• Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure by Jeff Brown

    While on the cruise last week I read the book Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure by Jeff Brown to the girls.  Before leaving we had them color and laminate their own Flat Stanley’s to take with them.  Both Flat Stanley’s had a blast on the cruise and were often seen looking out the window in our room at the ports, sneaking a snack from the shelf, and other random places throughout the week.

    The book was a really quick read but the girls loved it.  One afternoon as we were relaxing for a little bit before dinner I read the entire book to them.  They thought it was silly and enjoyed taking their very own Flat Stanley on adventures with them.

    In this book Flat Stanley wakes up one morning flattened by the bulletin board that fell on top of him during the night.  The book goes through the adventures that encounters while being flat from being a kite for his brother to being mailed to a friend and even helping in a museum robbery investigation.

    Whether you read the book to the kids or they read it on their own it will be a fun one for them.

    Brina and Karlie’s Flat Stanley’s waving at them from the window in our room.  The girls were tickled pink they could see them from the dock.  It definitely made our room easier to spot (I didn’t see any other Flat Stanley’s in any other windows, ha).

  • CONGRATULATIONS to Our “Significant Work” Winners!

    The names have been drawn for the giveaway!

    CONGRATULATIONS to

    Laurita

    Heidi

    Amanda

    Ashley

    Maria

    for winning the book

    Significant Work by Paul Rude!

    Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!

    Enjoy your new book!

    An email will be sent to you with more information*

    Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!

    *Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced.  Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.  The actual gift card may or may not be identical to the one pictured above.

  • Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

    I just finished reading the book Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls.  They were a little confused when we first started this book because they expected the next book in the series to be about the little girl Laura and her family, not about a boy named Almanzo.  Although they were unsure about it at the beginning it only took a chapter to get them hooked and back into the series.

    Farmer Boy is book three of the set we are currently reading through with the girls.  The book introduces Almanzo, Laura’s future husband.  While Laura growing up in a little house on the prairie with her parents and two sisters Almanzo was living on a big farm in New York State with his parents, one brother, and two sisters.

    The book is written from Almanzo perspective and goes through many of the things he did as a boy from chopping wood, cutting ice, planting corn, raising a prize pumpkin, training his steers, and much more!  The girls found it fascinating reading about Almanzo’s days.   They especially liked that he was found of horses.

    If you are looking for a fun book to read to your kids (both boys and girls) or have your children read themselves this is a great book.  I know the girls will be going back and reading these books again on their own after we finish with the series.  They have really enjoyed this series and learning a little bit about how Almanzo grew up fueled their excitement even more!

     

  • Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

    I just finished reading Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls.  I have an older version of the book (from when I was a kid), but the story is exactly the same.  They have a picture every few pages that the girls enjoyed looking at as we read together.    Brina and Karlie really enjoy these books and are always begging me to read…..just one more chapter. 🙂

    Little House on the Prairie is the second book in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series.  We read Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder first.  In this book the little girl, Laura, that we met in the first book traveled with her family out Midwest to the Kansas area.  Her Pa found a place out in the wide open space of the prairie where they built their new home, barn, started farming, trapping, and explored the area.  In this book Laura met Indians for the first time, saw a papoose, and experienced many new adventures.

  • Giveaway & Review: “Significant Work” by Paul Rude (5 WINNERS)

     

    Deep down inside all of us we want to know what we are doing is significant.  How do we know if our lives are making an positive impact on others?  An eternal impact.  As we go from day to day – working, doing laundry, household chores, and a myriad of other daily activities-living our regular everyday lives how do we know even these daily routines are significant in the whole scheme of life?

    I am excited to introduce you to Paul Rude’s new book Significant Work!  Paul has worked the full spectrum from Fortune 500 companies to mission fields of Alaska and is struck with the conviction that everyday of the Christian life is significant.  This led him to to launch Everyday Significance, an organization dedicated to helping people connect Christ-centered faith to everyday life.  Paul along with his wife, Misty, and his five kids live in beautiful rural Alaska.  When he is not speaking, consulting, or writing, you might find Paul rafting whitewater rivers or climbing mountains.

    My husband and I met Paul and Misty many years ago at our church.  Paul was the head of  our church’s Awana Outreach program in South Carolina.  It has been really neat seeing God call his family to Alaska and the amazing journey he has led them on over the past few years.  His book was refreshing to read and I know it will be a blessing to many people.

    5 lucky readers will win a FREE copy of the Significant Work book by Paul Rude!  ENTER NOW for a chance to win a copy of this great book (it only takes a couple seconds to leave a comment and be entered into the giveaway, please see all the giveaway details below)!

