Goodbye 2010 and Hello 2011

I don’t think I am the kind of person who will stay in the past.  But sometimes if you look back at a year that is almost finished, you can see what God has done…

And 2010 is no exception for this.  

At the beginning of the year, I decided that it was necessary for me to get into the habit of reading my Bible daily.   So using the Bible League of Canada devotional Day Planner, I followed the reading suggestions to read through the Bible during 2010.    Tomorrow is the last day and I must say that even though sometimes I didn’t feel like it and might have skipped a day here and there, I rapidly came to my senses and catched up the next day with the double readings…   And I only have four chapters of the book of Revelation to read – which is schedule for tomorrow.    I am happy to say that reading through the Bible in 2010 helped me to growth and discover a new side of God.   I am so ever glad that He is my Father in Heaven and that He adopted me as His daughter.

2010 was also a year of blessings.   As some of you know, I review products and books on my blog Canadianladybug Reviews!.   Earlier this year I was asked to rejoin the TOS Homeschool Crew for the remaining of year 2 and right away I was blessed with a geography curriculum which we had not in our homeschool.   I also extended my requests of reviews to various companies including toys and the response was above and beyond what I was expecting.     I think I have established precious relationships with them.   I also established fun relationships with PR companies and Mom Central Canada.    We shall see what 2011 will bring but I have a couple of ideas for next Fall season…

On the homeschool front, we started a bit later this past September since we were on the road with my husband due to a contract opportunity in the Northern Ontario area.    Nevertheless, we brought some work to do on the road and we visited a few museums as well.  So technically we still learned a lot.  The kids are still talking about the Zoo in Toronto and the Science North in Sudbury.  

We were able to squeeze two trips during 2010.   One in May when we went to the Boston area for a week and a three weeks road trip to Toronto – Sudbury – Elliot Lake back in August/September.    We had a blast both time (even though the first trip was mixed with sickness).   

I was blessed that my father-in-law agreed to come and build a play structure for the kids.  I don’t think our backyard was more used than this year.  It is amazing what a structure do.   But I must admit that it is a cool structure that I designed.   We bought the wood and father-in-law with hubby and eldest son worked hard on it.    Honestly, I think that if an earthquake happens, the structure will outlast the houses around… LOL

In the end, we had an interesting year on many levels.  

For 2011, I am still debating what to do for devotional.   I have an idea but I wonder if I want to tackle my plan.    I guess I see a HUGE mountain in from of me right now…   I still have one more day to decide if I jump in the water or not.

I am planning to continue homeschooling and I pray that God will continue to pour patience in me every morning.   I hope that He will also bring challenges and open opportunities for us as a family, as business owners, as a reviewer/blogger, as a wife, as a mom, as a friend and more.    I know He will bless me again in 2011.

Happy New Year everyone!

Change of Plans–Family Movie Night (January 8th 2011)

I recently had the opportunity of pre-screening a new family movie night feature titled CHANGE OF PLANS via an online link.   This movie will premiere on FOX on Saturday January 8th 2011 at 7pm CST!

This studio behind this movie works to reach and encourage families to show their support for better family TV.   In this 21st century often you have movie that are not geared toward family time because of the violence,profanity and other such things.   Unfortunately, many parents don’t care about it and would let their kids watch them.  

WHAT IS FAMILY NIGHT MOVIE?

Walmart and P&G have partnered to create the Family Moments initiative to help moms and families better connect with each other. Family Movie Night is a part of that movement to provide meaningful entertainment for the entire family.

During Family Movie Night, you can be confident that the programming on their screens will be fun and action-packed, without the worry of having to dive for the remote to change the channel when inappropriate ads or other content comes on. Soundtracks for the films also feature top producers and artists. The day after airing,a special 2-disc DVD/CD bonus pack will be available for purchase exclusively through Walmart.

By providing this block of time, Walmart and P&G are striving to reconnect families across the country that are bombarded by busy schedules and the lack of programming that's appealing to everyone. Tune in and see what the buzz is about.

CHANGE OF PLANS SYNOPSIS

Up to this point, Sally Danville's life has played out just as she hoped it would. A beautiful and free-spirited musician, she and her fighter-pilot husband, Jason, live life on the go, free of domestic responsibilities. But with a single phone call from Child & Family Services case worker, Dorothy (Phylicia Rashad, The Cosby Show), she learns that things don't always go according to plan. Sally (Brooke White, American Idol) is met with the news that her best friend from college has died in a tragic accident on a Peace Corps mission and has named Sally the legal guardian of her four kids - 3 of them adopted from third-world countries. Now Sally and Jason (Joe Flanigan, Stargate Atlantis) must quickly learn to parent this instant family and help the kids deal with the culture clash of life in America. The story is both humorous and heartwarming, revealing how fulfilling life can be when you look beyond your own and invest in the lives of others.

MY THOUGHTS

First I must tell my readers that I had to watch this movie via an online connection and unfortunately I had some issues with it.   We have realized the past few months that whenever more people are on the internet in our area, somehow it slows down our connection.    After trying numerous times on our PVR without success (the image would froze within seconds but the sounds was perfect…) I decided to try it on my laptop and it was working. 

