Homeschooling For The Rest Of Us: Book Review & Giveaway

About The Book:

Overwhelmed?
Wonder how others do it all?

Not sure you're cut out for homeschooling?

 

It's time to break a myth: Homeschooling families aren't perfect. In fact, real-life families like yours can be--and are--successful homeschoolers! That's the life message of Sonya Haskins, who is dedicated to helping everyday families meet the challenges of home education and enjoy its countless benefits.

In this practical, encouraging guide, Haskins shares tried and true ideas for how to:

• Discover a realistic vision of homeschooling for your family
• Help your child get excited about learning
• Find a routine that fits your goals and lifestyle
• Nurture a biblical worldview in your child's heart and mind
• And much more

Whether you are already homeschooling or just considering it, this book offers the support, answers, and flexible strategies to help you succeed.

About The Author:

Sonya Haskins is a veteran homeschooling mom of five children and an active homeschooling consultant and advocate. She is the author of several books, including TheHomeschooler's Book of Lists, and her articles have appeared in Homeschooling Today, Guideposts for Teens, and other magazines. She has served in leadership positions for the homeschooling community on a local, regional, and state level. Sonya and her husband have been foster parents for several years, hosting more than sixty children in their home in northeastern Tennessee. For more information, visit www.thehomeschooladvocate.com

 My Review:

I have been contemplating homeschooling for a few months now, and I just recently realized that I am already doing it with my girls. I run a home daycare and am always teaching my girls and the four little ones that I care for a ton of different concepts on a daily basis. 

My three year old knows how to spell her name and is currently learning to print it. She has learned all her colors and shapes and counts to 20! She loves learning about science, and currently is fascinated with the lifecycle of the butterfly (thanks in part to Eric Carle's book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar). I never thought about what I do homeschooling but in reality that is exactly what it is. I was looking to the future about formal school years, but it is amazing to me just how much children under the age of five retain and learn in such short time frames.

Homeschooling For The Rest Of Us was a delightful book, perfect for those who are contemplating using homeschooling as an option for educating your children. It is full of wonderful tips and ideas to make home education the most comfortable and stress free experience for both parent and child. You will not only learn about picking curriculums and how to plan your day, but you will also learn how to nurture a wonderful relationship with your children and how to rely on God in all aspects of life, including homeschooling. 

Whether you have been homeschooling for years, just starting out or still researching the option (like me) this book will be an valuable resource. I highly recommend it and give it a huge thumbs up!

BUY IT: You can purchase Homeschooling For The Rest Of Us by Sonya Haskins online here, directly through Revell Books, a division of Bethany House Publishers. It is also available through your favorite local Christian bookseller.

WIN IT: One (1) Reader will win a copy of Homeschooling For The Rest Of Us

TO WIN: Tell me why you want to win/read this book

GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN READERS

GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 12, 2010

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

***Thank you to Jim Hart at Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review on this blog***

What Your Son Isn't Telling you: Book Review & Giveaway

About The Book:

 Keys to Understanding Your Son's Heart and Mind

Your son struggles with the constant pressure to prove himself--in the classroom, on the playing field, and especially among his friends. And while he may put up a tough exterior, deep inside he hungers for family support and connection. You long to be there for him, but chances are he's put up a formidable wall of silence, leaving you wondering how to break through.

In What Your Son Isn't Telling You, teen experts Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger offer a rare glimpse into the secret lives of teen boys--behind-the-scenes footage you might miss in the day-to-day life of your son--accompanied by practical advice on how to provide the support and connection your son desperately needs. 

Packed with real-life stories and emails from teen guys, this must-read will give you a new understanding of what your son isn't telling you.

About The Authors:

Michael Ross is a veteran youth communicator and former editor of Breakaway, a national magazine for teen guys published by Focus on the Family. His online advice column--"HEY MIKE!"--was read by thousands worldwide each month. Michael is also the author of more than 18 books for young people, including the Gold Medallion winner BOOM: A Guy's Guide to Growing Up and a bestselling devotional, Faith That Breathes. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Colorado Springs with their young son, Christopher, and two cats.

 

Susie Shellenberger was founding editor of Focus on the Family's Brio magazine for teen girls in 1990 and continued to serve as editor for more than two decades. A former youth pastor and a high school teacher, she has written more than forty books, is in demand as an international speaker for women's groups and teens, and started the Brio Mother/Daughter Cruise for Focus on the Family. Susie lives in Colorado Springs and recently launched a new magazine for teen girls, Susie.



My Review:

If you have a teenage boy in your life, you need to read this book. It is full of amazing real life stories from both parents and teen boys. Topics covered include dating, sex, self-confidence, pornography, how to contact with your teen son, the five things teen boys need, teens and Christianity and so much more. There is so much packed into this relatively small book of only 189 pages. It is a quick read and you will not be disappointed! I highly recommend this book and give it a huge thumbs up!

BUY IT: You can purchase What Your Son Isn't Telling You by Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger online here, directly through Revell Books, a division of Bethany House Publishers. It is also available through your favorite local Christian bookseller.


WIN IT: One (1) reader will win a copy of What Your Son Isn't Telling You


TO WIN: Tell me why you want to read this book!


GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN READERS ONLY


GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 12, 2010

***Thank you to Julie at Graf-Martin and Revell Books, a division of Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review on this blog***

The Rewards Of Simplicity: Book Review

About The Book:

Bestselling Charismatic Leaders Offer Timely Guide to Living Simply

In today's fast-paced and technology-driven times, Christians feel stressed out and overly busy. Many are left longing for simpler days, unaware that these  days are within their grasp, made possible by getting rid of spiritual and material  clutter.

Respected prophetic leader Chuck D. Pierce and his wife, Pam, remind Christians of the rewards of living simply. Together they weave biblical teaching
with practical tips that will help readers answer questions like these:
How can I...

• clear out unnecessary clutter in my home?
• overcome anxiety?
• rely on God for my sustenance?
• get free from too much technology and/or entertainment?
• preserve a Sabbath rest?
• free myself from the stronghold of materialism?

Sharing their insights to help readers break free of anything that enslaves them, Pam and Chuck empower Christians, both materially and spiritually, to live a clutter-free life. 

About The Author:

Pam and Chuck D. Pierce are ordained ministers and have been married for 36 years. Chuck serves as president of Glory of Zion International Ministries in Denton, Texas, and vice president of Global Harvest Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He coordinates prayer for many major gatherings around the world and has authored and coauthored many books. Pam has ministered within the Body of Christ much of her adult life. She homeschooled their five children and is currently a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher. She maintains the lively Pierce household, which includes four dogs, a cat, two birds, and a lizard.

My Review:

This book is exactly what I needed to read during the last few months. I have noticed that life is forever busy, too much on the go and making me crazy at times. I am happy, don't get me wrong, but I know that because of the busyness of life, I have let my relationship with Christ go a bit. This book has taught me to be more simple and let go of "life" and get back to God. Living simple does not mean one has a boring life and the authors will show you just how amazing your life will be when you choose to live it with pure simplicity. This book is both encouraging and challenging. A must read by all who call themselves Christians! I highly recommend this book and give it a huge thumbs up!


BUY IT: You can purchase The Rewards Of Simplicity by Pam & Chuck D. Pierce online here, directly from Revell Books, a division of Bethany House. It is also available through your favorite local Christian bookseller.

***Thank you to Jim at Bethany House for providing a complimentary copy of this book for the the purpose of review on this blog***

In Harms Way: Book Review

About The Book:

How can she expect anyone to believe her--when she can hardly believe it herself?
FBI special agent Nick Bradley has seen his share of kooks during his fifteen years with the Bureau. But Rachel Sutton is an enigma. She seems normal when she shows up at his office--until she produces a tattered Raggedy Ann doll and tells him about a strange feeling of terror it gives her when she touches it. Nick dismisses her, only to stumble across a link between the doll and an abducted child, setting in motion a chain of events that uncovers startling connections--and puts Rachel's life on the line. 

Filled with palpable suspense and heartwarming romance, In Harm's Way is the final installment of the thrilling Heroes of Quantico series.