    Why I love this book:

    Paul’s book hit home in many areas.  As a child of a loving God, wife, Mom, homemaker, blogger and all the many other roles the days can seem a little crazy.  Some days it’s all I can do to find the floor when I am standing in front of a pile of dirty laundry and have trail of toys and books scattered throughout the house it is hard not to wonder……is it worth it?  How does all the day-to-day picking up, meal planning, cleaning, working, and everything else leave an eternal imprint?  Does it really matter?

    So often we believe the lie…..the lie that those directly in ministry fields are the ones who have a direct connection with God, that they are the ones making the biggest impact on the lives of others for eternity.  As I look around me I see many people that I interact with regularly – my husband, kids, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.  While all the little never-ending activities can seem mundane with little significance when my heart is all-in I will slowly see pieces of eternity shaping not only in my heart and life but in the lives of those who I interact with regularly.

    Many of us work in the everyday marketplace from truck drivers, waitresses, pilots, accountants, and more.  Our work is a gift from God.  We want to do work that matters to God, but the everyday demands of life constantly pull us in the opposite direction.*  Life is a balancing act.  Each of us wants to know that what we do every day counts.  We’re busy measuring externals, but all the while, God is looking directly at our hearts.

    We burn more time and energy at work than anything else we do in life by far.  Our jobs, along with the daily grind of errands and household chores, will consume the majority of the waking hours in our adult lives.  The hours consumed are not our second rate hours-our highest energy, peak creativity, and sharpest intellect.  Once all the necessary activities are done for the day there isn’t much time or energy left for doing work for eternity.  Sure we may have an opportunity to volunteer at church, go on a mission trip, or some other great activity but the majority of our days are filled with work and other obligations.  Can the normal everyday tasks be my way of making an impact on eternity?

    …..God usually chooses not to tell us the specific game plan for our lives.  He doesn’t swoop down in a fiery cloud and explicitly tell us what to do in life’s pivotal decisions.  How do we know we are doing God’s will for our lives?  Some people seem to know exactly what they are suppose to be doing while others struggle with knowing what they should be doing.  God does not play cruel little games, taunting us with his plan while holding it just out of reach….If he wants us to know something we will know it – absolutely and without any doubt. 

    While many people work outside of the home some people have the opportunity to stay home with their children.  Many moms feel guilty, because they don’t have the time or energy to volunteer more hours at church-hours that impact souls and make a lasting difference……How does washing a load of laundry change eternity? …….The truth, however, is stunning.  God uses our regular, daily, earthly work to forge the very shape of eternity.  I am so thankful that the time and energy we invest in our family really does have an eternal significance.  God can work in our hearts whether we are folding clothes at home or overseas on a mission trip.  Isn’t it awesome how he can use even the simple stuff to help shape eternity!

    No matter how obscure our lives may seem today, we will one day radiate the glory of God before redeemed humankind and all the mighty hosts of heaven.  No one will be forgotten, ignored, or belittled as insignificant to God.  The work you do today matters!

    God is forging his masterpiece with our random-arrow lives.  He’s given each of us an unique life to live – a particular place to strike the white-hot ingot of eternity.  We each have our very own place in his story.  Like master to apprentice, he entrusts the hammer to our hands.  He says, “Strike it. Strike it right here.  This is your place.  This is where I want you to shape eternity.  Live the life I gave you to live.”  In stammering awe, we take up the hammer.  We live our regular, everyday lives.  The hammer falls.  Sparks fly, and the Master, our Father, is delighted. 

    *Information that is in bold and italics are quotes from Paul Rude’s book.

    After reading Significant Work I think it will help inspire and encourage you as well.  I really like how Paul is upfront and honest with his readers.  I know many of you will enjoy this book!

    Giveaway Details

    As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share Paul Rude’s book I am hosting a giveaway!  5 WINNERS will receive a free copy of  Significant Work book by Paul Rude!

    Enter the Giveaway (up to 4 entries per person)!

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  Put a separate comment for each way you follow Blessings Multiplied (Email, Twitter, or Facebook) plus an extra entry for your bonus answer!   Each comment counts as an entry into the giveaway.

    All comments must be made by January 31, 2013 at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.  Good Luck!

    I encourage you to check out more information about  Significant Work by Paul Rude if you are interested in reading it.   This book book may give you the just right dose of motivation to get you on the road more eternal significance!  What are you waiting for…….get a copy and start reading today!

