A Life-Changing Book ....

.... is what I absolutely HAVE to share with you today.

I have been following Angie's blog for quite a while now.  I don't remember how I found out about it but I know that it was not long after she started it .... in January of 2008.  The month after Jim died.
Angie was pregnant with their fourth daughter when she went in for a routine ultra sound .... and learned that this beautiful baby girl, would not survive.  She blogged throughout her pregnancy and has continued since then, including through her pregnancy of their 5th, a healthy daughter.  She is an amazing young woman who inspired me often during those black, grief-filled days.  Our situations were not the same, but we were both grieving .... mightily.
So anyway ..... in August of 2009 Angie and her friend, Jessica, started an on-line book club, called Bloom.  They started it with a fabulous book, Crazy Love, and have been reading, and encouraging reading, ever since.
Well, last week they announced that they would be moving Bloom to an existing website, by women, for women .... (in)courage ... home for the hearts of women, combining Bloom with the book club arm of that site.   It's a great, highly encouraging website that was started by DaySpring, a faith-based card company.
They also announced the name of their next book.  Wait .... they didn't JUST announce it ..... they cried it out from the rooftop!  (ok, please don't take that literally .... they were actually in front of a computer at one of their homes, but I think you get my gist ....)
They are SO very excited about this book that it's a joy to watch their video announcement.  They promised that this is .... and will be .... a life-changing book.  I was immediately intrigued and watched their video announcement this past Monday to see what book they had chosen.
The book is "One Thousand Gifts --- a dare to LIVE FULLY right where you are ", by Ann Voskamp.
I had heard the title before and knew that I had heard a lot of great comments, but I still didn't know much about it.  I ordered it from DaySpring and received it yesterday.  I'd like to add that they have it on sale for only $10 for the next couple of days (ending on the 24th and then going back to $16.99).  Amazon currently has it for only $9.14 and you get free shipping if your order is $25 or more.
(No .... I'm not getting paid by DaySpring or Amazon .... I'm just trying to encourage you to get this book!)

I started it this afternoon and had to make myself put it down after reading through the 3rd chapter.  I made myself stop so that I could write this post.
I've only read 64 pages and I can NOT wait to read the rest.
And ..... I already know for certain that "One Thousand Gifts" will be/already has been .... life-changing for me (that link is to a review of the book).
The way the book club will work is that we'll read, and "discuss", one chapter at a time.  The first chapter "video discussion" will be on Sunday, February 6th, and then will continue for the next 11 Sundays.
Here's the post that gives the details and exact chapters and discussion dates.

Tomorrow there will be a video posted of Angie and Jess, discussing the book ..... ALONG WITH THE AUTHOR, Ann Voskamp!!!  It's a kind of introduction to the book and to the Bloom club.  You don't need to have a copy of the book, nor do have to have ready any of it, to watch this video.  Just click here tomorrow and see what you think.  (I'm not sure what time the videos will be up every Sunday ... it may be somewhere on their site and I just didn't see it.)

Please consider getting this book and joining the club and the discussions.  I, for one, canNOT wait to meet Ann tomorrow and to start the discussions.

I hope you join me.
:)

Happy Saturday, Peeps.
:)