Owlegories Video Series Review/Giveaway

                                    
                             Giveaway Sponsored by FishFlix.com
                                  Enter to win.  Ending soon!
A children's video.  3 complete episodes.  A real crowd pleaser!

About the video (from the publisher)
You can tell a lot about an artist by what he creates. That is the theme behind Owlegories, the animated series. Owlegories teaches kids about God through the amazing things found in nature and revealed in God’s word.   

The banner verse for Owlegories is Psalm 19:1-4:  "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
I received Volume 3 from Fish Flix.  This Volume included 
3 separate stories/episodes.  

The Fire (from the publisher) episode 1. . .The Professor sends the owls to an ancient refinery to learn about pure gold and discover three ways God is like fire. Recap presented by Ben Stuart, the Executive Director of Breakaway Ministries. The KEY VERSE is Hebrews 12:28-29!

What I thought--I  enjoyed this episode.  I thought it was interesting and cool that they brought science into the story.    Not only is the message about how God is like fire there is an underlying message of forgiveness.  

The Duck (from the publisher) episode 2 . . . The class travels to the swampland to meet Professor Owlester’s old college roommate, Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson. They learn the importance of working together and discover three great gifts given to us all by God. Recap presented by Silas “Uncle Si” Robertson from Duck Dynasty. The KEY VERSE is 1 Peter 4:10

What I thought-- The Duck was my favorite episode of the three.  Mainly because Silas Robertson
was the voice of 'The Duck'.    

The Seasons--(from the publisher) episode 3--Our young explorers go on a high-tech adventure through a souped-up seasonal simulator where they learn three things followers of Christ can learn from the seasons. Recap presented by celebrity photographer and entrepreneur Jeremy Cowart. The KEY VERSE is Ecclesiastes 3:1

This video collection is an excellent source for parents.  The storyline and the message in each episode is a great tool for sharing God's message with our little ones and is appropriate for a wide variety of age levels. 

Our family enjoyed the episodes we received and give it 
a 'Thumbs Up' and a 'High 5 Stars'

My thanks to FishFlix for providing me with a complimentary copy and a giveaway copy.    

You have loads of  chances  to win!   Enter here! 

Entry-Form

This review/giveaway is linked at my linky parties.  See list on my party page.

This review/giveaway is posted at Amazon, Family Christian Stores, and CBC 
A complimentary review copy and a giveaway copy of Owlegories Vol. 3 was provided by FishFlix in exchange for my honest review. 

Well they say it's my birthday . . . If You ASK ME

Updated: December 13th to extend the give a ways keep reading . . .
If I had to choose I would not have a December Birthday! . . .
Here's all you have to do to win the books.  Leave a comment on this post.  And, if you say Happy Belated Birthday I will put your name in one more time for each of the ten years I have been celebrating my December Birthday.  (hint that is 5 more times!)
All this because I think these are two great books and I know you'll enjoy.  Please indicate which book you want.  Leave a comment to enter.  Happy Belated Birthday and Merry Christmas!

And since it is my birthday I am doing something crazy.  Well actually I'll be gone all day taking my mother to the doctor and then she is taking me to lunch.  But to celebrate I am giving away two books.  Actually I am not; the author's are giving them away for my birthday. 
I read both of these recently and I thought they were both great.
But for completely different reasons. 
First is . . .

If you've read my blog you know I really love Betcher's series books.  This one is totally different.  You can read my review over
here. 

And the second offer is Flight Plan.  This one was great also but like I said for totally different reasons.  I haven't written my post yet but you can go over to the book website to check it out.  Here's my review.

And so for a few rules.  You must comment on this post only to enter.  You must choose which book you want.  You can comment as many times as you want here.  And, if you say Happy Birthday in a separate comment I'll enter you again!  It's that easy.  I'll close this one on Monday again at 5:00.  

And, now I am off to eat cake!

