God’s Little Princess Devotional {Review}

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We have two little princesses in our home that were squealing with excitement when this book showed up on our doorstep. In fact, it was whisked away and all I heard for the next hour were both girls giggling and reading to each other from their new devotional Bible.

God’s Little Princess Devotional Bible by Sheila Walsh uses Scripture from the International Children’s Bible along with stories and some great extras to teach young girls about TRUE beauty, love, sharing, truth and what a princess of God really is.

Features include:

• Down in My Heart ~ promoting Scripture memory
• Beauty Secrets ~ quick tips on true beauty
• Bible Princesses ~ women of the Bible
• My Hero ~ promises of God
• Take a Bow ~ Bible-focused plays
• I Adore You ~ worshipping and praising God
• Prince Charming ~ articles on manners and more
• Worthy of Love ~ showing love to everyone
• Royal Truths ~ Biblical values for princesses

McKenna {age 7} has been the one specifically enjoying this devotional. The reading level is simple enough for her to read independently and the princess theme has captured her attention on so many different levels.

Target ages for Bible ~ 4 to 7.

What {else} I’m Reading

Look for reviews on a few of these books to be coming up soon!

• The Bible. :) ~ I'm officially half way through my reading right now and on track to finish in 90 days!!
• Emma ~ Jane Austen
• Closer: Devotions to Draw Couples Together ~ Jim and Cathy Burns
• The Heart of Anger ~ Lou Priolo

Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.

I was given this product to review by Thomas Nelson.  I do not have to return the product.
I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Binky-be-Gone

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I believe I can say it is official. Last night marked the unfortunate demise of Kaleb’s last binky. It had already been shredded beyond any reasonable sucking capacity, but he was still hanging onto it for good measure.

Until he lost it somewhere in the dark of his bedroom.

We searched high and low, uncertain if we were willing to venture down the ‘no-binky’ road, but we also knew we weren’t going to head over to Walmart for any more binkies.

When no binky made an appearance we tucked Kaleb in, {mentally wished him luck}, prayed with him and said goodnight. There were some tears and sad little pleas for ‘binky’, but he quieted down and fell asleep.

Today’s task is to figure out WHERE in the world a binky could disappear too in the dark of night and find it before someone else {under 4 feet tall} does. And hide it for real.

In some ways it’s a little sad, since he IS the baby of the family and we won’t be going this route again…but I’m sure we’ll have other things to keep us busy with him.

Especially since he just walked up to me with the sweetest little look on his face, cocked his head to one side and said, “Mommy, I need to be changed. I pooped in your closet.”

 

Bible in 90 Days {B90} ~ Day 39 Check-in

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Today I’m also guest posting at Mom’s Toolbox, so if you have an insane desire to read even more of my thoughts or see me live and ‘in person’ {I got brave and did a video}, head over there to read a little more.

This week’s challenge included reading from 2 Chronicles 23 through Psalm 24. I’m still a little bit ahead, but really only thanks to our 3 year old and his refusal to use the potty. I read about 30 chapters in Psalms while waiting for him to ‘cave’ and actually use the potty. Reading Psalms was much more enjoyable than listening to him remind me over and over again that he didn’t have to go. :)

I was a little ahead before going into this week, so I had a break for two days…but I had to sit down and read! I am realizing how much I am enjoying and needing this time every day ~ regardless of being ahead or not!

Esther has long been hands down my favorite Bible story. I recently finished a GREAT study by Tommy Tenney on the book of Esther called Finding Favor with the King. I spent some time sharing a few nuggets about Esther at Mom’s Toolbox today, so I’ll share a few of the other thoughts that crossed my mind this week about the reading.