About The Author:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including Against All OddsAn Eye for an Eye. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, and the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. and

For more information about Irene and her books, visit her website at www.irenehannon.com. 

 

You can read an excerpt of In Harm's Way here, in PDF format. 

My Review:


This is the first book by Irene Hannon that I have read, and I loved it! Even though it is the final book of her Heros Of Quantico series, I feel that this book is strong enough to be a stand alone novel. However, because I enjoyed it so much, I will be going to my local bookstore or church library to read the other books in this series.


The book is very well written and the characters are well developed and likable. This book is full of suspense throughout and there is never a dull moment. I love the development of relationships between the characters and that the theme of religion and Christianity is woven into the novel's scenes in a very non-threatening and natural way!


I highly recommend this book and give it a huge thumbs up!


BUY IT: You can purchase In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon online here, directly from Revell Books, a division of Bethany House. It is also available through your favorite local Christian bookseller.

***Thank you to Julie at Graf-Martin and Revell Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review on my blog***

Friday Follow!

Yahooo.....Its Friday Follow!!!! My favorite day of the week:) I have been finding some fantastic blogs to follow these last few weeks and have gotten some great new followers!!! If you want to join in the fun here are the details you need to know:

Please join in the Friday Follow Celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Midday Escapades, and Hearts Make Families! Here’s how YOU can join:

1. Link up your blog name and URL on the McLinky below.
2. Grab the Friday Follow button and include it on your Friday Follow blog post.
3. Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
4. Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from Friday Follow.
5. Follow back if you like, when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

Also today is Blogmania!!!!! 123 blogs are participating, including this one with ONE DAY ONLY giveaways.....see my giveaway here (worth $60)!!!

Have a great day everyone!

BLOGMANIA IS HERE!!!!

WELCOME To BLOGMANIA !

My Blog is 95 of 123


You’ve arrived at exactly the right time to explore lots of new blogs, all of which, ARE GIVING AWAY A VERY SPECIAL BLOGMANIA GIVEAWAY  (For One Day Only – April 30^th) . 

We’ve done all the work for you. No hunting or surfing. Each blog will have a number and each new blog link will have a number. These numbers will allow you to keep track of which blogs you’ve visited and how many are left to visit. Why not take a moment to make a list of blog numbers  1-123 and check off the blogs as you go.

I know you’ll want to visit as many blogs today as you can. So, if you see something that interests you on any of our participating blogs, why not bookmark that site. Later, when you have more time, you can discover all its fabulous treasures.  

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! MY GIVEAWAY and RULES:

10 Winners will each receive the following  4 DVD Package, courtesy of PBS KIDS and SSA Public Relations:

1. SuperWhy Peter Rabbit & Other Fairy Tale Adventures

In this new DVD, famous fairy tale characters like Peter Rabbit, Goldilocks, Tom Thumb and Rapunzel embark on new adventures with the help of the Super Readers.

2. Martha Speaks: Martha Says It With Flowers

Everyone's favorite talking dog, Martha, is available for the first time on DVD, with a compilation of eight fanciful stories that also improves kids' vocabulary

3. Word Girl: Earth Day Girl

Young viewers will be enchanted by the eight adventures of Word Girl and Captain Huggy Face, who teach important grammar and vocabulary lessons as they thwart the plans of silly and nefarious villains. Earth Day Girl introduces 16 new vocabulary words and reinforces their meanings in a variety of fun and interesting contexts.

4. Calilou Pretends To Be...

Features four memorable episodes where Calilou dons the robes of imagination and sets out as everything from a builder of houses to a scientist.

GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT MIDNIGHT APRIL 30, 2010 

TO ENTER: BE A FOLLOWER (OR BECOME ONE TODAY) AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT TELLING ME YOU ARE ONE! (you must do both to be eligible for the entry to count)

Here are some more great blogs that are participating in BLOGMANIA!

(Blog- 1 – HOST OF BLOGMANIA) Between The Pages - http://betweenthelinesandmore.blogspot.com/

(Blog -2 – CO-HOST OF BLOGMANIA) The Black Sheep Dances - http://www.theblacksheepdances.blogspot.com

(Blog-43 - CO-HOST OF BLOGMANIA) Books, Books Everywhere - http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/

(Blog-93) The Book Tree - http://thebooktree.blogspot.com

(Blog-4) Books R Us - www.booksrusonline.com

(Blog-30) Believing is Seeing - http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/

(Blog-65) Throuthehaze Reads - http://throuthehaze-reads.blogspot.com

(Blog-48) Sandra K. Marshall - http://www.sandramarshallblog.blogspot.com

(Blog-113) 3349 World Postcards - http://3349worldpostcards.blogspot.com/

(Blog-29) DemonLover’s Book Reviews - http://demonloversbookreviewsmore.blogspot.com/

(Blog-122) Martha’s Bookshelf - http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Happy Blogmania!!!!!!

Too Close To Home: Book Review

About The Book:

The FBI has a secret weapon. But now the secret's out.

When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, the FBI sends in Special Agent Samantha Cash to help crack the case. Her methods are invisible, and she never quits until the case is closed. 

Homicide detective Connor Wolfe has his hands full. His relationship with his headstrong daughter is in a tailspin, and the string of unsolved murders has the town demanding answers. Connor is running out of ideas--and time.
Samantha joins Connor in a race against the clock to save the next victim. And the killer starts to get personal. 

Too Close to Home ratchets up the suspense with each page even as love blossoms in the face of danger. Read this one with the lights on!

About The Author:


Lynette Eason is the author of Too Close to Home and three other romantic suspense novels. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master's degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina.

You can read an excerpt of this book here (in PDF format)

My Review:

This is the first book by Lynette Eason I have had the pleasure to read, and I will definitely be reading more in the future. Too Close To Home is the first book in her Women Of Justice series and if the rest of the series is as good as this one, you will not be disappointed.

Too Close To Home was very fast paced, and covered themes such as romance, mystery, crime, dealing with forgiveness and moving on from the past. It also covers coming back to faith in God. It was a very quick read (I read it in two days). The story lines were very well written and the characters all very well developed and realistic. It will be interesting to see where the author takes the characters introduced in this book.

This book also contains a twist that I did not see coming at all, but I will not spoil it...you just have to read the book to find out! This was a very clean book, with no bad language and sex, making a great Christian fiction work! I highly recommend this book and give it a huge thumbs up!

BUY IT: You can purchase Too Close To Home by Lynette Eason online here, directly from Revell Books, a division of Bethany House.

***Thank you to Julie at Graf-Martin and Revell Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose review on this blog***

How Do You Tuck In A Super Hero: Book Review

About The Book:

When Rachel Balducci looks for material for her writing, she doesn't have to look far. Her subject matter can be found climbing through the window, hanging on to the edge of the roof, and rummaging through the refrigerator. Here she chronicles the exuberant, awesome life of boys through bizarre conversations overheard, unbelievable rules she's been forced to make, and the many episodes of boy behavior that continue to mystify mothers worldwide. From the care and feeding of her team, to travels out in public, to their wide-eyed adoration of Chuck Norris, this laugh-out-loud celebration joyfully explores the sweetly wild side of boyhood.

About The Author:


Rachel Balducci is a writer and the mother of five lively boys. Her website, www.testosterhome.net, has been nominated for several awards. Rachel is a former staff writer for the Augusta Chronicle and has been published in numerous magazines, including Good Housekeeping, Faith and Family, and The Word Among Us.

