Confessions of a Junk Drawer Junkie: Turning Weakness into Strength

What's in YOUR drawer?

 
“And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.” --Ether 12:37

I have a confession to make.   I have a junk drawer and it’s full of junk. Lots of it. Pieces, parts, papers, you name it. It’s in there. 

When I moved into a new house recently, I promised I would NEVER create a junk drawer EVER again. Well, sorry to say…it’s ba-ack! I didn’t intend for it to happen. It just happened.

Well, the other day, a guest dropped by and needed a pen. Guess what? Before I could hand her one she did the unthinkable. She reached down to the right-hand side of my kitchen desk drawer and pulled on the handle. I panicked. It was like a Chariots of Fire slow motion run to stop the unthinkable. NOOOOOO! Don’t open that drawer!

Too late. It all happened so fast. Before I could get to the other side of the kitchen, she had already opened the junk drawer and looked down to discover all of my junk for her viewing pleasure, or should I say “displeasure.” There it was; my junk in all its glory and splendor. My secret was out. It was like one of those dreams where you’re naked in school and everyone is starring at you, and for some reason you don’t run out of the room and put on a shirt. (I hate those dreams!) Suddenly, I felt the need to confess.

“My name is Jodi Robinson and I have a junk drawer. I’m not proud of it. But it is what it is. And I accept it.” So, I have a junk drawer. What’s the big deal? I am not a junk-a-holic, but the truth of the matter is I do have a habit of putting stuff in my junk drawer, and I avoid dealing with it because it’s easier to pretend that someday everything in that drawer will magically find a home.

Well, it got me thinking. Why is that we’re afraid to show people our junk? Friends who know me well, know that I’m not bothered by the drop-in visits where I’m caught “naked” so-to-speak with my house not picked up, my kids and I not dressed, and dishes left in the sink from last night’s dinner. Because, when that happens, I’m usually in the middle of a big project or a writing assignment, and I have a good excuse. But… the junk drawer? The hidden, don’t want to deal with “stuff” that feels better if people don’t know it’s there kind of junk? The kind I pretend that’s not really there? That bothers me. I shouldn’t be bothered by the fact that this guest now knows I have a junk drawer and I that own junk. And, better, yet, that I don’t know how to fix it. I have had a junk drawer for as long as I can remember. Oh, sure I get a handle on it temporarily. I throw out the entire junk drawer one day when I feel like de-junking. I say goodbye to whatever is in there without even going through it. I toss it into the garbage can outside, ON garbage day, so I don’t have the option to retrieve it even if I wanted to. And that’s that. But that only happens about once a year. The rest of the time, it’s as if an invisible giant magnet slowly pulls miscellaneous ribbons, coins, dice, and screws, inside that drawer.

In life, we all have junk. There isn’t anybody who doesn’t have junk. So, why are we so afraid to admit it? Why are we so horrified when someone opens that drawer, that personal weakness, to discover buried treasure? As mortal, imperfect beings…it’s no surprise…and it’s no secret that I…you…and everyone around us…has some junk to deal with. It’s life. Either it’s our own personal junk, or our families junk, but, let’s face it…there is going to be junk. There’s no way of getting around it. Marriages are not going to be blissfully perfect all the time. Children are not going to be blissfully perfect much of the time. Jobs, health, relationships—nothing in life is junk averse.

And if it makes you feel any better, I bet that even that lady on your block whose house is so pristine that you could lick her floors…in fact…I’d bet a king size Hershey bar that somewhere in that lady’s house there is a junk drawer, or a box, or a can, or some disorganized holding manifestation full of tiny pieces, parts and papers. It may be smaller…much smaller than your own junk drawer, but it’s there. And guess what? It’s okay. It’s okay because we’re human. And we’re not perfect. We’re supposed to have junk. It’s called mortality. It’s called weakness.

In Ether 12:37 we read, “And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.”

