Book Review - Whit's End Mealtime Devotions

 

I am a big fan of Adventures of Odyssey so I was pleased to read Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions. I kept this book in the kitchen so it was available quickly at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Each devotion is one page. It has five sections - Mealtime Prayer, Appetizer, Main Course, Table Talk and Vitamins and Minerals.

The Mealtime Prayer section starts you off with a prayer related to the topic. In the Appetizer you will be asked a question to get a taste of what is to come. Then the Main Course gives you God through scripture references and more questions. After you have “eaten” your Main Course then you will review with questions in Table Talk so all that good stuff can digest and work its way into your system. Of course, you need Vitamins and Minerals which is a scripture that will nourish you long after the “meal” is done.

The devotions worked great for us. Did we go through all the sections every time? No. Sometimes we got stopped at the Main Course because the discussion was longer than expected. Other times we read and talk about all the sections in the devotions. 

 

One of my favorite devotions in this book is the one titled “Got Milk?”.

Appetizer

Did you know that cows are good for more than milk and steaks? What else comes from cows?

Main Course

Follow the milk on your table backward to see where it comes from....God is responsible for the milk in your glass...He is the ultimate Provider!

Table Talk

What else ultimately comes from God?

You should get the book to enjoy the rest of Got Milk? and other devotions. The devotions are divided into Any Day Mealtime Devotions, Holiday Devotions and Theme Devotions.

If you want an additional way to make sure God is a regular part of your family discussions then I would suggest this book. And do not forget to take your family directly to the Bible itself so they can see the source of Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions.

Rating: 4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers.

 

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Nook HD+

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I got the Nook HD+ a few days ago.  I was not planning on upgrading from my Nook Tablet, but the sale price from now until Mother's Day and the addition of Google Play helped me to change my mind.   Currently the 16 GB Nook HD+ is $179.  It is normally $269.   The screen is a 9" HD display.  It is so gorgeous that I could not put it down.

Why would I buy a Nook versus another tablet?   I am at the core a reader.  I like to see my books and organize them just like I do with my physical books.  I also like to surf the web, use Springpad and play Scramble with Friends.   I also have a phone where I can use many apps so a tablet that was pure Android was not my priority.  

I picked a Nook tablet a few years because it was for readers and I could read books from the library.   You could not always read library books on the Kindle which pushed me towards the Nook.  Don't get me wrong, I think the Kindle is a great product and I would not have said no if you gave me one.  Today, you can borrow library books and read them on your Kindle. 

The addition of Google Play makes the Nook go from just an e-reader to a good Android tablet.   People use to complain that you could only buy apps from Barnes and Nobles store, but now they have knocked down that wall.  If you are in the market for pure Android then this tablet is not for you.   I would suggest getting the Google Nexus 7 if you want a pure Android experience. My husband has the Nexus 7 and it is great with Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean).  He lets me use it every now and then.  :)

Even with a recommendation for a Nexus 7 for those who are not "readers" like me I think you might be pleasantly surprised by the Nook HD+.    

I like the Nook HD+ because:

• Books can be organized. 
• The screen is large and beautiful.
• Profiles can be created for my children to filter the content that they see and to prevent them from accessing my profile.
• Google Play is available which means I have access to so many apps.

All of the Nook HD and HD + devices are on sale now starting at $149 until Sunday, May 12.

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Curriculum Review - Time4Learning

I have used Time4Learning for my 4 year old to determine if I want to use it for kindergarten.  It is an online curriculum for preschool and grades K - 8.  It is reasonably priced for what you are receiving.   My older kids are in an online public school, but my youngest cannot enroll in their school in the fall. Her October birthday makes her ineligible to attend kindergarten in my state.   I could allow her to complete kindergarten at her current preschool, but I want to save some money and I think I can do this myself (with some help). I wanted something where the curriculum was laid out for me whether it be online or books.  

The kindergarten curriculum contains Language Arts and Math lessons.  You can go up a grade to include Science, but the default for kindergarten is only Language Arts and Math.   When my daughter starts, she will see an Language Arts and Math icons.   After she clicked on one of them, she has a path to follow to complete her lessons.    I can change her grade level temporarily for a subject while in the lesson or permanently through the parent login.  Animated characters give instructions on what to do next.  She was able to follow along easily.

When she was using Time4Learning, she wanted to do more.  She was proud of herself while working through the lessons.  She likes going to the playground after completing lessons.  She has tried to go the playground before lessons, but the system would not let her do it.   The message says you cannot go to the playground until you complete a lesson.   Your student can complete as many lessons as they want.  Since she is so young, I only let her stay on for 15 minutes at time.  That was plenty of time to go through a couple of lessons.   I have other resources like workbooks, flash cards, books and playtime to reinforce what she is learning.  Time4Learning does provide worksheets and ideas to help your child when they are not on the computer.

Will I use Time4Learning  for my youngest daughter?  I am not sure.  I also like Abcmouse which is a curriculum just for preschool and kindergarten and it is cheaper.   If I need an online homeschool option beyond kindergarten then I could see myself using it for my children.   I could see using it during the summer for my oldest kids so learning does not have to stop.   I cannot comment on other grades because I only reviewed kindergarten.   I would take time to look at the Time4Learning Parent Forums, read other reviews and pray to determine if this choice is right for you.  I do recommend this online curriculum in addition to plenty of playtime and trips to the library.

I was offered a 30 day free trial by Time4Learning so I could have the opportunity to review this program.

