Hello friends! I am super excited about today’s post because it is the first time in a long time that I am doing a giveaway and I can’t wait to bless someone as we enter my favorite time of the year…
Photo taken by the amazing Katherine Miles Jones almost a decade ago in Central Park… my how time flies
Maybe it is trite, but November might be my favorite month. I strongly believe the world needs kindness now more than ever and a month that is tied so closely to gratitude is bound to help with that! So… I’d like to take this moment to express my gratitude for all of you readers. Whether you found me from social media or know me in real life, from blogs for whom I’ve written guest posts or through the Cultivate What Matters roundups, whether you have only read a post or two or are a subscribed follower, thank you for giving your time to read my thoughts. (Also, an extra special thank you for those of you who have shared any of my posts! Especially because they seem to be the posts I’m always most nervous to write and publish…)
One of the other things I am oh so grateful for this year is my time as an affiliate with the Cultivate What Matters Shop. If you are a regular reader, you know that PowerSheets have made a huge difference in my attitude and in my day to day life this year. I didn’t think I could love a product in their shop more than the goal setting planner, but my Write the Word journal has been such a wonderful tool for my faith life. I’ve written before about how Coffee & Jesus time has become a bedrock of my morning routine. As a recap, the journals are set up so that you copy out a piece of scripture on one page and then you have a blank page to journal and reflect on the verse before picking your “word for the day” as a takeaway focus. I plan to continue this in the new year but with a twist.
This year, I’ve been doing a more traditional kind of journaling in the blank page. However, I’ve been deeply inspired by seeing others use the journaling space to write letters. Some have written letters to a spouse or future spouse, and others to their kids or grandkids. So next year, I’m going to be working through three different editions of the journals. I’ll be using the Cultivate Faith journal in the same way I use my write the word journal now- as a personal faith journal that I’ll fill with prayers and
They are all so beautiful and I’m so excited to keep using them!
writing out current struggles or joys. I’ll be using the Cultivate Joy journal to write letters to my son for him to read when he’s older. And I’ll be using the Cultivate Gratitude journal to do the same for my daughter. I envision sharing things from my own faith life in these letters as well as prayers for them, both where they are now and for their lives to come. I hope it is something that will provide them strength and joy in their own faith journeys in the same way it has been beneficial to me in this season. I’m also seriously hoping to have the budget next year to give some more of these beauties away as gifts.
I have been working my way through the Cultivate Renewal journal this year and the verses have been perfect for my season of life. And, since one of my November goals is to prepare for Advent, it seems particularly perfect for the upcoming new year- especially since the liturgical new year is less than a month away. That’s why I’m giving away a copy of the Cultivate Renewal journal to one of my readers. Here’s the deal:
*This is only open to readers in the United States as I will only be able to mail this journal to an address in the USA. Entrants must be 18 years of age or over.
*How you can enter: 1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what you’re thankful for right now and what you are hoping to cultivate in the coming months or in 2018. This entry is mandatory. You can get a bonus entry by: 2. Tag me in an instagram post that shows one of the ways you are growing in your faith. You’ll need to have your account set to public during the giveaway to get this entry and you’ll need to tag my instagram handle: @alphabetresolutions and use the hashtag #alphabetresolutions -I can’t wait to read and see your entries!
*The deadline for entries will be 5pm Arizona time on November 14th and I will pick the winner via random.org. The winner will be announced the next day on my blog and on my instagram. Winner will have 24 hours to get in touch with me with a US address to ship to so I can ship out their journal before the holiday insanity descends on the post office.
This journal has been such a blessing to me and I want to share that joy by giving away a copy to one of my readers!
*I’m told I should err on the side of caution and include some of this legalese- Void where prohibited by law, no purchase necessary to enter, the number of eligible entries received determine the odds of winning By entering the giveaway through this website, you release Alphabet Resolutions/Amanda from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, misdelivery or acceptance of any prize (Y’all who knew a little giveaway could be so complicated?!)
Alphabet Resolutions 
I am so thankful this beautiful weather. In 2018 my goals are cultivating deeper relationships with orhers, God and my husband. 🙂
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Love that your goals are relational. And SO enjoying finally having nice weather as well!
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I’m thankful for a completely surprise pregnancy that I was not prepared for. But I’m so thankful to be adding another little blessing to our family, regardless.
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CONGRATS! Definitely a blessing even if an unexpected one. When are you due?!
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I’m thankful for my husband’s patience and encouragement! In the next few months, I’m hoping to cultivate hope!
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So sweet! Thank God for patient spouses! Advent is a great time for cultivating hop.
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Congrats Katy! Random.org chose your comment number as the giveaway winner! Please get me your email address via direct message on instagram (username alphabetresolutions) or by leaving another comment on here which I will keep private/will not publish. From there I will email you and get your mailing address for the journal. You have 24 hours. Hooray!
