Book Review: What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Edward Welch

and the book:

What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions of Life

New Growth Press (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings – The B&B Media Group – for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Edward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for over twenty-five years and is the best-selling author of many books, including When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

In his latest release, author Edward T. Welch offers a way of escape for young adults held captive by the opinions of others. In an increasingly unstable culture, being obsessed with what others think is an escalating struggle among teens and young adults, leading to more serious consequences than ever before. Although everyone—whether they’re sixteen or sixty—works hard to win someone’s approval or ward off someone’s rejection, these issues plague teenagers and young adults with particular intensity. And how teens and young adults answer the big questions of their lives now will affect the direction of their adult lives for better or worse. In his new book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions of Life (New Growth Press, October 2011), Edward T. Welch extends hope to those weary of hiding behind a mask of performance in order to gain love and acceptance.

Peer pressure, codependency, shame, low self-esteem—these are just some of the words used to identify how young people can be controlled by the perceived opinions of others. Stand out in the right way to the right people, and you’re on top of the world. But experience failure in front of those same people and prepare for a sinking sensation in your stomach and a night of tossing and turning.

Why do you care? Why do we all care? These are questions that can’t be answered without listening to God, the One who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves. In What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? Welch takes the big questions of life and shows that freedom from what people think of us comes as we learn who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. Only then will we be able to let go of our masks, stop trying to fill our leaky love cups and begin to live for something bigger than ourselves.

An interactive book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? includes questions throughout the text for individual or group study and is especially aimed at teenagers and young adults. A corresponding website rich with controversy and dialogue, My-Big-Life-Question.com, will also offer readers a place to discuss personal needs as well as to find other resources for life’s journey and places to go for help.

“I want to draw people to the path of becoming truly human, where you are controlled by God more than other people and where you love others more than you need them to love you,” says Welch. “The result? Genuine loving relationships and the ability to make a lasting impact on the world around us. It’s a hard process, but it’s wonderful and the results are worth it.”


Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: New Growth Press (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935273868
ISBN-13: 978-1935273868

MY THOUGHTS AND REVIEW:
If you have been a teenager before/are a teenager now/have a teenager living with you, you know how huge peer pressure is. It's easy to tell teenagers not to care about what others think of them but that advice would likely go in one ear and out the other. This book was written for readers ages 15-25. However, preteens and even older people can benefit from it. While older people may care somewhat less about what others think of them and have face concern about totally different things, they are still affected by the opinions of others. The cure for the fear of man is the fear of God...more accurately, the love of God. Dr. Welch encourages readers to find their acceptance, affirmation, and affection in Christ, not in people. How we view ourselves, God, and others makes a big difference in how we act and react! Dr. Welch uses the Scriptures, Jesus, and examples of some great men in the Bible to guide readers and give answers to important questions in life. If you desire to freely live for God, aiming to please Him instead of men, check this book out.

"True freedom in your relationships comes when the scales are always a little unbalanced: You want the weight to be more on the "love" side than the "be loved" side." (p. 114)

"When God says that we should do everything for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), He is saying that our lives are intended to make Him famous, not ourselves...How do you do it? Start by praying. First, that you would know Him and His love. Second, that you would love others in a way that would increase His fame. Then think in terms of small steps of love. Keep in step with what the Spirit is doing." (p. 122)

Great questions at the end of the book: "You are seeking to worship God more than the opinions of others? Do you want to love people even if they don't love you as you would like?" (p. 145) Hopefully, you would answer "yes" :)!

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Somebody is Watching

“Lord, please let me be normal.”

Okay, maybe you never actually prayed that, but you do want it. You want to fit in. Who doesn’t? Imagine you are invited to a formal dinner, but you didn’t read the entire invitation and you go in shorts and flip-flops. (Yes, it wasn’t pretty. I was also wearing a Killer Dana T-shirt—it’s the name of a surf shop, but the other dinner guests thought I was going gangsta.)

We all have these stories. We spend a lot of time concerned about fitting in, which means that we spend a lot of time thinking about our hair, our body, our intelligence, and our clothes so we can be part of the larger group. None of us want to be stared at if it means that the people looking at us don’t like what they see. When they look at us that way we want to run and hide.

Oh, and there is another prayer too. “Lord, please don’t let me be normal.” “If I can’t fit in, then I’ll be a vampire,” and she did just that. She figured that both fitting in and standing out were impossible, so she made a choice. Her parents would have preferred a more traditional route such as starting on the basketball team or high SAT scores. They are hoping it is a phase, which it is—there are not many fifty-year-old vampires. But, unless she discovers something else to run her life, she will always be looking for ways to stand out, and she will be depressed.

We want to stand out from the crowd. We want to be seen, which means that we want people to notice us and be impressed with something. We want them to respect us, to like us, and to love us. Not too many people dream of being average. Take a look at your fantasies, and you will probably find a quest to be noticed.

• Have you ever imagined that you scored the winning basket in the NBA finals?
• Do you enjoy superhero movies because you like to imagine what it would be like to have such powers?
• Do you identify with a celebrity because you would like to live her life, at least for a year or two?
• Have you ever fantasized that you were famous or great?
• Or maybe you have already given up on greatness and will settle for a B+.

It’s complicated, isn’t it? If only we could be less controlled by the opinions of others. Maybe a deserted island could be the answer. That would be a pricey way to avoid the judgments of others, but it might work. Apart from that option, you have a creepy sense that people are watching, judging, evaluating, accepting, or rejecting you. Sometimes the eyes belong to no one in particular. Other times you know exactly who or what group you are trying to please. Either way, you are controlled by other people more than you think, and other people, of course, are controlled by how you see them.

The problem is a common one, but we don’t talk about it too often. As a way to get it out into the open, keep trying to locate this in your own life.

