So I made a silly mistake when I mailed out a bunch of the Christmas gift packs last week.

I included a candy cane.

Seems like a simple addition, does it not? Just a little candy cane to brighten the spirits, and the breath, of young ladies around the USA.

Unfortunately, it seems, from what I’ve heard from a few of you, that the Christmas gift packs were stomped and smashed and sent through an oven because candy cane shrapnel is meltingly covering every corner of your gift pack.

I’m really sorry…. for having too much holiday spirit and it causing a peppermint flavored disaster.

If that is the case for you, and your poster or bookmarks or anything are messed up, please just email me (annieblogs [at] gmail [dot] com) and let me know your address and what needs replacing and I’ll ship it out today. No biggie. My pleasure. My fault. Let me replace the candy caned products.

. . . . .

Now to the fun stuff. We have a few of the Christmas gift packs left and I’d like to mail one to you! Well, “you” being a few lucky blog readers. Here’s the dealio….

I want to send you a full gift pack PLUS an additional copy of the book for you to give away to someone in your life!

Here’s how to win:

1. Leave a comment below and tell me who you would get that extra copy of the book that will be in your mailbox.

2. You can leave a SECOND comment saying that you like me on facebook… either you already do or you pop over, click LIKE, and then come back and say, “I like your page on facebook.”

3. You can leave a THIRD comment saying that you follow me on twitter… either you already do or you pop over, click FOLLOW, and then come back and say, “I follow you on twitter.”

So, you can have THREE different comments total. As many as the gifts the wise men brought…. which, if you read the story closely, you see that they also included candy canes in their packages. [No they didn't.]

How many gift packs am I giving away? FIVE. FIVE lucky winners will get a gift pack shoved in the mail, sans candy cane, on Tuesday [so you have until Tuesday morning when I wake up and get movin' to enter].

BRING ON THE WINNING! Ready… set… go!

The month has all too quickly ticked away. Just like that, we have woven our way through 28 days of courageous stories and moments. I am a changed girl. Your comments and thoughts and emails have blessed me in ways you will never know. And somehow I feel like we are just getting started…

Hopefully these won’t be our last brave conversations. And I pray that some of these truths have stuck solidly to your heart.

As the month ends, I wanted to share with you some great resources / links / ideas to help you continue to down this path and make sure you’ve got all the discount codes together in one place [in case you wanna do some last minute shopping before the 31st].

To Read

Waking the Dead by John Eldredge
Path of Loneliness by Elizabeth Elliot
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
Mr. Gary’s 31 days of scary hope  [I've cried. Twice.]
A Chance to Die by Elizabeth Elliot
The Dip by Seth Godin
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
The Rabbit Room

. . . . .

To Hear

Songs that make me feel brave [and the comments are amazing]
Circuit Riders Podcast

. . . . .

Discounts & BIG THANKS

SweetAftonStudio :: 10% off using the code ANNIEBLOGS2011 until Oct 31

Bit O Whimsey :: 10% off using the code ANNIEBLOGS2011 until Oct 31

Printable Scripture :: 31% off using the code ANNIEBLOGS2011 until Oct 31

Artsyville :: 10% off using the code ANNIEBLOGS2011 until Oct 31

Considering Lilies [today's giveaway!] :: 20% off using the code courage20 until Nov 5

Also thanks to GloryHaus and SignedbyAnge for the giveaways and thanks to The Nester for planting this idea in my head and giving my the encouragement to actually do it.

. . . . .

Where you can find Annie

Annie’s book

Annie’s facebook

Annie’s twitter

. . . . .

For our final giveaway, sweet Kate at Considering Lilies is offering an 8×10 of this print to one lucky AnnieBlogs reader [as well as the discount listed above for, well, the rest of us].

I think this print is a PERFECT way to end the month, don’t you?

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment [with a working email address] and answer this question:

What have you learned this month about courage?

Also, if you have more resource ideas, leave that in the comments as well! Great music, great books, great movies, great products… whatever might help us in our quest to be brave- share on!

