"The Ultimate DVD Read and Share Bible" Review

"The Ultimate DVD Read and Share Bible"

By Gwen Ellis
Published by Thomas Nelson

My Review:

With more then 100 Bible Stories, ranging from Joseph to Revelation, this is a wonderful book and dvd set for toddlers and readers alike!

The stories are slow enough for reading along and yet fast enough and short enough to keep them entertained!

I love this book/dvd set! I have been shopping around for a Bible show that my children will enjoy and I will be satisfied that it is telling them stories right from the Bible, without adding to much to the stories!

The animation is very bright and pretty realistic! This is an great set to help bring your child's favorite Bible stories to life! My children were so excited watching this and kept running to tell me about another story or Bible character/hero!

This is a great dvd set for quiet time too, since the background music is very clam and soothing!

The Bible book itself is another amazing work by Thomas Nelson! I love the hardcover, and beautiful pictures! At the end of every story is a short question or thought, which makes this a great devotion time book!

Homeschoolers and Sunday school teachers should love it! =)
I highly recommend this Bible storybook Dvd set to everyone and it would make a wonderful gift for the special child (children) in your life!!

Thomas Nelson Book Description:
"A Bible storybook with DVDs to help you share the joy and wonder of God’s Word with the children in your life.

These bite-sized vignettes in book and DVD presentations are perfect for the attention span of little ones, and give parents maximum flexibility to fit any time frame. This volume contains more than 100 beloved Bible stories, including time-honored favorites like Joseph, Moses, Balaam, The Promised Land, Solomon, Elisha, Daniel, Jonah, The Boy Jesus, Miracles of Jesus, Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, and many more."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God" Book Review

"Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God"
By Sheila Walsh
Published by Thomas Nelson

My review:

When I first decided to review this book, I thought it looked really good and would be a good read, but I had no idea just how good this book would be for me personally! This book is really helping overcome and move forward. I am trusting more in my Heavenly Father and I am more excited for the future! My whole life I have avoided doing things, I have not trusted anyone really (except my husband), and I have always beat on myself for not living up to more. This book is helping me pull out of this terrible hole that I have slowly fallen into ever since I was a young child.

I actually started this book months ago, but I guess I was not ready for the change yet. I started it again the first of this year, and I cannot put it down!

I have never read a book by Shelia Walsh before this one. Her writing in "Beautiful Thins Happen When A Woman Trust God" is so captivating, to the point and yet gentle and loving! She really makes you think, dig deep into God's Word, and into yourself!

This is a perfect book for anyone who knows they can do better and just needs the encouragement, for anyone who wants to trust more, and for anyone who wants to know why some people have a hard time trusting and for those who want to help others trust more!

This is a wonderful book for reading the first of the new year! Or whenever you want to take the step and start anew!

Book Description From Thomas Nelson:
"Delivering a big message with strong biblical insights and heartening personal stories, author and Women of Faith speaker Sheila Walsh shows women the life-changing power of trusting in God.

Most Christian women live with a deep sense that they can't seem to get things right, that if only they could be a little better, life would straighten out. Through her own personal hardships, Sheila Walsh has learned that the Christian life is not about getting things right or back to "normal." She writes, "Christ comes not to get us out of our difficulties but to live in us through them." She wants to show women that God has a stunningly beautiful moment of redemption for them that leads to a lifetime of peace and joy.

In this eye-opening message for women, she presents a moving look at her own story as she dives into the lives of Bible characters, drawing out lessons from their trials that women can use immediately to establish a deep, life-altering trust in the Father."


Disclosure:
I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"Kids In The Kitchen" Gooseberry Patch Cookbook Review and Giveaway!!!

I LOVE Gooseberry Patch!
I love to cook and bake! Ever since I was little, the creative pictures, recipes and one-of-a-kind books by gooseberry patch, have always been one of my favorite collections!! Maybe they are a big reason for my love of cooking and baking?! =)
Anyways, as a mom of two girls, I look forward to teaching them how to cook and be creative in the kitchen and around the home, so I have several Gooseberry Patch books on my "wish List" for them!
You can imagine how thrilled I was when Barbara from Gooseberry Patch said I could review the children's cookbook, "Kids In The Kitchen" on my blog, for my daughter's birthday party!! How amazing!