My Review:

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read about raising children, specifically boys! Now I have girls, so I am sure I will have my own share of stories down the road, but I know from family and friends that have boys, that is a whole different ball game! This book shows you just how different, fun, stressful, and wonderful raising boys is. Balducci shares great personal stories and tidbits about living in a household of boys and you will find yourself nodding in agreement as you read this hilarious book! This is an example of what Balducci writes in her book. Here is a list of "Stuff I Say That No Longer Sound Crazy (To Me):

-"I am not a wrestling mat"
-"No, you may not and if I find a knife stuck in my kitchen cutting board, you will be in very big trouble"
-"Stay off the roof"
-"Why are there blocks of wood cooking in my oven?"
-"While that is indeed a clever invention, you will never be able to fly"
-"you can try to invent a jet pack, but i will not buy the fuel for it"
-"what do you mean you accidentally kicked your brother in the lip?"
-"wear something nice, like a t-shirt with no stains on it"
-"your aim is very good, but you  are not to shoot at the newspaper when I am holding it up to read. I don't care if its only a Nerf ball. Never again"

You can read a more thorough excerpt of this great book here. (PDF format)

See what I mean! I loved this book and I know you will too! I highly recommend this book and give it a huge thumbs up!

BUY IT: You can purchase How Do You Tuck In A Superhero? online here, directly through Revell Books, a division of Bethany House Publishers.


WIN IT: One (1) Reader will win my copy of How Do You Tuck In A Superhero?


TO ENTER: Tell me why you want this book!


GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY


GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 11, 2010


GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

***Thank you to Julie at Graf-Martin and Revell Books, a division of Bethany House for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review on this blog***

Never Say Never: Book Review

About The Book:

Sometimes Life's Storms Blow in Unexpected Possibilities
Never Say Never

Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She's never put down roots--and she doesn't plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence. And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily--until she discovers he may be promised to someone else.

Daily has always been a welcoming place of refuge for those the wind blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store--especially when Aunt Donetta Bradford has cooked up a scheme. 

About The Author:

Lisa Wingate is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including Tending Roses, A Month of Summer, and The Summer Kitchen. Lisa and her family live in central Texas. Visit www.lisawingate.com

 

You can read an excerpt of Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate here.

My Review:

This book was awesome. It tackles both happy and hard times, and the unlikely bond of two very different people, through a difficult situation of living through a hurricane. That is all of the storyline I am giving you though, because I want you to read Never Say Never. It is a very well written book, with strong, well developed characters and storylines. This book will bring out all your emotions and you will not want to put this book down until you finish it! I know because I read it in about two sittings. I loved this book and give it a huge thumbs up!

BUY IT: You can purchase Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate online here, directly through Bethany House

***Thank you to Julie at Graf-Martin and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review on this blog***

She Walks In Beauty Book Review & Giveaway!

About The Book:

During New York City's Gilded Age...
The game is played amid banquets and balls.

The prize is a lifetime of wealth and privilege.

The rules will test friendships and

the desires of a young woman's heart.

Clara Carter is the social season's brightest star...

but at what cost?

For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city's most eligible bachelor. Debuting means plenty of work--there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect. Her training soon pays off, however, as celebrity's spotlight turns Clara into a society-page darling.

Yet Clara soon wonders if this is the life she really wants. Especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries. When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it's not just her marriage at stake--the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

About The Author:

Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area. Visit www.sirimitchell.com

 

My Review:

This book is a beautifully written book that encorporates exquisite historical accuracy. Both storylines and characters are well developed and Mitchell's style of writing kept my interest throughout the book. I was very sad when this book ended and I look forward to reading more books by Siri Mitchell (this was the first of her's that I had read). I highly recommend this book and give it a huge thumbs up!

BUY IT: You can purchase She Walks In Beauty by Siri Mitchell online here, directly from Bethany House


WIN IT: One (1) reader will win their own copy of She Walks In Beauty by Siri Mitchell


TO ENTER: Head over to Bethany House and tell me one other book you would like to read


EXTRA ENTRIES:


1. Follow this blog


2. Grab my button


3. Follow me on Twitter


4. Like this blog, A Mom After God's Own Heart on Facebook


GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY


GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 10, 2010


GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

***Thank you to Julie at Graf-Martin and Bethany House for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of an original and honest review on this blog***

Sixteen Brides: Book Review & Giveaway

About The Book:


In 1872, sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community." Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledging community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival! 

Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.

About The Author:

Stephanie Grace Whitson, bestselling author and two time Christy Award finalist, pursues a full-time writing and speaking career from her home studio in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her husband and blended family, her church, quilting, and Kitty--her motorcycle--all rank high on her list of "favorite things". Visit www.stephaniegracewhitson.com

 

 You can read an excerpt of Sixteen Brides here.

My Review:

This is a fantastic post-Civil War historical fiction novel that will engage you throughout the book. You will follow a wonderful group of ladies and cry with them, laugh with them and grow with them. Not only were the characters well developed and "real" but the timeline of the story was also written in such a way that I felt it was "real time". A beautifully written book that I highly recommend!

BUY IT: You can purchase Sixteen Brides online here, directly through Bethany House.


WIN IT: One (1) reader will win a copy of Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson


TO WIN: Head over to Bethany House and tell me one other book you would love to read.


EXTRA ENTRIES:


1. Follow this blog


2. Grab my button


3. Follow me on Twitter


4. Like A Mom After God's Own Heart on Facebook


GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS


GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 10, 2010


GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

***Thank you to Bethany House and Graf-Martin for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of a honest & original review on this blog***

We Love Colors Review and Giveaway!

As many of you are aware, I have two little girls, as they are as girly-girl as they come! Dresses, dolls, hair clips, ribbons, you name it! So when I had the opportunity to work with We Love Colors I jumped at the chance!

About We Love Colors:


We Love Colors, Inc. is an online clothing company that was founded in 2003 as a family-run business. We specialize in selling tights, leggings, fishnets, socks and dancewear, among other items, in the best and largest selection of colors to men, women and children of all ages and all sizes worldwide. We currently offer our items in 51 solid colors and 13 fun splash colors, and hope to encourage unique expression and personality in fashion with our colorful selection of apparel.

At We Love Colors, You will find the perfect colored tights, fishnets, or other hosiery items, to match any outfit or occasion here at We Love Colors. Also, leotards, unitards, and other dancewear. Kids to plus sizes.

I was sent a pair of the footless tights for my three year old daughter to try out! The Kids Microfiber Footless tights are awesome! I had a hard time picking which color to choose, so I let "M" pick, and of course she picked Pink! (go figure, the girl is crazy about pink!) Specifically, we ended up choosing Orchid Pink to do our review. My daughter is only three years old but we choose the size 7-10 tights because she weighs 40lb and I want the tights to last through next winter too (hopefully). The size is perfect. A little big but not in a sloppy way at all!


Here is the sizing chart that is used to determine the size of tights you will need to order:

size	weight	height
6 - 12 Months	16 - 20lbs	-
1-3	20 - 30lbs	28" - 33" Inches
4-6	30 - 44lbs	30" - 40" Inches
7-10	45 - 66lbs	41" - 51" Inches
11-14	67 - 95lbs	52" - 64" Inches

Your little fashionista will love our new kids microfiber footless tights, colorful and bright, soft and squishy with a cotton gusset to keep your little one comfortable. Choose from 51 colors.

  The colors are so vibrant and the tights are soft! My daughter said that she felt like she had a blanket on her legs. She loved them so much she has worn them almost daily since we received them. Whether or not they went with the outfit!


I was very impressed with the customer service, with all questions being answered in a timely manner and with great clarity. Also, shipping was super quick, even to Canada! I highly recommend We Love Colors and give them a huge thumbs up!


BUY IT: You can purchase all the products from We Love Colors directly online, through their website.  

WIN IT: Two (2) readers will win their choice of We Love Colors Solid or Splash Color tights


TO ENTER: Tell which solid or splash color tights you would want if you win


EXTRA ENTRIES:


1. Follow this blog


2. Subscribe via email


3. Follow me on Twitter


4. Grab my button


5. Follow We Love Colors on Twitter


6. Like We Love Colors on Facebook


GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS


GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 10, 2010


GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

***Thank you to We Love Colors for providing me with complimentary product for the purpose of review on this blog, and for the opportunity to host a giveaway***

Not A Sparrow Falls: Book Review & Giveaway

About The Book:

Two Desperate People--
One With All the Answers•One With None

Mary Bridget Washburn is tired of running, tired of being haunted by the empty shell her life has become. How in the world did the little girl she once was become a woman on the wrong side of the law?

