gratitude

Mother's Day Musts

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There are many things to celebrate in the magical month of May, but none so splendid as Mother’s Day, the true (if I may say) Queen of the May!

Mother’s Day was always a special event when I was growing up; we celebrated with a multi-generational big Sunday brunch with either ham, turkey, or roast beef, sides, salads, and my Grandma’s home-made rolls. The flowers in bloom on the Oregon Coast by mid-May were enough to provide a handful of blossoms - azalea, forget-me-not’s, camilla and long-stemmed dandelions of course!. With a bouquet on the table and many hand-made cards on the mantle, we felt properly outfitted for the occasion.,

This Mother’s Day, many of us will return to the simpler ways that we look back on so fondly. And while I ALWAYS encourage hand-picked posies and Crayola colored cards, thanks to some of my incredible sponsors, I can recommend some more options for you - all available by order and delivered right to your mother’s door.

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{SAVE}

I fell in love with {save} skin care products soon after the first box of samples arrived at my doorstep. This lovely line of products, made with exceptionally gentle formulas with 90-99% nature-derived ingredients, works to slow the skin’s aging process, and leaves my skin looking and feeling fresh and fabulous.

I’m especially proud to be partnering with {save} during this time of uncertainty, as they are committed to providing support to our community and some of the women who are disproportionately affected by the crisis. They are donating 10% of all on-line sales to Domestic Violence this month. Staying Strong Together - supporting survivors of domestic abuse.

Sign up today and receive 20% off your order, as well as free shipping for orders totaling $19 or more. All mother’s deserve to be pampered. From cleansers to creams, moisturizers to masks, {save} products are the perfect way to pamper the mother’s in your life!

Shop {save}

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BALSAM HILL

Balsam Hill has been a fabulous sponsor for several years now and one of the reasons I love them sooo much is because they GIVE BACK in a myriad of big and small ways. In addition to providing the most realistic Christmas trees, fall foliage, and spring florals, as well as spectacular seasonal decor items, they’ve made Point Hope (my favorite organization) a recipient of many charitable campaigns, and I am so so grateful!

Their spring floral collection is created using the latest technology and highest quality craftsmanship for stunning realism that will add cheerful elegance your door, your table, your entryway, and any other space in your home!

Today, I love them even more (if that’s possible,) because, as a response to the on-going COVID-19 crisis, my friends at Balsam Hill are repurposing some of their warehouses to ship bulk quantities of nonperishable foods and essential home items to serve those in need. They are committed to donating all profits from this endeavor to support food-based charities. From soup, to pasta, to paper goods, it’s available on a special Balsam Provisions page. Click here to shop, and share with those who may be in need or help during this difficult time!

Place your orders today for fabulous florals celebrating spring and the importance of mothers (grandmothers, godmothers, bonus mother’s, other mothers, and special aunties too!)

Shop Balsam Hill

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ALEX AND ANI

ALEX AND ANI, a delightful new sponsor to the Delilah show, isn’t just another fun jewelry maker, they are a humanitarian company that has carefully crafted partnerships with over 50 nonprofit organizations from around the world to design and sell unique and elegant jewelry pieces. Proceeds from sales in their Charity By Design collection go towards supporting their global partners and a myriad of humanitarian causes.

Their special Mother’s Day collection including beaded and charmed bangles, lockets, and earrings, symbolize the unique bond of motherhood. My girls go ga-ga over their designs and it’s so much fun to wear pieces that are coordinated for mothers and daughters. Visit them today and be sure to shop their Spring Collection for 30% savings on great gifts for yourself or other special someone’s!

Shop ALEX AND ANI

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Free-range chickens we are not these days! Mother hens and chicks alike are cooped up more than we’d like. But in between impromptu bouts of the chicken dance, we can read to while away the hours and immerse ourselves in alternate narratives of time and space. Recommendations? Oh yes!

GROWING GRATEFUL

In Growing Grateful, which is absolutely perfect for the situation we find ourselves to be in, Mary A. Kassian offers 101 meditations on the joy of being grateful even in the hardest times. Each entry contains a Bible verse, a devotion on gratitude, and a reflection question. Learn how to be:

• Grateful for God’s abiding presence.
• Grateful despite your circumstances.
• Grateful that God wants you to flourish.

