CONTEST CLOSED!

Thanks to everyone who entered!  Our winner for the complete Betty Crocker prize pack is Barbara Wright, who is looking forward to trying the brownie mix!  And our winner for the two coupons for free mixes is April, who wants to dig into some chocolate chip cookies!

Congratulations ladies!  These are such good mixes!  Please check again for more contests in the near future!

So many people in my family eat gluten-free.  My mother, two of my sisters, my grandfather, and my six-year-old daughter.  Oh what bliss it was to try out Betty Crocker’s new gluten-free baking mixes!  I’m always the first to admit that I’m not a domestic genius (is that you laughing mom?) and trying to figure out the foreign world of gluten-free baking can be intimidating at the best of times!

Betty Crocker makes it SO easy to whip up a scrumptious cake, batch of cookies, pan of brownies in no time – and the results are always delicious, the texture moist – never crumbly.  We tried the yellow cake mix here at home, and even though my timer didn’t go off, and the cake baked a bit too long, it was still one of the very best gluten-free cakes we’d ever had.  Well, after that I had to share with my family!  True, we did eat the cookies all by ourselves, but the brownies and chocolate cake mix came with us to the city to share all around.

Now, I have to tell you that my mother and younger sister are excellent bakers.  They make scrumptious gluten-free cakes and Ioften enlist their efforts for my daughter’s birthday.  Even they were blown away by the quality of Betty Crocker’s new offerings.  Trust me – we aren’t a mix-oriented family, but if you’re eating gluten-free you can’t miss out on these.  They are terrific, I have no complaints whatsoever.  Great natural flavour, easy to make, fabulous end results.

Ah wait, I do have a complaint, and so does the rest of my family!  Betty Crocker’s new GF mixes aren’t available in Canada!  Though they’re made in an entirely gluten-free facility here in Canada, the product isn’t available here on the shelf.  Please Betty Crocker, please send your baking mix goodness here to Canada!  My entire family told me to share our plea with you….PLEASE!

Ahem.  If you live in the United States, count yourselves blessed!  We might have to make a special trip down south just to pick up some boxes of mix!

Even better, if you live in the U.S. you can enter my contest for a Betty Crocker “Sweet Moments” prize pack that includes all four (4) samples of the dessert mixes, two (2) Free coupons for any of the varieties, a grocery tote bag, magnetic grocery list and pen to make shopping easier!  This is the same sample package that I received from MyBlogSpark to review – thanks very much!

One blessed winner will receive the prize pack, and another will receive two coupons for a free box of gluten-free baking mix of their choice!

AND, even more exciting!  If you live in the U.S. you can call 1-800-446-1898 to request a free coupon for one of the new gluten free mixes and to also receive information about General Mills´ growing set of gluten free products.  These mixes must certainly be the best new baking product of 2009 hands-down.

So, how can you win?

CONTEST DETAILS:

To enter visit Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baking Mixes and let me know which mix you’d most like to try!  If you have any favourite recipes for gluten free baked treats, feel free to share them here as well!

For additional entries:

1. Subscribe to this blog for updates – see the left hand sidebar. Leave an additional comment letting me know you’ve subscribed (or if you already subscribe).

2. Write a post on your blog promoting and linking to this contest. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

3. Add the Quiverfull Family button (see the code box in the right hand sidebar under BUTTON UP!) to your blog’s sidebar, or let me know if you already have the button displayed. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

4. Digg, Stumble, Tweet, Facebook or otherwise share this post on a social networking site. Leave an additional comment indicating how you shared this post.

5. Follow me on Twitter or let me know if you are an existing follower.

Each additional step taken counts for 1 additional entry. A total of 6 entries are available if you complete all of these steps. Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest will close at 12 a.m. MST on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009. One winner will be randomly drawn for the Betty Crocker Prize Pack on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 and notified by email. Please fill your email address in the comment form when you are completing your comment so that I can contact you. The winners must respond with a mailing address within 72 hours of my email, or new winners will be chosen. This contest is open to those living in the US.

I look forward to seeing God bless a reader with these wonderful mixes! Thanks for entering.

