God Gave Us Family

::From the back of the book::
Little Pup’s wolf family is on their way to a special reunion—with lots of cousins, games, roasting marshmallows, and fun! As the young wolf thinks about different kinds of families, it’s the perfect opportunity for Mama and Papa to teach their inquisitive child about the families that God brings together. Some families are big and others are small, some are led by grandparents or just one parent, and some families include adopted little ones– yet each family is truly special. 
 
Even the members of Little Pup’s pack make up an important role in his family, although they sometimes pester him. Papa gently reminds his son…
 
“We need to love the family God gave us.”
 
A heartwarming and colorful addition to the best-selling God Gave Us series, this tale will delight young hearts and help them understand how families of all types reflect God’s unconditional love.


::My Thoughts::
This is a wonderful book for children! Especially really young children who have questions about other types of families. There are so many different types of families, and sometimes that is hard for children to understand. Occasionally children may ask questions about those families because every family is different. Some families have moms and dads while some only have one parent. Sometimes a child lives with their grandparents. Sometimes there are families who adopt a child. Some families have many children while others only may have one. So many differences, and sometimes that is hard for some young children to understand. This book is wonderful for those questions. It not only answers a child's question about why other families may not be like theirs, but it shows God's love in each family. God is what brings family together, and that is so important to realize.
This book is not too long so it definitely captures your children's attention and holds it. The illustrations are wonderful. The pages are colorful and the illustrations are very well done and detailed. My children loved looking at the pages and noticing so many little details here and there.
I would highly recommend this book. 




::Product Details::

• Age Range: 3 - 7 years
• Grade Level: Preschool - 2
• Series: God Gave Us
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook; Ill edition (October 17, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601428766
• ISBN-13: 978-1601428769

::Find this book::

Hardcover    Kindle

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a Blogging for Books member in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Trick or Treating Safety Tips

Well it is that time parents! Time for your little ones to dress up as their wildest imagination and collect candy door to door. Many children look forward to Halloween, but there are some important things to consider before going out on Halloween! Whether your children are old enough to go trick or treating with friends in the neighborhood without you or if you take your children trick or treating there are things to consider before going out. Here are some helpful tips for a safe and easy going Halloween. I know I am looking forward to a much less stressful Halloween by following these tips.

My favorite tip is Tip #1 Eat before you Trick or Treat. There is nothing worse than dealing with Hangry kiddos who are snipping candy here and there because they cannot wait. By feeding them before they go out they will have more energy and be more likely to wait before sampling some of the goodies in their bucket. Then when they get home you can check their candy for safety and have peace of mind that they didn't eat half of their bucket first!

Here is to wishing everyone a Happy, Safe, and Fun Halloween this year! And a special thank you to http://www.fletcherchrysler.com/ for providing us with these helpful tips!

What are some of your tips for a smooth sailing Halloween?

Brave Beauty

::From the back of the book::

What will my life be like? Who will I be? Whether girls put these concerns into words or struggle anxiously with these thoughts, during this season of change, girls have questions. Sometimes these questions also come with fears and they need a safe place to process these fears. From Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and blogger, Lynn Cowell, comes Faithgirlz Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You.For girls 8-12, Brave Beauty brings tweens 100 courage-building moments to reflect on Scripture and find confidence in God, rather than in someone, some place, or some thing, as culture will all-too-soon tell them to. Lynn will also prepare girls to:

• Overcome confidence-defeating thoughts and stand on who Jesus says she is.
• Shape her self-worth on Christ and overcome the temptation base it on environmental factors.
• Build a strong foundation to face the fickle and flippant opinions of others.
• Find approval of herself even when she lacks the acceptance of others.
• Find security by turning to Christ as she steps through the exciting, yet scary world of growing up

Formatted as theme-based mini chapters, these moments can be read as one-a-days, one-a-weeks, or at the reader’s own pace. Simple and empowering, Lynn’s voice is relatable and conversational, making it easy for girls to feel like they’re spending time with a friend. This inspirational read will be set as a gorgeously foil decorated hardcover, with beautifully formatted pages in line with the well-known and loved Faithgirlz look, and with an easy-reference index to look up any topic.

