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Book Review and Author Interviews, Devotional, family devotions, Fun for kids, Giveaway, Kid Ministry, My Faith, Parent and Child Connection

Twas the Season of Advent–Giveaway for Glenys Nellist’s new release

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Hey everyone! I’m so excited to be hosting a give-away for Glenys Nellist’s latest release in the Twas series entitled, Twas the Season of Advent. It is a fabulous family devotional with accompanying artwork by Elena Selivanova.

Description: This is a product perfect for family devotions along with many other settings. There are 25 devotions, one for each day leading up to Christmas, with a blend of stories from the Old and New Testament. I love that Nellist has included the story of Isaiah, as I believe it is so important to remember the fact that God promised to send Jesus seven hundred years before he was born! What a miracle!

At the beginning of each page is a poem in the cadence of Clement C. Moore’s classic, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. There is also a highlighted scripture, and several paragraphs to read aloud together with your child. Each devotion concludes with a heart-felt prayer that also serves to summarize the main point of the day and personalize it for the reader.

For example: I love the story of the angel appearing to Mary. This is the content of the devotion for December 6th. The title is “My Answer is Yes.” The prayer reads:

“Dear God, thank you for Mary who was so brave and trusted you. When I need to be brave, help me remember that you are with me.“

Another page that is especially meaningful is the way Nellist concludes the book:

“I wonder how you are celebrating this holy night. I hope that wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, you might come to the manger, where God is waiting to meet you. No matter if your home is quiet or noisy this Christmas Eve–in the hustle or the hush; in the chaos or the calm; in the sound or in the silence, God is waiting to meet you there.

Dear God, as we gather around the manger, help us to listen as you whisper into our heart. Help each one of us truly know that this child–Jesus, Prince of Peace, Immanuel, the Word, was born for us. Thank you for this holy Christmas Eve.“

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There is so much rich and meaningful content packed into this book! I pray that God will powerfully use it in the hearts of all who read it. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and he is also the Savior–the Messiah–the one who was born to save each of us from our sin. I am so thankful that Glenys Nellist has written this book, and that Zonderkidz has chosen to publish it. It speaks of the most important message.The message of Jesus Christ.

You will be glad you purchased this book and decided to use it with your family!!!

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

I am so happy to be giving away one copy of ‘Twas the Season of Advent!

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Zonderkidz, and is open to entrants living in the USA with a physical street address (no PO boxes.) 

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow @mindybakerbooks and @glenysnellist on Instagram and leave a comment on any Instagram post this weekend about the give-away.

2. You can also tag a friend on any Instagram post this weekend for even more entries. One entry per tag.

3. Leave a comment on this blog post for an additional entry.

4. For 10 additional entries, follow this blog and/or subscribe to my mini-magazine. You will receive free bi-monthly content and also be notified of any new posts.

5. You must enter by 6pm EST on Sunday, November 14, 2021. I will draw the winner and post the result here and on Instagram Monday morning, November 15, 2021.

MORE INFORMATION:

Here is a link to purchase the book!

You can find out more about Glenys at her website. She has loads of other wonderful titles!

I absolutely love how Zonderkidz produces free resources to accompany their books. There is a free Parent/Teacher Guide for Twas the Season of Advent that has daily questions and follow-up activities. You can download them at the Zonderkidz website. Check it out!

This blog post is part of a BLOG HOP. The next scheduled post will be December 15th on the Instagram of @DeeperKidmin (Brittany Nelson)

Book Review and Author Interviews, Devotional, Parent and Child Connection

Simply Christmas – A New Holiday Devotional by Tama Fortner

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Look what was just delivered into my inbox! It is Tama Fortner’s fresh, new Christmas devotional for busy moms, and it is a treasure!

31 days worth of inspiring devotions along with practical advice to help you keep your Christmas this year simple, yet meaningful!

I loved how Tama incorporated tips to be mindful of others (like at holiday celebrations when you are feeling self conscious) as well as shared reminders about what is really important (like quality time with your kids). Her writing has an authentic tone and is very relatable!

If you have ever compared yourself to others and felt inadequate, Tama has some insights for you from the Bible. I absolutely love the verses she selected for each day! It is such a beautiful thing to read the Scriptures and have God’s Spirit speak to your heart.

So…

This Christmas season, check out this devotional! You won’t regret it! (Scroll down for order link)

Here is the press release description:

Between holiday baking, decorating the house, shopping for the perfect gifts, and hunting for the most picturesque tree, Christmas can be anything but peaceful for moms. Too often, the stress and busyness of the season make it difficult for them to find time to simply rest and dwell on the wonder of the Savior’s birth. 

Fortner’s 31 short yet beautifully written devotions offer moms an opportunity to indulge in a few minutes of calm each day as she takes them back to that long-ago first Christmas. With warmth and wit, she also shares tips for leaving perfectionism behind and becoming the “keeping-it-real mom” instead.

