Picture of the Week!- December 29, 2013

A funny snowman the children made.

Have a wonderful week!

Zucchini Bread as Cake (Recipe)

We have always tried to have healthy cakes or muffins for the children for their birthdays.  I happened to have a wonderful recipe for zucchini bread and my son wanted a cake in this train pan, so I combined the two and it was delicious.  The whole cake was gone within a day.

Here is the recipe!

Zucchini Bread Cake

Grease and flour your pan.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.  Add to the mixture:

• 3 eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup vegetable or olive oil

Stir them, then add:

• 2 cups zucchini

Stir everything together, then pour the batter into the pan.

Bake 40-70 minutes or until done.  Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then remove from the pan.  Eat when it is cool enough!

Picture of the Week!- December 22, 2013

The beginnings of a fun and wonderful train adventure!

Ideas for Christmas Books to Read

I have spent the past week reading and reviewing some great Christmas books from Abingdon press on Christ’s Bridge.  I would like to share those links with you now.  I hope you enjoy the books.  Click on the book and you will go to the review.

I hope you enjoyed these reviews and found some new books to read.

Hot Buttons Bullying Edition and Hot Buttons Image by Nicole O’Dell

Hot Buttons Bullying Edition and Hot Buttons Image Edition (Hot Buttons Series)

By Nicole O’Dell

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

Genre- Parenting

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 168 (Hot Buttons Image Edition) and 169 (Hot Buttons Bullying Edition)

Age Group- Adult and their teens

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $9.99 per book, ISBN 978-0-8254-4244-5 (Hot Buttons Image Edition), ISBN 978-0-8254-4243-8 (Hot Buttons Image Edition)

The Hot Buttons Bullying Edition and Hot Buttons Image Edition, by Nicole O’Dell, contain important information and strategic strategies to help you, the parent, and your teen to make the best decisions possible.

Each of these books have the same basic make-up with four parts and similar chapter titles, but the information is different. 

The books are made for the parents and the teen, with the parent taking the initiative.  Some of the topics are:

• “Prepared:Answering Why.”
• “Watchful: Answering When.”
• “Proactive: Answering How.”
• “Identifying the Image or Bullying Hot Buttons.”
• “The Armor of God.”
• “Strategic Scenarios.”
• and more.

About the Author-

Nicole O’Dell lives in Illinois with her husband and six children.  She is the founder of Choose NOW Ministries and is dedicated to helping guide teens and help parents.  She has written the Diamond Estate Series and also Scenarios for Girls interactive books.  Her two daughters helped her write the nonfiction book, Girl Talk.

My thoughts-

I recently read two of the latest books in the Hot Buttons series, by Nicole O’Dell.  I was very glad I read Hot Buttons Image Edition and Hot Buttons Bullying Edition, because as a parent of children who will soon be tweens and teens, these topics and how they are handled can be crucial to the success of the child.

O’Dell added a lot of pertinent facts in each edition, which lends to her credibility.  I liked how she added her personal story to the books as well.

I would have to say that my favorite part in each of these books is the “strategic scenarios.”  These scenarios with the situation and questions are a perfect way to practice the situation before it occurs.  I just wish these editions would include the best answer.  I have never been in most of these situations, so I’m not sure even from a Biblical point-of-view what could be the best answer.  I do know that the answer can be subjective, but the top two answers would be great.

These books are a great resource all parents need to read and implement into discussions with our teens.  I highly recommend these books.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Hot Buttons Bullying Edition and Hot Buttons Image Edition, by Nicole O’Dell, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Picture of the Week!- December 15, 2013

We had a birthday recently and this was our cake.  It was zucchini bread in the shape of a train.  It was gone in a day.  There will be a recipe and more photos posted soon.

Have a wonderful week!

Writings We Have Read!- December 10, 2013

We have had a busy week here.  We have been reading and trying to make sure we have gotten everything taken care of before we leave for Christmas.

B has read:

• Big Bad Bruce by Bill Peet
• No Such Things by Bill Peet
• Cowboy Country by Ann Herbert Scott and pictures by Ted Lewin
• Huge Harold by Bill Peet
• Hank the Cowdog: The Case of the Coyote Invasion and also The Case of the Secret Weapon by John R. Erickson

C has read:

• Oliver and Amanda’s Christmas by Jean Van Leeuwen and pictures by Ann Schweninger
• Pony Mysteries- The Clue in the Clubhouse by Jeanne Betancourt and illustrated by Kellee Riley
• Under the Roof from The Crabtree Basic Series
• A Home for Sandy by Romney Grey
• Friends About Us by Grace E. Storm

One of the books I read this week was The Christmas Quilt, by Vannetta Chapman.  It was an excellent Christmas book.