• Do you buy clothes because of what other people will think? Have you ever not gone somewhere because you didn’t have the right clothes or didn’t like the way you looked?
• Do you spend a lot of time in front of the mirror?
• Do you avoid people, either because you are angry with them or because you would be embarrassed if they saw you?
• Do you ever get embarrassed to be seen with your parents?
• Have you ever been embarrassed at the thought of other people knowing that you go to church?
• Have you ever been embarrassed to say you believe in God?
• Have you ever been embarrassed to say you believe in Jesus?
• Do you ever exaggerate to make yourself look better?
• Do you feel like a failure sometimes? Do you hate school because from the moment you walk in you feel like a failure?
• Are you afraid to ask questions in class because you might look stupid?
• Do you wish you were thinner, stronger, taller, shorter, smarter, faster, or better looking?
• Have you ever been jealous of someone thinner, stronger, taller, shorter, smarter, faster, or better looking?
• Have you ever wished you could shrivel up and disappear?

Agreed, these questions are too easy. You might hesitate on one or two of them, but basically the answer is yes across the board, and they are that way for everyone. They all point to how we can be too controlled by the opinions of others. Why do you think everyone struggles with it? Where does it come from?

One of the riskiest things in life is to like someone—really like someone. It all starts innocently. You find yourself attracted to another person. Happens all the time. No big deal. But then the attraction grows, and amid the glow of romantic feelings lurks a monster: what if you like the other person more than the other person likes you? What will he or she think about me? you wonder.

You send some friends out on a reconnaissance mission. Their job is to find out if the other person likes you without that person knowing your intentions. If word comes back yes, you can move toward that person safely. If the answer is no, you lick your wounds, thankful for the heads-up that saved you from total embarrassment. In your every- day life, the potential for rejection is enormous. It’s amazing that so many people actually get out of bed in the morning. Sound familiar?

Success can’t protect you. Steven King, the ridiculously prolific and famous horror writer, was told by Miss Hisler, his school principal, “What I don’t understand, Stevie, is why you write junk like this in the first place.” At the time, he was already writing scary stories that other students were willing to pay to read. “I was ashamed,” he says of the incident. “I have spent a good many years since—too many, I think—being ashamed about what I write.”* You too have probably heard words like Miss Hisler’s, and they are still etched inside your soul. Can you think of some?

Look around a little more and you will see it—it goes by many names: a desire for acceptance, the fear of rejection, painful self- consciousness, or peer pressure. You can see it when you or any of your friends take muscle-enhancing steroids or illegal drugs. You see it in anorexia, bulimia, and depression. You find it in people who are sexually active before or outside of marriage.

• What will they think of me?
• What might they think about me?
• How can I be accepted?
• How can I be loved?

The evidence is everywhere. If you can’t relate to any of this, here is a sure way to find it.

• Do you think you’re especially attractive?
• Are you supercompetitive? Do you hate to lose? (And do you usually win?)
• Would you say you are self-confident?

There it is again: a life that is always judged by others. The only difference is that, at least for the moment, the judges score you highly. Yet it is even more complicated. Deep down those who are super self-confident don’t believe the judges’ high scores. They feel like failures— frauds who are barely fooling other people. Do you think beautiful celebrities struggle with feeling judged and unaccepted by others? Count on it.

Some people seem more self-confident or at least less self-conscious than others. It’s hard to know exactly why, but everyone can easily recall times when they withered under the rejection (or possible rejection) of other people.

I know, I know. You were trying to manage this perfectly common experience by ignoring it, and somebody (me) comes along and makes an issue out of it. But my purpose is not to make you miserable. Stick with it, because this particular problem is actually a window into the mysteries of the universe. It takes you directly to three questions that every human being must answer: Who am I? Who is God? and Who are you? And there is no way I would invite you down this road unless the road was very good.

An interview with the author, Ed Welch

Q: What are some questions we can ask ourselves to determine if we are being too controlled by the opinions of others?

The list is a long one here. Am I angry? hopeless? self-protective? afraid? ashamed? depressed? withdrawing? Do I lie to make myself look better? Do I try to attach myself to the celebrity or popular person with the hope of enhancing my own reputation?

Q: Can you explain the term “peer pressure” and what it really means?

I don’t hear this word as much as I once did. It usually means that we are willing to do things we wouldn’t normally do as a way to be accepted by others. There is a good kind of peer pressure, when a youth group really wants to know Jesus better, but that’s not the way it usually happens. We have a lot of the Old Testament biographies in us, and in those cases when a person who belonged to God met a person who loved his or her idols, the follower of God started following the idols and not vice versa. Of course, in the age of the Spirit that can be different.

Q: You say that so much of life comes down to three questions. Can you tell us what they are and how we can find the answers to them?

The questions are Who is God? Who am I? and Who are you? The answers can be a little difficult to discover. Most of us know the correct theological answers to these questions, but there are the correct ones and then there are the ones we really believe. That why the topic of the opinions of other people is so handy. It can surprise us with our REAL answers to those questions.

So what are some of the real answers?
Who is God? Picky, distant, nice but irrelevant.

Who am I? Needy, I must find an identity in myself - who I am and what I do? The problem is that God isn’t very relevant and other people don’t solve the problem because I am a never ending hole that is looking to others so I can feel okay about myself.

Who are you? A threat, a god.

If we use these three basic questions, the question about God tends to be irrelevant, which is at the very heart of the problem. The normal answer is, he loves me [but so what?].

Why doesn’t his love make that much difference? It’s because other people have become our substitute god. The only way that God’s love becomes relevant is for “Why do I care?” to become a confession, as in “Lord, why do I care so much about me and my desires?” That takes an ordinary desire [for approval, love, acceptance, belonging . . . ] that has grown to extraordinary proportions so that it is a ruling or even idolatrous desire, and it brings that desire back to being an ordinary one in which other people’s poor opinions can hurt us, but not control us.

And who are other people? We want to love them just a little more than be loved by them.

