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Children’s Atlas of God’s World

Written by Joy
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Children’s Atlas of God’s World

I am so excited to be a part of the Moms of Master Books review team.  On this team, I get the opportunity to review books from an amazing Christian publishing group, New Leaf Publishing Group.  The book for the month of July is Children’s Atlas of God’s World by Craig Froman.  I was so excited after seeing this book on our list to review!

Children's Atlas of God's World.

Children’s Atlas of God’s World.

On the back of the book, it has “One-Of-A-Kind children’s atlas to explore God’s World” and this book really is one of a kind.  The Children’s Atlas of God’s World is a very colorful and vibrant hard-back book, that is HUGE.  It measures approximately 10″x14″!  I told you it was a BIG book!  The pages are heavy paper with a beautiful glossy look to them.  They are very easy to turn and even wipe off, if any messy hands were to flip through the pages.

In this one-of-a-kind book, you will travel through all seven continents.  As you travel through the continents in the book, the author also will talk about many different countries.  Mr. Froman has given you a key in the Table of Contents of things to look for and read through as you read through each section.

  • Christian History and Tradition is marked with a flag with the Cross on it.  This talks about Christian history, people of faith and Christian traditions around the world.
  • Red Pins – when you see a red pin in the book, you will find the number pin on the map marking a landmark, river, or other locations.
  • Green Highlights are words that are just that, highlighted in green.  This is letting you know that it is a city or other sites on the map.
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites are marked by green flags.  This is sites recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
  • Biomes is the last key to look for.  The Biomes symbol will share about the habitats around the world, including forests, deserts, grasslands, tundra and many more.
Children' Atlas of God's World, Table of Contents

Children’ Atlas of God’s World, Table of Contents

What are some other things that you will find in this book?  You will find out the longest rivers and tallest mountains.  You will read about Christian explorers, missionaries and many others who made a mark in history.  The book tells of the diversity of God’s creatures, natural habitats and the animals and plants that live in them.  There are outline maps of the continents and more detailed maps of the countries that are being focused on.  Every page that you turn, you will learn something new about the world that God created!

Samuel and Claire reading the Children's Atlas of God's World.

Samuel and Claire reading the Children’s Atlas of God’s World.

Claire showing me the Rocky Mountains.

Claire showing me the Rocky Mountains.

Our family has really enjoyed this book since we received it.  I love seeing the kids reading the book, wanting to learn more about the world we live in.  I think it is a great addition to our growing library.  This book will also come in handy when we begin our geography lessons for the upcoming school year.  This book has definitely quickly become a favorite in our home.

Would you like a book of your own?  You can buy it from New Leaf Publishing Group for $18.99 or you can buy the digital download for $9.99.  Or better yet?  How about a chance to win a copy of the book!  Join us for the Book and a Treat Party!  There will be some wonderful prizes being given.  The Facebook Party will be happening on Tuesday, July 23rd at 8pm (CDT).

 

Hope to see you at the party!

 

**Disclaimer: I received this book from New Leaf Publishing Group, in exchange for a review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  No other compensation was received.

 

 

 

 

 

2013, family, homeschooling, , , , , , , , ,

Tower of Babel Pop-Up and Read Book review

Written by Joy
3 Comments
Tower of Babel Pop-Up and Read Book review

The Tower of Babel Pop-Up and Read book is a beautifully illustrated (by Jon Taylor) book that is published by New Leaf Publishing Group.  The Tower of Babel is a 24 page, hard-backed book that has an amazing pop up of the tower.  As you see the tower standing, you are reading through pages of amazing color, with it telling the story about the Tower of Babel, how it came to be built and then the fall of the tower.

Samuel looking at the Tower of Babel Pop-Up Book.

Samuel looking at the Tower of Babel Pop-Up Book.

In the Tower of Babel book, you will read and learn how the races and languages of people came about.  One of the reasons that I love this book so much, is it retells the story from the bible in a way that the kids can understand it a little better.  We did read the story from the bible to compare and the author did an amazing job of writing along with the illustrator of the book.  They really brought the story to life for the kids!

Samuel reading the Tower of Babel.

Samuel reading the Tower of Babel.

I love how at the end of the book, they have a summary and thoughts on how you can apply what you just read, to your daily life.

