Review:Your Beautiful Purpose by:Susie Larson

About the Book:
We so want each day to matter--to serve God in big and small ways. But how, especially when everyday responsibilities, work, fears, and other obstacles get in the way?

Like a trusted friend, Susie Larson shares practical, scriptural ways to overcome whatever keeps us from living fully in God's will. Susie will help you learn to:

• Discern the best use of your time and gifts
• Confidently pursue God's unique desires for you
• Stretch your faith and deepen your impact

Respond today to that nudge in your spirit--that desire to use your gifts and passions more fully in God's work. Lay down lesser commitments and lay hold of God's beautiful purpose for your life.

 
About the Author:
Susie Larson hosts a daily radio talk show that airs across the upper Midwest and contributes a weekly feature heard nationally on Moody Radio. Active in local ministry as well as International Justice Mission, she has authored six previous books and been a guest on national TV and radio programs, including Focus on the Family. Susie and her husband, Kevin, have three adult sons and live near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Learn more at susielarson.com.

My Review:
 Just like Peter did when he asked Jesus if he could walk out on the water also and then as he started to really realize what he was doing and then lost his faith or sent it floundering, he started to sink. Our God is always right there just like Jesus was. To pick us up and re-steady us until the next time our faith takes a dip and we start to stumble again. Susie Larson uses this illustration as a guide into showing you that you shouldn't be afraid when God has a specific purpose, plan, or call He has summoned you to do for Him.

 Are you the harried housewife with the far away look in your eye? The dream never realized because you have to cook dinner or take the kids to soccer practice or your husband needs his shirt ironed again. The author explains that we should put our trust and faith in the impossible. Just trust upon Him to take what we can't make sense of to turn it all around for our good.

 He is really great at making things work when it seems it will take the impossible or even a miracle to come to pass. This book can be done alone or with a group. There are study questions and discussion starters in it as well.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House Publishers.

 

Win a Kindle Fire from Nancy Mehl! RSVP for Facebook Party (3/5)

Celebrate the release of Unbreakable with Nancy Mehl by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to the March 5th Author Chat Party on Facebook!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Books one & two in Nancy's Road to Kingdom series (Inescapable and Unbreakable)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 4th. Winner will be announced at the "Unbreakable" Author Chat Party on March 5th. Connect with Nancy, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be gift certificates, books, and fun Mennonite-themed giveaways.

Grab your copy of Unbreakable and join Nancy on the evening of the March 5th for a chance to connect with Nancy and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

 

Enter Today - 2/11 - 3/5!       You can read all about this great book at this post. Now is your chance to win some awesome prizes check out the link above. You don't want to miss it!              

TOS Review: Abraham's Journey

 My Review:
 I was asked to review the book Abraham's Journey from the website Inspiring the American Dream. This is a fiction book created with the present days economy in mind. About a little boy and his family so affected by the economy that Christmas will be more than a little lean this year. Soon his perspective changes when he is transported back in time.

These days I am taken back to the days where I grew up in a home like most typical homes in the late 70's and into the 80's with the average two parent household. As a child I grew up in a blended family. I was the only child my parents shared because they had both been married previously and had children from each of those marriages. But unlike alot of my friends and children I grew up around and attended church with my family was what we considered to be poor back in those days.

As a child, birthdays consisted of a birthday cake if I was lucky, no gifts and really after the age of 8 even the cake was non-existent. I don't believe that it was because my parents were horrible people it was just because times were hard back then. Well it seems my children may get to see what those days were like because the economy seems to be having the hardest time trying to bounce back.

Well as a result I believe that you will see more books like Abraham's Journey. Books like this I think give our children something to aspire to be. It shows them that there are dreams that at times seem out of reach but dreams that need to be realized none the less. The little boy in the story Abraham gets to travel back in time and meet several people that we have only had the privilege to meet through our history books.

 The creators of this book want us all to realize the American dream is slowly evaporating. Inspiring the dream in us all is a common goal of the authors. They believe that it is the job of the educators, the parents, the grandparents to keep this dream alive in our children because if we don't it will be lost for all eternity.

Seeing dreams realized such as with Martin Luther King, Jr. his dream and Amelia Earhart her fearless flight and many more. Soon Abraham was transported through history to see that even though times are hard you shouldn't give up. It is when times are the hardest you should find a way to find that something special in yourself that you can hone in on and make things happen.

This book is probably best intended for children 8-12. The purchase price is $14.99 and is available on their website. Also an important thing to note, is that there are several definitions to a few of the terms used in the book included at the back of the book. And the authors have included some character biography summaries as well.