You can actually enter this giveaway TWICE – once to leave a comment and a second one saying that you liked the Considering Lilies facebook page.

You have until I wake up Monday morning [around 8am Scotland time, 3am EDT, 2am CDT, midnight PDT] to enter.

. . . . .

Thank you so much. This month has been a gift to me. I’m so grateful that we were on this journey together.

Today is your day.

I just want you to fill in the blank. You’ve heard me talk for 27 days about courage. Now I want to hear you and I want the rest of our sweet community to hear you. Even if you’ve never commented before, maybe today is the day to be brave. Take a step of courage. Just simply finish this sentence…..

One sentence, ten sentences, one word. I don’t care. No rules here, people. I just want to hear what courage is to you.

. . . . .

Ange at SignedByAnge is offering one of these beautiful keys to courage to one lucky commenter. So all you have to do is fill in the blank “courage is…” and you’ll be entered! I’ll use random number generator to pick a winner from the comments when I wake up Saturday morning [around 8am Scotland time, 3am EDT, 2am CDT, midnight PDT].

Go ahead. Let’s hear ya. Courage is…

I’ve known I would live in Edinburgh since May of 2000.

Yep. It took me 11 years to get here.

I left Scotland on May 28, 2000, went back to the US, led a small group, graduated college, taught 5th grade, coached soccer and volleyball, worked at a campus ministry, taught 4th grade, volunteered in a youth group, bought a house, sold a house, wrote a book, and moved to Nashville [not in that order and with a few other things sprinkled in between].

I tell you that to say that courage doesn’t come in a day. It took time between when the dream was placed in my heart and when God made it my reality. It took time and steps and smaller choices.

For example.

The summer after 10th grade, I felt the Lord ask me to change high schools. At the time, it was the hugest sacrifice in the WORLD. I had to leave my friends and go alone to a new high school.

The summer after 12th grade, I moved 80 miles away from home. It was terribly hard. I had to leave my hometown and my family.

The summer of 2008, I moved 200 miles away from home. As you know, it was the best heartbreak of my life. I left my family, my friends, my hometown.

God has given me stair-step opportunities to be brave – moving schools, moving cities in Georgia, moving out of Georgia. So then, when it was time to move out of America, I knew I could do it.

I have seen, over and over and over again, that I can trust God and go in His direction, even when it seems crazy and looks crazy and hurts like crazy.

And now I’m here. Edinburgh, Scotland. It’s a beautiful place to be.

But a lot of days, it is really hard.

I mean, I love it. I really do. I love this city and the people and the church and my friends and the coins and the bus routes. But don’t mistake the fun stories and the amazing ministry opportunities to mean that it has been easy.

I miss home. A lot. I miss my parents and my sisters and my friends. I cry every time I miss a wedding. I’ve gotten frustrated that I can’t watch the Georgia Bulldog games. And I get surprisingly furious in the grocery store when I can’t find an ingredient [exposing issues? Me thinks yes].

But.

In the moments like today – when I’m sitting across the Starbucks table from an American student and talking about faith and courage and living in a foreign country and God- I know it is all worth it.

I wouldn’t dare tell you this season overseas has been easy. It has been fun and exciting and rewarding, but “easy” it is not.

Nevertheless, I am grateful. I am so glad that my courage boundaries were blown to bits. I’m glad for the hard days, where I’ve wanted to scream with frustration or cry or check for a flight home. Those days exposed my fears. And when I see my fears, I’m reminded that I’m brave. Because I see them, I hear them, I acknowledge them, but I don’t listen to or obey them [most of the time].

Edinburgh has taught me that living courageously doesn’t always feel good, but it always feels right.

. . . . .

Krystal at SweetAftonStudio is wanting you to live courageously too. So one lucky reader out there will win one of the 8×10 letterpress prints- your choice of color!

[these are smaller versions... but YOU get an 8x10!]

For the rest of us almost-winners, Krystal is offering 10% off your purchase at SweetAftonStudio – just use the code ANNIEBLOGS2011… and that’s good until October 31! I adore her stuff… I think you will too.