I LOVE this scripture. So, let’s apply it to my junk drawer. There I was. My junk drawer…my weakness…open for the entire world to see. (Okay, maybe not the whole world. She was just one guest. But still.) Once the drawer was opened, I also SAW it. I was forced to acknowledge that it was there. So, the drawer is open. There’s my junk. And I had two choices. Make an excuse and say, “Hey, how did that drawer get in my house?” Now that would have made me look silly. The other option. Accept it. Claim it. And own it with integrity. “Yes, I have a junk drawer. And, it’s all good because by ‘seeing’ this weakness, just like we read in Ether, I can be made strong with God’s help.”

Friends! We’re human beings not GODS! And if we didn’t have junk we’d be translated. God would whisk us away from this complicated experience called mortality and give us our free pass into the Celestial kingdom. But as far as I can tell I’m still here. And you’re still here.

My name is Jodi Robinson. I have a junk drawer. And in that junk drawer, there may not be demons, but there are some untidy things that, at times, are not as nice and neat as I’d like them to be. And you know what? That’s okay. It feels so much better to admit it than pretend it doesn’t exist. Because then I can begin to do something about it. I can draw upon that promise in Ether that God will bless me with strength to overcome. And that is a beautiful promise.

Well, it’s a new year. Let’s commit to cleaning out our junk drawers and fixing what needs fixing. Let’s have the kind of faith that the woman who touched Christ’s garment had. All she did was, in faith, reach out to touch the Master so he could heal her from her weakness. And Christ did it.

God has a mansion prepared for me. And it’s up to me too clear out my junk drawer so that I can be worthy to live in it. And, you know what the best part of living in that beautiful, glorious mansion will be? There will be no junk drawers. Junk drawers will be a thing of the past. There won’t be even a recollection that they ever existed.

Let’s not be afraid of our junk. Or, other people’s junk for that matter. After all, it’s only junk. It’s not the good stuff. It’s not what we’re really made of. We’re made in the image of an Almighty God. We’re his spirit sons and daughters. Even the most desperate junky has more to his/her being than junk. Our Father in Heaven, who made us, knows how to help us fix our junk and he’s not afraid of our junk either.  He knows what it is and he accepts us and loves us and gives us opportunities to learn how to discard it, not to hide it in some drawer. If we’re going to become the children of God that He needs us to be then we have to choose a better way. We have to deal with our weaknesses and trust in the power of the Atonement of God’s son who will help us become stronger, better, more god-fearing, more god-focused individuals. 

Be honest. Open up that junk drawer and deal with it. And better, yet, you take a look at my junk drawer and I’ll take a look at yours and then let’s help each other to become better; to overcome obstacles; to rise to the occasion; to do the impossible and learn a better way.

My name is…and I’m a junk drawer junkie.


QUESTION OF THE DAY:  What’s the craziest thing you've found in your junk drawer?

Answer:  Once I found a hard, piece of toast. I was mortified. But I did get a good laugh out it.

Comments welcome. 

New Years Resolutions--Is God on Your List?

It's a New Year. In fact, it's a brand new decade. Twenty-ten. Or, is it two-thousand and ten? People everywhere are debating how to say it. Well, however we say it, it's still a new year. And a new year always provides us the opportunity to begin with a new slate. So, I've been giving resolutions a great deal of thought.

If you're like me, year after year, you create a list of New Year’s resolutions. But every year, all of the things on the list are the same. They're just worded differently. Like get more organized. Exercise more often. Eat healthier. Be a better wife, mother, friend, and neighbor. Eat more vegetables. (My husband is calling for more broccoli. Does broccoli cheese soup count?) Anyhow, a few weeks ago, I read something that sparked a change in my thinking as far as resolutions go.



The question was: Where is God in your life?



I immediately thought, "Is God at the top of my list?"
I wanted to say, "Of course, he is." And sure enough, if I really spent time thinking about it there would be many evidences where I could support that thought. Scripture study. Check. Family scripture study. Check. Church attendance. Check. Service. Check. But then I thought about it. Does God really come first? And if he does, what does that look like? Well, if God comes first, then everything...EVERYTHING I do...has to show evidence that he really does come first.