Review:Born Again by: Pamela Grace

About the Book:
  Carrie didn’t believe in God. She wanted her brother to keep his belief in Jesus to himself. She lived in a world of “Status quo”.....in a world where shopping was her only mission in life. After being challenged by her brother to expand her world, she agreed to go on a mission trip with members from his church. She thought she was going to watch a little church be reconstructed in Haiti. Little did she dream that Jesus, whom she was about to get to know personally, was taking her to reconstruct her heart.............and be............born again.


About the Author:
  Born in Kelowna British Colombia, the author spent most of her childhood in central BC. She is a Mental Health and Special Needs Worker, with over 20 years experience in that field. Having since traveled to many places in Canada, the US and beyond, she is now settled down in central Alberta. She is a mother to one (who she raised as a single parent from his birth to grade 12), and now the beloved grandmother of a beautiful baby girl. After her son’s graduation, she was reacquainted with her first love (her son’s dad) and married him.

My Review:
 The story begins with Carrie and her brother spending some quality time together as brother and sister. Carrie is basically dared into going on a mission trip to Haiti with her brother and some other fellow church members. She decides she won't have anything else better to do so she reluctantly agrees to go along. Poor Carrie sees it as a vacation. But once she gets to Haiti she sees a whole other side she didn't expect to see. She sees the ugly side, the destruction and violence. Not too soon after she will see its true magnificence.

But before long the Lord reveals Himself in so many ways and before you know it something she didn't even think existed manifests itself right before her very eyes. Whether it is in another Christian's calm and reassuring smile. Or the touch of a little one's hand. Maybe she sees it all around her in the lives of the Haitian people that are willing to bet their life on the fact there is truly a God. Carrie will soon see all of the beauty and grace that she has been missing all this time.

**Disclosure** This book was provided to me for free from the author for my honest review.

Gabby Mom Review: Creating Contentment Seminar To Go

 How many times as mothers have we longed to go to one of Lorrie Flem's seminars but either couldn't because of finances or because of location? Well Lorrie has addressed that problem she has made it virtually impossible for you to miss even one single seminar. Now you will definitely be in attendance due to a new product available on Lorrie's website called Seminar-to-Go. As part of my Gabby Mom review this month I am going to share with all of you one of the latest Seminars to Go. This one is called Creating Contentment and I would like to give you a few highlights as well as where and when this awesome resource will be made available to you.

 The dictionary meaning for contentment is feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation. My husband and I are always discussing the fact that we are not truly content. We have taken the past 15 years of our lives and devoted ourselves to our four children. While there is nothing wrong with this peruse we have lost our contentment with life. We don't get to enjoy the things we once loved doing because we have immersed ourselves into raising our children and doing what we feel is best for them. So we have decided to get more contentment by doing more things together as a family and introducing our children to some fun activities that we all can enjoy "together". Hopefully this will change some things and get us to enjoying life again.

Lorrie instructs us from the Bible and shows us what it says about creating contentment. God wants us to be happy and content on this earth reaching ultimate contentment in heaven with Him. But while you are here, He wants you to live your life abundantly and for His glory. In the Bible it tells us to be at peace and content with this life He has given to us all. God wants us to trust Him completely if we are to ever have a full life. Lorrie's uplifting seminar-to-go is a great way to meditate on fulfilling God's promise. God's promise to live our lives for Him and to Him and in all things rejoice.

As always if you would like to check out more of Lorrie's products you can do so here. For more information on the Creating Contentment Seminar-to-Go you can head to this link.

ANNOUNCEMENT!!
Coming March 1, 2013 there will be another seminar ready to take part in called True Womanhood is not for Wimpy Women you get all the information here.

**Disclosure** I was given this product at no charge in exchange for an honest review through the Gabby Moms Program

Review&Giveaway:A Home for Lydia by:Vannetta Chapman

About the Book:
A Home for Lydia, the second book in a new romantic series from popular author Vannetta Chapman, centers again on the Plain community of Pebble Creek and the kind, caring people there. As they face challenges to their community from the English world, they come together to reach out to their non-Amish neighbors while still preserving their cherished Plain ways.

Aaron Troyer simply wants to farm like his father and grandfather before him. But instead he finds himself overseeing the family’s small group of guest cabins nestled along the banks of Pebble Creek. That also means he must work with the cabins’ housekeeper, Lydia Fisher.

Lydia is the most outspoken Amish woman Aaron has ever met, and she has strong opinions about how the guest cabins are to be run. She also desperately needs this job. Though sparks fly between boss and employee at first, when the cabins are robbed, nothing is more important to Aaron than making sure Lydia is safe.Together they work to make the vacation property profitable, but can they find out the identity of the culprit before more damage is done? And is Lydia’s dream of a home of her own more than just a wish and a prayer?