    More information about Significant Work by Paul Rude can be found:

    Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from the author. The book, specific product information, and photo were provided by Paul Rude, however, the opinions expressed in this post 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 special thanks to Paul Rude for providing me a copy of his  Significant Work book to review as well as five to giveaway to my readers!
     

  • Love It – You Version (Free Bible App)

     

    A friend of mine shared this free app with me back in September.  While in a conversation with a group of friends we started discussing how much time we actually spend reading and/or listening to Scriptures. We decided as a group to encourage each other to read through the Bible completely.

    Each of person has chosen various plans, versions, etc…. Since I didn’t start this until the middle of September I decided to do the whole Bible in 90 days so I can listen to the entire Bible before the end of the 2012 calendar year.   Here’s the 90 Day Plan I chose.

    At the beginning of the New Year I plan to switch to another plan. I have a few that I am excited about doing but haven’t completely decided which one yet.  Even though I have grown up in a godly family and church and probably have read all the Bible verses at various times I honestly cannot say that I have not faithfully followed a “read / listen the whole bible plan” until this one (I know it is really sad and embarrassing to admit).

    I have been thinking and praying a lot about my life, parenting, etc…. if my heart isn’t right and I am not gaining wisdom from the best source available how am I suppose to raise children who love God? How can I make an eternal positive impact on the lives around me if I am living life in the flesh or doing what “I” think is best?

    So after gathering with a few friends (for accountability) who want to do the same thing we started using this awesome free app. I LOVE that I can listen to Bible with this app. Everyone learns a different way. I have found that if I get up earlier and listen to it while I walk on the treadmill I actually retain more. The girls have come down a few times and heard me listening to it as well and have asked to listen to the last half with me while they eat breakfast for school. It warms my heart to see them eager to hear the Bible.

    When I miss a day I have it set to remind me which helps me stay on track. I find the weekends harder to keep up with it since our schedule is always different so I listen to more chapters on Mondays to catch up. Doing the 90 day plan has a lot more reading / listening then some of the other plans but it has been wonderful, insightful, and encouraging listening to it.

    There are 100’s of plans to chose from (whole bible plans, topical plans, devotional, and more). I chose to do the whole bible because I have never done it before.   You can read it, listen to it on your phone, or on your computer. I typically listen to it on my phone (if I do it on the computer I tend to get too distracted) where I can take my phone downstairs where it is quiet and listen without interruptions or distractions.

    I am so EXCITED to say that I have actually stuck with this plan!  Tomorrow is my last day – Day 90!!!!!  YAY!!!!  I am already looking forward to narrowing down the next plan that I want to go through.

    While I did listen to the Whole Bible in the past 90 days I still have A LOT to learn!  There were days that I didn’t listen very well or got distracted.  I am so thrilled to finally find an app that works really well for me that I want to share it with you.  Since starting I have shared this app with many family and friends too.  Jake is working through one as well.

    I hope as we quickly approach Christmas Day and the New Year that you would consider challenging yourself to read or listen to the Bible, whether it is with this app or another.  We have so much that we can gleam from the Scriptures that can help encourage us throughout our days as well as point us to the One who truly has all the answers!

    Download The Bible App Now

  • Free Audio Book: “God is In A Manger” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

    For the month of December Christian Audio is offering a free download of an audio book .  This month the audio book is God is In A Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

    These stirring words are among forty devotions that guide and inspire readers as they move thematically through the weeks of Advent and Christmas, from waiting and mystery to redemption, incarnation, and joy. Supplemented by an informative introduction, short excerpts from Bonhoeffer’s letters, and passages from his Christmas sermons, these daily devotions are timeless and moving reminders of the true gift of Christmas.  (information from Christian Audio)

    If you have been wanting to a book to listen to throughout the day or while driving then this is a great opportunity to get a book for free when you download it from Christian Audio in December.   Make sure to submit your order by December 31,  2012  to get your free audio book.  Thanks Christian Audio!

  • Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

    I just finished leaving the book Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls.  This series was one of my favorites growing up as a kid.  The girls loved it so much that they begged to start reading the second book in the series right away.

    The book is about a little girl named Laura Ingalls who grew up to write the Little House books.  She lived in a snug little log house deep in the woods of Wisconsin in the late 1870s with her Pa, Ma, older sister Mary, and baby sister Carrie.

    This is the first book of the series and a great one to read to your kids. We have an older version of the book (from when I was a kid), but the story is exactly the same.  They even have a picture every few pages that the girls enjoyed looking at as we read together.

  • Free Ebooks: eReader Girl

    Do you enjoy a finding free or discounted ebook deals?  Crystal at MoneySavingMom has launched a new website called eReaderGirl  where women can go to find free or discounted ebooks!

