Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Brickmaker's Bride Book #Review, Kindle HDX Giveaway and Facebook Author Party with Judith Miller!

I've been loving sharing all of these wonderful books with you all.  I'm an avid reader and it is nice to have a chance to share my passion with you, the readers!  The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller is the latest book I've read and I'm excited to tell you all about it!

This book follows young Laura as she is changing her whole life.  Her mother is selling her late father's business and trying to marry her off to the most eligible bachelor.  Enter Ewan an immigrant trying to make a new life for his family. Together they work on business slowly the build a relationship.  I love how Miller really shares the character's and their thoughts and doesn't spend a large focus on the setting and clothing.  She gives us just enough of the details and much more meat for the story this way.  This was a sweet romance book and the Christian aspect was woven in nicely.

The Brickmaker's Bride is availabe to purchase at your local book retailers and online at stores like Amazon.  


Book Teaser:


Yearning for a fresh start, Ewan McKay travels with his aunt and uncle from northern Scotland to West Virginia, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial assistance from his uncle Hugh. Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, but it's Ewan who gets the business up and running again. Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man---a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Besides, Ewan has resolved he'll focus on making the brickmaking operation enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Scotland.
But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work may come to naught. As his plans begin to crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. She and her mother may have a way to save the brickworks, and in turn Ewan may have another shot at winning Laura's heart.
Judith is celebrating with a Kindle HDX giveaway and  a "Refined by Love" Facebook author event on November 4th.


brickmaker-400
 One winner will receive:
  • A Kindle HDX
  • The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller
Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 4th. Winner will be announced at the Refined by Love Facebook Author Event. Connect with Judith for a fascinating evening centered around her new Civil War-era series. She'll be hosting a book club discussion, giving away prizes, answering your questions, offering an exclusive peek at the next book in the Refined by Love series, and much more!

So grab your copy of The Brickmaker's Bride and join Judith and friends on the evening of November 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
brickmaker-enterbanner

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

A-Z #abcblogging Recap



Picking a topic and blogging A-Z for 26 weeks was hard!  I felt like it was what God was leading me to do so I went with it.  I think in the future I'll just stick with random post for each letter - most like Z will always be zoo related too!  It is just so hard to come up with stuff!

I wanted to have one post with a link to all 26 post so that is what this is! 

A-Z:

Available #abcblogging 

Be a Blessing #abcblogging

C is for Church #abcblogging

He is my Defence #abcblogging

E is for Ecclesiastes #abcblogging

Friendship #abcblogging

G is for Grief #abcblogging

H is for Hello - Using Our Cell Phones for God! #abcblogging

Is It I? #abcblogging

J is for JESUS! #abcblogging

Kicking Out Negativity! #abcblogging

Living Like Him #abcblogging

M is for Modesty #abcblogging

Nourishment #abcblogging

O is for Optimism #abcblogging

Proverbs 31 #abcblogging

Q is for Quality #abcblogging

Rest #abcblogging

S is for School #abcblogging

Testimony #abcblogging

Unity #abcblogging

V is for the Virtuous Woman #abcblogging

W is for Willingly #abcblogging

X is for X-Mas #abcblogging

Y is You for #abcblogging

Z is for Zacchaeus #abcblogging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Bugs: Big & Small God Made Them All #masterbooks #review

Masterbooks makes some of the coolest books around.  This months is one of my personal favorites!  It might be because I'm a boymom but I think that the book is pretty amazing.  Bugs: Big & Small God Made Them All by Will Zinke takes us on a buggy journey!

About:

Within these vivid, full-color pages children will discover God's purpose for creating insects, and the corruption caused by sin. They will also see the world's largest insects, insects designed with camouflage, the most beautiful insects, the weirdest insects, and more!
With their alluring beauty, incredible design features, and limitless variety, bugs are a living testament to an all-wise, wonderful Creator. What you will see page-after-page are these creatures doing just what they were designed to do, and doing it well. God is amazing!
  • Why did God create such pesky insects?
  • In what way are bugs signposts to God's brilliant creativity?
  • What types of butterflies are bigger than some birds?