About the Author:
Vannetta Chapman has published more than 100 articles in Christian family magazines. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta is a multi-award-winning member of Romance Writers of America. She was a teacher for 15 years and currently resides in the Texas Hill country. Her first two inspirational novels—A Simple Amish Christmas and Falling to Pieces—were Christian Book Distributors bestsellers.

My Review:
 Vannetta Chapman does a really good job as an author. She is able to pull you in immediately and cause you to fall in love with the characters from her books. What was so strange to me in the latest novel A Home for Lydia I found myself more interested in what was going on with Miriam than with Lydia which is the title character. Miriam is gave some news that wasn't really what she was expecting about her mother.She reminded me a lot of myself. That is the good thing about Vannetta's books though she makes you feel like she is writing about you.

 This story begins with Lydia getting the cabins ready for the Englisch tourists. Following that, Aaron Troyer arrives several weeks later to see to the cabins left to him following his uncle's death. As Aaron gets off the bus to find the cabins he runs into Gabe Miller and his family and decides to hitch a ride with them. Not long after that actually a few minutes later he meets our main character, Lydia. I don't think that he was very impressed and decides he may need to stay longer than he first anticipated.

 Now while the story seems to be heating up between Lydia and Aaron I'm still wondering how Miriam is doing. This is the second book in the Pebble Creek Amish Series. The third book in the series is set to release this summer. So fans of Ms.Vannetta won't have to wait long to catch up on all of their favorite characters. There are also discussion questions in the back of the book and the first chapter to book three in the series. Vannetta decided to give one of my readers a copy of her book A Home for Lydia so you can read it for yourself and fall in love with the town of Pebble Creek. Just enter below... And Good Luck!


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**Disclosure** This book was provided to me for free from the author for my honest review.

CWA Review: Spiritually Stronger in 40 Days by:Serge Roux-Levrat

About the Book:

"Spiritually stronger in 40 days!" contains a 40-day plan that is so powerful, yet so simple, that everybody can go through it. Big achievements are always accomplished little by little. The world is changed one life at a time.

Authors often complete their books by writing a couple of pages each day. People sustainably lose weight by eating every day a little less calories and doing a little bit more exercise. Big projects are successfully implemented by tackling one smaller milestone at a time. The same is true when it comes to living in abundance.

The forty-day plan will help readers make real progress towards that goal. Furthermore, thanks to the Holy Spirit who will accompany them during this crucial period, convict them at times, strengthen them and give them key revelations, they will be supernaturally changed in key areas by the end of the 40-day plan period. This will increase their faith tremendously and enable them to go through other growth plans that God inevitably has in mind for them.

About the Author: 
"By many world criteria, Serge Roux-Levrat had a very successful start in life. He was born in Bourgoin-Jallieu, France, to a middle-class family, where he received love and sound principles. He had a privileged education, including an Actuarial Degree from the “Institut de Science Financière et d’Assurances” of the University of Lyons, and an MBA from the University of Edinburgh Business School. He also completed the General Manager Program of the Harvard Business School. In 1995, he married his wife, Barbara, and they procreated two children.

Throughout his career, he was able to work for some of the world's most admired companies, and at the age of 37 he realized a life-long ambition: to become CEO of a publicly quoted company. In this capacity, he had the privilege of joining the world elite at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2001.
By all appearances, his life was great. Internally, however, he was restless and unhappy, and was searching for the true meaning of life. He sought success by climbing the corporate ladder, but slowly realized that success did not equal joy or peace or purpose; and he felt guilty not to be happy when life had dealt him such a good hand of cards compared to millions of other people. 
In 2001, all this was to change: in one day his world was turned upside down when he lost his coveted job as CEO. What followed was a seven-year period of soul-searching in what he calls "God's detoxification clinic." Here, he found Jesus - not a religion, not a set of rules to follow, not an ideology, not a philosophy, but a real person, alive, loving, and all-powerful. Here, he learned to put his trust and sense of security only in God - not in money, not in social standing, and not in professional success. Here, the unconditional, unfaltering love of God changed his whole life, mindset, and priorities.
As a result, he has responded to God’s calling to serve as Ambassador of Jesus Christ and to work, together with the body of Christ, towards a Christian revival in Europe. He operates through SRL Ministries."

My Review:
 Who doesn't want to grow in their Christian walk and get closer to the one God that we all see in so many different lights? To some He is our Savior. To others He is our Father. The list of names and how we see Him could go on and on. To me being a woman in her late 30's that has already lost both of my parents, he is my everything but mainly my Daddy. I love Him and can't wait for that final lap to get to meet Him face to face.