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment [with a working email address] and answer this question:

If you could move to any city in the world, where would you go?

You have until I wake up Friday morning [around 8am Scotland time, 3am EDT, 2am CDT, midnight PDT] to enter.

Now, let the parade of cities begin….

Congrats to Sarah for winning the beautiful board from Glory Haus! Hope it inspires and encourages you, Sarah. We have another gorgeous giveaway today… so keep reading!

. . . . .

As a quick recap from yesterday: God spoke Nashville into my heart in October of 2007. I moved there, alone with no friends or family, in August of 2008.

And it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

But Nashville saved me.

Often people say, “Why do you think God moved you to Nashville?” and I still am not sure of the fullness of that purpose. I mean, I don’t have a list that is complete.

Because let me tell you, my hometown is great. My parents are awesome. My best friends are awesome. My job, my house, my church, all of it- totally worth sticking around for. So I didn’t move because I was unhappy.

It was because I was a wimp and because I had forgotten my first love. It was the only way God could save me from myself.

Nashville saved me from a life without courage. Many of my friends and family can live in Marietta and step into courageous situations, but I didn’t and probably wouldn’t have. I merely went wherever I could to be comfortable. And sorry to say, that isn’t a life that honors God to the fullest. [At least, it wasn't for me.]

Nashville saved me from a life where I love those around me more than I love God. I often used to make choices more dependent on my people than on my Father, and that won’t cut it. But moving to a city where Jesus was my only friend fixed that pretty quick. And gratefully, more friends came along, but that was only after I really learned, in the trenches per say, that Jesus is the only one that will be with me always.

Nashville saved me from a life of seeking comfort. I have said this before and I’ll say it 100 more times in my life probably- I am less comfortable, but more confident, in Nashville. Because I am so sure that God moved me there, I can be confident. But comfortable? Not always. Just ask Amber- she won’t let me wear fleece anymore; and if you ask me, that is the epitome of comfort.

Nashville saved me from a life of NO. For the first few months, I made myself say YES anytime someone asked me to hang out or go somewhere or do something. I mean, I had no friends, so anytime someone wanted to hang out, SO. DID. I. And then, a few years later, when I was offered the chance to live in Edinburgh, I was confident of my YES’s.

[See what God did there? I knew He was faithful with Nashville, so I could more easily say yes to Edinburgh. He's a genius.]

When God asked me to move to Nashville, I felt like He said, “Give Me your world.” And to some extent He did.

But the reality is, God said, “Give Me a chance. And I’ll give you the world.”

And He has. Nashville is the sweetest gift that I have ever received. The people…. don’t even get me STARTED on the people. I am the luckiest girl in the world, as proven by my 30th birthday. [Just watched that video again and I am totally boo-hooing right now. Ugh. I'm so grateful.]

My writing career has blossomed thanks to Nashville, including my first book, From Head to Foot, releasing earlier this year.

And God literally has given me the world- since moving to Nashville, I’ve gotten to say YES to New York, LA, Greensboro, Chicago, Seattle, Prague [on Friday!], Edinburgh, Dallas, London, Charlotte… and the list goes on. Would those opportunities have come along anyways? Maybe. But would I have said YES? Maybe not.

It hasn’t always been easy; it still isn’t. I still miss my Marietta life and people a lot [and often]. But I know the One who has called me is faithful. And looking back on the last 3 years, I can see how my life has morphed into a better story because He gave me the courage I needed at every turn.

My life is WAY bigger than I ever dreamed. And I am the braver for it.

And I pray that God uses this big life, as unworthy and flawed as I am, to inspire others to say YES to courage. 

. . . . .

I’ve saved today’s giveaway for this post exactly. Kandy at Bit O Whimsey had said it better than I ever could. [You can click it to see it bigger.]

One of you will win this beautiful 5×7 print … hopefully it will remind you to say YES to courage.