I discovered long ago, that happiness, contentedness, and joy are all “inside jobs.” If we wait for someone or something to fulfill us, we will be perpetually disappointed, sad, or angry even. The secret (which isn’t so secret, but often illusive) is the ability to recognize and cultivate gratitude. Growing Grateful is a lovely, generous, and forgiving, assistant to help you on your journey to gratefullness - and a cheerful companion once you’ve arrived.

Order your copy of Growing Grateful

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DAWGS

My book club pick for April, DAWGS, by Diane Trull is the story of how a 4th grade reading class, called to action by a newspaper photo of a box of puppies in need of homes, started an animal shelter in their town of Dalhart, Texas.

Those with a heart for animals, will absolutely LOVE this book! It is the perfect example of how a 4th grade teacher, her husband and family, and an amazing group of grade-schoolers leveraged their passion, knowledge, skills and talents to change the world one heart at at time! And it provides so much inspiration for others to do the same!

When you get your copy, you’ll hear all about that day at Allyn Finch Intermediate School, and the weeks, months, and challenges they faced ahead to make their mission of helping every animal find it’s way home.

Order your copy of DAWGS

LAKESHIRE PARK

When the month of March came striding in, bringing with it the first tender shoots of a green spring, romance came to mind, so I picked just the thing for my book club, Lakeshire Park, by Megan Walker, a lovely little romance set in Brighton, England, in the year 1820.

Two sisters, Amelia and Clara Moore, are about to find themselves without means or home… so what’s a girl to do back then but conjure a white knight - or at least a suitable bachelor - to sweep her off her feet and into stable circumstances? Join the sisters on their quest while rooting not only for them to find a roof over their head but, (dare we suggest it?) loving partners as well!

I loved reading romance novels when I was young, and I’m glad my girls can pick up a book like Lakeshire Park, and enjoy the historical details, the interesting characters, and the “happily ever after’s” without being subjected to much of the graphic nonsense that’s floating around out there these days.

Get your copy of Lakeshire Park

HOME SWEET HOME

For many people, and especially the moms out there with kids our of school, this is a very stressful time! Treat someone special to a trio of short, feel-good stories that can be enjoyed during breaks from demands of the day with Home Sweet Home.

THREE’S A CROWD * Fern Michaels
This Mother’s Day will be is extra special for Samantha’s parents who’ll be greeting their daughter after an extended absence, and meeting their baby granddaughter for the very first time. Join Samantha as she seeks stability for her baby and answers about herself.
 
NEW BEGINNINGS IN BLUE HOLLOW FALLS * Donna Kauffman
Blue Hollow Falls is where Katie MacMillan finds herself once again, helping with her sister’s pregnancy, revisiting old feelings, and pondering fresh new ones…
 
BRING ME HOME * Melissa Storm
Hazel Long’s bed-side visits with her father bring forth the unexpected gifts of friendship, (offered by other hospital visitors,) insight into the mother she barely knew, increased gratitude —and the kindness of a handsome male nurse.

Order your copy of HOME SWEET HOME

I know that the idea of shopping right now is enough to create an extra layer of stress to an already intense time of anxiety and worry. That’s why I made all the recommendations on my Mother’s Day Musts list available via on-line shopping. I also understand if economic concerns make gift-buying not much of a reality for you right now, and if that’s the case, I promise you that a handful of pretty posies and a handmade card, delivered on a breakfast tray with toast, jam, and steaming cup of coffee or tea will send the message to the mother in your life that she is special, loved, and honored. So gifts, or no gifts, I encourage you to make this gesture.

If your circumstances allow for some discretionary spending, I stand behind my recommendations and the many companies with conscious with whom I partner. Pampering products, home decor, jewelry, and books are all things the revered women in our lives love and deserve when possible.