If someone where to look at my life, would they see that God is first in my life? Would they know by talking to me that that was the case? Would they see that to be true in how I spend my time? Who I spend my time with and what I think about? What dreams I pursue? How I spend my money? How I treat people? How I serve people? What I do when no one's looking?

Needless to say, I concluded that if God really comes first then you and others around you will able to see it. Feel it. And so with some deep and introspective thought, I took inventory of my life, but not in a list form. I didn't create an endless list of resolutions. I just made one.

New Year’s Resolution for 2010: TO PUT GOD FIRST IN MY LIFE. That's it. There's nothing else on my list. Because with that at the top of my list, there really isn't a need for anything else.

President Ezra Taft Benson once said:  "We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives. He must come first, just as He declares in the first of His Ten Commandments: ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me’ (Ex. 20:3). “When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives."

Today is January 6th. And I have a lot to do. But I'm starting out the day with that one thing in mind--to put God first. It's going to be good day. I can feel it. I can't assume that for 359 more days I will be able to keep that resolution perfectly. I know there are going to be those days, those moments, when I mess up.  But that's where God has already put a plan in place for when I fall short of my resolution. Repentance. And the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. God is really good at his job!  So I'm heading into a new year, excited and optimistic about 2010. 

I'm hoping that by doing this, when I get to the end of 2010, I will be able to see a difference in my life; in how I feel about my life; and where I've been and what I've done. And when I ask myself on December 31, 2010, "Where is God in your life, Jodi Robinson?" "Does God come first?"  "And what does that look like?" I'll be able to answer with a clear conscience.

"Well, he's first on my list."

What are your New Year's resolutions? And is God at the top of your list? Let me know how you intend to strengthen your relationship with God in 2010. Post your comments. I love hearing from you.


With love and friendship,

Jodi

A Book a Day -- January BOOK GIVEAWAYS -- Beat the Winter Blahs and Win FREE Books

ANNOUNCING . . . One a day BOOK GIVEAWAYS for January 2010

EVERY DAY Jan. 2nd - Jan 30th, some lucky winner will receive a FREE book.  That's 28 chances to WIN!  My book, "Women of Virtue", is being featured on January 25th. 

How do I enter the contest?
Go to the following author's blog:  http://www.camicheckettsbooks.blogspot.com/
and check out which books are being offered and on which days. 
Just do what Cami says and you might be so lucky to win!

Pass this info along to your friends and family. 

Here is a listing of the books that will be given away and the days that they will be featured:

BOOK GIVEAWAYS
January 2nd - 101 Gourmet Cupcakes by Wendy Paul



January 4th - Where the Wind Blows by Caroline Fyffe


January 6th - Guided By Him…to a Thinner, Not So Stressed-Out You by Julie Morris


January 8th - Chickens in the Headlights by Matthew Buckley


January 9th - Loyalty's Web by Joyce DiPastena


January 11th - Altered Plans by Rebecca Talley


January 13th - My Son, John by Kathi Macias


January 15th - Discipline Me Right by Mary Simmons


January 16th - The Sister Pact by Cami Checketts


January 18th - Counting the Cost by Liz Adair


January 20th - Methods of Madness by Stephanie Black


January 22nd - Altered State by Gregg Luke


January 23rd - A Tapestry of Spells by Lynn Kurland


January 25th - Women of Virtue by Jodi Robinson


January 27th - Torn Apart by Diony George


January 29th - All the Stars in Heaven by Michele Holmes


January 30th - Love Your Body by Brooke Parker
 
Have fun and let me know if you WIN!
Book Giveaways by Cami Checketts
 
Happy New Year!

The Piano and the True Meaning of Gift Giving

Years ago, I received a remarkable gift. One that taught me that a true gift is given with love and sacrifice.

Except for the radio playing “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” the commute home from North Dallas to the midcities area was turning out to be just like any other weekday commute. Cars were lined up bumper to bumper on I-35, all the way to the 121 interchange and beyond. I was so relieved to see the shiny, high rises disappearing in my rear view mirror that I yelled out, “Yea, for the holidays!” I then exited the toll road and pushed on the gas. December 25th was only 8 hours away.

