Saturday, June 20, 2009

Pearl Girls

My friend Margaret McSweeney is the inspiration behind the book, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace. Margaret is one of those incredible people who just blesses everyone fortunate enough to meet her. And if you so much as ride in an elevator with her, you WILL meet her. She's one of those outgoing people who is just full of joy! Anyway, she has assembled some of the best female Christian writers on the planet to add their wisdom to this amazingly inspirational book. You'll find stories from Debbie Macomber, Shaunti Feldhahn, Melody Carlson, Robin Jones Gunn, and many, many others! For some reason she asked me to contribute also.


This book, I'm certain, will bless the lives of the people who read it, but not only that, it's going to bless a whole lotta people near and far because all proceeds are being donated to two charities. One is Hands of Hope - "Hands of Hope is a community of women helping women and children in crisis, with a current focus on Africa." The other is Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger) - "WINGS helps homeless and abused women and children by offering integrated services that meet their needs for shelter, education, guidance and support."

I was fortunate enough to meet Rebecca Darr, the Executive Director of Wings and later was given a tour of one of Wings' safe houses this past winter. I was surprised at not only how nice the house was, but at the services offered. Wings does not just provide a safe place to stay for women and children escaping domestic violence. It provides education, and help in finding employment. Wings doesn't kick the women and children out of the safe house after a couple weeks or months and leave them to fend for themselves either. They find them housing and continue to work alongside them.


Rebecca is on the far left

This book contains over 60 essays from some of the awesomest writers. (Yes, it's a word!) I know you'll find it inspiring! Get a copy for yourself and all the wonderful women in your lives. It's not only a book that will bless you, but it'll bless the lives of women and children struggling to survive in Africa and women and children fleeing from domestic violence here in the Chicago suburbs. You can get a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace HERE.

I have a copy of Pearl Girls to give away! Leave me a comment here, and I'll choose a random winner on Wednesday. Good luck!

84 comments:

  1. Me me me! I would love a copy of the book!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, wasn't Margaret smart to ask you to contribute, Dawn! I would LOVE to read this wonderful book!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful concept for a book..and what a smart lady she was by asking you to contribute !

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a great book. I'm feeling like a random winner!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, fantastic giveaway! Thanks! :D

    jess^^^4002 [at] gmail [dot] com
    (without the ^^^)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am due for some winning luck :0)
    Thanks.
    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, sounds good, hope I can get a hold of it in Europe, too.

    So long,
    Corinna

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'd love a chance at winning a copy of the book...sounds great!

    Thanks for making me laugh with your stories. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. My mom would love this book! Save me some shopping :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like a great book to read, pass on to my daughters and then to the other women in the family who love to read. (then ultimately to our church library)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would love to read this book! Thank you for offering it to us!

    ReplyDelete
  12. what a lovely idea of a book. thanks for the opportunity to win.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I feel lucky today! We'll see if my feeling was true or not... :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. This book sounds great - hope I am lucky.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What an awesome group of authors! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. sounds like a good book to have.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would LOVE a copy of this! We are studying grace in Sunday school now, and it's really eye opening for me......

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow...great give-a-way for a great cause!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow, what a wonderful book. I love those authors. I'll have to find it if I don't win!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This book sounds wonderful! I'm reading your book right now, and I love it. I'll need another book to read soon though, so I hope I win!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love to read the book! And I like that they are using the proceeds to benefit such worthy causes! Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  22. That sounds really cool!
    I hope my comment is random enough..? :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'd love to win a copy....and promise to pass it along when I'm done...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sounds like a great book!!

    SPepper22

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would love to win a copy of the book. At least something to read while waiting for your next book. ( I read Because I Said So in ummm 2 days LOL)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Please pick me this time!

    Diane H

    ReplyDelete
  27. II the mother of a spousal rape/abuse victim I'd like the book to give to my daughter. I think it would help to inspire her, give her hope for a future.

    My daughter's story watch the video and know her fear.

    Rebecca Dar was instrumental in getting my daughter help. She and Harvard Law Professor worked with the Cindy Bischof Foundation.

    Diane wrote my daughters' lethality assessment for the court. He met 16 of the 18 points. He has stalked her from May 2006 - Feb 2009 from jail, prison, on parole. He is back in prison until 2011.

    Right now there is some semblance of peace but she must remain diligent.

    Hope and a future is what I most want for her and her children.

    ReplyDelete
  28. WINGS is a fantastic organization - I met Rebecca years ago, when as President of the Chicago Northwest Suburban Chapter of the CPCU Society became involved and provided some support to one of the WINGS homes. WINGS does a fantastic job, and Rebecca Darr is a fine woman. I moved away, and often wonder how the organization is doing. Glad to hear they appear to be thriving.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I would Love to read this one Dawn. Kristine in Michigan.

