Announcing Sarah’s New Book, Finding Change

This was posted on November 14, 2018 by Sarah Maxwell.

Finding Change, my newest fiction book, has the potential to change a kid’s life. Watch the video to hear more.

Finding Change, Book 1 in Hill Top Adventures

Ten-year-old Emma and her younger brother, Ethan, have just moved to the tight-knit community of Hill Top, which Emma hopes will be their home for a long time. But trouble brews for Dad’s job, and uncertain times shake their home.

The bake contest lures Emma to church, and she’s flooded with memories of a tragic event and the bitterness it left. Ups and downs and twists and turns fill the pages of Finding Change until a dreaded visit by her aunt brings Emma face-to-face with the biggest decision of her life.

“This book could almost be called Zero Gravity,
because I just can’t put it down.” – Ezra, 11

Nine, full-page illustrations give the story an amazing pop. Here are three of them below.

Pre-order bonus: I’ll sign the first 300 copies of Finding Change before November 26th. We estimate books to begin shipping the week of November 26th.

Finding good quality reading books for your kids is hard, and what better gift than Finding Change? This book could change your child’s life, and I’m passionate about the story plot.

Grab three (or more) copies of Finding Change and save 10%. For more information or to pre-order, stop by our online store.

Also, if you haven’t purchased Sunflower’s Christmas Miracle, released last year near this time, I encourage you to get a copy while you’re at it. It’s the perfect Christmas read!

Thank you again for all your enthusiasm! I can’t wait for books to begin shipping to your home.

Love,
Sarah

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Romans 1:16

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection Week!

This was posted on November 13, 2018 by Sarah Maxwell.

If you’ve been following our blog for the past few months, you’ve read about Operation Christmas Child.

We wanted to share with you that this week through next Monday, the 19th, is the time frame you have to drop off your shoeboxes! Samaritan’s Purse has a list of drop off location points on their site.

Perhaps you’ve thought about packing shoeboxes to help a child in need but haven’t done it yet. It’s not too late! 🙂 This is a tangible way to share what God has blessed us with to those in need.

If you need more information, please visit Operation Christmas Child’s website. We’ll be sure to post more pictures of our shoebox packing parties! They are still in progress!

“But my God shall supply all your need according
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19

Random Life from Color to Cold

This was posted on November 12, 2018 by Sarah Maxwell.

It’s the dawning of an exciting week for me, of a dream come true. Since I completed the Moody Series, I still carried a passion for writing kids’ books, and in just two days, I get to unveil my newest story.

This past month has been a beautiful whirlwind. Autumn was especially pretty this year, but an early snow finished it and brought winter. The other morning, it was in the teens, which is cold for this time in Kansas!

Besides “normal” work and life, we enjoyed time outdoors, babysitting littles, Operation Christmas Child shoebox prep, projects, and for Mary, Anna, and me, finishing out my book.

This is a sweet season as we near the holidays. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. May we be grateful for the Lord’s abundant blessings.

Today being Veteran’s Day observed, I’m grateful for those who have served and protected our freedom!

Love,
Sarah

Saturday work projects

Chelsy’s mom and younger siblings visited,
and Chelsy invited all the ladies and littles
over for fresh donuts and fellowship.Some enjoyed outside time including races!Shopping for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxesStocking up on candy (not for shoeboxes)
but for the girls’ Bible club

GiGi reading to lots of the greatsSome great games of Spike Ball (notice how quickly our Kansas weather changes, barefoot here!)Nathan, Melanie, and crew diligently
campaignedMore Saturday projects

You never know what you might see in front of the house.
Here Anna (and Mary) were out running with the kids.
Autumn colorsWorking on the book
Before the weather got too cold,
Dad worked on some painting projects.Mary sharing with the kids about the floodWe watched Christopher and Anna Marie’s kids for their anniversary Some of the Maxwells participated in a pushup challenge in October

We also watched Nathan and Melanie’s children one night.
Here Tina gave her presentation and used Betsy
as an example.

Playing in the leavesRolling up washcloths, putting hair ties
on them, and stuffing in a water bottle for OCC.
Nathan’s office buddy one dayMary made delicious pumpkin donuts for Anna’s birthday breakfast.
The recipe was one Mary found online.Calia and Joseph brought over birthday balloons for Anna At family birthdays, there are lots of eager helpers.Abby made Anna the pillowEllie doesn’t lack for attentionYou know the picture of me recently in the navy dress announcing the book launch date?
Y’all, this is a real behind-the-scenes photo of who was BEHIND me!These twoLeaves aboundChelsy helping the girls with OCC stuff

Yes, snow!The lady Anna and Mary minister with for Bible club
hung cold weather gear on the fence
for those who needed them to take.

Love this picture of Melanie and Benji!

They made sledding work! 🙂

Time with Chelsy

Packing OCC boxes.

“But if we hope for that we see not, then
do we with patience wait for it.”
Romans 8:25

Four Days Until Sarah’s Book Launch

This was posted on November 10, 2018 by Sarah Maxwell.

I’m so excited that we’re down to just 4 days until the book launch! The official release is Wednesday, the 14th, at 8am, right here on the blog.

The book is currently at press, and we saw our first proof this week. This story has been an amazing journey and has thrilled me as I immersed myself in writing it. I can’t wait to tell you more on Wednesday.

“It is a blessing to find trusted authors—ones you know love the Lord and desire to see children obey their parents and come to Christ in salvation. Sarah Maxwell has proven herself again to be one of these authors. Her heart for MY children shines through the pages of her books. Thanks, Sarah!” — Chaundra, test mom

I’m so happy to have such an awesome, enthusiastic group of readers. You keep me writing! 🙂

Love,
Sarah

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy;
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”
Psalm 90:14

Firsts and Lasts

This was posted on November 9, 2018 by Teri Maxwell.

Sometimes Steve and I wish we could remember the first or last time we did something, either for ourselves or because someone asked us. For example, Steve and I would like to know when we watched our last TV show. It was over thirty years ago, and we know approximately when but not exactly. We would like to know when we began reading our Bibles every single day and then when we started daily family Bible time. Again, we know about the time but not exactly.

We have a tradition of listening to Back to the Bible’s Twelve Voices of Christmas near Christmas while driving around looking at Christmas lights. What year did we first do that?

We can’t go back and document those special “firsts” or “lasts,” but we can encourage you to do that. When they happen, you probably don’t think that much about them, but thirty years down the road when they have become family treasures, you just might wish for that information.

There are many means you could use for this. Here are a few:

Keeping your calendars and making sure you have entered special events and occasions and any change that occurs. That way you could look back through them for the information.
Journaling.
Making and keeping up a simple list of special events/occasions with dates beside them. This one seems like the easiest to come up with the information from, but also could be hard to know what to write down.
Photographs and then keeping your photographs organized. This method is much easier now since phones have cameras in them, and we take photos of so many daily events.

What firsts do you wish you had documented? Lasts? How are you documenting them now?

Trusting in Jesus,
Teri

“They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness,
and shall sing of thy righteousness.” Psalm 145:7

Sidewalk Chalk Shares the Gospel

This was posted on November 7, 2018 by Sarah Maxwell.

Last month, during Aunties’ time, my sisters took some of the littles to a path well-frequented, especially in the mornings by exercise folks and kids going to school.

Using chalk, Mary shared the Gospel through Scripture. Even the kids got involved with drawing things, and they were so excited! They all stopped to pray for those who would read it before leaving.

May we each make the most of every opportunity to share Jesus!

Love,
Sarah