Q: You write a lot in your book about worship. Tell us why this is such an important theme and how it applies to the issue of people pleasing.

Worship seems like a once-a-Sunday thing, but Scripture puts life in either/or terms: either we love God or something else, we trust in God or something else, we bow down to God or something else. Bowing down or worshipping is a vivid and accurate way to describe what is always taking place in our hearts. The word control gets at it. What controls us is our god. What controls us is what we adore and worship.

Q: How can recognizing everyone in our lives—acquaintances, loved ones, friends and enemies—as FAMILY change our perspectives and the way we live with and think about others?

We can have wretched families that are more like enemies than families, but most of us are familiar with relationships in which we love people freely. We don’t have to put on airs, we are always wondering what they are thinking about us. Instead, we simply love and enjoy them. When we are interested, we are more interested in them than we are in what they think of us. That recognizable experience moves us toward a way out from this particular human struggle. At the end of the day, love God and love your neighbor is where we will find lots of answers.

Friday's Fave Five #58

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story).

My Fave Five this week:-
1. CHRISTmas: Celebrating CHRIST's birth with family. I also loved the candlelight service at church. The feast, fellowship, and fun were fabulous, too :). Giving and serving others always bring me joy. I also like seeing my loved ones being happy and surprised by the gifts I pick out  for them.

2. My kids helped bake cookies for our annual Christmas give-away goodies. We enjoyed delivering them (plus my homemade bookmarks) and visiting with our neighbors.

3. My husband has had last Friday and this whole week off. We love having him home with us!

4. Our Top Ten Highlights from 2011 (which includes the slideshow I made that sums up our year in pictures)

5. Relaxing and reading. You can check out my Top Ten Reads of 2011 here.

"Long after the angels disappear into the heavens, the shepherds return to their flocks, the magi journey home, and the great star sets, JESUS remains.
The Child in whom we rediscover God's great love for humanity becomes the adult Redeemer who challenges us to imitate His selflessness and compassion in order that we might transform our world in love. 
May we allow the miracle of CHRISTmas to continue long after the holiday trappings have been packed away. 
May we welcome the adult Messiah and His challenging Gospel to recreate our lives--making the peace, justice, and hope of this holy season a reality in every season of the new year." 
(~Author Unknown)

Have a blessed & Christ-centered New Year, everyone!

Review and Giveaway: The Shunning DVD

The Shunning is the Hallmark Channel Original Movie starring Danielle Panabaker & Sherry Stringfield. The DVD was released on 9/13/2011.

Beverly Lewis' The Shunning - About the Movie
Before she succumbs to cancer, the dying wish of Laura Mayfield-Bennett is to be reunited with the daughter she never knew. Unfortunately, that daughter, Katie Lapp, is a member of the Amish order. Katie is about to be married, but uneasy about the path ahead. Now she discovers the secret her parents have kept from her: she's adopted.

The film is based on the celebrated first novel of the best-selling "The Heritage of Lancaster County" book series from author Beverly Lewis. Stars Danielle Panabaker & Sherry Stringfield.

BEVERLY LEWIS - Author of "The Shunning"
Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is The New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has inspired Lewis to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with "The Shunning," which has sold more than one million copies. In 2007, Lewis' "The Brethren" was honored with a Christy Award.

Lewis has been interviewed by both national and international media, including Time magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC. Lewis lives with her husband, David, in Colorado.

Website: http://hallmarkchannel.com/theshunning
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheShunningMovie
You can watch the trailer and the interviews with the cast and the director/executive producer (Michael Landon, Jr.) here.

My Thoughts and Review:
Raised in an Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Katie Lapp struggles being an Amish. To conform to their beliefs, she has to constantly fight against her passion for music (guitar playing and singing) and confess as if it was sin. She's about to be married to the Bishop, yet she can't shake off the love and fond memories she still has for her deceased boyfriend. One name, Laura Mayfield, changes everything. The long-kept secrets of the past are threatened. The promise is broken. The family love is tested. The true identity is discovered.

I have never read the book but I was totally captivated by the movie :)! I've always been intrigued by the way the Amish live. I love their simple living but I don't agree with some of their beliefs/rules. I've heard of "shunning" before but the movie really made me feel so sad for those who have been shunned. It's a very cruel way of punishment. It's not a way to show the love of Christ for sure. The unconditional love of Christ leads to forgiveness, healing, and restoration. I had sympathy for both birth mother and adoptive mother in the movie. I cried and I did not want the movie to end. I wish it would continue; I wanted to know what happened next :). This is a touching movie of love, forgiveness, and family. It's a story of two worlds (the Amish and the English) colliding in a tangle of adoption, deception, and emotions.

GIVEAWAY: You can win a copy of The Shunning DVD.
To Enter: "Like" The Shunning's Facebook page and then leave a comment here including your Facebook name. Make sure you leave your email address, too. Deadline: Sept. 30th at midnight (Pacific time)

For extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each one you do):
- Follow this blog via GFC or NetworkedBlogs
- "Like" my page "Christ Alone" on Facebook
- Follow me on Twitter: @treasuredbyGod
- Share the link to this giveaway post on Facebook
- Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter
- Enter my Ginny Owens' CD giveaway
- Enter my Jeremy Riddle's CD giveaway


"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."

Friday's Fave Five #51

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story).

My Fave Five this week:-
1. Our annual Father's Day Cookout. We had a full fun family day at my father-in-law's house on Saturday. Yummy feast...playing baseball in the rain...playing Would You Rather...?...talking about all sorts of topics from politics to planes, from earthquakes to eye surgery, mission trip and more :)!