An hour and ten minutes later, I pulled into my driveway, pushed the garage door opener, and watched it go up.  Anxious to be home, I didn’t notice the yellow U-haul truck parked in front of my neighbor’s house. I parked next to my husband’s green truck, got out of the car, and opened up the back passenger door. 

“Tomorrow’s Christmas, baby Jacqueline. Your first Christmas,” I said lifting my 9-month-old, baby daughter out of her car set.  Her big brown eyes melted my heart. That day was Jacqueline’s last day at her daycare. I was quitting my job at the end of the month and starting with a new company, so I could work from home. Working in the big city wasn’t as exciting as it once was, because the minute I got to work all I could think about was picking up my baby and listening to her coo, and giggle. My new job would give me more time to be a mommy. Becoming a family was certainly more than I could have ever hoped for. It did, in fact, change everything.

"We're ho-ome!" I called out as we entered the side door.  My husband greeted us and quickly whisked baby Jacqueline away.

“Hold her while I get dinner going and wrap a few more gifts?” I said heading for the bedroom to change my clothes.  As I shut the blinds, I glanced out the window.  Once again, I didn’t pay attention to the yellow U-haul in front of my neighbor’s house. I was too busy thinking about Christmas morning and how Christian and I were going to have so much fun watching our baby play with her new toys.

After dinner, we delivered some goodies to friends, organized the presents under the tree, put Jacqueline to bed, called family members to wish them a Merry Christmas, and finally hit the sack about 11 p.m. I had had a long and busy work week and within minutes of lying down I was out.

As soon as I was asleep, unbeknownst to me, my husband sprung into action. Now, Christian knew I was a sound sleeper, but he wasn’t going to take any chances. So, just as he had planned, he turned on the television for some background noise and placed a pillow over the side of my head. It wasn’t unusual for me to sleep with a pillow on my head. That was a skill I had learned in college, because my roommates were night owls. Since I had early morning classes, the pillow over my head remedied the noise factor so I could get some decent shut eye.

After getting redressed, Christian quietly shut the door to our bedroom. On his way downstairs, he turned up the heater.  That way the cold air from the front door being propped open wouldn’t wake me. He had thought of everything. He then headed out, into a chilly December night, over to our neighbor’s yard, where he climbed into the yellow U-haul, started up the engine, and backed it into our driveway.

To my surprise, my Christmas present was inside the back of that truck. It was a 1962, brown Baldwin upright piano; a gift he had been planning for some time. For years, I played on an electric keyboard, but I dreamed of having my own piano. I had never said it out loud. I only thought it. But Christian knew. He just knew. Getting a piano was the farthest thing from my mind because he hadn’t, yet, graduated from the University of Texas. We had a new baby and had just bought our first house. A piano, at least for now, was out of the question.

To my surprise, though, my husband had thought a lot about a piano.  He started calling on classified ads several months earlier and researching different used pianos. Money was also something he had to secretly keep from me. Saving $800 dollars without my knowing was quite a clever feat.

As Christian unlatched that back door to the truck and uncovered the piano, I’m sure he doubted, for at least a second or two, how he was going to pull off this surprise. Moving an almost 500 pound piano, up two front stairs, across a living room floor, and into a dining room, by himself, in the middle of the night, was not an  easy task, and doing it quietly was nearly impossible. But somehow, two hours and half hours later, my husband had accomplished the impossible. (I’m still not quite sure how he did it.) Next, he set up our video camera on a tripod at the bottom of the stairs, so the big surprise would be caught on tape.

Seven O' clock the next morning, right on schedule, baby Jacqueline woke up. I rushed into her bedroom, scooped her up in my arms, and said, “It’s Christmas! Let’s go see what Santa brought.”

“Hold on,” said my husband. “Let me go turn on the camera.”