::My Thoughts::

Let me just start by saying I am so glad that a book like this one is out there for girls. This is a fantastic read for young girls, and I would have loved having this book on my shelf when I was young. This is best suited for girls ages 8-12, but is flexible on age I think. My favorite thing about this book is there is so much advice on being able to deal with and ignore others opinions, and being more confident in yourself. It helps girls find more stability in God than through others, and teaches girls they are not alone. This is definitely an inspirational and truly moving book. It helps answer questions that many young girls have about themselves, and their future. It helps them move into their future with more confidence, and I believe can help root them deeper spiritually. It is current with today's culture, and just an all around fantastic devotional for girls. It is even a great fit for girls that are busy with sports or school as the devotionals take barely no time at all. It even has quizzes for girls to do and find out more about themselves. It would be wonderful for a mother, grandmother, aunt, older sister, etc., to read with their young tween. It gets girls thinking, and the author shares a lot of her own personal stories that are very relatable. This book deals with topics that girls face on an everyday basis, peer pressure, bullying, acceptance of others, self-esteem, etc. There is even a wonderful Table of Contents where a young girl can look up specific subjects she may need help with. The prayers contained in this book are equally as wonderful, and there isn't one thing I didn't love about this book. I definitely recommend it for any young girls out there, and really at any age. It is that wonderful. I, myself, was excited about what would come next. My cousin whom I gifted this book too loves it. She spends so much time just reading and reading it. She can read a chapter a day, more if she wishes, and even revisits some of them. In a world as we live in today I recommend this book for all young girls.

::Find this book::

Walmart ~ Target ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ ChristianBooks

::Product Details::

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Series: Faithgirlz
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (August 29, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310763142
• ISBN-13: 978-0310763147

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Egypt's Sister

::From the back of the book::
You Don't Know Her Name. The World Remembers Only Her Greatest Friend: Cleopatra.
Raised together in the Alexandrian palace, Chava, the Hebrew daughter of the royal tutor, and Urbi, an Egyptian princess, become as close as sisters--and rivals with their dreams of greatness. When Urbi unexpectedly ascends the throne as Queen Cleopatra, Chava believes their bond is strong enough to survive. But absolute power has a way of changing everything. 

The ultimate betrayal rips Chava from everything she's ever known and sends her to the lowest rung of Roman society where she must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God's will for her life, if she hopes to rise again.



::My Thoughts::
I have always been fascinated by Cleopatra and I really enjoyed this book. While it didn't give as much details on Cleopatra that I would have liked, her friend Chava was very intriguing. This book gives a unique fictional story on Cleopatra's upbringing and rise to power and delves into Cleopatra's friend Chava.
I feel like this book has a lot of historical and biblical details and you can definitely tell a lot of research was put into this book. The characters are all very well developed, and the details are amazing. This book will definitely have you immersed. 
This book is not predictable at all which I appreciate because I love being surprised. 
I was very intrigued by Chava's story and experiences. 
I do wish there was more reconciliation at the end. I was definitely left wishing for more. I just felt like more of the story should have been included before the ending. However, I still recommend giving this book a read. Especially if you love historical details, and are intrigued by biblical times and characters.



::Product Details::

• Series: The Silent Years
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 4, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764219324
• ISBN-13: 978-0764219320
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange from my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

Girl in Pieces

::About the book::
   Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people do in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The broken glass washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you. 
   Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge. 
  A deeply moving portrait of a girl in a world that owes her nothing, and has taken so much, and the journey she undergoes to put herself back together. Kathleen Glasgow's debut is heartbreakingly real and unflinchingly honest. It’s a story you won’t be able to look away from.