I decided to watch Change of Plans on early morning during the Christmas holidays.   This movie is a good family movie and will bring you the reality of adopting children who have lost their parents.

Problem is the couple approached to adopt these children have plans of their own with career and travel.   But they agreed to take them for a period of time.    While caring for these children, they realize that they want to care for them permanently.   Various events and situations will stretch their new parenting skills.

I’ve found that there was a few awkward moments in the movie.   When Sally and Jason first meet the kids, it doesn’t seem natural to me.    But I guess in a similar situation, I don’t know how I would react either.    Another thing that bugs me if that the older sister would talk to her siblings in the language of Uganda to tell them to behave when they arrive in the house.    Fortunately, translation is provided on the screen but I can just sense how Sally and Jason might feel when this happens.

There are also touching moments in the movie.   These moments brought tears in my eyes as I watched them.  My favourite ones would be the scene when Sally is putting the youngest child to bed and tell her a story of her mom before bedtime.    They other moments that touched me more were when Jordan, the older sister, would remember her parents and what she would do with them.

I was stunned by the different happening between the integration of the kids in the primary school versus the high school.   I should have known that it would be different but still seeing it on screen was an eye opener.  

Jordan feels responsible for her younger siblings and she is a strong young lady.   She even stands up ask to say grace at the table which is fantastic.   But she also has a tendency to want to keep control on how the kids should behave.   At one point Sally stood up and took the control.   Sally has doubts about her skills of being a parent but throughout the movie she demonstrates over and over again that she does have the parenting gene as she calls it.   

The movie will also demonstrate how to deal with responsibility and opportunities.    Sometimes when opportunities knock at your door, you have to consider what is good for the family.   And Sally and Jason will be faced with such decisions.  

In the end, the family goes through another event which could devastate them or unite them.  

I enjoyed seeing Change of Plans and I would not hesitate to let my own kids ages 3, 5, 6 3/4 and 9 1/2 watch it if we had cable.  I hope that one day this movie will come out on DVD so that they can watch a good family movie.

Visit Family Movie Night website for more information of the movies released for a special night with your family or go on their Facebook page.

If you want to see more of the movie before the release of the movie, check out the following trailer.

Mark down the date (January 8th) on your 2011 calendar and prepare some popcorn.   It is a very touching movie and it is good for the whole family!  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Propeller for granting me access to the online pre-view of the movie for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Love