2. Free Christian book, "No Longer a Slumdog" by K.P.Yohannan (the founder of Gospel for Asia)

3. Free download of How Could a Loving God...? (Powerful Answers on Suffering and Loss) by Ken Ham

4. We had a blast playing Family Feud online. Family fun!

5. Cheesecake with a variety of berries as topping. So yummy :)!

Free Bowling

Summer is almost here. What kind of activities do you and your family enjoy during summer? We enjoy hiking, baseball, basketball, water balloons and squirt guns. But sometimes it gets too hot to play outside. A fun family activity we can enjoy in a cool indoor place is bowling. My husband is the best bowler in our family; the rest of us are learning :). We enjoy friendly competition. How about your family? Bowling fans? Interested in free bowling? Check out AMF's Summer Unplugged program!

BEST BOWLING DEAL
•At select AMF centers, two free games of bowling per day for kids 16 and under. (Shoe rental not included, but they’re worth paying for.)
•Time: open until 8:00PM, 7 days a week.
•Dates: Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day) through Monday, September 5 (Labor Day).
•Parents go to http://bit.ly/AMFfree to select a participating center (over 200 locations) and complete a simple registration form.
•Free game coupons emailed every Sunday starting May 29 for the following week – it’s that simple!

GREAT DEAL FOR EVERYONE OVER 17
•Share the fun and save!
•For families of registered kids, a one-time payment of $27.95 buys 2 games per day for 4 people all summer long – it’s the AMF Summer 17 Plus Pass. (Same dates and times as above.)
•Less than $7 per person for 2 games everyday all summer.
•Available online at http://bit.ly/AMFfree .

THE EXTRAS
•Kids combo meals all summer for $2.99.
•Pin decorating contest:
-Most votes on Facebook in each of 4 age divisions wins a $2500 scholarship prize
-AMF donates 25 cents per vote up to $10,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
•Schedule of learn-to-bowl and fun competitive sessions.
 
~I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing.  All opinions stated in the post are my own.

Game Review: Skunked

I love to play games with my family and friends. We actually own more than 60 games (board games and card games combined). I was pleased to receive Skunked (The Ultimate Dice Game by Marina Games) to review and add to our game collection :).

The game includes 128 game chips, 2 dice, and an instruction sheet.  It's for 2+ players and ages 8 & up. The object of the game is to accumulate a score of 100 points or more before any of your opponents and to have the most chips at the end of 3 rounds. When it's your turn, you can keep rolling and adding up your points as long as you don't roll a one or double ones. If you roll a single one, all your points accumulated in that round are void and you have to lose 1 chip to the pot (I used the box's lid as the pot). If you roll double ones, all the points accumulated up to that point in the game are void and you have to lose 4 chips to the pot. The winner of each round gets all the chips in the pot for that round. All you need for the game besides what's included in the box is a sheet of paper and a pencil or pen to keep score.

The first time I played with my 9 year old son, he won! Skunked is fun and easy to play. You don't even have to think (except adding the score :)) and hurt your brain like some games (I personally like both kinds depending on my mood); you just have to decide if you want to risk or not. The more players, the more laughter. We played this game at my mother-in-law's house when we visited her this Sat. for Mother's Day. My mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my 17 yo daughter, my 12 yo son and I had a blast with Skunked. We enjoyed the simplicity and the skunkability of this game. We laughed, gasped, and screamed during the game. How many times can you roll without rolling a one or double ones? You never know; that's what makes it so exciting/nail-biting :). It's about probablilty but then again, we often got one the first time we rolled..hmm... what's up with that :)? Skunked is a great game to take when you travel because it's small and compact. It's also good for kids to have fun while learning math (addition) without realizing it. If you prefer non-thinking games, check out Skunked. I definitely recommend it.

~This post was written for Family Review Network & Marina Games who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Mother of Pearl #2: 3 DIY Mother's Day Gifts that Celebrate Family

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will be announced on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/ and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!

3 DIY Mother’s Day Gifts that Celebrate Family By Beth Engelman

This Mother’s Day, celebrate family with this crafty games the whole family can enjoy.  

Block Photo Puzzle
Not only does this 6-sided photo puzzle provide hours of family fun, but it’s also a great way to reuse favorite family photos.

Materials:
•    9 - Wooden Blocks (Use old alphabet blocks)
•    6 - 8 x 10 Photograph Prints or Colored Copies
•    Ruler
•    Scissors
•    Mod Podge and Paintbrush

Directions:
1.  Arrange blocks in a square and measure the length and width of the square.
2. Measure and cut print to the exact same size as the 9-block square.
3. Place blocks in a square on top of print. Position blocks so they’re lined up neatly and as close together as possible.
4. Trace and cut the outline of each block.
5. Glue print pieces to blocks using Mod Podge. Set aside to dry and then seal with 1-2 top layers of Mod Podge.
6. Repeat process until all 6 sides of the blocks are covered with different photographs.
Thank you to the creative folks at www.photojojo.com for sharing this idea!

 “Go Fish with the Family” Card Game
This gift is perfect for Moms who like card games. Another bonus?  There’s always room to “grow” the deck.

Materials:
•    Camera
•    Double stick tape, or a glue stick
•    Several pieces of cardstock (one color)
•    Scissors

Directions:
1.    Take pictures of each family member and develop the pictures in duplicates (3x5 or 4x6 is fine, just make sure all the pictures are the same size).
2.    Turn the pictures into playing cards by gluing or taping a piece of card-stock to the backside of each picture.
3.    Game ideas include “Go Fishing with the Family” which is similar to “Go Fish” but, instead of matching numbers, the object is to collect matching pairs of photos. “Memory” is another fun game to play.  Place the cards face down in a grid and try to find matching pairs of photos.

Family Bingo
In my house, Bingo is always a big hit because regardless of age or skill level, everyone has the same chance to win.  However this version is extra special because the playing boards are populated with pictures of family members.

