This contest is officially closed.

Here are the winners!

#3 BeckyBi6

#43 Kirsten Wilson

#75 DesertRose5173

#130 CarmaDutra

#145 LJ

Please send me your address by emailing me at mary @ marydemuth.com

Congratulations!

I’m happy to say that my latest book (it’s small and cute) arrived in the mail this week from Harvest House Publishers. It’s called 150 Quick Questions to Get Your Kids Talking and you can order it here if you’re so inclined.

Let me tell you the story of this book. We were on a family vacation to Colorado on our way home. I had my Alphasmart with me (before a dear friend graciously gave me her old laptop). As we drove, I thought about the way we spent our time around the dinner table–a pretty typical way–where we shared one high for the day and one low. Although this is a terrific thing to do, I felt something was missing from our conversation. The high/low became rote for us. So as we drove miles and miles across the desolate part of Texas, I brainstormed several hundred questions I wanted to ask my kids (or thought they might want to ask me). I typed them out on my little device, then uploaded them when I came home.

There, I printed the long list of questions, cut them into strips, folded them, then put them in a box in the center of our dining table. Every day, we took turns with who would reach in and grab a question. The results? Read on…

• We had more lively discussions.
• We got to learn things about our kids we didn’t know.
• Our children understood where we were coming from as people, not just parents.
• We understood our children as people too, not just as our kids.
• Sometimes we were surprised at our kids’ responses.
  
• We laughed more.
  
• We discovered more prayer requests.
• We helped our kids navigate tough questions, difficult relationships, and frustrating school experiences–things that wouldn’t have come to light without the questions.
• We saw the individuality of each child.
• Dinners became a time of insight.
• We lingered around the table more.
• We deepened our relationships.
• When others joined us around the table, we had a unique way to invite them into our lives by asking them a question too.

The family table is, unfortunately, dying out. This little book is my way of inviting you back there, to woo you to spend good, quality time with your kids. 150 Quick Questions is an affordable little tool that can get you started in a new direction.

I’m going to giveaway 2 books to 5 winners. If you’re one of the winners, you’ll receive two copies of the book, one for you and one to give away to another family. It’s my way of spreading the conversational joy in homes across the nation.

There are several ways you can enter. The more you enter, the better your chances. I’ll close this on Wednesday January 26th at Midnight CST. The only way to enter is to comment below. Here are ways you can enter multiple comments:

1. Comment here, sharing a creative way you would market this book to families. (I need help!)
2. Sign up for Inside Renewal. (Click under the Missing Chapter of Thin Places link on the upper right hand side.) If you’re already a subscriber, comment separately and tell me, for example: “I already subscribe to Inside Renewal and it’s utterly changed my life.” or “I just subscribed to Inside Renewal and I’m oh-so-excited!”
3. Become one of my peeps on Facebook here. (Click the “like” button.) Let me know you did that in the comments section, something like, “I’m forever grateful to connect with you on Facebook.” If you already “like” me (Hint, you don’t actually have to like me personally…), you can simply let me know you’re already a fan.
   
4. Tweet about this fun contest (yes it’s fun!) by using the hashtag #150QuickQuestions. Then let me know here that you did it below in the comment section.
   
5. Send an email to some families who might enjoy this book. (Here’s a link to buy: http://amzn.to/gUCzuQ) Copy me on the email (mary@marydemuth.com). Then share here that you did so. (Scroll down to the bottom of this post for some verbiage about the book that you can send to your friends. It’s marked with an * and in bold black text.)

I look forward to seeing who my five winners will be. And if you’d like to start a conversation revolution in your home tonight, scroll down for three questions to get you started.

*Mary DeMuth, author of Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God, was tired of family dialogue based only on schedules, chores, or bedtime negotiations. Inspired by Jesus’ meaningful interactions with others, Mary shaped this great resource to help parents develop discussion skills, nurture relational talks with kids, and build strong families in the process.

To keep the chats going, Mary offers 150 engaging conversation starters to reconnect families at dinner time, while in the car, at bedtime, or anytime that two or more are gathered.

• What has been the happiest day of your life so far?
• How did you sense God’s presence this week?
• If you could give your best friend any gift, what would it be? Why?

Creative questions and guidance help families explore faith, compassion, memories, and hopes. Parents, grandparents, teachers, youth leaders, and kids will discover the entertainment and connection that unfolds once the talking begins.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Related posts:

1. Have 9 Days of Meaningful Conversation around your dinner table! Free!
2. Win 150 Conversation Starters!
3. I dream of a long, long table
4. If I could write the third novel, here’s how it would start.
5. She dreamed of writing horse books for girls. And she did it!

Be Sociable, Share!

•