The SG Notebook

For the most part, girls from twelve to sixteen seem to have enjoyed being judges of the seven pretend contestants in our “Beauty Contest” booklet which we’ve been offering for a few years now. They’ve enjoyed choosing a winner, and do you know what? Most of those we’ve heard from have managed to get the same winner that we have! That’s good news because it means the girls who’ve participated have been focusing on just what we’d hoped for.

Recently, I began working on a companion/guide for the girls’ booklet, which I had hoped would be useful for moms and other mentors. However, while working on the guide, it became clear to me that our dear little booklet would benefit greatly from a face-lift. So that is what I’ve been doing for a couple of weeks now. Names will remain the same; situations and circumstances will remain the same; the winner we’ve chosen will be the same; and our rules and traits will be the same. But the book will have an entirely new look, and as I see it, the many revisions will result in a greatly improved publication. My desire will continue to be that the booklet will be a worthwhile activity for your daughter, granddaughter, or some other special teen, helping her to recognize the importance of true beauty.

In the near future we’ll have the revised edition available for purchase and you can be sure we’ll let you know when that time comes. Needless to say, the companion guide has been put on the back burner for a while. Since I have yet another project awaiting my attention, I’m not sure when I’ll get back to the guide. We’ll see how God leads.

Blessings,
Maxine

Read about our children cassette which is now at a special price for January. Info is at the “Helping Children Grow” blog.

It’s early in December, but even so we are really getting in the giving spirit. Since we’re in the business of helping families with inspirational gift giving, we felt that the best way to accomplish this is by making it easier than ever before at SG! First, for a limited time EVERY retail sale (non wedding & event related) is going out with FREE shipping. Yes, every sale, regardless of the order amount. We haven’t quite decided yet how long we’ll be in this generous mood, so I’d encourage you to take advantage asap.

Not only that, but we’re selling our most popular item, Bright Gems for His Crown, our devotional for children, for its lowest price ever. For the entire month of December it will be selling at $8.50 instead of our regular price of $11.50. With that price plus the free shipping, you just can’t go wrong purchasing it here and now. Surely there is a child on your list who could benefit from these devotionals! AND. . . other prices are being slashed as well, as you will see if you go here and scroll down to “Christmas Presents From Us to You.”

Have a blessed weekend and have fun shopping with us, especially while we’re in a giving mood ourselves!

Maxine

Quick note: I’ve been having trouble accessing this blog from my computer for a few days now and I’ll have to troubleshoot. Also, we won’t be doing a newsletter until September, Lord willing. With the technical issues here and Beverly having much on her plate these days, we may have to neglect this blog a bit. That will probably mean no wedding tip this week. So sorry!

If you happen to stop by, thanks for your patience!

Blessings,

Maxine

In celebration of spring and for a limited time, we’re offering the Bright Gems for His Crown book at a special discount rate to churches which sell books. Churches only have to buy six or more books to get a 45% discount off the list price. So, if your church sells to its members by means of a book shelf or table or has a book room where you can purchase books, it would work to your advantage to have them take us up on this offer. They could then pass the savings on to you! So whoever is in charge of this ministry in your church–let them know and tell them to call us! The information is here, so you can send them the link to the offer page.

Well, wishing all who stop by a very Happy New Year and many blessings from the Lord in the year 2010. We’re off to a slow start here with much going on and not enough time in the days. So, already we are behind in much that we need to be doing. New publications are coming, but writing projects are going slowly, as is the newsletter. But we are determined to press on with God’s help! I, like many others, hesitate to make resolutions at the beginning of a new year, partly due to worrying that I can live up to them. But I sure am “hopeful” that we can be more faithful this year in keeping our friends and customers updated on what is happening and what is going to be happening at SG.

The home (particularly the children in it) is the primary emphasis here, as those of you who know us are already aware, so we sure do like to help out in the home when and where we can. As a stay at home mom, Beverly prioritizes helping out her husband by saving money, and she has even encouraged me along those lines. There are quite a few ways that this can be accomplished, but we have to give our time and attention to it. I was thinking recently that having more time aids in saving money, and that being more organized helps to save the necessary time. Hope that makes sense?

