None Like Him by Jen Wilkin Book Review and Giveaway

I have only made it through a few of the chapters in this book, because my life is so crazy busy, but I really wanted to share with you all.

I know that God is different from me. I always have, but I was intrigued by this book and to dig a little deeper into some of the characteristics of God.

There are some really great stories that being this home to me. I like how the writer was able to capture everyday moments and turn them in a way to show the stark differences.

It is amazing how when we think that our lives are just about us, we can turn what we are going through, what we are doing, what we see, into an avenue to learn more about the difference between God and man.

At the end of each characteristic chapter are questions that will make you think harder, and dig deeper into the realm of differences between us and to bring us to a better understanding of why these are so very important for us to know.

I am excited to continue reading through this and spending time on the questions. To dig deeper and to open my heart to learn  and grow more, and to build my relationship even stronger then ever.

This would make a great book for a ladies group Bible Study as well, and it would be interesting to hear others points of view!!

I have a copy to give away and I'm going to make this an easy entry

Check out their Facebook page

And also check out where you can buy a copy of you want one and don't win at Amazon

Contest entry!!

Tell me in the comments how you would use this book... Personal study, ladies group, sharing with your family etc...

I will do the draw on May 18 at 10pm EST

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review. All opinions and comments in this post are my own.

The Love Dare for Parents - Review and Giveaway

I was asked to review a copy of the book, The Love Dare for Parents.  It is based on the movie Fireproof, which was an amazing movie!  I loved it!

On a quick glance through the book at first, I thought that this was actually really do-able, even as a parent of 5 kids.

The idea is that every day, for 40 days, the parent reads the section then does the "task" for the day.  Each task is a way to show your kids how much you love them.

Day 1 the task was telling your kids how much you love them.  I try to say "I love you" on a regular basis to my kids, but doing it this time, I actually took notice of how their voice, their response, their attitudes changed!  It is amazing how much 3 little words can change an entire day!

After the task is complete, you have a place to journal a response to the questions the Love Dare poses.  The first questions were: What was the result of your interaction? Did they respond? Was this easy or difficult for you? Why are these simple words, though often taken for granted, so very important to say consistently?

See?  Thought provoking for sure!!

My kids have been in and out of the house for the summer, so I am taking this dare a little more sporadically then the 40 days.

Here you can see a sample of The Love Dare for Parents

About The Love Dare for Parents:

From the authors of international best-selling marriage book The Love Dare comes The Love Dare for Parents, a 40-day journey of “dares” challenging one or both parents to understand, practice, and communicate Christ-likelove to their children.

Easy to read and work into a busy schedule, The Love Dare for Parents is designed to “turn the hearts of parents to their children and turn the hearts of children to their parents” (Malachi 4:6) so that moms and dads can more fully enjoy and delight in their children while maximizing the positive impact they have on their lives long term.

Each day brings a promising key verse from Scripture, a biblical principle about love that applies to parenting, a specific challenge the parent does for the sake of their child, and space to journal thoughts and reflect on what happened that day.

The Love Dare for Parents even includes access to a FREE online parenting assessment, helpfully keyed to select material in the book.

About the Authors (Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick):  

Stephen Kendrick is senior associate pastor of preaching and prayer at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. He is also a screenwriter (Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous) and movie producer and co-wrote the New York Times best sellers The Love Dare and The Resolution for Men with his brother, Alex. Stephen and his wife, Jill, have four children.

Alex Kendrick is associate pastor of movie outreach for Sherwood Baptist Church. He is also an actor, writer, and director whose film credits include Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous. He and his wife, Christina, have six children.

I have 1 copy of this book to giveaway.  This is open to Canada and the US.  Rafflecopter was a great success last time, so we are going to try it again!

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."

Mighty Macs is Inspirational!! I'm Sharing the Inspiration!!

Contest is now closed and the winner is Joy #21!!

Last night our family had a movie night.  Odd thing to do on a Monday?  Maybe, but it sure helps to beat those Monday Blahs!!

We all sat down, from the 4 year old, right up to us parents (minus Devin who was at work).  We also had my bff here (who is pretty much the same as family) and her 3 kids, 5-9 years old.

Right off the bat, I liked the fact that this movie is based on a true story.  I love when the positive, inspirational stories make it to screen!!  Keri and I had seen the preview for this movie some time ago, and it stuck with her because she loves sports (and Converse shoes, which were shown in the preview) so, when I was given the opportunity to review, we jumped on the chance!!

Everyone loved the movie.  The 2 youngest fell asleep, it was pretty late, so that was expected, but the rest of us remained glued to the screen for the whole movie.

We had great commentary throughout, about the outfits, the plaids, the size of the gyms etc.  This movie was done so well and set up the time period perfectly.