Materials:
•    Color Coordinated Game Boards (download here)
•    Images of Family Members (use photographs, drawings or clip art)
•    Bingo Markers (pennies, pebbles or buttons)
•    Glue and Scissors

Directions:
1.    Create the game boards:  Download and print desired number of game-boards. Remember each player gets a different game board.
2.    Color-copy and paste images of family members onto each game board.  Remember to paste one person per square and make each board slightly different.
3.    Make “call-out cards” by writing the name of each family member in yellow, green, blue, purple and pink (which coordinates with the colors on the board)
4.    To Play: Game play is similar to traditional Bingo except the caller will randomly select a call-out card and then read the color and person.  For example, “Blue, Grandma Mary” means there is a picture of Grandma Mary in a blue square.  Just like Bingo, the first person to get 5 in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) wins!

Beth Engelman is a columnist for the Sun Times News Group’s Pioneer Press. Her column “Mommy on a Shoestring,” appears in over 30 local papers around Chicago area as well as on the Sun-times website where you can also view her Mommy on a Shoestring video series. She is also a regular on “You and Me this Morning” on WCIU and is frequent contributor for WGN America’s Midday News at Noon.  Recently, Beth was chosen by a celebrity panel from NBC Universal and iVillage to become one of 15 national  “mom” correspondents for NBC’s popular website, http://www.ivillage.com/ (over 3 million visitors a day) where she reports on issues that affect moms, families and communities such as bullying, divorce and weight loss.  For more information visit Beth at http://www.mommyonashoestring.com/

Review: Dei Fratelli Pasta Sauces

The day before yesterday, I was excited to receive five jars of Dei Fratelli pasta sauces for review.  I only have had a chance to try two out of five so far. I used a combination of Tomato & Basil and Traditional. First, I was going to use only Tomato & Basil but after I added mushrooms, onions, and chicken, I realize I needed another jar of sauce because I had put in too much stuff :). The result was fantastic. Very delicious. We really enjoyed our spaghetti dinner for two days in a row. My family gave thumbs up!

Dei Fratelli means "of the brothers" and is a fourth generation, family-owned company. They are proud of their family recipes and their secret: all sauces use the highest quality tomatoes harvested from local, family farms since 1923. I love their natural ingredients and the fact that they don't use any artificial additives or preservatives. All their great flavors start with freshly crushed vine-ripened tomatoes. They also use sea salt and extra virgin olive oil in their pasta sauces. In addition, their sauces (except Three Cheese) contain no saturated fat, no trans fat, and no cholesterol. I highly recommend these healthy and yummy sauces!

Other products made and sold by Dei Fratelli include salsas, canned tomatoes, tomato juices, tomato soup, pizza sauce, low-sodium diced tomatoes, sauerkraut, and more.

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.

Dei Fratelli - Our Ohio from RMD Advertising on Vimeo.

Check out Dei Fratelli on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DeiFratelli.

~This post was written for Family Review Network & Dei Fratelli who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Game Review: Praise Champion

Our whole family have had a blast with Praise Champion (Karaoke World Tour) CD-rom. We had never done karaoke before and Praise Champion blew us away. Well, not at first since we couldn’t score above a few hundred points due to a defective microphone that was included. Hopefully, this wouldn’t happen to you and if it did, I’m sure you could contact them for a replacement. Through a better microphone that we already owned and through practice, we were able to score well over 100,000 points at times. Not only is it fun to sing and rack up points, but you can also unlock new venues (places to sing) and clothing and accessory options for your character by performing well enough to earn silver, gold, and platinum. You won’t receive a new venue/clothing option every time you reach silver or gold on a song but on certain songs you will. *whispers* If you manage to get gold on a certain song and it unlocks something, you can get gold again and again (at least a couple other times) and unlock two more with the medal level on the same song. That’s a free hint from my 17 yo daughter who has really enjoyed this game. In fact, this singing game has been a big hit with my two sons (12 and 9) as well. After performing a song, we can replay our recording and add effects such as reverb and chorus. There are also mini games such as “Pitch-N-Pass” and “Tune-a-Tuna” that aim to help you improve different vocal skills like pitch detection, pitch sustaining, pitch change and lung capacity. While we haven’t personally unlocked anything through them (and don’t find them as fun as the performances), the instructions say you can unlock new stuff if you do really well. The High Scores list shows the high score for each song that has been sung. For those of you who are competitive, you’ll have fun trying to beat others’ scores :).

Praise Champion features 40 wonderful praise and worship songs such as “Revelation Song”, “I Am Free”, “My Savior Lives”, hymns such as “Amazing Grace”, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”, “Blessed Assurance” plus 20 bonus Christmas songs such as “Silent Night”, “O Holy Night”, “Joy to the World”, and many more. When we sing, we get real-time performance feedback. A glowing pitch bar moves up and down the scale to display the singer’s pitch. A performance meter indicates whether the singer belongs in the shower, in the choir, or on tour :). We all have had a great time singing. It’s so good for me as a parent to know that my kids are singing clean Christian songs (with great lyrics). It’s okay if you don’t know some of them, this is a fun way to learn new songs! Awesome CD-rom for all ages and one of the most enjoyable PC games we’ve ever owned!

~I received this CD-rom for free from LB Games in an exchange of my honest review. LB Games produces quality PC-based Christian interactive games for children, teens and adults. Their games are supported by Focus on the Family, the Billy Graham Center and many preachers who appreciate that their games provide a healthy alternative to other violent games. I share their approval.

Friday's Fave Five #36

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story).

My Fave Five this week:-

1. You can get a FREE sample copy of "An Encouraging Word," magazine for Christian women of all ages. $5.00 value! Enter promo code: AEWFB in the check out process and click "Continue." Please feel free to share this offer with your friends! http://www.anencouragingword.net/aewsample.htm

2. We've had a blast singing with Praise Champion (Karaoke World Tour) CDrom. Great song selections (lots of hymns, praise and worship songs, Christmas songs, songs by Lincoln Brewster, Kari Jobe, etc.)! We all try to get platinum records :).