 But until that day I will have to settle for getting to know Him better.  And what better way than to change up my Bible reading and devotional time with my Father. Serge Roux-Levrat has given us a key into getting our spirit up to par in his book Spiritually Stronger in 40 Days. Yes, you read that right 40 days. We all have the time that it takes to do this devotional that will help us in our daily walk with the Lord.

 How are we to ever know what God has planned for us if we don't invest our faith in Him? Serge reminds us that God has already got everything sorted out for us. We just need to have faith and wait upon Him and it will all work out in due time. This Bible study has been written in such a way so that you can have thoughts to ponder on. Throughout the book the author gives you homework at the end of each day. These are things for you to do with that days teachings to help you grow even further.

 

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Taking a TRIP Update #3........

 

"TRIP" is affordable and easy to use. All 20 lessons plus the home reading lesson video is only $19.99 that's only one dollar a lesson! Private reading centers and tutors charge anywhere from $65.00 a lesson and up. Many tutoring centers will not even take special needs readers. 


 Here are some thoughts from Jordan K. Price about guiding your child in the adventure of reading.......

*If you want your child to read then you must be a reader. Keep books, magazines, newspapers at home. Visit websites with lots of content. Let your child see you reading.
*Whatever your child chooses to read, let him, even if it’s Vampire Zombies. Reading encourages more reading.
*Make it a point to visit the local library together. When you shop together stop in at a bookstore or the book section of any giant retailer if your child has done his choirs for the week, offer to buy him a book of his choice.
*Talk to your child about a variety of things such as sports, entertainment, music, current events. This will encourage them to read about them.
*Remember, even thou your child is playing a video game or watching a video he had to be able to read to do it. You might want to monitor this but don’t discourage it entirely.

Hunter has been gaining the confidence;I believe he needs to reinforce what he has learned through TRIP. I love to read and I would love it, if all my children enjoyed it as much as I do. This reading program can give them that extra push they need to succeed. Don't walk! RUN! To their website to purchase TRIP today.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Book Blast: The Missing Piece (Inspirational Love Story) by Carol McCormick - Plus $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Book Blast: The Missing Piece (Inspirational Love Story) by Carol McCormick - Plus $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!
Title: The Missing Piece (Inspirational Love Story) By Carol McCormick 







Carol McCormick Carol began writing years ago after reading a ten-page story her grandmother wrote about growing up in the early 1900s. It was then that she began to write down her own stories to share with her daughters someday. Later, she began to write as a way to draw herself and other people closer to the Lord. Carol writes for Christians to encourage them in their faith. She also writes for those who are unaware of God's grace, to show them how to connect to Him in order to experience His love and goodness. Her writing is applicable to life with its direct, yet sensitive, and oftentimes humorous messages and lessons. Carol has been a speaker for Christian Women's Connection (Stonecroft Ministries International) for over fifteen years. She is also an international bestselling author who has appeared on regional and Christian television programs and has been a guest on over fifty Christian and secular radio stations.

About the Book:

"Fresh dialogue, realistic characters, a powerful message," The Romance Readers Connection How does a man pick up the pieces when his world crashes around him? Misplaced priorities shattered his marriage. Problems almost crushed him. Love motivated him to mend the damage, once he found all the pieces. After only a few months of marriage, Lorraine left Dylan on a wintry night after he'd spent one too many nights out with the guys. Unable to cope with the loss, Dylan escapes the painful feelings by drinking them away. This decision costs him a year-and-a-half of his life after he stops in a little mountain town and ends up in the local jail. When he's released, he returns home in search of a job to get his life--and his wife back. THE MISSING PIECE is not only a love story about a man who loves a woman, but is also a love story about a merciful God who loves mankind, even when he falls. The novel is an emotionally-charged journey of hope and redemption with a touch of spunk, a hint of humor, and a few twists along the way. "Inspiring and encouraging. Anyone who desires a restoration to their spirit should read THE MISSING PIECE," Myshelf.com "A wonderful, heartwarming Christian romance. This is definitely a story that I recommend to all lovers of Christian romance," Escape to Romance

Download on Kindle | Purchase Paperback

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Review:God Gave Us Easter by: Lisa T. Bergren

About the Book:
"God loved us so much he wanted us to always be with him too. That’s why God knew he’d need to give us Easter.”  
As Little Cub celebrates Easter with Papa, Mama, and her brother and sister, she begins to ask her papa questions about this very special day of the year.  Papa lovingly explains God’s plans for his children, while taking Little Cub on a memorable walk through her stunning Arctic world, and he shares how Easter came about in clear, simple terms that even the littlest cubs can understand.