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Right now I’m grateful for both girls going to bed by 8:30 allowing me to work on the lesson I’m teaching at church this week. I’m also grateful for Marco Polo letting me keep in touch with amazing friends and Ben doing the laundry!
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How did your lesson go? what did you teach about? and HOORAY for keeping in touch and helpful husbands!
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Right now I’m grateful my husband is safe. He’s on a year long deployment to the Middle East.
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I’ll be praying for him! I have many friends who are military or military spouses and their faith and calm and willingness to embrace the unknown always humbles me.
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I’m thankful for strong relationships and financial security as I search for a new job. I hope to cultivate discernment in 2018, both in my job search, and in terms of how I should best spend my time and resources.
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Oh man, discernment is such a great word and so important. Good luck on your job search, I’ll send up some prayers for you!!
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I love that way of using the Cultivate the Word journals! So creative. Right now I am thankful for this season. It’s a very hard one with teaching and I’m deep in the trenches of toddlerhood with my son, but I’m also pregnant with a rainbow baby we’ve nicknamed Poppy. God is showing me that there are seasons for everything in life. I’m hoping to Cultivate a deeper appreciation for all of the seasons and phases in my life, especially with the changes coming in 2018.
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Congrats on your rainbow baby! What a blessing. I was pregnant last year with a two year old running around so I know the exhaustion can be real. definitely love the idea of embracing the season you are in.
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I am so thankful for my family. This will be the first year in 5 years that we are all together for Thanksgiving.
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I hope you have a fabulous celebration! and I think my health is going to continue to be one of my 2018 goals too!
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Oops! I forgot to add that im wanting to cultivate my relationship with the Lord and my health in 2018 🙂
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Im thankful for the challenges my husband and I have faced in our first 60 days of marriage. We have faced all challenges as a team and we have grown deeper through several storms. Although I would’ve loved the ‘ideal’ honeymoon without many hard conversations and tears I know we are better for these opportunities to talk about through difficult subjects.
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Im cultivating my marriage in 2018 and healthy mind, body, spirit & rrlationships with my powersheets ❤
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Congrats on your marriage! I did not have a difficult honeymoon, but I did have a lot of hard conversations right around my engagement (my husband’s father passed away the day we got engaged) and I know that God uses those hard moments to make relationships stronger if we embrace them. hooray for health and for embracing all those aspects of you!
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I’m so thankful for my hard working husband who is a wonderful dad. I’m thankful for my healthy happy fun baby girl. I am hoping to make progress on building my faith by continuing to read through the entire Bible and start a Bible study with a friend.
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How old is your baby girl? I am so thankful to have a partner in parenting. Isn’t it wonderful how watching our husbands as fathers can just make us fall in love more?! How great that you have a friend to spend time in the word with!
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I’m thankful for the amazing kindergarten class + teacher I have the joy of helping this semester. ❤ I'm hoping to cultivate more true, genuine, 1 Corinthians 13 love that doesn't seek my own, is patient, kind, and joyful!
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What a great anchor for what you want to cultivate. I love hearing about a positive kindergarten experience. I’m starting to get nervous about my son getting towards school age so it’s nice to hear positive experiences!
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I am thankful for my family. and I’m not sure what i’m cultivating in 2018 yet – I just got my first ever PowerSheets and am so excited to start the prep work!
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Family is at the top of my list right now too. and how exciting! Welcome to the cultivate family. I hope you love your PowerSheets as much as I love mine 🙂
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Wow! Awesome giveaway! I am thankful for time spent with family. We will be going to Grandma and Grandpa’s for Thanksgiving. 🙂 In 2018 I want to cultivate a better relationship with my Lord, making my time with Him my priority on a daily basis.
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I hope you have a beautiful Thanksgiving. YES! spending time in the word is such a great tool for strengthening that relationship with God!
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I am thankful for the Angels who have helped me since my husband passed in June
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Oh Robin I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. I’m praying for you and I’m so glad you have a community to help you through this hard time. A friend of mine passed away in September and I think about the pain and loss his wife must feel every day. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing about your loss.
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I’m grateful for a friend who shared wisdom and encouragement with my daughter who is trying to determine where she wants to go to college and what she wants to major in.
In 2018 I want to cultivate relationships while living more intentionally.
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I remember that time of choosing a college! So great that you have wise friends to help with such a formative stage. I feel like I’m going to blink and my toddler will be filling out college applications.
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I am thankful for my sweet little girl, born healthy and perfect just under two weeks ago! I am aiming to cultivate a healthy, vibrant family culture in 2018–it’s my first year with powersheets and so far I LOVE them!
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Congrats on your baby girl mama! Powersheets were SO helpful for me to have in those newborn days especially. They helped me hang on to the bigger picture on sleepless nights. I love your choice of the word “vibrant”!
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Commenting/entering the giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who commented. I’ll be picking a winner tonight and announcing tomorrow afternoon in a new blog post.<3
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