Book One Marathon Strong by Jim Daly

From the back cover:
. . . With warmth and candor, Daly relates narratives from his childhood and adult life, and from his international travels for Focus on the Family. He tells engaging real-life stories that, although seemingly tragic, demonstrate the constancy of God's grace in the midst of disillusionment. Without outlining a step-by-step program, he shares spiritual and practical Biblical principles that demonstrate how to draw on our only source of enduring, powerful strength.
Stronger shows us that we can find strength in our weakness and that we can always continue to grow in
character and maturity.  Through Christ, our brokeness is redeemed.  Through Christ, we become stronger.


The list of endorsements for this book is long.  From other authors to pastors to CEO's everyone agree's that
Stronger helps the reader realize that even you go through trials in this world you can rejoice because you can be Stronger.

I like this on the front cover : Trading Brokeness for Unbreakable Strength

Daly uses life principles and personal stories and helps the reader answer questions like:  Is God to Blame? Is he punishing his people?  Daly successfully shares the profound truth that Christ offers strength us all--not because we deserve it.  but because Hi loves us.  Unless we choose to live in Christ's unbreakable strength, we will live lives broken by bitterness. 

Check out the first chapter here. 

This is  a book that I am putting on my list to purchase for Christmas presents.  Check it out. 
You can purchase at Amazon and Christian Book (dot) com.

Go over here to check out Book Two in this weeks marathon.  And, you can win a free copy leave a comment on the review post to enter.

I Dare You To Change! Book Review & Give A Way

I chose a number and the winner was V.Westmyer.  Congrats!

A give a way copy is available.  I will draw on Tuesday Dec. 7th  to enter leave comments here.  Each post till the 6th will have a link here so you can enter. 

Pastor and Author Bil Cornelius challenges the reader  (from the back cover) . . . Do you ever say, "I just want to be happy" or "I just want a better job" or I just want to be able to pay all my bills this month:?  Are you fed up with where you are?  In order to make the changes that will make a difference in your life, you need to do something unexpected, bold and, at times, risky. 
  Let's journey together.  Let's learn to take courage and see God's best for our lives.  Let's discover how we can live that second life-the "unlived" life- that we so desire to bring into reality.  I Dare You to Change!  is a hands on, how-to-action plan for life.  I'm daring you to get to work right now and start on your plan.  I'm telling you the honest truth:  Taking the God-given principles in this book and applying them to your life will help you find the strength to change and to understand that there's a difference between dreaming of a better life and living it. 

I don't have a lot to say about this book.  Because there are others that say it so much better. 

Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church says . . . "Bil Cornelius lays the foundation for how to make change happen and experience the most out of life."    I live near Fellowship Church.  Actually my daughter is a member and I get to go to Fellowship frequently and personally I think if Ed Young recommends the book it is enough for me. 

But, in case you need more info.  check out these reviews:
Robert  . . .Pastor Bil has managed to take what some people believe to be complicated and made it simple. His writing is easy and the concepts are simple, but the message is powerful: you CAN change. It's hard not to get caught up in his energy and enthusiasm, so I recommend this book to anyone who has felt stuck and unable to get off the couch and do something meaningful in their lives.

JosephC - This is a great book. Bil uses great biblical principles and awesome business princples to create change. Do the excercises and you will start to change. Don't just read it, act on it.

And a little from an interview I found on the Guideposts (the publisher)  website . . .
 So many of the faith messages we hear today fall into the trap of helping you run into the arms of Jesus, but don’t explain that those arms also are there to stand you up, brush you off, offer a word of encouragement, and get you back out there to living life. Cornelius asks that you not buy into a passive theology like that, and instead take the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus’ forgiveness for the times you fall short, and dare yourself to keep moving, growing, and finding your way to new blessings.
If I was considering buying the book and I wasn't convenienced by Ed Young's endorsement the words above in bold would have been what I needed to check it out myself and to take the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus' forgiveness and to keep moving, growing and finding my way to new blessings.
 
Here's a link to the authors site and here's a link to read a chapter of the book. 
 
