A devotional for couples

Love and War: Devotional for Couples by John and Stasi Eldredge is a short book designed for couples to read together during an 8 week period . I look forward to going through it with my husband. Reading through it, I found it interesting enough, but something seemed to be missing. Then I realized that the authors have written a book called Love and War that this devotional is based off of. I am guessing that the two books would go well together, but I have yet to read the original book.




This book stresses the importance of first having a close relationship with Jesus Christ, which is something that is absolutely vital to enjoying marriage the way God intended. It stresses the importance of commitment to your marriage, and committing yourself to making your marriage all it can be. It reminds us that falling in love is only the beginning- we need to choose, over and over, to love our spouse, even when it’s not easy. Men and women are so different that we can’t expect marriage to be easy, but our differences complement each other, and we complete one another.



I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for this review.

The Way Home

The Way Home is a movie based on a true story. A two-year-old boy disappears, presumably having wandered off, and no one can find him. Search teams are deployed, and after hours, it begins to look hopeless. Randy and Christal, his parents, have to turn to the only One who knows where their son is- and put their trust in the God who can keep him safe. They also learn a lot about what their priorities should be, and what does really matter.

Our family enjoyed the movie, and it was a good opportunity to impress upon our young child the seriousness of wandering off. The only thing I didn’t like is that there were places that the story line was rather slow and it got repetitious in a few places. Overall, I would recommend this as a good movie for a family to watch.


I received a complimentary copy of this DVD from the publisher through Booksneeze.com. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

Captured by Grace

Captured By Grace- No One Is Beyond the Reach of a Loving God by Dr. David Jeremiah

Grace- it’s something we all long for, but something that can be so hard to understand. This book explores what grace is and studies the lives of the Apostle Paul and John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace.” It is interspersed with many quotations from the Bible, and each chapter includes a “Moments of Grace” study help.

I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it. Grace is such a beautiful thing, both to give and to receive. This book helps one to understand just a little more of what grace really is.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

100 Prayers God Loves to Hear

100 Prayers God Loves to Hear/ 100 Praise Songs, created by Stephen Elkins and illustrated by Tim O’Connor is a really cute children’s book. I got it for my daughter and was hoping to save it for her 3rd birthday, but she saw me open it, and fell in love with it. She insisted that she wants it now, not later. Before she went down for her afternoon nap, she reiterated “Mom, DON’T put it away! I want to look at it when I wake up.”

There are 100 prayers, and 2 CD’s with songs to go with each prayer. Each prayer also comes with a short explanation, and a “My little prayer reminder” verse or saying. The illustrations are really cute, and hold the interest and capture the imagination of a 3-year-old. It is also very easy for a young child to follow along in the book while listening to the CD.



The only thing I do not like is that for me, the mom, after listening to about 15-20 songs, I am ready for peace and quiet. Some of the songs, sung by children, are really good, but some have a heavy beat, and end up sounding more like noise than music. That, however, doesn’t seem to bother my daughter, who insists that I do not turn it off.

Overall I would highly recommend this book for preschool age children.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Summer Secret by Kathleen Fuller

The Mysteries of Middlefield- Book 1
A Summer Secret By Kathleen Fuller

This book intrigued me, because I know the area that it is set in. Mary Beth and Johnny are the main characters, a 13- year-old Amish girl and her twin brother. Young Mary Beth found an old, abandoned barn to be her refuge- but she couldn’t let her parents know about it, because it wasn’t considered to be safe. Then one day, she realizes that she isn’t the only one who uses the barn- but who is this mysterious person? Will she ever find out? And is it her brother Johnny who is reading her secret diary? Or is it the stranger?
Over all, I would recommend this book, especially for preteens. It gives a picture into the lives and culture of an Amish family without being overly dramatized and sensationalized. It teaches values that are useful for anyone, not just the Amish.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review: John Bunyan by Kevin Belmonte

            John Bunyan by Kevin Belmonte

This book is a part of the “Christian Encounters” series. It explores the life of John Bunyan, providing a lot of background information on the times and cultural situations he found himself in. It gives as many details about his parents, wives, and children as are known, as well as his life before and after his conversion.

I learned a lot I didn’t know about John Bunyan, but it was a little hard to get through the book, as small as it is. There were a lot of facts, but the story line wasn’t that captivating. I think it would be an excellent resource for someone who enjoys facts and history, but it’s not a book that really holds one’s attention.
The part I enjoyed the most was the part of John’s life when he was writing the Pilgrim’s Progress. Excerpts from his books and the story behind his books was probably the most interesting and relevant part of John Bunyan, in my opinion.

Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of John Bunyan as part of their Booksneeze program, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Home Made Simple Coupon Book

Here and Here are two links to try for a new Home Made Simple coupon booklet. I can't guarantee you'll get both of them, but it's worth a try! Giant Eagle periodically runs a sale on some of these products, and if I have more than 1 coupon book at a time, I have gotten free cleaning products!