At the end, during the credits, they played some actual footage that had been recorded at some of the games and Keri commented about how true to the styles they kept the clothes, and how the nuns really were the cheerleaders, singing songs and cheering their team on!

All in all, we loved this movie.  It will remain a family fave for a while, for sure and I would recommend this movie for everyone to see.  Perserverence, Believing in Yourself, Team Work and Trust are all a big part of this story and those are some great qualities to want to see in our kids...so this gets "Many Thumbs Up" from all of us!!

About the Movie:

It's 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time ... and she's about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.

In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.

Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she's willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she's just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.

From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school's Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!

While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing's for certain: there's never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!

GIVEAWAY!!  I love when I can share the inspiration!!

CLOSED
I have 1 copies of The Mighty Macs to give away to my readers!!  This giveaway will end March 11, at 11:59 EST.  I will email the winner and they will have 48 hrs to respond

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me who you would enjoy this movie with


For Extra Entries:

Follow me on GFC (To the right in the sidebar)
Like Mom's Musings on Facebook
Follow Mom's Musings on Twitter
Tweet the giveaway (up to once a day): "#WIN a copy of The Mighty Macs @momsmusings http://bit.ly/A7Bjb8 Closes: 3/11"
Like The Mighty Macs on Facebook
Follow The Mighty Macs on Twitter
Blog about this contest (5 entries)
Post on Sharing Sites (Digg, Stumbleupon etc...)

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group - Review

The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group

by Catherine Jinks

This book came in a box of books that we received to review...

It immediately appealed to my 13 year old daughter...I knew that with all the Twilight and Werewolf movies and books out there, this one would be a perfect fit for her.

She loved the book, and being 13, thinks that telling me about it for a review constitutes homework...so this is all I could get out of her:

What Keri liked -  I really liked this book because there was a lot of suspense and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. 

She said she had a hard time putting it down and really enjoyed reading it. 

A little about the book:

The brilliant companion to The Reformed Vampire Support Group follows the trials and adventures of Toby, whose life changes after he is found in a dingo pen with no memory of the night before.

I still hadn't fully absorbed the terrible possibility that I might actually be a werewolf. A werewolf. I kept stumbling over that word; it made no sense to me. How could I be a werewolf? Werewolves didn't exist.

When Tobias Richard Vandevelde wakes up in hospital with no memory of the night before, his horrified mother tells him that he was found unconscious. At Featherdale Wildlife Park. In a dingo pen.

He assumes that his two rambunctious best friends are somehow responsible, until he discovers that they're just as freaked out as he is. Then the mysterious Reuben turns up, claiming that Toby has a rare and dangerous 'condition'. Next thing he knows, Toby finds himself involved with a strange bunch of sickly insomniacs who seem convinced that he needs their help.

It's not until he's kidnapped and imprisoned that he starts to believe them - and to understand what being a paranormal monster really means. (Taken from girl.com.au)

So, from Keri this is 2 thumbs up!!

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book to review.  All thoughts and opinions posted belong to me and my family.

Point to Happy - Book Review

One day a few months ago, I received a box of books on my front steps...

I haven't had the chance to post the reviews yet, so I am going to try to catch up :-)

The first book I want to review here is being reviewed by Faith!!

Yup, you heard that right, Faith!!

This book has become her favourite book ever!

It came with a pointing hand, which she did rip off the ribbon...

But, she still uses it with the book, and she uses the book without the hand too.

I love that this book takes her through pictures of expressions, objects etc...

It is geared towards kids on the Autism Spectrum...

Plus it is chunky and colourful and full of visual sensory fun!

I am so glad that this was one of the books we were able to review.

Faith would easily give this 2 thumbs up!!

Disclaimer: We were sent a copy of this book to review.  All the thoughts and opinions in this post belong to me and Faith!!

Chicken Soup for the Soul - Dogs and Cats

I love reading the Chicken Soup for the Soul books!! 

There are so many great stories and experiences that either help me through something in my life, make me laugh when I need to laugh or make me think about others and other situations people go through. 

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat's Life

101 Stories about All the Ages and Stages of Our Feline Family Members

From kittenhood through the twilight years, our feline companions continually bring joy, love, and laughter to the lives of their "staff." This collection of 101 new stories captures the experience of living through the natural life cycle with our cats — from the laugh-out-loud antics of kittens and tear-your-hair-out escapades of teenage cats to the more mature adult years and final stages of life. Stories cover each age and stage with all the fun, frustrations, special bonds and routines involved. The book also holds a special chapter about grieving and recovery when our feline friends leave us. (from Chicken Soup website)

AND

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog's Life

101 Stories about All the Ages and Stages of Our Canine Companions

It's a dog's life. This collection of 101 new stories focuses on all the memorable ages and stages of our lovable canines' lives. Starting in puppyhood and covering a range of middle and senior years to the twilight and end when our dear friends leave us, this book captures the entire experience of living through the natural life cycle with our dogs. All dog lovers will laugh, cry, and recognize themselves and their furry friends in these heartwarming and inspiring stories of puppy antics, teenage rebellion, adapting to an aging dog and, finally, having to say goodbye. (taken from the Chicken Soup website)

I have been given 2 of each of these titles to give away on my blog.  For this giveaway the 2 winners will receive a copy of each title. 