I Dare You To Change! is available at Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, Borders and  Books A Million. (Click on the red words for a direct link
 
I Dare You To Change! was released in September 2010 and has already become a USA Today and Wall Street Journal National Best Seller with over 60,000 books in print! The author, Pastor Bil Cornelius, is the founder and lead pastor of Bay Area Fellowship, which is one of Outreach Magazine’s Top 100 fastest-growing and largest churches.  
 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Caffeinated B Marketing  as part of their I Dare You To Change!  blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.

Things that make me smile and A Prayer Request

Tonight I want to share a couple of photo's of 'my' boys. At least I call them mine.

Some Sundays they have a hard time staying in their seats. Sometimes I think to myself maybe the adults need to take some lessons in how to worship!

Come let us sing for Joy to the Lord; let us shout to the Rock of our Salvation. Let us come to Him in thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. Psalm 95:1&2

And I had to share this photo. The boy standing with the mic. is Joseph. Last night I was on the phone with him until 2 a.m. texting. I kept thinking why doesn't this kid just talk. Joseph was worried about today because he was going to a pre-trial hearing. He learned today that he could face a minimum of 10 years in the adult prison. All basically because of a technicality that occurred while he was in the youth prison system where I met him.

Today I ask you to pray for Joseph. Please pray with me that he can keep on singing His heart out to Jesus in 'the free'. This is such a great kid. He has so much potential.
Thanks for letting me share with you tonight what is on my heart.

And now I have something for you . . .

I wanted to remind you about this months give a way. It isn't just an apron. This time I am offering a custom made apron and a cookbook. All you have to do is come over here and hang out. Leave comments. I'll count everyone. And well if your real sweet and become a follower you'll get lots of extra points.

Next week will be a Week in Review I'll be posting reviews on some of the books I have been reading recently. You'll definitely want to come back because some would make great Christmas presents. Or just presents to yourself!

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Thanks for the prayers for Joseph and thanks for the encouragement there a many days that just seeing a sweet comment here is what gets me through!

And the winner is . . .

I chose a winner. Actually the Cowboy chose a number between 1 and 48 entries for this give a way. The Cowboy chose #48 which happened to be Jen at Reflections and I chose Denise because she left more comments than anyone else. Denise lifts me up everyday. So girls I'll be emailing you and picking your brains so I can decide what kind of apron to make for you.

And because this was so much fun I have decided to do another one for the month of September. I'll post complete details tomorrow. Every comment gets an entry so go ahead and leave a comment on this post to get a head start.

Scrathin' that itch again . . .

It's happening again . . . there's is this . . .

itch that I can't help but scratch . . .

Does it ever happen to you that you get the urge to change the look of your blog?

It happens to me a lot. And that is exactly what I am going to do this weekend. I have finished the 'week in review' and I'll be taking off that not so pretty library looking background this weekend.

And, I am going to take off all the buttons and links to my favorites. Once this little makeover is complete you'll have to check out my separate pages to find all the blogs that I love to visit.

I hope you like the new look. I'll be begging you to make comments. So feel free to tell me what you think. Even if you don't like I want to hear from you. I want you to come back here often. I want you to feel at home and feel loved when you stop in so let me know what you like and what you don't.

And if the little urge to scratch strikes come on back over here and grab the itch scratchin' photo's !

BTW don't forget to comment and follow to enter the apron giveway there is still time come one and sign up!

Takin' Names . . . for . . . the give a away

O.K. here's the deal. I have been talkin' all week about the give a ways . I have been promising to announce what the grand prize is. So here goes . . .

photo from The Apron Chronicles

Wondering if you can guess. It is a custom made apron. Made by me. And along with the custom made apron made by me I am sending another little surprise. Sorry it is a surprise and I am not telling you what it is.

For this one you have the rest of the month to enter. Enter as many times as possible. If you follow this blog you get an entry. If you sign up to follow the Book Review blog you get another entry. If you sign up to follow my homemaking blog another entry. And, just to spice things up a bit if you get one of your followers to go over and follow the Book Review blog you get another entry. I need your help here so send your followers over. Please pretty please. And for even more incentive if I top out at 95 followers here then I'll choose two winners! What could be easier!