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Love by Lauraine Snelling When asked to write a Christmas message, one of my first thoughts was Do I climb up on my soapbox regarding changing the words in Christmas songs, using only holiday, etc. I thought about it and decided no. After all, they’re only words and what difference does a word make---really make after all? Then I kept on thinking. If they’re only words… But we as writers know the power of words, as do readers. When the wrong word is used, it jars, while the right word can be most powerful. Take one highly overused and under practiced word---Love. Four letters is all. We toss it around so glibly, saying love ya and luv and love. But think about the power in I love you. Three of the most precious words in our language when put together. Those of us who write romances or books with romance in them, understand the power when one of our characters tells another, I love you. As humans we can never hear that enough or too much. Christmas is about love. The greatest love story ever told, that of God for us humans, and it never changes. Customs change, politics change, the years change but God’s love never, ever does. At Christmas we are invited to share that love, to give it away, to pass it around. To find wonder again and joy in simple acts of love. We make contact with people we might never see or talk with through the year. That says I love you. We buy and make gifts to give, we reach out to strangers in need, we try to make sure everyone has a special dinner and every child a present. By giving, we receive. So, let’s use the power words, but more so, put feet on those words and pass the love around. Let’s look for and find the wonder, the joy and the peace, maybe in small bits and pieces and perhaps in an avalanche of blessings. Make your days brighter with the simple gift of a smile, a kind word, a touch, for every single one that you give away, will come back to you multiplied. As you give, so shall you receive. Merry Christmas my friends. May we all recognize our blessings----and let an attitude of gratitude permeate this holiday and every day. With love and joy on this day, Lauraine!

~~~

About Lauraine: Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than sixty books, with sales of over 2 million copies. She also writes for a wide range of magazines, and helps others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the country. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Chewy. For more information please visit Lauraine's website: http://www.laurainesnelling.com/.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day! 12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Christmas Eve 2010

It’s Christmas Eve today and while doing my devotions I realized that it is also the 10th anniversary of the death of my dad.

He died before any of my kids were born.

But honestly I didn’t have much of a relationship with him…  You see he left my mom while I was in the 20s.  And let me tell you that separation and divorce affects children of all ages.    (I won’t go in details today though.) 

As I look back at my youth I wonder if he was ever present.   Oh!  He was there physically but emotionally that is another story.    But I don’t want to go on on his behaviour and how he was.

I just know that he passed away due to sickness (cancer) which has eaten him inside after he left.   And I don’t think I would wish that to anyone.  But it’s what happened.

But as I think of him, my earthly father, I see that he gave me a love of photography.   He always took wonderful pictures and through him I think I got a love of photography.    He also loved tennis but it wasn’t my piece of cake.  

Dad also volunteered for driving when I needed to go somewhere but he never talked much.    I say volunteered but I wonder how much my mom tried to make him spend time with me in that way.

Dad had his faults but because of him photography is part of my life and I love it.    And if you wonder – the picture his me when I was about 3 or 4 years old… taken by my father on winter day.   It is one of my favourites.

So thanks dad for giving me a lot for capturing the memories of my family.    I appreciate it.

I guess part of me regret not spending more time with him at the end of his life.  But I disagreed with his choices.   I also regret not sharing more about my Saviour with him.   

But there is no point of living in the past – I know it is not healthy from experience in my family.   So I look toward the future and ask God to guide me in building a special relationship with my kids.  

In the meantime, I want to share other pictures he took when I was younger.

This is me when I was 5 days old in 1969.

Playing in the toy box.

Summer of 69 – camping.

Christmas 69 – the famous Fisher-Price ball.   Note: the fuzzy soccer ball still lives and my kids had it when they were babies.   Not it is stored for the future grandkids.

Fall 1969 – in the woods that my uncle owned in Valcourt, QC.

Recycling 101

There are more – mostly slides.   Eventually I will scan them and have them on my PC.    He had a gift in taking pictures and somehow he was able to pass this on to me.

Thanks again dad.

Mornings and Evenings

Mornings and Evenings with Spurgeon
Published at New Leaf Publishing

About the Book

Spurgeon’s classic devotions beautifully presented in a contemporary style!

There never seems to be enough time to do all the things we want to do, and often that includes taking the time to study and pray upon God’s Word every day like we know that we should. Now it only takes five minutes a day to grow in your faith as you enjoy this classic collection of devotions which have been updated for modern readers!

This collection is written to be easily understood and to reveal scriptural insights that can be quickly studied. Do one a day for a full two-year study or do two a day, one in the morning and one in the evening, as Spurgeon originally had designed them for a year’s worth of devotions.

A prolific author and pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) remains a respected and influential source of inspiration and study. His classic collection of devotions for morning and evening remain a beloved treasure of wisdom and teaching for Christians.

Compact and beautifully bound in an elegantly designed cover, Mornings and Evenings with Spurgeon can be the perfect gift, or an amazing addition to your personal study library!

My Thoughts

Here’s another classic that has been revamped with a contemporary style.   It is definitively easier to read and understand.   This book is also flexible in your devotional time.  

As Christians, we know that it is important to deepen our relationship with God and this can be done by spending time with Him.   How do someone spend time with an invisible being?   Simply by discovering who He is in the scriptures and in devotionals written by well-known Christians.

Spurgeon was a pastor and inspire others with his writings for many years.   His classic Mornings and Evenings devotional has been translated in a contemporary style to help  you develop a strong relationship with God.   This book can be used on a one year discovery or a two years experience depending is your want to do both readings in a day or do only one.  

The pages in the book are paper thin and you will have to be careful with them.    Part of me is a bit disappointed about this because I like to take notes when I do a devotional but at the same time, it remind me of the pages of a Bible.  

Each day has two readings.   You can decided to do a morning and an evening reading or spread the reading on two years doing the morning readings one year and then the evening readings the following year.   Your choice!   The morning reading also has a Scripture referenced which is suggested to read.   You can do either the daily reading or the quick study.   A specific scripture is also attached to each reading.  

In 2011, let God speak through you by using the Mornings and Evenings with Spurgeon.   Discover not only God but an author who might influence you in your spiritual life.  

 

Mornings and Evenings with Spurgeon is available at any bookstores, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to New Leaf Publishing for sending me the featured product for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinions expressed here are only my own.

An Unforgettable Gift

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

An Unforgettable Gift by Karen O'Connor On Christmas morning, 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky, fourteen-year-old Charlie Flowers and his three brothers and two sisters huddled in their beds, fully dressed, trying to keep warm as the wind howled outside their small frame house.         It was a desperate time for the family. Earlier that year the children's father had died. And their mother had not found work. The coal had run out and there was little money––none for gifts. Their scrawny tree with decorations made from scraps of colored paper had been given to them the night before by a local merchant. "Can't sell this one," the man said with a nod of his head before handing it over to the eager children.     To pass the time, the siblings joked and shouted stories from their bedrooms across the hallway from one another. Then suddenly a racket from the alley at the rear of the house broke into their games.         "Charlie," his mother called, "would you see what's going on out there?"        Charlie pulled on his shoes, grabbed a thick overcoat from the hook by the door, and ran out back. There stood a man in a wagon bent over a load of coal, shoveling it into the shed as fast as he could.         "Hey Mister, we didn't order any coal," Charlie shouted. "You're delivering it to the wrong house."         "Your name's Flowers, isn't it?" the man asked, still shoveling.          Charlie nodded yes.        "Well then, there's no mistake.  I've been asked to deliver this to your family on Christmas morning." He looked the awe-struck boy square in the eye. "And I'm under strict orders not to tell who sent it," he teased.         Charlie ran into the house, his coattail flapping in the cold morning wind.  He could hardly wait to tell his mother and brothers and sisters. God had provided––just as he had on that first Christmas morning so long ago when He sent his only son to a needy world.         Charlie Flowers died in 1994 at age 96. And right up to the last year of his life, not a Christmas went by that he didn't tell the story of that sub-zero Christmas morning of his boyhood when two men gave his family an unforgettable gift.         It wasn't the coal that was remembered or cherished, Charlie often said––welcome as it was––but rather what two men brought to his desperate family. One, for his gift of recognizing their great need and taking the time to do something about it. And the other, for being willing to give up part of his own Christmas morning to deliver it.         That gift of so long ago has continued to warm the Flowers family from one generation to another, as Charlie's son––my husband, Charles––calls to mind these two unknown men each Christmas morning and whispers a prayer of thanks.

