My Gift to You by Lori Nawyn – Countdown to Christmas 2010

LDSWBR: What author/book had the most impact on you this year?

LORI: Matt Baldwin’s Snow Rising. Though I agree with reviews stating that the story could have been stronger in places and the overall message perhaps streamlined, I was inspired and gleaned the insight and courage I needed to cement changes I’m making in my life. I also came away with some very memorable quotes, definitely a book to keep on the shelf to refer to from time to time.

LDSWBR: What books are you giving/asking for this Christmas?

LORI: Mother Had a Secret by Tiffany Fletcher, Before My Heart Stops Beating by Paul Cardall, Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans, Annette Lyon’s Chocolate Never Faileth, The Silence of God by Gale Sears, many others too numerous to list.

LDSWBR: If you could only participate in one Holiday activity or tradition this year, what would it be?

LORI: We love to snowmobile into the mountains near the Utah/Idaho border and cut our own Christmas tree. We were going to try something different this year and snow shoe in to get one on Thanksgiving but the weather didn’t cooperate. Instead we snow shoed around a beautiful little lake near our home. It was only four degrees yet the stillness and beauty of the night made it a memorable trip. My youngest has been ill and so we’re still hoping to get out and cut our tree… The tradition is important to me because it was passed down by my grandparents. Every year my grandfather would trek into the wilderness and selected just the right tree; my grandparents liked their Christmas trees full and bushy. In addition to the irreplacable scent of just cut pine, those Grandpa-cut trees possessed a magical quality never surpassed by artificial trees, or even those from tree lots.

LDSWBR: Do you prefer eggnog or warm apple cider?

LORI: Both, but not at the same time! ;)

LDSWBR: Lori, thank you, and we hope your little one will feel better soon so you can go get your tree.

***Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on December 26, 2010 for a $50 Amazon Gift Card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some great LDS authors.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors:

• Oh, Say Can You See? by Laurie (LC) Lewis

• Backlash by Traci Hunter Abramson

• Alma the Younger by Heather (HB) Moore

• True Miracles with Genealogy by Anne Bradshaw

• Dingo by Anne Bradshaw

• Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer

• Cross My Heart by Julie Wright

• Meg’s Melody by Kaylee Baldwin

• Save the Child by Margaret Turley

• Anasazi Intrigue (ebook) by Linda Weaver Clarke

• Mayan Intrigue (ebook) by Linda Weaver Clarke

• The Star Prophecy by Joan Sowards (and Walnut Springs Press)

• A cute, handmade apron by Joan Sowards

How to enter:

• Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas 2010 posts. Comments can be added on any of the countdown posts at anytime during the contest period (December 1, 2010 through December 25, 2010). Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.

• Follow us on Twitter: @LDSWBR – then send us a direct message to let us know you want to be entered in the Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest. If you are already a follower send a direct message telling us you want to be included in the contest.

• Tweet this message each day (one entry per day). Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2010 at http://ldswbr.blogspot.com! Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card & great books! @ldswbr #ldswbr2010

• Follow LDSWBR on Facebook, then send an email to ldswbr at gmail dot com that you’d like to be entered into the Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest. If you already follow LDSWBR on Facebook, send us an email to let us know you’d like to be included in the contest.

• **BONUS +5 entries**- Blog about this contest on your blog in a post that includes a link back to the LDSWBR blog, then send us the link to your specific blog post.

Here are the rules:

• Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 25, 2010. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on January 3, 2010 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.

• LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.

• Physical book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

• Authors taking part in the countdown are eligible to participate in the contest.

• The drawing held on December 26, 2010 will be a raffle-type drawing. All entries will be combined and names drawn for the prizes.

Please join us in counting down to Christmas with some great reads!