Whatever You Grow Up to Be by Karen Kingsbury (Children's book)

A keepsake book.
This is a sweet book for a mom to read with her son. However, it is for most moms one of those books that is a tear jerker for a Mom to actually read the words to her children with crying. Each few pages takes a mom on past and future life stages of her child’s life from birth, graduating, getting married, to giving her grandchildren. It is a hard back book with a matching paper slip, which won’t last long at my house. My 5 year old son loved looking at the pictures of all the things he could be when he grew up. I forsee me having this as a coffee table book to have out to look at the pictures with him. I’m not sure how many times this emotional momma will be able to read the words! I was hoping it would be more playful so I could enjoy reading it to him more.
It would be a good gift giving book for a pregnant mom to have to share with her son. These kind of books are always nice to have to show and remind your child that you will love them no matter what, forever and ever, and that they can be whatever they want to be – or what God wants them to be.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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
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The Jesus Bible, NIV

Such a great idea for kids and adults! I thought the description given with the book below would be a great idea for my son:
The Jesus Bible, NIV
Discover Jesus In Every Book of the Bible by Zondervan
Jesus isn’t just found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. His presence can be felt throughout the whole Bible, even in Genesis. The Jesus Bible contains the complete New International Version (NIV) with daily study helps that point to Jesus and show how he fulfilled the prophecies for the Messiah found in the Old Testament. A perfect way to see the overarching narrative of the Bible, The Jesus Bible includes these features:
• Presentation page for personalization and gift giving
• Book introductions explain where Jesus appears in each book of the Bible
• 365 devotions revolve around the “sightings” of Jesus in the Old Testament and his life and teachings in the New Testament
• Application notes to help apply Jesus’ teachings to real life today
• Hundreds of clues highlight the promises/prophesies made about Jesus in the Old Testament and the fulfillments in the New Testament
• Index of the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Christ
• List of Jesus’ miracles and parables
• Timeline of Jesus’ life
• Lineage of Jesus
• Concordance to help find key topics, people, and events in the Bible
• Words of Christ in red

I was very pleasantly surprised by what I found when I got this hard back Bible. It will be a great Bible for years to come with him. I love the way everything is laid out and the way it gives daily stories to relate to things that happened in the Bible and with things that Jesus said. I would highly recommend this Bible if you are looking for a good one for your child. Thank you to the booksneeze blogging program for this copy of The Jesus Bible in return for my honest review.

Pirates on the Farm by Denette Fretz (Children's book)

http://www.christianbook.com/1-pirates-on-the-farm/denette-fretz/9780310723486/pd/723486?product_redirect=1&Ntt=723486&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP#curr The description given, "Pirates on the Farm tells the tale of five brazen pirates who swap high seas adventures for life on a farm. Each member of the unadventurous Sanders family must choose how to respond to the pirates and their antics. Mother forms a Ban the Buccaneers Brigade, eight-year-old Joey imitates everything the pirates do, his older sister keeps her distance, and Dad quietly helps the outcasts find their "land legs." If you child likes pirates, I would recommend this book. The book uses words a lot of pirate terms that children who like pirates would know. If not, there is a definition area in the back. It is a cute book and my 4 year old keeps bringing to me to read to him. It teaches how you should treat your neighbor and gives examples on how to make them feel welcomed. It is a cute book. I would recommend this book to a pirate loving child. Thank you to booksneeze reading program for this book in exchange for my honest review.

