The Great Blog Train #8 and Giveaway!

 

All Aboard!!!

The Great Blog Train

A monthly blog hop departing from your online train station on the first Wednesday of every month!

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/BlogTrainFinal.jpg" /></a>
  

Train Facts

I wanted to share with you a true story about my grandmother (Sophie) & my great grandmother (Sophie's mom Dorothea). The Avoidable Train Ride True story - written by Angie Ouellette-Tower It was near the end of World War II and Sophia's family had been forced to move here and there numerous times over the past few years.  They travelled by horse and buggy, on foot and even packed like sardines in train boxcars.  Sophia started the war living in a small village in Yugoslavia but now found herself in Oberheit, Austria with her 3 children and her parents but she also found herself husband-less.  She hoped that her dear husband was still alive but due to wartime constraints she had not heard from him in months.   A truck with a loud speaker just rode through Oberheit informing the townspeople that this heavenly mountain village would soon be a battle zone!  Everyone had to pack their bags and be on the last train, leaving in less than 1 hour.   Sophie was frantic! - As, she had done many times before - she packed for an unknown destination.  Her daughter Lydia was very helpful; at 11 years old she was packing for herself.  Sophie was also thankful for son Willy (soon to be 13);  he and Sophie's dad were occupying Elfie who wasn't quite 2 years old yet.  Sophia noticed that her parent's bedroom door was closed and she knew that her mom was doing the packing in there.    Sophie darted back and forth, opening cupboards and grabbing necessary items.  Every time she rushed to the other side of the room she passed her mom's closed door and heard the clock ticking - tic tock tic tock tic tock.  How much time did they have left?  There was only one train leaving! - no second chances!!  Back and forth, hurry!  Up and down, dash!  Open and close, rush! Just as Sophie had almost finished packing,  the bedroom door opened and her mom appeared in the doorway empty handed.  Sophie's mouth dropped in shock but then her mom spoke and said: "I have just been praying and God made it very clear to me that we are NOT supposed to get on that train." The family was used to "Oma's" prayer announcements and trusted that her answer was truly from God.  Sophie stopped rushing around and went to the window.  Outside many people were scurrying by with baggage in hand heading toward the train.  Sophie sat down and could barely swallow with that lump of worry in her throat.  She thought "What have we done?!  Our only way to safety has just hooted into the distance."  Then she calmed herself by thinking: "Trust God and obey."  Just as she finished telling herself to calm down and trust God another truck came through town announcing that the Americans were coming & that everyone in town were planning on surrendering.  They hung white sheets outside the windows indicating their submission.  They were safe without getting on that train!! They later found out that the last train that left town that day had been blown up by land mines that had been placed on the track! -   If they had taken that train that day they would have all been killed or severely injured!    God answers prayer & we must trust & obey!

___________________________________________________________________________

New this month!! 
The Great Blog Train's first Giveaway!!!

2 bars homemade lye soap & 3 containers of Stone Cottage Kisses Lip Balm!!
by Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures 

 

There are many ways to enter & then don't forget to link up to the train below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

___________________________________________________________________________ 

 

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/search/label/Train/" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOdULgZ0E7KBkYEcG0W2VP0OtI5lDRIzl03hDrBsFTwMGkpqUThTMmawEtL7M4pMKBdBcx8eGuk_wY7KxS3w4A4bX8hYLn6ZcGVznPauygfWZLKUHKSpYW9QbLzMbgcSJToSQOEFYqEfT/s1600/BlogTrainFinal+featured+caboose.png"/></a>

 

Remember to join the fun even if you are running a little late.  The last entry will receive the Caboose Feature! 

July's caboose and featured blog happens to be:

 
 
Nicole at  Life with My 3 Boys!  Congratulations!

Here's what Nicole says about her blog:  I'm a SAHM to my 3 Boys. I'll be posting about motherhood, breastfeeding, random thoughts, recipes, crafts, having a child with learning disabilities, crohns disease, health/beauty and much more.
_________________________________________________________________________ 

 

1. Follow all three of the hostesses in at least one of the following ways: GFC, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Linky, Networked Blogs, or Facebook. Then leave us a comment telling us how you followed so that we can come back & visit you! The hostesses are:

Angie           Marci            Helen

 

2. Now link up your family friendly blog to the train...please only use your homepage, NOT a specific post! As you see below, we are quite serious about this rule:

3. And last, but not least, connect to the boxcar in front of you (the blog in the linky just before you). Stop by that person's blog, have a look around and leave a comment letting them know that you stopped in!

Now that you have your ticket you are

ready to board the rest of the train!

OPTIONAL:You may grab our “Great Blog Train” button and post it on your sidebar or link page.
Also, feel free to spread the word – the more the merrier!

Remember to check all 3 Hostesses Blogs to see who was featured from last month. Click here to see: My July Favorites from the seventh Great Blog Train.

 

 

Linked to:
Adorned From Above
Thursday Favorite Things

_______________________________________________________________________

Please checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!!

LuAnne from "Winterpast Moments" has a wonderful blog full of the most scrumptious recipes you'll ever see, amazing pictures, and faith filled inspiration!! 

(Please click on the ad above)