Product Review~Memory Cross

Memory Cross cards are origami cards that share a message.  There are Bible Memory Cards, Bible Story Cards, Outreach Tracts, Coloring Cards, Wedding Announcements, Health Education and more!  I received a sampling of different Memory Cross Cards in different applications and sizes:

Here is a video showing how the Memory Cross cards work:





These Memory Cross cards are awesome!  My entire family, from children to adults, had so much fun with them!  We all enjoyed opening each one, and were so fascinated and impressed with the impact these cards can make!  Perfect for Sunday School, handing out, gifts, crafts for kids, and on and on!  My daughter, who is 20, loved the wedding Memory Cross Cards and thinks they would make perfect 'Save the Date' cards for when she gets married some day.  My son, who goes to a private Christian School, was excited to take the samples to his school to show the other kids and teachers. Everyone was very impressed and enthusiastic about Memory Cross cards!

For More Information:

Website: http://store.memorycross.com/
Blog: http://blog.memorycross.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MemoryCross1
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MemoryCross1
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MemoryCross/pins/follow/?guid=bVSx0CQHggNg-0
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8D65D1A0F7CF0ED1

 

 *Disclosure:   I received a free copy of this Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Children's Book Review~Let's Learn About the Lord's Prayer

About the Book: In this first book of the HeartSmart series, preschoolers are invited on a playdate with Emma. Together they learn the Lord's Prayer and practice "teaching" it to Emma's favorite teddy bear.

Introducing HeartSmart, a Scripture memory series designed to create opportunities for children to fill their heart with God's Word. HeartSmart combines key Scriptures with songs, giving parents a spiritual formation path for building a strong foundation of faith.

The entire Lord's Prayer is included, along with a custom song (free download with access code).

About the Author:

Catherine DeVries has written twenty books for children, including the bestselling The Adventure Bible Storybook. As associate publisher of Children's Resources at David C Cook, she leads product development for The Action Bible collection, which has sold over a million copies. Catherine lives with her husband, their three children, and their big furry dog in the Colorado forest.

What I Thought:

I was really impressed with Let's Learn About the Lord's Prayer.  It is a beautiful board book, with shiny pages with bright illustrations that are eye-catching. Each page has just enough text to tell the story without being too much to lose little one's interest. The character Emma is adorable, and my grandson loved the story. He enjoyed guessing who her friend is, and was excited that Emma has a stuffed bear just like him! Let's Learn About the Lord's Prayer is a perfect way to introduce preschoolers to The Lord's Prayer. 

You can purchase your own copy of Let's Learn About the Lord's Prayer at David C. Cook Publishing. 

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review~The Plain Choice: A True Story of Choosing to Live an Amish Life

About the Book: As a young adult, Sherry Gore dreamed of a radio career, but instead, a series of terrible mistakes left her wrecked and alone. Then one morning she walked into a church and the truth of Jesus' forgiving love shattered her world-and put it back together again. She began to rid her life of anything that might keep her from God, but still she wanted a deeper faith. Something more.

Soon the life Sherry remade for herself and her children featured head coverings, simple dress, and a focus on Jesus Christ. Only then did she realize that there were others like her: the Amish.

The Plain Choice is the fascinating story of one woman's journey toward God through the Amish community. After making the rare transition into Amish life, Sherry learned how to live off the land and make it, grow it, or do without it. She learned the adventure of the horse-and-buggy life and began to thrive on faith, family, and pie. And when her teenage daughter was diagnosed with a devastating illness, she learned again how bright God's light can shine when everything else seems dark.

This unusual memoir offers a riveting look at the choices we make toward or away from God-and how God pursues us in the most unexpected ways.

About the Author: Sherry Gore is the author of two cookbooks, Simply Delicious Amish Cooking and Me, Myself, and Pie, and co-author of the novel Made with Love. She is also a weekly scribe for the national edition of the Amish newspaper, The Budget, established in 1890. The National Geographic Channel featured Sherry prominently in their documentary series, Amish: Out of Order. Sherry's culinary adventures have been seen on NBC Daytime, The Today Show, Mr. Food Test Kitchen, and more. Sherry is a year-round resident of beautiful, sun-kissed Sarasota, Florida, the vacation paradise of the Plain People. She has three children and is a member of the Beachy Amish Mennonite Church. When not spending time with her family, writing, or eating, Sherry is a cooking show host and an official pie-contest judge.

My Thoughts: The Plain Choice: A True Story of Choosing to Live an Amish Life is a fascinating memoir that I couldn't put down.  I have read many articles about the author, Sherry Gore, and knew she joined the Amish as an adult, but I had no idea what a crazy, difficult life she has led. She takes you through her life, the good and the bad, and shows what it means to pursue what God wants for your life. There are many interesting stories, and she includes pictures taken throughout her life as well.  If you are interested in the Amish, this is a book you should read!

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn

About the Book:  
A wedding brings together two young widowed parents . . . and gives them a second chance at love.

Emma Keim was heartbroken when her husband, Sanford, passed away, leaving her to raise three young daughters alone. Though several years have passed, her relatives have made it no secret that they expect Emma to remain a widow, mourning Sanford indefinitely. But when she meets Jay Hilty---a handsome widower with three young sons of his own---Emma is delighted to have a new friend who understands her struggles. Still, she is dismayed that her family is so opposed to their friendship---and the idea of it ever becoming anything more. She honors her husband's memory every day, but is she destined to be alone forever?

Emma's gentleness with Jay's boys stirs something in his heart that's been quiet for far too long. But when his oldest son becomes engaged to a local woman, suddenly Jay, Emma, and their children are swept up in wedding preparations. Witnessing his son's joy, Jay wonders if it's time for him to move forward, too, and find happiness again.

