My bloggy buddy, Conny, has got an insane amount of The Chronicles of Narnia DVD’s.
Approximately 45.
And one of them could very soon end up in your DVD player.
Just drop by her blog, The Life of an Ordinary Hausfrau, and mention that I sent you and that you would like to have one sent to you for free!
No strings attached!
I am about to date myself.
Growing up there was a commercial on television. The entire goal, as far as I can remember, was to encourage children to read . . . or rather parents to read to their children.
Guilt them into it.
It was quite effective. (My mom always read to me . . . I just mean the jingle was effective.)
I still know it.
Perhaps, I did watch too much TV . . .
“The more you read, the more you know.
The more you know, the farther you go.”
I heart reading. Not because the TV told me to . . . it’s just that my imagination does a much better job.
And reading has given me great knowledge, both spiritually and worldly.
I am also a big fan of applying what you know to your life. James 1:22-24 will forever be ingrained in my mind.
You see one of my dearest friends in college (Larra) was studying to be a physical therapist. She applied her learning a bit too literally and would stick my feet in ICE COLD water* as we tried to memorize the following verse together,
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Though this verse applies to learning scripture and actually putting in to practice what you have learned . . . I try and apply what I learn in all areas of my life.
Thus far, God has yet to steer me wrong . . . with my spiritual walk and with the food that we eat. (I’m far from being perfect in any area though I have been guided well!)
I am in the process of applying what I am learning . . . so that as a family we can go farther . . . live better . . . serve with vigor . . . shout from the mountain tops (that our God not only reigns, but heals).
Which brings me to our adventure for the next couple of weeks, if not months, towards healing our guts and following the GAPS diet, which you have heard me talk about before.
I’m kind of excited, and kind of nervous. By following the “protocol” it will mean that at times we will be eating differently than others . . . family functions, church meals, fellowship gatherings . . .
But there is a purpose to it. A hope. A healing.
I’ve learned so much reading the actual GAPS book by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride (from the library) that I have to act upon this knowledge (and buy the book).
I have to do what it says.
So, while we are waiting for Cara from Health, Home and Happiness to come out with her introductory meal plan for the GAPS diet, we have been munching away through her monthly meal plans in preparation.
They are great. . . . especially if you are overwhelmed by the list of what to eat and what not to eat to support a nurturing environment to heal your somewhat fragile insides. So far the kids have LOVED every meal I have cooked from Cara’s Grain Free Menu plan.
What do her meal plans contain? Pretty much everything but the grocery store!
Each month you can expect to find:
I’d like to offer 3 readers a free 1 month subscription to The Grain Free Meal Plan . If you have been on the fence about whether or not to
Cara is the real deal. She’s a mom who has a beautiful daughter, who happens to have autism. She is also a mom who is proactive. And she figured if she wanted a meal plan that followed the GAPS diet . . . there must be others.
And there are.
Just remember, GAPS isn’t just for autistic people . . .
It’s for people like me and others in my family – thyroid issues, arthritis, food allergies, chemical sensitivities, eczema, psoriasis, and mood swings.
Want to win 1 month of 3 meals a day, 7 days a week?
Think of the time you will save by not planning . . .
I thought you might . . .
I’m going to make this easy.
Mandatory Entry: Why do you want to win?
Extra Entries: blog or tweet, leaving a comment and link that you did (as much as you like).
Bonus Entry: Sign up for the Reversing Food Allergies course and give yourself 10 separate entries.
Giveaway Ends: April 19, 2011
Please note, Cara has graciously given me a subscription to her Grain Free Meal Plans in exchange for an honest review of her product. I tell you . . . she has done such a great job that it caused me to think, study, and change. Thanks, Cara!
*In Larra’s defense, I think I had a genuine injury. She wasn't torturing me with the Word of God.
It’s not that I’m an ungrateful, unthankful, or unappreciative person.
My eucharisto journal unfortunately got stuffed behind the computer when we had some guests over . . . and it stayed there all week.
Out of site, out of mind. (Kind of.)
I am thankful for . . .
24. A quick 2 hour drive to Cincinnati with a special friend (Nicole) that made my tired body refreshed with fellowship.
25. Two days wearing my sweet baby girl.
43. And with that sweet baby girl, making bloggy friends into IRL friends . . . such as Dianna from Grapevine Studies . . .
and Joy and her sister from Timberdoodle . . .
and Marie Rippel from All About Spelling . . .
25. The Engineer who easily slipped into the role of teacher, while I was gone at the Homeschooling Conference.
26. Inspiring talks that have already reshaped our dinner table. I hope to share soon.
29. White linens.
30. A picked-up home after being absent. I tell you, the Engineer is not only handy . . . but an awesome husband.
32. Passing puppy kindergarten . . . despite us not training as much as we should have.
33. Raspberry flavored Emergen-C.
39. Turkish Delight.
40. Even better is the friend who comes bearing Turkish Delight.
41. Having some spare time waiting for above friend (Auntie) to people watch at the airport. I even started crying after observing one sweet reunion.
43. Fitting into pre-baby pants.
44. Poke-A-Dots.
What have you been especially thankful for recently?
S
I do not have a spring break in my future . . . so I just went ahead and read the book. It made me feel like I was lounging on the beach, or resting in front of a fire after a long day of skiing.
Lena Kauffman is my kind of girl – a teacher, feisty, and always on the look out to save (help) a struggling student. However, all these great traits get this girl into trouble. While trying to make a difference in her community, Lena’s life long friend, Grey Graber, is going through some extremely tough times, a rocky marriage that fails to be healed before his wife unexpectedly dies.
Yet . . . it is these very circumstances that draw this couple together.
Download a chapter to see if you want this on your wish list!
And please . . . pretty please rank my review (it won’t take you to a new page).
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. You may purchase it on Amazon for approximately $10.16 (new).
But I actually have played the part of a real life missionary.
My time living in India with The Engineer (official name change) radically influenced my life and has had lasting ramifications. I’m a missionary at heart . . . I love being surrounded by real life missionaries. I desire to immerse my children in culture to give them a broader world view – so that they may know there is more than Indiana in the world.
Perhaps . . . just perhaps God will lay a nation or a people on their hearts to go and share how God has impacted their family’s life (I really need to share our story with you sometime).
It should be no surprise to learn then, that when I was offered to review the book, The Missionary, by William Carmichael and David Lambert, I forked over my reading passport for the stamp to Venezuela, where the book largely takes place.
The book took a plane ride that I wasn’t expecting. Main character, David Eller, whose character is applauded initially turns out to make some very foolish decisions (but don’t we all?). Decisions that nearly crush and destroy his wife (who is the love of his life – I slightly doubted), his son, and several friends.
Quite honestly, I had trouble lining up his present actions that take place during the novel with the ones that happened before the book opened up – this man who rescued impoverished children.
But the reality is that David provides a great example for what can happen to ANY follower of Christ. If you don’t spend daily time reading your Bible, connecting with your Savior, chatting with your Lord . . . you will find that sometimes your decisions become foolish . . . rash . . . selfish . . . harmful.
So, I suppose I like this book. I just don’t appreciate how David Eller treated his wife.
Get hooked on the book by watching this trailer . . . and in a copy of it over at MamaBuzz. You may also purchase it on Amazon for approximately $5.00.
This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by Bring It On Communications in conjunction with Deep River Books for this review.
