Quotes to Live By

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
(John Quincy Adams)

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. (Aristotle)

Every artist was first an amateur. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. (Thomas Jefferson)

It takes ten years to build up a reputation, but only five minutes to ruin one. (Anonymous)

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Game Changer

Everyone is probably talking about Germany vs. USA in this round of the world cup. But what stood out to me more wasn't the goal that won, but the incredible sportsmanship being shown on both teams. 

It wasn't all about winning and ousting the other team like Uruguay did, when one of the team players bit someone. It was about working together and playing a game they love to play. That should be everyone's reason to play a game.

In Game Changer, readers see that record-setting quarterback for Michigan State University and draft pick of the NFL's Washington Redskins, Kirk Cousins pens an accessible and compelling collection of life principles for readers young and old. With engaging stories from his award-winning career, Cousins illustrates core biblical concepts while encouraging good choices, and, in the process, readers get an inside look at high-stakes football as well as the personal and highly motivating reflections of a much-respected athlete.


Now in softcover, Game Changer is a great pick for parents, coaches, athletes, camps, FCA groups, and family explorations. It is not a self-glorifying biography or a sterile collection of dos and don'ts, but rather a dispatch from a real Christian life-with all its ups and downs-lived under the bright lights of college and professional football.

Featuring:

  • Personal stories and struggles of a competitive Christian athlete
  • Truthful discussion of media hype and modern sports culture
  • Reflections on honesty, humility, hard work, and privilege

Captured on the High Seas

British warships battle with American privateers in this high sea adventure. Cousins Patrick and Beth have landed on the Royal Louis in the middle of the Revolutionary War. Cannonballs fly and swords slash. 

They’re captured! Now they face even more dangers. Will their new friend James Forten be sold by the British into the West Indies slave trade? Or will they all be sentenced to the overcrowded prison ship floating near shore where scores of prisoners die from filth and disease? 

Patrick and Beth help plan a daring escape as they witness firsthand the deeds of brave heroes who fought to make America the land of the free.

I can see myself personalizing this book as an adventure in my classroom, while learning appropriate vocabulary. This book would be a great intro to teaching the Revolutionary War with cannonballs and swords.

This would be a lot of fun. I'm glad I got to review this book for free from: Tyndale.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Snap Decision

Decisions, decisions, decisions! Our children are faced with them every day. To do or not to do...  Right vs. wrong...

How do we teach them to wade through all the choices that they are facing every day? How can teachers guide them through every day life?

WE CAN'T! So we let society guide them through it? WRONG!!!

We should surround our children with healthy material that can guide them in the right direction. That's where this book comes in handy.

From New York Times Bestselling author Nathan Whitaker, an action packed sports series for kids who love the excitement and energy of the game.

New York Times bestselling author Nathan Whitaker presents a compelling series of sports stories filled with great life-lessons and perfect for kids ages 9 to 12, young athletes, and fans of Tim Green and Mike Lupica. In Snap Decision, seventh grader Chase Clark has the opportunity to play on the varsity football team. But when his best friend is injured, telling the truth about what happened costs him their friendship. Then Chase is accused of cheating and suspended from the team himself. How can he find the faith to do what's right when everything goes wrong?

Acclaimed for his previous works, including New York Times best-sellers Quiet Strength with Tony Dungy and Through my Eyes with Tim Tebow, Whitaker captures the spirit of the game and the hearts of young readers, including reluctant readers. The relevant themes of dealing with friends, and crossing lines will appeal to boys and girls, and parents will appreciate the underlying themes of honesty and sportsmanship. Perfect for home or school libraries, kids and coaches, Snap Decision is an excellent addition to the juvenile sports genre.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

A Bible for Early Readers

There have been numerous amounts of Bibles since the translation to English many years ago. Since the last decade, consumers have seen Bibles for all different ages, including toddler rhyming Bibles that follow the important stories.

This new edition is the best one so far. I might be a little biased because I have taught reading to some of my students. A Bible for early readers is the best idea so far. The Bible won't be 'dumbed' down, just because the child is still a toddler, but rather the words are a little easier to read.

