Scripture Saturday

Today I decided to share one of my favorite scriptures with you. It is found in Proverbs and has been a verse I have claimed over and over in my life. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Do you have a favorite scripture that you have claimed repeatedly in your life? I would love for you to share it!

Tomorrow is Payday!!!

Don't forget that tomorrow is payday for all of you who are members of YouData!!!!  It's so nice to get that email that says, "YouData just deposited x-amount of $ into your Paypal account."  Even on weeks when the payout is small, it's extra $ that I didn't have last week.... that's a blessing!

If you haven't become a member of YouData yet, you should!!!  YouData is a website that basically pays you to view the homepage of certain websites.  It's that simple and only takes seconds of your time!!  And, you get paid to do it!!!  I try to check every day to see if there are any ads available for me to view, but a lot of times I find myself waiting until Thursday night, logging in, and spending about 5 minutes or less viewing the sites.  Then, payday is Friday and I get paid!!!

Here's a post I did a few months ago about YouData.

YouData
Advertisers will pay you to view the homepage of their website. When you sign up, you fill out a profile about yourself and give as little or as much information as you want……that you are a mom of 2 kids, for example. Whenever you want to, login to your YouData account to see if advertisers are willing to pay you to look at an ad on their website. You'll find websites of familiar companies and you will also be introduced to all kinds of new companies, too. They pay you to look at their website.  You literally click the link and you get paid.  Every Friday, YouData deposits the money in your PayPal account for your activity that week.

To sign up for a YouData account and start earning cash, click here:  YouData Sign Up

You will be asked to create a profile which will include your cell phone number.  They use this number to verify that you are a real person and also to send you a text message with an activation code.  You will also need to have a PayPal account setup.  Your earnings will be directly deposited into your paypal account.  You will set up a Me Account which will help them get the right ads to you.  They want you to view things relevant to you.  (If you don't have a baby, then you won't want to view websites with baby items.)

Once your account is set up, you can visit the site as little or as often as you like.  You will not receive reminder emails from YouData.  If you don't visit the site and login, you won't get paid!  And remember, payday is every Friday!!!  Sometimes you will have only earned small amounts and other weeks you'll have earned around $5.  Regardless, it's money you didn't have to start with and it really does add up quickly!

Each Friday you will receive an email from PayPal informing you that YouData has made a deposit into your account for your activity that week.  How wonderful is that?!?!?

I hope you'll sign up for YouData!  I know you'll love it as much as I do!

One BIG Picture

How do you take a picture of 300 million people????  I asked my husband, the professional photographer, and he said, "300 million?!?!?  I guess you'd have to take it from space!"  Watch this!!!  :-)

Truly, 300 million people is an astronomical number to consider!  However, that's the approximate number of people living in the United States.  And, this year is a census year!  I've been asked to help encourage you to fill out your census survey and send it in!!  It's important for America to have a "snapshot" of everyone.  :-)  You can help by doing your part.  Everyone needs to be counted.

***Disclaimer - I was paid monetarily to promote this video and the 2010 US Census.***

Easter Decorating with My Special Helper

Easter is less than four weeks away, so I decided that if I'm going to get out my Easter decorations, I better do it soon!  Mallory was eager to help me, so I let her "decorate" with a lot of my baskets and plastic eggs.  She very carefully placed the baskets on the fireplace and set each egg precisely in place.

She was so proud of her display!

This is her most favorite egg!

After her decorating was done, she had definitely worked up a thirst and NEEDED some water.  :-)  I allowed her to take a small cup of water to her room.  Within minutes, she came back and asked for more.  I gave her a little more and in just a little while, she came into the kitchen and said, "Clean-up on aisle 19!"  I seriously didn't think I heard her correctly so I asked her to repeat herself. "Clean-up on aisle 19!"  Yep, I heard right!  My little angel had spilled her water and had come to report it.  She cracks me up!!  I quickly went to clean up the little spill.  As I got down on my hands and knees and started wiping up the water, she stood beside me and watched.  With the sweetest, most sincere little voice she said, "I'm sorry, Mommy."  My heart melted.  I knew she wasn't acting silly and didn't really mean to spill, so I was more than willing to forgive that precious little spirit.  Gosh, I love my precious baby girl.  :-)

Hayseed's First Race - Review and Giveaway

Today, Caballo Press of Ann Arbor sent me a children's book to review.  It's called Hayseed's First Race and is perfectly written and beautifully illustrated by Sally Schrock.  Mallory and I quickly opened the package, pulled out the book, and she climbed into my lap.  Frst, we talked about the cover and the two horses we saw.

