Book Review:: Swipe

What is it about post-apocalypse stories now a days? Maybe I'm finally too old and young adult fiction isn't my thing so I'm out of the loop. But here's yet another one: Swipe by Evan Angler.

This one is about a twelve year old boy who is preparing to pledge his alliance and his life to the American Union. The day of his pledging goes off the tracks quickly after a culmination of years of suspicions and weird occurrences. Logan Langley's sister disappeared the day of her pledge. Everyone said it was a procedural fluke. Logan knew differently. Ever since he has had an eerie feeling of being followed and watched. He can't get proof though until the DOME's top agent comes to town with his teenage daughter. Logan and Erin discover the truth of Logan's thoughts and dig into a deep web of uncertainty, lies and trouble. Events unfold exposes the flaws of the government, the rebels against it, and where Logan stands in it all.

This story is all too familiar. It seems every book is 'rage against the government'. Although it is good to stand for what you believe in, you can only read so many books about this. I think that's why I'm not really a fan of this book. I've read too many lately.

The author also tried too hard. He tired to make the technology so futuristic that it went too far. A little bit of technology would have been fine but he tried to make everything seem so big and far fetched. Nothing was familiar. Nothing was simple. It was just too much.

Overall I think this book was pretty good. Just not my thing. If you're into futuristic fantasy stories jump on board with this book. If not, stand here with me and wait for yet another to roll by.

Find the book here:   

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Baby Loves Books

Baby grabbed this book out of my hands as soon as it came. She is starting to open the books and flip through pages. And she reacts like she really is reading: "oohhh". So funny!

Book Review:: God Gave Us You

I really thought we had this book already but after I read the other book (God Gave Us Love) by Lisa Tawn Bergren I went to find it to read to baby. WE DIDN'T HAVE IT!So I went to WaterBrook Multnomah and requested it for our next review book. I couldn't just read one and not the other. I am so incredibly glad I did. This is one you want on the nursery library shelf or in the box of toddler books. It is really cute!!

Little Cub has many questions (what little kid doesn't?) for her Mama while getting ready for bed one night.  Little Cub poses the question that is sometimes dreaded by many a parent: "Where did I come from?" Yes, that question that can stop parents dead in their tracks, especially coming at such a young age. But Mama does a beautiful job explaining it. Mama Bear answers with "God gave us you". She progresses through wanting Little Cub all the way through birth answering Little Cub's numerous questions about why, what happened, how.  

This is soooo cute. I can't get over how cute this book is. I love it. LOVE IT. Mama Bear's answer is wonderful. Baby needs to know how much she is loved and that she did come from God. Baby is a blessing from God. Bergren explains the age old question in such a great way for children to understand. (And if you read your child the book it can get you off the hook of answering such a loaded question if you're uncomfortable!) It also lets Baby know God is the Almighty Creator. That's where we all come from. Once again I can't tell you know much I LOVE LOVE this book. 

The two are a great combination to put on your bookshelf or give as shower gifts, birthday or Christmas gifts. Check out both of them below.

God Gave Us Love

God Gave Us You

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: God Gave Us Love

We have a ton of children's books in our house but I was excited to get this one in the mail. It's my first children's book review!! I had quite the critic sitting next to me to give input as well. Let's just say she was super happy to be handed this book.

This is a cute little story about a cub and her grandfather talking about various forms of love and why we love. They were fishing and otters kept jumping scaring their fish away. Cub got mad, as would any kid really. Grandpa explained that she must have love for the otters even when she doesn't want to because God is love. They go through different situations in which a person should love others, love God and trust God. Grandpa answers the age old children's question about the kissy love of Mama and Dada too.

Although I thought this book was pretty cute it says it was written for children ages 0-3 years. I'm not so sure it was broken down into good enough language for that age. And some of the other concepts it tries to teach a bit other whelming for his age But it holds truth that adults sometimes need help with!! It's definitely worth reading to children at some point to reinforce loving others, just not to under age 3 like its meant for.

Arthur's website
Get the book here.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multomah Publishing  for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: Heaven in Her Arms

Picture this:

You just found out you were pregnant.
You already know the gender and the name.
You already know how his life will impact the world for God.
You know he will be a godly man. Following God to the ends of the earth.

Pretty good, right? I think it's every mother's dream to have a child like this. The elation, the joy.