To all mothers and women who have made a difference in a child’s life, I thank you and wish you a very special Mother’s Day. May the Lord bless and keep you,





 

A Healing Justice | November Book Club

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A Healing Justice by Kristin Von Kreisler, is my book club pick for November. You’re going to like it!

At first, it may seem an odd choice for me. After all, in the first pages of the book, a teenage boy loses his life.

How does one make sense of death? Can you make sense of it?  Not really. But one must learn somehow to cope with it, and continue to live with the weight of it.

No one knows this more than police officer Andrea Brady, who fired the shot that killed the teenager, after he violently attacked her police dog and came at her with a knife. Vilified by the press and traumatized by the events of that dark night, Andie finds herself resigning from the force, as she tries to find her new calling in life.

Luckily, she has people in her corner, and better yet, she has Justice, her beloved German Shepard. Justice had wandered up her drive and into her life two years earlier, and become her constant companion and K-9 partner.

After the attack, Justice had a long road to recovery. It wasn’t in his nature to become a victim however, as pointed out by Andie’s counselor, but instead, he became a survivor. And, after a time spent in denial, stuffing her feelings, and blocking her emotions, Andie vowed to be more like Justice, and leaned into the situation. Healing could then take place.

A few things I really loved about the story:

The setting, which was in my Pacific Northwest backyard; I could see, touch, and smell the vegetation that grows thick and wild on any patch of land not tended to for more than a few weeks.

Author, Kristin Von Kreisler with one of her beloved German Shephards.

Author, Kristin Von Kreisler with one of her beloved German Shephards.

I appreciated Von Kriesler portrayal of a police officer’s life, down to the description of the 27lbs of gear worn on their person for hour after endless hour. As you all probably know, my oldest son is an officer of the law. The positions he finds himself in, which test his skills, strength, and faith (in himself and others) often makes me shudder.

And finally, I absolutely LOVE the mention of Officer Brady’s habit of writing down three things each evening that she is grateful for and placing them in her Gratitude Basket. This resonated with me so deeply.

If you love animals the way I do, the way that officer Andrea Brady does, and the way that our author, Kristin Von Kreisler, obviously does, you’ll love A Healing Justice. Bravo

Pick up A Healing Justice at Amazon
Visit the Author’s Page


Celebrate Mom with my Top Pick Gifts and Win a Bundle!

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Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13th!

Moms deserve to be celebrated! They gave us life, either because they carried us in their womb, or because they've carried us in their hearts.

They've taken care of our fevers, runny noses, dressed us, tended to our basic needs, our personal piques, and soothed our hurts and heartaches as we've navigated this big scary world.

Sometimes they've been in our favor, and as growing pains clouded our judgement, sometimes not. The thing is, we're ALWAYS in their favor. There is no kind of unconditional love like that of a mother!

Not sure how to celebrate your mom this Mother's Day? Well, simply being present is the best gift, I can assure you. Go out of your way to let her know she is loved and honored. Show your gratitude...

COOK FOR HER!  How many meals has this woman put in front of you? Mom's don't care if you know HOW to cook, they just care that you try.

Recall a special  memory you have of her and TELL HER.  All the feels! All the feels!

And, if you want to wrap it up with something that is wrapped up, I've got some suggestions: Music, books, candy, and flowers from some of my favorite radio program sponsors.*

*I'm giving away two (2) bundles of everything you see on this page! Read on for directions to enter my sweepstakes! 


BOOKS!

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One Beautiful Dream. The rollicking tale of family chaos, personal passions, and saying YES to them both 
by Jennifer Fulwiler.

Popular radio host Jennifer Fulwiler was once a workaholic woman who never wanted a family; today she's a stay-at-home mom with six amazing kids.

Intimately relatable and ultimately redemptive, One Beautiful Dream celebrates the truth that sometimes the life we need the most is not necessarily the one we would have chosen for ourselves.

BUY ONE BEAUTIFUL DREAM


Kind is the New Classy
by Candace Cameron Bure

Kind is the New Classy is a book that shows there is power in kindness. Cameron Bure has spent her lifetime navigating these rough waters, finally finding her peaceful harbor. She throws a lifeline to those of us still swimming against the current with Kind Is the New Classyan insightful guide on how to stay true to oneself with grace.