::My Thoughts::
Let me just start by saying I could not put this book down once I started reading it. In today's world many teens face many trials in their lives. It is a sad truth that often goes unlooked. This is a fantastic book that looks at the mental health of some teens, especially those that are dealt a very hard lot in life through no fault of their own. It also shows that there are always people out there that care, and that can help. That no matter how far down you think you are that you can always rise up again. This may be a hard read for some of you out there. It does deal with self harm, and goes into detail at times. But it is wonderful to see the characters grow throughout the story as well. And once you start reading it if you are liked me it will be hard to put down. I just had to keep reading to see how things worked out for Charlie, and the other characters as well. Her perserverence through the novel was really something amazing. I don't want to go into too much detail because I don't want to include any spoilers so I will just give a bit of info...
 Charlie is a teen girl put into a mental health facility. She doesn't want to speak to anyone. She has been through things she would rather not relive even in her own mind. She is abandoned, and has hurt herself in more ways than one. She has been in some dangerous situations. She hurts inside and out. There are other girls like her in ways while being different in the facility with her. She gets out of the mental health facility and has to learn to cope in the real world. She has to learn to do things on her own, and she tries her best to break her habits of self harm. She wants so badly to be normal, to be happy, but in a world full of problems she doesn't know where to begin. As much as she tries she just can't seem to get a step up...
I can't give away any more than that, but I definitely recommend you give this book a read especially if you are a fan of Thirteen Reasons Why, Girl Interrupted, etc.



::Find this book at some of the following::
Walmart ~ Target ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~  and more...



::Product Details::

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press (August 30, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1101934719
• ISBN-13: 978-1101934715

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a Blogging For Books member in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Happy Homemaker Monday - 07/17/2017

Hello all! I hope you are all having a fantastic start to the week. In my area the day is wrapping up and we are going into evening time. I have been trying to get this post up all day but it has been difficult. I have had one thing or another come up, but I've stayed determined. LOL Better late than never. Just another Manic Monday I guess. I am joining in with Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. She posts a Happy Homemaker Monday every week, and you definitely don't want to miss out so head on over and check her out! If you decide to link up as well the link up will be in her post! :)

::The weather::
Hot, humid, and rainy. The weather has not been a sure thing for the last week. It has either been cloudy and cool, or sunny and humid with a sudden downpour! But it's okay. I am not ready for snow so I won't complain about the heat. LOL

::Right now I am::
Typing up this post and rushing if I must be honest. I wanted to get this done first thing in the morning, but my day just did not allow for me too. It has been one crazy hectic day for me with one thing after another. 


::On my reading pile::
Nothing just yet. I finished about five books that I need to get up for review this week. I have been reading when everyone else goes to sleep whenever I can. It's about the only reading time I get anymore unless I set an alarm and get up extra early. Although sometimes my kids hear me up early and they get up too which kind of defeats that trick. LOL


::Movies or Shows I watched this weekend::
This weekend was my birthday and we decided we would all go out together and watch a movie in theaters. I wanted to go see Transformers the Last Knight, BUT the theater we go to didn't have it playing when we were able to go since hubby had to work the next day. We had to make sure it was over early enough to eat and get to bed at a decent time since hubby gets up so early for work. SO we seen Despicable Me 3 instead which was pretty funny. The kiddo's really had a blast there so that was awesome. Other than that I have watched no TV other than catching up on some of my favorite vlogs like PhillipsFamBam, She's In Her Apron, Style Mom XO, Happily A Housewife, and a few others. Right now I'm not thinking well just because I have a lot going on in the background so I can't think of the other vlogs right off the top of my head yet. LOL I'm sure all you fellow momma's out there know just what I'm talking about. 


::On my TV::
Nothing tonight although I will be watching some more vlogs probably in the morning if I have time before everyone wakes up. Me and hubby have quite the day packed with errands tomorrow so it won't leave much time for too many shows. Wednesday, however, me and the kids are going to watch Moana on Netflix since we haven't seen it yet. If I can fit some shows in I'm finishing up season 8 on The Vampire Diaries Thursday hopefully. There are also some documentary's I wouldn't mind watching on Netflix as well.


::On the menu for this week::

Monday 
Spaghetti & Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread    
Tuesday 
Crockpot Chicken & Noodles (I need to post a recipe of it soon, it is so easy and delicious), mashed potatoes, and rolls     
Wednesday 
Beef Stroganoff, Tater Tots, and peas
Thursday 
Chicken Nuggets, mac & cheese, corn (busy day this day with more errands so keeping it simple)
Friday  
Taco's
Saturday 
Pizza out (we have a busy family day planned)
Sunday 
Chicken Roast & Cornbread


::On my to do list::
Since it's already late I have pretty much gotten all my chores done for today other than the after dinner clean up. So I will just fill you in on what I did get done today.
Kitchen- got all the dishes caught up, swept and mopped the floors, tidied the cabinets and shelves
Living room- Vacuumed the couch, vacuumed the floor, picked up a thousand toys (probably not even exaggerating here)
Dining area- Wiped down the table and chairs which I do after every meal anyway so 3x a day since my kiddo's are some messy eaters regardless of how hard they try to be neat lol.
Laundry- washed 5 loads of clothes (we were all pretty much out of clean clothes it was sad. I'm not gonna lie I have been terrible on laundry the last couple weeks because we have been on the go nonstop).
I also washed all the bed linens, vacuumed the matresses off, and all the bedroom floors and upstairs hall.

