God's Great Love for You Review and #Giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Even though my kids are older, I keep a basket of 'children's books' out. I try to fill it with positive and uplifting books for them. It's a little basket of  pick-me-up when they are feeling down, frustrated or needing love. They have not yet seen the new Rick Warren book, "God's Great Love for You" but they are going to love it! I can't wait for us to read this one together (it's going to be our Christmas Eve new book). It's positive and uplifting and says so much in a simple wording and format. Chris Saunders did top-notch illustrations that absolutely bring the words to life and inspire you as you read. 

I think this book will quickly become a favorite on bookshelves everywhere. 

From the publisher about God’s Great Love for You:

God’s Great Love for You, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author and respected pastor Rick Warren, takes children on a whimsical and heartfelt journey that lets them know God’s love is with them wherever they go. With breathtaking illustrations by Chris Saunders, the simple yet poignant text comes alive as a child journeys to places far and near and discovers God’s great love is perfect, and everywhere, and will never end. 

Would you like to win a copy for your family to enjoy? 

Please enter below in the Giveaway Tools form. 
Rules of entry:

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 on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Entry-Form

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. 

Harlem Globetrotters - Save 25% off tickets with code

Disclosure: I will be given tickets to the game in exchange for this post and my review of the event. 

Save 25% - Click Here

Have you ever seen the Harlem Globetrotters live? If not, I promise you're missing out. We have gone several times with our children and it's a highlight of our year. It's such a fun, high-energy, family-friendly show. We enjoy getting to see them play and do their tricks (and jokes). Our family laughs out loud all night long and helps cheer the Globetrotters to victory (we hope!)

If you ever saw them as a child, the current team doesn't disappoint. With a star-studded roster featuring Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard and Cheese Chisholm - plus female stars TNT Lister, Ace Jackson and Hoops Green - the Harlem Globetrotters' show is unrivaled in the world of family entertainment. Their 2018 World Tour will showcase incredible ball handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, hilarious comedy and unequaled fan interaction. After the game, Globetrotter stars will sign autographs and take photos with fans.

My readers will SAVE 25% for ALL Harlem Globetrotters Games with promo code FUNFAM. Offer is valid for ALL games - not just in my region. 

Matthew West New CD All In - Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this CD in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was given.

For those of you who know me, you know this review was a no-brainer for me to want to do. This girl (and her family) love, Love, LOVE Matthew West and his music. We've been fans for years and I'll never forget that I got the opportunity to meet him at a MOPS Convention years ago. It was a small group of us and a later evening session so it wasn't well attended. (Lucky us!) So when Matthew West made a surprise appearance, it was nothing but fun. He didn't sing, but he took time to meet each of us in the room and talk to us a little bit. I truly loved his music before that time, but watching him take time out of his life to take genuine interest in each one of us was absolutely incredible.

I'm thrilled to announce that his new CD, "All In" has been released. Run (don't walk) and pick up a copy ASAP. I promise you won't be disappointed. I know the radio stations are playing the songs "All in All" and "Broken Things," but I was absolutely blown away by the song "The Beautiful Things We Miss."

Matthew’s heart behind the album:
Matthew wrote his new album All In with the goal of encouraging himself and others to get up off the sidelines of their faith and really live it out – to go all in in your time with God, all in with your family, all in with your community, and all in battling your fears that may hold you back from becoming who God made you to be. Along that same theme, Matthew will be launching a 6-week All in Challenge on his social media starting 9/18, and each week Matthew will be challenging his fans to go all in in a different part of their lives. What does it look like when a heart that knows Jesus takes a step and holds nothing back? How can we go All In in the places that mean the most?

Be sure to check out the videos (and the behind the scenes).












Would you like to win a copy of this new CD? Be sure to enter below.

Rules:

• 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 on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  
• Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  
• Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
• Open to residents of US and Canada

Entry-Form

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 on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Patterns of Evidence: Exodus DVD Review and #Giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I love the sentence on the front of the DVD. It sums up this movie so well, "You never know where a crisis of faith will lead you." While I am a believer, I do encounter my own faith issues. I think it's human nature and a part of life to question faith and what we've been taught. I liked the open approach to this project. They research, present findings, but leave you to draw your own conclusions. I appreciated the lack of pressure presented, making me stay more engaged with the film and the findings.

