Book for the Bride: The Bride’s Instruction Manual

(Fyi, I won’t be posting during Thanksgiving week. Everyone enjoy your time with loved ones!)

Book alert, book alert! Remember The Groom’s Instruction Manual I told you about, Mother of the Bride, in my Building a Bridge to the Groom post? Good news—there is also an instruction manual for the bride!

The Bride’s Instruction Manual by Carrie Denny looks every bit as cute, fun, and helpful as its counterpart for the grooms. I’ve only seen it online myself, but 95 reviews had been posted on Amazon  when I last checked and it averaged 4.4 out of 5 stars. Looks like a winner, doesn’t it?

If my girls were still brides-to-be, I bet I’d be buying them copies of this book. Sounds like it would give them help plus make them laugh at the same time. Definitely a winning combination!

So take a look, MOB. You might decide your sweet girl needs this book!

*You might also like to read Building a Bridge to the Groom and Gift Idea: The Newlywed’s Instruction Manual.

*Hope this updated post from Oct. 2013 is helpful to you today, MOB!

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out last week. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*photo from Amazon.com

Mother of the Bride Book Coming Soon!

Friends, it’s almost here. Mother of the Bride—Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride releases July 1! Those of you who are on my Life Notes email list (sign-up is free and to the right!) and those of you who follow me on Facebook got your first look at the cover a few days ago, but I wanted to be sure to post it here as well. I absolutely love it!

BroadStreet Publishing has done an amazing job of bringing my vision for the book to life. Last summer when I spoke to them about it, I told them I wanted the book to be beautiful, something that would pamper and minister to MOBs by just holding it in their hands. And I think they hit the ball out of the park. I’m so pleased to be able to offer mothers of the bride a beautiful hardcover book designed especially for them.

Mother of the Bride is at the printer (and is actually available for preorder now), and I am busy with all kinds of marketing preparations. I plan to have a local launch party for the book so if you live anywhere in the vicinity, I’d love to have you join me for that. Closer to time, I’ll create a Facebook event to keep you informed of date, time, and place. Very exciting, huh?!

I can’t tell you how grateful I am to God for the incredible blessing of seeing this book published. My prayer is that it will be a blessing to all who read it and that many, whether mother of the bride or not, will decide to make it their go-to gift for mothers of the bride they know now and in the years to come. Thanks for joining in my joy!

“Come let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving . . .” Psalm 95:1-2a

Here’s a more detailed description of the book for those who are interested:

When women become mothers of the bride, they take on a delightful but demanding new role. While trying to maintain life as they knew it before their daughters’ big announcements, mothers of the bride are also called upon to magically morph into wedding planners, help their daughters navigate the journey to the altar, and establish new and loving relationships with their prospective sons-in-law and their families. With all focus and finances dedicated to the brides and the weddings themselves, the needs of mothers of the bride are often overlooked.

Mother of the Bride helps these special women step away from the hurried pace of daily life complicated by their challenging new role. It offers them the refreshment found in discovering community as they take time for themselves—time to be encouraged, to gain helpful insight and practical tips, and to enjoy the feminine beauty of a book designed just for them.

Through essays featuring relevant quotes or Scriptures, personal stories, nuggets of wisdom, simple suggestions for personal pampering, journaling opportunities, communication aids, and practical tips for wedding planning, Mother of the Bride will nurture the all-important but too often neglected mother of the bride.

*Have you ever been a mother of the bride? Will you be one in the future? Do you know an MOB now?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early May. Sign-up is free and to the right!

My Mother of the Bride Book Coming Soon!

3D-photo-with-reflection-smallMothers of the Bride, it’s almost here. Mother of the Bride—Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride releases July 1! Those of you who are on my Life Notes email list (sign-up is free and to the right!) and those of you who follow me on Facebook got your first look at the cover a few days ago, but I wanted to be sure to post it here as well. I absolutely love it!

BroadStreet Publishing has done an amazing job of bringing my vision for the book to life. Last summer when I spoke to them about it, I told them I wanted the book to be beautiful, something that would pamper and minister to MOBs by just holding it in their hands. And I think they hit the ball out of the park. I’m so pleased to be able to offer all of you mothers of the bride a beautiful hardcover book designed especially for you.