When I received the "Kids In the Kitchen" cookbook, I was very happy to see how sturdy the pages are and that they are easy to clean! This is a very kid-proof cookbook!

The recipes are kid-friendly of course and all of them foods that kids Love!
My children are looking forward to making the yummy chocolate "Cup of Dirt" with gummy worms! And I hope one of the next recipes we make together is the "Crispy Chicken Bites"!

Growing up, my siblings and I ate Toad-In-A-Hole and "Kids In The Kitchen" has a neat recipe to introduce this great breakfast treat to your children!



Toad-In-A-Hole was the first recipe we made together from this cookbook! My daughter had so much fun!





Then we got a watermelon at the store the other day and tried the "Melonberry Lemonade"! It is SOOO Yummy!!! I wish I had the recipe before my daughter's party now! Lol! Would make a perfect party drink, a new addition to the lemonade stand and great cooler for hot summer days!

This cookbook has definitely opened up the world of creative cooking to my daughter and I am so glad she is enjoying it and excited about it!

If you are looking for a book to get your child interested in cooking, Or more excited about it, or just want a great kids cookbook, I highly recommend "Kids In the Kitchen" from Gooseberry!

I give it Two thumbs up, and 5 Stars! =)

I also recommend that you follow Gooseberry Patch! Here are some links to visit!

Read their Blog: http://www.gooseberrypatch.typepad.com/

Find Gooseberry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/gooseberrypatch

Follow Gooseberry on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gooseberrypatch

Watch the Gooseberry Video Channel on youtube: www.youtube.com/user/gooseberrypatchcom

Now for the Giveaway!
The great ladies at Gooseberry Patch are offering a copy of "Kids In The Kitchen" to one of my blog readers! YIPPEE!

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Gooseberry Patch and tell me a cookbook you would love to buy for you and your family, or give as a gift!
Mandatory entry must be done to enter giveaway!
Please leave your email address in your comment or have it visible on your profile.

Extra Entries After completing mandatory Entry:
-Follow Gooseberry Patch on twitter (1 entry)
-Follow Gooseberry Patch on Facebook (1 entry)
-Follow Gooseberry Patch Blog (1 entry)
-Purchase a product from Gooseberry Patch during the time of this giveaway (10 entries per purchase)
-Follow my blog (1 entry)
-Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry)
-Follow me on twitter (1 entry)
-Tweet this giveaway (1 entry per day)
-Add my blog button to your sidebar and leave a link of where I can find it(3 entries)
-Write a blog post about this giveaway and leave the link to your post below (5 entries)
-Enter one of my other blog giveaways (1 entry per giveaway you enter)

That gives you 27+ chances to win! Have fun!
Please leave a comment per entry that you qualify for, for each entry to count!

This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada and Ends on Oct. 2nd at 12 am central. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
The prize will be sent directly from Gooseberry Patch to the winner.


Disclaimer:
For purposes of this review, I received a cookbook from Gooseberry Patch.
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own.

My Easter "Splurge"!

I hardly ever buy stuff for just me. Yeah, I know, I am not a "normal' female! But I knew that! When I buy things, I make sure that my whole family can benefit from them! I prefer to go without and spend for my family and when they are happy and have what they need, I find joy in that!
Last month, I had the opportunity to spend some money though (yay, naughty me!) and of course I went for mostly books! I purchased books that I knew my whole family (and even others) could benefit from though.
I wanted to get the children a treat for Easter and since the oldest is reading I got the Billy & Blaze book for her and a Dora reading set for her and the youngest (who Loves Dora!).

Plus I bought them a dvd! I never do that! I think this was the second dvd we have bought! Lol! But they love "Ice Age" and had not seen "Dawn of the Dinosaurs". Sure enough, the whole family loves it!

I also bought a bunch of seeds, but hope to post about that later!

The top herb book on my list has been:

Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health

So I knew I wanted to get that one! Now if I could just discipline myself to read more, so I can soak in all this great herbal information!!!!!
Rosemary's book is full of recipes, pictures and info on herbs and health.



I would love to grow most of my herbs and have started growing some, but I would like to know more about how to do it right when I do more! I have been gathering up a lot of herb seeds, so I finally got
Growing 101 Herbs that Heal by Tammi Hartung!