“The secret," she has learned, "is kindness: it’s classy, unexpected, even counter-cultural, and ultimately wins the day.”

BUY KIND IS THE NEW CLASSY


A Mother's Gift
by Charlotte Hubbard

Perfect for giving or just plain enjoying, A Mother's Gift is for every woman who has had a maternal figure touch her life.  In this uplifting novel, Charlotte Hubbard celebrates the joys and challenges of motherhood, setting her inspiring tale amid warmth and tradition.

A Mother's Gift is a book meant to be shared.

BUY A MOTHER'S GIFT


MUSIC!

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Brave Enough
Lindsey Stirling

Uber talented, dancer, violinist, spitfire, Lindsey Stirling, stirs hearts, souls, and your toe-tappin' feet!  Stirling serves up Pop, Rock, and Electronic Dance Music and Brave Enough won the coveted Billboard's Music Award Top Dance/Electronic Album AND Artist.

The album features Christina PerriDan + ShayLecrae, and several other vocalists. It includes  six instrumental tracks and eight with featured vocalists.

As a guest at my farm, she delighted a small gathering of family and friends, played with the baby goats (we named a newborn "Stirling") and became a friend. There is absolutely NOTHING out there like Lindsey, she's an original that you will love!

BUY BRAVE ENOUGH


This House is Not For Sale
Bon Jovi

This House is Not For Sale is full of tracks that speak to Bon Jovi,'s past; the band, as well as Jon himself, and hope for the future.  The "four walls that have a story to tell" in title track symbolize the band members, their integrity, and brotherhood.  Bon Jovi is a generation-spanning perennial favorite!

This House Is Not for Sale, Bon Jovi's 13th studio album, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 . It's Bon Jovi's sixth US number-one album and it also became their fourth album in a row to hit No. 1 in the US.

Bon Jovi is an incredible supporter of Point Hope and an oft requested favorite on my radio show.

BUY THIS HOUSE IS NOT FOR SALE


Only Human
Calum Scott

Have you heard me playing Calum Scott's You Are The Reason?  Scott has the clear, smooth, voice of an angel. His debut album, Only Human, speaks to exactly that. We are only human, after all. We love, we hurt, we heal.

Take Calum's intimate and personal journey with him through Only Human. Pop, Rock, Soul... As one of his tracks suggest, "I Won't Let You Down."

BUY ONLY HUMAN


CANDY & FLOWERS!

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Almond Roca (Prize bundle includes a handcrafted wooden gift box)
famous candy makers, Brown & Haley

Almond Roca has been around since 1913 and is still a favorite candy of many - including me! Made from only the freshest ingredients, the combination of crunchy toffee enrobed in chocolate and coated in almond nuggets is an unmistakable Brown & Haley specialty.  Mom will definitely be pleased with this gift, and she might even share! (Don't count on it though.)

Head to their website for a variety of delicious treats and fun recipes that are sahweeeet! 

VISIT BROWN & HALEY


$50 Gift Card
To use at Balsam Hill

Balsam Hill has the MOST REALISTIC SPRING FLORALS!

Their artificial florals are designed and crafted to capture the beauty of natural flowers with breathtaking accuracy. From petals to leaves to stems, every detail is painted by hand and expertly arranged to achieve a florist-styled or freshly-cut garden look.

Balsam Hill  is a generous supporter of Point Hope, has shared a gorgeous wreath and a bundle of cheerful yellow tulips for me to use in the studio this spring. So bright, cheery, and uplifting!

VISIT BALSAM HILL


Write to me at Contest@Delilah.com and tell me about the special Mom in your life.

I'm looking for your heart-touching stories. Two of the submissions will be randomly chosen to win the entire bundle of my Mom's Day picks, along with MY book, Arms Full of Love, and an autographed photo.

Sweepstakes will run
April 27th - May 8th, 2018.

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(Be sure to include your contact information, including mailing address when you write to me.)

To all mothers, THANK YOU for the job you do.

It is THE most important job on earth. I appreciate you!

Much love, 

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