The Johns Family

Pray for Oklahoma...and How You Can Help!

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:01:00 +0000

Most of you are aware of the horrendous tornado that tore through Oklahoma yesterday afternoon. David & I sat watching the live coverage, reading stories and looking and photos last night and we were literally sick to our stomachs. Our hearts are heavy for all people who were affected in anyway from that devastating tornado. Our family went through a tornado back on April 27,2011 (and endured almost 2 weeks of no power, no internet, no cell phones, no water) and while it in no way compares to the devastation in Oklahoma, we personally know the effect that relief efforts have on families and a community. I wanted to share a couple of ways that you can personally help the relief efforts in Oklahoma. I also want to encourage you to help out however the Lord leads you. Even if you can't do much, donating clothes, personal hygiene items, any denomination gift card, pet supplies, etc. make a huge difference. Above all, please keep this area covered in prayers in the day ahead.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

If you are looking for a local Oklahoma agency to contribute to, consider the Oakcrest Church of Christ. They are located just outside the devastated area and are set up to provide aid and shelter to whomever needs it. They have even been sending church vans into the area to pick up people who cannot get to them. You can contribute on their website or by mail and 100% of your donation will go to the relief efforts. www.oakcrestchurch.com.

The Red Cross needs financial donations. There are three ways to make a contribution; you can go to redcross.org, you can text "red cross" to 90999 on your cell phone to give $10, or you can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Salvation Army has also jumped into action. It's in multiple locations throughout cities in Oklahoma providing food, hydration and emotional support to first responders and storm survivors. You can contribute to the Salvation Army by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769), visiting their website, texting "STORM" to 80888 to make an automatic $10 donation, or by mail: The Salvation Army PO Box 12600 Oklahoma City, OK 73157.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief says donations will "go straight to help those in need providing tree removal services, laundry services and meals to victims of disasters." It is requesting monetary donations (It says clothing is NOT needed). For more information, and to donate, visit Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's website.You can send checks to: BGCO, Attn: Disaster Relief, 3800 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City, OK., 73112.

"Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,
For my soul takes refuge in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction passes by." --Psalm 57:1, NASB

Our Mexico Trip Report

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:51:00 +0000

Here is an overview of our trip to "Village M" in Mexico this week! We wanted to give you some pictures so you could visually see what we did and where we were as well. Thank you so much for each of you who were covering us and our children in prayer this week. We had a very good trip into the village this month and our kids did great with the sweet couple they stayed with here on campus as well. This was my first trip into "Village M" this year as well. Now to share about our time in "Village M".

(Our suburban after the drive into the village)

We arrived in "Village M" on Monday afternoon around 4:30pm. It had rained quite a bit in the days prior to our arrival so the roads were pretty muddy and the potholes were really bad. We had decided that our team would provide dinner tonight for a family of believers in this village so we quickly unpacked and started cooking the food we had brought.

(Enjoying meals with Oscar & Minerva)

Oscar, Minerva & Ariana are believers in the village and they are also our points of contact in this village. We always coordinate with them when we are coming to visit and they often have us to their home for various meals and activities. For dinner, we made carna asada (meat), beans and rice and enjoyed the fellowship with them on the night we arrived.

(Breaking down I Thesalonians)

Tuesday morning, we woke up and ate breakfast and then had a team Bible study. We went through I Thessalonians chapters 1-3 during this time. After our Bible study together, we spent time walking around the village and talking to people within the village.

(Spending time with one of the villagers)

Some of the people we simply invited to the Bible Storying we were doing at 4:00pm down by the ocean and others we spent time sharing the gospel with as well as following up on studies the team had done last month with certain people in the village. We talked to Toho and Salvador (who are both believers as well) and encouraged them to continue studying the Word and following Christ. We met with Urbano who has been studying but has not yet made a decision to follow Christ. We spent time in Donnacello's home with her and her husband. They are an elderly couple and Donnacello recently became a Christian. On this day, she told us that she wanted to be baptized out of obedience but her husband (who is still a practicing Catholic) told her that if she got baptized again she would have to leave their home. We spent time sharing with her and praying for her and her husband as well. Please pray for Donnacello to have strength in the face of persecution.

(Mole Chicken lunch)

Oscar and Minerva invited us to their home for lunch and we had a delicious dinner of Mole Chicken, rice and corn tortillas. Mole (pronounced moe-lay) is a very famous Mexican dish and there are lots of variations of it. I had never eaten Mole before but it was really tasty and I loved all the different flavor combinations in the sauce. There is even chocolate in it! Here's a Mole Chicken recipe if you want to try Food Network's version of it. I really enjoyed this lunch!

(Bible Storying)

Later that afternoon, we had a Bible Storying time at one of the buildings down by the water. We had walked throughout the village inviting people to come hear our story and had a decent turnout considering that a lot of people in the village had gone back out to fish again. Matt shared the story of Jesus crucifixion with them and then asked them a few questions. We also had some cookies for the people to enjoy while they listened.

We ate dinner with KiKi that night. He is a man who lives in sin and yet he has spent a lot of time this year studying the Bible both on his own and with the team when they go into "Village M" each month. He even quoted Psalm 23 in English to us after dinner and did a beautiful job! Continue to pray for Kiki that the seeds of God's Word that have been planted will continue to grow in his heart and that he will turn from his sin, repent and seek a real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

(David & I with Oscar, Minerva & Ariana)

Wednesday morning, we spent more time as a team studying I Thessalonians chapters 4-5 and then looking at the book in its entirety. After team Bible study, we went to Oscar & Minerva's house and spent some time with them. We gave them Paul Washer's "One True God" Bible study workbooks in Spanish and asked them to start working their way through them this summer. We (as team members) will also be completing this same workbook ourselves and in September (when we go back to Village M) we plan to go over this material with them. In true Mexican fashion, Oscar wanted a siesta so we took that time to go back and eat lunch while he rested.

(Playing UNO with Oscar)

After his siesta, he invited us back to his house to play UNO with him and Ariana. I must admit, I am a big fan of card games but 9 people playing UNO is really fun and a little competitive too. We had lots of laughter and good times just sitting around playing a game together.

(Dinner of fresh fish and shrimp)

For dinner that night, Minerva cooked fresh fish and shrimp that Oscar had caught while we were there. Now I am not a fan of fish at all, but this fish was so delicious and did not tasty "fishy" at all. They served it with limes and a fresh, homemade salsa too. I ate 2 fish fillets and 4 shrimp because it was so good. After dinner, David & I spent time in the kitchen area with Minerva and Ariana and 2 of the villagers. Ariana can speak very limited English and our Spanish is "un poco" (a little) so we had a good time trying to talk to them in Spanish and them trying to talk to us in English. I have learned this trip that we need to work on our Spanish a LOT more but also that just getting in there and trying to communicate with them (even with limited knowledge) helps people feel like you care and want to get to know them at the same time. We also watched the first 45 minutes of a soccer game with Oscar but we were pretty tired and couldn't stay up to see who won the match.