Mother of the Bride is at the printer (and is actually available for preorder now), and I am busy with all kinds of marketing preparations. I plan to have a local launch party for the book so if you live anywhere in the vicinity, I’d love to have you join me for that. Closer to time, I’ll create a Facebook event to keep you informed of date, time, and place. Very exciting, huh?!

I can’t tell you how grateful I am to God for the incredible blessing of seeing this book published. My prayer is that it will be a blessing to all who read it and that many, whether mother of the bride or not, will decide to make it their go-to gift for mothers of the bride they know now and in the years to come. Thanks for joining in my joy!

“Come let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving . . .” Psalm 95:1-2a

Here’s a more detailed description of the book:

When women become mothers of the bride, they take on a delightful but demanding new role. While trying to maintain life as they knew it before their daughters’ big announcements, mothers of the bride are also called upon to magically morph into wedding planners, help their daughters navigate the journey to the altar, and establish new and loving relationships with their prospective sons-in-law and their families. With all focus and finances dedicated to the brides and the weddings themselves, the needs of mothers of the bride are often overlooked.

Mother of the Bride helps these special women step away from the hurried pace of daily life complicated by their challenging new role. It offers them the refreshment found in discovering community as they take time for themselves—time to be encouraged, to gain helpful insight and practical tips, and to enjoy the feminine beauty of a book designed just for them.

Through essays featuring relevant quotes or Scriptures, personal stories, nuggets of wisdom, simple suggestions for personal pampering, journaling opportunities, communication aids, and practical tips for wedding planning, Mother of the Bride will nurture the all-important but too often neglected mother of the bride.

*Hope it blesses all of you mothers of the brides!

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early May. Sign-up is free and to the right!

Relax and Refresh with This Wedding Story

IMG_5577Mother of the Bride, when you find yourself up to your MOB neck in wedding details, don’t forget to take time to step back and pamper yourself a bit. Whether a leisurely bubble bath, a relaxing massage or pedicure, a movie or book you’ve been looking forward to, or a dessert date with a loved one, the important thing is to let the stress melt away and enjoy yourself.

For your next stressbuster, I highly recommend reading Come Rain or Come Shine, Jan Karon’s newest Mitford book.  Karon’s warm and comfortable storytelling style along with the wedding theme of this particular book is exactly what the doctor ordered for MOBs during their wedding planning days.

No matter if the size and style of your daughter’s wedding is different than the one the lovable Mitford characters are preparing for, some things about wedding planning are common to all. You’ll be able to identify like never before and will find yourself smiling time and again. Such a fun way to relax and refresh!

MOB, reading a good book provides R&R for several days. Why not give Come Rain or Come Shine a try—especially if you’ve read the previous Mitford books. It will hit the spot for you more if you know the history of the characters, but either way I think you’ll like it. So go ahead—put your feet up and enjoy!

*You might also like to read Spirit and Soul Refreshment for the Mother of the Bride , Time Out for Laughter, and An MOB Prescription: Movie Fun! 

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early May. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*My photo

Exciting News—A Book Contract!

IMG_3239*I’ll be skipping my upcoming Monday post since it will be Labor Day. See you next Thursday for a Midweek Morsel!

I have some exciting news, everyone! I recently signed a book contract with BroadStreet Publishing for my mother of the bride book! You may have already heard all about it if you’re a subscriber to my Life Notes newsletter (sign-up is free on the right sidebar) or if you follow me on Facebook, but I wanted to be sure and announce it here as well. After all, this is news worth celebrating everywhere, right?!

I’m so very grateful God has opened this door for me. It’s been a long journey but also an amazing one to see how God worked to connect me to a perfect publisher for my MOB book. All along I’ve envisioned a beautiful gift book that will not only refresh and encourage mothers of the bride but will offer them wisdom and practical help, too. Since BroadStreet’s books include beautiful gift books, they are able to make that dream a reality. How I praise and thank God for blessing me with this opportunity!

The title and release date are still tentative, but I will keep you posted. I’m beyond thrilled that my book will soon be available to bless mothers of the bride. And if you’re not a mother of the bride, keep in mind that it will make the perfect go-to gift in the coming years for mothers of the bride you know. Won’t it be fun to bless them with a gift designed especially for them?

I also want to give a huge thanks to my agent Karen Neumair of Credo Communications for believing in me and this book project. And thanks to all of you for rejoicing with me today. Dreams really can come true!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

*When has God done more for you than you could ask or imagine?

*My photo