I know you want to win a beautiful apron made just for you. So please keep on coming by and since this blog isn't just about winning aprons I pray that you will find some encouragement or words of wisdom here. So sign up. Leave comments and send your friends by.

I am still working on the same verse this week. This one has been so hard for me. Here goes one more try.

The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for Joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. Psalm 28:7

I don't know why this one is so hard for me. Usually I can't remember the reference but for some reason. I remember the reference but not the verse.

Thanks for coming by I can't wait to make the apron for You!

One In a Million Priscilla Shirer give a way

Can't wait for the review? Just leave a comment and then become a follower here and here. The review is over here drop over and leave a comment for another chance. I will draw a name on Sunday so enter today, and tomorrow and the next day and the next and . . .

And the winner is . . .

. . . I don't know! Sorry guys I know your on the edges of your seats but I planned to have Cowboy choose a number between 1 and 15. Yes I said 15...there were only 15 comments since last Monday on my blog. That makes me sad. But for you guys that commented gives you a better chance.
Anyway Cowboy was running late and I didn't get to ask him. The only other people around this morning are a 20 month old that only says Bye, Mama, Dada, Moo and a couple of other words I don't quite get. And my dog Daisy that only sits up and shakes hands. And a cat that lays around and sleeps.
So . . .
You'll have to wait till Cowboy calls or comes home.
Thanks to everyone that left a comment last week.
Good luck.

Downsizing and a Giveway

As I am sorting and packing I am finding things that need to find new homes. Please check my Tuesday Trades there might be something there you like. Come back often because I have more items to offer.
Today I want to begin Giveway this is a book that I wrote a review on. You can go here to read the review.



The giveway is simple. And there are lots of chances to get your name in:
1 leave a comment here
2 become a follower, leave me a comment and let me know
3 come back everyday and leave a comment

Wow that's lost of chances. I'll do the drawing on Sunday night and announce the winner. I think this book just might make a great Valentines Day gift so I want to get it in the mail by Wednesday.

I'll be posting a give a way every Monday through February. Don't forget to check Tuesday Trade Days. I'll be adding more things there.

Hope your Week is Blessed

Busy week

Has your week been as busy as mine. It has been crazy busy. And filled with incredible Blessings and opportunity personally and for the ministry.

Below is a photo of how I have spent most of the week. I had to babysit alot! I know he is adorable.



You White Wednesday and 2nd Time followers might remember the table. I was moving it and it ended up right beside my computer table temporarily but it became a wonderful play area. He had the best time. And yes he is a he. Sorry the toy is pink he doesn't realize it. Please don't tell him. It was free. Free is good.

I added one more photo for you. Because my week has been so busy I need a few minutes of peacefulness, relaxing and just enjoying God's promises and provision.
This photo says those things to me.



One of my joys. Thanks for letting me share. I have not forgotten about announcing the Gift a Way winners. I will do that this weekend. Please forgive the delay.

GIVE A WAY WINNERS!

TOMORROW or I guess it will be later today because here in Texas it is already today.
OK that sounded crazy but it is 1:00 in the morning so it is really today but seems like tomorrow.
Now that you are totally confused. I will be posting the winners tomorrow or today....LOL of the Gift A Way.
I have been preoccupied the last few days with keeping the grandbaby. With my daughter and son in law and the grandbaby.
A new chapel service we began at the boys treatment facility where we minister and
the thing that has really taken up all my time. Farmtown. I am addicted. It is my new addiction. I love it.
I know you guys are thinking this women has lost it. And maybe I have but I am so enjoying it. And I playing with my daughter so it is that much more fun.
So with all that said. I will announce the winners tomorrow.

Wordfilled Wednesday

May we Praise His name and dance with exuberance....when I took these photo's I couldn't help but think about Praising God.