We loved getting to go to "Village M" and serve together as husband and wife. David has been going to "Village M" each month since August 2012 and he has formed great relationships and friendships with the people there. Since our kids do not yet have passports (we are still waiting on finances to allow us to purchase those), we have not been able to go into Mexico as a family each year. The sweet couple that lives above us at the apartments offered to keep our kids so David & I could go together and that was such a blessing. It was wonderful to get to see "Village M" personally, meet the people we have been praying for the past 9 months and experience life there myself. In just 4 days, I felt very close to Oscar, Minerva and Ariana and they were so welcoming and inviting to me during my time there. David & I greatly desire to be able to bring our entire family to "Village M" at some point this summer so the kids can experience it and meet the people there and so we can continue to encourage them in their Bible studies and encourage them in their Christian living.

We went 4 days with no showers, no running water, no air conditioning of any kind and very limited electricity but it was a wonderful 4 days despite those conditions. The one thing that was still hard for me to get used to on this trip was the Federali (the police) that drive these type vehicles on the roads. It was always weird to see men in the back of trucks with M16 machine guns in their hands going down the road!

Please continue to pray for "Village M" in Mexico. Pray for strength and continued steadfastness for the believers in this village (Oscar, Minerva, Ariana, Donnacello, Toho & Salvador) and pray for those that our team has been studying with this year but they have not yet made decisions (Kiki, Urbano, Reyes & Mario). Pray for continued protection and safety for all those in "Village M" as well. Pray that our family will be able to financially afford passports ($345.00) for our 3 children so we can go as a family into "Village M" and serve the people there this summer and within the next year. Thank you for all the prayers lifted up on behalf of our family this week while our kids remained on campus and while David & I were gone to "Village M". To learn more about our family's mission work and training, check out our missions website!

We're Headed to Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:47:00 +0000

As most of you are aware, we are a self-supporting, full-time missionary family. David & I are leaving today headed to "Village M" in Mexico for 4 days. We have been working in and ministering to this village each month since August. Much progress has been made for the gospel in this area. Oscar is making much progress in his growth as a Christian and enjoying the discipleship time the team is able to spend with him on these trips. He asked us to pray for his oldest daughter to be saved as well. Continue to pray for Erbano and Kiki that God will reveal Himself unto them and set them free from the bondage of sin and death.

As far as risk with our work, the cartel is making its presence known more in "Village M" and asking questions to villagers about our team. They also know what our vehicle looks like now too. Because of this, our housing situation in "Village M" is still not secure. Above all, continue to pray for our ministry in "Village M" and that God would be glorified in everything we do during our time there each month.

Our children will remain on campus in Texas with the friends who live in the apartment above us while we are gone. Please pray peace and comfort for them while we are gone this week as well and that they will enjoy their time and not focus on the "what-if's" of our trip. We appreciate your prayers on behalf of us, our children and our team this week. If you'd like to learn more about the mission work and training our family is doing you can watch a short video and learn how to partner with us.

Check back next week for new blog posts, giveaways and a trip update! Hope you all have a fantastic week.

Mother's Day Giveaway from Educents

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:22:00 +0000

Educents is offering the MOTHER of all Giveaways! In honor of all the awesome moms we know and love, we’ve put together this amazing Mother’s Day package of gift cards, spa credit, fun educational products for kids, and even an iPad 2 with Smart Case!

ENTER TO WIN this great giveaway and don't forget....the more entries, the higher prize values!

NerdWallet's "Mother's Day Your Way" Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Wed, 08 May 2013 03:57:00 +0000

If you give a frazzled Mom, a cookie

She's going to ask for a cup of coffee

in her personalized coffee mug

When she finishes the cup of coffee,

she's going to need a napkin

from her scroll napkin holder

Then she will take out her

Beauty Mate Vanity Set

to see if there is any coffee on her face

and realize she needs to get a shower

After spending time "beautifying" herself

using the products in her

hair accessories organizer

she will realize the house has

become quite messy

So she will ask you for a

flexi-duster and start cleaning the house

in a quick, efficient manner

The "tweets" from the
Singing Bird Clock will remind her

that it is time to pick up the kids from school

and take them to art lessons

While waiting at art lessons,

she will call her husband on her iPhone

with a new personalized cover

to check-in on his day

While on the phone with her husband

she is reminded that he is working late

and the kids are spending the night with

friends so she might have time to enjoy

one more cup of coffee from her

coffee pod selection before her husband arrives home.

And chances are, if a frazzled Mom

can get 2 cups of coffee in one day...

it's going to be a good day and

she can handle anything that life brings on!

If you're looking for a Mother's Day gift on a budget, each of the items mentioned above retails for under $25.00 and can be purchased at Current Catalog. NerdWallet not only offers coupon codes for Current Catalog but also offers coupons that you can use at over 20,000 stores online. Just in time for Mother's Day, you can not only save money but have fun shopping online for that perfect Mother's Day gift too!

If you are a blogger, you can submit a post to NerdWallet's "Mother's Day Your Way" contest here for your chance to win $100.

Chick-Fil-A #FreshMade Salads GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:50:00 +0000

We’re proud to announce the Chick-fil-A #FreshMade Blog App!

Forget about yesterday, today is #FreshMade! Each day we have a choice, a choice to do the same old routine or do something unique and different. What have you wanted to do for a long time? 2013 is almost halfway over and it’s time to do something new. It’s time to grow, it’s time to make your dreams a reality.

Chick-fil-A is helping you make today #FreshMade, by creating new menu options that you can feel good about! They are introducing 3 new premium salads and an improved wrap all under 430 calories made with premium ingredients.

Take your taste buds to greener pastures.

WHY You will love the Chick-fil-A #FreshMade Blog App:
•    Are You A “Starter”? Quiz - Some of us wake up with pep in our step, ready to conquer the world. Others might need a little kick in the behind to inject something new into their lives! Find out if you’re already raring to to go or need a little help getting the good time rolling!
•    #FreshMade Activities - Select your mood and let quotes and images from film express how you’re feeling.
•    See How We Start Fresh - Behind-the-scenes - Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the new Chick-fil-A salads are #FreshMade just for you!
•    Get Social! Tweet with the #FreshMade hashtag to get your friends and family excited about the new Chick-fil-A Salads & Wraps.

Chick-Fil-A wants to give one of my readers a chance to try out these new premium freshmade salads by offering 2 Chick-Fil-A salad coupons. To enter for your chance to win, simply fill out the form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: I was given the above mentioned prizes from Chick-Fil-A and PartnersHub. No monetary compensation was received and prizes will be shipped directly from PartnersHub. The assets included within this message were delivered to you in promotion of the Chick-fil-A release of the Chick-fil-A #FreshMade Blog App.

