Time4Learning Review is Coming Soon

I am on a new adventure...homeschooling!   My seven year old twins are in an online public charter school. My youngest is 4 years old, but her birthday is after the cut off date for her to enter kindergarten in the fall.   So the question is do I send her back to her current preschool for grade K or homeschool her myself.   Time4Learning might be the answer for me.

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

Book Review - The Person I Marry

How soon should you start to talk about marriage with your children?  The conversation can start very early with the book The Person I Marry: Things I'll Think About Long Before Saying "I Do" by Gary & Jan Bower.  It is a wonderful rhyme that gets your child thinking about who to marry.

"It's 'who' not what that makes a great wedding.

The clothing you wear and the flowers you carry

Don't matter as much as the person you marry.

After reading this book your child will know that the person they marry should be kind, courteous,  generous, thoughtful, considerate, steadfast, optimistic, honest, joyful,  able to laugh, forgiving, patient, faithful... Sounds like an impossible list of qualities to have in one person.   This is not so impossible when the one who is a ‘keeper’ serves the Lord.

“This person must be someone who will cherish me as Number Two.

Oh, I’ll be deeply loved, of course.

But I can’t be my partner’s source.

When everything is said and done,

God must be our Number One."

You can read this book all at once or read a few pages at a time to discuss each quality about your child’s future mate in more detail.    Make sure to take time to enjoy the beautiful oil paintings of children having fun.  The illustrations definitely enhance the rhyme.

This book could be used in your child's Sunday School class, but I see something even greater than just use in a youth class. Why not have a combined family Sunday School class that has the children and parents reading this book together? The adults, teens and children could all benefit by gathering around this book to help build a generation that understands God's design for marriage.

This book is definitely a keeper for my children’s library.  I borrowed it from the library and now I need my own copy.   My family and I will read this book through the years to plant wisdom about marriage. 

“I set my standards long ago

when I was just a little kid.

I set them high: I’m glad I did.

The vows I’ll say I mean to keep,

so I’ll look hard before I leap.”

Please visit the Bower Family Books website for more wonderful books like this one.

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Book Review - A Mom's Guide To Making Extra Money Selling On eBay

A Mom's Guide To Making Extra Money Selling On Ebay by Natasha Rubin is a good book for anyone new to selling on eBay. Yes, you can and should read the eBay's quick start guide, but a seller's story can motivate you beyond the facts and steps of selling.   Rubin's story motivated this not-so new seller to try again. She wrote down on a board that she wanted to create multiple streams of income which reminded me of things including eBay that  I need to get done like yesterday. Her story of her first big sale made me think about things that I have sitting in the house that could help my family's income.

Her book reminded me why I started selling on eBay in the first place.  I wanted to make a little extra cash in the beginning.  I wanted to be consistent enough to turn it into a part-time business at home.  That dream has not happened yet, but I have not given up hope.

The author gives us the information we need to start selling on eBay today.   Her idea about giving your customers special attention with the packing of their items is important.  Great service will set you apart from other sellers.  You can continue to receive tips and support from her through her Facebook page and email.  

If you need money now or want to look at a long-term source of income then follow the advice given in this book.  You may be surprised at what you can accomplish through eBay.

My posts may contain affiliate links.  Please read my Disclosure page.

Book Review - She's Got Issues

Anyone near me might have heard me talking to myself as I read She's Got Issues: Seriously Good News for Stressed-Out, Secretly Scared Control Freaks Like Us by Nicole Unice.  There was so much in there that I could relate to in this book. I have dealt with and sometimes I still deal with control, insecurity, comparison, fear, anger and unforgiveness.  

Here are some quotes that I had to write down in my journal:

"The ability to see yourself clearly is crucial in your relationship with Christ and in your subsequent ability to serve well."

"To follow Jesus is to agree to change.  That's the cost required of us."

"What if we began to think of our insecurities not as shameful places to hide but as opportunities to see God working in our lives?"

"There's nothing like comparison to keep us distracted from our own gifts." 

The author gave a great visual on the need for taking a mental space bar.  She showed us words without any space.  The words lost their meaning without a space between words.   In the same way, our life needs to have space so it can make sense. Our lives can lose its meaning without taking a pause.  At the end of each chapter, she has a space bar moment for us to reflect on what we read with a prayer, a journal exercise and group discussion questions. 