3. We had so much fun playing games with our Chinese and Taiwanese friends last Friday night! We played Whoonu, Apples to Apples, Would You Rather...?, and I Have Never. Lots of laughter and I discovered I enjoy crispy anchovy snacks :).

4. Tomorrow, January 22, Focus on the Family is co-sponsoring the first annual Life and Justice Conference at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. You can also join live via simulcast. Discover how you can be an advocate for the preborn child, orphans, those living with special needs, the elderly, or victims of human trafficking and genocide. For more details: http://www.lifeandjusticeconference.org/?page_id=817 

5. I enjoyed reading Life Without Limits and highly recommend it. This inspiring book is written by Nick Vujicic, who was born without arms or legs. He is living his life to the fullest with gusto for God's glory! Please take a few minutes to read my review here and rate it.  Thanks so much!

Merry/"Mary" CHRISTmas!

Hope y'all are having a "Mary"/Merry CHRISTmas (not a Martha type) by focusing on CHRIST, rather than a plethora of activities! Mary sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Remember what Jesus said to Martha,"You are worried and upset about many things, but only ONE thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the slideshow.

Create a free picture slideshow

May the Lord pour out His blessings, love, and grace upon you and your family! May your hearts be filled with the hope, peace, and joy that only CHRIST can bring! 
~ Click here to find the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts.

Friday's Fave Five #32

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story).

My Fave Five this week:-
1. Relaxing Thanksgiving Day with our loved ones.  We had a blessed time.  Family, feast, and fun!

2. Triple Berries Cheesecake (strawberries, raspberries, & blueberries).  My mother-in-law made two yesterday...very yummy!

3. Congratulations to Alyssa (my 17 year old daughter) on winning the Tell Mom--Fun or Not? Contest! The prize is a $25 Amazon gift certificate. You can read her entry online here.

4. Consider: A Colonial Thanksgiving.  We indeed have so much to be thankful for.  Let's never forget to count our blessings and thank Whom our blessings come from!
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
 

5. The Mend Mark bracelet is a unique bracelet/wristband that resembles the holes of the nail driven into the wrists of Jesus during His crucifixion. It's a great witnessing tool and a beautiful reminder for us to live a life of love and to live for Christ. It makes a meaningful Christmas gift :).  Click here to read my review and enter the giveaway (which ends 11/30).

DVD Review: Homeless for the Holidays

Homeless for the Holidays is based on a true story that the writer/producer/director and his family experienced. It was made on a small budget; some of the actors even worked for free.  My family and I were quite impressed with the quality of the production and the quality of the actors' performance.

This movie is centered around the ups and downs of Jack Baker and his family. Jack, an ambitious marketing director, enjoys his rapid success at one moment and then the next moment he faces a crisis that changes everything. From the lifestyle of "have-plenty" to "have-nots"! After a long string of desperate job searches, he gets a job that barely pays enough for him and his family to survive. His bills keep piling up and finally, he and his family end up being homeless during Christmastime. The beautiful generosity of a young girl and a conversation with a stranger make Jack Baker pause and think about his past, present, and God's purpose for his life/future. He realizes Baby Jesus was also homeless and many people are homeless during this tough economy. Instead of focusing on their circumstances, he and his family seek to bless others. They learn the joy of having less and giving more. They embrace the joy of being together and spending time bonding as a family. We find this movie to be entertaining and inspiring. There are many witty and funny lines that made us laugh out loud. This movie speaks about the message of hope, faith, family, joy, and contentment. Watching this movie made us more thankful for what we have and reminded us to pray for and help out the homeless more. By the way, we think the actor, Matt Moore, who plays Jack Baker, looks and acts like Adam Sandler :). If you and your family are looking for a family-friendly movie you can enjoy together this holiday season, check this one out.

The DVD can be purchased in select Christian bookstores and online at  http://homelessfortheholidaysmovie.com/ .  You can also watch the trailer on their website.

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.

~ Team Buzzplant provided me a free copy of this DVD for an exchange of my honest review. I am not obligated to write a positive review.

FIRST Wild Card Tour: The Sixty Minute Family by Rob Parsons

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Rob Parsons

and the book:

The Sixty Minute Family: An Hour to Transform Your Relationships for Ever

Lion UK (July 9, 2010)

***Special thanks to Cat Hoort, Trade Marketing Manager, Kregel Publications for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rob Parsons is an international speaker on family issues and the author of many best-sellers including The Heart of Success and The 60-Minute Father. Over half a millon people have attended his live seminars.


Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.95
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Lion UK (July 9, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0745953832
ISBN-13: 978-0745953830

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Prologue

The Hospital Waiting Room

It is midnight. I am in the waiting room of my local hospital. I’ve brought a neighbour in because he’s had a fall, and I’ve now been sitting for over four hours on plastic chairs that were designed to cause as much discomfort as possible to every part of my anatomy.

I get up, stretch my legs, and wander across to the coffee machine. A young woman of perhaps twenty-four years old is there. She is obviously distraught and drops the coins she is trying to feed into the machine. I suggest she take a seat, pick up the money, and get her coffee for her.

We start chatting and she tells me that her father is seriously ill, and there is some doubt that he will make it through the night. As we sip our drinks I ask her to tell me about him.

She brushes a tear from her face, smiles, and says, “My mum and dad were brilliant - our family life was wonderful. I didn’t know how good it was until I went to college and heard my friends talk about how life was in their homes. It wasn’t that we didn’t argue – we did, lots of times. We were all so very different. I was the rebellious one. I have two sisters and a brother. Sometimes we’d practically come to blows. But we laughed a lot and always knew in our hearts that when it came down to it, we’d be there for each other.”

I say, “It sounds like a great family.”

She nods. “Dad was from a poor home, but he did really well in his career. In fact in the early years of my parents’ marriage he put in such long hours at his office they nearly broke up. After that he changed. It wasn’t that he didn’t continue to work hard, but unlike previously, he was always there when we needed him. I’d be in a school play and suddenly I’d see him slip in at the back. He was sometimes a little late, but he hated missing any of that stuff; it was the same with my brother’s football matches. After he and Mum went through that hard time it seemed his priorities changed.”