For the rest of us Less-Than-Winners , you can get 10% off your purchase at Bit O Whimsey using the code ANNIEBLOGS2011 until October 31. Pretty much, I want to own every piece of art she makes. So. I won’t blame you if you buy too much.

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment [with a working email address] and answer this question:

When have you said YES and it changed everything?

[maybe marriage, a job, a city, a conversation, a purchase? there are tons of possible yes moments!]

You have until I wake up Friday morning [around 8am Scotland time, 3am EDT, 2am CDT, midnight PDT] to enter.

Go on… tell me your YES story!

For startsies, congrats to BETTY DRAPER on winning the $31 voucher to Printable Scripture. Don’t forget, using the code ANNIEBLOGS2011, the rest of you can get 31% off your purchase at Printable Scripture until the end of the month! But don’t go anywhere… we have another giveaway today! WOOT.

. . . . .

My dad [you know, the 6 foot 3 inch character in this picture] does some funny stuff. I’m not just talking about standup routines, though he does that too. Seriously.

He also does funny stuff like reuse paper towels, pick at his beard hairs, and make his children repeat saying back to him.

For example, when we are on the phone and its time to hang up, he’ll say, “BIG KISS!” and the appropriate response is “LITTLE WAVE!”

I know. It’s weird. And I actually don’t do it. Instead, our convos go like this.

Dad : “BIG KISS”

Annie: “yeah, Love you, Daddy. Little wa….” then I trail off into oblivion and hang up.

But there is another one of Dad’s fill-in-the-blanks that I actually really like. He’ll say, “Who loves ya?” and then before you even have time to answer, he says, “Dada. Dada.”

Now mind you, none of us have called him “Dada” in approximately twenty years, but it still works.

. . . . .

Why do I like that so much?

I think it’s really nice when other people remind you that you are loved. 

It makes you brave.

Like I mentioned on Day 3, I think there are a few main things that we should all remember in our pursuit of a courageous life. And on Day 8, we talked about the first one – who you are. You have to know who you are.

But you also have to know who loves you. Because when you know who loves you, you know your safe places. You know where you can rest. You know where you can go when you fail.

[Hate to tell ya, brave or not, you are going to fail.]

Knowing who loves you also lets you know who you can trust with your brave ideas and who will hold you accountable to being brave but not being foolish [if you let them].

You  may already have a list of people who love you growing in your mind. Or maybe you’re still spinning your wheels thinking up just a few.

Maybe today is a good day to figure out who loves you. Their love will give you courage.

Maybe today is a good day to tell the ones you love that you love them. Your love will give them courage, like a deposit in the bank of the heart.

I don’t know how it works, the science and math of it all, but I know that love given is courage gained.

And. Above all, remember this: no matter who you are or where you’ve been, God’s love for you is unmatched. HE LOVES YOU. So even when every human on earth takes their turn failing you, He never will.

Knowing that, truly knowing it, will make you brave.

His love is enough.

. . . . .

Today, our friends at GloryHaus are giving away one of these beautiful boards. I think this speaks so much to being courageous. [That's the point of all these giveaways, by the way. I just want you to be exposed to art that breeds courage.]

All you have to do to enter is answer this….

Tell me one person who loves you.

[I'm already excited about the comments... I think this list is going to be so beautiful...]

You have until I wake up Wednesday morning [around 8am Scotland time, 3am EDT, 2am CDT, midnight PDT] to enter.

So spill it… who loves ya?

This morning, about ten of us will gather at the Starbucks just down the street. I will get my soy chai and I will nervously massage the handle of the mug.

Because I’m nervous.

We are gathering, this little crew of 10ish folks, to talk about writing. It so happened that as I got to know the crowd at Crossroads Edinburgh, it ends up that many of the folks like to write. Or read. Or talk about writing. Or talk about reading.

So we scheduled today to get together and do just that- talk about writing and faith and where they meet and how they can intersect.

And, if time allows, I may read the first chapter of my next book.

EEEEEEK.

