Saturday, July 30, 2011

A book that answers your deepest question:

As a member of the blogging for books program, I am asking to read books and then to write a review of what I think of that book.  This is a book review on the book Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory.  This review is my own honest personal opinion of what I thought of the book.


Dinner with a Perfect Stranger:

 Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory is  a book about one man’s quest to find the truth.  The main character, Nick, is invited to a dinner with Jesus of Nazareth.  Nick assumes that someone, or some church is playing a trick on him.  Out of curiosity Nick goes to the restaurant to find out who is behind the invitation.  When Nick arrives at the restaurant he is surprise to see that the man that invited him to dinner is someone he has never met.   Nick is compelled to stay and have dinner with this man and to ask him questions.  At first he does not believe his dinner guest is Jesus, but as the dinner progresses he suspends his disbelieve for the sake of  the conversation.  Nick ask Jesus poignant questions about the different world religions, and why he is the only way to God.  They talk about why there is pain and suffering in the world. Throughout the book Jesus answered all Nick’s question as to if God really exists.  Gregory leaves the book open for readers to come to their own conclusion about God.
I really enjoyed reading this book.  It is a small fictional book, but it is pack with real truths.  Many of the questions that Nick asked Jesus were the same questions that many of us would want to ask Jesus.  This book will help answer question to those that are seeking answers about God.  After reading this book I came away with a  better understanding of God purpose for my life.  It may be a fictional book, but it is also biblically accurate.   I recommend that you read this book, and then give it to a friend that is seeking the truth.  

For an excerpt from this book:Dinner With A Perfect Stranger book excerpt



  Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Press as a member of their Blogging for Books program. I was only asked to give an honest review of the book. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

True Love

It's Our 14th Anniversary




14 years ago today at 3pm in a little church in Reno, NV my husband and I said our sacred marriage vows before our family, friends and God.  I was only 20 years young at the time, but I knew that this man was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  He is handsome, generous to others and he will always stand up for the women he loves (that's me).  I am so bless to have such a wonderful husband.  He is not only the spiritual  leader of our family, but the physical and mental leader as well.  I follow him not only because  God has commanded me to do so (because God has), but because I have faith that he will lead our family where it needs to go.


It is kind of funny when you look back and think about the man you fell madly in love with.  I knew that he would be a great husband, but I never stopped to ask myself if he would be a great father.  I guess deep down inside I knew that he would.  I love watching him with our three kids.  He gives each of them what I cannot.  And I don't mean the obvious; a Dad, I mean the things that make a man a man.  Things like teaching them to be independent.  He is so great at letting them try new ventures on their own and letting them fail on their own so that they can learn from those failures.  He teaches our boys how to treat a lady like a lady.  He teaches our daughter how she should be treated by a man (he has set the bar pretty high for her).    He has given us the security in knowing that we will always have food, clothing and shelter.  But most importantly he has taught our kids what love looks like.  That love is a verb, it  is something you do, not just some thing you feel or say.  He does this by the way he treats me.  He does this when he kisses me on the lips, in the car at a red light.  He does this by helping me clean the house with a cheerful heart.  He does this when he says to our kids "Don't talk to my wife like that."  He does this when he make me a priority and take me on a date (without the kids).  He makes it look so simple, it is like breathing to him.

On is day I wanted to say Thank you to God for blessing me with this man.  Thank you to my hubbie for 14 glorious years of marriage.  "Thank you not only for who you are, but for what I am when I am with you." a quote from an anonymous author.

 I wanted to share some photo of us on our honeymoon.  Remember this was 14 years ago and time has not been as kind to me as it has been to my husband.  I guess three kids will do that to you. Laugh Out Loud!



UPDATE:
Here is the two of us going out for dinner on July 26, 2011.  We went to Ruth Chris steak House and it was delicious!  We were going to go to a movie, but decided to go home and spend some time together instead!
  This photo was taken by my oldest.  He did a great job.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Giveaway

The giveaway is now closed  The winner was the Kalk Family
Just a reminder that you only have 10 more days to enter the giveaway:


  So here is what I am givingaway:

2 coupon for 1.oo off ball real fruit pectin
2 coupon for 2.oo off any case of ball or kerr jars
2 coupon for 3.oo off ball canning discovery kit
1 Beginner guide to Canning & Recipe Booklet
2 (0.4 oz) sample of classic pectin
1 invitation to join the National Can-it-forward day. 


How to enter:
1. Mandatory: you must post a comment to my blog.
2. Become a follower and get two additional entries
3. Rank my review of PrayerWalk  and get an additional entree.


  Your mailing address must be within the United States. You have until midnight on July 30th  to enter.   I will randomly select the winner on August 1st and post the winner.  The winner will have until August 10th to contact me with their address, or I will draw another winner. 


DISCLAMER:  I was given these products for free when I was chosen to host a house party with Jaden Homes.  I did not receive any monetary compencation for these products.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Back Yard Bible Club

Back Yard Bible Club 2011 at our house.  This is an article that I wrote for my mom's newsletter.  My Back Yard Bible Club is now over, but you can check with your local church to see if they are hosting a Back Yard Bible Clubs near you.  

The 2nd week of July at 5:45 pm my front yard will be full of kids screaming, running, and having the time of their lives, while I sit back in my camping chair with a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade.  Why will these kids be having so much fun in my front yard?  It is because they will be part of a back yard bible club.

