Amish Values for Your Family

by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Read the Back:
"Amish Values for Your Family is charming! It will lift your spirits and bring you closer to the Amish."--Cindy Woodsmall, New York Times bestselling author of When the Soul Mends

When it comes to strong families that know how to truly enjoy life together, there is much we can learn from the Amish. Just how do they establish such strong family bonds, such deeply held values, and such wonderful family traditions? In Amish Values for Your Family, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shares the secrets of Amish family life. In this inspiring and practical book, you will meet real Amish families that are a lot like yours. Through their stories you'll discover how to

* slow down
* safeguard family time
* raise children who stand strong in their faith
* prioritize what's truly important

Amish values like community, forgiveness, simple living, obedience, and more can be your family legacy--without selling your car or changing your wardrobe.

My Thoughts:

This was an absolutely lovely book to read. Just in reading it I could feel the stress of the world lifting away. I love how this book reminds us of how even the simple things in life can make the biggest impact! The Amish Proverbs that start each chapter are truly words of wit and wisdom. Again, I found myself thinking about printing some of them off and hanging them around my house!

The section of the chapters titled "Road Map: Getting There from Here" are full of questions that the reader can use to examine how things are in their own lives and how they can challenge themselves to change the negatives into positives. I really enjoyed these sections as they got me thinking a lot about how I approach things in my life especially in relation to my children.

This book would make a great gift for anyone! I highly recommend it :D

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Busy Bug Count & Match Dominoes™ Game Review & Giveaway!

A BIT ABOUT THE GAME:

Includes 27 wooden dominoes with cute-as-a-bug illustrations for each number. These colorful dominos will provide hours of fun filled play. Tiles come in a portable bug habitat with sliding mesh window that is easy to take anywhere. Ages 2+.


MY THOUGHTS:

Skills Learned/Practiced & Lessons Taught
When I first received this product to review, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about it. Dominoes? Really?! I never played dominoes until I was much older and, to be honest with you, I often found it to be a boring game. However, now that I'm a parent, my views have changed drastically and I'll explain why.

This Busy Bug Count and Match Dominoes Game is great for young children. My daughter is 3 and we sat down together today and played this game. There are many different skills that she is learning and practicing by playing this game. She practices her counting by counting out each player's starting tiles (for her and I this was 7 tiles each). Next the instructions tell you to stand the tiles on their sides in a line. It was obvious that the fine motor skill of standing flat things on their sides needed to be worked on some more. While she got frustrated when the dominoes kept falling over, she persevered and was able to stand all 7 of her tiles up. She had such a smile on her face after accomplishing that small task.

Next the player with the highest totaled domino plays first. This part I had to help her with, but if I had been patient we could've easily counted all the bugs on each of her tiles and mine to see which tile had the most (wasn't quite that patient today :D).

Both times she had the higher tile so she played first. The next skill that presented itself was matching. My daughter was able to look at the two playable spots and match her tiles to them. After once or twice of explaining if she had no matches that she needed to pick a new tile, she learned to do it on her own when no matches were available. I was quite amazed at how quickly my 3 yr. old picked up on the rules of this game.

Mommy won round 1 and round 2 went to my daughter. The final skill learned from this game is good sportsmanship! Having lost the first round, my daughter became a bit upset that she wasn't the winner. I used this as a teachable moment and explained to her that you can't win every time. I asked her if she wanted to play again and she said yes. When she won the second round she proceeded to taunt me. Another teachable moment to explain that it's not polite to taunt a loser, but that you should instead shake hands and say good game.

I absolutely love the lessons I can teach by playing a simple game like dominoes!

Quality and Craftmanship of the Game
A wooden box encases 27 wooden tiles. The box and tiles are both very well made. The tiles are chunky enough for small hands. The pictures on the tiles are simple and colorful. The backs of the tiles sport a multi-colored stripe pattern that matches nicely with the color schemes of the rest of the tiles. The carrying case for the dominoes doubles as a bug habitat, but personally I'd be too worried about losing one of the dominoes when they are out of the case and I wouldn't want the beautiful case to get dirty. That's just me though! It would certainly work well to contain bugs and has a sturdy carrying handle!

The size of this game is great too. It'd be an easy game to throw into your carry on to play on the plane or in w/ your camping gear for a family game night! Very good size measuring around the size of a box of Mac - n - Cheese (only slightly deeper).

This is a great product for young kids and it is available online at www.manhattantoy.com or at a Specialty Store near you.

As an added bonus to my readers, Manhattan Toy is offering free shipping* on any order at www.manhattantoy.com from Today – August 31st, 2011. Simply Enter promo code TRAVELTOY.

*FREE SHIPPING OFFER VALID IN U.S. ONLY!




GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!! OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS!
This contest will run until July 25th, 2011 (since it's my big 30th b-day that day!) All entries must be received by midnight on the 25th to qualify!