FreePianoLessons4Kids.com GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:35:00 +0000

Life is like a piano,

the white keys represent happiness

and the black show sadness

but through life's journey, remember

that the black keys also create music!

Piano has always been a special part of my life. I began taking piano lessons at 7 years old and my parents bought me a console piano at 9 years old. I continued lessons all the way through high school. I even played piano in high school for the jazz band and then received a full-tuition music scholarship to college for voice and piano. When we became full-time missionaries last year, I had to sell my beloved piano as we couldn't take it with us and I was without any musical instrument until 2 weeks ago when we found an 88 weighted key keyboard on clearance and bought it so I can enjoy playing piano again. I am also teaching piano lessons to 9 students here on campus at our mission board and it is something I really enjoy each week. In fact, my students will have their piano recital this Thursday night here at campus. I also play piano for the church we attend here in Texas now as well so you can see that piano is very much a part of who I am.

However, it is not always affordable for families to take piano lessons and sometimes piano lessons are not offered in the area where you may live. Thankfully there is a place where your child can take piano lessons for FREE.....FreePianoLessons4Kids is an incredible program that actually works and won't break your budget since it is free!

FreePianoLessons4Kids offers a program that you can customize to suit your child's learning pace and your own schedule. Mr. Hoffman, the instructor, teaches in such a way that you almost feel like you are reading a story. Through this story-telling method of teaching (which also includes the use of puppets in early lessons), your child will be more apt to remember what they have learned. Typically, most students will do best with just 2 or 3 lessons per week using this program. Each lesson is just 5 - 15 minutes so your child doesn't get bored or lose focus during the lesson. I loved this length because when I teach students we spend the first 10-15 minutes reviewing and then I spend the last 15 minutes of the lesson teaching them new concepts and songs. So I felt like the timing in this program was perfect. I am a firm believer that piano lessons build upon themselves. While you are learning new things each lesson, you always are reviewing each week too. Without review, you cannot progress forward since piano builds upon itself. FreePianoLessons4Kids does a great job of teaching the importance of review as well as introducing new concepts.

Your child will need to be able to watch FreePianoLessons4Kids on YouTube to complete each lesson. If your piano is not near a TV that can stream YouTube or close to a computer, maybe you can use an electronic device (iPad, etc.) for your child to watch their lesson on. I love how the first lesson actually teaches them to a play song! Most piano student books don't introduce a whole song until lesson 2 or 3 but FreePianoLessons4Kids makes it fun for the child right from the start by teaching them to play a song and I guarantee your child will feel a great sense of accomplishment once they complete a song on their 1st lesson!

While you can use the free lessons as stand alone material and learn from them, FreePianoLessons4Kids also offers wonderful supplemental materials that help bring the lessons to life. The supplemental materials cover lessons 1-41 and offer a Parents Guide, individual worksheets for each lesson and a downloadable mp3 album that provides children an audio example of all the music they will be learning so they can become familiar with it and help them learn faster. While most piano students have a "Lesson Book" and a "Theory/Technique" book, I feel like FreePianoLessons4Kids does the same. The Lesson Book would be the free YouTube videos and the Theory/Technique Book would be the additional supplemental materials. I would highly recommend purchasing the supplemental materials for just $23.95 if you plan to use these lessons as it would be a complete package that way. Yes, your child can learn without them but what a gift to give your child the full piano experience with the supplemental materials.

If you've ever wanted to learn to play piano or piano lessons just aren't in your budget right now, I highly encourage you to check out FreePianoLessons4Kids. As a piano player, a music major and a piano teacher I would recommend this program to anyone (even though it could mean nobody needs me for lessons anymore...ha!). FreePianoLessons4Kids has graciously offered to giveaway THREE sets of the supplemental materials for lessons 1-41 (ARV: $23.95) to my readers providing you with a complete piano course for free! To enter to win, simply fill out the form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was given the above mentioned materials for review purposes only. No monetary compensation was received. This giveaway is open worldwide. The opinions expressed here are my own and reflect my personal use and experience. Your results may vary from mine.

Saving Memories Forever App

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:29:00 +0000

I always loved hearing stories from my great-grandparents and grandparents about life when they were growing up and when my parents were younger. There is something really special about your heritage and geneology. While baby books, scrapbooks and photo albums are awesome ways to preserve family memories, these type memory books don't allow you to capture people's voices. One of my favorite treasures from my grandfather is a CD where he recorded a Southern Bluegrass Gospel album with his brothers and sister-in-laws. Just being able to hear his voice since he is no longer with us is a treasure!

Saving Memories Forever was created by Harvey and Jane Baker as an app/website that helps you preserve oral histories. Using this program is really simple. You just download the app to your device (iPhone or Android) and then register your account online. As a member of the Mosaic Reviews Team, I was given the Premium Subscription to try out.

While the free version only allows you to have 2 storytellers, the Premium subscription offers unlimited storytellers. I set myself and our 2 oldest children as storytellers. So that there is no lack of conversation starters, this app offers you the ability to select a category of prompts to help start conversation. The app walks you through the recording process and even offers suggested questions for interviews. When you are done recording, press the upload button to save it at Saving Memories Forever website and from there it can be dowloaded to your computer.

Saving Memories Forever is a great way to preserve family memories, funny stories about your children that you don't want to forget and honestly, there are so many ways to use it you will be amazed. The Free Subscription offers limited capabilities but is a great way to use the program and find out if it is something you would use often enough to pay for a subscription. A Premium Subscription is just $3.99 a month though which is a cheap investment when it comes to preserving voices and generational memories. You can also read other Mosaic Review Team members thoughts about Saving Memories Forever by clicking here.

Butterfly Kiss Launches Online Children's Boutique

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:41:00 +0000

Butterfly Kiss Launches Online Children’s Boutique

{Saint Louis, MO} -- Butterfly Kiss has announced the launch of its website, www.butterflykiss.artfire.com, an online children's boutique featuring stylish and trendy fashions for girls, ages 0-8. Butterfly Kiss is on a mission to inspire confidence. They believe parents can begin building confidence at an early age, and something as simple as clothing can boost self-esteem. Dressing for confidence isn't about wearing a certain label; it's about feeling good about what you're wearing.

The store sells a full line of baby and toddler clothing and accessories, car seat covers, baby blankets, hair accessories, legwear, tutus, and of course, shoes.

"Our focus is on finding compelling products that are just as unique and special as your tiny trendsetter. Whether your little one is funky or fabulous, dainty or dazzling, we have just the right outfit to complement her personality. We believe that every child has their own style (I have one kid that would wear sweats and sneakers everyday if he could, and another that prefers cardigans and loafers), and when their clothes help them express who they are on the inside, they feel good on the outside,” said shop owner Rosha Chandler. “Our mission to inspire confidence doesn't stop with our products; we are also committed to partnering with non-profit children agencies that have a similar mission."