About the Author:
Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over forty books, with nearly two million copies sold. Her work includes children’s books, historical and contemporary fiction, women’s nonfiction, and gift books. A freelance writer and editor, Lisa lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She and her husband, Tim, are the parents of three children.

My Review:
 This story is such a sweet story based on God's gift to us all.... Easter. Easter is my favorite holiday as well as Papa Bear. Papa Bear tells bear cub about the wondrous story of Easter and how God gave it too us so that we may live with Him forever. Easter is not about the coloring and hunting Easter eggs. It's not about chocolate bunnies and sugar coated marshmallow goodies.

It is about Jesus coming and dieing on a cross to save us all. God wanted us to be with Him forever and He knew because we fall very short of His glory that without Him stepping in and doing something it may never come to pass. So soon Easter will roll around and we will get dressed in our pretty Easter clothes and head to church that morning. Lets not forget what happened that day many, many years ago in a tomb our Savior rose and ascended to Heaven to save us from death so that we might live with Him for eternity.

**Disclosure** This book was provided to me for free for my honest review through the Blogging through Books program.

Review:Veggie Tales Bible Heroes DVD

We started our Bible study in 2013 with the study of Joshua and the journey to the Promised Land. And as an extra little goody I allowed my children to watch the Veggie Tales DVD called Bible Heroes Stand Up. On this DVD of Veggie Tales you have actually three different episodes to enjoy they are:

Shadrach, Meshach, & Abendego

Joshua

The Good Samaritan

While we watched all three episodes this time around we were focusing on Joshua and his whole story. I feel like Joshua was a great leader and follower of God. And Moses picked an awesome individual to take over where he left off. Here is a little back ground into this great Bible story.

 A lesson in obedience, it's the Bible story of Joshua and the Walls of Jericho as told by our beloved Veggies. After 40 years of wandering in the desert, the children of Israel finally get to go to the Promised Land! Only one little thing they've overlooked ... the city of Jericho and its massive wall! Josh will have to decide whether it's better to do things his way or God's way!

My sponsors have decided to offer you my faithful readers a giveaway. So before you leave today you just have to enter the rafflecopter below. But first I want you to read a little more about the great God fearing people that sponsored this giveaway.

Catholic Family Gifts is not just a catchy name to target a certain demographic, its who we are. Our online store is the extension of a family owned Catholic store. Chris and Elaine, the owners of Catholic Family Gifts, are lifelong Catholics and the proud parents of six children. We and our staff want to support the faith life of you and your family.

Learn about our "Family Values" as they are reflected in this online store.
Gift giving occasions are opportunities to share with others the profound love of God. Our selection of items is carefully chosen to enrich the lives of those who receive them and draw them closer to God. We work hard to find a good variety of quality religious items to enhance sacramental occasions and the daily life of Catholic individuals and families.
Catholic Family Gifts is a Catholic Store focused on you and your family. We offer Catholic Books and Bibles, Sacramental gifts including Baptism gifts, First Communion gifts and Confirmation gifts as well as devotional items for throughout the seasons, like Advent wreathes, Christmas gifts and nativity sets.

Our online store is an extension of our physical store Vineyard Books, Gifts & Church Supplies, which has served Catholics in the Rockford Diocese, (located in northern Illinois) for over 42 years.


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Times are a changing.......

 These past few months I have seen a change in my household and family that I am not too thrilled to be a part of or the cause of. My husband and I have feverishly tried our best to prepare our children as we shifted into survival mode. You see back in May of 2012 my husband decided to change jobs. The job change was way past overdue. We needed something more stable for our family.

While this job was an answer to prayer, it did have a few draw backs. Number 1 cut in pay and the second was that it would mean that my sweet husband would not only drop down in position that he had advanced in years prior but that he would also have to work nights. Ugh......

So for months now we have been chugging along trying to make the best out of this situation. Praying and believing that this is where God wants us to be. Going to the altar for several Sundays at church and placing it at His feet again and again. Trying to depend on God's strength for this tremendous amount of stress and trials He has brought us to or through depending on how you look at it.

Are we at the end of this? I don't know. We have been pouring over this in prayer and several other things also for our family that will also mean change. Do I believe He can get us through it? Absolutely. Will we come out of it unscathed? Of course not. Has He made us strong enough to endure what comes next? Most definitely.

We are ready for the next leg of our journey. We are ready Lord to see whats next for our family. Where ever your road leads is where we want to go and what ever direction you want us to take we are willing.