I ask, “Is your mum still alive?”

“Oh yes,” she says. “She’s up in the ward with him now...”

I say, “Tell me more…”


It was after two in the morning when we stopped talking, and it had all been about her family life. She told me of holidays and Christmases, of good times and harder ones, and of conflicts that were finally resolved with tears and forgiveness. She spoke of silly things they’d done – like giving each other names from the Jungle Book film for a whole week. She said, “The only problem with that was that we were all teenagers!”

She said, “My mother always used to say the same thing whenever we’d done something silly together, or scary (like when we went abseiling once and my sister got stuck upside down), or even when we’d come through a tough time. She would say, “We made a memory.”

She swallowed hard and I said, “You have lots of them, don’t you?”

“Yes,” she said. “I have hundreds.” She smiled. “Well, I’d better go back up to the ward now. Thanks for talking to me. It helped.”

I eventually left the hospital at nine a.m. As I was approaching my car I noticed a young couple in the parking bay next to mine. They were gingerly loading an obviously brand-new baby into their vehicle, together with various bouquets of flowers. I shouted, “Congratulations!” The father smiled at me.

As I got into my car I found myself thinking of the young woman at the coffee machine and wishing that her father could have shared some of the lessons he’d learned with these new parents at the start of their family life together. And as I let my mind wander, I felt I could almost hear the older man talk of things that make families strong: the need to make time for each other; the power of laughter; the creating of homes where forgiveness is always on the heels of conflict; and the ways to make a memory.

For over twenty years I have travelled the world and listened to people tell me the stories of their families. From Moscow to Melbourne, from Durban to Doncaster, they have shared with me what made their families strong - and sometimes what destroyed them.

My own children are now at the start of their own family life. If they let me - a big if! - what lessons would I love to share with them? Perhaps things I wish I’d done differently - what seemed to work and what didn’t. But these are not just my lessons – they are gleaned from talking to families across the world, sometimes listening to people who often said, “I wish I’d known that earlier in my family life.” So, whether my children ever read them or not - and acknowledging that somebody else’s list may be quite different - here, at least, are my ten life lessons for a strong family life.

This is a “Sixty Minute” book, which means that if you are quick, you can read it in an hour. An hour? What can be said of value that can be read in less than four thousand seconds? Well, something at least... And I know this: whatever size and shape your family is - mother and father, single parent mum or dad, stepfamily - this short book contains things that have the potential to make your family stronger and perhaps even save it from break-up. I’ve known families whose relationships were changed, saved even, by putting into practice just one of the lessons in this book.

If, at the moment, you are going through a good time in your family life, I hope these lessons will make it even better. However, you may be going through a difficult period right now. In my work I see too much of real life to believe there are easy answers to the problems of families in pain. But I hope you will still find something that will help – even if it’s simply the realization that whatever you are experiencing, you are not alone.

My Thoughts and Review:
The title of this book suggests that it can be read within an hour. Well, I must be a slow reader because it took me over an hour for sure :). It may be a thin book but it is packed with good advice. The author shares 10 life lessons that he has learned and gleaned from talking with families across the world. I appreciate the real life examples, including the author's own experiences. He reminds parents to make time for family, to take time to talk and listen, to encourage our loved ones, to grasp the benefits of traditions, to value the extended family, etc. Action Points at the end of each chapter are practical tips that I find very useful. "Trauma in the Maternity Ward" made me smile. It was funny and serious at the same time. The relationship and interaction between the author's wife and her mom made me cry. The story about marbles in a jar made me think. In short, time (quality and quantitiy) is essential for building a strong family life; there is no other way to go about it. If you have an hour to spare, read this book and learn how to improve your relationships in your family. It will be a good investment of your time :).

DVD Review: Rust

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the trailer.


A Journey Home, A Faith Renewed.

Jimmy, a former minister, who is struggling with his faith comes back to his hometown, Kipling.  His childhood friend, Travis, confesses to setting a fire that kills a well-liked, well-respected Christian family of four.  Jimmy cannot imagine that Travis is capable of such a heartless crime.  He is determined to find the truth behind the tragedy.  This is a fantastic mystery that is uplifting, faith-building, and inspiring.  The two main characters, Jimmy (played by Corbin Bernsen) and Travis (played by Lloyd Allen Warner), deliver powerful performances!  (By the way, my husband and I think Corbin Bernsen somewhat resembles Gene Hackman :)).  The story is sad, beautiful, and touching.  Faith...family...friendship!  I love the behind-the-scenes featurettes, too.  Rust definitely turned out to be a shining gem!

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/rustmovie?ref=ts

“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.”

DVD Review: The Way Home

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the trailer.

The Way Home is based on an inspiring true story.  Randy Simpkins and his family were getting ready to go on a vacation but it turned out to be the beginning of the worst nightmare any parent could imagine.  Randy, a workaholic father left his 2 year old son, Joe, for just a few minutes on the driveway to check his work email.  Joe disappeared.  He, his wife, neighbors, search & rescue teams, and people from their church, other churches, and community united in prayer and in searching for the missing boy.  It's "the way home" for Randy's spiritual journey.  He came to realize that he needed to get back to God and his family as priorities in life.  It's a beautiful story about love, hope, faith, teamwork, and God's faithfulness. 

This is a powerful, emotional movie that touched my heart.  It brought tears to my eyes.  I could relate to how the parents must have felt.  Outstanding performances all around.  The main kid is so cute.  I enjoyed the special features, too.  The rating is PG (thematic elements and brief tobacco images).  I am pleased to see a wonderful movie that shows the importance/value of faith in God and of spending time with family (especially fathers' involvement).  Life is short; make sure you get your priorities right.  The Way Home truly hits home and hits a home run in my book :).