This book is geared towards younger children, but even my teen daughter enjoyed reading the book with her younger siblings.  It is definitely a great read a loud bok for the whole family!

Ready for a chance to win this book?

MB-book-treat(1) (1)

I would love to invite you to join Moms of Master Books at a Facebook Party on June June 25th, 2013 at 9pm EST.  It will be held on the Master Books Facebook Page.  Why are we having a Facebook Party?  To talk about wonderful Christian books, fellowship with one another and of course, to win great prizes!  Be sure to RSVP for your chance to win a prize!

If you can’t make it to the Facebook party and are wanting to go ahead and purchase this amazing book, you can buy the Tower of Babel Pop-Up and Read book from New Leaf Publishing for $14.99!

Disclaimer: I received this book from New Leaf Publishing in exchange for a review.  All opinions are my own.  No other compensation was received.

2013, family, homeschooling, , , , , , , , ,

Update on our Colorado life…

Written by Joy
7 Comments
Update on our Colorado life…

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

It has been a while since I have done an update on our Colorado life. As you know we moved from North Carolina to Colorado back in August of 2012. Yes, we have been in Colorado for 7 months. It definitely has been an interesting 7 months. While we know God moved us out here, it has definitely taking some getting used to for me and the kids.

First off, we are living in an apartment, in a city. Yes, me a country gal, living in a city. I definitely feel like a fish out of water. There have been comments about my accent and where I am from. Some good, but there has been some rude comments as well. I have actually been questioned about having manners and raising my kids that way. Like I said, it has been different.

We have joined a homeschool group and have been on field trips and other outings. However, making friends have been difficult for myself and the kids. They have asked on occasion why we had to move. I just keep telling them and reminding myself that God has a plan for us. He moved us here and we need to do the best we can and just make the best of it.

We are still looking for a home church. I think this has been the hardest thing of all. We miss being in fellowship with other believers. We have visited several churches, but my husband and I have not felt like God has pointed us to the right church. We are still praying about a home church and know that God will lead us to one, in his timing.

It has also been a very long winter for us. We love the cold and we have enjoyed the snow that we have gotten. However, since this is a new climate and area for us, we have also been fighting sickness. We have had the flu, stomach bugs, really bad colds and just recently, I have had some major dental issues surface. It has been tough being at home and not being able to go out and explore, go on field trips and even a mom’s night out.

We are still homeschooling and loving it. I finally feel like we have the curriculum that works for our family. The kids enjoy their science and history. We love reading and doing projects together. We love going on field trips and exploring the new area together. We do enjoy our homeschool group we are in, but I have been looking for another one that is a little more involved and get together a lot more often. I am hoping the kids will be able to make friends soon.

Do we love Colorado? Absolutely! We definitely felt like God lead us out here and the opportunity for my husband to work at this college, just could not be passed up. It has just been an adjustment and with God, we will get through this.

Sun setting on the Rocky Mountain National Park

As you have noticed on the blog, there have been a lot of reviews lately. It has been because of us being sick and I have not been able to write like I have wanted to. As I mentioned, I have had some dental issues and it has required me to be on some pain medication. Yes, it has been that painful. I am hoping this will be the last week with so many reviews. I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I am also working on a couple of different projects. One, I am working with a wonderful friend. I am hoping we can share more about it soon. It involves a new blog that we will be doing together! A little sneak peak is the title, “Surrendering the Plate.” Any ideas of what it could be about? 😉

I am truly excited about it! God has also been working on my heart in the past year. I am just in the beginning stages, but I am trying to figure out how to get started with it. I would love to have some kind of mentoring program to where older (more experienced) women teach and mentor other women. Like a Titus 2 mentoring program. I know there are a lot like that out in the blogging world already, but God keeps laying it on my heart to someone get involved and do something.

Well, this is how things have been going for us.  We are taking it one day at a time and trusting in God to lead us every day.  I would like to ask one thing of you,  could you please be in prayer that I follow where God leads me?  That is including this blog.  I want to blog to bring glory to God, to help and encourage others in their faith and their homeschooling journey.

Blessings!