For more Wordfilled Wednesday posts visit CrittyJoy today's hostess for Amy Deanne



And before you go my this is the last week for my Gift A Way. There will be three prizes if your posting a WFW entry today you don't want to miss this! If your not posting you can still enter.

Go here for all the details. And remember the more comments you leave the better your chance. Entries close on Saturday so come back Thursday and Friday be sure and leave a comment. And for another chance follow me on My Journey.

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday by the sweet Sonya over here.

I enjoy Sonya's Thursday party she suggested focusing on 5 things your thankful for.

here's my list:

1) I am thankful that you are never too old to learn. I have learned a lot through blogging. I even just learned how to center things on my post. It was purely by accident. I have learned many wonderful lessons that I am sure God wanted me to learn. Thank you dear sisters for outpouring your wisdom to us all.

2) I am thankful that my grandson is a healthy rambunctious toddler. And that he is napping right now.

3) I am thankful that I got to go The Summit Leadership conference last week. We received scholarships and so that is another thing to be thankful. It was two days of rest and refreshment. And learning. We learned alot. Thank you God for providing this opportunity.

4) And, I am thankful for God's provision. And that God is patient with me when I am fearful and frustrated. Thank you God for providing and thank you for your patience. Please teach me and my Cowboy to be good stewards.

5) I love my house. I am thankful for my humble little cottage.

It is so easy to come up with a list of things and I could make it much longer. Do you have a long list of thankful items....one more thing I am thankful for is friends I have found through blogging. And so that reminds me about my Giftaway! You have got to enter. There will be a really cool prize. It is open to anyone.

All you have to do is a leave a comment. Come back everyday because each visit and comment gets your name in again. So comment on each post till the 3lst. And if you start following me I put your name in again. Over here at this post you'll find all the details about the prizes. I don't have a fancy button but if you write about my Gift a Way on your blog let me know and I'll add your name.

So leave a comment here and Good Luck to you...and go and visit the other Thankful posts today you will be Blessed.

Wordfilled Wednesday

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16


Welcome to Wordfilled Wednesday and to my Wordfilled Gift a Way...Because your here today you can enter this great Gift A Way but you have to leave a comment so I know you were here.

Here how you can win and what you can win.... Go here for all the details. Or just scroll down I posted them yesterday.

But if you don't have time now that's ok. Just leave a comment today and back latter because it lasts till the end of the month.

Here's a couple of ways you can enter:

Come by everyday and leave a comment

Become a follower of my blog

Answer this question: Why am I celebrating Christmas In August?

Write a post about my Gift a Way and come back and give me the link

And your wondering what you win.. A print of one of your WordFilled Wednesday illustrations. It has to be yours but you get to choose.

Good Luck everyone and Happy Wordfilled Wednesday.

This is it...It's here...The day you've been waiting for

Ok this is it The Day you've been waiting for! My next Gift a Way to celebrate

Christmas In August!



This is Gift a Way is going to be a litte different but I think you will love it. I am so excited that I want to enter!



Ok here's the skinny...remember yesterday I highlighted some of my favorite meme's on Mosaic Monday? Well two of my fav's are you guessed it Mosaic Monday and Wordfilled Wednesday. This Gift a Way is going to be for these two fabulous groups so if you participate in Mosaic Monday or Wordfilled Wednesday and if you already commented on my Mosaic Monday post you are already entered.



And here's the cool thing there will be 3 prizes. Yes I said 3 prizes. I know I don't do math well. But really I do because anyone that has a blog can enter.



The first prize will go to a Mosaic Monday participant.

The second prize will go to a Wordfilled Wednesday participant.

And the third will go to a blogger that doesn't participate in either.



Here's the deal there are a few rules not hard not even really rules just ways to enter. But there is one rule. If you are the winner of MM or WFW then you have to agree to have one of your Mosaics or WFW posts printed. Because that is the prize.



The MM winner will receive a beautifully framed print of your MM entry.

The WFW winner will receive a beautifully framed print of your WFW entry.

And the non participate will receive a beautifully framed print of one of the above her choice.