Determined to make a new start, she escapes to the quaint city of Alexandria, Virginia, where she takes on her mother's identity and finds sanctuary in the shadow of a decades-old church. But a little girl's plea proves to be her undoing, and the reverend•well, someone's got to open his eyes before disaster comes calling.

Can Mary Bridget and her tainted past stay hidden long enough for her to bring hope to a family falling apart?

About The Author:

Linda Nichols, a graduate of the University of Washington, is a novelist with a unique gift for touching readers' hearts with her stories. She is also the author of the acclaimed novels If I Gained the World and At the Scent of Water. She and her family make their home in Tacoma, Washington. Visit Linda's Web site at www.lindanichols.org

 My Review:

 This is the first book by author, Linda Nichols, that I have had the pleasure of reading. I really enjoyed the well developed and researched story. The characters are real and the plot was such that my interest was kept throughout the book. I really like that Nichols gives the reader a nice history of the characters inside of just a really simple synopsis like, "so-and-so had a really hard childhood". I feel more connected to the characters when I hear the whole background. I feel this made for a very authentic read. The major themes seen throughout Not A Sparrow falls is dysfunctional/broken families, drugs, the church and forgiveness. Throughout this book, the reader is reminded there is not one sin that will keep you from God's forgiveness. If He forgives us, we have to learn to forgive ourselves.  One line in the book that really resonated with me is "you cannot outsin the cross" Wow!  

I highly recommend this book and give it a huge thumbs up!

BUY IT: You can purchase Not A Sparrow Falls by Linda Nichols online, directly from Bethany House.

WIN IT: One (1) reader will win my personal copy of Not A Sparrow Falls

TO ENTER: Leave me a comment about this post or any other from the past week.

GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS

GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 9, 2010

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

***Thank you to Jim Hart and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review on this blog***

CSN Stores: Product Review

I was recently introduced to CSN Stores and I have to say I love it! You can see my preview post about CSN Stores here.

CSN Stores in a group of 200 + Stores that carry a variety of products.  You can find everything from cribs, to luggage to book shelves. It is amazing the products and brand names you will find with CSN Stores. Some of these are www.allmodern.com, www.cookware.com, www.toysandgamesonline.com , and many more!

 With just having celebrated Earth Day, I decided to review an Eco-friendly product. Wow, with so many choices, I definitely had a difficult time. I decided on the American Tourister Eco Collection 28" Upright Suitcase.

Is this not the greatest looking suitcase! I love it! The suitcase is navy blue with lime green accents and would be a fantastic addition to any family that does a lot of traveling!

Here are the specifics you will want to know about this product:

-Made of 100% cotton - a renewable resource
-PVC free
-Bamboo floor
-Fully lined interior with cross stripes
-Smooth in-line skate wheels
-Push button locking handle-
-Overall Dimensions: 28" H x 19" W x 9" D
-weighs 12.8lbs

Here is more information regarding American Tourister: (from the CSN Stores website)


We carry a variety of American Tourister luggage designed for the person on the go. From garment bags, travel totes, carry ons and convenient wheeled suitcases, American Tourister understands how to organize popular travel items. Please contact us if you have any questions, trained staff await your call. American Tourister has lead the luggage industry for nearly ninety years by providing superior, high quality luggage products and services. Their heritage with durable, colorful travel products has provided millions of customers with dependable and convenient luggage worldwide. 

Acquired by the notable Samsonite luggage brand in 1993, American Tourister retains its reputation in style and quality while gaining the reliable customer service that Samsonite has to offer. Blending this tradition with an experienced team and advanced equipment, they provide an unparalleled spectrum of products and services you can trust. 

American Tourister offers a variety of luggage series that will adequately accommodate your travel needs. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, you can find the perfect combination of luggage for your personal items. From garment bags, travel totes, carry ons and convenient wheeled suitcases, American Tourister understands how to organize popular travel items. Their newer styles of luggage feature new functions such as spinning wheels that give you complete mobility. Known for their excellent value, American Tourister is a trusted brand name that continues to build a positive relationship with the travelers who use their products. 

My Review:

I was so excited when I received my suitcase from CSN Stores. My husband and I am planning a 14 hour road trip in June for my sister's wedding and the American Tourister Eco Collection 28" Upright suitcase is going to be perfect.

Though we have not been on the trip yet, I did a "practice run" and packed the suitcase with similar items that will come with us. I am so impressed. I was able to pack all the items necessary for two adults and two children to travel for five days! Seriously, that is amazing! Of course, we will be bringing along the diaper bag, and some activity bags for the girls in the vehicle, but I cannot believe this suitcase fit so much! I also love that it is so light to carry (even when you fill it, it is reasonably light in weight), and that it is environmentally friendly!

I was very impressed with the customer service I have received from Ashley at CSN Stores, and the shipping far surpassed my expectations. I received a notice that my product had been shipped and within about a week I received the package! Amazing, especially with having to have it shipped across the border! I am also thrilled that CSN Stores shipped many of its great products to Canada! A huge plus in my books!

If you are in need of travel accessories or luggage, I highly recommend CSN Stores and Luggage.com! You will not be disappointed.


***Thank you to Ashley and CSN Stores for providing me with complimentary product in exchange for an honest, original product review on this blog***

2 Days Until Blogmania!!!!

2 DAYS UNTIL BLOGMANIA!!!!!

Come back to A Mom After God's Own Heart for a very special ONE DAY ONLY giveaway!!!! I will be over 100 blogs for this very special day! There are some amazing giveaways that will be occuring and you will NOT be disappointed, unless you don't enter, of course! Remember to come by first thing Friday Morning and I will have a list of a few other blogs that are participating and rake in the LOOT!!!

BLOGMANIA is being hosted by Between The Pages, so check her blog out for more great details!

Music Monday

This is my first Music Monday, but I am excited to join this blog hop, as I love music so much. I especially love music that teaches me lessons. Contemporary Christian Music and Praise and Worship are especially perfect for that. When going through difficult times, here are a couple of songs that I love to listen to.







My prayers for you are to Be blessed and encouraged through these songs and throughout the next week!

The Bridegrooms: Book Review & Giveaway

About The Book:


It Only Takes an Instant for Love to Strike

Tragedy hits the Allenhouse family on a hot summer night in Ohio when a mother of four vanished. Eight-year-old Vada virtually grew up overnight and raised her three younger sisters while her father lost himself in his medical practice in the basement of their home.

Now, Vada is a grown woman, still making her home with her father and sisters. Her days are spent serving as an errand girl for Cleveland’s fledgling amateur orchestra; her evenings with Garrison Walker, her devoted, if passionless, beau.

Dizzying change occurs the day the Brooklyn Bridegrooms come to town to play the Cleveland Spiders and a line drive wallops the head of a spectator. The fan is whisked to the Allenhouse parlor, and questions swirl about the anonymous, unconscious man.

Suddenly, the subdued house is filled with visitors, from a flirtatious, would-be sports writer to the Bridegrooms’ handsome star hitter to the guilt-ridden ballplayer who should have caught the stray shot. The medical case brings Dr. Allenhouse a frustration and helplessness he hasn’t felt since his wife’s disappearance. Vada’s sisters are giddy at the bevy of possible suitors. And Vada’s life is awakened amid the super-charged atmosphere of romantic opportunity.

 Read an excerpt of The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman here.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

About The Author:

Allison Pittman is the author of Stealing Home, the Crossroads of Grace series, and her nonfiction debut, Saturdays With Stella. A former high-school English teacher, she serves as director of the theater arts group at her church. Allison makes her home in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Learn more about the author at www.allisonpittman.com

My Review:

A fantastic read for any Christian historical fiction! Great character development and a storyline that keeps you intrigued through the novel. A very easy and quick read. There are even some fantastic twists that I loved. If you like Little Women, you will love The Bridegrooms. I highly recommend this book and give it a thumbs up!

BUY IT: You can purchase this book online, directly through Waterbrook Multnomah. It is also available through your favorite local Christian bookseller.