Litfuse Review: Beautiful Battlefields by:Bo Stern

About the Book:

Where is God in the midst of this? 

You've probably heard that question or perhaps asked it yourself. In the battle for your joy, your marriage, your finances, your health, an emptiness creeps in. Where is the peace You promised, God?

Bo Stern has been there-and is still there. Yet in studying the battles in Scripture, she came to a startling conclusion: God is using these fierce fights in our lives for an astonishing purpose. 

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/hGUuS  

  About the Author:

Bo Stern knows the most beautiful things can come out of the hardest times. Her Goliath came in the form of her husband's terminal illness, a battle they are still fighting with the help of their four children, a veritable army of friends, and our extraordinary God. Bo is a teaching pastor at Westside Church in Bend, Oregon. 

Find out more about Bo at http://www.bostern.com/.

My Review:
What tremendous battle have you had to fight in this life? What is it that took God to carry you through? What has been your "Goliath"? Bo Stern knows all too well the terrible weight that a "Goliath" can carry on an individual. The "why me's"  and "the please God help us to overcome"? Bo has taken her husband's battle and the battles of others and placed them all, in her book Beautiful Battlefields for us to learn from their experiences and show us how to fight, how to win and how to find the beauty in the battle not just in the outcome.

 Fighting and drawing those battle lines is never an easy feat. We have to gain our strength and battle plan from the Lord and then proceed. What ever the cost and how great the pain we can win this with the Lord's help. He will show us how to fight and show us the beauty in the battle no matter if it turns out that we lose our loved ones or we just lose. He will show us how to be happy and strong in spite of how everything plays out.

The author has not only gave us encouragement but gave us thoughts at the end of each chapter as well as some activities to do that could help us in this leg of the journey. The important thing to remember is that God has not left our side. Even in the middle of the crisis that is the worst we have ever experienced. It is in the middle of that crisis that he will carry us. It is in the middle of that crisis that he has collected those prayers and tears and took them to the Father and interceded for us.

You can find out more about the book here.

**Disclosure** This book was provided to me for free through the Litfuse Blogger program for my honest opinion.

Enter Today | 3/4 - 3/12!

Review:The Christmas Catalog by:Cliff Hicks

About the Book:
2012 Indie Excellence Finalist in the Holiday Division.

This beautiful story of a nostalgic look back when the "Wish Book" Sears catalog was the only way children would get their Christmas wishes.
The specialized Sears Christmas Catalog, nicknamed the Wishbook - began in the mid 1930's. It became a holiday staple in virtually every American home.
Not realized at the time, the Sears catalogs were recording the changing scene in America and represented the daily lives and work of thousands of Americans.

 Words from the Author:
We lived in a valley called Eagle Creek, which is on the eastern side of Arizona between the Apache Indian reservation and the New Mexico State line. The mail came once a week.
We had no electricity, no indoor bathroom and the water was pumped into the house by a windmill. I lived there with my Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Grandmother and my Uncle that lived out in the bunkhouse. A catalog was something that we always welcomed into the home. There were feed catalogs, seed catalogs, clothes catalogs and dry goods catalogs.
We enjoyed every one of them. They seem to take us on a journey that we would have never went on unless the catalog arrived.
We ordered mostly out of two catalogs, the Sears, and the Wards catalogs. We ordered our dry goods out of these two catalogs.
When Christmas came around, we didn’t have any malls to browse through but we had something that was better. There was one special catalog that us children loved to see arrive.
As a matter of fact the person that took it out of the mailbox was almost a hero for an hour or so. It arrived around the middle of October; it was the Sears Roebuck Christmas catalog.

About the Author:
Cliff Hicks was raised in Eagle Creek Valley situated in the eastern side of Arizona between the Apache Indian reservation and the New Mexico State line. Cliff is a professional storyteller and tells personal stories from when he was five to ten years old. Cliff tells his stories all over Arizona from Folk Festivals to church meetings. His stories bring back nostalgic memories from his time and the story in this book reminds all of us when “The Wish Book” the Sears Roebuck Catalog was the only way to shop for most items. You can find out more about Cliff and his passion at www.storytellercliffhicks.com

My Review:
 This book is a breathe of fresh air. I absolutely loved it. I loved it so much I even read it to my husband, and he even enjoyed it. If you are looking for a children's book that not only talks about Christmas but will take you and your children back to a more simple time then this is the book for you. It has a down home classic feel that we really enjoyed.
 The book talks about the author's childhood. He takes us back to the day he and his siblings watched the mail truck pass their mailbox by when they were expecting their Christmas gifts to be delivered. I could really feel the disappointment in the words the author was trying to convey. And much to their delight and astonishment Christmas morning turned out to be a day that took them completely by surprise. This book was a very tenderhearted book that my family and I will look forward to reading every year.