~~~

About Karen: Karen O'Connor is an award-winning author and writing mentor living in Watsonville, California with her husband, Charles Flowers. Karen’s latest book is 365 Reasons Why Gettin’ Old Ain’t So Bad (Harvest House 2010). For more information, please visit Karen on the web at http://www.karenoconnor.com/.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day! 12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

EZ Sox

Recently I got approached by the creators of a new product on the market to promote their new socks designed with preschoolers in mind.  

EZ Soz is the “I Can Do It” sock for your toddler.   It is a fun learning pair of socks that will help build self-confidence in the dressing learning stage.   It is well known that putting on socks is a tricky thing to learn for little ones.   Well, someone has finally thought of a design that will help the younger children to master this new challenge in their lives.

The cute little animal face that is found on the sock is a guide to show the child which way goes above and which way goes under the foot.   Also, reinfoced loops are included at the top of the sock to help the kids to pull it up.    Finally, non-skid bottoms allow the child to walk safely on slippery surfaces like wood and such.  

When I received the package from EZ Sox, I wondered which pair of socks I would get.  And I was very happy to discover that they have sent the ladybug!   I knew instantly that Jasmine would be delighted with them.

As soon as she saw the socks, Jasmine grabbed them and wanted to put them on.   She loved the ladybug on it.   She easily found the loops and pulled them on her feet.   She was so proud of herself when she did it.   Priceless!

As a result, she has two warm feet with cute ladybugs on them.   And she did it all by herself.  She loved the socks so much that she wanted to keep them on her feet for the night but after a day wearing them, I convinced her that I needed to wash them before she wore them again.  “Okay maman!” was her answer.

Would I recommend these socks?  You bet!   They have fun designs on them and the loops are ingenious.    I give my two thumbs up for these socks!

EZ Sox comes in a variety of design for boys and girls.  Check them out at http://www.ezsox.com.

Disclaimer: Thanks to EZ Sox for sending me the featured product for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinions expressed here are only my own.

All I Want for Christmas… Is to Be Able to Have Christmas this Year.