Once again, love has come to Pinecraft. But can these two parties of four become a happy, healthy family of eight?

About the Author:  

 

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Find Shelley online: website, Facebook, Twitter

 What I Thought: 
A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn is the third book in author Shelley Shepard Gray's series Amish Brides of Pinecraft.  I have read  all of the books in  the series and thoroughly enjoyed them all.  I read a lot of Amish fiction, and it has been refreshing to leave the farmlands of the east for the sunny beaches of the south! A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn is my favorite book of the three in the series so far. Remniscent of The Brady Bunch with a widow with three daughters and a widower with three sons, it is a sweet, romantic story.  There is also lots of fun with the antics of a feisty Beagle thrown in the mix! I love Shelley Shephard Gray's style of writing-I always feel like I get to know the characters so well.  I look forward to the final book in the series, A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft. 

Purchase a copy of A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn here.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.   All opinions expressed here are my own.

 

 

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in...China

If You Were Me and Lived In...China is the newest addition to author Carole P. Roman's educational series for children that introduces them to culture around the world. Illustrated by Kelsea Wierenga, this book is 28 pages and includes a handy pronunciation guide.

My family has enjoyed several of the books in this series, and we were excited to learn more about China! Although written for children, I always learn something from this series! The text is perfect for the elementary school age, and the colorful illustrations catch younger children's attention as well. In this series, you can always count on learning about the capital, landscape, food, popular names, family, money, and holidays. It provides just enough information to peak a child's curiosity about that country. The pronunciation guide at the back of the book is helpful for children to practice the new words they have learned.

For more information about Carole P. Roman, including Amazon links for purchasing each of her books, visit her website.  You can also find her on Facebook.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review and Giveaway~Captive

Do you remember in 2005 hearing about an escaped convict in Atlanta that had taken a woman prisoner in her own apartment after a killing spree? I just read the book, Captive, written by Ashley Smith (the woman who was kidnapped) with Stacy Mattingly.  Captive has been turned into a movie, which releases this Friday, September 18th!

About the Book: CAPTIVE, based on a miraculous true story that drew the attention of the entire nation, is a thrilling drama about the spiritual collision of two broken lives.  When Brian Nichols - on the run as the subject of a city wide manhunt and desperate to make contact with his newborn son - takes recovering meth addict Ashley Smith hostage in her own apartment, she turns for guidance to Rick Warren’s best-selling inspirational book, The Purpose Driven Life.  While reading aloud, Ashley and her would-be killer each face crossroads where despair and death intersect hope. 










What I Thought: Captive is an edge of your seat read.  You feel like you are right there with Ashley Smith as she is held hostage in her apartment. Ashley herself was trying to change her life at the time, and the hours spent held hostage seemed to be a kind of transformation for herself. She was so brave and smart in how she handled her captor, talking about the Bible, her own experiences, and reading from The Purpose Driven Life. Along with her story are pictures and a Tribute to the Victims. I am excited to see the movie, coming out September 18th!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE  

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

OFFICIAL MOVIE TRAILER 


GIVEAWAY!!!
I have a copy of the book Captive to give away!

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"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Children's Book Review and Giveaway~The Biggest Story

 About the Book (excerpt from the publisher):

Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman. They were the happiest people on the planet.
True, they were the only people on the planet, but they were still terrifically happy.
Unfortunately, things didn’t stay happy and wonderful for long . . .
The Bible is full of exciting stories that fill children with awe and wonder. But kids need to know how all those classic stories connect to Scripture’s overarching message about God’s glorious plan to redeem his rebellious people.
In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung—a best-selling author and father of six—leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.
With powerful illustrations by award-winning artist Don Clark, this imaginative retelling of the Bible’s core message—how the Snake Crusher brings us back to the garden—will draw children into the biblical story, teaching them that God's promises are even bigger and better than we think.

What I Thought: 

 Beautiful. Amazing. Inspiring. I could go on and on with fabulous descriptions of The Biggest Story!

 This 132 page Hardcover, published by Crossway, is beautiful in both words and illustration. Written by author Kevin DeYoung and illustrated by Don Clark, The Biggest Story is geared to ages 5-8 as a read to me and ages 8-11 as a read to myself.  It is so impressive that I can see older children and adults enjoying it just as much, if not more!

When I first saw how many pages The Biggest Story was (132), I thought it might be too long for this age range.  But once I started reading it myself, I realized it was definitely readable for children.  Most pages just have a few sentences of text, and there are many pages with illustrations only. The child's attention is kept by the author's style of writing and the exciting pictures. 

I really like that The Biggest Story summarizes the core of the Bible in one story, in an easy way for kids to understand. This would make a beautiful family gift this Christmas! I hope to keep my copy of The Biggest Story for many years to read with the children and grandchildren as our family grows.

Check below for links to purchase your own copy!

About Author Kevin DeYoung:

Kevin DeYoung is senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan.  He blogs at the Gospel Coalition and has authored or coauthored numerous well-known books, including Just Do Something, The Hole in Our Holiness, Crazy Busy, and Taking God At His Word.  He lives with his wife and their 6 children in Central Michigan. 

About Illustrator Don Clark:

Don Clark is an artist and the cofounder of Invisible Creature, a widely respected and award-winning design studio in Seattle that has worked with clients such as Target, Nike, LEGO, and WIRED magazine.  He lives with his wife and their 3 children, 4 goats, 12 chickens, and 1 crazy dog on a farm just outside the city limits. 

Connect and Learn More about The Biggest Story:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PURCHASE THE BOOK

 Giveaway!!! 

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"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”