**Disclosure** This book was provided to me for free from the author for my honest and unbiased review.

TOS Review:God's Great Covenant, Old Testament Bk 1 by: Classical Academic Press

About the Book:
 “Everyone loves a story.” So begins the first installment of our brand new God's Great Covenant series.  God's Great Covenant, Old Testament One: A Bible Course for Children, will present and teach the Biblical narrative, from Genesis to Ruth, including the book of Job, at a third grade student’s level. The Old Testament presents an unfolding narrative of God’s (Jehovah’s) faithfulness to his people, and the overarching Old Testament themes of the promises and power of God will be presented in simple weekly stories. Combined with delightful maps and illustrations, children will truly follow along with God’s people and see how he leads them and keeps his promises. Students will also learn how the Old Testament stories begin to point us to the coming Savior, Jesus Christ.
The text contains thirty two chapters, to be completed one per week, and divided into five themed units. Before the week’s story, each chapter opens with a Memory Page that includes a weekly memory verse, a Key Facts chart, and vocabulary to remember. A thought-provoking “Who is God?” question will encourage children to consider what they are learning about Him and how to relate to Him in their own lives. Each chapter also contains a worksheet and a quiz.  A review chapter at the end of each unit summarizes the material and provides extra puzzles and activities.

 A detailed teacher’s edition is available separately, containing the entire student text, providing answer keys and additional factual information to expand upon the historical, geographical, cultural, and theological concepts introduced in the text. You can simply use the teachers edition to help retrieve the answers for your children's review worksheets. The creators have gone through and detailed most lines in the reading section of the  same text that is also in the student book so that you can have further discussion with your children. It is basically expanded upon so that the discussion can be more in depth.

  My Review:
I have a confession to make my boys and I did not begin this book at the beginning of the book. We began with Joshua and the walls of Jericho story. I was able to dig into this Bible curriculum with them. I read them everything thing that was contained therein leading up to the actual Bible story and then gave them the worksheets and quizzes to answer afterwards. I really see no problem working this curricula into your homeschool it is really easy and simple. Classical Academic Press has done a wonderful job because we managed to ease it in with no problems.

My boys said they really enjoyed it because it was fast. I loved it because it led to a lot of other discussions about the Bible. It sort of gave this homeschool mom a chance to quiz them a little bit on their Bible knowledge. I asked them if the ark of the covenant contained anything special or was it an empty box. We also discussed Rahab and how she helped the spies that Joshua sent into the city. And how even though she told a lie and God protected her. I knew they would pick up on that one.

The memory page is how you begin the lesson. Featured here are the lesson scope, read to me, the memory verse, some key facts, things to remember and the question, "Who is God?". The next pages are the story time pages filled with a very understandable bible story that your children can enjoy. And then after the Bible story you can have your child do the review worksheets and the chapter quiz. It is a very simple and straight forward book.

The products links are as follows: The Student Text, the Teachers Edition, & the MP3 audio files. The student text is available on their website for $22.95. The teachers edition is available on their website for $24.95. And an added bonus is the MP3 audio files that are available for $9.95.



 Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Review:'Twas the Mouse Before Christmas by:Carol Dabney

About the Book:
 'Twas The Mouse Before Christmas story is bilingual in English and Spanish. The Spanish is translated by Spanish teacher Cindy Reyes and is in honor of Carol's mother who was from Cuba. The illustrations will be Carol's first all original artwork within the framework of a book. She has also added a Chocolate chip cookie recipe tested by Harold and aunt Barbara at the Funks Gallery Christmas cabin one snowy Christmas morning when Carol and Harold were visiting. She has composed a song for others to play and sing along with sheet music in the back of the book to "Christmas In Your Heart."

Did you ever wonder how the tradition of setting milk and cookies out for Santa began? Well on Christmas Eve a long time ago there was a little mouse by the name of Harold. He couldn't sleep so he made himself busy by baking cookies for Santa, all night long. When Christmas dawns and Santa finally arrives, Harold is in a deep sleep and he misses his visit with Santa. But Santa can see Harold has left him wonderful cookies, and is so inspired that he writes Harold a Christmas message declaring that cookies and milk should be a mouse before Christmas tradition from than on. And so it was. From our house to yours Merry Christmas!