This book is packed with info! I was surprised! I assumed it was all about growing herbs, but has So Much more! How to store herbs, making herbal preparations, recipes, garden plans, and about marketing your herbs, etc!!

Another book I have had on my wish list for a Long time is:
"Rejuvenate Your Life, Recipes for Energy" by Serene Allison

I was very excited to finally get it and read over some of the pages! She gives tons of info and advice on how to make and cook healthy for your family and switching to healthy foods. Also love that she tells where they get their foods! I look forward to being able to eat more like her family, but know that I will probably end up just using a lot of her recipes and ideas, since we do canning and cook on a woodstove!

My other purchase was also from Above Rubies!

"Who Am I?" Two-Disk DVD Set by Nancy Campbell

I have been wanting a dvd set from Nancy Campbell for a long time now, and when I saw the new set, and it was cheaper then her other set ("Reclaiming God's Plan For Women") I decided to get it. Nancy is so inspiring and I love her speeches. My husband was disappointed in her misspeaking some (like when she says that male and female are two separate species) but I hope people know that she must have misspoke there! Maybe I should have bought the other dvd set.....Oh well, I want to share your messages with other women, and thought her dvds would be good. Has anyone else had women over to their house to hear her dvds? Would love to hear how that went for you!

"Love Your Heart" by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas (Book Review)

"Love Your Heart" By Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas

Illustrated by Abigail Marble

Forward by Faith Hill, Gracie, Maggie & Audrey McGraw

My Review:

With bright and beautiful illustrations and font that catches the eyes and brings the pages to life, this children's book will easily finds it's way into the hands and hearts of the young and old alike.

Young Katie is excited about her school talent show! But she has one dilemma, which talent to choose? She has so many! With loving advice from her dad and help from her dog, Palio, she finally has a one-of-a-kind performance picked out! However when the night of the show arrives Katie finds her friend backstage crying. Katie quickly comes up with a plan, and what happens that night becomes a selfless act of kindness.

Amusing and realistic, children will learn valuable lessons about unique, individual talents, kindness, love and beauty that is on the inside!

I highly recommend this book!!!!

Disclosure:
I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"The Word of Promise" New Testament Audio Bible (PR)

As my first product review, I am Very excited to share with you:

Hear the Bible Come Alive in Dramatic Audio Theater™!

This multi-voiced, scripted dramatization of the New King James Version (NKJV) features a star-studded cast of actors, an original music score, and incredible feature film quality sound effects. This world-class production creates a dramatic audio theater experience that makes you feel like you’re really there with Jesus and His disciples. Listen in your car, on your MP3 player, or with your family or small group to gain a new perspective of the Bible.
The cast includes Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Stacy Keach as Paul, Louis Gossett, Jr. as John, Ernie Hudson as Peter, Michael York as Narrator, Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Mary, Mother of Jesus, Marisa Tomei as Mary Magdalene, and many others.
The Word of Promise® New Testament Audio Bible is a 20-CD set and includes a bonus “Behind-the-Scenes” DVD.

Do you have a tight schedule and yet you want to have some quiet time to meditate on God's Word? Want to listen to your favorite scriptures while you exercise, take a jog, are on the way to work or running errands, or just relaxing?
This is a perfect gift for you! You may be a little leery of the price, but it is worth every penny of it! You will be very happy with this amazing set of 20 CD's! They come in a really good, compact and zipped carry case that you can take with you everywhere you go! And know that they will be kept safe for years to come! A great family treasure! I foresee many happy times of sitting around listening to these with my children!
What a great way to meditate, memorize the scriptures and let the Word sink into your heart and soul! This dramatic audio will take you to every scene in the New Testament and make you feel like you are really there, in the presence of the most amazing people in history!

I am so glad I got to review this product! Thank you, Thomas Nelson for the wonderful opportunity!

Disclosure:

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"If Mama Ain't.." Best Planner/Devotional Ever!!!!

I found one of the most exciting things today over on Mom Bloggers Club!
It is a planner! Not just any planner though! I have looked at a lot of planners over the past year and none of them seem to be everything I want, plus they cost an arm and leg and I just cannot do that for something I will have to get new every year! But this one Will work!!!! YIPPEE! You really have to check it out!