2013, family, , , ,

books I am reading and January book reading update…

Written by Joy
10 Comments
books I am reading and January book reading update…

I started this post back at the beginning of February and now the month is half way over. I wanted to update you on the books that I am reading. I had made a goal for myself, at the beginning of the year to read 52 books. My book list for January, I am almost finished with them.  I am still working on Desperate – Hope For The Mom Who Needs to Breathe.  I will also begin The Mom Walk when I finish Desperate.

Most of the books I have chosen next to read, are study guides and books that I can read to help me mentor, help and encourage other women.  God has laid on my heart Titus 2:3-5.   I feel like He is leading me in the direction to help and train younger women/moms.  Lord willing and with much prayer, I gain a little more knowledge, along with courage and strength to do as God is leading me.  I am also hoping I can figure out how to do this as well.  What books have I chosen to read to learn more from, besides the Bible?

A couple of the books are by Susan Hunt, The True Woman and Spiritual Mothering.  Women’s Ministry in the Local Church is also authored by Susan Hunt along with Duncan Ligon.

I am also doing a bible study by Elizabeth George called by Loving God with All Your Mind.

books I am reading

All of my books just isn’t for studying though.  I added in a few books for fun and enjoyment.  I love books that are based in the 1800’s time period.  I love just reading and slipping away to a time period long gone.  When, in some ways life was a little simpler, yet they still had issues just like we do today.  While the stories are made up, I can still imagine life back in time.

I have the second book in the Homeward on the Oregon Trail by Melody Carlson, A Dream for Tomorrow.  I loved the first book, so I am excited to read this second one.

I also came across another book about the Oregon Trail.  It is Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson.  It is set in 1841, so I am sure it will be a nice read.

The last book in this list is A Patchwork Christmas Collection.   This book has 3 stories in it along with recipes and handcraft patterns.  I am hoping to learn to crochet and knit, so this book looked interesting to me.  I have already read the first story in the book and it was pretty good.  Looking forward to finishing the other two books in this collection.

As you can tell, I do love to read.  It isn’t unusual for me to be reading several books at one time.   I love to mix the serious and fun books up.  This is the way I like to wind down and relax after a long day or, if I just want to take some time off.

What are you reading now?  What type of books do you like to read?

 

 

2013, family, , , , , , , ,

Rocky Mountain National Park ~ field trip

Written by Joy
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Rocky Mountain National Park ~ field trip

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to do field trips and go riding around our area to look for new things to do.   We love to have our own little adventures. Recently, we rode to Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park.     Estes Park was having a winter festival with lots of games, chili and a mac-n-cheese cook-off’s and music.  There were also a lot of vendors peddling their homemade wares.  We truly had a wonderful time.  It was quite cool though, the wind was blowing a lot.  We decided that we would leave and ride around a bit before it got too dark.

Rocky Mountains National Park

Once we left the festival, we realized that a Rocky Mountain National Park entrance was right around the corner from where we were at.  We decided to buy an annual pass to the park so that we can explore more of it later.  I can’t wait until it warms up and we can go hiking on some of the trails.

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

As we passed through the entrance, the scenery was just beautiful.  We even spotted a herd of elk just off the road.  Of course it was easy to see considering there were about 10 other vehicles pulled off and stopped in the road.  We joined right in to watch the gorgeous creatures.

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

The elk just stood there and continued to eat.  Every now and then, one would look up and around to see if they were still being watched.

Herd of Elk

There were two elk that decided to start head butting each other.  Those pictures didn’t turn out well.  You could definitely tell one was an older elk putting a younger else in his place!

Elk running down the road

As we left the herd of elk and continued on down the road, we saw an elk running beside the road.  God’s creatures are so amazing!

Sun setting on the Rocky Mountain National Park

As we continue on the small loop, the sun was starting to set.  The clouds were just gorgeous.  God sure does know how to paint the sky!

cool clouds over the Rocky Mountains

We were on just a small loop of the Rocky Mountain National Park.  We decided to just take this small loop since it was getting dark.

beautiful sunset over the Rocky Mountains

Riding around on adventures like this is a favorite pastime for our family.  It is time we get to explore God’s creations and a time we get to spend with one another.

I am linking up with Tonya over at The Traveling Praters for Best of the USA Blog Hop.  I can’t wait to see all the places highlighted in this blog hop!  I hope you will go visit the others who have link-up!

2013, family, homeschooling, , , , ,