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

All I Want for Christmas… Is to be able to have Christmas this Year by Melissa Mashburn This is a simple request, isn’t it? In the previous years, we had great big bountiful Christmases with our family. Gifts, goodies and general Christmas cheer but this year it was different. The year before has been chock full of disappointments, failing businesses and severe cutbacks for our family.  Sitting with my husband one night we hammered out the bare minimum that we could spend that year for Christmas and even still the total was four hundred dollars. It does not sound like a whole lot compared to what we’ve spent on Christmas before, but this year it could have been four thousand dollars because we just did not have it. We prayed, I cried, we prayed some more and decided that we would cut back anything else that we could that year so we could have Christmas for our kids. We did not know how we would make this happen, but we knew that we needed to step forward in faith that it would happen. Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God. Galatians 3:5 the Message Not even two days later, we hear a knock on our front door. We open the door to see some friends of ours from church. With tears in their eyes, they handed us an envelope and said that the felt they needed to give us this. We opened the envelope and inside there was four hundred dollars cash. Shocked, stunned and with tears flowing down our face we just sat there in a state of crying and laughing at what God had done. We never shared with anyone that year what we needed, how bad it was, what was going on or what that number was for us to have Christmas for the kids, but God knew. “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”  2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT He took a willing servant, led them to our front door and changed Christmas for us that year. After many years of being in full time ministry we knew that God would provide, but when He shows up just at the right moment, you know that it was all a part of His plan to show how much He loves, provides and cares for His people. Father God, thank you that after all the years of serving and loving you in ministry that you continue to teach, guide, love, shepherd and care for us.  You, Father, are abundantly gracious and kind, thank you for showing up for us at just the right moment every time, forgive us when we forget that.  In Jesus name, Amen.

~~~

About Melissa: Melissa is the founder of the blog Mel’s World Ministry, co-founder of the Praise and Coffee Nights Ministry with Sue Cramer, Kids Ministry Director at her church.  Just last year she launched a new weekly series called Godly Gals ~ Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith where we meet new women each week who are “Taking their everyday, ordinary lives and placing it as their offering to God.” Romans 12:1 the Message. You can find her on twitter and at her blog. She loves encouraging women to live with an authentic faith by being transparent, renewed and transformed. ~ Romans 12:2.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day! 12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

When I was considering homeschooling, someone told me about The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.    I wasn’t even homeschooling yet but I decided to get a subscription to familiarized myself with the homeschool world.   And let me tell you that I wasn’t disappointed whatsoever!

I am currently in my fourth year of homeschooling and I still receive The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.   Honestly I don’t know how I would go through the year without reading the encouragements and be inspired with the ideas found in this magazine. 

I absolutely adore this magazine and I am almost stalking my postman when it is the time of receiving the new edition.   (just kidding).    My only disappointment is that the magazine doesn’t arrive as fast in Canada.   There is always a delay… and when my friends are posting that they received it on facebook, I know that my magazine will be coming soon… just not soon enough for me *grin*.

Seriously though, if you want to have inspiring reading and encouragement in your homeschool, please consider getting a subscription.   It is also a wonderful gift to give to your homeschool friend or family member! 

Right now, when you subscribe you can get freebies.   Interested?   Please read below for more details on the deal!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Canadianladybug  

 

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The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has been a favorite resource for homeschoolers for years. The pages of our magazine holds informative and encouraging articles written by homeschool educators and parents like you. Because we want to spread the news far and wide about homeschooling, we are on a quest to reach 25,000+ paid subscribers by the year's end. We have three fabulous options for a REALLY great deal on our magazine, as well as some freebies, until January 2nd!

Will you choose option A?

Option A is a one year subscription (normally $25) for $7.95 to anyone in the U.S. or Canada. What a great gift idea for only $7.95! Consider buying several subscriptions for friends and family members. AND, any $7.95 purchase will result in a GIFT for you--choose any digital TOS Planner--FREE.

Will it be option B?

We have lowered the price on the ONE YEAR subscription with the Cranberries & Cream tote and the E-Book: Cranberry Christmas, all for $19.95., U.S. and Canada only.

Or will you choose option C?

Finally, we are offering our two-year subscription (U.S. and Canada) on sale for $37 with Cranberries & Cream tote, a Schoolhouse Planner of your choice, plus the E-Book: Cranberry Christmas. 

Whatever option you choose, you get freebies and a great deal! So which option, and freebies, will you choose? A, B, or C?

All subscriptions will start with our beautiful, 200 page Winter issue. Offer good on new subscriptions, renewals, and gift subscriptions in both the U.S. (overseas military included) and Canada.

And remember, shipping is always free at the Schoolhouse Store! (U.S. only)

Media Diet Calculator

New Free Media Diet Calculator Planned to Launch Dec. 26

Aims to Bring Awareness of Family Media Intake Versus Real Life Interaction

Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 15, 2010… After a season filled with record-setting cell phone and gaming gifts to teens and tweens, iShine is announcing the upcoming Dec. 26 release of the Family Media Diet Calculator.  The calculator is a new tool providing customized awareness to families in regards to how much time they spend connected to media in comparison to the amount of hours they spend plugged in with real life interaction and content consumption.

By visiting http://www.familymediadiet.com, parents nationwide will be able to plug in amounts of time their families spend texting, browsing online, consuming television and more. They will then be able to print a free custom analysis of where their families are spending their time in comparison to their involvement in recreational and faith-based activities along with family time and reading.  The campaign is not an anti-technology movement.  It is about use awareness and being intentional about the content.