Now to keep going:

You're not married.
You're only a teenager.
You're in a culture that would guarantee the loss of your fiancé, probably your family and possibly your very life because of it.
An angel told you.
Someday you'd have to give up your son to die. To die for you.

Not so fun now, eh?

Catherine Hickem tells the story of Mary in a way that most people have never heard it. She makes Mary real. Of course Mary was real. She was a real person long ago who gave birth to God's Son. Who raised Him and sent Him on His mission. Right. That's as far as most people go. But did you know Mary was actually a mother, actually a person just like you and me? Sometimes we forget. We focus so much on the coming of Christ that we forget His mother was a real person who potentially could have lost her life by carrying Him in her untouched womb. But God has a plan. He saw Mary as a humble teenager in a world of selfish people. A girl with a solid background of faith in Him, unafraid to ask Him for help and clarification but wholeheartedly willing and able to raise a King. Heaven in Her Arms takes Mary's journey from start to finish and applies the lessons she learned to the mother in the 21st century. Mary conceived, carried, birthed and raised Jesus Christ with God's help. Our faith and obedience to raise our own royalty should be modeled after the greatest mother of all time.

As a new mom I loved this book. Taking Mary out of the Bible and into my hands to study was an awesome experience. How could I miss all this about Mary? Maybe because I wasn't a mother at the time and we are so focused on the birth that we skim over her at Christmastime. Well, Christmas is about Jesus' birth and we should celebrate that. But we miss so much about the faithfulness of His mother that it's wonderful to go back and really pour over her. What would I do if an angel came to me and told me all this!? Really. Would I believe? Would I have faith to carry this out? Would I ask questions to make sure I'm understanding the situation? Or would I ignore him, turn away and laugh like Sarah? Would I panic and run? It doesn't matter that I'm not raising a King, a Saviour of the world. I'm raising a gift from God none the less. This book really made me understand Mary and, in turn, my role of raising a blessing from God. It made me focus on what it is I need to do as a mother, where I need to put my energy, and to ask for help from the Father who knows best.

I really encourage all mothers to read this book. Even if you aren't a mother, pick it up and check it out. You'll see Mary in a who new light and the blessing of being a mother will encourage you to keep going and pursue God with all you have!

You can find the book here.










Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Stinky Face

This is such a cute little book that Grandma gave Baby for Easter.

Baby likes and so do I.

A mother will love their baby no matter they look like. It just so happens my baby is so cute it's hard not to anyway. :-P

"Fearless" Book Trailer by Eric Blehm // Story of SEAL Team SIX Operator...

I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of this book!

Having a few members of my family in the military, including a brother in law and a cousin who just returned from Afghanistan, this video was hard. Knowing that he didn't come home to the family in the pictures could have been a reality for me.

But please. Take the time to watch this. And grab a copy of the book when it comes out.

Because a Little Bug Went Ka-choo

Dr. Seuss, or Theodore Geisel, or Theo LeSeig, did write this book but under the name Rosetta Stone. It's crazy all the things you can learn about an author when you set out to read all their books!

I couldn't find this book anywhere. I did find a video on youtube someone made for their class of the book. So we watched it instead of reading it.

Here's the link.

It's a pretty cute little book.

The Resolution in Our Home

Res-o-lu-tion

Noun

A firm decision to do or not do something

I debated blogging about this book because it was such a personal journey. Hubby and I did it together and were truly blessed by it. We're now just waiting on our plaques to sign and hang up in our dining room. I have decided to share this with you because we were so incredibly blessed and I highly encourage you (married or single) to do this with your family. Don't take it light hearted though. This is serious stuff. Life altering stuff. Not just to be dabbled in but truly coming before God and allowing Him transform you. 

If you've seen the movie Courageous  you know what I'm talking about when I say Resolution. The men in this movie decide to make a covenant with each other and God to be the best fathers they can, to provide their families with love, and lead their families as God has ordained. They sign it in front of each other, their families and their Pastor. The movie is a call to all men to step up and be men of God. To turning around the failings of society. To become a godly beacon of Light for others to see. It truly is a powerful movie. If you haven't seen, please do. Married or not it will bless you.