Manhattan Toy has graciously offered to send a Busy Bug Count & Match Dominoes Game to giveaway to one of my lucky readers! Just follow the steps below to enter! Winners will be chosen using Random.org and will be contacted via email if they win.


!!!ALL COMMENTS MUST INCLUDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!!!



MANDATORY TO QUALIFY FOR GIVEAWAY**:
1. Like Manhattan Toy on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
2. Visit Manhattan Toy's website and leave me a comment stating what other Manhattan Toy your child would enjoy and why.

**These 2 items must be completed to qualify for the giveaway and before you can be eligible for any additional entries!

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REMEMBER THAT EACH ENTRY MUST HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE! THANKS FOR ENTERING AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!

An Amish Love (Three Amish Novellas)

by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long


READ THE BACK:

ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR, OLD-FASHIONED COURTSHIP IS ALIVE AND WELL, AND LOVE IS AN ETERNAL PROMISE.

HEALING HEARTS by Beth Wiseman
He left to find himself. She found her way without him. Now Levina and Naaman Lapp are together again, feeling miles apart. Although coming home was the right thing to do, Naaman must regain the trust and respect of his wife who, in his absence, has learned to trust God like never before. Could it be that their prior years together have simply been a preface to a greater love than they have ever known?

A MARRIAGE OF THE HEART by Kelly Long
Abigail Kauffman is looking for a way out; Joseph Lambert is seeking a way in. Since her mother's death, Abby has lived alone with her father and longs to escape the emptiness of the farmhouse that has never felt like home. Joseph Lambert is a newcomer in their close-knit community. Only after they find themselves suddenly married to each other do they begin to understand the tender truths of life-long love.

WHAT THE HEART SEES by Kathleen Fuller
When Ellie Chupp loses her sight in an accident -- and then her boyfriend shortly after that -- she believes love will never be in her future. But Christopher Miller has returned home, five years after fleeing from the tragedy that broke his heart. When Ellie and Chris meet again, sparks fly. Could true love be a matter of seeing with new eyes?


MY THOUGHTS:

This book came to me in the mail MONTHS ago and I have just now had the opportunity to read it. I'm glad that it didn't get lost among all the other review books I have because it really is a treasure of a book! The three novellas in this book are each their own story, but the characters from each story intertwine among all the stories. It gives the reader the feeling of congruency.

Each of these stories is beautifully written. Having grown up just a short distance away from several different Amish communities, I was familiar with the look of the characters and that really helped make the characters real to me.

My favorite thing about this book, however, is how it kind of caught me off guard. I was really hit hard by the unconditional love that these characters felt towards one another. There were many times I was teary eyed simply because of a heartfelt gesture or phrase that one of the characters would use. It made me take a look at the way I treat those around me (especially my hubby)and to cherish those things. I think it also makes me long for the type of relationship and romance that you see throughout this book. It's like once you're married, the romantic part drifts away. I miss the small things my husband would do for me to show me he cared. Now we are all so busy with the kids and such that life just gets in the way.

I really like that this book is broken down into three separate stories. By doing this, each of the stories has its own significant impact, but at the same time the reader meets new characters and sees how their lives fit into the lives of the characters they met in the previous story.

As an added bonus feature of the book, the authors have included several Amish recipes for treats found throughout the stories as well as a Reading Group Guide to help with discussions about the book once finished. The authors even state that the "guide contains spoilers, so don' tread before completing the novellas". This group guide allows the readers to delve deeper into their relationship with Christ. What a wonderful addition to be used at the readers' discretion.

Word of advice: If you are going to read this book, don't do it near your time of the month otherwise you will need to buy several boxes of tissues! Otherwise, I highly recommend this book! :D

The Lady of Bolton Hill

by Elizabeth Camden

Read the Back:
When Clara Endicott and Daniel Tremain’s worlds collide after twelve years apart, the spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a romance neither of them thought possible.

But time has changed them both.

Daniel is an industrial titan with powerful enemies. Clara is an idealistic journalist determined to defend underprivileged workers.

Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts – and lives – hang in the balance?

My Thoughts:
You definitely can’t judge this book by its cover. The image on the front does not fit the author’s description of Miss Clara Endicott’s personality one bit! I found this book captivating from the very start. You are introduced to Daniel as a boy and you learn about some of his and Clara’s back story before you are fast forwarded to 12 years in the future.

The passion with which these characters interact really made this story come to life for me. The author’s use of imagery also throws the reader into the action and drama as it unfolds. I found, however, that when the second, parallel storyline was introduced it initially disrupted the flow of the story line, but eventually it all came together nicely.

This book was a relatively quick read once I found the time to sit and just read it. A beautiful love story that will leave take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. The Lady of Bolton Hill was just a delight to read.