WIN IT: One (1) reader will win a copy of The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman


TO ENTER: Tell me why you want to read this book:)


GIVEAWAY OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY


GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 8, 2010


GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

***Thank you to Ashley at Waterbrook Multnomah for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review on this blog***

Friday Follow! April 23rd Edition

I am so excited! Friday Follow is quickly becoming my favorite activity to participate in on Fridays! I am posting early this week due to heading out of town for the weekend. My church is having their annual Ladies Retreat and I am looking so forward to spending the weekend with my sisters in Christ, getting some rest (ya right!) and relaxing! The theme for the weekend is called "Snapshots of Sisterhood" and I will let you know how it goes next week!

Anyway, here is the way that Friday Follow works (in case you are new to it):

Welcome to the April 23 Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.


Here's how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:


--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.


--Grab the Friday Follow button and include on your Friday Follow blog post.


--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.


--Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.


--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.


--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.


This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.


As hostesses, we realize the time required to participate in Friday Follow. Due to the overwhelming number of entries each week, we understand everyone, including ourselves, may not be able to follow every blog. To keep it fun, follow what you can at your own pace. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your continued participation!

Have a great Friday Follow Everyone!

Her Mother's Hope By Francine Rivers: Book Review

About The Book:

The first part of an unforgettable epic family saga about the sacrifices every mother makes for her daughter and the very nature of unconditional love. On the eve of the First World War, fiery Marta Schneider leaves Switzerland and her difficult childhood behind, determined to find a new life on her own terms. Barely out of her teens, Marta is haunted by a devastating loss that fuels her ambition to one day own a hotel. From the cramped quarters of a French housekeeping school to the portrait-lined halls of a stately English manor, Marta becomes a hard working domestic who has little time to dwell on what might have been.  Instead, she draws her strength from what could be. 

Then, Marta meets Niclas Waltert, a man just as determined as she to forge a better life in a new place. Niclas captures her heart and together they endure the harshness of life as tenant farmers on the vast prairies of Winnipeg, Canada, before following the promise of the American dream and migrating to the agriculturally rich Central Valley of California.  Marriage and motherhood bring both joy and heartbreak, as Marta must surrender her long-held ambitions for the sake of her husband and children, including her daughter, Hildemara, upon whose shoulders her own hopes now squarely rest. Only the strong survive and Marta is determined to raise a daughter as strong as she. 

But as Hildie reaches young womanhood and another war is fast approaching, those hopes become too heavy a burden for Hildie to bear. Born with a heart to serve others, Hildie pursues her calling as a nurse, something Marta can’t understand.

Marta’s years of hardnosed parenting have left Hildie still hungry for her mother’s love…and now for her mother’s respect. Amid the drama of WWII, Hildie falls in love and begins a family of her own. She wants her daughter, Carolyn, never to doubt her love—but the challenges of life conspire against her vow and the only person who can come to her aid is the person she remains so desperate to please: Marta, her mother.

With hallmark touches of brilliant prose and gripping characterizations, Her Mother’s Hope is a rich, moving epic about faith and dreams, heartache and disappointment, and ultimately the resilience and tenacity of love.



You can read an excerpt of Her Mother's Hope here.

Author Interview: (from her website)

Can you tell us something about your Christian testimony? 


I was reared in a Christian home.  My parents were active in church, my father an elder, my mother a deaconess. I attended Christian summer camps, youth group and said grace at every meal.  I thought being born into a Christian family and raised in the faith made me a Christian.  It didn’t.  Each person makes their own choice, and it took me years to surrender to Jesus – not until after I’d gone through college, married, had children and started a writing career.   Rick and I went to church, but came away dissatisfied and knowing there must be something more.   We both had personal issues that brought us close to divorce several times.  We wanted our own way and to have control over our own lives.   Having control is an illusion.   As a child, I’d asked Jesus to be my Savior.  What I didn’t understand is I needed to surrender my life to Him and allow Him to be LORD of my life as well. 

Our marriage was on the verge of collapse when Rick started his own business. We moved to northern California to be closer to family.  We made many outer changes, but no change of the heart.  As we moved into our rental house, a little boy came over to help and said, “Have I got a church for you!”  We weren’t ready to listen. The lady on the other side of our fence also invited us to the same church.  Out of desperation, I went a few weeks later. It was my first experience with “expository teaching.” The pastor taught straight out of the Bible, explaining the historical context, what the scriptures were saying, and what they had to do with me in the present.  I drank it in!  I took my three children to church.  They loved it.  Rick resisted (after having a somewhat disheartening experience with a denominational church in Southern California).  I asked the pastor if he would be willing to teach a home Bible study.  He agreed -- if Rick agreed, which he did.  Studying the Bible changed our lives.  Our hearts and minds opened to Christ.  We both accepted Jesus as Savior and LORD and were baptized in May 1986.  Since then, God has been changing our lives from the inside out.   The Lord also healed our marriage.  We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this year.  

How did you get started as a writer?

From the time I was a child, I knew I would be a writer.  Because I didn’t know what I would write, I majored in English (emphasis in literary writing) and minored in journalism (emphasis on who-what-when-where-why).  My parents had always been non-fiction readers.  Rick’s family loved all kinds of books – and lots of fiction.  Mom Edith loaned me novels and I loved them.  On a dare (from Rick) I decided to write a combination of my favorite genres and wrote a “western-gothic-romance”.  Romance novels were booming in the general market, publishers were on the look-out for new writers.  My first manuscript sold and was published.  I was hooked!  I followed with eight or nine more (of what I call my B.C. (before Christ) books).  They are all now out of print, are never to be reprinted, and are not recommended. 

When I turned my life over to Jesus, I couldn’t write for three years.  I tried, but nothing worked.  I struggled against God over that because writing was my “identity.”  It took that period of suffering “writer’s block” to bring me to my senses.  God was trying to open my eyes to how writing had become an idol in my life.  It was the place I ran to escape, the one area of my life where I thought I was in complete control.  (Hardly!)  My priorities were all wrong and needed to be put right.  God first, husband and children second (we had three children by then) and third-- work.  I prayed God would change my heart.  My love for writing and reading novels waned and my passion for reading and studying God’s Word grew. 

Rick and I began hosting a home Bible study.  I began working with Rick in his business.  The children came along and played in the office, hiding in the shipping popcorn.   Writing ceased to matter.  I was in love with Jesus and my husband and children.    God never stops with the transformation process.  We began studying the book of Hosea, and I sensed God calling me to write again – this time a romance about Jesus’ love for each of us.  Redeeming Love was the result.  It is the retelling of the Hosea story, set in Gold Rush-era California. After I turned it in, I wasn’t sure whether I would write anything more.  I had so many questions about what it means to be a Christian, how to live for God, different issues that still haunted me.  I felt God nudging me toward using my writing as a tool to draw closer to Him.  I would ask my question, create characters that would play out the different viewpoints and seek God’s perspective.   I began work on A Voice in the Wind.  Writing has become a way to worship the Lord through story – to show how intimately He wants to be involved in our lives.

Where do you get your ideas for your plots?

Almost every story I have written since becoming a Christian has come from a question that regards a struggle in my own faith walk.   The plot centers around the different ways that question can be answered by “the world” – but the quest is to find God’s answer.   Here is a list of my novels with the questions that started each story: 

• A Voice in the Wind:  How do I share my faith with unsaved family members and friends who have no desire to read the Bible or hear me talk about my faith? 

• An Echo in the Darkness:  How many times are we called upon to forgive people who hurt us deliberately -- and (in many countries) would like to see us dead?

• As Sure As the Dawn:   How do you deal with anger – especially when there is “good” cause?  What is “righteous anger” and how does it look?

• The Scarlet Thread:  What does “sovereignty” mean in man’s relationship with God?  If He is in control of everything, what does that say about the bad things that happen to people?

• The Atonement Child:  Is there complete forgiveness and restoration for a woman who has aborted her child?  Does abortion have any effect on the woman and the man involved in the crisis pregnancy?  Does it impact people around them?  (This was my most painful and personal book because I needed to face and deal with my own abortion experience.  The character of Hannah is based on my story; Evie is based on my mother’s.) 

