Wherever the River Runs *Book Review* + Giveaway

Such a beautifully written piece of art. Kelly Minter writes about her eye and heart opening trip to the Amazon jungle with such detail that you can picture everything as if you are there.

I have to review this book as I read along so I don't forget anything! This paragraph really stood out to me. The Holy Spirit brought to her attention a young man and a word for him. The word for him was that God saw him and he was going to a great leader in his village. That brought a smile to the face of this sad child. He responded with, "No one has ever seen me before. God sent you to see me." HOW POWERFUL IS THAT?! 

"We may desire deep friendships, ironclad marriages, thriving children, a secure economy, healthy bodies, a trip to Europe- but what we really want is an encounter with the living God. To be loved, known, and seen by Him. We pursue all the other stuff because it's the stuff that tastes, but Jesus is the One who nourishes."

Kelly's story is inspiring! We don't have to take a trip to the Amazon jungle to experience these changes in our lives. We are surrounded by our own jungle daily. I make it a point to help out someone in need if I am able. My children also notice those in need a lot more than they use to. I have so many testimonies of times that God has provided us with the opportunity to be a blessing to others in their time of need. 

As we pack up our house I realize how MUCH we have and so much of it we don't really need. We are happy to fill up bags to donate. In the Amazon and so many other countries (including our own) kids don't have beds to sleep in, shoes on their feet, or any idea where their next meal will come from. We can help with that!

My son's class took a trip this week to a place where they helped pack 200,000 meals for children and their families. That night at bible study he lifted up those children and their families in prayer. That trip impacted him in a good way. He has always been my helper, but this was on a different level.

This can be a convicting story to some. It made me want to pack my bags so I can go help the people of the Amazon. Which takes me back to what I stated earlier. I can help in my own neighborhood, city, state. I don't have to go far to see the same types of difficulties. 

Thank you Jesus for blessing my family so that we may bless others.

GIVEAWAY TIME
Thank you Christian Family for providing this book to review. Opinions are my own.

Treasury of Bible Stories *Review + Giveaway*

What a great book! I had so much fun reading these stories to my children. Bible stories are brought to life in the minds of children with "Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times," and wonderful illustrations on every page.

I asked my kiddos what their favorite story is so far and all they keep saying is, "All of them!" We haven't made it through the whole book and we are also skipping around, so once we are finished we shall see if they have a favorite rhyming story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Pulley has illustrated dozens of books in The Beginner's Bible series and has authored and illustrated several other children's books, including Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn and The Cycling Wangdoos. 

Watching and listening to her sister read.

Loving the story!

You have a chance to win your own copy now, but you can also find this book at Christianbook.com and Amazon.

GIVEAWAY TIME

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

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Dolphin Tale 2 Review + Giveaway

What's going on Friday Sept. 12 you ask?

Dolphin Tale 2 is coming to a theater near you! Not just that, but its also Homeschool Day 2014!

My daughter actually picked out a dolphin book for her free summer reading book from our public library. She loves dolphins so you can bet she was super excited about this!

My children and I had the chance to check out the Dolphin Tales 2 curriculum. We really enjoyed watching these videos. When I asked my kids afterwards what they thought of the videos and what they learned they surprised me. They remembered quite a bit of it. 

Things like dolphins don't taste food like humans do, and they don't touch with their flippers. They use their nose for that sort of thing. I would have never guessed that!

I have to say, I learned about dolphins from this curriculum more than we ever did at a sea aquarium. I liked that the important points were on the screen so the kids were reading and hearing what he said. That helped the information stick in their minds. 

My kiddos are super excited for this film to come out so we can see it! My 6 yr old stated, "We haven't even seen the first one yet and there's already a second!" So you know what we have to do now. Gotta see the first one before the second one hits theaters. 

Celebrate Homeschool Day 2014 by checking out this movie!

Below are some links to learn more about Dolphin Tale 2 and other great resources.

Homeschool Movie Club

Checkout the official movie website

Find them on Facebook & Twitter

You also have a chance to win a this promo pack

                              

An awesome Dolphin Tale 2 Tshirt and shades

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. 

GIVEAWAY TIME

Thunder: Stone Braide Chronicles *Book Review* + Giveaway

In post-apocalyptic America, Selah Chavez is crouched in long grass on a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city. It is the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, and she is hunting, though many people refuse to eat animal flesh, tainted by radiation during the Time of Sorrows. What Selah's really after are Landers, mysterious people from a land across the big water who survive the delirium-inducing passage in small boats that occasionally crash against the shoreline. She knows she should leave the capture to the men, but Landers bring a good price from the Company and are especially prized if they keep the markings they arrive with.

Everything falls to pieces when the Lander Selah catches is stolen by her brothers--and Selah wakes up the next morning to find the Lander's distinctive mark has suddenly appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her--Bohdi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell.

This is Book 1 in the Stone Braide Chronicles series.

When Selah woke with the marking of a Lander, her mom insisted she pack her things and leave before her father returned. She didn't understand other than the fact her "father" wasn't really her father and she had been kept in the dark about this her whole life. She knew what she needed to do first....find Bohdi!

Selah has quite the adventure finding the person that changed her life with one touch. She must remain hidden from everyday people because instead of hunting them herself she is being hunted. She is one of them.

With evocative descriptions of a strange new world that combines elements of scientific advances, political intrigue, and wilderness survival, Bonnie S. Calhoun weaves a captivating tale of a world more like her own than we may want to admit!

This book will be available everywhere Oct. 2014

If you're interested in reading the first chapter please do so here.

Thanks to Family Christian for this book to review

GIVEAWAY TIME