Cross Decor

March’s Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller

This may seem a little late, but our First Friday Freebie winner has been a bit under the weather.  Now that she’s feeling better, she was able to send me a photo.  Let’s meet –

Vikki from Boonville, Missouri!

Congratulations, Vikki!  I know the symbolism in this freebie means a lot to you and that you will find a great place for it in your home or office.   

Vikki’s name was drawn at random after she commented on the freebie post as directed in the post.  I do have to ask you to go to a tiny bit of effort each month in order to prevent spam and make sure you’re on your toes and paying attention.  Vikki is a repeat winner for that very reason –  she is paying attention!

Don’t think you’re too far away to enter.  I send freebies anywhere in the continental U. S.

As long as you’re an email subscriber, you can comment as directed on my post on the first Friday of each month.  That is all any subscriber needs to do to enter to win.  If you’d like to see other past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original First Friday Freebie offer for the one Vikki won here. 

If you’re reading this and haven’t become an email subscriber yet, please do that today.  Hopefully, my freebies, not to mention the stories, recipes and other great content, have enticed you to do that.   

NOTE:  Subscribe with an email you intend to keep and check the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of notifying winners.  If it isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Computers, tablets, smartphones – they each give this blog a different appearance, but you can easily find the subscription area in the menu under “CONTACT”.  Confirm your subscription when the email arrives.  If you’ve don’t receive a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribers get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Again, comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies enable me to reach more people.  I need you to help me share all the fun with your friends and family.  When you share on MeWe, Facebook, Instagram, X, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free. 

Coming up on April 5th, you’ll see the new Freebie.  Enter to win that day.  A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight.  Then, check your email in the days following. 

Smartphone reminders help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

Subscribers, be ready to enter to win on Friday, April 5th, 2024.

I have tulips blooming all up and down my front walk.  This is always a special time because I feel like it makes my house look happy after the long, drab winter.  It may be my favorite part of spring.  It’s less than two weeks till planting time where we live.  What are your spring gardening plans?  Leave a comment and tell me about the happiest place in your yard! 

March Starts with a Freebie!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 6 Comments

If you live where there are four seasons (and in the Northern Hemisphere), the month of March brings hope, warmth in spurts and newness of life.  To add to all this, it also brings a First Friday Freebie!

Spring, unless this is just some sort of teaser, seems to be arriving early this year.  Celebrating the Passover and Resurrection will also arrive early this year, so I’m not waiting to offer this Freebie until April.  Let’s take a look. 

Beaded Wooden Wall Cross www.midweststoryteller.com

This wooden cross wall hanging is a Hobby Lobby find and I love the three-dimensional look.  It measures approximately 14” X 7.5” including the bead tassel at the bottom. Smaller wooden beads also cross in the center over the cut-out area.  If you have a wall that is wallpapered or painted in a happy color, this decoration will really make things pop. The tassel, cut-out and 1” depth of the piece creates shadow and movement.   

To enter to win the beaded cross, all you need to do is hum a tune and “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I Will Cling to the Old Rugged Cross!” You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, March 1st, 2024.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

No one will get to enjoy all the great things here on the blog unless you share it with your friends and family through all your social media, so if you like an idea, recipe or story you see here, be sure to share and if you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, March 1st, by leaving a comment which says, “I Will Cling to the Old Rugged Cross!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

This month, if you are a believer, it is time to turn the eyes of your heart toward Calvary, tune the ears of your spirit to the Voice of the One who loves you most and set your feet on a path to share the Good News with someone who might be waiting to hear it. 

You don’t have to be a believer to enjoy the humor, stories, reviews, creative ideas and recipes here on the blog, but I do share from my heart and unashamedly let you know who I am at times. God has blessed me and my family immeasurably and this glorious season is the most special and holy time of the year for us.

Blessings to all!

‘Tis a Freebie of Love!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 5 Comments

The focus in February is always on love.  Rather than grumble because it gets commercialized, why not be grateful for the reminder?  You don’t have to have a “significant other” in order to feel the love or share the love.  Look around.  Someone in your life needs to feel special and know that you care.

I’d love to make all my readers feel special, but, alas, as there is only one First Friday Freebie, I’ll have to make do with one of you.  Let’s take a look at it. 

Love Cross Freebie www.midweststoryteller.com

This cross makes a statement about the One who is love.  While it will fit in nicely with all your reds and pinks if you decorate for Valentine’s Day, it’s green-on-white color scheme will take you right on into spring and celebrating the Resurrection which, by the way, falls early this year in March.  The metal wording gives texture and shine.  It measures approximate 8” X 5” and does not have a hanger on the back.  However, it is an inch in depth so it is meant to be a shelf sitter without tipping over. I thought many of you would enjoy this great  Hobby Lobby find. 

To enter to win the Love Cross, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “Send me the love!” You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, February 2nd, 2023.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

No one will get to enjoy all the great things here on the blog unless you share it with your friends and family through all your social media, so if you like an idea, recipe or story you see here, be sure to share and if you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, February 2nd, by leaving a comment which says, “Send me the love!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

One of the great things about a February is that even if you don’t care to keep it for yourself, you can spread the love by presenting it as a thoughtful Valentine to someone you care about.  You can be that person who lets them know they are special just when they might be needing to hear it.    

Speaking of love, you know I love Smuffy.  Have you read each and every episode of my “Life With Smuffy”?  I love and sharing those with all of you and filling your lives with joy and laughter.

Hear That?  It’s the Sound of a Spring Freebie!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 6 Comments

I don’t know what your winter has been like.  Maybe you’ve had the worst one on record and had to dig your car out of a snow drift twice daily.  If so, I hate to rub this in, but we’ve been having the mildest winter I can recall in a long time.  I know, I know, this is the Midwest and it ain’t over till it’s over and we have three weeks to go, but this has been glorious for those, like me, who’d rather the season be done away with if we didn’t need it to kill the bugs.

So, as we listen to the spring peepers outside and I watch the tulips stretching their necks all up and down my front walk, let’s celebrate March with a First Friday Freebie. 

Saved by Grace Wooden Cross www.midweststoryteller.com

I almost saved this one for next month as we look forward to Resurrection Day on April 9th, but I just knew you’d be decorating early and this simple confession of faith is definitely something that suits all seasons.  “Saved by Grace” is stamped on this white wooden cross that measures slightly less than 6” X 8”.  It’s a bit distressed and the carved horizontal grooves give the appearance of shiplap.  It is thick enough to stand without falling over easily and also has a hanging notch on the back. Another great Hobby Lobby find that I think most of my readers would enjoy.

To enter to win the “Saved by Grace” cross, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I live a grace-filled life!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, March 3rd, 2023.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

My Life with Smuffy, recipes, freebies, fun things to make you laugh, reviews, creative ideas and even thoughts for you from Phoebe June – they’re all here on the blog so click through the menu and be sure to share with friends and family through all your social media.  They’ll never know about it unless you do.  If you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, March 3rd, by leaving a comment which says, “I live a grace-filled life!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

The painful part about March is that we can’t plant anything yet here.  That’s another six weeks away.  I’ll have Lil’ Snookie begging me for outdoor play and trips to the park way before I’m warm enough to tolerate it.  It’ll come, eventually.  Then, oh, how we will glory in  it!

I have a personal victory to share with you soon, so keep watching.  I’ll post it as soon as I can.

If you still have winter blahs, my “Life With Smuffy” and my “Laugh” pages will jolt you right out of it!