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me something about your pet, or any memorable experiences you have had with a pet of any kind.  What kind of impact have they had on your life?

Extra Entries:

For Extra Entries:

Follow me on GFC
Like Mom's Musings on Facebook
Follow Mom's Musings on Twitter
Tweet the giveaway (upto once a day): Enter to win Chicken Soup for the Soul prizepack @momsmusings http://www.pattonfamilymusings.com/2011/08/chicken-soup-for-soul-dogs-and-cats.html  Closes 08/16
Blog about this contest (5 entries)
Post on Sharing Sites (Digg, Stumbleupon etc...)

Disclaimer: I was sent copies of these books to post and the company is providing the giveaway copies.  All thoughts are my own.

Rebecca St. James CD - REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

I am a firm believer that music should nourish your soul.  What you listen to goes right into your heart and therefore, you need to be very careful about what you put into your ears/heart.

I was sent this CD to review and I can tell that this is easily going to become one of my favourite CD's.  I plan to put it straight into my van to start an encouraging and inspirational CD collection that I can grab anytime I need a good pick up!!  (I could have used this when I had my meltdown last week;-)

If you would like to check out this CD online, you can go to the LISTENING PARTY website and share a preview of the CD with your family and friends too.

Website: Rebecca St. James

Facebook: Rebecca St. James

YouTube: Rebecca St. James

Amazon: Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James charts yet another new course with I Will Praise You, a new collection of worship songs she terms "her most personal recording to date." From the opening notes of track one, listeners are offered a welcoming connection with Rebecca's recognizably authentic  vocal warmth and delivery.  More than anything, I Will Praise You represents the latest steps in Rebecca's life long journey towards the presence of God.

I have a copy of this CD to giveaway to one reader. The contest will run from today until April 21 at midnight EST.

MANDATORY ENTRY:

• Follow this blog - Mom's Musings - on Google Friend Connect (it's THAT easy!) The "Follow" button is in the right-hand sidebar

For EXTRA ENTRIES (these are optional):

• Following Mom's Musings on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway – #giveaway - RSJames CD I Will Praise You from @momsmusings http://bit.ly/f2f9zg US/CAN only ends APR 21 @ midnight EST (RT once a day for more entries)
• Like Mom's Musings on Facebook
• Follow Mom's Musings on Networked Blogs
• Subscribe to my blog by email (in the right hand sidebar) (2 entries)
• Share this giveaway on any Sharing Site (Digg, StumbleUpon etc...)
• Post this giveaway on your blog and share the link in the comments (5 entries)

The winner will have 48 hours to reply before another winner is chosen.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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."

Chicken Soup for the Soul, New Moms - REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

I was sent Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Inspirational Stories of Joy, Love, and Wonder to review, and while I am not a new mom anymore, I thought I would check it out anyways.  I had my husband flip open to any random snippet in the book and I started to read it out loud!! 

He had no idea what he was in for, as I started reading about a new mom who had figured out how to maneuver double pumping of breast milk while driving from one location to another...and how one day a trucker was driving right along side her smiling, as the wind was blowing up her blouse!!  Haha...I couldn't stop laughing...

I can only imagine what is in the rest of this book;-)

I would absolutely recommend this book to any new parent or expectant parent out there who needs a little humour in their lives:-)  I think this would also make a great baby shower gift for mom (and even dad can sneak a peek;-)

You can find this book for sale at: Amazon for just over $10

I am also offering a giveaway here, on my blog.

3 people will win a copy of this great, insprational book!! 
3 WINNERS!!

This contest will run from today, April 9 - April 20 at midnight EST

MANDATORY ENTRY:

• Leave me a comment with a funny story of something that happened to you/someone you know about being a new mom... (it's THAT easy!!) 

EXTRA ENTRIES (these are optional):

• Follow this blog - Mom's Musings - on Google Friend Connect. The "Follow" button is in the right-hand sidebar
• Follow Mom's Musings on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway – #giveaway US/Can - #WIN the Chicken Soup for New Moms #inspirational book http://bit.ly/gpzFLK @momsmusings Apr 20 @ midnight EST (RT once a day for more entries)
• Like Mom's Musings on Facebook
• Follow Mom's Musings on Networked Blogs
• Subscribe to my blog by email (in the right hand sidebar) (2 entries)
• Share this giveaway on any Sharing Site (Digg, StumbleUpon etc...) (2 entries each)
• Share this giveaway on your blog and post the link in the comments (5 entries)