My Thoughts:

This book is filled with information.  One of my favorite parts is all the beautiful pictures.  Your not just reading your seeing!  We study the following creepers:

Amazing Creepy Crawlers
Jumbo Giants
Weird & Wonderful
Bugs in Camo!
Bizarre and Beautiful

The book also includes a section with bugs and their bible references:

and a Words to know section as well as flash cards!

Beetles, butterflies, cockroaches - they are included!  This book is just a really neat edition to our library!

Bugs: Big & Small God Made Them All retails for $14.99 and is available to purchase at your local retailers as well as online at nlpg.com and amazon.  



Clued In Kids - Treasure Hunt #review

Clued In KidsReview




Finding fun activities for the kiddos is always a challenge when they are home all the time (this could apply to winter/summer breaks too.)  My kids want to be busy and I want them off the electronics so I value a family friendly activity that serves both purposes. Clued in Kids is a treasure hunt that you do at home. 

What we received for review:


Christmas Treasure Hunt In A Greeting Card - $9.95 ( a physical product you receive in the mail)

and

Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt - $5.99 ( a 8 page PDF)

Age Range:  This product is recommended for ages 4 and up!


How we used the products:

We received two products and both of them were holiday themed.  I figured since they were Thanksgiving and Christmas this was the perfect time of year to have some holiday fun!  We of course had to go in order and start with Thanksgiving.



Clued In KidsReview

Thanksgiving Hunt:

 To set up first I had to print the PDF.  I choose to print it in color even though typically I print everything in black and white because the pages had beautiful colors and I wanted the kids to enjoy that part.  The hunt took maybe 5 minutes to set up.  You cut out the clues and then hide each one.  Then you hand the first one to the kids to run off and find them.



My kid's ages are just about 4, 12 and 14.  I knew that all the kids would have fun but I was even surprised at how much the bigger kids enjoyed this!  They helped our little guy rush about the house after they solved the clues and told him where to look.  He was excited to be included and be able to find them.  For our 'treasure' at the end I had a special lunch planned - which was a hit.

Clued In KidsReview
 Christmas Hunt:

For this hunt we had to improvise a little bit.  I did not have a stocking hung or a Christmas tree.  However my kids are bright and I knew that they would be able to think of alternatives to these things.  For the Stockings we used the sock drawer.  For the tree I drew a Christmas tree on our white board - then taped the treasure behind the tree.  (This was funny because they didn't get where it was right away and had to search for it.)



Our Thoughts:

We had a blast with this review!  Both products were easy to implement and a lot of fun to do!  My big kids even asked to see what other hunts there were so we can do another one in Winter.  With them being on the older side I think that is a real testimony to how much fun they had.  I liked how easy it was for the parents.  Each card had the location to hide it on the card.  It took literally no time to set up and took them a good 30 minutes to complete.  *IF*  Clued In Kids wanted to make a longer or extended hunt I think my kids would be over the moon for that!

I think the Christmas Hunt in a Christmas card is a great gift idea!  What a fun idea for Grand-mom or an Aunt to send to a kid!  I know my kids love mail so I could see this as a great little thing to send!

Just wanted to let you know if you sign-up for Clued In Kids' newsletter you will receive a free hunt to try!  (via email PDF) 

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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky #review

There is something special about books sent in the past.  Recently I had the opportunity to read and review The Daughter at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky.  This book  is set in London, England in 1912.  We follow the life of the young Kate making her debut.  She is spunky yet respectful - everything we all hope to be!

About:


Strong-willed and beautiful, debutante Katherine Ramsey feels ready to take the London social season by storm, and she must. Her family estate, Highland Hall, has been passed to older male cousin Sir William Ramsey, and her only means of securing her future is to make a strong debut and find a proper husband. With her all-knowing and meddling aunt as a guide, Katherine is certain to attract suitors at the lavish gatherings, sparkling with Great Britain's elite.
When a shocking family scandal sidelines Katherine, forcing her out of the social spotlight, she keeps a low profile, volunteering with the poor in London's East End. Here Katherine feels free from her predictable future, and even more so as a friendship with medical student Jonathan Foster deepens and her faith in God grows. But when Katherine is courted anew by a man of wealth and position, dreams of the life she always thought she wanted surface again. Torn between tradition and the stirrings in her heart for a different path, she must decide whom she can trust and love---and if she will choose a life serving others over one where she is served.