Little Man wants in on the fun!
 Family all over the United States will be hosting Back Yard Bible Clubs the week of July 11th-14th. So what is a   BYBC you may ask?  They are clubs where kids will experience games, skit and stories taught by trained teenager from Hill Country Bible Church Pflugerville.  They will also enjoy a snack provided by the host.   Most important they will hear the life changing truth of Jesus Christ.


When are the Back Yard Bible Clubs? They are 1 1/2 hours a day for four day.  They are also held a different time to accommodate you busy schedule.  The BYBC are held at 9:00am, 10:45am, 5:45pm or 7:30pm.
Playing a game of "drip, drip, drop"
Back Yard Bible Club host and their friends invite kids kindergarten through 5th graders from their neighborhood to come to their home.  You too can invite your friends and family to a BYBC near you
Where do I find a Back Yard Bible Club?  BYBC happen at host home, apartments and parks all over the United States. 
If you don’t find any Back Yard Bible Clubs in your neighborhood then it may not be too late for you to start your own Back Yard Bible Club at your house or neighborhood park.  You do not want to miss out on what God has planned for your community.




Each day had a different them and this theme was Wet n' Wild Wednesday.  Here is Mare Bear having fun on the slip and Slide.  I had to give her a little hand since she cannot do it by her self.  


 


















We had three children come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior during our Back Yard Bible Club.  What a blessing!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Best and Most Memorable Birthday:

So Today at 8:15 in the morning I will turn another year older.  I wanted to share with you my best birthday and Most Memorable Birthday:

For my best birthday I would have to say it was when I turned 30 years old.  My husband took me to a spa where I got a massage while he planned a surprise party at his parents house.  I had no ideas he was doing this and I was really surprised.  All my family was there and my dad (who lived far away at the time) was there too. We ate BBQ and had my favorite cake. I felt so special and loved.

For my most memorable birthday I would have to say my 25th.  At 5pm the day before my birthday there was a microburst (a small tornado) and there was a city wide  power outage and we lost power for a few days.  The microburst had knocked down trees and roofing and some houses were destroyed too.  Let me just say the focus was not on me.  My hubbie who was the manager at a local grocery store, had to spend the whole day trying to save food from spoiling in the summer heat.  But at  the end of the day we were all physical and emotional drained.  That night my hubbie and my son wish me a happy birthday and we made the best of it eating and playing a board game by candle light.

I wonder what this birthday will be like?

Sunday, July 10, 2011

My 1st giveaway is here

 In Honor of my thirty something Birthday I am hosting my first ever giveaway.  I had so much fun learning to can that I decided I wanted to share the fun with you.  So here is what I am givingaway:

2 coupon for 1.oo off ball real fruit pectin
2 coupon for 2.oo off any case of ball or kerr jars
2 coupon for 3.oo off ball canning discovery kit
1 Beginner guide to Canning & Recipe Booklet
2 (0.4 oz) sample of classic pectin
1 invitation to join the National Can-it-forward day.

This could all be your if you win the drawing.  To enter into the drawing all you have to do is to post a comment to any of my post.  Your mailing address must be within the United States. You have until midnight on July 30th  to enter.   I will randomly select the winner on August 1st and post the winner.  The winner will have until August 10th to contact me with their address, or I will draw another winner.

Do you want more ways to enter:
1. First you must post a comment on my blog (it can be for anything I have written so far)
2. Become a follower and get two additional enteries
3. Rank my review of PrayerWalk  and get an additional entree.

Please make sure that you leave you e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win.  If this goes well and I find that people like it, I will host other giveaways.

DISCLAMER:  I was given these products for free when I was chosen to host a house party with Jaden Homes.  I did not receive any monetary compencation for these products.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My first FREE Giveaway

I have heard of other blogs hosting a giveaway and even one of my fellow friend-blogger has hosted a few giveaways.  So what do you think?

 I am going to be announcing what I am giving away sometime this July.  So with in the next few days I will post what I am going to giveaway.  I will give you a hint.  It has something to do with what I blog about.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Prayerfully walking

I have joined a community of blogger that like to read book and write reviews.  It is called Blogging for book.  It is simple and fun to do.  You can find out more about how you can blog for books at:  http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/


Here is my first review on a book called "Prayer Walk: becoming a woman of prayer, strength and Discipline" 


 "Prayer Walk: becoming a woman of prayer, strength and Discipline" by Janet Holm McHenry is one women’s battle to overcome the physical pains of an earthly body and spiritual defeats of this earthly world. McHenry  has been there before and with her book she guides you to be a disciplined  prayerful walker with the ultimate personal trainer, Jesus.
McHenry starts off the book telling you her journey as she became a prayerwalker.  Throughout her book she will lead you to make time to prayerwalk,  explain why you should do it, and the importance of praywalking with a partner.   She also provides exercises and goes over the types of shoes to wear to keep your body healthy.   PrayerWalk  includes a Study guide with scripture references for small groups and a personal 30 day challenge as well. 
I enjoyed reading  Prayerwalk and I like the ease of reading it.  More importantly it challenged me to be faithfully reading God’s work and to dive deeply into the motives behind my prayers to make them more God focused.   I think that this is a good book for anyone looking to get a little exercise by walking and wanting to deepen their relationship with God through prayer.


For an excerpt from this book: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781578563760&view=excerpt

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Press as a member of their Blogging for Books program.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review.    All opinions are my own.