As one author on parenting titled her book, “Aren’t they lovely when they’re asleep?”

Can I just add that I love bounce flashes?  All of the above were shot in pitch black bedrooms yet come out like all the lights were on!

From now until 1/31, at ArtsCow.com, get TWO 8X10 canvas prints for $7.99, shipping included! Just upload your photos, select your two canvas prints (same photo or two different ones), and use the coupon code B1F1CANVAS8X10 at checkout!

We’ve already taken advantage of the offer to take a bunch of portraits of the kids and print a bunch of canvas prints of these:

A week ago, we offered a giveaway of a lovingly homemade cover for an ESV study bible.

We decided to do the old-fashion way of drawing a name from a bowl.  In spite of my husband’s urging of doing [fill-in-geek-talk-about-randomization-algorithm-implemented-in-an-Excel-spreadsheet].

The boys participated in this completely random drawing (overseen by a nationally recognized auditing firm) by pulling a name…

(Feeling the suspense building yet?)

And the winner is …

The winning entrant is invited to contact us by e-mail to let us know which fabric you’d prefer.

Thanks to all for participating!  Please come again for a future giveaway!

I’ve been using my ESV Study Bible for my daily Bible reading for the past two months and I’ve found the study notes to be very helpful.  I also like the colored maps and illustrations.  I was really stoked when I used the maps and pictures in my study Bible while teaching a history lesson to my children last week.  If you’re interested in learning more about this study Bible, you can read Tim Challies’ review.

I got the hardcover edition and quickly found the paper dust jacket that came with it was simply not adequate to protect the Bible (or itself!).  So, I made a Bible cover for the my new Bible.  Now it looks snazzy, cozy, and dignified (not that the Bible itself isn’t dignified because after all, it’s God’s Word).

Below are some pictures of the final product (click through for larger images).

Here’s my “naked” Bible with no cover:

Here’s my newly dressed Bible.  Nice and cozy.

Here are the details of the cover:

I’ve been enjoying reading and looking at my bible so much that I’ve decided to make a custom cover for one of my lucky blog readers.  You can even pick from a selection of different fabrics I have available:

To enter this contest:

• You must own or will very soon own a hardcover ESV Study Bible.
• Leave a comment on this post telling me that you want a Bible cover.  Please provide a valid e-mail address in the form (it will only be accessible by us).  If you like, explain why you want a Bible cover from Ding Family Creations.
• Enter by next Sunday (Jan. 17).  A random winner will be selected from all entries the following day and announced via email and the blog.

Good luck!

Early last year I made a commitment to read the Bible in one year (see this post), and I completed my reading on December 31, 2009.  I felt so happy with this accomplishment and it’s such a great feeling.  Looking back on the year, I wasn’t always on schedule and seemed like I was always playing catch-up.  As a busy mom, it was not easy keeping up with the daily reading but I refused to let my “being a busy mom” be an excuse.  I understand that whatever life stage we’re in right now we can always come up with different excuses for not reading.  I hope that those who didn’t complete their reading in one year won’t give up but be even more determined to finish a new round of Bible reading this year.

Over the year I discovered several ways to tackle my daily reading and I hope these “techniques” may enlighten you and help you be creative in keeping on schedule.

• I take a walk with a friend every morning at 6:30 a.m. for about 30-40 minutes.  After which I lock myself in a room to read my Bible for about one hour.   I discussed this first with my husband so he could deter any halflings (AKA: the little people in this house) from disturbing my daily reading.  While this was the best method in accomplishing my daily readings, this wasn’t always an option because things happen such as being up all night with a sick kid.  So in keeping with schedule, I have another method. . . . .
• Read the Bible whenever I can get a free moment.  I leave my Bible open on the kitchen counter and whenever I can steal a moment, I read a paragraph or two and most of the time I can read a chapter or two.  Sometimes I read my Bible while I feed my baby in her highchair.
• When I get really, really behind in my readings, I go and hang out at a local coffee shop to catch up on my reading for about an hour or two.  This usually happens on the weekends when my husband is home to watch the kids.  Chilling at a coffee house is such a precious and favorite pastime of mine.  I have finally figured out which is the best coffee house to hang out and read, and it’s not Starbucks. I think I’m getting old because I now find that the music at Starbucks is too disruptive for me.  I much prefer a nice and relaxing place that plays classical music.. . . . I know. . . I digressed.

I am excited to start another round of Bible reading this year.  Will you join me?  The reading plan I’m using is Discipleship Journal’s One-Year Plan.

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, recently made available a number of his sermons free of charge.  I’ve been listening to his sermons on my iPod while washing dishes, cleaning the house, and driving.  I’ve been very much blessed by Keller’s insights, encouragement, and teaching.  So, feel free to download and listen.

I’m excited to let all you moms with little ones who can’t blow their noses know that I’ve found the perfect product to help your kiddos breath when they have runny noses.  Thanks to a dear friend who introduced us to NoseFrida, also known as the “Snotsucker.”   In our family, we prefer the term snotsucker.  What is a NoseFrida anyway?  It just doesn’t ring with our goofy bunch.  The Snotsucker!  Now, that’s a name that sticks!

So, what exactly is it?  It’s an expensive and simple little device ($16.99 at our local Whole Foods Store) that helps you suck (not beat) the snot out of your kid.  You simply put the tip of the tube at your child’s nostril, and you use your mouth to suck the snot out.  Yes, it truly sounds gross and it is gross.  BUT!  It works wonders and my child doesn’t cry when I aspirate her.  No, your child’s snot won’t end up in your mouth.  There’s a little foam filter that prevents you from inhaling your child’s snot.

When we had our first baby, the hospital sent us home with a bulb syringe.  Being new parents we had no idea what a bulb syringe does except to squirt water for fun.  When our child got his first cold and had constant runny nose, we discovered the wonders of the bulb syringe.  Soon enough we discovered a downside.  Whenever we bust out the bulb syringe, the baby cried like there’s no tomorrow.  The more he cried, the more worked up he got, and the more snot he got.  That was a bad cycle.  Well, with the Snotsucker our child doesn’t freak out anymore.  I can just suck the snot out while she stands.  I no longer have to manhandle the child to get her to cooperate.  Whooo hooo. . . Yes, the Snotsucker!  We love it.

If you want to know more, here are the FAQs.