I was reminded of a few things as I read this book.  I should  put my anchor in God and not in temporary things like my appearance or achievements.  At all costs, I need to avoid the comparison trap because it hinders my life with Christ.   If I compare myself to others then I am not content with what God has given me.  I will start to resent my life.  Anger is a powerful emotion and I need to handle it carefully to avoid harming others with my words or actions.  I have much to "chew" on and prayerfully consider what to do now.

This is a good read for any woman. If you combine it with the DVD group experience you can grow with other women to find your strength in Christ.

The book and DVD was given to me for free from the Tyndale Blog Network.  All opinions expressed are my own.

DVD Review - She's Got Issues DVD Group Experience

Nicole Unice created a wonderful, warm group experience based on her book She’s Got Issues.  The book and the DVD discuss issues that most women would rather keep a secret.  The cover says it all.  There is a woman with her finger to her lips as if she is saying “Shhh...it’s a secret.”  The issues discussed are things women do not want to talk about.  It is easier to not acknowledge our problems and work around them rather than inviting God in and other women to help us face them.

There are 6 sessions about control, insecurity, comparison, fear, anger and unforgiveness. Each session starts with one woman’s personal experience, a time for us to write in our journal and a group of women and Nicole talking about a particular issue.

The group experience sounds great, but I want to facilitate my own personal experience with God and me about the issues I have first.  I will prayerfully consider facilitating this group experience.    I appreciate the advice that Nicole gave to group leaders.  She wants any leader to create a place of safety.  Since these issues are so personal, she suggests that the atmosphere we create is one where everyone can feel grace.  All the women should be able to speak freely without the other women trying to fix each other.   

I would recommend this DVD for any group of women that want to get together and allow God’s Word to help them understand their issues and grow to a more healthier you in Christ.

The book and DVD was given to me for free from the Tyndale Blog Network.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Habitat for Humanity Restore of Coatesville

Habitat for Humanity helps to build affordable housing.  Habitat homeowners participate in the building of their own home or help to build a home for someone else.  I did my part today by shopping at the ReStore in Coatesville, PA.  This store has a little of everything...cabinets, tables, lamps, sinks, bed frames, appliances, dressers, books and more.  Sales from the store help the Habitat for Humanity organization.

My husband was looking for lamps and I shopped for books.  :)   Paperback books are only 25 cents!   The price is a little more for hardback books.  Today, I bought all children's books.  If you want to help to build a library for a child, go to the Restore shop.  The price is so affordable.  I think all kids should have their own personal library. On my last trip, I bought books for me.   I found Praying for Our Marriage: 100 Devotions and Prayers for Husbands and Wives, A Mom After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George and When A Woman Discovers Her Dream by Cindi McMenamin.  You might see some of my great finds on my free book shelf in the future.

Book Review - Submerged

I feel like I have been to Alaska after reading Submerged (Alaskan Courage) by Dani Pettrey.    It is full of suspense, romance and a very important message of forgiveness and love.

Bailey Craig has to return to her hometown of Yancey, Alaska because of the death of her aunt. It is the last place she wants to be because of a bad reputation she created when she was a teenager.   Despite a bad start in her early years, she has done well for herself.  

The second worst part of this trip other than saying goodbye to her aunt is meeting Cole McKenna again.  They were in a relationship, but Bailey was struggling with insecurity at that time and hurt Cole.   Their relationship ended, but it still haunts the both of them.

Bailey wanted to tie up loose ends in Yancey as quickly as possible and get back to her life where no one knew her reputation.    Despite Bailey’s desire to make a quick exit, she decides to stay in Yancey because there is a possibility that her aunt’s death was not an accident.  She works with Cole and the Yancey police force to solve the mystery.   Being close to Cole is exciting and terrifying at the same time.   Bailey does not want to be drawn to him because as soon as the mystery is solved she plans to resume her life elsewhere.

While the murder mystery and the intrigue of Russian Alaskan history has my attention, I am also drawn to Bailey's struggle with her past and present.  She became a Christian after leaving Yancey, but she still views herself as a person not worthy of God's blessings.  She accepts the views of other people who saw her at her worst rather than how God sees her.   Cole told her "You need to start seeing yourself through God's eyes...When God looks at you He sees His beloved child."

This story does have something valuable that is submerged or hidden that has everyone on the hunt for it.   The most important thing that is submerged is the truth that Bailey has forgotten or never really knew...God loves her!

I enjoyed this book because of the romance, suspense and the reminder that I am God's beloved child.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House.

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