• The Last Sin Eater:  What is the difference between guilt and conviction?  This book came out of The Atonement Child.  What I learned:  guilt kept me imprisoned for years.  Conviction sent me to my knees before the Lord where I received forgiveness and experienced His love and grace.

• Leota’s Garden:   Are abortion and euthanasia connected?  Is euthanasia merciful or an act of murder?  This novel also came out of my work on The Atonement Child.  While studying the abortion issue from all sides, I realized the arguments for abortion are exactly the same as those for euthanasia.  While going through a post-abortion class with other women (one a nurse), I learned that the elderly are already at risk.   One scene in the book continues to shock people.  I wrote it for that purpose.  I want people to understand life is precious.  The movement toward legalizing euthanasia continues to gain momentum (and has less to do with “mercy” than saving money for care).

• And the Shofar Blew: What is a church?  How do you build it?  During my travels around the country and speaking at various churches, I saw many struggling through building projects and massive programs to draw more parishioners.  Size of building and number of people in the pews seemed to define success or failure.  Like a government out of control, the “church” (in many cases) has forgotten its foundation and purpose.   Christ is the cornerstone.   Believers meet together to study the Word of God, worship Him and encourage one another – and keep their doors and hearts open to those seeking God.  Unfortunately, too many congregations have left their first love (Jesus Christ) and turned to idolatry (placing a building/drawing a crowd/being “politically correct” above a relationship with the Lord).

• Her Mother’s Hope / Her Daughter’s Dream:  What caused the rift between my grandmother and mother?   When my grandmother had a stroke, my mother raced from Oregon to the Central Valley of California to be with her.  Grandma died before she arrived.  My mother was heart-broken and said, “I think she willed herself to die just so we wouldn’t have to talk things out.”  I have wondered since:  What causes people (even Christians) to hold grudges?   What might have brought resolution and restoration to these two women?  Could my grandmother have loved my mother without my mother understanding it?   The two books have many personal, family details woven in and I will be sharing this information in my blog. 

Which is your favorite book of those you’ve written?

My favorite book is Redeeming Love.  It was my first as a born-again Christian, my statement of faith, and the most exciting year I’ve spent writing anything.  I felt God’s presence throughout the months of work, as though He were telling me His story through thousands of Scriptures as well as explaining the inner heart-ache and quest of each “my” characters.

Which book was the hardest to write and why?

The Atonement Child was the most personal and difficult to write because I had to face my own abortion experience.  Added to the considerable research I did, and women who shared their experiences with me, I went through an intensive post-traumatic stress Bible study for post-abortive women at our local pregnancy counseling center.  Reliving all aspects of my abortion decision and experience was excruciating – but healing.  After twenty-six years of being imprisoned by guilt and shame, I was free through the power and love of God.  Though the book was the most heart-wrenching to write, it also proved to be the most life changing.  I’ve received countless letters from other post-abortive women and have learned my experience is not unique.  Our nation is filled with wounded men and women.  The character of Hannah is based on my story, Doug is based on Rick’s, and Evie is based on my mother’s. 

Which character is your favorite?

My favorite character is Michael Hosea from Redeeming Love.   He is like Jesus – the lover of my soul.  I have another favorite:  Hadassah from A Voice in the Wind.  She is the kind of Christian I want to be.

Christian fiction continues to boom.  What would you like to see happen in the field?

I want to see Christian fiction speak to the hard and real issues that tear people’s lives apart.  We need writers who are willing to ask the hard questions and go through the soul-searching and agonizing to find answers – and present these stories with skill that surpasses the general market.  Some of the greatest works or art and literature were rendered by Christians.  I believe God is at work in these areas now.   I would also love to see more Christian stories make it to the big screen and into the world of television, and to have the Christian worldview presented fairly.  Much of what comes out of “Hollywood” appeals to the basest side of mankind and crushes the spirit.   Right now, with war and a failing economy, people are hungry for stories that inspire them, lift them and give them hope.  People need to know there are solutions and we can have peace and an abundant life -- even in the midst of trials.

What is your goal or mission as a Christian writer?

I want to whet the appetite for the real thing:  the Bible and a personal relationship with Jesus.  I try to weave Scripture throughout the story so people receive the Word and see what it might mean in their lives – how the Lord is present and real and passionately interested in each of us.  He is not an idea.  He is real, all-powerful, all-knowing, the embodiment of love, deeply involved in our existence, and He created each of us for a purpose. 

What advice would you give to a new writer?

Write what you need to read.  Write from your heart and.  Write truth.  Sometimes it hurts to peel away the layers of self-deception and see ourselves in the mirror, but it will also draw us closer to Jesus.  And your work may minister to others struggling with the same issues.  Read the Bible every day so that it will flow naturally into the story.  Study the Bible from beginning to end.  It is the most exciting reading in the world. It is also alive – and will help you recognize when you are entering into sin and need to realign yourself with the Lord.  Keep your focus on Jesus. 

Tell us about your family life?

Rick and I met in the fifth grade.  We were good friends through school, and graduated together in 1965.  I went away to college and he joined the Marine Corps.  When the hometown newspaper carried the story of my brother’s capture in Hue during the Tet Offensive, Rick wrote to me from Vietnam and we began to correspond.  We married a year after he returned from Vietnam (1969).  We have three children and five grandchildren.   (Note:  My brother was seriously wounded, escaped from his captors when the Marines entered Hue, and is alive, well, happily married with two grown children and living the blissful retired life in the woods of Northern California.)

Are any of your novels going to be made into movies?

The Last Sin Eater was produced and directed by Michael Landon, Jr. and Brian Bird (They did an outstanding job.)  The movie was released in theaters in 2007 and is now available on DVD. You can see the trailer on IMDB.com.  Rick and I were invited to visit the set during filming in the mountains north of Salt Lake City.   We had a great time and there are pictures of our trip in the movie-edition of the novel.

A film based on Redeeming Love is currently in development with Abba Productions/ Christy Lee Taylor.  She has partnered with producer Ralph Winter and they are trying to pull together funding to get the project off the ground. 

What made you choose the five women in the A Lineage of Grace series?

There are five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ in the first chapter of Matthew.  I wanted to know why these five women were mentioned.  Three were from pagan cultures (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth), one may have been a Hittite (the wife of Urriah the Hittite, Bathsheba), and one of Jewish descent (Mary).   I believe these women were listed to show that God offered salvation to everyone who believes.  Each story also showed an aspect of the Christian life:  Tamar was a woman of hope; Rahab, a woman of faith; Ruth, a woman of compassion and love; Bathsheba experienced forgiveness and God’s amazing grace; and Mary was a woman of obedience.  The Lord used these ordinary women facing extraordinary risks to bring forth the Savior of the world – Jesus Christ. 

What made you choose the five men in The Sons of Encouragement series? 

My desire to write this series came out of And the Shofar Blew and seeing how important the men behind the leaders are to the good health and direction of a church.  Since I had written about five women in the Lineage of Grace, I thought it only fair to choose five men.  I looked for men who worked with great leaders and represented different “careers”.   Here is the list: 

•  The Priest  -- Aaron, first priest of Israel and brother of Moses  (the church) 
•  The Warrior  --Caleb, who encouraged and fought alongside Joshua  (the military)
• The Prince – Jonathan, heir to the throne, who became the best friend and encourager to God’s chosen king, David  (government/the political arena) 
• The Prophet – Amos, who spoke the (unpopular and unheeded) truth to King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel – calling them to return to the Lord and follow in His ways or continuing to follow the teachings of the nations around them and face disaster (war, economic collapse, enslavement and intense personal suffering)  (public servant)
• The Scribe – Silas, who is an unsung hero who traveled and worked with Paul (as a scribe), Timothy and Peter  (clerk, business administration)

Tell us about your current work.  