It’s ridiculous for me to be nervous- and if I had any brains at all, I would take my copy of From Head To Foot and just read from that. It is already in enough hands on this earth to make it impossible for me to feel embarrassed about any of it. [Except the story on pages 61-62. I actually am still a little embarrassed about that.]

But reading from a book that is already published to people who already love me? That takes zero guts.

Exposing my writing to the world for the first time takes a lot of guts [for me, at least]. It could be really crappy. I’m not sure. And until another human reads it, I won’t know.

I bet a lot of authors feel this way. I know some that do. There’s a little circle of us at (in)courage who write books. And we’ll send timid emails with tiny word documents attached saying things like, “be nice- you are the first eyes to see this.” Because it is scary to write and then let other people see it.

It is a piece of you, an inside look at the heart of the author; and the first time that heart spot is exposed, it makes the author recoil a bit. Each time gets a little easier, until books are on shelves and people email about that story on pages 61-62 and I can laugh it off.

Even last night, Donald Miller tweeted this:

“Every time I write a book, I have to remind myself that all I have to worry about now is the next paragraph.”

So even totes profesh authors have worries in the writing process. Huh. Makes me feel a bit better, I’ll have to say.

But I’m not the only one nervous at Starbucks today. First time writers will bring their poems, fiction pieces, and who-knows-what, and with fear at their backs, they will read to us.

I’ll probably tear up over the beautiful words and the brave hearts that wrote them. Because those writers will put their work, and their courage, on display.

To write is to quietly cultivate a garden to perfection and then give the world unlimited access, with their gentle petal-loving hands or their heavy flower smashing boots.

Even though this career requires that risk, I plan to work in the garden every day for the rest of my life.

And you are welcome. [Just don't wear boots. Okay? Okay. ]

. . . . .

We have a super fun giveaway today – involving WORDS and COURAGE – and it is open until MONDAY MORNING!

Kathleen from Printable Scripture is offering today’s winner a $31 voucher to her store. I personally would go for this one. Obviously.

But if you win the $31 voucher, you can have whatever you want!!

And for the rest of us, you get 31% off your order until October 31! [See what she did there?] Wowsers, right? Just use the code ANNIEBLOGS2011 when you check out at Printable Scripture.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling us your favorite author!

[You cannot say Annie Downs... seriously. Don't. I'll punch you right in the email address.]

You have until I wake up Monday morning [around 8am Scotland time, 3am EDT, 2am CDT, midnight PDT] to enter.

Happy Saturday… now, who is your favorite author?

About three days before I left Nashville in July, I got feathers put in my hair. It was a symbol for me, a marking of home. Every day I have seen them I am reminded that me and Nashville have got a thing going on.

I had dinner here in London with my friend Curt from Nashville on Tuesday night [that is a hefty sentence.. lots of proper nouns and prepositions]. We went to a Mexican restaurant called Cantina Laredo – the EXACT same one that we have at home – and it was delicious. [The only cheese dip I've had since JULY. I know. Suffering for the Gospel.]

Curt gave me a box with two little rings inside, a gift sent over from one of my besties in Nashville. I quieted myself so as not to cry.

Later when I got back to my hotel, after three long and beautiful months, the feathers finally came unclamped from my hairs. I sat on the settee situated at the end of my bed and held the rings and the feathers.

The transition, in one night, from feathers to rings said something to me. The feathers were fun and flighty and adventurous. Rings are commitment. I left Nashville in July, marked by my home and by my people with the blessing to be brave and wild and gone. And now I am marked by my home saying, ‘this is your place.’ A reminder that not only am I in love with Nashville, Nashville loves me too.

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, I probably am. But in my heart, I felt that transition.

My band friends leave tomorrow. I get on the train and head back to my beloved Edinburgh and they ship off to some other city to do what they do best.

And to be honest, I’m scared about Saturday. I’m scared to leave them. I scared that my heart will rip audibly. I’m scared that the tears that are puddling now will wash my face raw by Saturday night.

But tomorrow, I have to choose courage again. And again. And every mile that the train takes me away from them will require another mile of courage.

Because leaving your people is really hard, even when you know it is the right thing to do.

