Sony Pocket Reader Giveaway
I remember in grade school at a recess-time ballgame sitting out in right field reading a book. My dad, who was both my elementary school teacher and the pitcher for the game, allowed it without comment, demonstrating at that moment a supreme understanding of my priorities in life.
As a child, I always had a book with me. I read more frequently than I ate. The literature that surrounded me then is with me still today.
That’s why I was thrilled when Sony contacted me a couple weeks ago asking me to participate in their Words Move Me campaign. They are sending me two Sony Readers, one for me to try out and one to give away. Yup, that means one of you is going to win a Sony Pocket Reader!
The Sony Reader can hold up to 350 books!! I can only imagine how thrilled the little-girl me would have been with such gadget. E-books for the reader can be purchased at the Sony eBook Library. BUT the frugalista in me loves the fact that half a million books (mostly older ones) are ALSO available for free in the public domain! Some libraries also check out e-books these days. The reader is compatible with non-DRM books in TXT, RTF, PDF, ePUB and Word format. (Word files require conversion through the desktop software.) Sources include: Project Gutenberg · Google Books · Wikisource · Feedbooks · Bookglutton.
The gizmo you see below features book-quotes that are meaningful to me. Click to the left or the right of the center box to scroll through the quotes that I’ve chosen. (It was crazy-hard to narrow down my books and pick quotes!) You can also click over to Words Move Me and see words that other people love. I found some interesting quotes that way, and rediscovered some books I loved. One warning though: not all the quotes there are family-friendly.
CONTEST RULES
T0 enter the drawing do one or both of the following:
1. Comment below and share one quote from a book that is meaningful to you. Share why that quote moved you.
2. Blog about the giveaway. In that post, include another book quote that moved you at some point in your life. Then come back and make another comment here with a *direct link* to your blog post.
—————-
- I will be choosing the winner based on originality and content of quote that you shared.
- NO purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.
- This contest ends at 12 noon MST on Friday, December 11th.
- I will announce a winner on Monday morning, December 14th.
“God often conceals the whole play from us and simply asks us to fulfill our parts with the knowledge – in faith – that he knows exactly what he is doing, and how our part fits into the whole. Only he sees the big picture, and he asks us to trust him.” – Fr. Thomas Williams, LC
Living in simplicity and trust is a daily resolution for me.
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
Thomas Paine
“Every decision I make is a choice between a grievance and a miracle. I relinquish all grievances, resentments and regrets and choose the miracle.”
I love this affirmation because until recently I was not so sure I believed in miacles at all. As a pastors daughter miracles were always “one handshake away” from me. My children have changed that in me. Like Thomas the apostle who believed only after he was an eyewitness, I learned to believe that there are indeed miracles, my children are proof.
“There is nothing, no circumstance, no trouble, no testing that can ever touch me until first of all it has come past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose.” Alan Redpath
Brings new understanding to the scripture about being able to do ALL things through Christ who gives us strength. Anything that comes my way I can handle as long as I KNOW this in my heart.
” I don’t believe that God put us on earth to be ordinary”
Lou Holtz
I found this at the beginning of Chapter One of Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue” I had a wonderful opportunity to meet her yesterday at the book signing in SLC.
I can’t provide the exact quote because I don’t own the book and won’t be able to get to the library before the contest closes. In Melissa Fay Greene’s book There Is No Me Without You, she gave voice to a peasant who had only enough food for one daily meal, asking a family member if they should have breakfast today, or dinner. I read it three years ago and it still haunts me. No one should have to ask or answer that question.
“Fo Da Effesus Peopo 6:10-”So den, make strong cuz you guys stay tight wit da Boss, an he got all da power you guys need fo make you guys strong inside.” (Ephesians 6:10 in “Da Jesus Book” the New Testament in Hawaiian Pidgin).
Nothing to deep here, but very helpful.
“King of Attolia,” written by Megan Whalen Turner.
“They think I lied on your instructions. That Teleus and I killed the assassins in the garden and let you take the credit.”
“Oh, that, said the king with a shrug. “That isn’t your honor, Costis. That’s the public perception of your honor. It has nothing to do with anything important, except perhahps for manipulating fools who mistake honor for its bright, shiny trappings. You can always change the perceptions of fools.”
I love this quote! I am currenting using it a catalyst to discuss honor and the perception of others. Simple but it works
“…three percent of all males are deemed to be antisocial and without conscience, while only one percent of females seem to lack compassion for others. But the icy manipulations of that one percent are utterly fascinating. No one can be crueler than a woman without a conscience.” (Empty Promises) by Ann Rule
This quote has always stuck in my mind because she was right about women. There is no one crueler than woman who is without conscience. You can see that when you hear what some of these mothers do to their children and they don’t even have any remorse for what they have done.