Butterfly Kiss offers boutique styles at affordable prices, and provides one-on-one interaction with each customer. Chandler has taken her professional retail and purchasing experience, combined that with her experience as a mom and created the go-to resource for girl’s fashion.

As an introductory offer, new customers can receive 10 percent off any purchase with coupon code NEW10.

"Keep us in mind if you are shopping for a shower or birthday gift, looking for that perfect outfit for a special occasion, or if you're just looking for something fun and unique!" Chandler said.

For more information visit the company's web site at www.butterflykiss.artfire.com, or their Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/butterflykisslimitedco

Chronicles of Dinosauria Facebook Party

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:03:00 +0000

Wyatt loves dinosaurs....dinosaur movies, dinosaur history, the names and characteristics of each dinosaur, etc. As parents, we are thankful for companies like MasterBooks that produce amazing books about dinosaurs that allow him to learn about dinosaurs from a Biblical perspective. Chronicles of Dinosauria is another fantastic book from MasterBooks that addresses the history and mystery of dinosaurs and man.

Every legend is said to include some grain of truth and author Dave Woetzel has sought for years to separate fact from fiction as he explores mysteries related to dinosaurs and the history of man. Woetzel visited many remote locations and historical sites gathering evidence from around the globe - evidence that inspires a simple question: If dinosaurs were extinct millions of years before man entered history as evolution purports, how can there be ancient depictions and first-hand accounts of dinosaurs and man from many disparate civilizations?

Provocative Chinese and South American artifacts that hint at man's familiarity with living dinosaurs. Unfossilized tissue discovered inside dinosaur bones and dragon legends from around the globe! Old Testament Hebrew narratives describing ancient beasts like behemoth and the obscure fiery flying serpent. Remote crytozoological mysteries that seem to defy evolutionary timelines! This book is an amazing adventure that calls into question what we've been taught to believe and understand by secular science about the history of dinosaurs and man. An exceptional resource that honors the authority of Scripture as it reveals an amazing history that matches the biblical timeline.

Since children are mostly taught that dinosaurs lived "millions of years ago", it is refreshing to see a book that teaches the true history of dinosaurs from Scripture. Wyatt has really enjoyed reading this book page by page and it has been great for us to have some good discussions about what he hears a lot on secular programs versus what the Bible actually teaches us. The illustrations are very eye-catching and very detailed bringing the history of dinosaurs to life visually. As an adult, I have also enjoyed reading this book and feel it makes a great addition to our family library. You can purchase Chronicles of Dinosauria from MasterBooks for just $16.99 or you can join us TONIGHT (April 30, 2013) for MasterBooks "A Book & A Bite" Facebook party at 8:00PM CST.

Party Details: CLICK HERE

Lots of great prizes to be won from MasterBooks & Jolly Olive Tree!

8:00 PM CST - Tonight on

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

Great Truths About Life (from children & adults)

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:42:00 +0000

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE THAT CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize a cat.

2. When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.

3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the 2nd person.

4. Never ask a child to hold a tomato.

5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.

6. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

7. Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a Tic-Tac.

8. Never hold a dustbuster and a cat at the same time.

9. School lunches stick to the wall.

10. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

11. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1. Raising teenagers is like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree.

2. There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look at it. For example, I'm sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.

3. Reason to smile: Every 7 minutes of every day, someone in an aerobics class pulls a hamstring.

4. The best way to keep kids at home is to make the home a pleasant atmosphere....and let the air out of their tires.

5. Families are like fudge......mostly sweet with a few nuts.

6. Middle age is when you choose cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

7. The more you complain, the longer God lets you live.

8. If you can remain calm, you don't have all the facts.

9. Eat a live toad first thing in the morning and nothing worse can happen to you the rest of the day.

10. You know you're getting old when you stoop down to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

Namaste Foods GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:28:00 +0000

I am really excited to get to share with y'all about some amazing gluten-free products! Namaste Foods offers a wide variety of products that contain no wheat, gluten, soy, corn, dairy, potato, casein, tree nuts or peanuts. Namaste Foods sent us not only a few of their products to try but also a cute little shopping bag and some coupons too! The bag will certainly come in handy since where we live they do not provide you with bags at the stores in an order to be more eco-friendly and keep the community cleaner. Best of all, Namaste Foods are produced in a dedicated allergy-free facility with no genetically modified ingredients.

Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Muffin Mix makes 12 beautiful muffins and they are super easy to prepare too. Simply add eggs, oil, water or fruit juice and you will enjoy delicious, gluten-free muffins. I added fresh blackberries, strawberries and blueberries to make a mixed berry muffin for our family to enjoy. I also added 2 tablespoons of vanilla from Mexico also for an added kick. They cooked up beautifully and tasted amazing. In fact, the kids wanted more after they were gone because they were so yummy!

For dinner that night, I took chicken breasts and cut them up into bite size pieces and used Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Homestyle Coating Mix to make them into chicken nuggets. I have to tell you this was a real treat for my husband and our 12 year old who don't eat gluten. It isn't often that they get breaded foods to enjoy. Each package of coating mix contains 2 seasoning packets and 2 shaker bags. You simply put your meat into a liquid (such as milk, beaten egg, etc.), then place into the coating mix in a shaker bag and shake a few minutes until each piece is thoroughly coated. Then you just bake or fry as directed and "wah-lah" - you have beautiful gluten free coated meat! Our chicken nuggets were not only quick and easy to prepare but also delicious. My husband said it tasted like restaurant style chicken and it was a real treat for him. I served them up with a side of boiled squash and zucchini and the whole family enjoyed it. You can use this coating mix on lots of different meats (chicken, fish, pork, tofu) or even vegetables.

One evening our kids wanted to have some friends over for dinner and to watch a movie and I decided to try out Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Mix. Namaste Pizza Crust is free of yeast and sugar too make it extra healthy for you to enjoy. I have to tell you, I usually do not have good luck with gluten-free pizza crusts but this one was so simple and it turned out really good. Not only did our family enjoy it but the kids that were at our house for dinner loved it too and they could not believe it was gluten-free! The first thing I thought of was that this pizza crust would even be good alone made into breadsticks. It was delicious without any sauce or toppings! Each package of Pizza Crust Mix makes two 14" pizzas so one package was enough to feed our family and the kids we had over too.