I think I like every feature on it! This planner is for busy moms who want to plan there days and months AND have their devotional, all in one! With spaces for weekly goals, daily menus, memory verses, daily Bible reading, and motivation!
This planner makes you reflect, start new every month and helps you grow not only as a better planner, but spiritually too!
I am looking forward to using this to help me keep up with my new menu plans, work outs on the Bow Flex, book reading plan AND help me memorize scriptures, focus more on prayer and devotional reading, and develop spiritual habits!
If you would like to check it out and get one for yourself, visit,

"If Mama Ain't..." Planning

"The 5000 Year Leap" 5th Principle

Here is my thoughts as I read the 5th Principle in "The 5000 Year Leap". I have been sharing these on a discussion at the "Conservative Homeschooler" and here on my blog. I highly recommend this book to everyone! You really need to learn this stuff about our country's history and please teach it to your children!

5th Principle (Pages 94-101)
"All Things Were Created by God, Therefore Upon Him All Mankind are Equally Dependent, and to Him They are Equally Responsible."
The 5th Principle is very easy to grasp, as a firm believer in the Creator.

"The Reality of a Divine Creator"
I love John Locke’s definition of an atheist here! "Out of touch with reality"! How true. Once again, if you are close to nature and reality, you cannot deny that there is a God and Creator of All!
I need to make a note to myself to look up this book by John Locke, "Essay Concerning Human Understanding"!

"How Can We Know There is A God?"
Now that our children are getting bigger, we have to do more explaining around here! It is good to teach children since it really makes you think about what you believe and dig deeper into everything! You often have to ask yourself why you believe a certain way. It is just good!
In our daughter’s last school books, we discussed God and the creation, so we have been reading a lot about creation. She also got a telescope (but we have not been able to get out and use it yet!). Learning about planets, one of the books brought up the reason planets are spheres. It is interesting. You know if there was no Creator, then the planets could be any shape and there would be no perfect motion in outer space! Everything would be one big jumble and jam, like some Si.Fi. show!

"Getting to Know God"
Genesis 1:26 "‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’" What do you know about God? He has compassion and love. He has justice, a sense of humor, is the Ultimate Artist and Chef and designer! He has order.

"Concerning God’s Revealed Law Distinguishing Right from Wrong"
This makes so much sense to me! And it scares me that we have gotten so Far away from the law of nature! I know this country deserves whatever the Lord throws down, or allows to happen to it! And yet I fear for my family and friends and all the innocent ones who still do not know "their right hand from their left" (if I may quote from the Bible!).

"The Nearness of God"
Having grown up in a Christian home, I can hardly imagine not thinking that God is all around us! All knowing and All seeing! But sadly this was true then and is still true now! How sad and lonely it must be to think that no one is there for you All the time!

"George Washington"
If you have the book "The Real George Washington" you can read and see how close this man was to His Creator! He is truly amazing to read about and his faith is inspiring!

"James Madison"
I do not know as much (have not read as much, but need to read more!) about Madison, but it can clearly be seen by the Constitution and his many writings, how close he was to his Creator also!

"In God We Trust"
"In God We Trust", taking an oath, swearing and affirming before God. Of course these were not just thrown in there! These were so important! People took it very serious to stand and say they swore to tell the truth, because they had a healthy fear of the Lord!

The 4th Principle From The 5000 Year Leap

Now that I am on a "reading plan" this new year (!), I have gotten back to reading "The 5000 Year Leap" and doing my own study on it! I just love this book and if you have not bought it yet, you Really Need to! And if you do have it, but have not read it, please do! It is so important that you know what is in this book!

I have been posting my thoughts on "The 5000 Year Leap" on a book study group at the "Conservative Homeschooler" and this was my over view from last Saturday!

Hope you enjoy it!

4th Principle (Pages 75-93)

"Without Religion the Government of a Free People Cannot be Maintained."

The founders' knew that they needed religion to structure their government back then and they also knew the importance of teaching it to future generations. If it was not taught and passed on the government would no longer have that firm structure and the society would fail. Of course we can see that now! We focus on many subjects of "knowledge" in school nowadays, but we leave out the other 2 subjects: Faith and Morality!

"Washington Describes the Founders' Position"

To quote Washington, "It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government."

"The Teaching of Religion in Schools Restricted to Universal Fundamentals"

Wow. So you mean that you could not teach creeds? Or things "inconsistent with the tenets of any religious sect or denomination"? Wow. The more you read the founding fathers and how they founded this country the more you understand why the socialist are having to fundamentally reform America! There is just NO WAY they could abide by any of it! Must be why they do not read it either!