It is estimated that the 20 million tweens in this country spend 25 hours a week watching television and playing video games and only one hour in church.  George Barna (The Barna Group), a pioneer in research on Christian culture, recently noted that kids spend more time absorbing media than anything else in their lives, except sleeping. A recent article in The New York Times titled “Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction” also discussed the effects of technology compared to focusing and learning.

“We as parents must be deliberate of what media our kids consume, understanding that it is forming the way our kids look at everything – self image, friends, parents, leaders, themselves,” remarks iShine Founder and Chief Creative Officer Robert Beeson. “If we as parents aren’t actively forming the person our kid’s are becoming – make no mistake – someone else is.”

iShine, known for bringing family-friendly media options through tours, music, television and radio mediums, is sponsoring the free Media Diet Calculator. The organization will also be releasing a new interactive Bible for tweens with Tyndale House Publishers in Feb. of 2011.

http://ishinelive.com

More about iShine

iShine is a Christian media group dedicated to ministering to “tweens” and their families. Tweens are defined as children between the ages of 7 and 13, and represent the single most influential age group in the world today. Mainstream media and consumer marketing groups focus their messages of identity, popularity and value predominately to the “tween” marketplace for a reason. iShine reaches today’s “tweens” through Biblically-based live concerts events (iShineLIVE!), unique television programming seen weekly on TBN (iShine KNECT), iShine artist releases to CD and DVD, interactive websites and coming in 2011, an entire line of books and Bibles all specifically designed to be relevant to this vital audience.

What’s the Best Think about Christmas?

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

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What’s the best thing about Christmas? by Maureen Lang The answer to that question will undoubtedly be different depending on the age and the faith of the person being asked. Most children will say it’s all about the gifts. Adults, even if they secretly still enjoy the gifts, will probably strive to sound more mature and say the holiday is all about friends and family. Still others might say it’s about tradition, or memories or the music or even the special food we connect to this time of year. The scrooges among us might say this season is just another marketing gimmick, or materialism gone awry. The faithful will say it’s all about Jesus, a reminder of why He shed the glory of Heaven to step into human skin and frailty. I’m not here to defend or attack any answer to this question, but rather to ponder those possible answers. Gifts: They touch us in personal ways, as tangible evidence of someone else’s thought and affection. Even if we don’t get exactly what we hoped, there’s something to be said about the thought behind a gift being the important part. Why wouldn’t gifts be an important and valid part of this holiday in which we celebrate God’s gift of salvation? Holiday Gatherings: Parties might be a lot of work, forcing some out of their comfort zone, but at the core they’re all about human connection. Isn’t that what most people want? Traditions and memories: They remind us of the past, of who we are, with the hope that even as we look forward to an unknown future we still hold some things worthy enough to repeat every year. We might find ourselves letting go of some traditions, or we might want to start some new ones. The music: This is the only time of the year when even secular radio stations welcome songs about a baby born in Bethlehem. As a nation we may be getting stringent about separation of church as state, but the lines blur just a bit with old favorites that reflect this season. Scrooges: The holiday season is probably a time to endure rather than enjoy, but even the scroogiest-scrooge might admit the lights of the season are pretty to behold. They’re free to look at, after all. As for the food, the busyness, the expense and all the other things that make up this season: keep in mind that it’s all temporary. This, too, shall pass. Until next year, of course. I’ll leave you with this thought: we are all made in God’s image, whether we believe that or not. Part of that image is the ability to give—and to receive. So here’s my thought for the day: stop a moment and dwell on all the gifts of the season. From the little mementos that say we haven’t forgotten someone or been forgotten by others, to the costliest gift of all: what God did for us in the form of Christ. As you enjoy the sounds, the sights, the scents and the tastes of this season, may your only trouble be in choosing just one thing among so many best things about Christmas.

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About Maureen: Maureen Lang is the author of ten books, her most recent from Tyndale House is The Great War Series which are full of romance, adventure and spiritual journeys. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two sons and their lovable Labrador Retriever. For more information please visit Maureen at her website, http://www.maureenlang.com/.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day! 12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Good News!

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

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Good News! by Deb Kalmbach The first Christmas card of the season arrived in my mailbox way back in August. How could anyone be that organized? Then I noticed my friend, Nita, had sent me a card I had written to her more than 20 years ago!    Memories rushed back as I read the words penned in my familiar handwriting. It was Christmas, 1991, and my world had unraveled. I could almost pretend everything was all right at this most wonderful time of the year—but not that year.    My husband Randy’s drinking problem had escalated to the point where his job and career were on the line. He had already been through two alcohol treatment programs and managed to stay sober for short periods of time. Then he slipped back into old, familiar patterns. His ongoing relapses were a crushing disappointment for our family.    I had looked forward to Christmas Eve and our family traditions; making homemade lasagna, singing carols around the piano, attending the candlelight service at church, and then coming home to open one token Christmas Eve present.         “Randy, are you ready to crank out the pasta?” I called to him over the Christmas music I was playing to lift my spirits.    I peered into the living room to see what was keeping him. My heart froze. Randy sat on the couch, trance-like, watching a basketball game while sipping a drink.    