Learn more, purchase a copy, and read an excerpt: http://ow.ly/C7LAY

My Thoughts:

Turansky has mastered the Christian romance genre!  She manages to keep faith flowing seamlessly through the pages. I love how the female characters are respectful of their place and situation.  Which is often overlooked in books.  In this book, Kate is finding her faith and where God has her future.  I love how the family dynamics were and I think it shows evident in Kate's personality the love they all feel for each other.  The love interest Jon has a lot of tough choices to make as well - just like any young person embarking on career and adulthood. I love how each of them, Jon and Kate, learn to trust God and follow his will for their lives. This book was a delightful read. 

You can purchase your copy of The Daughter of Highland Hall  at your local bookstore or at online locations like Amazon. 

Monday, October 27, 2014

THE PROMISE ~ book #review & Kindle HDX Giveaway from @BethWiseman!

In a daring new novel, Beth Wiseman jumps way outside the box. The Promise will take readers far away from Amish country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by actual events, this is the book Beth has been working toward for a long time.



 My Thoughts:

This was such a fascinating read!  We follow Mallory someone who really wants to do some big good thing for someone.  Particularly saving a life.  She basically leaves her life behind to travel to a far off country in hopes of attaining that goal.  She disregards reason, advice and her families wishes and pays a hefty penalty. It is a strong reminder that not everyone is who they say they are online and that we should really use some good old fashioned common sense!   Thankfully there is a happy ending but I have a feeling that in real life this happens more than not and without the happy ending.   This book gives an inside glance at the world outside of Christianity.  We are forced to take a look at the Muslim faith and see it through our Christian eyes.

You can purchase your copy of The Promise at local book retailers or online at stores like Amazon.




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Curious? Click here to read the reviews, and be sure to enter Beth's Kindle HDX giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire HDX
  • The Promise by Beth Wiseman
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced November 10th here.
promise-enterbanner

Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls by New Liberty Videos #REVIEW

New Liberty Videos Review



My kids are fascinated with studying the bible.  My oldest would love nothing more than to learn biblical Greek so that he can compare the text.  Both of my older sons devour any information they can find on the bible and our Christian heritage.  I knew they would love to be part of the New Liberty Videos review.

New Liberty Videos Review


What we received:

Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls on DVD.

This DVD includes three different lectures and retails for $19.95.

Recommended Age:  These DVDs are fine for all audiences. Our 12 year old was perfectly able to keep up and enjoyed the DVD.  I would say for sake of saying that perhaps 10+ would be a good range.  Adults will definitely benefit. 


Lectures included:

Dead Sea Scrolls with Joel Lampe -
Mr. Lampe gives a brief introduction to this great archeological discovery.  This includes the founder, conditions of the scrolls and the latest technology in deciphering the documents.

Hebrew Word Pictures with Dr. Frank Seekins-
A light introduction to the Hebrew language.  Showing how the language is composed of sounds, pictures and relationships.

The Forbidden Book - with Dr. Craig Lampe -
Lampe takes you on a fascinating journey of the preservation of God's word.  Highlighting the Dark Ages and figures like  Erasmus, John Wycliffe, William Tyndale and Martin Luther.

How we used this DVD:

Movie night in our house is a regular occurrence and quite a big event. Blankets, sleeping bags, popcorn and snacks decorate the viewing room (our living room.)  When we watched this DVD, we did the same as we always do and gathered in the living room.  My littlest is only 3 so we waited until bedtime for him and just the two older boys and I watched.  My husband used the time to work on next weeks Sunday School lesson (he is a teacher) but we all told him after we watched that he needed to watch it too. 

Our Thoughts:

With the bigger boys being older (12, 14) we ended up pausing and rewinding quite a bit to really hear what each speaker was saying.  The DVDs presentations themselves are very simple.  Just a lecture that was filmed.  However I didn't mind that too much because it was the information that each gentlemen gave that interested me.  In fact I found the simplicity of it all much more pleasing than if they had put a lot of 'in-your-face' graphics through out.  Sometimes that busyness is a turn-off so I was pleased that this DVD had none of that.