"Franklin Describes the Five Fundamentals of 'All Sound Religion'."

Franklin's creed is really amazing! Especially if you have been taught that he was an atheist! Lol! I will not get off on that though, this creed needs to be taught to our children as part of our homeschool lessons!

"The 'Fundamental Points' to Be taught in the Schools"

Could you imagine if someone tried to teach these fundamental points in a public school room today!?? And yet this is what the founders said should be taught in all schools!

"Statements of the Founders Concerning These Principles"

What a completely different mindset they had back then! I keep finding myself thinking, "I wished I lived in that country"! Pitiful. I Do live in that country! What use to be that country anyways. We have got to get back to that. It is so sad we have wondered so far away from God. =( Makes me feel like this country is the children of Israel!

"Alexis de Tocqueville Discovers the Importance of Religion in America"

Once again, I wish I could go back in time! What do people think when they come to visit America now? It is sure not what de Tocqueville found on his trip back then. God help us!

"European Philosophers Turned Out to Be Wrong"

De Tocqueville learned that what was taught in Europe was not true, after he visited the new America.

"A New Kind of Religious Vitality Emerges In America"

De Tocqueville saw for himself that this came from moral teachings and not political pressure.

"De Tocqueville Describes the Role of Religion in Schools"

He called it a "phenomenon" for a person to be ignorant of the faith, history and Constitution of his country.

"De Tocqueville Describes the Role of the American Clergy"

Interesting. The clergy where not into politics. They taught the religions and morals, but "they filled no public appointments"!

"The Clergy Fueled the Flame of Freedom Stressed Morality, and Alerted the Citizenry to Dangerous Trends"

America I believe has ceased to be good and therefore she is no longer great! We have to bring God back into our Churches, schools and homes, before we can ever be a great country again. De Tocqueville said he found America's greatness when he walked into her churches. But now most of our churches have become lukewarm or cold and satan and the socialist have filled them with their lies and misleading.

"The Founders' campaign for Equality of All Religions"

This is interesting.....I would have to do more research about this. Being the Christian that I am and seeing the problems in our country today, I would have to say, that I agree for the equality of Christian denominations, but not All religions.

"Why the Founders' Wanted the Federal Government Excluded from All Problems Relating to Religion and Churches"

This has gotten so misspoken and twisted and over ruled, that it is turned all around now. We now have constant oppressing and persecution from the government as Christians!

"Justice Story Describes the Founders' Solution"

Left to the state!

The wisdom and the understanding and foresight of our founders is just amazing!

"Jefferson and Madison Emphasize the Intent of the Founders"

"The First Amendment was designed to eliminate forever the interference of the federal government in any religious matters within the various states." What has happened? Wow. This has me really upset. Do we follow anything in the Constitution anymore? or have we thrown it all out?

"The Supreme Court as Well as Congress Excluded from Jurisdiction over Religion"

Not only was the federal government excluded by the First Amendment but also the Supreme Court and Congress.

"The Federal 'Wall' Between Church and State"

This just goes to show how they have taken Jefferson's letter and used his words, to make laws for themselves. As it points out, if you read the actual letter and Jefferson's writings in their historical context, you cannot get out of it, what the Supreme court has now. But they have said it long enough to make people believe it to have different meaning.If you notice, this happens a lot. Keep saying something and people will believe it.

"Religious Problems Must Be Solved Within the Various States"

It was in the power of the individual states, to settle the varies differences of faiths and have "equal rights among all".

"Affirmative Programs to Encourage All Religions on the State Level"

Jefferson gives a perfect example here about the "equal rights among all", and at the same time shows a very different setting then we have today! Could you imagine four churches of different denominations meeting in the local courthouse for their services every week?!

"Religious Principles Undergrid Good Government"

"Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained." If we just live by the five truths that they founded our country and government on, that come from the Bible and were the creed of Franklin and learned by the founders from their studies and faiths, we cannot go wrong!

Reading this chapter, I can see over and over that once again, we cannot have a great country without God. The sooner we all get back to our Bibles and our knees and get to reading the Bible to our children the sooner this country will return to God!

It starts in each of our homes. It has to start here, at home.