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered. “Yes, Piglet?” “Nothing, said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you”. A.A. Milne
I wrote this quote down years ago, and every once in a while I run across it while cleaning a draw or closet. It makes me smile and reminds me of what true friendship is, just being comfortable in each other’s presence.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
The late, great Dr. Seuss
I forgot my second part – I love this because I think it is such a great encouragement to read from a children’s book writer. He is my favorite writer of all time because he was just a smart man that made things fun to read for children but not boring for the adult.
“Our Greatest Fear – Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God……………..And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
Marianne Williamson from her book “A Return to Love”
Love, love, love this because this will move you to tears, while motivating you to do YOUR personal best in whatever it is your doing. We are what God made us, and we should be proud of whatever that something is.
This one is far from original, but without this scripture, we may have just been a family of six and not a family of eight. We were considering adopting a three year old from Korea, our second adoption, fifth child. We were wavering and praying, and wavering. At just the right time that we needed to hear it, I received an email, from an ebay seller no less, with the following scripture in her signature line:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all of your ways and he will make your path straight.”
-Proverbs 3:5-6
And that is the story of how Max joined us. Fast forward three years and once again we were reviewing a file, this time of an eleven year old girl in China. It was the night we came to our decision and I was going through emails. Someone sent me a link to check your birthday verse, which seemed neat – but instead of putting in my birthday, I entered the date that it was – March 5th. It didn’t even dawn on me, 3:5 – until the verse popped up on the screen – “Trust in the Lord…..” We had just submitted our Letter of Intent and here was our Lord, telling us that we were on the right path.
I wear that scripture on a bracelet and a necklace now. When times get tough, it helps me to remember that we stepped out in faith. Although, we can not always see where the path leads, we followed the one we were lead to and we trust.
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that counts. It’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln
Mr. Lincoln has been one of my favorite U.S. Presidents. He pursued his dreams and overcame numerous failures in business and politics to become one of our Nation’s most revered presidents. He knew nothing about strategy to guide his generals but he read and studied so he may be able to offer the support and decisions necessary to bring this nation together.
When I was a successful business woman I had a plaque with a portrait of Mr. Lincoln, a list of his failures, and his accomplishments and the simple word: Persevere. I took his words to heart and have tried to do the best job at whatever I am involved in.
Then I had two children and decided to stay at home with them to raise them. I feel I have lived more in their short lives than I did before. I enjoy the simple things in life more becasue my children do. Everyday activiteis are new when you view them through the kids eyes. When I shop I look at products and think how the kids would react. They have helped me to enjoy more of my own life as I am caring and nuturing them through their lives.
And here’s my second comment, with a link to my blog where I have posted my second quote, which is quite a bit more frivolous than my first quote.
All human lives are so profoundly and intricately entwined—those dead, those living, those generations yet to come—that the fate of all is the fate of each, and the hope of humanity rests in every heart and in every pair of hands.
~The Corner Of His Eye~ Dean Koontz
Linked by blood and by love…I see these links in my son, who can grin just like my younger brother. And I feel this link when my son seeks my arms when he is tired, scared, frustrated, sick, or happy. He feels a safety and contentment in my arms that I did not receive in the arms of my parents. But would I have known to be so careful with him without that lacking in my own life? I will never know. What I do know is that I learned to offer love and safety to him and so many other children from other adults in my life who chose to fill the void left by my parents. My son may never sing like her, or laugh like him, but he sees her when I hold him. They are linked.
“I have to believe that you have melted back into His glory, your soul is like a returned favor, you are a star in his sky and a warm feeling in our hearts.” From the book, Have a Little Faith, by Mitch Albom.
My precious, first-born son, Philip passed away unexpectedly on September 25th, 2009. He was only 21 years old. My world has been shattered and I am struggling to make sense of my son’s death. I am trying to hold on to my faith in God, but I am still questioning “why”. This quote from Mitch Albom’s book gives me a bit of comfort as I go through my grief journey.
Melanie, this brought tears to my eyes. I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that I am praying for you and your family. Your son is not lost. He is in the care of our loving Father. (big hug with tears)
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “means a little bit more.”
Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Read it again, Mommy! Read it again! I love any book that elicits that enthusiastic response from my children as they request more snuggle and reading time with me, especially if it opens up a discussion of the true meaning of Christmas–our Savior’s birth. The Grinch is their current favorite, and therefore mine.
Taste and See that the Lord is good
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Psalm 34:8
I love this quote from the Bible because it was the theme for a backpacking trip i took in college. This was the beginning of me truly believing God is good. I realized and continually see that i must find my identity from Christ.
Talking about having the strong wish to have another child and about praying for agreement with the husband:
)
“Here are my two cents as a wife who has been there. First don’t nag. Second, don’t nag! Third, don’t nag! Fourt, pray, pray, pray!”