I have just completed the second in a set of two books about mother-daughter relationship over four generations.  This was intended to be one long novel dealing with the different ways generations have lived out their faith – but became so long it needed to be divided.  Her Mother’s Hope will be released March 16, 2010.  Her Daughter’s Dream will follow in September.  There are numerous family and personal details woven into both books and I plan to share those things on my blog. 

What made you decide to let Hadassah live in A Voice in the Wind, the first book in your Mark of the Lion trilogy? Do you think it would have been preferable for Hadassah to die than to live in constant pain and be crippled for life?

I let her live because my editor at the time, Karen Ball, was so upset by Hadassah's death in the arena that she called me and said she wanted to throw the manuscript across the room.! "You cannot let her die," she insisted. She wanted me to carry on the story in another book. What could I do?  But I had also done some research on the customs of that day, and discovered there was a law against dissection (once a person was dead) but not against vivisection (if the person was still alive). So I actually had an historically accurate reason for her to have lived.

As to whether it was better for her to die than live in constant pain—in terms of the story, it was better for her to live, even though it was much more difficult. The focus of An Echo in the Darkness, Book 2, was forgiveness. How many times do you forgive someone who has hurt you or who desires your destruction? I have had to deal with that question. And what that book taught me was that no matter what anybody does to me, what they say about me, or what their actions are, I am still called upon to forgive. And I learned that once you forgive someone, there are three things you don't do; talk to someone else about whatever it was you forgave; bring it up again to the person you've forgiven, or dwell on it yourself. Hadassah models for me what true forgiveness is. I wanted the reader to despise Julia. I wanted to continue the story of Hadassah to show how God used her to reach Julia, the least likely one to accept Christ. We are not here for our own good pleasure. God leaves us here to be salt and light. He wants us to live our lives to draw the lost to Him. It did me good to remember those things, and to have Julia be the first one to reach Heaven. The angels sang when she accepted Christ and she saw them coming to take her home. Hadassah was left behind to continue being salt and light, to continue to suffer as she lived for Christ in this world. That's what the Christian life is about. All for Him. We are here for the sake of others who don't yet know their redeemer lives.

In A Voice in the Wind, how does Hadassah remain true to her faith right up to the end?

Hadassah was the one character who was living out a Christ-centered life, and that was the source of her strength. She was in prayer throughout the book; her entire focus was on God. That was the only thing she could do, living the kind of life she had. When I wrote the book, the question that spurred me on was, how do you live out your faith among family members and friends who are not at all interested in the gospel? Through Hadassah, the answer came that it's not what you say, it's how you live that has the impact. Also, you don't need courage ahead of time. God prepares you and supplies you with the courage you need to face difficulties when you need it, not before.

What made you decide include both a contemporary and a historical story line in The Scarlet Thread? 

I originally meant just to write the historical story. I had always wanted to go on the Oregon Trail and write a story about it. When I finally did retrace the Oregon Trail with friends, we visited the museums. In pondering what those pioneer women had dealt with, I realized they faced the same bottom-line issue we do today: Who is in control of my life? Do I want to fight for control or will I surrender to the Lord and let him work in my life? I wanted to show that that is a question every person in every era has to face.

What made you choose the historical time period in The Scarlet Thread?

I've always been fascinated with that time period—the 1840s-1880s, especially in the West. My first books were set in that time period, and I did a lot of research. It's an interesting time in history to me.

In The Last Sin Eater, how did you come up with the idea of a sin eater? It says in the beginning of the book that it is a real concept brought by immigrants to the Appalachian mountains. How did you discover this?

I once saw a movie about a doctor in Appalachia, and the story had a sin eater in it. I got interested in finding out what a sin eater was. I learned, mostly through research on the Internet, that the sin eater was a person who was paid a small fee or given food to take upon himself the sins of the deceased. Often the sin eaters were tricked into it. Some wealthy person would invite them in, serve them a meal and say, “By the way, you just ate the sins of our dead relative in the next room.” Then they were locked into that life as an outcast.  Sin eating was practiced in England, the lowlands of Scotland, and the Welsh border district in the early nineteenth century, and carried over by immigrants into the remote areas of the Appalachian Mountains.

As I learned about the sin eater, questions started forming in my mind.

In The Last Sin Eater, why do you think someone would agree to do something that made him a pariah in the community? 

The whole idea of a sin eater fascinated me. It's like Christ in a way, yet it isn't. To me it was a twisted gospel. The sin eater might think he was being a living sacrifice, giving up his life for his neighbors by taking their sins on himself, but in actuality, he was standing in the way of the true gospel because he's not perfect and he can't remove sin. So I used this as a vehicle to portray the gospel message.

Did you face any particular creative challenges with The Last Sin Eater? It seems different from most of your other novels—for instance, it's told in the first person.

Yes, there were. First, there was the challenge of thinking from a child's point of view. I like the power that first person can have when told from a child's perspective in stories like To Kill a Mockingbird. A child can be plagued by guilt in a unique way yet also be open to spiritual truth and see things that adults perhaps are no longer open to seeing or believing. Another challenge was how to capture the dialect of the Appalachian people without losing the reader. Only recently did I read a book on writing by Sol Stein and learned it was best not to use dialect. That would have made it easier write, and perhaps easier for the reader as well! Another thing about The Last Sin Eater is that I didn't know myself what terrible thing Cadi has done to make her feel so guilty. Nor did I know at first what terrible things the others in the story were trying to hide. It was only as the story unfolded that things became clear to me, just as they do for the reader.

In The Atonement Child, what made you decide to make your character a victim of rape rather than a woman who finds herself unmarried and pregnant?

I wanted to deal with the tough cases. Dynah, a Christian college student who finds herself pregnant after being raped, has to deal with the issues in a very personal way. As a Christian, she believes abortion is wrong, and so does her fiancé--until she's raped. Then the question arises, "Would it be OK in a case like hers?" Dynah wonders, "What does God really want me to do?"

As Dynah's story unfolds, we are drawn into the complexity of the issue, including the number of people who are involved. A lot of people think abortion just involves the woman, that it's her decision alone, and that's not true.  In this story, there's the mother, Hannah, who had an illegal abortion, and her husband, who had nothing to do with Hannah's abortion but has had to deal with his wife's inability to trust. And Dynah's grandmother, who had had a therapeutic abortion, which her husband had encouraged at the time. There's Dynah's fiancé, who has a real hard time dealing with the situation. There is the dean of the Christian college, who faces the dilemma of whether or not to allow a pregnant student to remain at the school, which I against the rules. There is her fiancé's roommate, whose girlfriends had gotten pregnant and had an abortion, which he opposed, but has no real say in the matter. There is the abortion doctor, whose sister had an illegal abortion and died; he feels he's helping other women by providing "safe" abortions. There's the pastor who struggles with how to advise his parishioners who are hurting from this issue. Every person in this story is feels the impact of abortion in some way, which I believe is true in our society. We often don't even have a clue about how someone's choice impacts us. I think there's a real undertow of guilt and grief in our country because of abortion.

By developing all sides of the abortion issue and how deeply it affects so many people in so many ways, I hope to help people develop compassion for anyone who is affected personally by abortion. For a woman who has an abortion, for anyone in her family, the event is never forgotten—as I've learned from personal experience.

In The Atonement Child, the scene in which Dynah is raped is difficult to read. Was it as difficult to write?

Extremely!  I had read a number of books on rape and its impact. I've been asked why I didn't have Dynah pursue the man, bring him to justice. That wasn't the focus on the story. I wanted the story to be about the impact of abortion. I wanted portray that even in the case of rape—which many people say justifies abortion—abortion is always a very complex issue.

The mother/daughter relationships in Leota’s Garden are very realistic. What did you base these on?

I've just seen many people who never seem to work out the misunderstandings in their relationships. They never sit down and talk things through in a calm manner so that each person can truly hear both sides. In the story, Leota and Nora never really could communicate. Annie was the catalyst that helped them understand each other.  I wanted to write about a family who was dysfunctional and explore questions that many people grapple with. One of them was employed mothers versus those who stay home. Leota had been employed, and her daughter, Nora, bitterly remembers all the times her mother had not been there for her. Nora, now a mother herself, was always "there" for her children … always there to control and manage every aspect of their lives. Which is the better mother? The answers are not as simple as some might like to think. The Proverbs 31 woman worked and was a blessing to her family. It all comes down to living our lives in obedience to Christ, in the home and outside it.