“When I was starting out as a mom, it seemed as if everywhere I looked, there was perfection,” Fortner says. “Perfect clothes, perfect kids, perfect meals, perfect homes. And I tried to keep up with that. And I realize now that much of the pressure I felt was self-imposed. I had to grow into feeling comfortable in my own role as a mom…and that happened as I grew in my faith and my understanding of who I am as a daughter of God.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tama Fortner is a bestselling writer with more than 35 titles to her credit. As a ghostwriter, she has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and an incredibly lazy dog who doubles as a footwarmer. For more information, visit www.tamafortner.com.

Order the book online at this link

Tama’s Instagram

Tama’s Twitter

**Tama, I wish you all the best with this new release! I think it has the potential to touch many hearts!

Book Review and Author Interviews, family devotions, Giveaway, Kid Ministry, My Faith, Parent and Child Connection

Stunning Giveaway for I WONDER by Glenys Nellist

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Hey everyone! I’m so excited to be hosting a give-away for Glenys Nellist’s latest release entitled, I Wonder. It is an illustrated Bible with artwork is by Alessandra Fusi, and the color palette that she chose is stunning!

Description: This is a product perfect for family devotions along with many other settings. There are 15 stories from the Old Testament and 15 stories from the New Testament.

At the end of each story are “I Wonder” questions that will foster deep discussions and spiritual growth for readers both young and old. I think they really help the reader step into the pages of the Bible and experience it on a more personal level.

For example: I love the story of the prodigal son. Here are the questions that follow that chapter, aren’t they beautiful?

I wonder… if the dad would ever have given up waiting for his son.

I wonder…how the son felt when his dad hugged him.

I wonder…if God is like that father.

Spend some time pondering those questions today and let God speak to your heart!

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Zonderkidz, and is open to entrants living in the USA with a physical street address (no PO boxes.) 

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow @mindybakerbooks and @glenysnellist on Instagram and leave a comment on any Instagram post this week about the give-away.

2. You can also tag a friend on any Instagram post this week for even more entries. One entry per tag.

3. Leave a comment on this blog post for an additional entry.

4. For 10 additional entries, follow this blog and/or subscribe to my mini-magazine. You will receive free bi-monthly content and also be notified of any new posts.

5. You must enter by 6pm EST on Friday, October 1, 2021. I will draw the winner and post the result here and on Instagram Saturday morning, October 2, 2021.

MORE INFORMATION:

Here is a link to purchase the book!

You can find out more about Glenys at her website. She has loads of other wonderful titles!

I absolutely love how Zonderkidz produces free resources to accompany their books. The I Wonder Bible comes with a free Activity Pack and Coloring Pack. You can find those resources through the Zonderkidz website and through Glenys’s author website.

I wonder. Two simple words, but when you put them into practice, they invite deep thoughts and contemplation. I hope you can take some time today to reflect on God’s deep love for you. I think I’ll join you. I’m sure we will both be encouraged by this practice!

P.S. This is a BLOG HOP! The next stop is Deeper Kidmin (Brittany Nelson) Deeper KidMin (@deeperkidmin) Check it out starting October 4!

Book Review and Author Interviews, Fun for kids, Promoting Literacy, Summer reading

Four Mermaid Picture Books and an Extension Craft Idea

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Directions: Let your imagination take over and create a crown, necklace, ring, or bracelet. String beads, glue feathers, find some sticky foamies and have fun! We used a glue gun for the feathers. This is a great craft to practice patterns!

Here is a fun photo of my daughter and a few friends who helped me create my samples. Notice that mermaids come in all sizes!

Check out this Mermaid Pinterest Board for more mermaid craft ideas and mermaid snack ideas.

And now for some mermaid books! Drumroll please….

Part-time Mermaid by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Cambria Evans celebrates the imagination and imaginative play! Pretending to be mermaids was always a very popular playtime event for my daughters when they were young. The book is told in first person and the reader experiences the adventure of a little girl who becomes a mermaid at night. She pets the otters, explores a sunken pirate ship, and even encounters a sea witch while attending the Midsummer Sea Festival.

How to Meet a Mermaid by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Simona Sanfilippo is a charming book that invites playtime fun. The author takes you through a progression of ideas of how you might meet a mermaid. One of the suggestions is to have a crown she can wear. In the back of the book there are directions for making a mermaid crown (I based my crown and jewelry craft off of this idea). There are also directions for going on a field trip to the beach, and even the suggestion of cleaning up the beach by throwing away any litter you may encounter.

The Ocean Calls– This is a beautiful book by Tinal Cho and illustrated by Jess X Snow. It is the beautiful story of a girl who has a grandmother that shows her how to be a “haenyeo” which is like a treasure-hunting mermaid. The back matter explains and gives quotes from authentic present-day Korean haenyeo divers. The beauty of the artwork drew me in and the story captured my heart. Love this book!

The Little Mermaid-by Jerry Pinkney. Melody wants to explore and find out what is above the surface of the water, and she really wants to be friends with a little girl she spies on the shore. She trades her voice for legs. Don’t you love variations of familiar stories? The stunning artwork will keep you mesmerized for a long time.