The Fantastical Challenge

I have no cool button for this challenge, because I have not added the Adobe software to my laptop yet. Maybe I can make one when Corey is at home and I can use his computer. However, I think it is about time for a new challenge, and I apologize for abandoning the cause for a while. My laptop died and could not be resurrected. At last, I have a new laptop. Della is a real beauty and she and I are getting along swimmingly, except for all the bugs still to be worked out with Vista.

I was thinking, this morning, of the kinds of books Natalie liked to read, and I remember her love for Narnia. I decided a Narnia challenge was out though. Most of us have already read it it, many more times than they can count. So, I thought, why not a fantasy fiction challenge. There are 2 reasons for this:

1. Natalie often read to escape. A book can take us out of our lives and into the world of imagination.

2. Fantasy books are popular for a reason. They take us to a world beyond the one we live in. They speak loudly of the human soul's longing for a different place (Eden, where we were created to dwell, Heaven where we shall find ourselves one day). Natalie has managed to escape one final time into a world that is beyond our wildest imaginings.

This challenge is for Feb and March. Read a fantasy book. Or 2. Or 3. Read to yourself or to your kids. Choose adult fantasy or young adult fantasy. Heck, go to the library and read a million children's books. Just go somewhere new and fabulous and be sure to tell us all about the journey.

Email me or leave a comment if you want me to link your blog in the sidebar. I can't wait to get started.

Heather

The Mommy Challenge

I can't believe it is already July. The Thinking of Nat Challenge was my favorite so far, and it was timed well in my life. I hope you will keep passing on books in Nat's name. I can imagine that would make her happy. However, it is time for something new here on the Nattie Challenge Blog. I had a few ideas, but this one was sparked by the last challenge and a couple of wonderful ladies who participated, one way or another.

Wendy chose to read The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center, and Katherine sent her (center, sent her) a copy to give away AND she sent me a copy as well. How sweet is she? The reason Wendy chose the book, in the first place, was that Motherhood was very important to Nat. Her children are both amazing and were blessed to have a mother who loved them desperately, even if only for a short while. So, this challenge is in honor of Nat and her son and daughter, Jonathan and Anna.

The Mommy Challenge

Read something Mommy-oriented (even if you are a Daddy, hee hee). It doesn't matter if you have kids or not. This can be a novel about a mother or a book on how to be a better mother, etc... As always, it is up to you to take this challenge to heart as you wish.

Part 2 of the challenge is to read to a child, yours or someone else's.

You have all of July. Enjoy! Keep me updated!

Heather

PS I will be reading The Bright Side of Disaster, of course. ;)

Thinking of Nat Completed

Anne (Nat's Aunt)
Wendy (with a Giveaway)
Pattie

If you posted a wrap up, please email me and I will link to it.

:)
Heather

GIVEAWAY!

A book giveaway has been announced. It started with Wendy posting about the Thinking of Nat challenge and a very kind author replying in her comments. Katherine Center is the author of The Bright Side of Disaster, which Wendy chose for this latest Nattie challenge. She offered Wendy a copy of the book to use as a giveaway. How sweet is she?

Wendy's Post about the Giveaway

I emailed Katherine to thank her. She replied almost immediately. And she is lovely. She is also sending me a copy of this book to read and review. I will post the review here and then offer the book as a giveaway in honor of Nat, here at The Nattie Challenge. I will post more details when I have read the book. Maybe I will just do a drawing or something more contest-ish... an essay on Motherhood, perhaps. Maybe our next challenge will have a motherhood theme. Nattie was such an amazing mom to both of her amazing children.

Thank you all so much for supporting this challenge. It is a selfish endeavor for me, in many ways. I can't lie about that. It helps me to think of Nat and to be connected to her memory in this way. But, Natalie was so far from selfish. I hope to always keep this blog and the challanges focused on her, on things she loved and lived, on the generous spirit that lead her.

Get reading!

Heather

P.S. Feel free to visit Katherine Center's website (click here) and send her a thank you for supporting Nat in this way. She is another bit of proof that Natalie will keep on touching lives, present in the flesh or not.

The Thinking Of Nat Challenge

It is time for a new Nattie Challenge, don't you think? I apologize for the large gap between this one and the last one. When I went back to work, I found it hard to keep up with everything, even things I felt were important. Now, I am home again (YAY!) and trying to, slowly, pick things back up.

We are coming up on Nat's first Heaven Birthday. I started to challenge everyone to read a book that somehow dealt with heaven and eternity, but the idea just didn't take root. However, I like what I chose instead. You see, what are we all doing? Thinking of Natalie. Then, Pattie emailed me about a book she is sending me. It is one that makes us think of Natalie. Neither of us is sure if she ever read it or just wanted to. Still, I know I will think of her as I read.

So, the thinking of Nat challenge was born. Pick a book that makes you think of our Nattie-Pie. This may be a book you know she loved, a book you know she wanted to read, a book you have already read or something completely new. There may be an element of the story that reminds you of Nat (a single mom, a woman with cancer, someone beautifully in love with Jesus) or maybe the cover just brings her to mind.

This is a pretty open challenge, as far as reading goes.

Part 2 of this challenge goes beyond reading. I want you to give a book away in Natalie's name. Or, if this isn't possible (books cost money, and we don't all have that), you can do one of 2 things...

A. Email me with the address of the person you want to give a book to and I will see what I can come up with to send them in Nat's name, for you.

B. Read a book to a child and think of Natalie.

Simple, right?

Please, leave me a comment to let me know you are participating and I will link you in the sidebar. If you blog about this challenge, I would love to know. And, when you finish reading, let us know what you read and why. I will post those explanations in an entry as they start coming in.

Thanks!

Heather

PS This challenge will run through June and a new one will be posted in July.

BBS Completed

Teddy Rose read Water for Elephants
Cathy Jo read Redeeming Love
Jane read Prince Caspian
Jill read On Agate Hill

Beg, Borrow or Steal

I was thinking about Nat and thinking about my friend, Megan. Megan visited me tonight, and we talked a lot about books. I sent her away with Jesus Freaks and my copy of Blue Like Jazz. She promised me her copies of The End of Religion, Girl Soldier and Nine Parts of Desire. Recently, Megan mentioned that she had followed a link from one of my notes to Nattie's website and was touched by what she read there. So, with the two of them on my mind, here is my challenge to you:

Read a book that is not yours or a book that someone has given to you. Not a book they gave you because you wanted it, but a book they gave you because THEY loved it and wanted to share it with you. A book someone suggested to you (even if you have to buy the actual copy you read) is what I am getting at.

Nat was always reviewing the books she read and picking up books we thought she would like. We sent each other books all the time, and I am sure I am not the only one she traded volumes with. So, this is the Beg, Borrow or Steal Challenge (though, stealing isn't good, okay?).

Pick one book for this challenge and read it in January. Easy peasy, right?

Send me links for the sidebar if you want to be linked here. I will take down the Babysteps challenge list after Jan 1st and put up the Beg, Borrow or Steal list. As usual, post any reviews in the comments and I will create a post for those links.

Happy New Year!

Heather