And the winners are...

1. Sheri with three votives.
2. Charity with the Valentine's Day Cards
3. Emily with a bib.
And the grand prize goes to Ryan Glick.

Please email me at countrycottagelights (at) gmail (dot) com with your address so I can get your prize to you! Thanks for participating!

Fixed the glitch

Sorry to everyone who tried to post for the giveaway and it didn't work. Thanks to Joy, I was able to go check the settings and hopefully fix it so that anyone can post a comment now. I also extended the end date, so everyone has more time.

Thanks for your patience and support,
Bethany

Join in some giveaway fun!!

Do you like candles? Do you like to "try before you buy"? Then you've come to the right place. Now through January 27, 2012, we will be hosting a giveaway of 5 items from our shop. They will be:

~ 1 handmade bib
~ 1 single heart (your choice of scent)
~ 1 Pk. Valentine's day cards (coming soon)
~ Votives (3 scents of your choice)
~ 1 item of choice for the Grand Prize winner

So what's your part? Go over to our shop and look around a little. Then come back here and leave a comment with two things:
1. Which of the first four items you would like to win (if your name is drawn).
2. What your choice of item would be if you were the grand prize winner.

It's that simple! You will then be entered to win. Winners will be announced on January 27, 2012 in the evening.

Don't want to wait for the giveaway? Then you can use our coupon code VALENTINE14 to get 14% off your whole order!

Contentment (sometimes) means Creativity!

It's not always easy to do with less. In fact, it's hardly ever easy to do with less. But I'll let you in on a little secret: Creativity helps SO much in being content with less.

I've been learning this lesson alot over the last almost five years of marriage because we have lived anything but a "normal" life. Right now, we are living in our 13th residence since we got married in 2007. Now, by residence, I mean sometimes just a room in someone elses house for a month or more, sometimes a home, sometimes an apartment off of someone else's home, etc.

This lesson of creativity, though, is a really fun one! I remember when we were in a tiny apartment with our first little girl and I had almost no cupboards and so I stacked up some cans of stockpiled tomatoes in a cute display in our window. When we lived as missionaries in Africa for two years, I had even more opportunity to be creative. Talk about living with less! I had fun, though, making these cute button curtains, making beautiful (if that's possible) mosquito nets and the like.

Now we're here stateside again. But that doesn't mean life is just easy and wonderful. There are still challenges and struggles. My husband, Victor, is working to plant a church here in Iowa and we're learning about northern winters (among other northern things).
Shortly after moving into my grandparents big old farmhouse, we discovered that the kitchen cabinets had lead paint and something would have to be done to fix them. We ended up living out of kitchen boxes for about two months while we communicated with my Uncle (who owns the house) about how he wanted it fixed, and while we worked late nights fixing it while Victor also worked full-time and pastored the church. We're still not fully finished, as we're waiting to get some drawers made to replace the old ones. In the meantime, I have two choices.

1. Feel frusterated and discouraged wondering when life will return to normal.
2. Find a creative way to make do!

Well, I've decided on #2 and below you'll see a picture of just one of the ideas that came to mind. Sure it might not be the most glamorus, but it was actually helpful in more ways than one. First, it got our silverware out of a box and more accessible, and second, it took care of my little ones always calling for silverware at the beginning of every meal (ever heard "Mommy, I need a fork!!) . Now I could just say, get your own!

(Notice the forks and spoons in sundae glasses in the middle)

Is creativity easy? Some people think it is for other people. Not really though... unless you have a heart attitude of thankfulness. That's really where it all comes from. If you are thankful to the Lord for His many blessing in your life, you will find it easier to be content with what He's given you, realizing that you don't really deserve anything!

Psalm 37:25 says "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread."

It's fun to be creative. But I'll tell you what's even more fun!!! Watching God provide in amazing ways.

And now, I'm going to get to put into practice this whole idea of contentment, thankfulness, creativity and trusting God to provide once again.

Victor has turned in his 2 week notice at work, and starting January 27th, we will be living by faith, working together at home and watching God provide in amazing ways!

We're hoping to plant a huge garden next year, have chickens and work together making and selling candles and selling used books. Our hope is that this will free Victor up to be more involved in the ministry God has called him to here, as well as to spend more time with our three precious girls (who are growing up WAY too fast!).

So, we're embarking on an exciting journey. One of faith and of trust. But also one of blessing and excitement! And besides, most women I know would give anything to have their husband come home and work with the family. And so... I count myself blessed!

Coming Soon!

Starting January 31, I will be doing a series called "14 Days to a Perfect Valentine's Day". Stay tuned for lots of helpful tips and ideas each day.

Also, there will be a post on February 2nd with details about a giveaway and coupon code.

Have you checked out our etsy shop yet? You should. We're adding new things almost daily!

Want to get updates when we have giveaways, coupon codes, etc? Then sign up for our e-list at the left!

We're up and running!!

We are officially up and running. You can now go to our website and etsy store. Go take a look around and then come back here and leave a comment. If you leave a comment with a helpful hint as to how I could improve, I'll email you a coupon code for 10% off any size order!

Also, keep checking back, as I plan to be posting alot more (now that I'm done with the web design!) and will be doing a giveaway soon!

Thanks for your support,
Bethany

Money Saving Mom Budget book

Today is the last day to pre-order the Money Saving Mom Budget book. I've heard amazing reviews from those who have read it, and hope to read it myself once I can get a copy of it. Crystal is always down to earth and gentle, while at the same time being straightforward and honest. She'll tell you what you need to hear, without feeling like you're being stomped on in the process. You can go here to pre-order a copy of her book, today only. (Or you can just plain order it any time after that!).