The Last Snowman, by JC Little, the Animated Woman

I'm stretching my comfort zone today. After all, it is my birthday. I'm entitled to a little something new today. Today, aside from turning forty-wonderful, I'm writing a sponsored post. I know. All the things we say we will never do. Just call me flexible.

BlogHer 2013 was a really comfortable place for me. I talked to whoever, went wherever, and had whatever experiences came my way. One of those experiences that came my way was a ride from the convention center back to the hotel in some fancy car provided by whatever car company was sponsoring the conference (I honestly can't remember. Sorry, car company). I jumped in that car because it meant I could ride with JC Little, the Animated Woman and have her captive in conversation for at least 15 minutes. It was a terrific 15 minutes, even if I did think we might die a couple of times. Big city drivers. Dang.

None of that has anything to do with anything really, except to say, I do love JC Little. When she announced that her new book was available for the Kindle, I immediately clicked over and bought it. Because she is awesome. Also, because it was only $3, and I could afford that. So much awesome for so little money. Then, when she announced that she would be doing a blog tour, my hand shot up like Horseshack, and I shouted, "Ooh! Ooh! Me! Me!"

I thought that I would write about my two littles and the book. It's about a snowman, and we just had a snow and built our first snowman together.

The boys do love the book. Christopher especially liked the pages with no words which he could narrate himself. They marveled at having enough snow to build a SEVEN FOOT SNOWMAN. "You mean taller than DADDY?" Yes, boys, that snowman was even taller than Daddy.

But after sharing the paperback version of the book with my boys, I have to go back to the unsponsored first time I read the book on my iPad Kindle app. Mallory walked behind me, and I called her over to show her the book. She sat down next to me on the couch, and we read it together.

She's about to turn 18 and leave for college. I am so proud of the woman she's become, and I feel like she has become one of my best friends. But I still see that little girl who has been part of my family for almost eight years now. I see her at the table, coloring with her little brothers, or we run into the backyard with our pvc pipe bows and arrow for a round of Hunger Games, and I realize that these moments are short. She will be gone soon, starting her own life, and we will be but bystanders, cheering her on.

Our gift to her will be the promises we have kept. The support we have given her. The love we share. 

JC wrote this book on a promise to her daughter. It's a great story, but it's also a great reminder that even the passing promises we make to our children matter. 

So. What do I want from you? I want you to enter a giveaway so that you have a chance to experience this wonderful story too. You will receive a paperback copy of the fantastic book, The Last Snowman, by JC Little. You will also receive from JC herself, a mug with an illustration from the book. The giveaway will run until March 2, and I'll announce the winner on March 3. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment in which I can reply to you. Remember, my blog is archaic, and if you don't sign in or leave an email address, or some way in which I can contact you, then I won't be able to let you know if you win.

Sponsors of this blog tour are:

Dot & Lil - luxurious bath & beauty and skincare products with a fresh, young feel, handmade in their Montreal studio. Dot & Lil are designing a custom soap just for The LAST Snowman blog tour - Limited edition "Hot Chocolate Swirl" soap! 

Borion - a world leader in homeopathic medicines for the whole family. (I love this company so much already!)

P.S. If you don't win the giveaway, the Kindle version of the book is still only $3, and you should totally splurge for yourself.

Stars

Three years ago today, I lost my daddy. Two years ago yesterday, I lost my best friend.

Here's the thing. The anniversaries are hard in a way. In another way though, they are really good. I look at the pictures. I talk about them. I think about them. And the pictures? Are of happy times. The stories are funny. The memories are good.

Every anniversary is another year that we've made it when it seemed impossible that we wouldn't. We move forward and learn what it means to have somebody live on in our hearts.

I used to want to punch people in the face when they would say something like that. It's one of those things you have to get to yourself. Most days I'm there. Most days I can go through the pictures and think of Daddy and Susan and smile instead of cry. Do I miss them? Sure. Do I still want to call them all the time? Of course. But I can't. So be it.

This is what I have. A lot of wonderful memories. The knowledge that I had a daddy who loved me more than I could ever know and a best friend who always saw the good in me when I couldn't. And I had them for over 30 years. Insert cliches here. They are all true.

One thing I do is attach myself to songs that really hit me in the gut. And I sing them. Over and over. It's therapeutic for me. This isn't meant to be a sad trip down memory lane. It's just something I've been singing lately that makes me think of Susan. And anytime I get a chance to just sit and think about her is good for me.

Many thanks to Kevin who did everything but the piano and vocals. He even used Pro Tools which he hates. He's awesome.