Have a wonderful week!

 

The Advent of Murder by Martha Ockley (Review)

The Advent of Murder

(Book 2, A Faith Morgan Mystery)

By Martha Ockley

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

Genre- Fiction / Christian / Mystery

Published by- Lion Hudson

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 256

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.95, ISBN 978-1-78264-006-6

Vicar of Little Worthy, Faith Morgan can’t seem to keep away from police investigations.  It is Christmastime and she is going to visit one of her parishioners, but when she get there a body has been found by the river.  Faith used to be a policewoman, so she wants to prove her parishioner is innocent. 

It is one of her busiest times and now it got even busier. 

Why was the young man killed, drugs, jealousy, an accident?  Who could have done it?  Will Faith have time to help with the Christmas programs at her church?

About the Author-

Martha Ockley currently lives in the North-East of England and writes fiction and nonfiction.

My thoughts-

The Advent of Murder, by Martha Ockley, kept me guessing until the end.  I didn’t have any idea who the murderer was, not even any suspects.  I think that is the best kind of mystery, when the reader has no idea who did it.

I have not read the first book in the series, The Reluctant Detective, and it wasn’t necessary to do so to fully enjoy this book.  I would like to read the first book though, because I want to know why Vicar Faith Morgan is a vicar and no longer a policewoman.  A prologue would have been a great way to learn about her past.

I thought Faith made a great vicar, but with God’s help and I felt, his blessing, she was able to use her detective skills to help the detectives.  She was very good at her tasks, which made her a very strong character.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.  It was a great book.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Advent of Murder, by Martha Ockley, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Picture of the Week!- December 8, 2013

I hope you have had a nice week!  I know the winter season is now upon us, so I thought I would show a bit of spring.  Have a wonderful week!

Keeping Secrets by LeAnne Hardy (Review)

Keeping Secrets

by LeAnne Hardy

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

 

Genre- Fiction / Christian / General

Published by- Birch Island Books

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 178

Age Group- Teen

Description of book- paperback and kindle, ISBN 978-065928890

Is it more important to tell the truth or keep secrets?

In Keeping Secrets, by LeAnne Hardy, Sindiswe Khumalo is the South African Skating Federation’s best figure skater.  The fifteen-year-old has a secret though, why her father is sick.  Nobody can be trusted with it.  One of her friends, Mboti lost his job and a girl in her class was bullied, because of AIDS and HIV.  Sindiswe want to go to the Olympics and she can’t let anyone know what is happening at home.  Will they find out anyway?  What will happen to her ice skating dreams?

Prologue and Sample Chapter!

About the Author-

LeAnne Hardy has lived all over the world.  She has enjoyed many different cultural experiences.  She uses her experiences to write her books.

Here is where you can find copies of the book!

Kindle

Nook

Print

Crossovers is only $0.99 for both Kindle and Nook this week in honor of the release of Keeping Secrets.

My thoughts-

Keeping Secrets, by LeAnne Hardy, was about a subject that I rarely think about, AIDS and HIV.  I know that AIDS and HIV are still an issue today, but I don’t hear about it in the media, like I do other diseases.

I thought this book was interesting and thought-provoking.  I knew in previous years that AIDS was prevalent in Africa, but I thought it was just in the poorer parts of the continent, not in the richer parts of South Africa. 

I enjoyed reading the book about Sindi.  She was such a good figure skater.  It was too bad that her life had to change in such a negative way, but there were also many positive ways her life changed.

I really liked the glossary of the South African words and the Acknowledgements at the beginning of the book.  They helped tie the book together.

I would highly recommend Keeping Secrets to young adults.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Keeping Secrets, by LeAnne Hardy, for free from LeAnne Hardy.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Writings We Have Read!- December 3, 2013

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Did you read any interesting books about the Pilgrims or Thanksgiving?

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes.

The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Jane Chapman.

Hank the Cowdog and The Case of the Prowling Bear, by John R. Erickson, is the book that B had a fun time reading.  He has checked more of the series out of the library and he can’t wait to get started.

Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Garth Williams, was being read by C. C gave up reading it.  I’m not sure why.  She doesn’t like reading very much though, so I’m not going to press the issue.  We will just find something easier for her to read.

We hope you have had a fun time reading this week.  We can’t wait to learn what you have been reading.

Picture of the Week!- December 1, 2013

I can’t believe it is December 1st already.  This year has gone by so quickly.

This Lego car reminds me of a special car that was both in a book and a movie.  What car is that?

Stay tuned and I will tell you later in the week!