Although I’m a Canadian I find the premise of this title fascinating.  Our neighbours to the South seem to have such a distinctly Christian heritage.  I’m sure that many of Canada’s founders were Christian as well, but this fact is rarely shared or spoken of at all – perhaps my confidence is misplaced!  I only became a Christian a couple of years ago, so I need to buff up on the Christian foundations of North America! If you’re like me, and wondering about the influence of God’s word on the formation of the United States, take a peek below!

The Book That Made America: How the Bible Formed Our Nation (Nordskog Publishing) by Jerry Newcombe is a definitive volume on the Christian roots of our nation. Those who want to restore knowledge of our Christian heritage have their work cut out. As secularism continues its stranglehold on American education, we move further and further away from retaining our Christian roots. The Book That Made America will challenge anyone to know the true origin of our Nation and to fight to keep it. Newcombe hopes to educate Americans by providing the facts of history, proving that America began as a Christian nation and American’s have every right to preserve and uphold that heritage.
All that is positive in our foundation can be traced back to the Scriptures. Recently, President Obama declared that America is not a Christian nation, while Newsweek announced the demise of Christian America. This book is the answer to America’s critics with the facts of history.

Jerry Newcombe, D. Min., is senior producer for Coral Ridge Ministries and has produced or coproduced more than fifty documentaries. The host of two weekly radio shows, he has also been a guest on numerous television and radio talk shows – including Fox Business News, C-Span, USA Radio and Moody Radio. He is the author or coauthor of twenty two books, including with Dr. Kennedy, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?, How Would Jesus Vote?, and The Presence of a Hidden God.

Coral Ridge Ministries is a media outreach founded by Dr. D. James Kennedy. Its programming reaches a national television, radio, and Internet audience at www.coralridge.org.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT AMAZON.COM!

I just received my Fall 2009 issue of TEACH Magazine, and was reminded to write my review for the Summer issue which focused upon purity.  In truth, I have been slowly savoring this thoughtful issue for months – it’s obvious that much prayer and careful contemplation has gone into this magazine for daughter’s of God who are busy building His kingdom through their roles as wives, mothers, homeschoolers, and homemakers (often in that order!)

If you aren’t a current subscriber to Teach you might be surprised.  This periodical lacks the full-colour, crammed full, glossy, advertisement laden pages of other homeschooling mags.  In fact, it is mostly filled with heartfelt, thoughtful articles, poetry, essays on spiritual development, and updates from the family of ediatrix Lorrie Flem.

The formal theme title is “Purity: In the “Purest Sense of the Word”, and focuses not only on the simpler issues of modesty, but on the deeper issues of cleansing from sin, emotional purity, and filling our hearts with the word of God so that we can think His thoughts after Him – surely the highest degree of purity!  Contributors young and old, from teens to grandma’s shared their hearts and the wisdom that the Lord has graced them with – wisdom that readers such as myself can in turn learn from.

It can be tempting (for me) to slip into religious bondage that focuses more upon external purity than upon the purity of the heart and soul.  God’s desires to turn us from dross into gold in the most secret, hidden places of the heart is so much more important to him than our external appearance – however modest that may be.  Please note that I’m not devaluing modesty – we certainly seek to dress in a way that doesn’t lead others into temptation – but I really appreciated the hearts of the TEACH contributors to draw out the fact that purity is much more than what we wear.

Some of the inclusions that I found the most helpful in the summer issue (ah, summer is almost gone) were Marilyn Boyer’s article about using the word of God through the book of Proverbs as a tool in lighting the path towards spiritual purity, and an anonymous free-form poem “A Portrait of Christ”.  I’ve been aware of the emphasis on teaching Proverbs in the homeschooling community, but it never really ‘clicked’ for me until I read Marilyn’s article.

Now that my Fall copy of the magazine is here I’m so excited to dig in and read the gems that the Lord has led Lorrie and her team of writers to bring to the table in this new issue.

You may have noticed that the blog’s been looking a bit…off lately. Thankfully the originally designer Cathy Tibbles is at work on it tonight! Hang in there and she should be all fixed up in a few days, tops! When Cathy designed this custom blog she was working out of Healing Designs (I have her button in my right sidebar), but now she’s a partner at Desperately Seeking WordPress. I highly recommend her work! Thanks Cathy!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Abide With Me (Includes a CD of 20 wonderful, favorite British hymns.)