The DVD is only 60 minutes long and is definitely more of a introduction to all of the topics.  I would love to see the next step from each of the segments because I found them to be so interesting. 

Some facts we learned:

  • Isaiah was the only complete scroll found
  • All books were found except Esther
  • many duplicates of the same bible books were found

  • Ancient Hebrew (bible times) and modern written Hebrew are very different
  • The letter Tav is possibly a mention of Jesus in the Old Testament

  • The Latin bible had many flaws
  • The Catholic Church did not want to recognize a bible written in a language the everyone could read


Overall we enjoyed this DVD.  I'm so thankful for kids that love their bible and learning about it.  This DVD was very thought provoking and has encouraged us to study further into the Dead Sea Scrolls, Hebrew and how we have our current King James Version of the Bible.  This DVD is a great addition to our Bible studies this year with our homeschool as well.



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Saturday, October 25, 2014

Weekly Recap

It was a slow blogging week for me but a busy family week.  It feels like with fall, we are constantly go, go, going!  Then on top of that I have a lot of deadlines coming up next week so the blog will be busier then! 

This week was the last week of the #abcblogging - I can't believe I participated all 26 weeks!  It was a challenge but I made it!  Next week I'll have a recap including links to all 26 letters.

French Course by Middlebury Interactive Languages #REVIEW

 

Z is for Zacchaeus #abcblogging

 

As They Grow Up:

 

NCircle Entertainment Giveaway! Octonauts, Cat in the Hat, Wiggles, Sid and More! #WIN 

 

Sambulance, S.E.A.S and Sahara Sams!

Sambulance, S.E.A.S and Sahara Sams!

 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Z is for Zacchaeus #abcblogging


I'm sure you have heard the children's song about Zacchaeus:

Zacchaeus was a wee little man ,
and a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see.

And when the Savior passed that way
He looked up in the tree.
And said, 'Zacchaeus, you come down!
For I'm going to your house today!
For I'm going to your house today!'


We find his story in Luke 19: 1-10.

Just like the song he was short and climbed a tree.  Jesus speaks to him and goes to his house to fellowship.  Zacchaeus wasn't a nice man - he even confesses his sins right then and there to Jesus.

however...

That day his life is complete changed!

Why?  Because he meets Jesus.

Have you had a time where you've met Jesus?  Where you asked him to become your personal Savior?  Confessed that you are sinner and that there is nothing you can do, no good work or deed to get yourself into heaven?  Have you asked Jesus to forgive you?

When it all comes down to it the most important thing you can do is have a personal relationship with Jesus!

This post is part of BenandMe.com' s blogging through the alphabet.  Click on the image below to see what others are saying about the letter Z.  

Ben and Me


This is the last post of this series.  I'm not sure if I'll blog through the alphabet again but look next week for a recap of all the post in this series! 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

French Course by Middlebury Interactive Languages #REVIEW

Middlebury Interactive Languages Review

My seventh grader asked to take French this year.  On of the beauties of homeschooling is that he totally has a say in what electives he takes during his school year.  We were fortunate to be part of the SchoolHouse Review Crew and to be picked to review Middlebury Interactive Languages this fall.  

There are 4 languages Middlebury offers:


Spanish Courses
French Courses
German Courses
Chinese Courses


Each course is offered in four levels: Elementary, middle school, high school and AP.  The courses start at grade 3 with the exception of Spanish which has a kindergarten level.  
Middlebury Interactive Languages Review

There are two options when choosing your language.  You can choose between to have a teacher graded course or without the teacher.  (Without a teacher is graded online by the course - it just doesn't have the teacher interaction.  I also wanted to note that the 'with teacher' option offers transcript credit - if you need that for your state or umbrella school.)

Courses are broken up into semesters.

Pricing:

Without a Teacher (per semester) - $119
with a  Teacher (per semester) - $294

We received Middle School French Semester 1 without a teacher for this review.  