Lack of communication can destroy a family. In Leota’s Garden, why did Leota keep her secrets even after her husband was gone? 

She kept silent out of deep hurt and pride. Her mother-in-law had poisoned Nora against her, but Leota couldn't bring herself to destroy her daughter's love for her grandmother. Leota made peace with her mother-in-law and actually took care of her in her old age. Perhaps she hoped the woman would tell the truth to Nora. Unfortunately, she didn't. Like many people, Leota hoped "time would heal all wounds", but time didn't heal anything because the truth had never been revealed. Nora still judged Leota by the bitter gossip she heard as a child, and her stubbornness cheated her out of a relationship with a mother who loved her deeply and sacrificed greatly for her. One of the things I wanted to show in this book was that sometimes you don't get another chance to mend relationships. We have to jump at any opportunity to say "I love you" and hear each other's story. Otherwise, the story may never told, the relationship never mended.

Which of the five stories in A Lineage of Grace was the hardest to write?

The hardest book in the series to write was Unafraid, about Mary. So much has been written about her, and of course, throughout church history so much has been made of her that it was not easy to see her afresh. Yet there’s not really much said about Mary in Scripture itself. It wasn’t until the 1800’s that all the traditions were developed. In order to write about her, I had to set everything aside and try to see her in her humanity, see her only as the Bible portrayed her, and that was a challenge. I think that making more out of Mary than the Bible does actually lessons the impact of her life. The fact that she was a very human mother, with all her ambitions for Jesus to reveal himself as the Messiah her people had long awaited, speaks more powerfully of her character, faith, obedience, and desire to do God’s will. It makes her presence and faith at the cross all the more amazing. Unveiled, about Tamar, was also difficult in a different way. Because the commentaries said it was about sexual issues, and I knew Dr. Taylor at Tyndale was especially sensitive to how such issues were portrayed in fiction, I originally wrote it in a way that I thought would be "acceptable." I used a "he said—she said" sort of format. When I turned it in, they said it was all right, but not my usual style. I asked, "Can I write it the way I really want to write it?" They said yes. By then I realized the story was not about sexual issues, but about Tamar's motivation in what she did, about her hope for a future, about her honor and integrity toward her role as wife, about her desire to have a child to preserve the line of Judah. God blessed her not with one child, but twins! The Lord used this Canaanite woman to bring Judah to his knees and change his character. Through Tamar, God kept Judah's line going, and that line led to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

What made you choose the five women for A Lineage of Grace?

These were the women in the lineage of Christ from the first chapter of Matthew. The Bible makes a big deal of a person's lineage. When you look at the women in Jesus' lineage, you see amazing stories of God's grace. Each story acts out an aspect of the Christian life: Tamar is a woman of hope; Rahab, a woman of faith; Ruth, a woman of love; Bathsheba, a woman who received unlimited grace; and Mary, a woman of obedience. The Lord used these ordinary women facing extraordinary risks to bring forth the Savior of the world.

So many churches today have become large, impersonal churches. What kind of church do you belong to and is your novel And the Shofar Blew based on your experience with a particular church?

While I myself was never involved in a church like the one in the book, the story is based on what I heard from many people I talked to who were concerned about what was happening in their church. It also came out of my reading books on church growth. There is in our culture an overemphasis on numbers and buildings and size. Big is considered important and small is unimportant. It's easy to get off base by just a degree or two at first, but pretty soon you can find yourself way off course. Of course, a small church can fall away too; it's not about size, but focus. Jesus is the cornerstone, the heart, everything. In my church, one summer we did a study on Experiencing God. As a result of that, the church decided to help plant two new churches rather than build one big building.

What questions do you explore in And the Shofar Blew?

Through the story line and the characters, I wanted to bring to light such issues as: What does a Christ-centered church look like? How far should a church go in order to reach out to the unchurched? What does true discipleship look like? How does lasting spiritual growth happen—through programs, or in some other way? How should one evaluate the effectiveness of a church or its pastor? What does godly submission in a wife look like? How are the sins of the fathers—even celebrated spiritual leaders like Paul Hudson’s father—passed on to the children if there’s no repentance? How does one confront sin in love, rather than anger?

What advice would you give a reader who is searching for a church home?

Look for a church that focuses on Christ. Is the Bible central? Are the leaders focused on pleasing God or man? Who is the cornerstone? Run if all you hear about is a building program!

Once success is measured in terms of numbers rather than genuine spiritual growth, watch out! There’s a fine line between sincerely wanting to reach out to the community, and beginning to cater to newcomers to the point where sermons are watered down so as not to “offend” anyone—especially those whose deep pockets are necessary to fund the never-ending building projects.
 
What made you choose the five men for The Sons of Encouragement?

The idea for this series came out of And the Shofar Blew. I talked to lots of people about the church when I was writing and speaking about that book, and I began to realize how important and influential the men behind the great leaders are, to give support and keep them accountable. When I looked at the great leaders of the Bible—Moses, David, Joshua, Paul, Peter—I saw that the men behind the great leaders were also very influential, though less visible. I wanted to honor all of these "behind the scenes" positions of influence. I wanted to choose representatives from different kinds of careers. So there's the religious influencer (Aaron the priest); the soldier (Caleb); the politician (Jonathan); the person who is God's spokesman representing truth, even if the leaders don't listen (the prophet Amos); and the scribe who worked with Paul, Timothy and Peter to write their letters (Silas). He represents the reporter or media or teacher. All of these types of influencers are important to God's purposes.

Tell us about your God box and how it inspired you to write this story. 

Before I started writing Redeeming Love, when I was still rather new at loving God with my whole heart, I had been a secretary at one point, and regularly used an inbox and outbox. I got the idea to start using what I called a God Box—an inbox for God. I would write out prayers and put the papers into the God Box. This practice helped me to let go of the issues, to put them into God's hands by physically putting them into the box. Every few months I would read the papers and marvel at how God had answered the prayers, often in unexpected ways.

I also put into the God Box things like the Angel Tree Project ornaments, or the ornaments from the Salvation Army tree. I'd never know those children or what happened to them, but putting the ornaments into the box was a way to give them to the Lord and trusting them to his care.

When I was asked to write a short story for the Angel Tree Foundation, I wasn't sure I could do it. I had never written a children's story before. One afternoon the story came to me, based on the practice of the God Box. I wrote The Shoe Box in one afternoon—it just flowed out, and I knew exactly what I needed to say. That's the only time a story came so easily!

Tell us about your current work.


I have just completed the second in a set of two books about mother-daughter relationship over four generations. This was intended to be one long novel dealing with the different ways generations have lived out their faith - but became so long it needed to be divided. A Mother's Hope was released March 16, 2010 and Her Daughter's Dream will be follow in September. There are numerous family and personal details woven into both books and I plan to share those things on my blog. You may find out more about my new book and more by visiting my website at http://www.FrancineRivers.com

My Review:

I have been a huge Francine Rivers fan for a very long time, and have been anticipating a new release from her for a long time! I was so not disappointed by having to wait! Her Mother's Hope was a beautifully written book that took me beyond the words right into the scenes that Rivers put on paper. I would love to see this book done as a movie, just like The Last Sin Eater. This is a huge book (482 pages) but I read through it relatively quick, I just did not want to put it down. The characters are very well developed and each touched me on some level, even the unforgiving father of Marta. This book kept my attention throughout! The bond of a mother and daughter is truly a relationship that not only transcends generations but also makes a wonderful book!

I am so excited to read book two of this series, and yet sad that this book ended. September cannot come fast enough:) If you are a Francine Rivers fan you will LOVE this book! You can keep up with Francine River and all her wonderful work through her website and facebook fan page.

BUY IT: You can purchase A Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers through your favorite local Christian Bookseller. 

***A complimentary copy of this book was provided to the me as a blog tour host by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.***