Namaste Foods has lots of great recipes to enjoy, you can find a local store that carries Namaste Foods or you can follow them on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with the latest products, sales and specials. Namaste Foods has graciously offered one of my readers a Namaste Foods Giveaway Tote that includes:

3 Namaste Foods Products

Namaste Grocery tote

Copy of our Simple Pleasures Cookbook

Copy of Living Without Magazine

Assorted recipe cards

For your chance to win simply, fill out the form below. Open to residents of the US & Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Namaste Foods provided the information and prizing for this giveaway. I received products for my own review; however, all thoughts and opinions here are my own. The winner will be chosen on or around 5/6/13 via Rafflecopter and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification; I reserve the right to choose a runner-up if no response is received. No monetary compensation was received.

CURRICULUM FOR SALE

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:58:00 +0000

BJU Press Phonics/Reading 1 Subject Set

Like New -(except Worktext book has 8 pages completed in pencil)

$140.00

~~Long Story Shot Devotional Book - Like New~~

~~$10.00~~

Grade 1 Math - Brand New

$15.00

Grade 2 Math & Extra practice book - Brand New

$20.00

~~Story of the World Volume 1 - Brand New~~

~~Textbook, Test & Answer Key, Activity Book & extra Activity Book pages~~

~~$50.00~~

Artistic Pursuits Grades 4-6 Volumes 1 & 2 - Like New

$50.00

~~Wordsmith Apprentice - Like New~~

~~$10.00~~

All items will ship via media mail and prices do NOT include shipping

PayPal accepted
To Purchase: email me at Bamagv at aol dot com

Warner Brothers Mother's Day Movie Night GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:48:00 +0000

We think that most can agree... Moms are the best - and they do a lot for us! Now it’s time to return the favor and celebrate this Mother’s Day by giving mom the movie night she deserves! Celebrate Sunday, May 12th in the best way possible by spending quality time with your family and watch one of YOUR favorite classic films! Watching a classic flick together tells the story of a different time and place, and is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories with your family... tell them something that they never knew about Mom!

Enter to WIN the Warner Brothers Mother's Day Movie Night Giveaway!

Prize will be chosen randomly from the titles below

- A Star is Born (1976) (Blu-ray)

- Cabaret (1972) (Blu-ray)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by Warner Brothers and they are providing the prize for this giveaway. This blog post was written in association with PartnersHub and no monetary compensation was received.

"Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in my Stomach" book review

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Most people know the story of Jonah by heart. It's often one of kids favorite stories...I mean, how can you not love it...a big fish (most call it a whale) swallows a real, live human being and then vomits him out alive on dry land 3 days later! We are most familiar with the story of Jonah from his perspective but as we all know, there are 2 sides to every story. Now, thanks to Troy Schmidt and BHKids, we get to hear.....

That's right, BHKids (a division of BH Publishing Group) is releasing a hilarious new book for children entitled "Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in my Stomach and I Think I'm Going to Throw Up!".

Oh sure, we've all heard the story of Jonah and the Whale a hundred times. But have we heard it from the perspective of the whale who experienced that history-making event? Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! imagines how that great sea creature from the incident might tell his side of the story, helping kids ages 4 to 8 discover a creative way of learning about that guy who was supposed to go to Ninevah. The "Parent Connection" feature (inside the book) will help moms and dads take the story further with scripture references and tips on how to talk with their children about what really happened.

About the Author:
Troy Schmidt has writing and video production credits ranging from assignments with Disney (The Mickey Mouse Club) and Nickelodeon to Max Lucado's Hermie franchise. He is currently the lead writer for The American Bible Challenge hosted by Jeff Foxworthy on the Game Show Network. Troy and his wife have three sons.

When this book came in the mail, I immediately sat down with the kids and read it. I was curious how they presented the story from the whale's point of view. From page 1, this book had me and the kids laughing! It's educational (teaching about whales), funny ("I've eaten blowfish and seaweed, but this was awful. It tasted...it tasted like....Dirt...Oh No!") and while it re-told the famous story of Jonah from the whale's vantage point, it also taught the kids some lessons. Lessons like:

You can't run away from God and what He wants you to do!
Prayer is very important in our lives
We all have a role to play in God's plan for our lives
We need to trust God...always!
Watch what you eat.....ok, maybe that was a lesson the whale learned!

There is also a Parent Connection on the back cover that encourages parents to help your child put scripture heart (Remember), read the book of Jonah (Read), questions to ask children for discussion (Think), and even a let's pretend section (Do). This book would be great for preschoolers up to elementary age children and puts a fun twist on the classic Jonah story we all know and love. This book is light-hearted, filled with humor and attitude and yet conveys beautiful lessons we all need to learn and be reminded of.

"Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in my Stomach and I Think I'm Going to Throw Up!" is available May 1, 2013 through BHKids for just $9.99. It is also the first book in a series and other titles will include "Hey God, Can You Stop the Rain so I Can Get Off Noah's Smelly Ark?" and "Hey God, I'm Having an Awful Vacation in Egypt Thanks to Moses!". You can also follow Troy Schmidt on Facebook to learn more about this series of books and like BHPublishing on Facebook to find out about other great books available too.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Mosaic Reviews: Spanish For You

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:23:00 +0000

Our children learning a foreign language is very important to us. We are a full-time missionary family who will be moving to Oaxaca, Mexico in late 2014 to live and serve. We currently live in south Texas in an area that is just 14 miles from the Mexico border so Spanish is heavily spoken in our community. Therefore, for our children to have a small knowledge of Spanish is very important. Of course, when we get to Mexico, David and I will take Spanish language school but the children will simply learn by immersion into the culture. That is why we wanted to go ahead and start teaching them Spanish now instead of waiting till we were in the field in Mexico. As a Mosaic Reviews team member, I was introduced to Spanish For You - a foreign language program written for children in 3rd - 8th grades.

Spanish For You was designed by Debbie Annett, a K-9th grade teacher with a BA in Spanish. There are currently 3 themes you can choose from: Seasons (Estaciones), Celebrations (Fiestas) and Travel (Viajas) which will be available June 2013. Our family was given the Seasons (Estaciones) package to use. This particular theme teaches you all about the different seasons of the year, clothing, accessories, etc. that correlate to each season. The beauty of this material is that each theme is made for grades 3-4, grades 5-6 and grades 7-8 and you can purchase the grades individually or as a complete set if you are teaching multiple ages/grades.

Each theme package includes: a soft cover book, audio files of the entire book(organized by lessons) along with a bonus MP3 audio download of a native speaker reading the book, PDF downloads for lesson guides divided by grades, self-checking worksheets divided in folders by grades and flashcards/activity pictures. Don't be overwhelmed by all the materials that come with the package! Debbie has done a beautiful job of creating weekly lesson guides that you can easily print out and just follow along with what to do each day.

Each lesson contains grammar, vocabulary and verbs and children will read, write and verbally speak Spanish every day. Since there are only 5 lessons in each book, you get to spend awhile on the same material therefore ensuring that the child has a thorough understanding and knowledge of the content before learning new things. Each day's lesson also features lots to do with a wide variety of activity appealing to many different styles of learning and helping ensure that your child stays excited and not bored when it comes to learning a foreign language. Each day's lesson only takes about 15-20 minutes to complete yet you will be amazed at what your child learns and retains in that period of time. I was especially grateful for the audio files since I still can't roll my "R's" and was unsure of exact pronunciation on some of the words.

