It Was Me All Along

You have no idea how much I loved this book!  Andie Mitchell is an excellent story teller.  Want to know the part I can relate to the most?  Being an overweight kid!  I was never a small person, and I have spent many years trying to get past this.  Is it easy?  Usually not.  Most days I just try my best to forget about the past and live in the present.  How many diets have I been on?  Too many to count!  How many Mondays did I start a new diet?  Every single one!  Do I love food?  You bet I do!  Have I struggled with my weight?  Every day of my life!  That is why I love this book.  Andie Mitchell has too!  

I love her story and all she represents.  I love that she "gets it" and is so real.  I love that she wants her readers to feel love and accepted to matter what they weigh, eat, or what size their clothes are.  The struggle is definitely real.  Every single day.  This book will be kept in my arsenal and reread when needed!

*I received this book in exchange for my review.  All opinions are mine.*

The 13th Gift Book Review

This is a long overdue book review.  I got this book in December.  I love to read Christmas stories during the month leading up to December 25th!  And I put off a lot of things until the week before Christmas.  Then I got sick.  Like I cannot get out of bed sick.  I went to work for a day and half drugged up on tylenol & motrin, then I would collapse into bed.  The rest of the week before the holiday I stayed in my bed.  I didn't even make it to our Christmas Eve service at church.  So I learned a little lesson in 2014...if you put off things until the week before Christmas, they might not get done!!  But I am finally getting around to posting this book review.

The 13th Gift is centered around a woman whose husband has died.  She has three children, works full time, and is facing the first Christmas without her husband/father of her children.  She is sad and lonely, and the last thing she wants to do is think about the looming pressure of Christmas.  One evening, their doorbell rings and a package is left on the doorstep with no one in sight.  This turns into a nightly tradition.  It is always a holiday related item (think poinsetta, candy canes, ornaments, cookie cutters, etc...).  And they never catch anyone "in the act"!  This leads to some great conversations, some good quality family time, and lots of excitement for this household.  For a widower who was stuck living in survival mode, this jump started her way out of her funk!  What a great idea to help someone out.

I love this quote at the end of the book by the author Joanne Huist Smith, "We don't all have to become gift givers dashing across darkened lawns in ninja outfits to experience the high that living a generous life can bring.  But even in moments of deepest grief, we can turn off self-survival mode and share with others all that we've learned along the way."

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.  All opinions are mine.*

PUREX CRYSTALS AROMATHERAPY REVIEW

I am a Purex Insider, so I got the great opportunity to try out the new Purex Crystals Aromatherapy.  Here are some facts about this new product:

*This is offered in 3 great scents: Energy, Well Being, and Serenity

*You can express your mood with each unique aroma

*The scents are blended with essential oils

*Long-lasting scent infusion (my favorite part)

I have three boys playing basketball right now, so I have tons of smelly sweaty athletic clothing, basketball uniforms, and socks that smell like no other!  So I have been using the Energy Purex Crystals in these loads of laundry.  I love how they smell afterwards.  I love that the scent lasts.  And I love that Purex makes such great products.

What to win a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Crystals Aromatherapy?!?  Leave a comment telling me what your smelliest laundry is and I will pick a winner!  Contest ends November 20th so I can get the coupon to you quickly!

LetterPress Blocks by Dayspring

We have just completed a sermon series at my church on Grace.  I loved it so much.  I've learned more about grace the last 5 weeks than I have ever known my whole Christian life!  One of my favorite stories involved the master who went out and got workers all throughout the day.  Some in the early morning, some a few hours later, some after lunch, and even a few workers in the late hours of the workday.  At the end of the day, the master paid every worker the same wages.  Those who worked all day were ticked off to say the least. Those who worked two hours were so thankful to their master for the grace he showed them. When there is more grace, there is more peace.  And this is the prayer I have added to my life:

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.  

II Corinthians 1:2

You can build your own Letterpress Blocks phrase with Dayspring.  They also have pre-made words you can choose from.  These would look great on any gallery wall in your home!

A Robertson Family Christmas Review

If you've ever watched the Robertson family on their hit television show Duck Commander, you know they are all about Faith, Family, and Ducks.  They are also a lot of fun!  I have watched many an episode and thought to myself Wow!  I would really like to go hang out with them.  They seem like they are always having a great time.  And they are always eating really good food!  

In this new book written by Miss Kay Robertson (with Travis Thrasher), one lucky boy, Hunter, gets to do just that.  After winning a contest he knew nothing about, this teenage boy gets to go spend the week of Christmas with Willie and Korie Robertson and all their kids.  This Chicago city boy gets to meet the West Monroe country boys.  He is really not excited about the week, but the Robertson clan does not disappoint.  Hunting trips, cooking lessons, Christmas traditions, and just plain fun are all a part of the Hunter's week!

Another big part of spending time with the Robertsons is learning all about their faith and how they live it out in their daily lives.  A big part of this wisdom comes from Phil Robertson.  Although resistant at first, Hunter becomes open to this at the end of the week.  It is a blessing to see how much influence this family had on this teenager's life.  

This is a quick read, and I will add it to my basket of Christmas books for sure.  I am a part of the Tyndale Blog Network, and they sent me a book to giveaway to one reader.  To enter, please leave a comment with your favorite Christmas tradition.  I will choose a winner on November 13th and send a copy of the book to them.  I'm excited to share this book with one of you!

STOP Teaching Our Kids To Kill REVIEW

As a mom of three boys (ages 9 {twins} and 13), I am very aware of the violence that our kids are bombarded with every day.  I also have a husband who served in the United States Army for several years.  That being said, I tend to agree with what this book is saying, and my husband has the total opposite viewpoint. This is where we agree to disagree.  

I highly recommend looking at the website by the Killology Research Group.  It is very informative.  I found this quote about the book.  "Their book is a much-needed call to action for every parent, teacher, and citizen to help our children and stop the wave of killing and violence gripping America's youth. And, most important, it is a blueprint for us all on how that can be achieved."  So parents, teachers, mentors, and kids can all learn something very important from this book.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.  Opinions are mine.*

Noah by Mark Ludy

My oldest son is named Noah, so I am naturally drawn to books about the Bible character Noah.  Since the release of the major motion picture, we have re-read the story of Noah in the Bible with our kids.  And now we have an excellent resource to put pictures to the Bible story as we read.

  This is the first of Mark Ludy's books that I have had the opportunity to peruse.  He is most definitely a talented artist.  His pictures are beautiful and the detail is amazing!  The colors are vivid and eye-catching.  He puts a story into pictures beautifully.  My boys enjoyed the animals the most!

I am glad I was given the opportunity to review this book from Plough Publishing House.