we could go out for coffee again. Totally bizarre since I’ve never talked to her in person and she lives thousands of miles from my house. <\/p>\n

It’s a story of tears. Of learning. Of profound gratitude. And most of all I am overwhelmed by her tremendous desire to see good in life. To make it beautiful. To live well.<\/p>\n

Jenny, thank you. Thank you for writing your story to share with the world. We are richer because of it.<\/p>\n

Here is the introduction:<\/p>\n

“The only sound is my blades cutting across the ice as we leisurely skate toward the far end of the arena and round the corner. We spin and twirl as if trying out for the Olympics. Only a little more slowly. And a lot less gracefully. <\/p>\n

“I whirl my beautiful daughter’s wheelchair around so she faces me. ‘Happy Birthday to you,’ I sing softly, breaking the silence. Her eyes widen. ‘Happy Birthday to you.’ Her eyes begin to twinkle. ‘Happy birthday, dear Courtney ….’ I hold out the note and her face breaks into a grin. She’s beaming. ‘Happy Birthday to you.’<\/p>\n

“We take off again, the wind whipping through our hair as we enjoy the ice and the rhythm and each other. We have the rink all to ourselves, and we take full advantage, singing and laughing and sharing secrets.<\/p>\n

“Just for today, we pretend there is no such thing as disease or disability. We choose to believe that life is a gift and embrace wholeheartedly the beauty of this day. We relax and reflect and remember …..<\/p>\n

“Remember the lessons of faith and life we have learned. Remember the amazing grace of our Father as we walked the journey set before us. And remember the God moments we’ve encountered along the way … some full of joy, others full of heartache, but always undeniably from the hand of God.<\/p>\n

“All because God sent three darling little girls into my life and changed me into the person I am today. I wish you could meet them. Not just meet them, but truly become part of their lives and allow them to be part of yours. I believe it would change you, too.”<\/p>\n

To enter: leave a comment on this xanga post. You can earn a second entry by linking to facebook or your blog. Come back and leave a second comment telling me you did so. If you do not comment with a xanga or facebook identity, please check back when the giveaway ends or leave your email address so that I can get the books to you. Giveaway ends Thursday, December 8th.<\/p>\n

And just for fun, a gift basket idea:<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

I did this basket as though I were going to give it to my friend, Jeanne, mom to Benjamin in my children’s book, My Brother’s Keeper<\/span>.  Although the truth is, she is the one who called me two days ago to make sure I had this book because she wanted to order it for me if I didn’t.  But IF I were giving it to Jeanne, I would want to include a pretty scarf and a starbucks gift card and a note that includes the words, let’s go do something fun tomorrow.  Because somehow it feels just like something Jenny would do, knowing how much a mom like her just needs to get away sometimes to regain perspective.<\/p>\n

To order your own copy: visit this page.<\/a><\/p>\n

Good luck!<\/p>\n

************* This giveaway is now closed ******************<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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