I wasn't sure I'd love a movie that I consider to be a documentary. But I was drawn in and enjoyed learning some inconsistencies that really set Exodus 200 years before we thought. The conversations sparked while watching this have been incredible for my family and I. I think we will need to watch it a few more times to fully grasp everything we are being shown. Keep reading for a discount code and the opportunity to win a copy for yourself.

About the author/filmmaker/producerTim Mahoney founded Mahoney Media Group, Inc. (MMG) in 1989. MMG focused its business on television and video production for regional and national companies. In 2014 Tim founded Thinking Man Films & Media as an international documentary & publishing company with a focus on education and the Bible. Tim produced numerous productions for Christian organizations including the Billy Graham Association, World Wide Pictures, and Compassion International. Tim also served as the President of the board for the International Christian Visual Media Association (ICVM). Tim’s first full feature documentary film, “PATTERNS OF EVIDENCE: THE EXODUS”, released in January 2015. The film took 12 years to develop and takes a scientific approach to investigate the events of the biblical Exodus. The overall vision for his film company is to explore “patterns of evidence” that support the biblical narrative and engages the world in a conversation. The film takes a balanced approach and leaves the audience to decide for themselves if the Bible is real history or myth.

About the film

• Won 13 awards on the film festival circuit in 2014, including a Gold Remi Award winner for Best Director at the Worldfest Houston Intl. Film Festival, the Gold Crown Award for Best Picture and Best Documentary at ICVM 2014, and Official Selection at the Soho International Film Festival in New York.
• Supplemental resources associated with the film include a nearly 400-page hardcover book, small group Bible study, Movie Event kit, youth version (called Young Explorers), homeschool curriculum and others.
• It includes powerful interviews with some of the top experts in the fields of archaeology and Egyptology as well as people of influence in the Middle East.
• The film has an objective, fair-minded and balanced approach. It allows viewpoints from all sides to be heard in a respectful way while asking honest questions of the Bible and scholars’ views. It does not preach and lets the evidence speak for itself. This allows the film to be very shareable with those of different viewpoints.

If you would like to buy the video, use the code MK1 for $3 off the DVD price. (Retails for $19.95.)

Enter to Win a Copy

Entry rules: 

• 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 on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  
• Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  
• Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Entry-Form

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 on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Once Upon A Time Holy Bible and Storybook Bible Review #FlyBy #OnceUponATimeBible

Disclosure: I received a copy of these books in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I love innovative Bibles. I admire the way Bibles are made to capture the imagination of a child and keep them interested. I was a bit skeptical about a Bible named the "Once Upon A Time Holy Bible" because I'm not one who wants anyone to think the Bible is a fairy tale. So when I received my copy, the first thing I noticed was the tag at the bottom. It says, "The Bible is not a fairy tale. Every great story happened once upon a time." Suddenly, I was more interested in peeking inside. Wow! The illustrations are beautiful! And--get this--it's a Bible. A real, live NIrV edition of the Bible. But various stories have been encapsulated into a picture book quality story. 
 


Check out this page about Isaac and Rebekah. One of my favorite stories--since my daughter's name is Rebekah (like the Bible, with a KAH instead of a CCA). The illustrations rival any princess story you may have seen from Disney or anyone else. The story is written to engage while still presenting the Biblical truth. These stories are interspersed throughout both he Old and New Testament. 


I was happy to learn that this Bible is available where books are sold. 

In addition, I also received the Once Upon A Time Storybook Bible (with the same great tagline at the bottom). But since this is written in a storybook format, each Biblical story starts out "Once Upon A Time..." and ends with "Happily Ever After." These stories are not only captivating in their words, but also in the illustrations. Look at the picture below to see how beautiful the illustrations are. This Storybook Bible is available at Sam's Club or wherever books are sold. 

From the publisher: 

•        With the popularity of fairy tales and Disney animation, and especially with the new release of Disney’s live action Beauty and the Beast on March 17, Zonderkidz wanted to publish a storybook Bible and full -text Bible (Holy Bible offered in hardcover, and pink leathersoft editions) that would resonate with children and families who loved those types of movies, and loved reading a great story.
•        The art will captivate Disney lovers with similar looking characters and color palettes
•        Zonderkidz wanted to capture fans of this genre, but introduce young children to the word of God, and introduce them to the great characters of the Bible. It’s important to note that this brand serves to resound the theme that the Bible is NOT a fairy tale, but every great Bible story happened once upon a time. The Bible is the ultimate Happily Ever After story!
•        What Christian parent doesn’t want to tie in Bible learning fun with what their kids already love, but also have the opportunity to teach them that the real heroes and stories of our faith come straight from God’s Word.