“Oh, what a great idea,” I said. “Getting Jacqueline’s reaction on her very first Christmas, you’re brilliant.” I was clueless. After a few minutes, he said he was ready for us and gave us the go ahead to come down the stairs.

“Let’s go see what Santa brought,” I said bouncing my babe in arms. I waved her little arm and I smiled at the camera, thinking that the purpose of capturing that moment was about my baby and not me.

Little did I know the camera was all about me and my surprise.  My husband wanted me to see my reaction so I would remember it forever. And I do remember it.  I remember turning the corner and, to my astonishment, seeing a giant red bow wrapped around a 1962, brown, Baldwin upright piano nestled against the east wall of my dining room. Thanks to his forward thinking, that Christmas morning memory is a priceless family video.

“Ahh! What!?” my hand flew over my mouth. “You!? How!? Oh, my goodness you got me a piano!? Oh, I can’t believe you got me a piano!? What! How on earth did you get this in here? You could have killed yourself! What were you thinking!?” I said hitting him on the shoulder. “Do you know how heavy pianos are?”

“Uh, yea I figured that out,” he replied.

I began to cry and then I was speechless.  My husband went on to explain that my piano was in that yellow, U-haul truck all along.

“What U-haul truck?” I exclaimed. He told me he was so worried that, being the nosey neighbor that I was, he thought for sure I would question why our neighbors had a moving truck in front of their house on Christmas eve and go over there to find out why.  However, he managed to pull off my surprise without any hiccups.  Getting that piano into our house, all by himself, in the middle of the night, without waking me up, or our baby, was purely a Christmas miracle.  I knew I had received a remarkable gift, given with such for-thought, sacrifice and love that my piano became a symbol of what Christmas was truly all about.

“It needs a good tuning. And one of the keys kind of sticks.  But we can fix that,” he said quietly.

I didn’t care if didn't have any keys all!  Given out of love it was the most perfect piano EVER!

Christian and I have now been married 19 years this coming February. Since that 1996 Christmas, I’ve had several chances to upgrade my $800.00, 1962, brown Baldwin to a newer and more modern model. But I’ve never had the heart to do it. You see, every once in awhile, when I sit down to play songs, and my fingers hit those sticky keys, I’m reminded of a tender, Texas Christmas, in the home of a young couple, who was starting out their life together as a family, and, in that moment, I am gently reminded of the love and sacrifice it took to give me that gift, and I realize that there is no better sounding piano, anywhere; for the melodies it plays are priceless.

May this Christmas be a reminder to all of us to remember the gifts that come to us by way of love and sacrifice. Especially the sacrifice of the Christ child, whose birth we celebrate. The Savior, the son of God, paid the ultimate price for our eternal happiness. Of his magnificent gift, of life and death, let us be gracious receivers and value it like no other.

May the spirit of the holidays be with you and your family throughout the coming year.

With love,

Jodi

WINNERS of my GOLD STAR CHALLENGE

How did you do giving out your GOLD STARS?   Our three WINNERS (by random selection...pulling names out of jars...very scientific) are:  Robynl, Elizabeth Morgan, and Teri Nine.    Email me your addresses at jodirobinson2182@hotmail.com, and I will have the authors send you your book.  Thanks again to Jewel, Joyce Dipastena, and Liz Adair for donating their books for our GOLD STAR contest. 

I really had fun giving out GOLD STARS, did you?  Because of this challenge, I did so much better at complimenting and uplifting everyone I was around.  It kept it top-of-mind.  It also taught me how easy it is to think negatively and even say negative things in place of something positive.  So, that's a good New Year's resolution.  To give a GOLD STAR instead of sack of potatoes, or in other words, give a blessing instead of a curse.  I'll write more about that in the New Year.  Here were just a few of my 100 GOLD STARS given out this past week.

Just a few of JODI'S 100 GOLD STARS

1.  Kissed my son and daughter on the forehead as they were heading off to school and told them they were the best kids ever! (My son yelled back, "You're the best mom ever!")