Well, I just recently came across a site that I love which is helpful in both areas and wanted to pass it along. After all, any time and any money which you save will reap bountiful blessings to you and your household. (Proverbs 31:27) Go see Molly and see what you think. I have a hunch that you will be bookmarking her site. I sure am:

Again, hope blessing will abound in your home the coming year!

For His Glory,

Maxine

Sooooooo, it’s a fall morning and your house is in perfect order. Your children are bathed, brushed, and fed, sitting like little china dolls in a row. Right?

I’ll tell you honestly that this isn’t true of my house. The beds are made, but the kitchen is still showing the flurry of breakfast. One of my children is dressed and fed, but the other is still wandering around in her jammies!

We are moms just like you, and we have the same struggles, trials and anxieties that you do. But we have another thing in common with you! We want the best for our children, and we are concerned about raising them as little beacons of light in an otherwise dark world.

I’d like to encourage you to consider giving your child, grandchild, friend, niece or nephew a spiritually based gift amid all the other things you’ll place under the tree.

I’ll be popping in to suggest products to you every now and again.

The first product I’d like to suggest is our Stepping Heavenward Gift Set. It is only $10.00, and what an encouragement you’ll be to a young lady.

I’ll be stopping in with more suggestions. We’ll also be recommending a few books to you as well.

God Bless Friends,
Beverly

Is the building of Christian character in children still desired in the parenting of today? Unfortunately, I think most of you would undoubtedly agree that instilling virtue in our young folks is a slowly dying American dream. We want to see gains in the area of education; that’s a big priority. We’re concerned about rights and choices. We’re very concerned about things such as equal pay and health care, etc. But what about character? Is that why we allow them to sit in front of the computer and tv for hours on end? Is that why we give them tons of secular books to read, but sometimes don’t get around to inspirational or spiritual literature? Just a few questions for us to think about, and please don’t think I’m being judgmental. I have and still do struggle with the very same issues that you do.

For the record, though, SG does care a lot about it. In fact, it’s our top priority when it comes to what we offer to children. It looms largest in any publication we offer to the young. Once again, I want to encourage you to go to our main Growing Children page and there you will find all the links to the pages on our site that we have in place for the purpose of helping parents in this important crucial aspect of preparing their children for the world they must deal with. We want to help; really we do.

Also, if you bookmark the following site, you may get a few helpful ideas, particularly if you’re homeschooling:

Christian Character Builders

Blessings to you as you raise your tender plants.

For His Glory,
Maxine

This is just a quick note to let you know that our “Savior, Teach Me Day by Day” calendar is being revised and will be available for shipment after November 1, 2009. But you can pre-order! And if you do, you can get it at a reduced price! More information is available here. You can be sure that we’ll let folks know when the final product is ready.

Regards, Maxine

Happy to see September again? I am. I’ve always loved this month. We’re back to school in our house and we’re back to many other things at Speakable Gifts. While we start the Junior year of high school here and preschool at Bev’s house, we’ve also just published another edition of the newsletter. Somehow, we’re wading through the technical issues, partly due to the fact that Bev has agreed to do the bulk of the work. We’ve spent a lot of phone time trying to resolve our computer woes, but we’ve managed to persevere! You would not believe what yesterday was like, but we got it done and sent. If you haven’t subscribed yet, what are you waiting for? It’s as easy as one, two, three, so hop over and sign up! If so, you’ll get the current edition right away.

We’re also back with another writing contest for your children. As usual, we have the two categories utilizing two of our Speakables: Second to fourth graders on the Aesop fable and fifth to sixth graders on a very popular saying (proverb). Want more details? You can find them here.

And new products are about to emerge. We’re excited about them and are in the process of finding the best way to have them published here at Speakable Press. We’re hopeful (and prayerful) that God will see us through and we can offer them to you very soon. Of course, we’ll let it be known as soon as these publications are available.

God’s blessings to you and your household. Have a wonderful, wonderful fall of the year. Whatever your schooling situation, hope you get off to a good start.

For His glory,

Maxine