How we used this course:

My seventh grader is pretty handy with the computer so for the first lesson I sat down with him and showed him how to navigate the lesson screen. For us it was easier to go by the table of contents to complete lessons.  However there is a calendar that shows you which lesson to do each day if that works better for your learning style.  Our semester consisted of 9 units.  Each unit included 5-10 lessons for a semester total of 90.  There is also a midterm/final section.  It was super easy for him once I showed him how to log on and where to find the lessons. 

His lessons would include various styles.  Some days he did a matching lessons, other days he had to pronounce words.  The lesson would introduce new vocabulary to him and  have occasions to read/write what he was learning.



Xander would log in in the mornings and work through  1-3 lessons a day typically we did this 4-5 days a week as recommended for middle school level by Middlebury.  We purchased (optional) a headset / microphone set cheaply off of amazon for him to use.  This worked well for us because we have a 9th grader doing school as well as our preschooler who likes to disrupt things.  Xan was able to concentrate on the course without too much distraction.  

It is helpful to have a printer and notebook for the course.  We printed out a few sheets here and there with vocabulary.  There was also a great little guide for navigating your keyboard for accents on words.  

Our Thoughts:

My son has been enjoying this course.  He likes that it is self-paced and that he can work as slowly or as fast as he likes.  For example there was a quiz coming up and he was able to take 2 days to really study and review for it.  Typically though he is flying through the course.  We are about a week ahead of the suggested schedule and I hope he keeps that pace up so it will not be a challenge to finish during our 6 month time.  



I like how everything is graded and I can see at a glance how he is doing.  Foreign language is one area of teaching that totally intimidates me.  I have a little bit of knowledge of quite a few languages and frankly it all blends together for me.  The ability to purchase a course for my kid that is going to do all the teaching and grading is a huge relief for me!  I'm almost positive Xan will be asking to complete semester 2 after we finish this one.  Overall we are both pleased with how this course is progressing. One really sweet thing has been quizzing my son on the vocabulary.  I took a year of college French and while I retained very little - I can read the words off the page.  So I've had fun sharing in his learning with French. 




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Friday, October 17, 2014

Y is You for #abcblogging

We are at the end of the alphabet and it sure does get hard to write things for these letters.  I can only imagine how hard next week's letter Z will be.

So the letter Y

I think of

You
Yearn
Yes


Let's start with YOU:


For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -  John 3:16 KJV

In this verse the whosoever is talking about YOU!  

Yearn:

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  - Psalm 42:1 KJV

Are we longing and yearning for God like our psalmist David was in this psalm? 

YES:

 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: - Ruth 1:16

Are we willing to say yes like Ruth was?  Yes to where God will have us go in our lives? 


Just some simple words and questions for the letter Y.  This post is part of BenandMe.com 's blogging through the alphabet.  Click on the image below to see what others are saying about the letter Y.
 
Ben and Me

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Apologia iWitness Books #REVIEW




We have been big fans of Apologia Educational Ministries ever since we started homeschooling three years ago.  We have been using their science curriculum for three years with great success.  This year we are also using their Bible curriculum for our seventh grader.  To say I was excited to have the opportunity to review books from Apologia is rather an understatement!  

What we received:



iWitness Biblical Archaeology - $14


This book digs into biblical archaeology and allows the reader to see the a glimpse into these findings.  Filled with pictures and facts this book studies events from the Old and New Testament.

New Testament iWitness - $14
Do you wonder who the authors were of the New Testament?  This book dives into the historical facts behind the forming of today's Bible.  Learn how it was copied and how many copies along with many other facts.


Old Testament iWitness -  $14
This book explores the Old Testament and bit of the history around it.  Taking a deeper look at what we know about how our bible was made.  Learn how each book made it into our bible and what books didn't.

About these books:
Each of these books is soft covered.  They are written in what I would call a mixed media look.  Meaning there are pictures and drawings along with text. On each page the text is broken down into paragraphs each in it's own little section.  Each of these books were written and designed by Doug Powell.  There are two more books planned for this series being released sometime in 2015:  iWitness World religions and iWitnesss Heresies & Cults.  I think I will have to check those out as they sound fascinating!