2. Told my husband I admired him.  (He said, "What did you say?"  I went on to explain.  I need to verbally tell him more often how much I really do admire him.  He's a really good man.)

3. Sent an email to someone I had lost track of over the years and told her how much her encouragement meant to me when I was younger. She emailed me back and said she really appreciated it.

4. Clapped my hands when my four-year-old colored me a beautiful picture of Strawberry Shortcake.  "You're a fantastic artist, Zoey."  She smiled and said, "I'm going to make you another one."

5.  This isn't really a verbal gold star, but I earned 2 for cleaning up my daughter's throw up (without complaining) at my older daughter's dance recital in front of a crowd. (I think I earned at least 2 stars for this one.)

6. Said a prayer for someone I knew needed one.

7. Brought some homemade fudge to one of my dear friends and told her thank you for putting up with me. (It's the BEST EVER fudge and I mean it.  Sorry no one else got some...but I had too much fun eating the rest.  That's why I had to give out truffles to the rest of you instead.)

8. Helped my daughter buy flowers for her two friends and before we gave them the flowers we talked about all the good things we liked about each friend.
 
9.  Told my Heavenly Father he was really good at his job.
 
10.  Complimented a stranger coming out of Kohls' telling her that she had a darling haircut.  (She was so flattered.) 
 
11.  Told my hairdresser I was so lucky to have found her.
 
12.  Told my oldest daughter she was beautiful. 
 
13.  Told my second daughter she was beautiful.
 
14.  Told my son he was handsome.
 
15.  Told my youngest daughter that she melted my heart.  "You melt my heart, mommy."  She said back.
 
16.  I told several women throughout the week, whenever I had chance to talk with them, why I loved them and why I was blessed to have them in my life. 
 
17.  Said to the checker at the Fresh Market, "Thank you for being so helpful."
 
18.  Sat next to one of my kid's past teachers at a concert and told her she really made a difference in my daughter's 5th grade year. 
 
19.  Thanked a few of new neighbors for being so welcoming.  
 
20.   Told my oldest daughter's band teacher that he is a fabulous teacher!  That I am grateful for his talents and for giving so much to our kids.  Band teacher's dont' get paid much, but, boy do they make difference in student's lives in helping them develop their love for music.  I dare say, "Mr. Perkins, you rock!"
 
My next post won't be until after January 3, 2010.  I pray that each of us will decide to develop a deeper relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the reason for the season...but more than that...he is the reason for everything.  Merry Christmas and may all your Christmas wishes come true. 
 
Love,
Jodi
True beauty if felt more than it is seen.

The Gold Star Challenge-Giving Out Gold-Join Me and WIN A FREE BOOK!

CONTEST:  Win a FREE book!  All you have to do is post a comment below about my GOLD STAR CHALLENGE.  I'll choose three winners next Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.  There are three books, so odds are in your favor.  Winners will receive Jewel Adams, "The Journey"; or Liz Adair's "Counting the Cost"; or Joyce Depastena's "Illuminations of the Heart."  Just think, you'll have something to read while you recover from the hectic holiday rush!  

What is the GOLD STAR CHALLENCE?
Okay, so, I've been thinking about creating a Gold Star Chart for my 4 1/2 year old to motivate her to stay in her Sunday school class at Church.  We've just moved and so she's been leary about her new friends, new classroom, and new church building.  At her age, gold stars go a long way.  She loves seeing that row of gold grow across the page and sometimes that does the trick to help her do better at whatever I'm trying to teach her.

Well, it got me thinking about Gold Stars, and how it's been a while since I received a gold star.  As a mother of four children, I do a lot of things that should earn me a gold star.  Like doing the dishes.  I washed all the Sunday dishes, all by myself, and because it's Sunday we dirty a lot of dishes.  The sink and counters were overflowing with plates, cups, bowls, and silverware.  After I was done, I thought to myself, "I earned a gold star for that."  But nobody gave me one.  Nobody clapped their hands and jumped up and down and said, "Jodi, you are such a good dish washer."  As I dried that last dish and placed it in the cupboard, I pictured my husband placing a gold star on my forehead and my children surrounding me with clapping hands and patting me on the back.  I liked it.