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Way-Home-a-MOVIE-Starring-Dean-Cain/88393118828?ref=ts

“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.”

DVD Review: Bringing Up Bobby

Note: Please turn off my playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the trailer.

When 20-something filmmaking brothers Chris and Nick Staron were told it's impossible to make a Christian comedy, they felt challenged and wanted to do something about it.  Bringing Up Bobby is the result.  I wouldn't say it's impossible but I would say...it's quite difficult as seen in Bringing Up Bobby.  Considering their budget limitation, their effort is to be commended.

Bringing up Bobby is the story of the Wyler family dealing with identity issue and their parents' will.  The family reunion wreaks havoc.  Four siblings...greed...fear...deception...searching for acceptance.  The movie attempts to teach that family shouldn’t be divided by money, that you need to “own” your faith, and that you need to stand up for what is right even if it costs you dearly.  Unfortunately, the message loses its impact because the characters and the resolution were not believable.  At times, it seems they try too hard to be funny.  The "War Table" is interesting but a little confusing to me.  I was disappointed at first that the main character who is a Christian lies and hides money, but I later realize that they try to be realistic by showing that Christians are not perfect and still need God to guide them.  

I applaud Chris and Nick Staron for taking on the challenge and for inserting Christian values in this movie.  There are great truths and lessons.  However, the humor department doesn't work out so well, partly because the acting is not very convincing.  It's more "silly" than "funny".  If you don't expect too much from this movie as a comedy, then you may enjoy it as a clean family-friendly movie.

The official website for the movie is http://www.bringingupbobbymovie.com/ .  Their fan page on Facebook is http://www.facebook.com/bringingupbobby .



“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.”

By the way, my family and I enjoyed their first movie, Between the Walls.

Friday's Fave Five #9

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story).

My fave five this week include:
1. Quiche. I have not tasted any quiche I didn't like yet.

2. Massages.  I love getting my shoulders and neck massaged by my husband or my daughter.  Quite relaxing!

3. Screen saver.  I enjoy looking at our random photos popping up on our computer screen.

4. I'm so happy for my youngest son; he won an honorable mention for the WaterBrook Multnomah's coloring contest.  His prize includes a free copy of This Little Prayer of Mine and Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione by Chuck Black.  He was thrilled.

5. Playing games with my family.  Five of us take turns picking a game (boardgame or card game) to play in the evening after dinner and our family's Bible & prayer time.  Lots of fun and laughter, discussion and interaction, bonding and memory-making :)!  What is your family's favorite boardgame or card game?

Friday's Fave Five #8

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story).

My fave five this week include:
1. Great bargains.  We bought a bike for our 11 yo son for $2 and a bagful of nice clothes for $1 at a church's rummage sale. We also got 24 DVDs for $20 at our local Hollywood Video store which was closing down.  After we watch them, we'll trade the ones we don't want to keep on DVD Swap (I mentioned about that last week).

2. Fun family time at Wunderland (an arcade).  On Tuesday, my husband took a day off and spent time with us (so glad we homeschool and can take a day off whenever we want to).  We all had lots of fun and only spent about $15.  My husband was extremely good at one of the games and won us tons of tickets which we traded in for several cool toys (worth more than $15).

3. Simple joys are the best!  My boys can spend hours folding paper airplanes and testing them out.  I enjoyed watching them help each other and I enjoyed trying their planes out, too.  We also love doing Mad Libs (a great tool for teaching parts of speech).  Laughter is guaranteed to follow :).

4. Chili paste with basil leaves (product of Thailand).  Whenever I go to an Asian grocery store, this is the first thing I'm looking for.  It's a staple item for me; it makes everything taste good :).  It reminds me of Thailand (where I was born and raised).

5. My music playlist.  I like to visit my blog because I enjoy listening to the songs on my playlist :).  Right now, I'm listening to You Put This Love in My Heart by Keith Green.  What is your favorite song on your playlist (if you have one)?  If you don't have a playlist, what's your current favorite song (I might want to add it to my playlist :))?

Have a blessed Good Friday and Resurrection Day weekend, everyone!  Jesus paid it all for you and me so that we can spend eternity with God!  He died on that cross to save our souls.  Because He lives, we can face any day, any trials, anything.  We're victorious in Christ! There is no defeat...no despair...no death when we are in Christ.

Thankful Thursday #7

 

This week...
1. I am thankful that the Lord has been working in me/my heart, enabling me to more readily extend His grace, mercy, and compassion (much needed especially when I start to get frustrated and don't know what to do) towards my challenging child who is gifted but possibly have Asperger's syndrome (from what we've researched).  I have been praying for more patience and for wisdom regarding how to understand, teach, train, encourage, and discipline him.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers for us.

2. I am thankful for words of encouragement, words of appreciation, and words of edification from my family, friends (including online friends), and anyone.  I truly appreciate all your kind, honest, and uplifting comments.  Thanks for taking the time to touch people's lives with your words.

3. I am thankful for a warm shelter, warm showers, warm blankets, and warm food.  These things remind me to pray for the homeless.  How hard and miserable it must be for them, especially when it's cold, windy, and wet out!  I encourage you all to support your local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and to have some food/water supplies and/or extra blankets, coats, socks, etc. available in your vehicles to give out to the homeless whom you may meet on the streets.

4. I am thankful that my children have embraced modesty since they were young.  Modesty is Biblical and beautiful. 

5. I am thankful that the Lord has blessed me through winning blog giveaways.  This month, I have won a book, a DVD, and a $25 e-gift card to an online printing store.  Speaking of giveaways, I am hosting one at my HSB blog.  You have a chance to win a Yoplait Kids Prize Pack.  Two winners will be randomly drawn this Saturday.  There are only 6 entries so far; therefore, you have a great chance for winning :).  Hope you'll stop by and enter!