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Danino Go Yogurt Drinks

As a mother of two young children, I find myself constantly struggling to find foods for my kids that are healthy, convenient, and that both of them like. I often find that the foods my kids like are hard for them to eat while we are on the go. Then, I stumbled upon Danino Go Yogurt Drinks. These are really convenient! I can bring them along easily and I simply grab a straw for each kid, poke it through the foil lid, and presto...instant mess-less breakfast or snack.

Danino Go comes in three flavors; Strawberry, Raspberry, and Strawberry Banana. I have only tried the strawberry banana yogurts with my kids and they slurp them right down. My oldest asks for a yogurt drink more often than for cookies or "treats" as she calls any other special/sugary food.

Another added bonus to these yogurt drinks is that they provide the calcium and dairy servings that my kids need. My children are NOT milk drinkers at all, but they love their yogurts & cheese.

Interesting fact: Danino Go is a source of calcium and vitamin D. A single 93 ml serving provides 3 g of protein! It also contains 30% less sugar than their original recipe did.

Overall, a great choice for busy moms on the go. I highly recommend them!

Heaven Is for Real

by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

Read the Back:
“DO YOU REMEMBER THE HOSPITAL, COLTON?” SONJA SAID. “YES, MOMMY, I REMEMBER,” HE SAID. “THAT’S WHERE THE ANGELS SANG TO ME.”

When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren’t expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed – a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy’s trip to heaven and back.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery – and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how “really, really big God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton’s uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, “Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.”

Heaven Is for Real will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child.

My Thoughts:

Read It! Simply put. This book was an amazing read. It took me only a matter of hours to get through it. I could NOT put it down!! I would recommend this book to EVERYONE! If you weren’t a believer before reading this book, you would probably reconsider becoming one after.

This book has forever changed my perspective on death and life for that matter. To hear the words of such a young boy and the beauty of heaven as he describes it is truly a blessing. I have always suffered with a fear of death (as most people, yes even Christians, do), but this book has renewed a longing for getting to see Jesus on my final day!

I love the simplicity of how God uses Colton’s experience to touch so many lives. There is an underlying message of hope and restoration for all the readers.
As a parent I found certain portions of the book difficult to get through. I was suffering right along side the Burpos as they watched their little boy becoming sicker. There were several times where I was crying while reading this book. I love when a book can stir such emotion in me as it means it’s well written and relatable.

Read it…share it…talk about it.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Project Dad: The Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide for Becoming a Great Father

By Todd Cartmell

Read the Back:
What does it take to build a great dad?

Men like to build things. We like to take parts and put them together to make a whole. Did you know that this do-it-yourself talent can help you become a great dad?
In his fresh, humorous style, Todd Cartmell takes you on an action-packed journey to help you become the dad God made you to be and that your kids hope you will be. You will learn the five key areas that every great dad needs to renovate, including how you look at, talk to, connect with, act toward, and lead your children.

Cartmell shows you that you already have the raw materials at your disposal, then gives you the blueprint for putting them together. Begin your Project Dad today. Your family will never be the same.


My Thoughts:
While this is a book written for men, I found it a useful tool as a mother too. There are many great suggestions to be a better role model for your children. I also thought it would be good to read it as my husband is not usually into the self-help type of books…not enough sci-fi in it for him :D Todd Carmell surprised me in this book. I was laughing and crying most of the way through. He reminds us that nobody is perfect and his humor (while probably more funny for the men) was the laugh out loud kind. I found myself looking around several times while reading to see if my laughing had drawn any sort of attention to me.

I really enjoyed the re-caps of the key points in each chapter. There is also a “Getting to Work” section that actively draws the reader to examine where they stand with God and their kids.

I recommend this book for any dad, but especially for Christian ones as it really digs into what God has planned for us and how to build our relationship with Christ in order to build our relationship with our kids.

The part of the book that struck me the most is: “Look at your children the way that God looks at them, and you will help them become what God made them to be.” How true is that? I plan to make a print out of it and post it where I can see it daily.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!
Thanks to the wonderful people at Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin, I have a copy of Project Dad to give away to one of my lucky readers. To enter is simple.

To Participate:
Leave me a comment stating one positive thing about one of the men in your life (i.e.: husband, brother, father, etc.) and include your email address. THIS ENTRY IS MANDATORY.

EMAIL MUST BE INCLUDED IN EACH ENTRY IN ORDER TO BE NOTIFIED IN THE EVENT OF A WIN.

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DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL FOR EACH STEP. NO EMAIL MEANS YOU CAN’T WIN!

Open to Canadian Residents Only!

Random.org will be used to determine the winner. If you win, you will have 24 hours to contact me and give me your mailing address to receive your prize.

Deadline: End of the day on June 10th, 2011.