No, not on Christmas Eve, I screamed inwardly. I felt like I was suffocating. Usually Randy pulled himself together but it didn’t happen that night. He drank vodka all evening while I finished holiday preparations on autopilot. None of us felt like eating lasagna or celebrating.    Only a few days earlier, I had written these words on the Christmas card to my friend, Nita. I don’t know God’s plans, his timing or his ways in accomplishing his purposes, but I am learning to trust him. He is faithful!    I suspect Nita kept my card all those years because she saw a small seed of faith and it encouraged her heart. I didn’t know it at the time, but it would be eight more Christmas seasons before Randy experienced the miraculous breakthrough of finding freedom from alcoholism.    As I read the card I had written so long ago, I felt awed by God’s faithfulness to us—even when our situation looked completely hopeless.    You may be facing great difficulty as the holidays approach. The last thing you feel like is celebrating. And that’s O.K. The Good News of Christmas isn’t about picture perfect holidays where our homes are decorated a la Martha Stewart and tables are laden with holiday delicacies. Your days may not be merry and bright. You may be grieving the loss of a loved one or the loss of a relationship through divorce or estrangement. Your world has unraveled. That’s exactly why the message of Christmas is Good News. The Savior is born! The One who came to set you free, to give you peace and hope and help beyond anything you could ever imagine is as near as your next breath. Today you might not be able to see how God’s purposes are unfolding for your future, but you can be assured that He is working all things for good in your life. A twenty year-old Christmas card came on a summer day as an unexpected gift and gentle reminder of God’s presence—especially in the worst of times.

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About Deb: Deb Kalmbach is the coauthor of Because I Said Forever: Embracing Hope in a Not-So- Perfect Marriage and the author of a book for children, Corey’s Dad Drinks Too Much. She has contributed to The New Women’s Devotional Bible, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, and other anthologies. She is a vibrant and engaging speaker who gives hope and practical solutions to those who struggle with difficult relationships. Deb and her husband, Randy, live in a tiny town in Eastern Washington. Visit Deb at: http://www.debkalmbach.com/, or on Facebook and Twitter.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day! 12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Voices of the Faithful

Voices of the Faithful – Inspiring Stories of Courage from Christians Serving Around the World.
with Beth Moore and Friends who put their lives on the line for God.
Published at Thomas Nelson

About the book

A 366-day devotional with inspiring stories from the front lines of faith.

"A willingness to go is all they have in common," says Beth Moore, speaking of her friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and with whom she collaborated to create this book. This brilliant, 366-day devotional features incredible stories of God's faithfulness in the face of uncertainty and danger, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide.

With a foreword by International Mission Board president Jerry Rankin and an introduction by Beth, this volume also includes advice on how to hear God's voice, pray for missionaries, and understand the church's and individual's role in missions.

My Thoughts

I had the opportunity to review Voices of the Faithful Volume 2 in the past.  When I realized that I could received the first volume of Voices of the Faithful I immediately jumped on the opportunity.

2011 is approaching fast and you might be wondering which devotional book you will read next year.   If you want to be inspired by what people called to the Mission field are doing around the world, I would suggest that you consider Voices of the Faithful.  

Each reading starts with a scripture which is linked to the devotion.    After each devotion you will also find a prayer that you can say out loud or in your heart.   And you also know who wrote the devotion so you can also pray for the person and the area where they work.

I find it is inspiring to read what missionaries are doing around the world.  This book is giving us a glimpse of what is done for the Lord.   Many times we wonder where our money goes and what is done.   Voices of the Faithful is opening the window on the works of many.   

We have friends who are missionaries in Thailand.   They used to be in Chiang Mai but recently moved closer to where their ministry was which is close to the border of Burma.    Compasio opens their doors for kids and women who need help.  They also care for children of women who are in prison as well as abandoned ones.   In a way, we are updated regularly on what they do for the people there.   But having other stories from other missionaries is a blessing for anyone.

Let your heart be changed through 2011 while reading Voices of the Faithful.   See that even missionaries go through hard times and that God is faithful for everyone who trust in Him.   Believe in miracles.   He is still moving all around the world…

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending me the featured product for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinions expressed here are only my own.

CSN Stores

Are you planning to get a new television on boxing day (Dec 26th)?

Your old TV stand doesn’t match the furniture in the family room anymore?

Don’t worry.   CSN Stores has a multitude of choices in tv stands.

From something more retro to something more countryish, you will have many choices by going on the CSN Stores for your new tv stands.

CSN Stores have different models for everyone taste.    You will more than likely find the perfect TV stand for your house.

What I particularly like from CSN Stores is that they will ship to Canada as well and I find their price are incredible…

So if you are planning to change your tv stands in the new year, consider looking at the variety offered at CSN Stores!

Gift List

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

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Gift List by Tricia Goyer I've been thinking lately how hard it must be for Oprah to Christmas shop. I mean if you were on her "gift list" wouldn't you expect something really, really good? The woman gives away cars and trips to Australia on her television show for goodness sake! It seems by the end of Christmas Day her friends and family would look at the pile of presents and think, "Is that it?" I mean if you knew there was billions of dollars she could spend on you, would you ever feel satisfied? Sometimes I think we approach God the same way. We look around at our home, our family, our job, our free time and we still aren't satisfied. We wish our body looked better, our clothes were more in style, our husband was more considerate and our kids were more ... well, like the perfect little people we picture in our mind. Our careers don't excel as quickly as we think they should and people don't give us the attention we feel we deserve. We're tired and anxious and the to-do list seems to be tacked to our hearts for all the pain it causes. Often, we look around and don't speak the words out loud, but think them just the same. "Is that it?" I mean, You're the God of the universe and You have all things in Your hands and under Your control. Couldn't you provide a little more money to help those bills disappear or make me a bit more content with the man I've chosen to spend my life with? And I thought Oprah had it tough. Is there ever a time when God doesn't hear the murmurs? Again, not with our mouths but in our heart. I've been guilty of this--of not being satisfied with the gifts I've been given. Yes, there will always be more to want, but today--at this moment--I'm satisfied. And I look to Him with a grateful heart and whisper, "Thank you, it is enough. More than enough."

