An Easter Giveaway

In one of my college theology courses, the professor told us that it would be just as wrong to fast during the octave of Easter as it would be to succumb to gluttony on Good Friday. When the Church tells us to feast, he said, she means it.

– Arwen Mosher in her post, Easter Feasting, over at Faith & Family LIVE!

All around me the message is clear: Now is a time to celebrate, to bask in joy, and to feast. A Facebook friend of mine said it best when she shared her family’s tagline for the Easter family, which I then promptly tweeted because I liked it so much:

Fast for 4o. Feast for 50!

I really enjoyed Arwen’s recent post as well, especially when she took away some of my guilt over indulging on a few too many pieces of chocolate since Easter Sunday when she wrote, “Three peanut butter cups is a more theologically pleasing number, anyway. In Easter, even candy indulgence can honor the Trinity!”

Alleluia!

I also appreciated Arwen mentioning her effort to say yes to her children more when it comes to having fun. I’m trying to do the same. My mess-adverse self just has to get over it during this time of year.

“Mommy, can we paint?”

“Yes!”

“Mommy, can we play in the mud?”

“Yes!”

“Mommy, can we have dessert after lunch and maybe dinner, too?”

“Yes!”

It’s a season of yes. It’s a season of celebration.

So in honor of the octave of Easter, I’m giving away a few things. To enter for a chance to win any of the giveaway items below, please just leave a comment below on or before April 27th. Random.org will assist me in choosing the winners. You can get additional entries by leaving a separate comment for each of the following actions:

1. Liking Weightless on Facebook. (If you already “like” it, let me know in a separate comment; this applies for any of the actions below as well.)

2. Following me on Twitter.

3. Writing a review of Weightless on Amazon.

4. Liking Weightless on Amazon.

5. Adding a customer image on the Weightless Amazon page of you, your child, or anyone holding  a copy of the book.

5. Posting a You Tube video of you singing “Werewolves of London” since my husband and I used to dance around singing this song to our firstborn, and she still seems to love to hear the tune (And his hair was perfect. That line makes me smile every time.). I’m only kidding. But if you happen to do this, I might just decide to allow you to automatically win one of the items.

Remember, you don’t have to do any of these extra things to enter to win. Just leaving any old comment will do just fine. However, if you do take several of the actions, please be sure to leave a separate comment for each since this will increase your chances for winning.

*I’m so sorry to my international readers, but only U.S. residents are eligible to win.

Happy Easter!!!

The Loot:

• My wonderfully talented sister-in-law’s day job is a pediatric nurse, but she crafts in her spare time or when my sports-obsessed brother is watching football or baseball or golf or tennis (he pretty much keeps up with it all). She sells some her creations at Artsi Crafti, and she has generously donated a chic nursing cover. She gave me one before Thomas was born, and I use it all of the time since the little man nurses frequently nurses on the go. I also gave one of my best friends one just before she welcomed her third bambino into the world, and she loves hers as well. Here are some photos of the nursing cover we’ll be giving away to one lucky winner (it makes a great baby shower gift even if you’re not in need of one!):

• My sister-in-law makes these adorable baby hats as well, and one lucky winner will get this one:

• Catholic Family Gifts has generously offered to give away one item from this page. I was blessed to receive Jesus Speaks to Me on My First Communion, which is a beautiful keepsake book. I’ll be giving it to my Madeline who will be making her First Communion on April 29th. (She’s technically in the first grade but as homeschoolers, we can be more flexible and she was eager to make her First Eucharist and when she started pondering aloud about original sin, I knew she’d reached the age of reason.) The wonderful online gift store also generously provided me with Madeline’s First Communion veil. When she tried it on, her younger sister said, “No fair! You look like a princess!” Be sure to check out their wide selection of Communion veils. They’re beautiful and reasonably priced.

• One copy of the following books:

Madeline made it through this entire mystery series in a couple of weeks. These are great beginning chapter books.

The melancholic in our family could really relate to Anthony DeStefano’s sweet and simple book. This is a good one to keep in the bathroom since we all know moms hide away on the commode when they’re feeling overwhelmed and could use a little pick-me-up. Don’t expect any wise spiritual direction from this book; it’s pages read like a Hallmark cards you’d send to a friend who’s down in the dumps. Nothing new or amazingly insightful, but the little book’s encouraging all the same.

This book and its accompanying CD teach the musically-inclined and the musically-challenged alike to chant the complete service of Compline.

Full disclaimer: I haven’t read this one, but it seems like it would be an encouraging books for moms.

The copy will be autographed. I know that’s nothing special, but I, um, wrote the slim volume, so the least I can do is scribble my name and a few words of encouragement in it.

Good luck! I’ll announce the winners the week of May 1st.