The Adventure Bible for Early Readers takes you on a fun, exciting journey through God’s Word. Along the way you’ll meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Most importantly, you’ll grow closer in your relationship with God. Here’s a quick tour through the features:
  • Life in Bible Times - Articles and illustrations describe what life was like in ancient days
  • People in Bible Times - Articles offer close-up looks at amazing people of the Bible
  • Let’s Live It! - Hands-on activities help you apply biblical truths to your life
  • Did You Know? - Interesting facts help you understand God's Word
  • Words to Treasure - Great verses to memorize
  • Twenty special pages - Games and other Bible fun, all with a jungle safari theme
  • Book introductions, a dictionary, and color maps
  • Includes the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) that is perfect for children learning to read and explore the Bible for the first time on their own.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Super Stitches

Have you ever wanted to sew either by hand or a machine? Now you can! Introducing this great free book that I got from Blogging for books, you can become a super stitcher too! 

Does your sewing machine come with lots of fancy knobs and buttons that you've never thought to try? This essential guide to machine and hand stitches will teach you how to use any and every stitch for professional-looking seams, hems, gathers, darts, and more. 

Unlock your full sewing potential with 57 machine stitches, 18 hand stitches, and tips to choose the correct needles, threads, and sewing machine accessories, complete with detailed step-by-step tutorials and illustrations. 

This comprehensive stitch dictionary is a must-have companion for any sewer, whether you just bought your first sewing machine or your'e a seasoned expert looking to polish your skills. 

New Identity vs. New Heart

Seagrass Pier is the perfect place for Elin to hide from a killer, but an old love's ability to see her true heart could be her undoing.
When Elin Summerall contracted a virus that damaged her heart, she was lucky to get a transplant. At first it was an overwhelmingly good gift. But then she began to remember a murder she never witnessed—the murder of her heart's donor.
When she reveals what she knows to a disbelieving police officer, she's exposed as a witness and must flee for her life to a remote cottage on Hope Beach.
Fearing what might happen to her daughter and mother, she asks Marc Everton for help, though she hasn't seen him since the night her father died. She remembers that night with shame, and she never told Marc about their daughter.
Marc is less than convinced that Elin's "memories" are real. He is blindsided by the news about his daughter, but for her sake, he agrees to help. Then he begins to notice the small ways Elin is different. She now likes coffee, her musical tastes have changed, and she's ditched her jeans and sneakers for dresses and high heels.
As Elin tries to stay alive and bring the killer to justice, she begins to doubt her own identity. Did her new heart save her life only to cause her to lose herself? And if she's really changed, why does her new heart love Marc just as much as her old one did?
This story reminds me so much of a Korean Drama called: Summer Scent. In it, this girl gets a new heart transplant and meets this guy. The girl's new heart is from the guy's dead fiance. The guy realizes that everything about the girl resembles his fiance.
This book has some unique twists but it can be paralleled to the drama. I love reading books from this author, so it didn't matter too much that I've heard about this plot from a different angle before. 

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Bonding with Children

Ever wanted to bond with your kids over a common interest? This book will teach you how to involve your kids in sewing simple projects. It doesn't matter if you cannot sew or is a beginner. The book takes you through step by step instructions through each project. It also gives you a few templates at the back of the book.

Simple sewing techniques make craft time fun for kids and grown-ups alike, with ideas for vintage-inspired clothes, accessories, quirky home decor, cute toys, and sweet gifts designed by a mom.

Don't just sew for your kids. Involve them in these projects. Rubyellen Bratcher has invented 30 simple projects that encourage families to spend more time together through DIY activities. 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

The Ticking Clock

Saving Amelie was a heartbreaking story about the Holocaust and the race against time as Amelie's mom raced to save her from her father and all of Hitler's men who frowned upon disorders in the bloodline. As readers find out, Amelie is born deaf and that shames her father into wanting to do away with such a mistake.

I won't go into too much detail about the book, but it had a gripping plot from page 1. I could not put down the book even though the characters were fictional. I felt the horror that Amelie, Rachel, and Kristine were going through.

As a teen, I was very fascinated by the Holocaust and the survivors of the time. I have read Anne Frank's Diary and other books that talked about the survivors. I have even interviewed a survivor from the Holocaust museum for a history project in high school.

Even though I know it was a terrible time for Jews, I just can't imagine going through all those things with family members going into hiding and living with fear and betrayal of friendships and relationships. We can be thankful that today no one has to go through it again.

Some of us probably still have the memories, but God is helping us move forward as time helps to numb the feelings. For those of those still struggling with emotions from certain obstacles in their life, please be patient to those around you.

You never know the battles someone has gone through, until you have lived a day in their shoes.