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You are here: Home / Archives for Books

Books

Fearless Faith – It’s book release day!

Books, Diary

So I have a new book out today. In case you’re keeping count at home, YES, this is my 74th book to come out in the last ten months. Some days I wonder why I have felt so tired and burned out and all out of words and then I remember I WROTE THREE BOOKS IN ONE YEAR. I realize this is probably significantly less books than Francine Pascal wrote in a year during the height of the Sweet Read More

So what’s everyone reading?

Books

Y'all. This is a big week for me. I mean, for Harry and Meghan. It's the big wedding and in true wedding form, you have some relatives that have decided now is a good time to act crazy banana pants. Royalty. They're just like us. Except with easier access to tiaras. The sad truth is I probably won't even get to watch the wedding until Monday morning because Caroline has a soccer Read More

Book releases and ovens that won’t come clean

Another day, Books

Listen. I don't even know what to say about how y'all have supported Everyday Holy. It means the world to Richard and me. I mean, look what you made happen. I posted that picture on Instagram along with this caption about Richard wanting to rename the devotional book Richard Calling since Jesus Calling is pretty much the bestselling devotional book of all time. And then look Read More

Everyday Holy

Books, Diary

So I have a new book out today. And it's weird because I keep forgetting about it. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I feel like I was just doing all this with Church of the Small Things and now here I am again. Or maybe it's because it's mid-April and we're just in that crazy downhill run to the end of the school year. Or maybe it's because Cardi B. is pregnant and I'm just focusing on Read More

I’ll take “Things I never thought would happen for $500, Alex”

Books

So I never really thought I would write a Bible study. Not because I don't read the Bible and love Jesus and all of that, but more that it just seemed really difficult to write questions and find practical applications and to feel remotely qualified to teach about anything. I am a girl who never won a Bible drill in Sunday School and still can't find Habakkuk or Zephaniah in my Bible on the Read More

Welcome to the world, Church of the Small Things

Books, Diary

Before I say anything else today, I have to express how deeply heartbroken I am for Las Vegas and those who were tragically killed and those who are fighting for their lives in the hospital. My prayers go out to them and their loved ones as we all struggle to wrap our minds around this tragedy. I hadn't heard what happened until I arrived at the T.V. studio after I'd dropped Caroline off at Read More

An excerpt from me about Piper and Mabel

Books, Diary

Merry Church of the Small Things Eve! Is that a real thing? Only if you care. And apparently I do because I got home from church yesterday and spent the entire afternoon cleaning my house from top to bottom. This is not normally how I spend my Sunday afternoons. But it's like I was nesting before my new baby arrives. I can't explain this phenomenon except that somewhere it's triggered Read More

An excerpt from Gulley about Autocorrect

Books, Diary

It is now officially just one week out from the release of Church of the Small Things, which means I am doing a lot of deep breathing and hiding out in my house. I've had October 3, 2017 circled on my calendar and by that I mean that I've had it marked on my iPhone calendar for almost two years so it's a little surreal that it's almost actually here. I guess part of me thought maybe Jesus might Read More

An excerpt by Bops about Bops and Caroline

Books, Diary

Today we have an excerpt read by my dad, also known as Bops. He decided before Caroline was born that his grandpa name would be Pops, but Caroline pronounced it as Bops when she was a little over a year old and so Bops it is. He is the best. Also, this is a picture from about four years ago that is exhibit A of how much they favor each other. There are still a few signed, first Read More

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Who is Melanie?

Melanie ShankleMy name is Melanie and, in some strange twist of fate, I’m also known as Big Mama because I started this blog in July of 2006 when my daughter, Caroline, was not quite three years old and I was in the process of convincing her that BIG girls use the potty and BIG girls don’t have pacifiers, thus she thought BIG was the highest compliment in the land and began referring to me as BIG MAMA.Read More

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The Latest on Instagram

The fish we caught today were all bigger than my h The fish we caught today were all bigger than my hat and, frankly, that’s hard to do.
A few nights ago, Perry told me to come look at th A few nights ago, Perry told me to come look at the sky just as the sun had set. This picture doesn’t do it justice, but we couldn’t believe how bright Venus and Jupiter were next to the moon in the dusky pink-blue sky. In full disclosure, we didn’t know which planets they were until I went inside and googled it because we are amateur astronomers at best. ⁣
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Anyway, I took a quick photo because I wanted to capture it. And over the last several days, I keep thinking about those planets and how God spoke them into existence. We live in a culture that often wants to make God smaller in an effort to make him more palatable or relatable, but I find lately that I am most comforted by his magnitude and his holiness. When I look at this photo it’s a tangible reminder that he holds all things together even when there are days it feels like things are falling apart. ⁣
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When we pray for peace, we’re praying to the one who placed the stars in the sky and knows them by name. When we search for wisdom, we’re looking to the one who sees all things. When we need joy, we’re asking the one who created laughter. When we face circumstances that seem impossible, we’re calling on the one whose robe fills the throne room of heaven. When we have a battle ahead of us, we have a rider called Faithful and True who fights for us. ⁣
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So lift your head and remember that the keeper of the stars doesn’t overlook a single detail of your life. It’s in his hands, right next to Venus and Jupiter. ✨
Mabel believes patrolling the fence line is her fu Mabel believes patrolling the fence line is her full time job. And she takes it seriously. 🐾💕
🌟🤠𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗘𝗜𝗡 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗦 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬🤠🌟⁣
⁣🌟COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER WAS SELECTED🌟
Y’all. Rodeo Season is indeed a thing and if you want to do it right, you are going to need some fabulous boots. I’m so excited to partner with the girls @frauleinboots to giveaway the following to one lucky winner:⁣
⁣
✨ one pair of Fraulein boots (winner’s choice)⁣
✨ a Fraulein t-shirt⁣
✨ a Fraulein bandana⁣
✨ a Fraulein rope hat⁣
⁣
🌟Here’s how you enter for a chance to win:⁣
1. Follow @melanieshankle and @frauleinboots 
2. Like this post⁣
3. Tag a friend in the comments (one per comment) Every comment counts as a separate entry. ⁣
⁣
Giveaway closes at noon central time on Friday 2/10/23 and ONE winner will be selected at random using a computer generator. Winner will be notified through DM and announced in stories. ⁣
⁣
𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗞! 🌟🤠
Had the best time last night speaking at the @fede Had the best time last night speaking at the @federationtexasaggiemoms dinner. So grateful for all they do for Texas A&M students. ⁣
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There’s not much better than being in a room full of Aggies. Thanks and Gig’em. 👍🏻❤️
2022 was a year of seeing so much of God’s goodn 2022 was a year of seeing so much of God’s goodness. Like most years, there were highs and lows, but also so much joy and laughter with the people I love the most. 💕⁣
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We’re ready for you, 2023! 🎉🥂⁣
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“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.⁣
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord.⁣
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16: 5-8

The Latest on Twitter

Melanie Shankle @bigmama ·

Well, that was anti-climatic.

Reply on Twitter 1612659662435803139 Retweet on Twitter 1612659662435803139 1 Like on Twitter 1612659662435803139 43 Twitter 1612659662435803139
Melanie Shankle @bigmama ·

Wow, Georgia! What a comeback!!

Reply on Twitter 1609414435394965506 Retweet on Twitter 1609414435394965506 Like on Twitter 1609414435394965506 48 Twitter 1609414435394965506

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