It’s a joy for me to be here with all of you today and especially with my dear friend, Anne Payne. Our friendship goes back many years, to those times when we were newly married and then when both of us had the joy of welcoming a baby into our homes. Now gray hairs and wrinkles (let’s call them character lines) have shown up and my three sons are grown—and had the nerve to get married and leave home!
Wow, the time zoomed by. And that brings me to what I want to talk about with you today. When my oldest son was a baby, an elderly couple stopped me at the mall and said, “Honey, enjoy that little one. They grow up so fast.” Turns out she was right—and now I’m that (ahem) old lady saying that to moms and dads.
That message really hit home one Sunday morning when my pastor dedicated a baby at church. As the parents turned to leave the platform, Rev. Sexton said, “Don’t forget—you have just 18 summers. Take time to make some memories!” Whew, those words slammed into me, particularly since my youngest son was getting married.
Eighteen years sounds like a long time, but we really have just 18 summers before our children leave home. Eighteen short summers to instill character and values, to make memories, to savor the sweetness of the moments.
So you’ll understand why I’m excited to tell you about the Just 18 Summers® brand of products and resources that I’m developing for parents. My Just 18 Summers novel (co-authored with Rene Gutteridge) has just released from Tyndale. It features the stories of four families at different stages of parenting. (More info is available on our website.) The book has the poignancy you’d expect but we’re hearing from our readers that they also love the unexpected discovery that it’s really funny. Just 18 Summers would make a great Mother’s Day gift!
I hope you’ll also check out our parenting blog at www.just18summers.com. We have a new post each Monday-Friday and our staff of 18 writers brings a wealth of great content ranging from home décor to recipes, craft projects to organizational tips, devotionals, object lessons, practical advice, and so much more.
The screenplay is written and we are working to raise the funding for a film. Other plans include music, a complete line of books, and other products.
Just 18 Summers® isn't a guilt-trip. It's a gentle reminder to slow down and savor the moments, to make some memories together, and to instill character and other important traits in our children. It’s a wake-up call that our children won’t always be there, to enjoy each precious season with them—because we can't go back and rewind yesterday, no matter how much we'd like to do that.
In the words of that elderly couple from so long ago, “Enjoy that little one. They grow up so fast.” How many summers do YOU have left, and what are you going to do with them?
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Thanks, Michelle, for sharing about this fabulous project you've been working on. I've been to the website and oh my, it is fabulous! I hope y'all will visit soon. Be sure and have a large cup of your favorite beverage on hand because there's lots to discover, both for parents AND grandparents.
Tyndale House Publishers is offering a print copy of Just 18 Summers to one of my blog readers. You must leave a comment for Michelle below. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. US ONLY!!! Ends April 11.
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This would make a great Mother's day gift! Loved the parenting blog too! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Courtney. It WOULD make a great Mother's Day gift! Tell your friends and family about the book and the blog.
DeleteIt sounds like a great book! I would love to win it but even if I don't win, I'll get the book to read! Thank you Anne for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kimberly! I hope you'll enjoy it!
DeleteI have read several of Rene's books so I am really looking forward to reading this one!
ReplyDeleteRene's an amazing talent and I was so glad to have her on board with me for this book.
DeleteThe perfect mama gift for a baby shower. We all need this reminder. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHeather, it would make a great gift for baby showers. You're right. We all need this reminder. I hope parents will realize that now so they can look back with memories instead of regrets.
DeleteJUST 18 SUMMERS sounds like a wonderful book and I can't wait to visit the website! As a mother of three young children, I am reminded daily of how quickly time is passing! I know I will love this book! Thank you so much for the opportunity to win a copy.
ReplyDeletetexaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Britney, I hope you'll enjoy the book and the blog. Squeeze the moments with your children. They go by so fast!
DeleteThis sounds wonderful. Wish it had been around before my 18 summers were past. But I bet it's a great reminder for grandkids, as well. Thanks for sharing. I'll check out the website and book.
ReplyDeleteTami, I think the grandbabies are growing up even faster!
DeleteWhat an awesome title. Will definitely check out the book even if I don't win!. Blessings, Diane
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Delete“Don’t forget—you have just 18 summers. Take time to make some memories!”
ReplyDeleteWow! We are ten years past our 18 summers with our youngest ~ look forward to phone calls amid her life moments. Six years of college after the 18 summers and four years now of discovery. I enjoy listening and prayer requests.
I am over to your website, just18summers, and Anne, what a great Spring top for Stuff & Nonsense!
Thanks for the review and put me down for a Tyndale win ~ Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
Thanks, Lane. Can you believe how fast those years zoomed by?
DeleteSome of my fondest and best memories are from my first eighteen summers, now a long, long time past. The book looks great and definitely a good gift. Enjoyed the post a lot.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. I'm glad you have those memories!
DeleteMy favorite Memories of Summers gone by are ones that I spent at the beach. What I wouldn't give to go back and re-live them all over again.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing is that you have those memories tucked into your heart. That's the beauty of good memories. They stay with us.
DeleteI wish I had read this when my son was little. I can use this with my grandkids. fishingjan[at]aol[dot]com
ReplyDeleteJan, you're exactly right. I'm using this with my grandchildren as well.
DeleteWhat a neat book! My children are grown now and I can totally relate. Those 18 summers went by way too fast! Enjoy your children while they are young is such good advice!!
ReplyDeletepbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I hear you! It seems like you just blink once or twice and they're grown. That's why I'm encouraging parents to slow down and to enjoy those precious moments.
DeletePlease enter me. Looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteYes, the 18 summers go by so fast. It will be great to someday be a grandmother, if God has that in His plans. It will be another chance given more experience and wisdom to see a young one grow up. Looking forward to seeing all the related product line.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Janice Garey
Jsmithg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Please enter me!! Sounds like a fabulous read♥
ReplyDeleteThat phrase, 18 summers, has intention written all over it. Summers were my favorite time as a child since my dad, a pastor would take sometimes a whole month or at least 2 weeks at a time to vacation. We always traveled to California and almost every year stayed with my aunt at Mount Hermon. Wonderful times in the lovely redwoods and the Santa Cruz beach.
ReplyDeleteI tried to give my kids adventuresome summers even though I was a single working mom. Once they said to me, "Mom, can we do something different than going to the beach today?" Oh, my, it was cheap!
Thanks for the opportunity to enter this contest!
Just 18 Summers sounds like a wonderful book. Thank you for this giveaway.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Great review and love the projects you are working on. Can't wait to visit the site and see everything. I would love to read Just 18 Summers. My granddaughter is 16, going to be a sophomore this next year. I can hardly believe it. I can remember like yesterday how it felt to hold her when she was first born. Her brother will be 13, he's so tall and so thin from growing so fast. And most of all, where did the last 41 years go since my son was born. Memories!!!
ReplyDelete