I have to admit, not only are the children beginning to pick up Spanish but I have learned so much from this program too. Even though it is not written for adults, you can most certainly learn Spanish through this program right alongside your children! Spanish for You sells for just $64.95 per package (which covers grades 3-8) or you can purchase individual grade packages for just $39.95. You can also enjoy free mini-lessons and worksheet samples too.

Click here to read what other team members had to say about Spanish For You!

Learning to Love book review

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

What Does LOVE Look Like?

Love is......food and comfort to a 10 year old amputee,
abandoned on the side of the road

Love is.....a new roof for an elderly widow
installed before the rainy season

Love is.....sharing hope with the homeless man
on your street corner

Heidi & Roland Baker, founders of the Iris Ministries, served as missionaries in Indonesia and Hong Kong before following the Lord's calling to move to Mozambique in 1995. In "Learning to Love", they share incredible true stories of how - when they learned to stop for the one in front of them - God unleashed His miraculous power to change lives. Yet God isn't only moving in distant lands, He's moving right where you are. If you are willing, He can - and will - do amazing things when you learn that love is as simple as stopping for the one in front of you.

My Thoughts: This book does not read like most books you pick up. This is more of a journal than a book as scattered throughout this book are short stories (snippets) of real experiences from the Baker's mission work. It was very easy to read though and it kept me wanting to read more. It wasn't an easy read in the sense of emotionalism but because it was filled with stories that we all can relate to...whether you live here in America or in a 3rd world country. Emotionally, this book will strike many chords as it reminds us how blessed we are to live here in America, beautifully paints the picture of the love God has for each of us and it compels and challenges us to stop - to take time for that one person God has put in our lives each day - to make a difference and be Christ hands and feet no matter where we live.

Mixed in among the stories and journalism from the Baker's work, are various scriptures and "time to reflect" passages. One of my favorite thoughts from this book is on page 30 where it reads:

"To demonstrate the kingdom in every way, we need provision of every kind - the kind of provision that we do not see unless we ourselves are here, living on the edge. That means something different for each person, because you are made just for Him. But I pray you will the edge that God is calling you to live on. What does this mean in practice, in your everyday life? Loving God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength will take you to the end of yourself and you will find yourself looking out over a precipice. You know you are in the place God wants you when only He can keep you from falling."

Learning to Love is available from Chosen Books (a division of Baker Publishing Group) in both paperback and ebook versions and is available for just $13.99. I highly encourage you to read this book and even share it with friends, family, churches, people interested in missions, etc. I want to leave you with one last thought from this book to challenge and hopefully spur you to action.....

IF YOU DON'T STOP FOR THE ONE IN FRONT OF YOU.....

WHO WILL????

Crayola's 110th Birthday Bash

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:20:00 +0000

To celebrate their 110th birthday, the 8 original crayons are throwing a birthday bash at the new "fun-omenal" Crayola Experience, the world's only interactive Crayola family attraction. Right now, they're out on a colorful adventure to spread the news, and you're invited to join the fun!

How can you join in on the fun? You can FOLLOW the crayons on their adventure, LEARN more about each color and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayola Experience this coming May, 2013!

Visit the Crayola Facebook page and click "enter now" for your chance to be first in line when the Crayola Experience reopens.

The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child's creativity to life! The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three- night, all-expenses paid stay. It's an experience your kids will never forget - and neither will you!

Disclosure: I was given the above information by Coyne PR & Crayola. No monetary compensation was received but I will receive a box of the 110th limited edition Crayola crayons in exchange for this blog post.

Educents & Conscious Box GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Educents and Conscious Box have teamed up to offer you a chance to win a free Conscious Box – delivered right to your door! Conscious Box offers a monthly subscription service that delivers the purest, most natural products on the planet, right to your doorstep! You’ll be introduced to the purest, most ethical companies on the planet, every month! So what are you waiting for, sign up below for your chance to win and teach your kids about being eco-friendly!

PLUS, if you aren’t the grand prize winner, you can still get a 3-month subscription to Conscious Box for less than $12/month by heading over to Educents.com. For one week only, Educents will be offering the Conscious Box for 40% off! In addition, ALL profits from the sale of this box will be donated to The One Fund, which will provide funds to help those families most affected by the tragic events that unfolded during Monday’s Boston Marathon. So enter to win, and then head on over to buy the Conscious Box for yourself or a friend to celebrate earth day and support our fellow Americans in Boston!

This giveaway is sponsored by Educents.com. Conscious Box only ships within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. They can also ship overseas to APO addresses, as well as US territories.

Educents, a flash-deal website, is an easy way to get huge discounts on the educational products you know and love (and maybe even some you’ve never heard of!) In a world where education is becoming increasingly expensive, Educents is a company with a mission: to provide every family access to affordable educational materials. They focus exclusively on handpicked, unique educational materials including online curriculum, learning tools, educational toys, software, e-books, and more. With new deals added every day, Educents is quickly gaining popularity amongst parents, teachers, homeschoolers and learners of all ages.

Come check out Educents.com to find your favorite brands at up to 90% off retail prices!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WIN a summer camp adventure at Adventure Treks!

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:49:00 +0000

This could be the best summer experience of your child's life! They could spend their 2013 summer outdoors: rafting, biking, climbing, camping and hiking in some of the most amazing scenery in North America! Make great new friends and grow as they succeed in new outdoor challenges.

Win a Summer Camp Experience at Adventure Treks!

Scale snow-capped peaks you’ve only seen in postcards. Shoot towering rapids with your new best friends. Walk wildflower-laced trails by day and wonder at a twinkling sky by night. Cook crazy concoctions around a campfire and laugh more than you ever thought possible!

About the Camp:
Adventure Treks is all about making memories, fostering lifelong friendships and creating more confident and capable young men and women. We are a small and personal company and getting to know you is our biggest priority. But Adventure Treks isn't just about outdoor fun; it's about YOU! We want you to discover your best self, and we believe that the great outdoors is just the way to do it!

Adventure Treks is more than a summer adventure camp. Our two, three and four week outdoor adventure programs for teenagers ages 12 - 18, help great kids build skills for future success. While our students are having the time of their lives rafting, climbing, hiking, and biking in some of the greatest scenery on the planet, something else is happening. They are growing in numerous ways: self- confidence, social achievement, teamwork, leadership and new outdoor skills, to name just a few.

Get Quick Facts About Adventure Treks Here!