Getting a Gold Star just makes you feel good.  You remember how it felt, don't you?  Which...brings me to my point that no matter how old we are, no matter what we've achieved in life, we all crave positive feedback.  We all need that pat on the back, that "A" for effort, or that gold star that tells us that we're doing great!  So, here's another thought; as much as we'd like to receive a gold star, how often do we give a gold star?  GIVING OUT gold stars, or compliments, or positive feedback in general, also feels really good because the person you're giving it to feeds you positive energy right back.  It's a win-win!   

So, here is the GOLD STAR CHALLENGE.  This week is going to be my GOLD STAR week.  And, it's most appropriate for the holidays because on top of my Christmas tree is, in fact, a gold star.  It's a great reminder that I need to give GOLD STARS to my husband, to my children, to my friends, and even to strangers.  I'm so excited!  Even the check out lady at Wal-mart is going to get a gold star from me today, I can just feel it.  And I can't wait!  This will be the best week ever because I'm going to set a goal to give out 100 gold stars.  Ya, think I can do it?  Piece-a-cake.
JOIN ME in the GOLD STAR CHALLENGE and WIN a FREE BOOK:  So, if you're interested in joining me, give out as many gold stars as you can and POST your experience in the comments below.  Next Tuesday, December 22, 2009, I'll post the THREE winners.

Let's give out a little gold!  I'll report back and let you know what I did with all of my gold stars.  I'd love to know what you did with yours. 


I RECEIVED A GOLD STAR FROM A READER

I did receive a wonderful Gold Star this morning from a reader of my book, "Women of Virtue."  It's so nice when someone takes the time to email you and tell you that you've made a difference in their life.  Seriously, it's worth more than gold.  So, thanks to Elizabeth Adams, I'm starting off my Monday with an imaginary Gold Star on my forehead...and I feel like a winner.  Thanks, Elizabeth.  You gave me a Gold Star and because of you I'm passing along Gold Stars to everyone I meet for the rest of the week. 

Dear Jodi,
I don't know if you remember me but I'm Elizabeth Adams.  You gave a talk at my church, at our 'Young Women in Exellence' night.  You gave me your book, "Women of Virtue", and I just finished reading it, and I just had to thank you. It's my new favorite book! I think I cried three times while reading it! It was so inspirational and I just wanted to thank you for giving me a copy. I feel that your book is a such a gift to all women and I so hope you keep writing. Your book really touched my heart, and I just want to, again, thank you so, so much.


Sincerely,


Elizabeth Adams

Again, thanks Elizabeth.  Your Gold Star was as good as gold.

What are YOU Reading? Here's my two latest holiday picks.

Positively Delightful

I have a NEW favorite holiday poem.  It's called Bethlehem's Star by Bevan Olsen.  I paid only $2.99 for this 12 page story that is sure to become a family favorite for years to come.  You can read the whole poem  and see the illustrations when you click on the link. 

Google-Bethlehem's Star

I bought my copy, of all places, at my local grocery store.  And I'm so glad I just happened upon it.  You can order it on-line.  Here's a link for Google.  Again, a great price for a Christmas tale that touches your heart.

"It's time to give the gift."  That's the voice Annabelle keeps hearing, so she has to make a choice.  And it isn't easy.  Find out Annabelle's quest to give the perfect gift in the The Modern Magi.

Over Thanksgiving, I read The Modern Magi, by Carolyn Pearson, with my entire family. It's only about 60 pages, so it's an easy read to enjoy with your kids.  The story is about a woman named Annabelle who is forced to examine her willingnes to give a "true" gift, which means giving up something she wants most.  This lovely tale that teaches us about the meaning of true gift giving.  Everyone loved it!  Absolutely loved it.  I bought copies for friends and family.  Oops.  I think I just gave the surprise away.   Don't tell. 

HAPPY READING!  Amazon--Modern Magi