Book Review - Grace for the Moment: 365 Devotions for Kids

I was already a fan of Grace for a Moment.   I have the morning and evening edition in one book in my bedroom   I could not wait to read Grace for the Moment: 365 Devotions for Kids by Max Lucado.  The book did not disappoint.  You have devotionals for every day of the year.   They are written in a way that makes sense to kids.  The book stayed near our kitchen table where we spend most of our time.  After a meal or anytime, I would read with my children today’s devotional.   

The devotion on January 3rd “Worry Doesn’t Work” was especially relevant to my son.  He tends to worry a lot about things that are not in his control.   Lucado compared worries to a big thunderstorm which my kids are afraid of and cannot change.    He says God can fix anything, but worrying does not change a thing.  The kids are reminded that God “put his angels in charge of you”.  The Growing In Grace section suggested that you can imagine putting your worries in a box, say a prayer and hand it over to God.  What a great visual and lesson on how to handle worry!

My son actually tried the suggestion from the Growing in Grace section from the January 4th devotional.  It is titled “God Lives Here”.  Kids are encouraged to make room for Jesus.  He explained it as if you were decorating a room.   “Let Him live long enough in a heart, and that heart will begin to change.”  The suggestion in Growing in Grace was to decorate your room with God’s Word.   What did my son do after reading it?  He put sticky notes around his room with Bible verses.   At first I was upset because all I could see was that most of my sticky notes were gone, but then I realized he made a connection with what he read.  That was more important.

I originally received this book from NetGalley in an eBook format.  I liked it so much, I bought the hardcover book.

This book receives 5 stars.

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Book Review - Where God Finds You

Do you know Puah from the Bible?  I will give you a moment to think about it.   She was a Hebrew midwife who refused to follow Pharaoh’s orders to kill Hebrew baby boys.  I forgot who she was.  I probably would have said the wrong answer on in a Bible trivia game if I was asked anything about Puah.  After reading Where God Finds You by Anita Higman, I cannot forget Puah.  She feared God.  She valued the life of babies despite facing severe consequences.  God blessed her because of her courage.  The Bible does not say anything about how Puah was feeling when Pharaoh asked her why she did not kill the baby boys.  The author of Where God Finds You gives you an idea of what she might be feeling as she is questioned.   She may have been nervous, but her conviction outweighed those feelings.  Puah is one of many people you can read about in Higman’s book.

Higman writes about 40 Biblical men and women.  I read about famous Biblical characters such as Joseph, Mary, Peter and Paul.   Higman also breathes life into not-so famous Biblical characters such as Puah and Noah’s wife.  Each devotional starts with how each person might be feeling about the situation they are facing.  I read the actual scriptures about the person and read a summary that connects the past with the present.  Questions at the end of each devotional encouraged me to apply the lesson to my own life.   

The people that I have studied in the Bible were real people with struggles, triumphs and emotions.   Sometimes I have just read their name without thinking about how did they feel when that happened.  I did not always make the connection from their life in the past to my life today.  While reading Where God Finds You, I thought their insecurities, fear and struggles are like mine’s.   Despite the obstacles and emotions, they overcame with the help of God.  I enjoyed this book because the people in this book were brought to life for me.

I give this book a 4-star rating.

I received a free copy of this book from Buoyancy Public Relations.  All opinions expressed are completely my own.

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App Review - Kids Place Parental Control

Many families have multiple devices to access the Internet.  The Internet is a wonderful place full of information, education and fun.  It is also full of bad places that we do not want our children to experience.  If you have an Android-based tablet or smartphone, I suggest getting an app that  gives your children a safe place to play and learn.    I have the app Kids Place - Parental Control and Child Lock installed on my smartphone and nook tablet.  It is also available from the Amazon App Store for the Kindle Fire.  The app will prevent your children from downloading other apps, texting, calling and Internet searches.  Of course, if you select Google as an approved app then the Internet will be available to them.   Double check your list of approved apps to be sure you got it right before turning your device over to your son or daughter.

How does it work?

1. Open the app and select the apps that are appropriate for your child.
2. Always open the app before giving your smartphone or tablet to your child.  You might need to password protect your device so he does not turn on your device and bypass the Kids Place app.   
3. Select 'No Time Lock', ' Lock in 5 minutes', 'Lock in 15 minutes', 'Lock in 30 minutes', or 'Lock in 1 hour'.   On my smartphone, I have the additional options of specifying my own time in minutes or time of day.  If you select a lock out option then the tablet will stop when time is up.  It will go to a screen to enter a password.   At this point, your son will run to you and say "Can I play longer?".   You have to enter a password to select more time or not.
4. Enter a password when you are ready to exit Kids Place.

This app and others like it are great.  It is also free.  I can limit what my child can do and how long they can do it on my tablet or smartphone.  It is a must-have app for me.

Book Review - Bible Now!

 

Bible Now!: 101 Amazing Stories for Today's Young Readers is a good children's Bible for ages 4-8. Many of the familiar stories from the Old and New Testament are available in this Bible.   Each Bible story starts with a one to two page summary.   It concludes with the key verse in the CEV (Contemporary English Version) and illustrations with simple sentences to describe each animated scene.

This is the Bible I normally use with my twin 7 year olds and my 4 year old on Saturday mornings after breakfast.  The twins read the first part.  Their younger sister gets a chance to "read" it when we review the story again by reading the animated part of the story.  Even after we are finished my 4 year old will especially continue to "read" it by looking at the pictures and trying to retell the story.

I bought 3 so each of my children can have their own book.  I would buy it as a gift for another child.  I recommend this children's Bible to read together or for independent readers.

Rating: 4 stars

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