The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison *With a Giveaway!*

I don't remember the last time my heart was so touched by a book, if ever. This book just drew me in and held me captive by it's truths. There were so many things I found captivating about the book, like the detailed way the author describes places and situations. I felt like I could see the places she was speaking of and feel the emotions she described. What touched me the most though, was the way she helped me to pause and realize the beauty my life is filled with most on those ordinary days when my family just "is", when there is no rushing, no planned events, no agenda, just the days when we simply live. What a great reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the simple days and remember that things will change eventually, so to live in the moment.

Being a mother of boys really helped me identify with the author and her experiences. Being that I have 3 boys with very different and distinct personalities, I very much appreciated the things she had to say about what being "great" or "successful" looks like for our children. She talks about being able to see the beauty in our children and to not measure their successes based on what the world says they should be or do, but to love and appreciate them for who they are. I think this is such an important thing to remember to be able to support your children's unique gifts and talents.

The book also addressed how when you are a mother, so much of your identity is in just that, being a mom. With her two sons growing up and getting ready to leave home, she begins a journey of discovering who she is apart from being a mother. I think this is so important because I hear a lot of people say that once their children left home, they felt like they didn't know who they were anymore. Not only that, but it is a very difficult time of letting go and she talks about trying to do that with love and to be accepting of the changes in life.

Just a great book that has certainly changed my view on life and makes me want to be a better mother to my boys in these precious fleeting years I have with them. It's not about where you are, but about truly being present in each and every day and enjoying these all too short years we have with our children so that someday we will look back and smile on all the sweet ordinary days and remember just how blessed we truly are.

I loved this book so much and want others to share the joy that I received from it. Hachette Book Group USA has been kind enough to offer 5 copies of The Gift of an Ordinary Day to my readers! Yes, 5 of you will win a copy of this awesome book!

Below are the ways you can enter...

This contest will be open until 11:59 PM on December 7th. At that time I will use random.org to determine the winner. The winner will then be emailed and have 24 hours to respond, otherwise I will choose a new winner. This contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

Leave separate comments for each entry and leave your email address in this form - Jane (at) yahoo (dot) com

Mandatory Entry: Give me an example of an "ordinary day" that you have enjoyed with your family. (1 entry)

Extra Entries:

Follow my blog-You can use this as an entry whether you are a new follower or a current follower (1 entry)

Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and leave me the link to your post (5 entries) This counts as 5 separate entries so leave a comment for each and just number them.

That's 7 chances to win! Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes. My opinions expressed in this review were honest and genuine and I was in no way persuaded by the company involved.

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for the review copy of this book and for sponsoring this giveaway.