1st Bible Study of 2014 ~ Women Living Well

www.womenlivingwell.org has an awesome bible study going on. She gives the study guide, only need the book. I get her emails during the week. I really have enjoyed her blog over the years, so I was excited to get her book, and even more happy to see a study guide over it. I am not a study guide type of person b/c of the busyiness of being a mom/wife/worker,etc. I found the first chapter taking me back on a discussion we had on this blogsite last week – what is our fascination of the Amish? If you see my blog, you know that I am one of those people. Today’s world is so busy, it is nice to read about the simple life – knowing that should be our focus. Life is so busy and there are so many voices/things that take our attention. Even when the sun goes down, we are made to rest, but thanks to electricity and lights, we keep on ticking late into the night. Most more than me, since I crash early at night (morning person here). One thing she pointed out, is how often do we charge our cellphone? Daily, of course. Why don’t we recharge ourselves with God’s word? We can’t take time out? I have put devotions all through my life for this year, so if I walk in to get the dirty laundry from my bedroom, there lies a book. Can I take a minute to read? Thankfully, I have managed about 5 times for that one this year. Even though we have these books, we still need time in the ONE book that counts – BIBLE. In the first chapter you read about her Rachel Ray interview. It saddens me that media cuts out interviews when people bring up their personal walk with Christ. I love as she refers to B.C in our life as mommas – Before Children! Ha! I sure did have a lot more quiet times before my kiddos. I believe Jesus understands those first few years of being a momma and the craziness of life. We must still find times for those sweet moments of solitude, even if we wake up an hour later.  I do love reading how her mom taught her to take quiet times out with Jesus where she would journal, read her bible, etc. This is an awesome idea. How do I teach my children to take time out for their Bible?

The Dawn of Christmas by Cindy Woodsmall

After finishing this book, it just makes you want to say, “awe.” It is such a sweet heartwarming story. The friendship Sadie and Levi find is priceless. It is an enjoyable book in all aspects, minus dealing with her ex-finance. You sit on the edge of your seat wondering when he will mess up this friendship. The book reminds you how God will determine a person’s steps. Sometimes we don’t understand the journey God has placed us on, until we see the end of the story. Isn’t it wonderful God always knows the end of the story before it actually begins. The book even focusing on learning to trust again after being hurt. Life must go on, but it shows that it may be hard, but God has your heart in his hands. If you are looking for a sweet uplifting story, this would be the one. It really wouldn’t matter if it is during the Christmas season or after. Thank you to the waterbrookmultnomah blogging site for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review. It was a blessing to enjoy this book. Once again Cindy Woodsmall has written a great story!

2014 "Just a Closer Walk with Thee"

How did 2013 fly by so fast! My chosen word for 2013 was to "Simplfy" life. I would like to think I did, but if I am honest with myself, I will say I didn't truly focus on that as much as I would had liked to, but then again I gave birth to the most wonderful daughter, enjoyed my son being 4, mourned the death of my Granny - yet finding Victory in her death by seeing the joy my daughter brings, and lost my father. Wow that was a lot for a year. For 2014 when I pray about a word, the only thing that comes out is the hymm, "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" So I aim to focus on my walk with Him - giving time to read a Proverb for the day, enjoying all the devotional books that surround me, showing my children my walk with the Lord and leading them, and trying to be the best mom and wife that I can be. Also my focus will be on making Momma healthy so I can be here for my children! Even though the words are few, what I have just written will be a big focus and difficult challenge, but with God's help, I pray that I can report more by the end of this year. I forsee 2014 being a big year for us... Dear God help me as I have a closer walk with thee!

For Every Season, Amish Vines and Orchards, Book 3

For Every Season Amish Vines and Orchards, Book 3 By Cindy Woodsmall This series is one that everyone would enjoy. I love at the end of the book that there is Glossary of the main characters so you can remember everyone from the previous books, plus a glossary of Amish dutch so you can follow when the characters speak it in the story. I find it neat how you start to learn it and can follow through with the sayings as you read this series. There is also great recipes that go along with the story . This series is about a family of brothers plus Rhoda’s family that move to Maine to establish an Amish community and to work an apple orchard. Rhoda ends up dating the brother Jacob, when in book 1, I always thought she would end up with Samuel. In book 2 you see her relationship bloom with Jacob. In this story, Jacob is facing a decision to move away. Would Rhoda move again with him? Rhoda was introduced to the family b/c she cans and cooks with the apples, so she can help the family run the apple orchard by selling products with the apples. She has a gift with herbs and can usually feel is something is off. This is usually the intriguing part of the story for me. In this story it is interesting on how the Amish have relationships with their English neighbors. I would recommend this series to someone looking for a good story. Thank you to the waterbrook press for the opportunity to review this book for my honest review.