Countdown to Christmas Giveaway!

A few weeks ago, a representative from Hallmark contacted me and asked me if I would like to take part in a promotion of a couple of their new Christmas products. She thought maybe my grandchildren would enjoy them. 

Would I be interested? Of course! This was Hallmark after all. And I happen to love Hallmark. As much of a fan of Hallmark as I am, my husband is an even bigger fan. If the card doesn't say Hallmark on the back, he simply won't buy it. And ask him what his favorite network is. Without hesitation, he'll say Hallmark. If anyone wants to laugh at him for enjoying schmaltzy, romantic movies, go right ahead. They make him happy.

But that's not the reason for this post on Review It Wednesday. I'm here to review the Hallmark products I received.

I opened the box and pulled out a few of the promotional cards. Then I found some other goodies, like a box of 40 Christmas cards. I was able to give my 4-year-old granddaughter one of the Christmas Countdown cards, as well as the recordable "What I want for Christmas" card.

Anyway, Laura so enjoyed receiving the cards. And I'm certain Lincoln will love his Mickey Mouse themed Christmas Countdown card I will give him this weekend. 

Laura's card featured a whimsical little Santa instead of Mickey Mouse, and as you can see, she was delighted. The card has a dandy little countdown clock that you can set according to the hour and day when you receive the card. Then the kiddos can place the card beside their beds or some other handy place so they can watch the days tick away. Imagine how excited they'll be when the display shows the number 1!!

Laura also enjoyed recording her Christmas wish list to Santa. She told him she wanted a robot. That was news to us. Good thing Santa will know. 

She quickly learned how to open the card and push down on the record button with her thumb. She waited until the beep and narrated her very short list (she's not a greedy child!).

As you can see, she took this quite seriously! Since Lincoln's only 2, he won't be recording a list to Santa this year. 

Both the kids will be able to enjoy the countdown cards, and I think they'll enjoy the fact that it's not just a countdown to presents under the tree, but it's also a countdown to time spent with the family. After all, they love being at Grandma and Pap Pap's house. For grandkids who live farther away, these cards are a perfect visual, digital reminder of how many days until you'll be together again.

As with all Hallmark cards and products, you can count on quality.

And guess what? In addition to sending me this wonderful assortment of cards, Hallmark wants to send a different assortment to one of you! Simply enter the contest via the Rafflecopter below. 



This contest will run through the 19th and a winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 20th. The winner will have 72 hours to email me with their contact information so Hallmark will have the chance to get their prize in the mail in plenty of time for the holiday season. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. only.

Good luck! And as Mickey says at the end of the Christmas eve show: 

Thank you for spending Christmas Eve at the House of Mouse. Here's wishing everybody a Merry Christmas and a safe trip ho-home!   





  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Sabbath Experiment -- week 8

The countdown to Christmas has begun. What kind of feelings does that statement evoke in you? Joy? Stress? Panic?

For me, it is a combination of all three. Although this year, there will be less of the running around panic that has consumed me in years gone by? Why? Simply because my family and friends have all decided to cut back -- drastically -- when it comes to gifts. We haven't gone the route of grab bags yet, but we have all decided we already have too much stuff and we do not need to keep adding to the pile! We have also agreed that re-gifting is just fine...although there is that slight concern we will end up giving back a gift to the person who gave it to us in the first place! Consumable gifts are on the top of the list as favorites.

Look at that, I have completely gone off track. Sorry. Back to my original statement. The countdown to Christmas has begun.

In my house, that means a whole slew of new Hallmark movies! My husband and I are Hallmark junkies (more him than me, truthfully). Last night, CBS aired November Christmas, with an incredible cast of actors who sucked you into their lives before the first commercial break (which, by the way, didn't come until 20 minutes after the show began). Oh, and while we're on the subject of commercials, they packed this movie full of some of the most moving, smultzy Hallmark commercials there are. Where are the Kleenex?

Bill and I looked forward all week to sitting down and watching November Christmas on Sunday night. And that is exactly what we did. But it wasn't the only highlight of the day.

First, we headed to Emmanuel Christian Church for Sunday School and worship. Excellent start for the Sabbath, don't you think? Bill taught the junior and senior high kids while I sat in on the adult Sunday School class. It wasn't my week to teach and I wasn't up to singing with the worship band (which practices during SS). So I was able to participate in a class where my friend and fellow GG community member, Maggie Larter, was teaching on the book of Judges. No one teaches the way Maggie teaches! Her animated style, honesty and enthusiasm flavor every class, and hearing her speak about Deborah, the prophetess and judge, was delightful. Not to mention the other interesting characters in the 4th chapter! Pretty dramatic stuff, folks!

With our minister, Bob Hartman, in England performing in Carol, based on one of the books he has written, we were blessed to have an incredible guest speaker during the worship service. If you have never heard Jon Pritikin's testimony, let me tell you, you are missing something! I doubt there were many, if any, dry eyes in the sanctuary by the time he was done. What an amazing servant of God...serving in a most unusual way.

Since Bob's away, his wife, Sue, joined us for lunch. I cannot tell you how much I love our Sunday lunches out with family and friends. The lovely little Lady Laura was an absolute delight and little Lord Lincoln sat contently on his daddy's lap for most of the time we were there. Blessings.

Sandwiched between church, lunch and Hallmark, was the challenge of how to spend the Sabbath in an insanely busy time of year. Hmm. Well, I must confess I did do some grocery shopping. I was hungry for spaghetti and I didn't have any pasta in the house. Plus, I am leaving town again this week to go help my mom who just had a knee replacement. So again, the challenge taunted me with little effort. Voices in my head saying, "You should get this done. You should get that done." Shoulds. Coming from an unholy place of self-imposed obligations. I ignored them.

I had some financial questions I did discuss on the phone with an old friend who specializes in these types of things. My daughter, Jess, questioned me on how that fit into my Shabbat, and I answered her flippantly by saying, "The Sabbath thing is getting thrown out the window today." Slap. Conviction. So, while I did do the phone consult, and I did do some grocery shopping, I honored the Sabbath in the best way I could. No Christmas decorating, no cleaning or laundry, no emails or work. None.

And the day finished out with an uplifting, well-acted and directed movie that I watched with my very best friend. Restful. Peaceful. And, I have to admit, emotional. It was Hallmark, after all. How could it not be?!

Blessings to you as you wade through the busyness of the season. Remember to rest,

Hana