Mallory quickly pointed out the differences in the two horses.  Hayseed is definitely different.  From his "bug-buggy eyes and long nose with the white zig-zaggy stripe" down to his "white sporty socks and rosey-red high tops", Hayseed is not your typical racehorse.  However, Hayseed's mother had always taught him to love himself for who he was and never let anyone tell him he didn't belong.  Those words play an important part in the outcome of the race and is the theme for this precious story. 

The pictures in the book are fabulous!!!  Sally Schrock does an outstanding job of illustrating the story and making it come alive.  The pictures show the emotions of the horses and the determination of Hayseed to do his very best and not give up.  It's easy to see what Hayseed is thinking and you can see his written words on paper.  Preschool children can easily follow along and "read" the story just from the pictures.

The message of the book is the best part!  Children learn the importance of perserverance and having a positive self esteem.  Hayseed teaches lessons like learning to love yourself for who you are and never giving up on yourself.  It is wonderful to see the value placed on the role of a parent, in this case a mommy, whose advice and words of wisdom are recalled and trusted.  No matter your age, everyone can relate to Hayseed in some form or fashion.  The book's author relates to Hayseed because she is deaf. 

Does this sound like a book you'd be interested in?  These books will be availale on April 14, 2010.  But you can pre-order yours HERE.  The book is only $12.47 and comes in English or Spanish versions.  A portion of the profits from books published by Caballo Press of Ann Arbor go to a non-profit organization
related to the equine industry. In this case, five percent of the profits from Hayseed's First Race will be
donated to Anna House. Anna House is an on-site child-care center for the benefit of working families at
New York-area racetracks. Anna House is located at the Belmont Park racetrack. It is the first on-site child-care center at a racetrack in the U.S. for backstretch workers.

While waiting for their book, children can visit Hayseed's website and join Hayseed's Posse!!!  Activity pages can be printed out and your child can laugh and learn with Hayseed.

I truly believe this is one of the best children's books I have ever read.  Children are precious and should be taught that they are valuable and uniquely created and designed by God.  This book is a must-have for every home with children. 

Thanks to Caballo Press of Ann Arbor, one blessed reader is going to WIN their very own copy of Hayseed's First Race!!!! 

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:  Fill out this FORM and let me know what special child in your life will receive this book if you win.

Extra Entries:  Fill out this FORM separately for each extra entry.

• 
  
  Become a public follower of Burkett Blessings via Google Friends Connect (located on the right side of my blog) - let me know you are a follower in the entry section of the form. If you're already a follower, just fill out the form and tell me you are.
• 
  
  Subscribe to Burkett Blessings via email - enter your email address in the subscribe area on the right side of my blog. Then, fill out the form and let me know that you became a subscriber. Check your email and make sure you confirm your subscription.  If you're already a subscriber, just fill out the form and tell me you are.
• 
  
  Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and link back to this post. Fill out the form 3 times and leave your blog address in the entry section.  (3 extra entries!!!)
• 
  
  Grab my button (on the right side) for your blog!  Fill out the form 2 times and leave your blog address in the entry section.  (2 extra entries!!!)
• 
  
  Browse around my blog and then fill out the form and tell me what your favorite thing is.  (Example:  Do you like the family pictures and stories, posts about earning extra money, posts about my home, posts about my crafts and sewing projects?  What would you enjoy seeing more of?)
~*~*~*~*~*~
The giveaway will end Monday, March 15th at midnight CST. A winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified through email as well as announced on this blog. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.
Good luck!!
Many thanks to Yvette at Caballo Press of Ann Arbor for offering this incredible giveaway!!
  **I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review of this book.  I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.  The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.**

Cross Plaque Giveaway - WINNER!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO STEFANY!!!!  She is the winner of the Cross Plaque!!!

Stefany, I will start working on your plaque right now!  :-)  Please reply to your email so I'll know where to send it!

***If you did not win, but would still like to have one of my cross plaques, please email me!  They are $30, plus $7 shipping.***

Also, come back a little later today... I have another GIVEAWAY I'm getting ready to post!!!

Weekend Finds!!

My mom and I went shopping this weekend and found some fun things!  Look at this precious little barley twist book shelf I found!!!  My mom bought it for me as an "early birthday present!"  I've never seen anything like it!

 I love all things made from barley twist!  I just think this little shelf is so unique and fun!

I decided it needed something extra special on it, so Mama came up with the idea of putting some of my old piano music on it! PERFECT!!

I found my very first piano books and hymn book and proudly displayed them.

Here's what it looks like beside my piano in my "piano room".  I just LOVE it!! 

At the same little antique store we found this metal church music box.

It plays Amazing Grace and the entire steeple turns!  So beautiful!  Now, I've got to find just the right spot for it!

I'm linking up at Coastal Charm.

DON'T FORGET!!!  TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER MY CROSS PLAQUE GIVEAWAY!!!!