. . . . .

The rings for me are a beautiful reminder to be brave. And throughout this month of 31 Days of Courage, you’re gonna have the chance to get some beautiful reminders as well. My Etsy angel Madison did some searching around and found some AMAZING pieces of art… and many of those artists agreed to give pieces to you brave hearts.

Our first giveaway is from Artsyville! I absolutely LOVE this 5×7 Grit and Moxie print. Perfect to frame and set in your kitchen, on your desk, or wear around your neck. [I'm not the boss of you. You win, you do what you want. Okay? Okay.]

I am deeply encouraged by these words today [though I would say that God creates the worlds we live in, I totally get what this print is meaning].

Also, because Aimee at Artsyville hearts you people and believes that we all need reminders to be brave, she is giving EVERYONE 10% off their purchase for the WHOLE MONTH OF OCTOBER!

What the what?!?!

So just pop over to Artsyville and use the coupon code ANNIEBLOGS2011. It’s good until October 31.

. . . . .

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below. And make sure you leave your email address correctly so I can get in touch with you when you win! You must enter by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (California time).

Do you have any objects in your life that remind you to be brave?

. . . . .

Who I’m reading: Nester’s 31 Days of Lovely Limitations. I love that Nester. She’s smart and savvy. You should know her.

First of all, I’m not really offering a chicken dinner.

The shipping on that would be fairly high. And the greasy mess that the mailman would have to deal with is unfair.

Come rain, sleet, snow, or ….. fried chicken legs?

Don’t think so.

Anyways, the purpose of this post [which I have yet to reach until now] is that there is a winner over at the GIVEAWAYS page! Someone is gonna have a little package of awesome including Mary DeMuth’s novel Daisy Chain.

I love a good giveaway. This has been a pleasure.

Now that the fancy announcement has come and gone, I wish you a great weekend.

I mean that. That’s not just the right thing to say. Sincerely.

Have a great weekend.

Amen.

Oh y’all.

Y’all.

This book. I’m at a coffee shop [read: in public], so I really can’t get too emotional about it, but trust me. I want to.

My friend Mary DeMuth wrote Daisy Chain. I heard mention of it long before I read it myself.

Shame on me.

Here’s the official description of the book:

“The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance haunts the small town of Defiance, Texas. Fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper searches for answers in this gritty and compelling story of love and sorrow, revealing God’s hand of redemption in impossible situations.”

I started the book and finished it about six days later. And for about the last four nights I was reading, way too late into the night, I wept. Like, put the book down and feel the moment kind of crying. Maybe it’s because I’m the oldest child and I have major issues with feeling responsible for my siblings. Maybe it’s because at points, I felt like I was literally standing there and experiencing the moment with the characters. Or maybe this story is just real enough to affect my heart.

I didn’t laugh a lot while reading this book. That’s not the purpose of it. I felt the book, that’s for sure. It’s deep. It’s beautiful. It’s absolutely heartbreaking and yet it gives redemption like a deep breath after being under water too long. I had to pray as I read- not for the characters [though I've done it before without realizing it], but for what God revealed to me about my life and my heart within the story.

I think you should read it.

You can buy Daisy Chain here. The second of this trilogy, A Slow Burn, is also out, but I haven’t read it yet. I will. Don’t you worry about that.

I received a free copy of Daisy Chain at a writer’s conference recently, so I thought that one of you might like that. I have a nifty new GIVEAWAYS page, so head over there and you can enter to win this copy.

Have you read it already? What did you think? Have you read Mary DeMuth before? I’d love to hear other things by her you think I should read.

Have a great weekend.

[PSA: Hey. I want you to know something. Mary didn't pay me or ask me or encourage me to blog about her book, or giveaway a copy. I just feel that this series of books is written beautifully and tells a redemption story is such a unique fashion that I can't help but tell you about it. So know that this post isn't an advertisement- I'll tell you when I run a commercial. I promise. This isn't one. I just love the book. Okay? Okay. Now, carry on with your weekend.]