Praises of a Wife and Mommy

Based on the New York Times bestselling book The Purpose Driven Life, this 365-day devotional The Purpose Driven Life Devotional for Kids, offers inspiration for children 9-12. Most children at this age form their foundational thoughts about God and their place in the world. Thank you Zondervan for sending me this book to review and for sponsoring a giveaway for this same book!  I was not paid for this review and all opinions expressed are 100% mine.  My Review: I remember several years ago I read the adult "Purpose Driven Life"  with my husband.   He was at the time only my boyfriend but we made it important to start a good foundation with devotionals being a big part of who we are.   Now that we have been married for 9 years and have two children we are always trying to find new ways to encourage them in their relationship with their Daddy God.   This kids version is geared for 9- 12 year olds.   My daughter just had her 8th birthday and she really wants to read th

Happy Birthday Selah!!!! As you turned 8 this year my heart jumped a few beats... you are half way to getting your license, only a few years before we enter the tweens stage, and I'm sure only a couple more years before you ask if you can have a boyfriend... cause you will ask and we will discuss this!  This year we had tons of fun with a huge group of friends by creating an interactive Lego movie.  So we had one screen that showed the movie and a smaller screen to show actions throughout the entire movie.   IT WAS SO FUN!!   My husband gets all the props for his techy way!   I could have never pulled off an epic party without him.  WE truly made a great team and made our 8 year old have the "best birthday ever."    I was extremely happy purchasing some molds from Amazon to make Lego people and bricks.  I used them for cupcakes and a little snack to eat during the movie.   So when the movie started each friend had a bag of goodies of things they would ne

I'm starting to think that September sunrises are some of the best.   Timehop was reminding me of the pictures I took last year and these two pictures have captured two glorious days.    I feel very spoiled to witness these magnificent and beautiful colors in the mornings.  They give me a jump start and I feel God is saying hey there is a lot to be thankful for, so just keep praising.... yes even with the green lights that you seen in the picture now.  

In this retelling of the Old Testament story of Ruth and Naomi, young readers learn about the loving kindness of people for one another and the loving influence of God in their lives. When Ruth decides to follow her mother-in-law to a strange land, after the death of her husband, she proves her dedication to family and God. Written in the I Can Read level 2, this story shows how love and honor are rewarded by God with great gifts, like Ruth meeting Boaz and being part of establishing the line of King David. Perfect for beginning readers ages 4-8, learning Bible stories on their own. My Review: Thank-you Zondervan for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.  I was not paid for this review and all opinions are 100% mine.   I love this tender story of honor from Ruth and Naomi.   I love teaching my kids the importance of loving family and being dedicated to each other.   I love to teach my kids how to encourage and build each other up and I feel that this stor

Well, it was a fast and fun 15 months with Kalli.   We said our good byes and shed many tears but we all know she will be back for visits soon.  :)  She had her hand in every major project we have done at church.   She was a gift to us and we hope she leaves here ready to continue to seek God and God's plans for her life.   I was asked to lead the prayer when this picture was taken and all I could mumble out was, "Father God, thank you for sending us Kalli" then the tears came and I could no longer talk.   My emotions hit me and if I try to open my mouth I will start to sob loudly.   So if I could have gotten through my prayer that day it might have gone a little something like this, Father God, thank you for sending us Kalli.  We were blessed by her every day.  She has set the bar high on what a servants heart should look like.  We pray that as she leaves here today she would leave empowered and fully aware of her identity in you JESUS.   I pray you

Thankful , by bestselling and award-winning children’s author Eileen Spinelli, combines charming rhymes and whimsical illustrations to convey the importance of being thankful for everyday blessings. Like the gardener thankful for every green sprout, and the fireman, for putting the fire out, readers are encouraged to be thankful for the many blessings they find in their lives. Spinelli exhibits her endearing storytelling with this engaging poem, reminding children how blessed and special they are. Meant to be read aloud, this heartwarming picture book will be a treasured keepsake for parents and children alike. My Review: Fall is officially starting this week!   There is a chill in the air each morning and sweatshirts are getting pulled out.   Soon we will be prepping the turkey and getting all the fixings ready for Thanksgiving 2015!    I plan on sharing this book at Thanksgiving this year!   There is so much to be thankful for and I like how Eileen took different careers and

I am so ready for FOOTBALL!!!!   Yes we all did wear our Green and Gold to church!  :)  

Bestselling NIV Faithgirlz! Bible with a fun, new magnetic closure binding. This special binding of the NIV Faithgirlz! Bible offers a trendy and unique magnetic closure. Packed with exciting features that help tween girls better understand themselves and Scripture, the NIV Faithgirlz! Bible teaches girls that the Bible is real, relevant, and, best of all, that the story of God and his people is also their story. With in-text features written by tween expert Nancy Rue, the NIV Faithgirlz! Bible uses the bestselling New International Version (NIV). Features include: Book introductions-Read about the who, when, where, and what of each book Dream Girl-Use your imagination to put yourself in the story Bring It On!-Take quizzes to really get to know yourself Is There a Little (Eve, Ruth, Isaiah) in You?-See for yourself what you have in common Words to Live By-Check out these Bible verses that are great for memorizing What Happens Next?-Create a list of events to tell a Bible stor

Join the Bear family as they attend the first ever Chapel in the Woods Harvest Festival in this newest addition to the Berenstain Bears Living Lights series, The Berenstain Bears Harvest Festival. With fun activities like apple picking and hay rides, this is sure to be a great way for the Bears to spend time together! My Review: Thank you Zondervan for sending me this free book in exchange for an honest review.   I was not paid for this review and all opinions are 100% mine.  I am in denial that it is September and the leaves will be changing colors and summer weather will be leaving. However, I can get excited about carving pumpkins and making homemade applesauce.   Our church also helps out with a big community trunk or treat event so this book fits right in with getting our children excited about dressing up and having some fun with the community.   At the end of this book there is a section of activities and questions you can ask your kids.   I love this section as it

The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Toddlers  is perfect for young children. Now toddlers have a padded board book edition designed just for them, with simple text, bright art, and a padded cover. This cute and durable edition provides an overview of the Bible with ten stories from the Old and New Testaments that follow the Bear family as they explore Scripture.  The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Toddlers  is fun and enlightening for kids and a great resource for parents and educators.  My Review: Thanks Zondervan for sending me this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.   I was not paid for this review and all opinions are 100% mine.   This toddler Bible has eight stories which include: Creation, Noah, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion's Den, Birth of Jesus, The Good Neighbor, Jesus in Jerusalem, and He is Risen.   The pictures include bear characters like the Berenstain bear family.    This toddler book however does have more words/se