Tomorrow I will be cleaning the bathrooms since I didn't get to them today although thankfully (and surprisingly) they are not messy at all. I tidy up and wipe the bathrooms down quickly every evening just because...kids you know which really helps keep up with the bathrooms and takes me no time at all. Tomorrow I really just want to wipe things down more in depth, sweep, mop, and change the hand towels and such.


::What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating::
I am looking for ideas on new chore charts for the kiddos, and looking to start a family command center in our house. Pinterest has tons of ideas, but if anyone has any suggestions please feel free to leave a comment below. Also I may look into zone cleaning. I seen it on She's In Her Apron and she says it has been a blessing! It's through FlyLady I guess so going to be looking into that.


::Looking around the house::
It's clean for now although I don't expect it to last that way long. haha. Give it a day or two before my tiny tornado's destroy it. I have candle's burning which I love! Makes the home feel so cozy and relaxing. I have dinner on and it is almost done so we will be eating soon.

::What I'm wearing today::
Black jeggings and a maroon t-shirt


::One of my simple pleasures::
Laundry. I just really do not mind doing laundry at all. I'm not a big fan of ironing a lot of the time. Sometimes I don't mind it, but as far as washing clothes, drying, putting them away. I really don't mind it. 


::Inspirational Quote, Bible verse, anything you want to share::

Wings of The Wind

::From the back of the book::
Motherless and raised alongside her brothers, Alanah, a Canaanite, is no stranger to fighting. When her father and brothers are killed in battle with the Hebrews, she disguises herself and sneaks onto the battlefield to avenge her family. The one thing she never counted on was surviving. 

Tobiah, a Hebrew warrior, has spent his share of time on the battlefield and is shocked to find an unconscious woman among the casualties. Compelled to bring her to a healer back at the Hebrew camp, he's unprepared for the consequences of what he intended as an act of compassion. 

In order to survive, Alanah must unite with her enemy. But will a terrible revelation drive her toward an even greater danger? 


::My Thoughts::
First off I would like to start by saying that I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. I am a huge fan of the Out From Eygpt books, and this one was by far my favorite. It is a great example of God's love, not just in general, but for women. I love the biblical history and how hooked I was throughout this book. This book pulled me right in and kept me there. 
I love seeing the characters journey's and all of the characters have so much depth. It is as if you really know them. 
It is a wonderful example of God's love, getting closer to God, and just believing in Him. A great reminder for everyone. I cannot recommend this book enough, and it would be a wonderful read for any book clubs out there. It includes discussion questions that I recommend answering in any book club or group. 
Definitely don't pass on this book. It deserves 5 stars and more.



::Product Details::

• Series: Out From Egypt (Book 3)
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 2, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764218220
• ISBN-13: 978-0764218224
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

NIV Kids Visual Study Bible

::Description::

The NIV Kids’ Visual Study Bible, for ages 8–12, brings the Bible to life in four-color illustrated splendor. This study Bible includes a spectacular full-color interior featuring over 700 illustrations, photos, infographics, and maps on every page that visually represent key Bible information. Each page also features important facts located near the relevant verse. Intriguing facts; colorful, engaging maps; photographs; and illustrations make this a Bible they’ll want to explore.

::My Thoughts::

This is one of my top favorite study bibles for kids. It is gorgeous, fun, easy to read and understand, and just so informative all around. 