About the Author:
Carol Dabney is an author, illustrator, composer and storyteller. Mother of five children and grandmother of two. She was raised in the Ozarks on a farm milking goats. She studied Italian Opera at age 16 and recorded her first single in Nashville at 17 after winning the national talent award while representing her state as "Miss Arkansas Teen" in 1976. She has been a disc jockey and music resource teacher for twenty years. She has composed and recorded music with Paradise Records in the Hawaiian Islands. Carol loves music and baking and reading to children and she really loves Christmas.

  My Review:
 We all know the beloved Christmas poem that is actually very popular during the holidays that has almost the same name. But what you didn't know is that this holiday season you can learn an new spin on an old classic. Carol Dabney has gave us a new twist on an old favorite to add to our Christmas reading list this year. This book tells the "tail" like no other. It begins to explain to us all about a mouse named Harold that was more than a little excited about the pending visit of the old man in a red suit. So we go along with Harold on this exciting trip to usher in Christmas morning.

 The author not only illustrated this cute, little holiday book about Harold the mouse but her sister added the Spanish influence by putting the Spanish translation right along side the English version. So we now not only have a precious children's book to add to our favorite holiday collection but it is also bilingual. The author also included a few songs and recipes to celebrate the season in the right way. I really enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to more books from Carol Dabney in the future.

This book is not yet available but should be available early Fall 2013.

**Disclosure** This book was given to me by the author for an honest review.

GIVEAWAY Alert!

Our CWA February Partner is Karen Wells

Author: UnHooked! 7 Steps to Emotional Freedom    

Karen is offering to give away 3 copies of her book!

 

Did you know that women who have been sexually abused as children often struggle to have a healthy, positive sex life with their husband?

Did you know that a woman who has had an abortion often struggles with after abortion distress?

Did you know that a woman who has experienced any form of relational abuse struggles to "find herself" again?

Did you know that the "Unhooked! 7 Steps To Emotional Freedom" book can be a support to a woman who knows it is time she found healing from her past traumatic experience?

Karen Wells has written a self-help counselling book for Christian women to begin finding freedom from their past.  Learn more today!  It is time to find HOPE and experience what it is like to be "unhooked" and living your best life possible now!

Also, be sure to sign up for the Woman to Woman ezine and receive the free audio download entitled, "The Biggest Lie Women Believe" when you go the Unhooked! page.

 

Head Over Now to Karen's Give Away Post!

 

Follow the Directions on the post.

Winners Announced on the post on 

Feb. 26th.

 

Enter for Yourself, or someone you believe could benefit from Karen's expertise.     

Review:Though Mountains Fall by:Dale Cramer

About the Book:
Inspired by Actual Events!
"I want you to promise you will always be my sister."
There were tears in Miriam’s eyes as their foreheads touched and Rachel whispered, "No matter what. Always."
Now in its fourth year, the Amish settlement in Mexico is thriving. But as new settlers arrive, sons and daughters marry, babies are born, and crops grow thick, a storm looms on the horizon. And Caleb Bender knows--perhaps better than anyone--that the worst of storms don't come from the western skies.They come on horseback.
When their very existence is threatened, the Amish turn to the Mexican government for help, only to discover that the rulers of men are fickle and security is an illusion. Tried by fire and riven by war, Caleb and Domingo come to understand that the kingdom of God is not to be found in land or buildings or gold or armies, but in the hearts of peaceful men trying to feed their families.
Watching helplessly as daughters Rachel, Miriam, and Emma are drawn inexorably toward their separate destinies, Caleb is forced to confront the most important decision of his life.

About the Author:
Dale Cramer is the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed novel Levi's Will, based on the story of Dale's father, a runaway Amish man. Dale's latest series, THE DAUGHTERS OF CALEB BENDER, is based on an Amish colony in the mountains of Mexico where three generations of his family lived in the 1920s. He currently lives in Georgia with his wife of 36 years, two sons and a Bernese Mountain Dog named Rupert. Visit him on his Web site at www.dalecramer.com


My Review:
Dale Cramer's latest book in the The Daughters of Caleb Bender series is taking us to what life is like now as the Bender family is in their fourth year at the Mexico Amish settlement. Up until now alot of things have taken place and happen to this nice, Amish family. After the most recent death of one of Caleb and Martha's sons and the recent kidnapping and escape of their daughter. The captor and killer decides to return for revenge and his revenge he does not take lightly.

Just when Miriam does something that drives her away from her family. She thinks she will never see them again and then she turns around to see her family. Who does she have to thank? The army of individuals that are looking to seek revenge. The Lord definitely works in mysterious ways indeed. Will Miriam's relationship with her family be restored? Will the entire village be wiped out because of this very cruel man and his army of banditos?

**Disclosure** This book was provided to me by Bethany House for my honest review.