Shrovetide Celebrating
February 19, 2007 · by Christine
NOTE added 2/22: All the books have now been requested by folks and are on their way in the mail today! Thanks to everyone who participated. I love the image of this great circle of resources flowing freely between us.
Shrovetide began yesterday and are these last three days before Lent begins ending with Mardi Gras. It is a time of feasting and celebrating before we move into a desert time of retreat. I have been thinking a lot about gifts. In the photo above are several items that have been gifted to me by blog friends in recent weeks. As I was sorting through things this weekend, I started making a pile of these gifts and soon realized I had quite a treasure trove and my heart swelled with gratitude. There is the wonderfully creative clipboard that Me of Those Northern Skies sent me, the two great books by the Iona Community from Rich of Pilgrim Path, the beautiful Breath CD from Trish of Story Midwife (I have several of her wonderful albums, but I won this one in a contest she had), the juicy Modern Mosaic book Rachelle of Magpie Girl gave me, the two stunning notecards Kayce of Diamonds in the Sky With Lucy brought me when she came over for tea (with photos by her very talented husband), the marvelous wood carving tools that Bette at B’Oki Journal sent me (who first got me hooked on rubber stamp carving), and two lovely books that another reader of this blog sent me with a very thoughtful note (thanks Meg!). I believe when we don’t hold things too tightly we release our grip on the world enough to welcome in all kinds of new gifts and possibilities. This world of blogging has opened up new friendships and gifts (both tangible and intangible) I might never have received otherwise. So this is part of my pre-Lenten feasting – celebrating the abundance in my life.
Back in December I did two book giveaways as a way of clearing out some space. This weekend, as part of my Lenten preparations I did some spring cleaning and found a few more things to give away. Read over the list, select one or two titles that interest you, then leave a comment with your request. I will email you for your mailing address and send it to you by media mail. I will try and go in and cross off the requests as they go. If you aren’t sure about a title, feel free to look up the description at Amazon.
Life and Holiness by Thomas Merton
Signs of Grace: Sacraments in Poetry and Prose edited by David Brown and David Fuller
Signatures of Grace: Catholic Writers on the Sacraments edited by Thomas Grady and Paula Huston
Becoming Human by Jean Vanier
Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton
Questions of Heaven by Gretel Ehrlich
Sacred Passages: Bringing the Sacraments to Life by Bert Ghezzi
Organic Spirituality: A Sixfold Path for Contemplative Living by Nicki Verploegen Vandergrift
Let Evening Come by Jane Kenyon
Divine Representations: Postmodernism and Spirituality edited by Ann Astell
Getting a Life: How to Find Your True Vocation by Renee LaReau
More Making Books by Hand by Peter and Donna Thomas
Gentle Yoga Kit by Stephen Cope
Letters of a Portuguese Nun by Mirian Cyr (historical mystery)
Shipping is on me and I’ll even mail books to my blog friends in other countries.
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
Posted in Fun |









February 19th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Its so lovely you are doing this again Christine! I would love Sacred Passages: Bringing the Sacraments to Life by Bert Ghezzi and Letters of a Portuguese Nun by Mirian Cyr : ) Its funny, last night I was just looking through the lovely cookbook you had sent before–I can’t help but realize I too am very grateful for being blessed from some wonderful folks in blogworld : )
February 19th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I have a friend who would love the Jane Kenyon book…could I regift it after I read it?
February 19th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Of course, I can it is all part of holding on lightly to things.
February 19th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
They’re yours Wendy, yes the blogworld really does connect us to wonderful souls we might otherwise never meet!
Absolutely Me, as you figured out!
February 19th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I would love the Gentle Yoga. What a lovely thing to do, Christine. I just got rid of 72 books but sold them on E-Bay. Next time…I am going to follow your example!
February 19th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
It’s yours Suz. It’s really fun to give stuff away!
February 19th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Thank you! You have really brightened my day!
February 19th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
I would like Getting a Life - I am in the midst of a midlife search for a new and truer calling and reading anything I can get my hands on that speaks to this place I find myself in. What a kind and generous thing for you to do!
February 19th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Ruth Anne, I would be delighted to send you something to help you listen for and respond to this new calling!
February 19th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Christine
I’m interested in the book about making books by hand, which I enjoy doing.
Peace,
Milton
February 20th, 2007 at 11:48 am
What a great offer. Any one of the books you have left would be of interest……
I have written about shrovetide in both of my blogs these days.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
The book is your Milton. I hope to get to the post office this afternoon.
Britt-Arnhild, why don’t you select two and email me with your mailing address? It would be fun to ship them overseas.
Blessings, Christine
February 21st, 2007 at 3:08 am
What fun Christine! I am so blessed by Leah (desertspiritsfire.blogspot.com and other blogs) and Trish to have “discovered” this whole blogosphere. My restless heart had been seeking for new space, new friends after many years of involvement in discussion forums. It is through them that I found you
The book, Signs of Grace: Sacraments in Poetry and Prose sounds intriguing and perfect to accompany me in my journey to Immersion! –Karla