Your child could win a camp adventure (valued at $2995-3795) when you fill out the Adventure Treks Essay Contest Announcement! Also, you can take advantage of an early enrollment discount too! If you book a camp adventure, make sure to tell them The Johns Family sent you!

Disclaimer: I am sharing this information and great family opportunity as a blogger for the USFamilyGuide. No monetary compensation was received and your results may vary from this expressed in this post.

This Is Our Time DVD GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:21:00 +0000

As a Christian family, it can be challenging to find good family-friendly movies. Most movies today seem to glorify worldy issues, often are filled with cuss words, sex scenes, etc. making it hard to gather as a family and watch a movie. PureFlix is a Christian movie studio that produces and distributes Christ-centered movies for the sole purpose of influencing our culture for Christ. Our family is very thankful for PureFlix because they offer us a wide variety of movies to enjoy together as a family and we don't have to worry about muting the TV, covering our eyes, fast-forwarding, etc. Today (April 16), PureFlix has released a great new DVD entitled "This Is Our Time".

This is an inspirational film about what it really means, and what it really takes, to follow the call of God in your life. “The experiences the characters in THIS IS OUR TIME face are the kinds of real-life ups and downs, successes and devastation, all of us encounter in living life,” said Lisa Arnold, the film’s writer, director and co-producer. “I wanted to tell a story that would resonate with young people just stepping out into the world to make their mark that would help them see that no matter the circumstances they face, God is always with them, loving them, guiding them.”

The movie tells the interwoven stories of Luke (T.J. Dalrymple) and Alé (Erin Bethea), who marry right after school and move to India to serve as missionaries for Embrace A Village, a ministry that cares for those afflicted with leprosy and their families; aspiring financier Catherine (Kate Cobb), who joins a prestigious financial institution determined to make an impact on corporate America; Ryder (Matthew Florida), who lands an impressive job in social media and can’t wait to use the powerful medium for a greater good; and Ethan (Shawn-Caulin Young,) seemingly the odd man out, who struggles to find his God-given-purpose and feels sidelined by God.“What they all come to learn is that it never really was their time,” Arnold said. “It always was, always is, God’s time.”

This movie is a beautiful reminder that God truly does have a plan for each and every one of and He has placed a calling on our lives. It reminds us that following God is of utmost importance and that choosing to follow God should be the most important decision we make each day. This Is Our Time focuses on what God wants us to BE and reminds us that each and every second of our lives is in His hands. It was a great movie to teach our children the importance of following God and becoming the person He has created us to be.

THIS IS OUR TIME is available nationwide at Family Christian Stores and most Christian online and brick-and-mortar retail stores nationwide. It has received The Dove Foundation’s Family Seal of Approval (earning the highest rating of five Doves) and is recommended for all ages. It also features appearances by Hollywood veterans Eric Roberts, Erik Estrada and Dawn Wells.

Coinciding with the movie’s DVD release, Pure Flix is teaming with Family Christian Stores and other Christian retailers to award eight $2,500 college scholarships through registrations submitted through FamilyChristian.com and other websites representing more than 2,000 retail outlets nationwide. Participation eligibility and rules can be found at www.thisisourtimemovie.com.

Propeller has graciously offered to give one of you a DVD copy of this fantastic family-friendly movie! For your chance to win, simply enter on the form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Yancy - Christian Music Artist Prize Pack GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

A few years ago, our oldest daughter attended a Kids Event at a local church back in Alabama. The guest Christian music artist at that event was Yancy....someone I was totally unfamiliar with at that time but our daughter came home singing her songs and wanting to buy her CD. Since that time, Yancy has been a hit with our daughters and they enjoy listening and singing along to her worshipful music. Yancy recently released her latest album for pre-teens entitled "Jesus Music Box" which features 12 brand new songs.

About "Jesus Music Box" Album: "This album is all about professing Jesus out loud in our lives and in our worship. Too many people in this world shy away from proclaiming Jesus without abandon. These songs are written to inspire the listener to stand up, be bold and shine the light of Jesus to the world around them. The music is rocking, fun, all about Jesus and written for the entire family to enjoy together."

12 Tracks on "Jesus Music Box":

Not Ashamed

Better Than the Best Thing

All Things

You Are Everything

Evidence of You

Our God

Always With Us (Feat. Canon)

When We Pray

Be Careful

As Long As I Live

Forever Today & Always

Our God Reigns

There is also a Jesus Music Box DVD available which is a worship resource for children's pastors to help assist them in pumping up their time of praise and worship. The DVD features all 12 songs with live lyric videos as well as 3 brand new music videos.

For more information on Yancy "Jesus Music Box", upcoming tour dates, and the latest news on Yancy check out www.YancyNotNancy.com. You can also purchase digital platforms of her music on iTunes.

MergePR has graciously offered a Yancy Prize Box for one of my readers! This box will be filled with Yancy products (CD's, stickers, t-shirts, etc.). To enter to win, simply fill out the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Tales of the Defended Ones Blog Tour and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

5 children....5 lives.....and nothing short of a miracle from God! Beth Guckenberger uses her experiences on the mission field to write "Tales of the Defended Ones"...a book that is challenging to read, that will grip you at your heartstrings and will leave you wanting to make a difference in the lives of others. Through the stories of 5 children, you see how each of these children can't seem to get ahead and yet ultimately, God turns their hopelessness, their trials and struggles and their life circumstances into beautiful stories of redemption, salvation and reminds us that God is still in the miracle business even today. He is alive and working and moving and changing lives if we only will stop to realize it.
This book is also a great read for children and youth groups and really helps kids get an overall worldwide view that life outside America isn't pretty. It can teach them lessons on so many levels and our children really learned from the stories shared in this book. I highly recommend it for parents, Sunday schools, homeschooling, church libraries, etc. This is one of those books that you cannot read it through without being changed by its contents.
Beth Guckenberger is celebrating the release of her new book in the Storyweaver series, Tales of the Defended Ones, with an iPad giveaway and Facebook party {4/25}.

One fortunate winner will receive:

An iPad Mini
A Tales of the Defended Ones small group kit (books and DVD)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 24th. Winner will be announced at the "Storyweaver" Author Chat Party on April 25th. Beth will be chatting with guests, answering questions, and offering tips about beginning a dialog with children and youth about the orphans around the world, the basic needs of children living in poverty, and what we can all do to help. (It’s okay if you haven’t read the book – who knows, you might WIN a copy!) Beth will also be hosting a fun trivia contest and giving away tons of great stuff! (Gift certificates, books, and more!)

So grab your copy of Tales of the Defended Ones and join Beth and friends on the evening of the April 25th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 25th!