    ReplyDelete
  30. It sounds like a wonderful book. I would love it!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Picki me I need some summer reading while watching the kids at band camp!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I could use something hopeful right about now. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Pick me!!!!


    janicemitchell43@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I would love a copy of this book for my mother-in-law! Thanks, Dawn!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I have a lot of grit on my floors...does that make me more eligible to randomly win?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Congrats on being included in, what sounds like, and awesome book!

    Now I have a ? (Maybe SSO?) Every time I load your page and see the "About Dawn" section and it reads "I'm a 30-something year old
    stay-at-home mom of 3 girls
    and 3 boys. The original Brady
    Bunch (without Alice!)"
    I ALWAYS wonder if people think you and Joe are on marriage #2, that he had the boys and you had the girls etc. like the atual Brady Bunch. Of couse I know that is not true, but have any other "first time" readers thought that? Just wondering...I have wanted to ask this ? for sooo long, but always felt dumb asking it. Oh and Happy Father's Day to Joe!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would love to have a copy of that... I could really use some uplifting right now! Deployments SUCK.

    ReplyDelete
  38. It must be such a joy to contribue to an amazing cause such as this book!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I am so excited to read the book! It sounds like a work of art. I think it is amazing that all proceeds are being donated to two wonderful charities. That alone tells me how wonderful this book actually is. You are so kind and giving, and I am sure that shows in the book too! Congrats! This seems to me as if It will be one of those perfect summer reads! Thank you for the excitement in looking forward to it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. It sounds like the book would be very inspirational. I would love a copy.
    Tina

    ReplyDelete
  41. Sounds like a perfect summer read (then again I teach and summer is the only time I have to read so everything is a "summer read")

    ReplyDelete
  42. I would love a copy, it sounds like a very helpful, inspirational book.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Congrats on being asked to contribute - it sounds like a great idea for a book!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love your column, blah, blah.

    Anyway, I just found out about this Kids' Restaurant Week in Chicago! I can't believe I'm missing this! I have a 2 year old daughter I haven't brought with me to Chicago yet, because I just didn't think she'd have any fun at the restaurants. This would be the perfect introduction for her. I also thought about you being able to take you kids and not have to get yet another mortgage - KIDS PAY THEIR AGES! MOMMIES AND DADDIES ARE ONLY $29 each!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I would love to have a copy of this book. It sounds like a great book.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Sounds like a great book! I would love to read it! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Very cool -- congrats on being asked to contribute. What did you write your essay on?

    And WINGS, oh such a great organization! I have never volunteered there (shame on me) but a good friend of mine did once a month and had such great stories after each time. Definitely a worthwhile organization!

    ReplyDelete
  48. What a great idea for a book! I'd love a copy!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I would love to read this book! I work as a researcher for a Community Psychologist--she does research on preventing violence against women & children and it sounds like really neat read.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I would LOVE to read this book and even better to win it! Thanks for sharing the word with us!

    ReplyDelete
  51. I would be delighted to get a free copy of Margaret's book!

    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  52. I'd love a copy! Inspiration is always needed.
    Laura in Iowa

    ReplyDelete
  53. i love to read and the books sounds wonderful. I would love to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  54. It's amazing how many more comments a blogger gets when they are giving things away. :D

    ReplyDelete
  55. This sounds an sbsolutely wonderful read and I could use something like that in my life right now!! Would love an opportunity to read it and get some inspiration for some goodness.

    ReplyDelete
  56. This sounds like an absolutely wonderful book - and I could use some inspiration in my life - too much negative energy lately, we could use a turn around. (sorry left a comment before but forgot to leave my name) Jo-Ann B, Westbank, BC

    ReplyDelete
  57. sounds like a great read.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Caroline from MemphisJune 22, 2009 at 4:47 PM

    I would LOVE to win a copy of this book! I don't get a lot of spare time to read, so I'm kinda picky about what I do read...And this looks like it would be great!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Dawn - I would love to read this book!... Thanks for another great contest!... You are the awesomest! (learned that word from you!)

    Christine

    ReplyDelete
  60. Sounds great! Come on random number generator pick me! :) :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. The book sounds great. But I'm LOL. All that black, you ladies look more like mafia wives...no offense.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Sounds like a terrific read. Thanks for the idea Dawn and the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Sounds like this would be a great book, I did put this in my shopping cart at overstock if I dont win (Pre order)

    ReplyDelete
  64. Sounds like a inspirational read. Would love to read it. Thank you for the opportunity.

    ReplyDelete
  65. I would love to win a copy! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  66. I am so inspired by great women writers. Would love the book and will share it with others.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Is it too late? I'd love to win a copy of this book.

    ReplyDelete

This is where you tell me how awesome and funny I am. If you want to tell me how much I suck, you have to use my hate mail form here. http://www.becauseisaidso.com/get-in-touch/hate-mail/ Those are the rules. Oh and I moderate my comments so if your comment doesn't show up immediately, be patient, young Jedi.