Along with the movie there are resources for men and women. The Resolution is just one of them and is the exact one they use in the movie. The devotional takes you through the things that challenge a family the most; being content in whatever circumstances, truly loving your spouse and children, leaving a legacy to point future generations to God are just a few. There is so much to meditate on, talk to God about and allow God to work with. I can't even begin to explain what goes on in your heart while you do this. 

It takes time but worth it. Hubby and I started our journey at the end of February and we're just getting to the end and ready to sign our resolutions. 

Book Review: Fierce Beauty

I will be honest that I couldn't finish this book. It just wasn't speaking to me.

In Fierce Beauty Kim Meeder tells various stories from her life to encourage other women to not live by the worlds standards but by those of God and His perfect will. Her stories are very personal and some heartbreaking while capturing the reader on the edge of their seats. Through it all, the author emphasizes standing with God no matter, cloning to Him in awful situations, and rejoicing with Him through praises.



I have to give Kim Meeder credit for the stories she told. But for some reason I couldn't get through some of the stories. Others grabbed me instantly and I had to find out how they ended. She connected her stories and experiences to wonderful life lessons. Wouldn't it be nice to read a book and learn without having to experience the lesson yourself? But it just didn't grab me. Could have been the style she writes in (lots of extra descriptive words when I'm more of a "to the point" type) or I just couldn't relate. Either way this wasn't my kind of book. But it could be yours!!

You can find this book here.


Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multomah Publishing for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Twilight + God's Love = ????

Truth.

I came across this blog post on Facebook this morning.

I have never read the books and have seen only one full movie (I saw bits and pieces of the first two movies at my old job so I do know the story). I was so against this series because of the whole vampire thing and the way people lived and breathed Twilight. But after reading this I have a whole new perspective (minus the vampire issues : ) ).

Check it out here.

Book Review:"I Love You to God and Back"

If you have a little girl (or, I guess, children. Doesn't have to be a little girl) you'll be able to relate to author Amanda Lamb's journey through prayers with her daughter. The lessons learned from a little girl (or child, really) can be so profound. If you don't look and listen, you'll miss it.

Lamb transcribes a years worth of her daughter's prayers. Chloe is incredibly thankful and will thank God for the most minute detail of her day. She thanks God for some of the funniest things but she is so sincere and truly thankful. Lamb does a beautiful job taking the prayers and applying them to her life and yours, the reader, as well. For example, one of the first prayers she recorded was about thanking God for an extra nugget in her meal. Lamb comments on this tidbit by questioning the reader about how busy we/they are that the daily bread is being missed. Simple things, like an extra nugget or washing a car, are being missed, taken for granted.
Lamb also includes some funny comments by Chloe herself. It's amazing how smart this little girl is! The comments are quite humorous but also thought provoking and incredibly true.

Even though this wasn't what I was expecting, I still laughed throughout most of this book. I mean laughed out loud. But also reflected on how I'm missing God's small blessings. Of course I thank Him for the big stuff, the blessings that are hard to miss even when the day flies by with a million things to do. But after reading this book I try very hard to see the smaller blessings, the details God puts in my life for me to see Him more, to trust Him with everything (even the nuggets in my meal!). I guess this whole book is a summation of faith like a child! If only we, adults, could regrasp what this means. Maybe a book like this can get us back to faith that fully rests on God Himself and His daily, little blessings.

You can get this book here.


Disclaimer: I received this book for free through Booksneeze.com for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Hunger Games:: The Movie

Hubby came home Wednesday and asked me out on a date. We haven't really been out since Baby came expect a quick dinner out in November. My parents are here for the week so we jumped on the chance.

After dinner he took me to see The Hunger Games. Can we say excited!?

After reading the first two books in the series and being half way through the last I was sooooo excited. Everyone kept saying how awesome the movie was.

And it was.

Except. Yep. Except. I'm such a hard person to take to a movie based on a book I've read.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVED the movie.

It's just different.

(When it comes down to choosing between a book and it's movie. I usually pick the book. And this is one of those times.)

My only complaint::

There was no explanation of the mocking jay pin, it's significance and it's potential.

What else grabs you for the next movie?

There was nothing that would keep you coming back for more. The book does this beautifully.

And.... I was picturing a smaller Katniss, a chubbier Peeta and a handsomer Gale. But hey, who am I to judge the actors? I didn't choose them!

Go see the movie. It really is a great movie.