New Leaf Publishing Group/New Leaf Press; Har/Com edition (May 1, 2009)

John Parker, Professor of English at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, has taught Shakespeare and other literary classes there for twenty-eight years. He holds the M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Tennessee, and also the Master of Arts in Religion from Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis. At Lipscomb and previously at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee, he has also taught classes in the Bible.

Paul Seawright is currently Chair of Photography at the University of Ulster. Previously he was Dean of Art Media and Design at the University of Wales, Newport, and the Director of the Centre for Photographic Research. His photographs have been exhibited worldwide and are held in many museum collections including The Tate London, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, International Centre of Photography New York, Portland Art Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Paul has a Ph.D. in Photography from the University of Wales and was awarded a personal chair in 2002. He is an honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, currently chairing their Fellowship panel. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. He has published six books.

Visit the authors’ website.

Product Details:

List Price: $19.99
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group/New Leaf Press; Har/Com edition (May 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0892216905
ISBN-13: 978-0892216901

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT CHRISTIANBOOK, AMAZON.COM, OR AMAZON.CA!

Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers: One Hundred Ancient Egyptian Jobs You Might Have Desired or Dreaded has been in my to-read stacks for some time now. However, I’ve had the hardest time finishing up the last few chapters necessary to wrap it up with. Each time I cracked the pages and began to read Kristin Butcher’s tongue-in-cheek job descriptions from ancient Egypt and soak in the comical, cartoon-like illustrations by Martha Newbigging, I felt a persistent tug on its pages. Soon the book would be slipped out from between my fingers and into the eager hands of a waiting child.

My three and six-year-old were each as likely as the other to abscond with this colourful title into a hidden nook or cranny of the living room. I found them curled up in the windowsill, sprawled out belly-down on the living room carpet, and curled in bed leafing through its pages. I finally succeeded in my mission by retreating to the bedroom during my toddler’s naptime and reading in the silent secrecy to be found there.

Ancient Egypt is without a doubt, one of the most fascinating historical time periods for children – the mummies, the pyramids, it’s all so mysterious. Author Kristin Butcher ensures that the quirky, and downright odd facts about living in ancient Egypt are expressed to children in ways that make an exploration of its culture unforgettable.

Covering 100 Egyptian ‘jobs’ in fifteen categories, children are invited to imagine themselves in each of the positions depicted. “It is your job to cut the huge stone blocks that will be used for monuments, statues, temples, and tombs.” Is the opening line of a job description for the position of quarryman. Each job category, such as “Nile Jobs,” “Assisting Pharaoh Jobs,” and “Noble Jobs” provide background information about the culture of Egypt and the importance and role of the category’s importance in Egyptian life. At times quite a depth of historical detail is included here.

Each individual job description is approximately two to three paragraphs in length and is accompanied by Newbigging’s trademark watercolour and ink illustrations that fill the pages of the other titles in Annick Press’ ‘historical jobs’ series of books.

Sidebars backed by a watermarked pyramid also accompany some job descriptions and provide additional archaeological information, historical detail, or relevance to modern society. A pictorial timeline, introductions to topics ranging from Egyptian government to belief in the afterlife, a fabulous list of additional recommended reading (think historical fiction chapter books), and an index round out the value-added educational components.

Whether read front-to-back, opened randomly, or browsed through while reading high-interest Egyptian job openings, children are sure to pick up a wealth of tidbits and Egyptian trivia while developing a passing familiarity with the lives of the ancient Egyptian people. Butcher is sure to include all manner of fascinating, personal details – which jobs will make you sweaty, which will make your back hurt, which will require you to marry your brother, and so on. My six-year-old has broken into unprompted narrations of certain enthralling jobs to her father such as our family favourite, “Sandal Bearer,” in which the lucky holder of this job gets to kiss Pharaoh’s big toe each time he helps him on with his shoes. A highly esteemed position in Egyptian society apparently. And of course, all of the fascinating details about removing the brain through the nose are included in the “Embalmer” job description in the “Temple Jobs” category.