    Whether you have a Kindle or Nook this site will be a great resource for finding books to read.  Even if you don’t have a Kindle or Nook you can download an app that allows you to read them on your cell phone, tablet, or computer.

    The eReader Girl tells you about free ebooks available each day as well as discounted ebooks.  The ebooks are categorized by different genres.  They even have Children’s books listed for you.  Many of the ebooks you will find listed on the website will be free for a limited time so please make sure to double check the price prior to completing your order.

    You can follow eReader Girl on Twitter or Facebook too.  I am super excited about this website because our family loves to read books and can be often found reading together.  It is always a real treat finding a favorite book or one I have been wanting to read listed for free or at a great discount.  Hope you enjoy exploring this neat new site!

  • Giveaway & Review: “Celebrating & Savoring a Simple Christmas” ebook by Crystal Paine (24 HOURS ONLY)

    Do you want to have a meaningful, memorable, relaxed Christmas this year? Do you really want to be able to savor and enjoy this season-not just rush through it feeling overwhelmed and behind? Are you tired of overspending every Christmas in attempt to feel close to your loved ones?  I am excited to introduce you to Crystal Paine’s new ebook Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas.   Crystal is the author of the popular Money Saving Mom blog and this is a positive and practical ebook that will encourage you to focus on the joy of Christmas while staying within the family budget!

    24 HOURS ONLY 1 lucky reader will win a FREE copy of the Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas ebook by Crystal Paine!  ENTER NOW for a chance to win a copy of this great ebook (it only takes a couple seconds to leave a comment and be entered into the giveaway, please see all the giveaway details below)!

    You can get started reading  Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas ebook by Crystal Paine for only $0.99 for the next 3 days only (November 13 – 15, 2012)!

    Who is This Book For?

    Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas is for you if:

    • You end every Christmas season frazzled, with a cold, and in need of a nap.
    • You dread the day after Thanksgiving and every day following up and until New Year’s Day.
    • You want your house to look beautiful for Christmas, but instead it’s a mess!
    • You end up overwhelming yourself by spending too much time on Christmas crafting and baking

    Why I love this book:

    I LOVE the Christmas Holidays and celebrating with my family!  Somehow with the busy activities, shopping, gift wrapping, delivering, programs, and everything else the “to do” list gets longer and before long I am exhausted.  Not to mention some years our budget has been stretched a little bit too much.  I like that Crystal encourages people to kept it simple and stay within your family budget.

    After reading Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas I think it will help inspire you to make positive steps in the direction of a Simple Christmas as well.  My husband and I have already discussed our Christmas budget (and sticking to it) and several other items already.  I am looking forward to spending some time together to go over more of the topics I read about in Crystal’s book.  I know many of you will enjoy this ebook and find it to be a wonderful resource especially with the upcoming Christmas season!   Here’s just a few topics covered in this book:

    • How to organize your Christmas list
    • How to make & stick to a Christmas budget
    • Holiday freezer cooking
    • Simple and inexpensive homemade gifts
    • How to get and keep your home clean & organized
    • Printable worksheets for your Holiday planning
    • And Many More great tips to help you have a fun Christmas Holiday with your family.

    24 Hour Giveaway Details

    As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share Crystal Paine’s ebook I am hosting a giveaway!  1 WINNER will receive a free copy of Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas ebook by Crystal Paine!

    Enter the Giveaway (up to 4 entries per person)!

    1. Sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email
    2. Follow Blessings Multiplied on Twitter – @BlessMultiplied
    3. Like Blessings Multiplied on Facebook – BlessingsMultiplied
    4. BONUS – you can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing your favorite part of the Christmas Holidays.

    All comments must be made by Wednesday, November 14, 2012 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.

    I encourage you to check out more information on Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas by Crystal Paine if you are interested in finding ways to help you to tackle all those Holiday projects and events!  This ebook book may give you the just right dose of motivation to get you on track for a simple and relaxing Christmas season!  What are you waiting for…….get a copy and start reading today!

    The Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas ebook by Crystal Paine is currently available for $0.99 for the next 3 days ONLY (Tuesday, November 13 to Thursday, November 15, 2012) after that it will go up to $4.99. 

    I was given this ebook for free to write an informed review.  The ebook, specific product information, and pictures were provided by Crystal Paine, however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own.   I was not paid to write this post.  A special thanks to Crystal Paine for providing me a copy of her Celebrating & Savoring A Simple Christmas ebook to review as well as one to giveaway to my readers!