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About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-six books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. For more information, please visit http://www.triciagoyer.com/

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day! 12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Happy 3rd Birthday to my little girl!

Today is the 3rd birthday of my sweet little Jasmine.    I wish her an marvelous birthday on this December 19th, 2010!

Personalize a photo slideshow

Hurting Near Christmas? 10 Tips to Hope Again

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

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Hurting Near Christmas? 10 Tips to Hope Again by Stacie Ruth Stoelting Feel sad this Christmas? Hey, I know the feeling. In fact, many programs have interviewed me to share about it! Last year, I tried particularly hard to share stories and tips on how to cope with grief during the holidays: I wrote a feature for CBN.com, Coping with Grief at Christmas, visited and counseled grieving people, etc. Then irony hit: Near Christmas, two people I loved died within two days (December 15-16, 2009). Are you or a loved one hurting during the holidays? I relate. But let me encourage you: Jesus remains faithful! As real as my pain, He met my needs and comforted me with peace unexplainable. I’m serious. He’s real. Before I continue with tips, let me share this: If you feel suicidal, contact an emergency counseling service like the New Life Call Center at 1-800-NEW-LIFE(639-5433). 10 Tips for Hurting Hearts to Hope and Cope at Christmastime 1.    Realize and internalize it: God still loves you and wants to hear from you. He wants you to know that there is a Way out of your pit of despair. The Way is Jesus. 2.    Sometimes, our suffering causes us to forget His. Understand He understands you. He suffered more than any of us when we bore the weight of every sin and pain on the cross! In fact, Is. 53:3 describes Jesus: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” Think of it: He took your punishment and pain on the cross. He was your capital punishment Substitute! And your Deliverer -your Rescuer- wants to hear from you. His heart hurts with yours. Will you pour your heart out to Him now? He’ll pour His love in where the fear previously resided. Let Jesus inside. Do you know Jesus on a personal, one-to-One basis?  Visit here to learn why Jesus was born to die and how to be born again. (Hey, Jesus said it: "You must be born again.") 3.    Rather than mere gifts, make a Christmas prayer list of other hurting people. Then pray for them and request prayer for yourself, too. Contact your church. Tap into ministries (including CBN.com) that offer extra prayer support. And feel free to join my prayer e-group at www.PrayingPals.org or on Facebook by clicking here. 4.    End the Christmas comparison game. Don't compare your Christmas to your neighbor's. Don't compare your Christmas to past celebrations. 5.    Center on the Savior! This year, trade a superficial Christmas for a real one. Deepen your appreciation for the true Christmas: the arrival of Jesus Christ to banish the effects of sin and death! 6.    Whatever your loss or pain, open up and let God be your Gain. Maybe your pain comes from another cause: a divorce, a devastating diagnosis, a job loss...the list extends. God offers to be your Counselor, your Father, your Healer, your Provider. Let Him answer your heart’s cry. 7.    Love on people. Even if you don’t “feel” like it, prayerfully do something for someone else who is hurting. 8.    Remember: Feelings change. God doesn't. Loved ones' deaths never kill His love for you. God's immeasurable, unconditional love still flows to you! When you know Jesus, you know eternal love and security. Nothing separates you from His love! “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV). 9.    Realize the reality of the sudden reunion. Holidays exacerbate the feeling of long separation from our loved ones in Heaven. Does it feel like it will take forever for you to see your loved one in Heaven? Be encouraged: Jesus IS coming again and it will be a time you don't expect! So the fact that you feel like it won't happen soon is a good thing!  Once reunited, it will feel like no time transpired. All sadness will be entirely removed! 10.    When Jesus comes back to earth, it will be a celebration greater than any previous Christmas you've ever experienced! For believers, losses hurt but never win. We will celebrate Jesus together -and it will be glorious "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4, NIV). In that Day, all believers will be able to jubilantly say, “Merry Christmas to all and to all the true Light!” Additional Help: Ready for some practical tips for coping with grief at Christmastime? Here’s one: Rearrange furniture to reduce absence reminders. To read this tip and others found in another of my CBN.com’s articles: “Coping with Grief at Christmas", visit http://www.cbn.com/. Going thru a rough time? Join Stacie Ruth’s prayer group at http://www.prayingpals.org/.

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About Stacie: Stacie Ruth knows pain, but she also knows Jesus! After Stacie Ruth met Jesus, her life blossomed with true joy and purpose. Life’s blows hurt her, but Jesus heals and strengthens her. Now an author, actress, and recording artist, she laughs at the irony and praises God, who uses unlikely people...like herself.  Discover why she's written a book at age 15, sung/spoken for the 43rd President, been pictured in major media (i.e. The New York Times, USA Today), and keynoted conferences since she was a teenager. To watch video clips, worship Jesus with music from her album, or get in touch with her ministry for women, visit http://www.brightlightministries.com/.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day! 12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Giveaway–See The Light

My friend Brenda is having an interesting giveaway right now.   She has reviewed a DVD  which tells the Christmas Story and give Art Lessons at the same time.   Sounds very interesting.

For more details on this DVD go to http://seethelightshine.com/.

 

The contest can be access at http://myhomeschoolgarden.com/2010/12/18/review-and-giveaway-the-gift-of-love-dvd!