For a picture book about Egypt, everyone is fairly well-covered, the men are all decked out in short linen skirts, the ladies wear long linen dresses for the most part. There is one gentleman – a reed cutter – who’s caught in full rearview nudity, a birthing mother is screened by her supportive attendants, and the dancing girls sport the equivalent of underwear with hair and hands that serve to conceal the upper torso. I’m thankful for Newbigging’s restraint in this area.

Some additional explanations may be required from parents as to the ‘godhood’ of Pharaoh. Butcher explains in her introductory background information that “Pharaoh was though to be the only living god left,” but then goes on to refer to him as a god throughout the text. While always subtly tongue-in-cheek with these mentions, younger children will no doubt miss the irony, leaving a need for some additional parental input on the topic.

The blithe disregard of my children for the official recommended age range of nine to twelve-years-old proves the book to work well across a broad range of ages when read aloud to a younger audience. Now that I’ve finally finished it, I can relinquish Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers to my daughters once again – I’m sure they’ve been missing it.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT AMAZON.COM OR AMAZON.CA!

There are times when the opening refrains of an album promise great things to come. The first time I popped in Canadian worship artist Joel Augé’s debut solo album On the Blue an irrepressible grin took possession of my face. The howling love song composed to Jesus – “So Deep in Love” – captured my heart, and promised a great album – a promise that has largely been fulfilled.

Far from being a newcomer to Christian music, Augé has been performing and recording since 1999 with other bands. His debut album reflects his calling as worship leading, offering up what he calls ‘vertically inspired’ songs – straight from his heart to God’s. With the majority of the offerings on the album flowing from his own pen, the blending of straight-up praise and worship songs is carefully enhanced by the frequently sparse acoustic accompaniment of each work.

Augé terms his style ‘art-rock’ – I’ll admit that I’m not familiar with the label, but I’m impressed with what he does. Strong folk influences are felt throughout with his simple guitar picking and rhythmic cadences. However, punchy, upbeat tunes with electric guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion are also present making up the backdrop for the rock-inflected songs.

It’s hard to pick favorites from the disc; nearly each song is excellent, though some suffer from awkward or seemingly irrelevant lyrical phrases at times. While listening to the disc my husband even mentioned periods where the lyrics weren’t as strong as they could have been. Hopefully as Augé matures in his song writing these slight glitches will be resolved. The overall strength of the album clearly overwhelms these ‘off’ moments.

Like most worship albums, the first half of the album is geared towards the upbeat, rocking songs of straight-up praise. “So Deep In Love” is a clear winner, while “Even the Rocks” evokes images of irrepressible worship and ties in with scriptural images. “Every Heart” casts a vision for the time when we’ll all surround the fallen and risen Lamb in singing His praises – beautiful.

The second half of the disc is clearly the folk-inspired, acoustic collection of worship songs – it’s much more laid back, subdued, and even bittersweet. “On the Blue” is an atmospheric exploration of being in unexplored waters with only Jesus to cling to and “I Am Here to Praise You” is a softly convicting call to worship God no matter our circumstance. “Singing Hallelujah” was actually one of my least favorite tracks, it seems more of a collection of personal reminiscences that few listeners will be able to connect with, than a universally applicable song as the others tend to be.

Augé’s tenor voice tends to soar into the upper heights of his range, soaring and undulating. His isn’t a husky, hearty vocal performance – more of a plaintive, pleading style. Clearly, I’m a new fan. I could only have wished for a longer disc. Augé’s work sits so well with me that I could enjoyably listen to a double-length album from him.

Track Listing:

1. So Deep in Love
2. Where You Go I Go
3. Every Heart
4. Even the Rocks
5. Miracle Love
6. Glory Glory
7. Stolen it Away
8. Singing Hallelujah
9. On the Blue
10. I Am Here to Praise You
11. Call On Me
12. I Know My Place

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT CHRISTIANBOOK, AMAZON.COM, OR AMAZON.CA!

CONTEST CLOSED!

Thanks to everyone who entered!  Our winner is spamgirl! Please email me within 72 hours with your bracelet of choice and your mailing address.  Also, to all who entered, please consider supporting this great cause with your future gift and jewelry purchases!