This little sentence was a real help and a guidance for me in the last weeks and months!
You probably know the author
At the end of the day, all we have is love. Getting love, but even more, FEELING love. It’s those feelings that let me know all the suffering in the world can be healed if we just stick together. And our families, no matter how we define them, are the glue.
Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa Family Style.
I know it’s kind of weird to use a quote from a cookbook, but the first time I read the foreword it really struck a chord. If I could bold the last line of that quote I would. My husband and I often talk about our ‘chosen family.’ We have our parents and siblings (and love them to pieces), but we also have come to understand that surrounding ourselves with others who love us (and allow us to love them in return) is what really makes life amazing.
Arnie is entering heaven now. I stand there watching him watch as the rides grow. I just stand there hoping he won’t sprout wings and fly away.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
sorry forgot the second part.,
I love so many things about the book but this qoute means a lot ot me, he accepts his brother fully and knows that he is in his own heaven and makes it possble throughout the book for him to do so.
oh thanks so much for that! I loved that movie – I’ve seen it so many times I can’t begin to count them.
“Worry is a futile thing. It’s somewhat like a rocking chair, although it keeps you occupied it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
This is by far my favorite. It is especially true during the Holidays when things are soooo stressful. I try to repeat this to myself several times a day to keep me focused on the fact that God has control of all our worries.
Thanks for all you do and Merry Christmas!!!
This comes from the book “Words to Love By” by Mother Teresa.
“The same loving hand that has created you
has created me.
If he is your Father
he must be my Father also.
We all belong to the same family.
Hindus, Muslims and all peoples are our brothers and sisters.
They too are the children of God.”
This just helps me see Jesus in everyone.
(Thank you for offering this contest)
“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6, The Holy Bible
I grew up believing that everything must be earned–money, respect, trust, and love (including God’s love). This philosophy was taught implicitly by my family and explicitly by my church, and further reinforced by failures and successes that always seemed to follow a direct cause and effect relationship to my actions.
This worldview took a beating my last semester of college. Everything I had worked so hard for–boyfriend, degree, career, happiness, true love–was slipping like sand through my fingers, even though I was still working hard, still doing my part to earn them. At that point nothing made sense.
So I turned to the Bible and God, desperate to try to figure out where I went wrong. From an early age I had known and understood God’s message of ultimate love and salvation, or so I thought. I only had to read a few chapters into Genesis to see that my lifelong ideology was the opposite of God’s plan. Abram didn’t work, work, work, to gain God’s favor. He merely believed.
That one sentence from Genesis 15 has transformed my life. I still try, I still seek, I still work, but my goal is not to earn my own righteousness. Instead I strive out of respect and adoration for a God that would give life so freely to a wretch like me (truly!) for nothing more than my belief in His plan. Freedom has never felt so good!
Here’s the post I made at my blog:
http://talkofsummertime.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-contest-ever.html
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCE MONDAY! THANKS FOR PLAYING!
All week I’ve mentally paged through lofty quotes but here is the one that just cracks me up and sticks with me…Careless Willie poem from a Poem treasury we have:
Wilie with a thirst for gore
nailed his siter to the door
Mother said with humor quaint
“Careful, Willie, don’t scratch the paint” by anonymous. I only wish I could be so cavalier at much less deadly sibling rivalries!
Money will not buy intelligence for the fool, or admiration for the coward, or respect for the incompetent. …
Atlas Shrugged
“I don’t think you have time to waste not writing because you are afraid you won’t be good enough at it, and I don’t think you have time to waste on someone who does not respond to you with kindness and respect. You don’t want to spend your time around people who make you hold your breath.” — Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
I found this book so insightful and real and funny. I wish to write. I imagine myself someday being a writer of SOMETHING. Right now it’s only my blog. And I think part of why I don’t just start writing is that I am afraid that when I really try, I won’t be any good. Sure, I was a good essay writer in college. But what if I try and find out that in the real world, I don’t measure up? This quote makes me want to get going and not waste my life holding myself in, with writing or with companions.
“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31
“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”
— Anne Lamott (Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life)
YES! Books are as important as anything else for me!!!
“isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”
- Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
I love the idea that each day we begin again….thanks for the great giveaway.
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Be willing to apologize. Proper apologies have three parts: 1) What I did was wrong. 2) I’m sorry that I hurt you. 3) How do I make it better? It’s the third part that people tend to forget…. Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself. – Randy Pausch, “The Last Lecture”
This one speaks to me every day. I am an imperfect person, I hurt people sometimes – we all do, what we have to learn how to do is to seek forgiveness for the things we do or say that hurt others. Being truly repentant for our mistakes requires following through on the apology with action.