Every page highlights certain verses and gives explanations. Not just that but on the side bar! So much more visual pleasing and eye catching versus the bottom of the page. This is the Complete text of the New International Version translation of the bible, and has important facts throughout. All of the photos, illustrations, and maps throughout are magnificent and eye catching. While this is geared for ages 8-12 kids of various ages will enjoy this. My almost 7 year old loves this bible just as much as my nine year old. I even love reading it! I would highly suggest this study bible for your youngster. It has greatly helped in bible studies around our house, and kids can more easily absorb what they read.

::Product Details::

Reading level	8 and up
Publisher	Zonderkidz
Publication date	June 6, 2017
Language	English
Product Dimensions	5.8 x 7.9 x 8.7 inches
Shipping Weight	2.2 pounds
Book length	1952
ISBN-10	0310758602
ISBN-13	978-0310758600

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this bible from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

Hello Stars

::From the back of the book::

Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends, Savannah and Emma, tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. She got everything she never wanted! Her face turns up everywhere she goes, and everything in her life is flipped upside down. Lena wonders if this is a dream come true or a horrible nightmare. Even a visit from her best friends during filming turns into a disaster.

With her little sisters—Ansley, Ashton, and Amber—and her mischievous pup, Austin, constantly at her side, Lena must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. She knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars.

This Faithgirlz series entitled Lena in the Spotlight, written by Alena Pitts, star of War Room and tween blogger of For Girls Like You,and co-written with her mother, editor and author, Wynter Pitts, is a reflection of Alena’s own life experiences as she reaches for the stars and keeps her faith in balance. 

::My Thoughts::

This is a great book for young girls to read. It has a lot of great examples such as about prayer. It shows how to walk in faith as a young girl/tween, and is relatable for any Christian girl. 

Almost every young girl in this day and age wants a celebrity lifestyle. They dream of being singers, actresses, models, etc. Unfortunately the majority of examples out there are not exactly the best. This book sets a whole new positive example for young girls. 

The issues that Lena faces in the book are perfectly viewed and understood from a young girls point of view as well. 

This book also sets a great example of not just faith, but family love. The Daniels family supports each other, loves each other, and uplifts each other spiritually. 

All around a great book that any tween girl will enjoy. 

::Product Details::

Reading level	8 and up
Publisher	Zonderkidz
Publication date	April 25, 2017
Language	English
Product Dimensions	5.5 x 0.5 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight	5.6 ounces
Book length	176
ISBN-10	0310760593
ISBN-13	978-0310760597

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Handlebar in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

The Chapel Car Bride

After a sheltered life in Pittsburgh, Hope Irvine is ready for a new adventure. When her father takes a position as a preacher in a railroad car converted into a traveling church, she's thrilled at the chance to accompany him. While accommodations in their new chapel car home are tight, Hope couldn't be happier putting her musical skills to good use and ministering to the people of West Virginia alongside her father. But when their chapel car arrives in Finch, West Virginia, they find a coal mining community that has hit hard times and is suspicious of outsiders. 

Luke Hughes works for the coal mine when he can, but the struggling company doesn't always offer steady work. When Reverend Irvine and Hope arrive in town, Luke is intrigued by what the reverend can teach him--and by the lovely and kind Hope. 

When Hope's desire to bring supplies and Sunday school classes to neighboring counties leads to her traveling with a flirtatious young mine manager, Luke is hard-pressed to suppress his jealousy. But when he begins to suspect the manager's motives are less than charitable, can he prove it without hurting Hope, or worse, putting her in danger? 

::My Thoughts::

As you all know I love historical fiction of any kind. This book was no exception as it gives a lot of information on ways of living for coal miners and their families. The poverty, dangers, and all around struggle. 

This book also keeps the Christian values that I know many of you appreciate while reading a book. 

I did wish the characters had a bit more depth to them, but it didn't discourage me from enjoying them or this book. Luke was my favorite although I felt he needed more passion and drive. Hope is very caring but also seems spoiled in many ways. Kirby is most definitely a spoiled adult child and I expected more suspense surrounding this character. 

There wasn't as much suspense as I typically like in these types of novels, but if you like a really easy going read this book is perfect. 

The author definitely did research so this book is rich in history, and the details are amazing. I always love the little details in books, and this book delivers. All in all I felt this is a good book to pick up if you want an easy weekend read, or just something more laid back.

::Product Details::

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (April 4, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764219057
• ISBN-13: 978-0764219054
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.