Normally I’m not a big jewelry wearer.  When contacted by International Sanctuary with the opportunity to review and promote their products I couldn’t resist.  For the past two years I’ve been reading a variety of books exposing the issues of human trafficking and forced prostitution around the world, and my heart has been moved to act on behalf of the women and children who are being exploited  for greed’s sake.  That’s just what iSanctuary.org has been doing.

From their website: “iSanctuary partners with a large international non-profit who conducts rescues throughout the world. Once the girls are rescued from the brothels, they are placed in aftercare facilities. The home acts as a place of safety while they are under the protection of the Child Welfare Committee. During this period, which may range from months to years, depending on the age they are at rescue, iSanctuary works to provide stability and consistency through offering skills training, education, counseling, and livelihood opportunities.”

Based in India, these 13 – 18-year-old girls create jewelry that is sold abroad to support the ongoing healing and skills training these recovering children receive.  You can read more at iSanctuary.org’s About Us page, you can also find them on Facebook.

iSanctuary sent me one of their lovely filigree necklaces to review, and when it arrived I was very impressed with the artisanquality packaging with a very earthy, natural feel.  The jewelry is perfectly packaged for gift giving to the discriminating jewelry lover.  Handmade by a survivor of trafficking, the delicate components were assembled in a way I’m not entirely familiar with and am still adjusting to (as I mentioned I rarely wear jewelry!)  The delicate looping chains make for a perfect addition to both casual and formal outfits, and my children are absolutely entranced by the intricate arrangements of beads.  Each time I wear it I’m deeply reminded of the hands that made it, and the ongoing suffering of countless women and children worldwide.  That may not be a pleasant sentiment, but it’s truthful, what I must remember is that there are many working to free these people, and that hope can be found through organizations such as iSanctuary if we join with them.

Please consider making your future jewelry purchases from iSanctuary’s line of necklaces, bracelets, notecards, and more.

For this giveaway I’m pleased to offer one blessed winner in the US or Canada their choice of an iSanctuary bracelet (not semi-precious)!

CONTEST DETAILS:

To enter visit iSanctuary’s online store and let me know any non-bracelet item you’d also like to own or purchase as a gift.

For additional entries:

1. Subscribe to this blog for updates – see the left hand sidebar. Leave an additional comment letting me know you’ve subscribed (or if you already subscribe).

2. Write a post on your blog promoting and linking to this contest. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

3. Add the Quiverfull Family button (see the code box in the right hand sidebar under BUTTON UP!) to your blog’s sidebar, or let me know if you already have the button displayed. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

4. Digg, Stumble, Tweet, Facebook or otherwise share this post on a social networking site. Leave an additional comment indicating how you shared this post.

5. Follow me on Twitter or let me know if you are an existing follower.

Each additional step taken counts for 1 additional entry. A total of 6 entries are available if you complete all of these steps. Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest will close at 12 a.m. MST on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009. One winner will be randomly drawn for the bracelet on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 and notified by email. Please fill your email address in the comment form when you are completing your comment so that I can contact you. The winners must respond with a mailing address within 72 hours of my email, or new winners will be chosen. This contest is open to those living in Canada and the US.

I look forward to seeing God bless a reader with a beautiful bracelet! I’m also looking forward to his support for this deserving non-profit, please pray for them if you feel led.  Thanks for entering.

Congratulations to Amyswandering who has won our contest for a copy of the Rock ‘N Learn – Telling Time DVD!  Thanks to everyone who entered!  Amy, please email me within 72 hours with your mailing information.  I’m sure your family will greatly enjoy this educational disc!

Our family is incredibly challenged when it comes to keeping track of the time.  I’m not sure if I should admit this, but we have a hard time keeping track of which day it is during the week.  Generally we do a better time during the day, but my husband and I are both a bit time-challenged.  As we work towards a more structured schedule my husband has been talking about buying a pocket watch to help him stay on track.

Hmm, maybe I should buy him one for our anniversary in October?  He really is such a dear.  I think he’d like a classic style like this one from Bluedial.com.  For myself I’d need something more feminine that wouldn’t fall out of my pocket like a Citizen eco drive ladies watch.