• Feel like I was left hanging with Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles 32:31 says that God withdrew from Hezekiah to test his heart…and then in the next verse {vs 32} ~ the rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign are recorded in {a bunch of books}. What happened when God tested him??????? ;)
• So sad that Manasseh {Hezekiah’s son} learned nothing from his father and undid all that Hezekiah had done ~ but then he finally repented {2 Chronicles 33:12}
• Knowing how important the family ties/genealogy was to the Israelites, it’s sad to read about those who could not prove they were descendants of Israel because they had lost their genealogical records {Ezra 2: 59-62}.
• Ezra 2:64 ~ only 42,000 returned. Such a small remnant when you consider the huge group of people that were brought from Egypt by Moses
• After the temple foundation had been re-laid, the people started shouting {Ezra 3:11}, but those who remembered the first Temple wept when they saw the new foundation. The weeping mingled with the rejoicing ~ those who KNEW vs. those who didn’t know any better.
• How much of the wall needed to be rebuilt? Just wondering the circumference since it was finished in 52 days {Nehemiah 6}.
• Loved this verse from Job ~ {Job 9:33} ‘If only there were a mediator who could bring us together {God and Job}, but there is none.’ Just the promise that we have and know today!!
• While we {on this side of the New Testament} know what to expect about eternal life ~ what did those in the Old Testament believe? It didn’t hit me until I was reading Job {19:25-27} when he talks about knowing his Redeemer lives and that he will see God with his own eyes. I know chronologically Job fits into things after the flood/before Abraham…but I don’t remember reading specifics on life after death prior to this passage.
• Job’s responses to his friends cracked me up at times, especially when he called them worthless quacks who would do best to keep their mouths shut {Job 13:4-5}.
• Did you noticed that God responded to the first of Job’s three friends, but didn’t say anything to Elihu? neither did Job {Job 42:7-9}.

Psalms and Proverbs are the focus over the next week, so I think this next week will be a little more laid back in some ways. Thanks for sticking with me…you are still here, right? :)

In case you are interested in reading a little more about Esther, Tommy Tenney has some great non-fiction and fiction books available that I would highly recommend!!

• Finding Favor with the King
  
• Daily Inspiration for Finding Favor with the King:01 Devotional Readings
• Hadassah: One Night with the King
• The Hadassah Covenant 

Book Giveaway ~ Leaving Yesterday

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Alisa Stewart’s family life is falling to pieces. Her marriage is on the verge of divorce and one of her sons, Kurt, became a drug addict after his older brother died.

Then the police show up at her door.

She initially believes that her son has died, but instead the police are looking for him in connection with a recent murder. However, Kurt recently checked into rehab and is turning his life around ~ he couldn’t be involved…could he?

As facts begin to surface, Alisa isn’t sure what to think and believe anymore. If she shares what she knows, she could lose Kurt ~ but is that more important than losing her son?

My Thoughts

When I first picked up Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman, I didn’t think it would be one that I would enjoy, but I was quickly pulled into the storyline, wondering how things would be resolved.

The book presented some interesting scenarios that really made me think and wonder how I would respond in the same situations. Overall it was a great read and one that I would recommend ~ not your normal ‘light read’ , but definitely a good one!

The Giveaway

Would you like to win a copy of  Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman? Leave a comment on this post ~ be sure there is a way for me to contact you! The giveaway will be open until Friday, February 12th at 8pm.

Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review from Bethany House. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

Sense and Sensibility {Insight Edition}

This post may contain affiliate or advertiser links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Sense and Sensibility, Insight Edition by Jane Austen is the classic story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who are different in every way ~ but both discover love. This insight edition from Bethany House provides the original story and include historical details, facts, comparisons to today’s culture, themes of faith, and additional comments.

In all honesty, I love this insight edition and am planning to also purchase the insight edition for Pride and Prejudice…and sincerely hope that there will be insight editions for Jane Austen’s other novels. Aside from the covers being gorgeous, the content is a wonderful help and really adds to the original book.

What {else} I’m Reading

Look for reviews on a few of these books to be coming up soon!

• The Bible. :) ~ I'm still working on reading through the Bible in 90 days.
• Leaving Yesterday ~ Kathryn Cushman
• Emma ~ Jane Austen
• Closer: Devotions to Draw Couples Together ~ Jim and Cathy Burns
• The Heart of Anger ~ Lou Priolo

Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.

I was given this product to review by Bethany House.  I do not have to return the product.
I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Doppleganger Schmopleganger

This post may contain affiliate or advertiser links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

If you are on Facebook, you might have noticed bunches of people changing their profile pictures to those of various celebrities.

"It's Doppelgänger week on Facebook; change your profile picture to someone famous (actor, musician, athlete, etc.) you have been told you look like. After you update your profile with your twin or switched at birth photo then cut/paste this to your status."

In an effort to find my long lost look-alike, I used my lovely profile picture at the site MyHeritage.com and THIS was one of my highest matches at 74% resemblance…

Ashton Kutcher.

Seriously?

I ended up doing a little digging around of my own for some celebrity pictures after some friends made a few suggestions, and I think that I’m a little happier with this resulting picture of Hillary Swank. Makes me want to put a little effort into my hair in the morning just to get it to flip out ‘just so’.

 

For the record, I wasn’t the only one who had a wacky match-up. When we ran Rick’s picture through the same site, one of his top matches was Elle McPherson.

{snicker}