The Ultimate Homeschool Planners Review

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:26:00 +0000

I am a planner...I actually have multiple calendars, I plan out our homeschool a week at a time, we have a calendar for our mission work and training and I like things to be scheduled and organized. I feel more productive that way. ..and I have to tell you that honestly when life changes or my plans get altered, I don't always handle it well. That is something I am working on though and God is certainly teaching me to be more flexible through our mission work and training and sanctifying me in the process. However, this is what our weekly homeschool lessons plans each week look like:

As you can see, I was a great candidate for Mosaic Reviews opportunity to review Apologia Educational Ministries homeschool planners! Last year, I attended Apologia's "Celebrate the Journey" retreat in Atlanta, GA and had a great time. Rachael Carmen even sang me happy birthday and brought me a piece of birthday cake! I fell in love with Apologia during that retreat because they not only care about making amazing, highly educational, Christian based homeschool materials but they also want us as homeschooling Moms & Dads to be all we can be too and be encouraged through them. They offer great resources for homeschool families in addition to offering great curriculum.

I was given Debra Bell's amazing homeschool planners including The Ultimate Homeschool Planner (for me!), The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students (for our 9 year old) and The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens (for our 12 year old). The kids didn't quite understand my extreme excitement when the package arrived from Apologia but I was doing a big ol' happy dance in my living room opening that thing!

First, let me tell you about The Ultimate Homeschool Planner which is mine! This is a spiral-bound planner and has a really sturdy plastic cover (making it easy to clean or wipe off) that extends over the pages of the planner keeping them protected and nice. There are also 2 large storage pockets in the front and back of this planner so you can keep documents easily accessible. Best of all, the pages are undated so you can easily plan according to your schedule and make the planner work for you and your family without wasted space. There are calendars at a glance all the way up to 2015-2016, a user's guide to help you understand the planning system, one year planning grid, monthly & weekly planning guides, can be customized for up to SIX students, records/grade keeping, field trip/activities list, teaching tips, year end review and even lots of extras for academic and overall planning. This planner covers 48 weeks so you can thoroughly plan your entire school year (and maybe more).

One of my favorite features of this planner is the 2-page spread every week that features a Bible Plan, Battle Plan with Fighter Verse, Prayers, Hospitality/Outreach, a place to record memorable moments/achievements and evidences of grace. Taking time to intentionally and plan some time in the Word, time in sweet prayer and fellowship with the Lord and making sure that I am serving others through hospitality and outreach each week is so precious. I also love that I have a place to write things I don't want to forget that the kids say or do each week. It's like having a spiritual journal and a family journal all in one and I can document and record in it for an entire school year!

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner was created with 3 goals in mind: 1) Count your blessings, 2) Encourage Independence and 3) Record Your Progress. This particular planner retails for $28.00 but I promise you it is so worth every penny and will help you stay focused and on target not only with your homeschooling but also with your personal life. Speaking of independence.....

The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students is a great way to introduce your student to independent work. It is set up a lot like the Ultimate Homeschool Planner but much more kid-friendly. There are lots of tools to help young students such as a plastic ruler, reading list, activity log (for physical exercise), page to record grades for each subject, helpful study tips and skill-building, US & World History timelines, US Map with states and capitals, World Map, Science charts, Math charts, Language Arts charts, Greek & Latin roots, and even 2 pages of stickers to help them remember important events like piano lessons, sports practice, etc.

The Student Planner is designed so that Mom can write down their assignments each day (a week at a time) and then the student marks "done" when they have completed each assignment. Then Mon can mark "approved" once it has been checked for accuracy or graded. This system worked really well for our 9 year old. I simply fill out the assignments a week at a time and then each day she grabs her planner and starts homeschooling. That puts most of the responsibility in her court. Yes, there are some subjects I still "teach" her but completing the work after being taught still falls on her. This has made her more productive and she likes having some control over getting her work done each day.

Our 12 year old absolutely loves The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens! She is in the 6th grade and we have been working to get her to be more of a self-starter instead of waiting on me to tell her every step of homeschooling. This planner gives her a great "push" into that and it eases her into it so she feels confident and secure using it. This planner is actually designed for students in 8th-12th grade but we have had no trouble using it for younger middle school ages. There are many of the same charts, tool guides, etc. that are found in the Student Planner but the Teen Planner also includes things like College Admission timelines, Scholarship tips, High School Checklist, Reading List for College Bound, Credit Tracker for high school, Citation Guide and more.

Both The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students and The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens retail for $19.00. Honestly, these are 2 of the best and most thorough planners for students I have ever seen. We will be using these planners for many years to come as they not only help our family stay organized and on task but also help create independent learners in our children too.

To learn more about these planners visit the Info Page or check out Debra Bell's website. You can also find out more about Apologia Educational Ministries on their website or Facebook page. Join us Friday night, April 12th for a Facebook party with Apologia from 9:00-10:00 PM EST. You can also read what others on Mosaic Reviews had to say about these planners as well.

Janet's Planet Review and GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Gretta) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Science....does it excite you? Do you roll-your eyes in disdain? Was it your favorite or worst subject in school? If you homeschool, how excited do you get about Science? While I do enjoy teaching Science and it is our 7 year olds favorite subject, we do not do many hands-on Science projects. That is one reason I love educational Science DVD's that show the kids what happens when you try different scientific processes. We recently had the opportunity to watch Janet's Planet. When the DVD first arrived, I thought to myself "this looks kind of cheesy and I hope it will hold the kids attention". Once we popped it in the DVD player, I quickly remembered that first impressions aren't always what they seem because the kids loved this DVD.

By focusing on science, technology, engineering, art and math, Janet's Planet travels at the "speed of thought" and is designed to fuel S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics). Gravity’s phenomena and effects are explained and the audience gets to meet Galileo, Newton and Cavendish and find out how they built on the ideas of scientists before them and formed a shared picture of how the universe works! You’ll also get a chance to see Janet onboard the Zero G plane experiencing microgravity! Also, for any teachers out there, Exploring Microgravity is supported with integrated curriculum and teachers are provided with a lesson plan designed to integrate with Common Core standards, based on a curriculum endorsed by NASA and Space Florida.

Janet's Planet is just 38 minutes long and it is the perfect length to teach the kids yet not wear them out with too much information. Microgravity is not an easy Science concept for children to grasp but this DVD does an amazing job of making it easy for them to understand and to visually see in action. One of my favorite parts was when she was weightless and trying to get a drink! All 4 of us laughed out loud during this part. This DVD also does a great job educating the kids about the scientists that helped shape Science into what we know it to be today. They learn about Science greats such as Newton, Galileo and Cavendish and even discover how they built upon each other's knowledge and findings.

Whether your kids are fans of Science or not, this DVD will entertain and educate them. Janet's Planet "Exploring Microgravity" is available for just $9.99. On their site, you can also find other great items for sale on the right sidebar. You can follow Janet's Planet on Facebook and Twitter as well. I have one copy of this great Science DVD to giveaway to one of my readers. To enter to win, simply fill out the form below: