Love Your Heart: A Review

Even though I am surrounded by blue, I love stories about pink.  The little boys in my house thought that this was a cute book.  The illustrations beautifully capture precious conversations and the unique personality of little Katie, the main character.

Love Your Heart by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas is a meaningful book that starts out as a conversation between Katie and her dad.  Katie wants to find out what her talent is, and use it in the school talent show.  Never quite content with her chosen talent, she still manages to put a routine together.  However, the beauty of the story is that her real talent is revealed in the way she helps another little girl perform at the show.  Afraid to disappoint her dad, she seeks his approval.  Katie discovers that it isn’t the “things” she does that make him love her, it is her heart. 

Like a good book should, Love Your Heart provides an excellent avenue through which to have a meaningful conversation with your child, pointing out how unique God made them and the talents that can be used for His purposes!

____________________________

Want the statistics?

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Ages: 4 – 10
Price: Hardcover $16.99

To see a flip version of the book, visit here.

The second book in Tim McGraw’s My Little Girl series is a heartwarming story of a little girl’s selfless act of kindness.
Tim McGraw and songwriter Tom Douglas once again join forces to write another book about the precocious Katie and her dad. Katie has many talents, but she wonders which one will win her school’s talent show. With the help of Dad and her faithful dog Palio, and after several amusing mishaps, Katie finally chooses one talent that includes Palio. But at the talent show, she decides to drop out of the contest to help her friend, showing kindness is the best talent of all. Katie’s proud dad reassures her that she did the best thing and that while he loves many things about her, he loves her heart most of all.

Tim McGraw is: dad of three daughters, husband to Faith Hill, Country music superstar, Grammy Winner, American Music Award Winner, People’s Choice Winner, highest grossing tour in history (with wife, Faith Hill), and has sold more than 35 million albums. Yet, beneath all the accolades beats the heart of a dad who immensely loves his family.

Tom Douglas is a singer-songwriter who graduated from Oglethorpe University and received an MBA from Georgia State University. He is the writer of hits “Little Rock” by Collin Raye, “The Gift” by Jim Brickman, “Love’s the Only House” by Martina McBride, and “Grown Men Don’t Cry” by Tim McGraw. He and his wife have three children.

Disclosure: Mama Buzz and reviewers received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Technorati Tags: MamaBzz,Love Your Heart,Tim McGraw

Win the Wii Biggest Loser Workout/Game

Secretly I don't want to tell you this . . . but I want an extra entry.  So maybe just read this blog post and forget about it. 

I'm not being nice, am I?

Shoot.  And I always tell my children to share.  Practice kindness.

OK. . .  here is the deal.  If you would like a chance to win The Biggest Loser Wii Game/Workout then head on over to The Steward's Steno.  There are a few ways that you can earn extra entries.  But I'm not going to tell you.  I want you to have the pleasure of burning a few extra calories by having to read. 

While I am at it . . . did anyone notice on The Biggest Loser tonight how Bob was talking about how Olympic athletes eat healthy. . . they must eat healthy . . . yet one of the athletes had chocolate milk with their meal . . . and later they showed a case filled with chocolate cake?  I doubt that was made with Stevia.



Hmph.

Enter to win.  Shall I say, I'm sorry but I hope you are not the biggest loser?

I'm terrible. 

Will you forgive me?

His First Snow Day: A Sled Ride

Well . . . Mr. Smiley got to play with his brothers outside today. 

And he liked it. 

 

I managed to keep his hat on . . . but the gloves got pulled off several times.  

See?

We made a sledding hill from the accumulated snow on our driveway. 

But the hill behind the house was much better.  Mr. Smiley would agree.

 

His brothers taught him well.  Mr. Smiley learned to say, “Wheeeee!”  all the way down the hill!  

Giving: Not Just At Christmas

For some reason there is a big push during the Christmas Season to give.  

Give money.  Donate.  Volunteer.  Pray a lot.  Read the Christmas Story.

But what about the other 11 months of the year?

Why can’t we treat the rest of the year with big, generous hearts?  Why not read the story of our Savior’s birth monthly, if not weekly.  Let’s savor the awe . . . let’s bask in the absolute miracle God performed.

It is because I think that we should live our daily lives making room in the inn for our Savior that I bring you this unique project by the hungry planet bible project and published by Tyndale. 

I kept putting off watching this documentary because Christmas had come and gone . . . but it shouldn’t be that way.  A few nights ago, actually Super Bowl night, I had a few quiet moments due to the fact that our TV didn’t get great coverage of the game.  So I watched this video. 

Why didn’t I do it sooner?

Compelling.

Moving.

Taken from the Tyndale website,

The Hungry Planet Bible Project is raising awareness of the plight of the homeless and hungry. It will mobilize the church into action on behalf of the poor. The Hungry Planet Bible Project is traveling 10,000 miles across America to dozens of cities and rural communities, giving a face and a voice to the hungry and homeless. Using cutting-edge interactive multimedia, the experience they bring utilizes video, audio, print, photography, an interactive travelogue, social networking, forums, prayer walls, and donation sites to inspire us to put our faith into action on behalf of the poor. Along with their recitation of Scripture, the homeless and hungry will bless and teach us through their emotional stories of failure, life, and faith. This major initiative brings together retailers, churches, the media, food pantries, homeless shelters, and other organizations to help us as Christians achieve the ministry goals God has laid on our hearts.

I learned that 90% of the homeless are basically invisible.  Women and families with young children comprise the majority of our country’s homeless.  Did you know that it cost taxpayers $45-50,000 per year to help a homeless person, but through The Hungry Planet Bible Project the average cost is $14,000 per year AND they actually equip these people that God created to make positive changes that will last. 

I will admit that I am guilty of having a hard heart towards the homeless I see standing at our local intersections.  Or the people sitting on the sidewalks downtown with a can in front of them.  I don’t trust them and I don’t know what they are going to do with the money I give them.  Sometimes I just obey when God works on my heart and I give them some cash.  I have also taken them to a restaurant for food.  And other times, I pretend I don’t see them.

But the hungry bible planet bible project works to change a life.  In their own words, “they help the modern day innkeepers make room in the inn.”

You can purchase this documentary and resources from Christian Book Distributors or Amazon.  Each purchase of this product will prompt a donation to organizations and ministries that help those in need. 

But you will hold in your hands, a resource in which to start a grassroots movement in your neck of the woods.

Thanks to Tyndale for sending me this DVD to review.  I was not paid for this post, nor do I have to return the DVD with its resources.   

Young Minds: Numbers and Counting

We went through a season where we were all sick.  When you have three young children, all of whom participate in church activities, and two who are thumb suckers . . . everyone is bound to get sick. 

In our house, sickness is equated with one special treat . . . TV.  I’m not ashamed or embarrassed about it.  I know that when I am sick, I don’t want to think.  I want to go to that mindless, thoughtless, numb and restorative happy place – the couch.

So when Mr. Smiley got sick, I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to help the little guy relax.  Sleep evaded him while discomfort overwhelmed his body.  Not one to watch TV (since our children typically haven’t been allowed to watch television until they are at least 2 years old), I was concerned about how I would distract my toddler during his agony.

But one thing worked, much to my surprise.  And I am glad that the one thing that entertained him, just so happened to be educational.

Introducing Young Minds: Numbers and Counting by MathTutor.DVD.com.   As part of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew, I was given the opportunity to review this GREAT product. 

Now, I want you to know that I really disdain that comatose look that children (and even adults) get while watching TV.  It is almost as if the TV acts like like The Matrix.  It controls you, causing your hearing to fail and insolent behaviors to emerge.  In order to emerge from the TV unscathed, you have to choose the correct pill, red or blue?  (Anyone know?)

Just like there are sustainable books, there are also sustainable videos.  Young Minds:  Numbers and Counting is one such DVD.  Why?  Well, because I said so.  Just kidding.  I think it is sustainable because:

1.  It is REAL classical music  played by a REAL orchestra.

2.  Quality photography (you all know how much I appreciate a good photograph).

3.  Applicable, age-appropriate, and instantly usable learning (particularly a focus on counting).

According to the MathTutorDVD.com website, where you can view a clip of the DVD, your child will learn:

- To recognize the numbers 1-10.
- Associate the number with physical objects.
- Count from 1-10.
- Animal names and sounds.
- Fruits and Vegetables.
- Names of colors.
- Names of machines such as cars, airplanes, etc.

Bonus features include:

- Repeat Play
- Picture Puzzles
- Connect the Dots
- Name the Animal

The DVD’s list price is $29.99 but you can purchase it from MathTutorDVD.com for $19.99.

Find out what the other Homeschool Crew members think of this and other MathTutorDVD products by clicking on the below picture!

I was not paid for this post.  I am thankful for this company sending me such a quality product, because their DVD brought a moments reprieve for this once very sick and tired mom a few weeks back!