I have known about, prayed for, and been involved with Proverbs 31 Ministries for about eight years or so. Our women's ministry had the pleasure of securing a wonderful Proverbs 31 speaker to come and share with our ladies at a retreat when I still had at least one in diapers.

Around that same time, I also had the opportunity to speak to our women's ministry. I was fearful, but I followed God's leading and was truly blessed as I felt Him carrying me through my talk to these sweet women.

I had heard about the She Speaks Conference and knew it would have a profound impact on my ability to share my heart with other women who have walked a similar journey fraught with fear, feeling insignificant, and struggling with the perplexing symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Yet I have ultimately thrilled at seeing God's hand and knowing He has victory prescribed for all of us who believe and trust in Him.

Over the years since I first heard about the conference, I have secretly hoped to attend. I think my fears have kept me from applying in the past, but the financial burden is certainly a consideration as well.

So, I am taking a leap this time. I am leaving my fear behind, claiming my life verse above as a promise, and throwing my proverbial "hat" in the ring! (I guess getting the hat wouldn't be such a leap since I've already got the boots!)

If God wants me there to change my life, and in turn, change the lives of others who may later hear or read my story . . . then I am trusting Him to go before me, place favor over me, and allow me to win the scholarship that is available.

If it isn't His choice for me at this time, I will so look forward to reading and hearing the testimonies of those who do attend and how God has worked in them to spread His message of love to women all over the world!

Either way, it is exciting being in the loop of what God is doing. That's why I'm still here!

So, go check out all the juicy details here:

Proverbs 31 Ministries and Lysa TerKeurst are hosting a scholarship contest to attend this summer's She Speaks Conference in Concord, NC. The conference is June 20-22, 2008, and the scholarship covers the entire cost of the conference, with you needing to provide transportation only.

PLUS, you will get a chance to meet and hear Sophie from Boomama, Melanie from BigMama, and Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer all wax eloquently on all things bloggy!

Go on and check it out! Maybe God has an opportunity for you at this conference! You'll never know unless you step out Without Fear!

Labels: contest, freedom, joy, stepping out

Time for the winners of the most difficult game in giveaway history!!

I DID make y'all work for this one, which is why I am going to let you buy your own prize.

I am headed out this weekend to get two $10 gift cards from Bath and Body Works for you to use on whatever your little heart desires there. That actually saves me some postage in mailing a bottle of lotion, and you get to choose your own favorite fragrance.


Drumroll please . . . The winners, picked from the 11 correct guesses of my first name and 3 whole correct guesses for my middle name are as follows:

Labels: contest, giveaways, stepping out

I am closing the polls on my giveaway now, so that I can tally the correct guesses and post the winners by 12 Noon EST. I have a got another wildly crazy/busy day, so I need to have this wrapped up neatly by then : )

Thanks SO much for playing along . . . all 156 of you.

By 12 Noon y'all will know for sure who is hiding behind the Peach.

See ya'!!

Labels: celebrations, contest, giveaways, stepping out

The Domestic Diva is hosting a contest over at her site for a Dyson pink vacuum. You can go on over and join the fun, but this baby is mine.

Labels: contest, giveaways, shameless plea, waiting

Update at the bottom of this post!
***There is a giveaway at the bottom of this post, but I'm going to make you work for it ; )

So read on, and then follow the instructions before you comment.

When I started this bloggy adventure in August of 2005, I had no real plans for what I would do about my anonymity. I started "Homeschooling in the Peach State", used peachteapots as my user name because I love to collect teapots, and I'm from -- well . . . the "Peach state", duh.

Peaches are great. I like them on cereal. I like them in pies, cobblers, and especially in smoothies.

Yet with the association of "peach" the fruit also comes "peach" the color.

I not a big fan of the color peach . . . . I can't wear it. I don't like it used in decor in my home. I really don't like to be associated with it at all.

The color peach brings back icky memories of wearing a peach qiana (yes, that really was a fabric back in 1978) bridesmaid's dress in my cousin's wedding. The guys wore brown tuxedos( think of how this would have horrified Franck) and our dresses actually had cowl necks. Think this only with a full length clingy skirt and white platform mary jane style shoes. I was a picture of loveliness. No, thankfully I can NOT scan any incriminating photos.

So, back to the original reason for this post in the first place:

I never intended to become a fruit. It just sort of evolved out of control. The time has come to tame it.

I have a perfectly fine real name. I would like to do some branching out of sorts in the internet world, so I need to sound a little more credible than introducing myself as one of these.

Many of you already know my real name, but for those of you who don't (all three of you). Why don't you take a wild guess, and I'll send you some yummy body lotion -- from Bath and Body Works.

****So that those of you who do know my real name can play too . . . if you correctly guess my middle name, you will also get entered into the random number generator and have a chance at smelling good, too.

I will give one gift to the correct guess of my first name and one gift to the correct guess of my middle name. The names of both winners will be randomly chosen from the correct guesses and revealed on Friday, November 2nd, at 12 noon EST. If for some chance no one gets the name correct, I will still choose two winners on Friday regardless. Just leave a comment with a way to contact you. You don't have to have a blog, but leave an email address. This contest is open to US and Canadian addresses only.

There's just one caveat -- it will NOT be a peach fragrance. Along with all the other peachy issues -- I'm not a fan of the bottled fragrance or anything that is supposed to smell like peaches.

Give me a real peach or a basket of them -- Yum!

Peach in a bottle? Ick.

So, to join in with the Fall Y'all Giveaway, I am offering something to make you smell real good for your correct guess as to who is hiding behind the Peach.

Go on over to Shannon's Bloggy Giveaways site right now to join the untold masses of people just giving tons of cool stuff away for free!!

***Update: My name did not exist before 1740. It was made up for someone fictional, though I rarely use it in its full form, and it has nothing to do with the name of my state. Sorry "Georgia" guessers!

Labels: contest, friends, giveaways, rejoicing, stepping out

This has been a fabulous week of visiting blogs, bookmarking, and entering for all sorts of giveaways. I have had a blast, and I hope all of you have, too.

Here are my winners:

For the "Too Terrific Tags" Stampin' Up! Stamp set, the winner is:

Labels: blogging, celebrations, contest, friends, giveaways

Ok, by now, y'all probably are completely bug-eyed at all the giveaways around this place . . . not to mention the HUNDREDS of free things spilling from here.

Yet, I, being the crazy and generous sort that I am . . . I have another offer for you.

Most of these giveaways we've all been speedily visiting and frantically entering with our names and pertinent information are items we can currently use and will receive very soon after the giveaway is over.

What I am offering you is a set of 24 handmade Christmas cards . . . again an assortment, because I detest making the same card over and over again. It just stunts my creativity and puts me in a box . . . creates one more need for therapy, and who has the money for that! I am giving this stuff away, remember!?!

I have no photo right now of any Christmas card, but I may post one before the end of the week : ) I know you may not be able to tell with this dark photo, but the card stock in this particular example is hunter green with an ivory fleck on the inside. There is also verse on the inside, but I couldn't get that photo to cooperate this morning.


Anyway, back to the giveaway. I will choose a winner from anyone who comments by 5 pm, Friday, July 27.

However, the clincher is . . . you will not receive the cards from me any time before September 1. If you're like me, you won't be filling out Christmas cards before Thanksgiving anyway, so this shouldn't put you in a bind to wait until Sept. to get these.

Now, to make this a little more fun than just putting . . . "Enter me, please!" . . . I would like for you to tell me your favorite Christmas song (religious or secular) and tell me why it is your favorite.

I'll get things started. I love, love, love Christmas music and listen to it every month of the year except January.

My all-time favorite is Silent Night. When I became a mommy the first time, I had such a small repertoire of songs to sing for my new baby that I resorted to singing Silent Night every night for the first year. It just continued with all of my babies until it became the most requested at our house, no matter what time of year.

My new fave is this song by Third Day. It touches my heart and reminds me of a desire God laid on my heart five years ago.

So, now it's your turn. Tell me your favorite Christmas Song and why it's your favorite!

Labels: blogging, carnival, Christmas, contest, giveaways, summer fun

So, by now, many of y'all have been tooling around the land 'o blog like leprechauns in search of a pot of gold.

I figured, after all the excitement generated today, I would just sweeten the pot, so to speak. As many of you know from this post, I recently got to meet some fantastic authors of some wonderful books. I received one in particular that might be of interest to any of you who love this author as much as I do.

I currently hold two signed copies of Karen Kingsbury's newest release, Sunrise.

I will be happy to give away one of them, considering I am still holding the other for my dearest friend.

Like with all the other giveaways this week, please enter your comments by . . . oh, let's say 5 pm Friday. I'll announce this winner with the others by Midnight Friday, the 27th.

Same rules apply as all the others. Please leave an email or a valid registered blogger id. This contest is open to all commenters, regardless of your nation of habitation currently.

Now, go on leprechauns . . . keep searching for that pot of gold. Have a great time. I know I will!

Update -- Oh, and here's another cool contest over at 5 Minutes for Mom. We love Horizons Milk and Dairy Products around here, and this is a fabulous giveaway . . . simply fabulous I tell you!

Labels: blogging, carnival, contest, giveaways, summer fun

Had some great thoughts about the waiting for Sunday. Lost my post at 2am. I'm too tired to try to recompose it.

So, I'll let this do the work for me. Go here and watch the video called Sunday's Comin'. It is powerful. It is better than anything I did or could have written.

Then go visit the people on my Kindred Spirits list to the right of this tiny post. They all have posted some really cool things, especially at My Quiet Corner and at Boomama.

Please keep praying for Destiny's family. My heart has been mindful of them all day, and I have so many thoughts whirling around in my head over what happened to that precious young girl.

I am headed to bed. G'nite and good morning all in one fell swoop!

Oh, before I forget, Five Minutes For Mom is doing the coolest giveaway! It is a little gadget called a Presto. You can give this thingamajig to non-tech-savvy relatives, and use it to send them pictures over the phone and then PRINT them out. I want this thing for my MIL and my mom! GO check out the contest, because someone is going to win it!

Labels: contest, Easter, Sunday's comin', waiting