If you are looking for a wonderful new addition to your storybooks or a new Bible to engage your child, I recommend the Once Upon A Time Holy BIble and the Once Upon A Time Storybook Bible. 

When We Last Spoke - Book and DVD Review and Giveaway

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and a preview DVD in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

What a fun and whimsical story. I truly enjoyed getting to know Juliet and Evangeline better. Talk about family differences--wow! For as close as my sister and I are, it was hard to imagine growing so far apart from her as these sisters did. I truly wasn't sure what to expect as Juliet cooks up her plan to get her sister home. I really thought it would backfire and never work. But finding out all the things that happened was so much fun. 

Learning how they ended up with their grandparents was painfully difficult. The girls didn't really realize what was happening, but I knew. And many of their memories with their grandparents paralleled my own life experience. It brought back some very precious memories to me as well. One of my favorite things was meeting the characters of their small town. Small town magnifies the quirks of others and this was no exception.

About When We Last Spoke (from the back cover):

Humor, heartbreak, and triumph are served with whipped cream and lots of local nuts in this heartwarming tale of family, friendship, and forgiveness in Fireside, Texas.Meet Juliet Cranbourne, local radio personality and owner of a whimsical kitchen gadget store, and her sister Evangeline, a fruit tree geneticist who works for Oregon State University.When a rift due to their orphaned past affects their sisterhood, Juliet convinces Evangeline to come home for Christmas and choose headstones to honor grandparents Walt(a tenderhearted, good looking rancher) and Ruby (a blue-ribbon fiddler, fabulous cook, and expert in the art of making family feel loved).  As they cruise through Fireside in Ruby's Thunderbird, Juliet hopes that healing memories will somehow smooth rough roads ahead.Does the tremendous love that marked Walt and Ruby's lives still have the power to renew their sisterhood and help them find their place in the world?

About the author:
Marci Henna was born in Austin, Texas and lived as a child in Kenya, East Africa with the Wakamba tribe where her parents managed a medical research station. She later moved to the Hill Country ranch which has been in the family since the 1800's and currently lives in Austin.






Preview the trailer here: 


Would you like to win a copy of the book? One of my readers will receive a free book and a preview DVD like I did. 

Guidelines:

• 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 from my blog, 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
• Winner must reside in the US 

Entry-Form

In addition, Marci will be giving away a FREE Kindle version of the book from February 20-24 on Amazon.

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 on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

I'm Going to Give You A Bear Hug Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I was given a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Do you ever run across a children's book that makes you so happy you paused to read it? That's how I feel about the book "I'm going to give you a Bear Hug!" It's absolutely precious. The words and rhymes will attract even the smallest readers and the illustrations absolutely finish the book to perfection. My 15 year old immediately noticed the child's teddy bear on each page doing something different. And if a teenage boy can enjoy a children's book, you know it's going to be a winner to the smaller ones, too. 

This book is sure to become one of the treasured bedtime books in homes everywhere. I know it would have been one we read over and over in our house. While my children are older, we all appreciate good children's literature and each of us have thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. 

One of my readers will get to read this book as a gift from the publisher to you. Please see below to enter for your chance to win a copy. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney, is a playful and comforting bedtime book that imagines all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug.Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. Cooney’s sweet and simple rhymes encourage playful interaction between parent and child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep.I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is a sweet loving bedtime story book that is also sure to become a Valentine’s Day favorite for little ones who enjoy celebrating a day full of hugs and kisses from loved ones. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug will be available in hardcover for $16.99 in retail stores nationwide and online on December 27, 2016.

About the Author:

Caroline B. Cooney was born in New York, grew up in Connecticut, and now lives in South Carolina. Caroline is the author of 90 Young Adult novels in many genres, and her books have sold over fifteen million copies. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is her first picture book. It’s based on a verse she wrote for her own children, Louisa, Sayre and Harold, who are grown now.

About the Illustrator:

Tim Warnes has been illustrating children's books for twenty years. He lives in Dorset, England, with his wife, children's illustrator Jane Chapman, and their two sons. When he's not drawing little critters, Tim loves to write, watch birds and play his banjo.  Visit Tim at www.chapmanandwarnes.com

Would you like a chance to win a copy for your home? Please enter below, remembering these simple rules:

• 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 on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  
• Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  
• Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
• Shipping address for winner must be in US

Entry-Form

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.