Age Range:  Reading level is 11+ but could be used for school age and above.

How we used these books:

Before seeing the books in person I had planned on sitting together during our bible time and reading them out loud.  However upon receiving them I realized quickly that wouldn't work as easily as I thought.  The books are fairly quick to read with short paragraphs on each page for each topic.  For me it worked out for each of us to pick a book of interest and read individually.  Then switching so we have all read each of the books.  This worked out great for my kids who are 12 and 14.  They were able to read their books alone.

After reading we would discuss a bit of what we learned.  The size of these books allowed for travel to piano lessons - so each of the boys took their down time at lessons to read.  We added these in addition to their current bible curriculum. Of course for me as a mom, I read when I could.  Grabbing my books here and there.
 

Our thoughts:

These books are FILLED with information.  I honestly could read each several times and still glean more.  The boys feel the same way.  We love the history we are learning by studying deeper into our faith and bible.  The facts, history and pictures included really make these books special. They are just very visually pleasing.  My oldest has been very interested in learning more about our history pertaining to Christianity.  He has been studying and these books just helped put a lot of information in one place for him.  It is an easy read and a quick way to learn more. 


Please click on the image below to see what the other Crew members have to say about these book:


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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Family Toolbox Program #REVIEW #familytoolbox #heartparenting

We were recently sent the Family Toolbox program by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN for review.  I honestly was so excited because our theme this year with our homeschool is character training.  I have found that I don't have all the 'tools' I thought I did as I embarked on that theme.  Family Toolbox couldn't have come at a better time!

What is it?

The Family Toolbox is a DVD/video-driven program that brings parents and teens together for constructive dialogue around significant issues of discipleship. Conversation is sparked by engaging video clips. Sixteen Life Success Principles are communicated through eight lessons that give parents and teens biblically-based, practical topics for discussion. The format grabs teens and gets them interacting.

The Family Toolbox has 8 lessons. Each one has a 1-2 minute scene of a family living life and experiencing common challenges in their relationships. A discussion guide prompts dialogue between parents and teens and a 10-minute teaching session for parents featuring Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN gives practical tools to use right away.

How we used it and overall thoughts:

For this program you as the parent first watch the segment.  Then you are to watch the short skit with your kids and answer some questions in the workbook.  What we did is I actually read the questions out loud to the kids so that it was more of a  workshop session for our family.  Each chapter doesn't take very long to complete but it does have an impact on our daily future.  The workbook also includes special pages for the parent to complete alone. 

I like that as the parent you get practical advice in each session.  Something you can apply right away.  This is so important because while the problems being pointed out are helpful - you want to know what you can do about the scenarios right away.

I loved how this program opened up dialog between my bigger boys and I.  We had heartfelt conversations after watching the skits.  It was very easy to pick out the problems with other families and then identify in our own lives as well.  Ultimately I'm thankful because both my boys were open to the program and working harder on making our family better.   I also love the use of scripture through out to back up the course and changes needed in our lives.

What this course didn't do is make the kids out to be the bad guys.  It showed that most problems are formed together - with issues from the parents and the kids.  It also shows how working together to change is a great way to start. 

Be sure to join us at the official Facebook party - October 16 at 8 pm ET - There will be additional information and some prizes!


Monday, October 13, 2014

THE MASON JAR #REVIEW & Kindle Fire Giveaway from @JRLingerfelt!

A Rup Life received a copy of this book for review purposes. This post contains affiliate links.



The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt blew me away!  This book is written by a man and in a
man's perspective.  I loved hearing a strong male character speak of love and loving.  It is so rare these days that a man can even express his feelings but "Finn" does just that.  The story goes from telling what happened in the past - to the present.  We meet our characters Finn and Eden and go on their whirlwind love affair.  Then something happens and that is all shaken up.  Finn finds himself adrift in life not really living in the now but living in the past.  He tries to fill his life with good works but it always comes back to Eden.  This is really a lovestory that will stay with you - reminded me a bit of The Notebook.  The letters he shares written back and forth with his Grandpa are the icing on the cake!

About:

What if your old college roommate called, raving about a book someone sent her, calling it the most beautiful book she's ever read? "But," she said, "it's about you." The author is your college ex.
 