And just to make it fun I am even sending a print of the winning entries to Mary and Amy Deane. How fun is that?



I know you are excited to start getting entered so here's the rules:

Gift A Way Instructions
• If you're a "follower" of my blog - your name and/or image appears in my "followers" list - you automatically have an entry in the giftAway. If you're not already a follower, you can become a follower now and you will receive one entry.
• If you write a comment IN THIS POST ONLY, your name will be entered an additional ONE time. Multiple posts here (on this post) will not earn you multiple entries. You must visit everyday and comment each day for additional entries see below.
• If you write a comment IN MY UPCOMING POSTS, your name will be entered an additional one time per day. REMINDER: Be sure to sign your posts so that I know who to credit with an entry and please remember to say you want to enter.
• If you have a blog and post a link to my giftAway, you will earn another ONE entry in the giftAway. (Please be sure to let me know you've done this, so I can give you credit!)
* If you visit my other blog and leave a comment there you will receive an entry.

One last thing the deadline...I am giving you a couple of weeks for this one. The deadline is Saturday August 29th. I will draw on Sunday the 30th and announce on Monday the 31

Now about your prize if your a WFW winner you get to choose which of your WFW posts you want to have as your prize. It must be your's not someone elses. If your the MM winner you choose your MM post. Got it? And the non participate will receive one of the above her choice.

So now that I have written a book here. I hope your not too bored with all this. Please come by and join the party and oh one more thing...just to make sure you've read all this. If you can answer this question correctly you get another enter.

Why Christmas in August?

Merry Christmas in August

Welcome to another week of give a ways. I am changing a few things like the name. It is now
Gift A Way
And a couple of other things. New ways to enter and a couple of rules. Nothing hard.

To enter:
1.Please make a comment and choose which of these amazing bags you want and why.

Blue is a smallish purse with red gingham inside and a little zippered section to stash your keys.

Tropical has a wooden handle velcro closure and fun pink tropical lining.

Tote will hold a Bible keys, phone and a couple diapers too. It is denim on the inside.
2.If you answer this question correctly you get another chance...Why am I celebrating Christmas in August?
3.Enter as often as you like by visiting my blog and commenting on each post. Each post will direct you back to today's post in case you send friends over so they can choose which purse they want.
4. Send a friend you have to let me know and become a follower.

5. One more way to enter is visit my other blog. myhomesanctyary.blogspot.com

comment there too be sure and mention you went there from here.

It is that easy. This Gift a Way will end Sunday night. I'll draw and post the winner. One last rule. If you are the winner you must respond to my comment on your blog by noon on Monday so I can get the Gift in the mail on Tuesday. OK?

Well good luck everyone. Have a Blessed Week.

Beth Moore Giveway Winner

Thanks for all the sweet and wonderful comments this week. Thanks for visiting my blog.
And now the results....hold on a minute I have to draw a name. Sorry my camera is acting up can't document hope you trust me.

And the winner is . . .

Snowwhite...Congratulations! I'll be sending you an email so I can get your address to snail mail this weeks Beth Moore.

O.K. to announce another giveaway. This week I am changing the name and the rules. The name is now Gift A Way. I am going to give a Gift once a week at least during the month of August. And since August is only days away the Gift a way begins tomorrow.

Come back tomorrow for the surpirse gift. Oh I almost forgot...why am I doing all this gifting?
Because I celebrating Christmas in August. More on that in a few days.

Have a Blessed Week and don't forget to comment.

And only because I am feeling really, really giving if you comment here you'll be entered.
Good Luck. Merry Christmas in August.

Giveaway Week 2

Welcome to my Week Two giveway. I have another Beth Moore Study including the listening guide and the audio tapes. I know you will like this one. It is a study of David.
It is simple to enter leave a comment on any post this week. That means at least 6 chances to win. For another chance just sign up and follow my blog. I will draw on Sunday and post the winner on Monday morning. Good luck everyone and don't
forget to come by everyday and enter.
Have a Blessed Week. btw I wrote a post over here today too.