In The Mason Jar, Clayton Fincannon is a Tennessee farm boy raised at the feet of his grandfather. He and his grandfather leave letters for each other in a Mason jar on his grandfather's desk---letters of counsel and affirmation. When Clayton attends college in Southern California, he meets and falls in love with a dark debutante from Colorado. However, when an unmentioned past resurrects in her life and she leaves, Clayton is left with unanswered questions.
 
Clayton goes on to serve as a missionary in Africa, while he and his grandfather continue their tradition of writing letters. When Clayton returns home five years later to bury his grandfather, he searches for answers pertaining to the loss of the young woman he once loved. Little does Clayton know, the answers await him in the broken Mason jar.
 
A story about a girl who vanished, a former love who wrote a book about her, and a reunion they never imagined.
 
Written for the bruised and broken, The Mason Jar is an inspirational romance that brings hope to people who have experienced disappointment in life due to separation from loved ones. With a redemptive ending that encourages us to love again and written in the fresh, romantic tones of Nicholas Sparks, The Mason Jar interweaves the imagery of Thoreau with the adventures and climatic family struggles common to Dances with Wolves, A River Runs Through It, and Legends of the Fall. 

You can purchase your copy of The Mason Jar online at Amazon. 



additional information:


James Russell Lingerfelt's debut novel, The Mason Jar, is hot-off-the-press and causing quite the buzz. It's even been optioned for a feature film and is in pre-production.

Catch the spark by entering James' Kindle Fire giveaway!
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One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire
  • The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at James Russell's blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective.

masonjar-enterbanner

Sunday, October 12, 2014

THE SEA HOUSE #Review & Kindle Fire Giveaway from Elisabeth Gifford

A Rup Life was sent a copy of this book for review. This post contains affiliate links.
I recently was sent The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford for review.  This was an intriguing tale.  The main character Ruth has a rough past and is working through all of that to find life in the present.  I found her struggles real and heartbreaking but they made me want to root for her journey in life to be successful.  The present story is of Ruth but she is trying to unravel the past of their new home.  Through that story we learn of a mermaid child and some mysterious past.  I quite enjoyed the mystery in the book.   I felt like it was just enough to carry the story and keep me reading more!  This really was an intriguing tale. Gifford weaves a tale that keeps your interest up until the last word.

You can purchase your copy of The Sea House at your local retailer or online at stores like Amazon.

About the book: 

Scotland, 1860.
Reverend Alexander Ferguson, naive and newly-ordained, takes up his new parish, a poor, isolated patch on the Hebridean island of Harris. His time on the island will irrevocably change the course of his life, but the white house on the edge of the dunes keeps its silence long after Alexander departs. It will be more than a century before the Sea House reluctantly gives up its secrets. Ruth and Michael buy the grand but dilapidated building and begin to turn it into a home for the family they hope to have. Their dreams are marred by a shocking discovery. The tiny bones of a baby are buried beneath the house; the child's fragile legs are fused together --- a mermaid child. Who buried the bones? And why? Ruth needs to solve the mystery of her new home --- but the answers to her questions may lie in her own past.
Based on a real nineteenth-century letter to The Times in which a Scottish clergyman claimed to have seen a mermaid, The Sea House is an epic, sweeping tale of loss and love, hope and redemption, and how we heal ourselves with the stories we tell.
Additional Information:
Don't miss The Sea House, a stunning fiction debut from the UK. Set in a house on the windswept coast of the Outer Hebrides, Elisabeth Gifford's haunting tale effortlessly bridges a gap of more than a century. Adeptly interweaving two tales involving residents of the titular house, Gifford sets up an absorbing mystery revolving around local lore and myths about mermaids, selkies, and sealmen. Stretching seamlessly back and forth through time, layers upon layers of secrets are slowly and effectively peeled away in this evocative debut (Booklist).

Celebrate with Elisabeth by entering her Kindle giveaway!
E.Gifford, The Sea House Giveaway

One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire
  • The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at Elisabeth's Blog.
seahouse-enterbanner

Watch the trailer: