It's Party Time!

It's TIME!  Winter Promise is having a Facebook party that's kicking off tonight at 8 PM - and it promises to be full of excitement.  With lots of giveaways from companies like Mary and Martha, Lilla Rose, and Winter Promise themselves, the opportunity to win something great is definitely on the table.  WP is also making a big announcement tonight, too, and I hear it's something very fun.

Winter Promise is my very favorite curriculum company.  I have several of their products and haven't found one yet that is less than wonderful.  You can click over to the party right now using the link above, but if you need to know a bit more about Winter Promise, here's why we like them so much:

1.  WP lessons are VERY hands-on.

2.  WP encourages natural curiosity and research through experience and play.

3.  WP's lessons are creative and fun.  The kids are never upset when it's time to learn the Winter Promise way.

4.  WP's prices are reasonable.

5.  WP materials are clear and concise.  Everything is laid out for me, taking all of the work and research out of projects and lessons - freeing me up to be creative and have fun with the kids.

What are you waiting for?  It's time to party!

Menu Plan Monday - September 30, 2013

We're back at it this week - book club and sports all tangled up.  We do get to have a few slower nights, though, and I'm looking forward to cooking a 'regular' meal!

Here's the plan:

Breakfast:
- scrambled eggs, juice, bananas

- 

- Cinnamon Almond Granola and fruit

- Rustic Apple-Stuffed Coffee Cake

- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

Dinner:

- Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, lima beans, applesauce

- Perfectly Pumpkin Waffles, bacon, applesauce

- Chili

- Creamy Veggie Casserole
- Parmesan potato soup, salad
- Turkey sandwiches, salad
- Leftovers

What are you cooking this week?

For more Menu Plan Mondays, visit OrgJunkie.

Win the All-New Paperwhite Kindle from Guideposts Books in the Home to Heather Creek Giveaway!

Guideposts Books is thrilled to announce their brand new series, Home to Heather Creek, by Kathleen Bauer. The first two books, Before the Dawn and Sweet September, launch this month and Guideposts Books is celebrating with a Paperwhite Kindle Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A Paperwhite Kindle
• Before the Dawn and Sweet September by Kathleen Bauer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 5th. All winners will be announced October 7th HERE.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 7th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to their blog [enter your email in the blog sidebar] and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Hearts for Home Blog Hop - September 26, 2013

Introducing ... the Hearts for Home Blog Hop!  A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for this weekly link-up, which means that every Thursday you'll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post.  If you're a blogger, we'd love to have you link up your posts and join us.  You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.

Last week this post about Apple Sensory Tubs from Living Montessori NOW was the most-clicked-on post.

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:
- Free Fire Safety Printables and Activities 
- 35+ Resources to Teach Kids Spanish 
- Zoo Scavenger Hunt 

If your post is listed above, please grab one of our 'Featured Blogger' buttons!  Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.

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Link up your family-friendly blog posts below. Please add our button to your post to link back to this one. Happy hopping!

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"The Courier of Caswell Hall" by Melanie Dobson

As the British and Continental armies wage war in 1781, the daughter of a wealthy Virginia plantation owner feels conflict raging in her own heart. Lydia Caswell comes from a family of staunch Loyalists, but she cares only about peace. Her friend Sarah Hammond, however, longs to join the fight. Both women's families have already been divided by a costly war that sets father against son and neighbor against neighbor; a war that makes it impossible to guess who can be trusted.

One snowy night Lydia discovers a wounded man on the riverbank near Caswell Hall, and her decision to save him will change her life. Nathan introduces her to a secret network of spies, couriers, disguises, and coded messages---a network that may be the Patriots' only hope for winning the war. When British officers take over Caswell Hall and wreak havoc on neighboring plantations, Lydia will have to choose between loyalty and freedom; between her family's protection and her own heart's desires.

As both armies gather near Williamsburg for a pivotal battle, both Lydia and Sarah must decide how high a price they are willing to pay to help the men they love.

Part of the American Tapestries™ series: Each standalone novel in this line sets a heart-stirring love story against the backdrop of an epic moment in American history. This is the fifth book in the series.

This is the best historical fiction I've read since the last time I've read a Melanie Dobson novel.  There's just something about this author who is able to transport me completely to whatever time and place she chooses.  Her unique perspective helps to set her books apart from others; The Courier of Caswell Hall focuses on the many roles women played in the Revolutionary War - and I don't mean from inside their kitchens, either.

I loved Lydia's story.  I can't imagine just how scary it must have been, knowing that to choose a side and lose, all principles aside, could mean the loss of your family's security and social standing - things which mean little eternally but which can mean a great deal as you live through their loss.  I feel as if I can relate just a tiny bit more now for having read this story.

Lydia's wasn't the only fascinating one here, however.  I've always been interested in the role of women in early American wars since reading about Deborah Sampson as a kid, and Dobson included many such stories discreetly throughout this book.  It is fascinating to know that there were women, people who society completely ignored militarily, who felt so strong as to step out in courageous ways to fight for their country.

The Courier of Caswell Hall has found its way onto my bookshelf.  My children will be reading this when they're older and studying the Revolution - not only to put themselves into the position of choosing which side to take, but also to use as a research starter - to take the details of this story and go find which ones are true.

I'd like to know that myself.

Click here to read other reviews on this bloggy hop or here to purchase your own copy now.

Melanie Dobson is the author of twelve novels; her writing has received numerous accolades including two Carol Awards. Melanie worked in public relations for fifteen years before she began writing fiction full-time. Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides with her husband and two daughters in Oregon.

Connect with Melanie at: http://melaniedobson.com

I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Inspired Wednesday - Batter Up!

It's that time again - fall sports are here.

We're actually halfway through this sports season, but I've only been able to see a few of our team's baseball games.  A full half sit squarely on top of our Big Helper's soccer games, and since Daddy is the baseball coach, that leaves me to cheer on the soccer team.

I don't mind - I want to see all of every game, so I'm glad that I get to be there for the soccer ones, but I'm a bit sad that I'm missing so much of my son's baseball season.

Last night I got to be there for a game.  I've missed several in a row, so it was extra exciting to climb onto the bleachers to cheer the team on.  With my Big Helper acting as Bat Girl and my husband on the pitching mound, I planted myself and prepared to cheer.

The air was crisp, the sun was setting, and the field lights were bright.  The team was batting well and hitting deep into the outfield.  Despite this, one rough inning early in the game kept the score tight, and each team dug in to fight hard.  

My Little Man came up to bat.  He missed the first few pitches and then hit one hard to left field.  He ran to first and paused, but the base coach waved him on.  He stopped at second, but the coach at third waved and called, and with a big grin, he took off running.  

My Little Man had to stop at third as the ball came back to the infield.  He was all smiles - but was biting his lip hard trying to be cool and nonchalant.  It only worked so well - he was too happy to have hit his very first triple - and this Mommy is ecstatic to have been there.

Are you a sports Mom?

Be sure to check out Stephanie's Inspired Wednesday post over at The Multi Taskin' Mom!

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An InLinkz Link-up

GratiTuesday - Free Movie Tickets

I was quite excited when I heard that the children's classic Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was being made into a movie.

I was even more thrilled when I found out there was a sequel - and that I won tickets to a special, 3-D preview showing from a local news station.

Getting there was a bit of a challenge, but that just the movie that much sweeter.  It's  quite different from the book sequel, but I expected that.  In the movie version Flint Lockwood finds that the food has continued to mutate and is now alive.  Convinced that the food wants to learn to swim and attack the Statue of Liberty, Flint sets off with is friends to stop it.

With talking, walking food in a mutated jungle, this movie is pure adventure - at its funniest.  The main characters are back from the first movie, with the addition of a few others, and there are punch lines galore.

While we appreciated the lighthearted laughter that the movie evoked, and as much fun as it was to laugh with my family the whole way through, that's not the best part of Cloudy 2.  There are real life lessons in this movie - cloaked in humor and dressed up in edible disguises, but they're there nonetheless.

Here are a few of our favorites:

1.  Never trust a bad guy.

2.  Idol worship is bad, no matter what or who the idol is.

3.  It's okay to be yourself.

4.  A true friend is very valuable.

 5.  Appearances can be deceiving.

6.  Protect the ones you love.

7.  Work together.

8.  Listen to the advice of a true friend.

9.  Try new things.

10. Creativity is cool.

 With all of the creative food creatures in this movie, we might just have to go and make a few of our own!

Thanks, WRAL, for great tickets to a fun movie.

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Menu Plan Monday - September 23, 2013

It's the last (full) week of the month, the time when we usually have very little planned - and so this week we have just a tiny bit more down time than usual.  Even the fall sports' schedules seem to be moving a bit slower, so I'm hoping to enjoy some more time at home and maybe a meal that requires a fork.

For our busy nights this week, I'm scheduling a few repeats that we didn't get to last week ....
Here's the plan:

Breakfast:
- Simple soaked pancakes
- scrambled eggs, juice, bananas

- 

- Cinnamon Almond Granola and fruit

- Perfectly Pumpkin Waffles

- Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Dinner:

- Hamburgers, carrot sticks, pears, Grilled Jalapeno Poppers,  chips
- Foil babies - recipe coming soon!
- Dinner out using kids-eat-free specials after a field trip

- Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes
- Baked Chicken & Brown Rice Casserole
- Grilled chicken, Mom's Baked Corn, S'Mashed Italian Potatoes, Roasted carrots
- Leftovers

We didn't get to try these Chewy Coconut Bars last week, and they're definitely on the plan for this week.  I'm looking for something good and chocolate-y, too.  Any suggestions??

What are you cooking this week?

For more Menu Plan Mondays, visit OrgJunkie.

Win Shelley Shepard Gray’s Days of Redemption Series!

Shelley Shepard Gray is celebrating the release of the final book in The Days of Redemption series, Eventide, by giving away FIVE sets of the series. 

Five winners will receive:

• Daybreak, Ray of Light and Eventide by Shelley Shepard Gray

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 21st. All winners will be announced September 23rd at Shelley's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Shelley's blog on the 23rd to see if you won one of the book sets!

"Fired Up" by Mary Connealy

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner---never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

The men of this story make the series.  I generally try not to drool over characters, being quite happy with the one that I'm married to, but these men are the cream of the crop.  They're manly men, if you know what I mean:  honest, hard-working, protective of others, chivalrous, and kind.  They're not afraid of a good fight and they'll do what it takes to defend those they love.  That's how they rule in this series - because everyone around them needs defending in some way, and so they're really knights in cowboy hats charging off to save the day.

I don't know a woman alive who wouldn't swoon at that.

Although Glynna's no fainting lily herself.  She's been married to two cruel men, and she's had it rough.  She knows how to take care of her own, but she's tired of the burden and wants to share it.  Her strength but tentative trust makes her a winner here.  She doesn't back down when life gets hard, but she still hopes for a better tomorrow, and she's not afraid to work hard to get it.

Plotwise, Connealy always writes winners.  The action and drama never stop in this story, except for the occasional one-liner that adds levity to the emotionally-charged pages.  I couldn't stop turning pages from the first to the last - once you start, you just can't stop.

Morally, I've always enjoyed the faith lessons in Connealy's books, although that's not necessarily why I read them - I just love the stories.  This one's a bit different, though.  While there's lots of romantic tension and mystery solving, there are also mentoring lessons between Dare, his Regulator friends, and Paul.  I appreciate the way that these men take the time to try to reach this troubled teen and the lessons that they pass along to the reader by proxy.  Personally, I can't imagine too many teen boys will reap those lessons from the pages of this book, because while it IS full of masculine fighting, it's primarily a love story. Moms, learn those lessons and pass them along, okay?  ;-)

As usual, I'm pretty sure that Vince's story is coming up next, and I can't wait to read it.  Connealy teases the reader with the beginning of his story in this one, and it, too, promises to entice.

Read other reviews in this blog hop here, or click here to purchase your own now.

Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Connect with Mary: http://maryconnealy.com/

I received a free copy of Fired Up from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Hearts for Home Blog Hop - September 19, 2013

Introducing ... the Hearts for Home Blog Hop!  A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for this weekly link-up, which means that every Thursday you'll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post.  If you're a blogger, we'd love to have you link up your posts and join us.  You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.

Last week this post about matching landmarks from Our 4 Kiddos was the most-clicked-on post.

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:
- 5 Ways to Learn Outside of the Classroom
- Celebrate "Collect Rocks" Day
- Easy Cheesy Crackers

If your post is listed above, please grab one of our 'Featured Blogger' buttons!  Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.

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Link up your family-friendly blog posts below. Please add our button to your post to link back to this one. Happy hopping!

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Inspired Wednesday - "Home to Heather Creek" by Kathleen Bauer

I love to read.  

You've probably noticed that by now, if you've been visiting here long at all, but it's the truth - and I've found a fun new series.

Check them out:

Before the Dawn begins just one week after the funeral of Charlotte's daughter, Denise. Denise's three children barely have time to process the death of their mother before they must move to the Heather Creek Farm they have never visited with grandparents they barely know. At age 16, Sam is fiercely protective of his younger siblings. Emily is 14 and desperately misses her friends. Young Christopher is only 8 and just wants to fit in. While Charlotte tries to help her grandchildren adjust to their new life, she also wrestles with her own grief and the enormous task of bringing her family together. Bob believes the fastest path to adjustment is a firm routine, with structure and chores, the same way they raised their own kids. However, that route led to Denise running away from home as a teenager and an estranged relationship with her family. Charlotte is worried about making the same mistakes she made with Denise. Is this her chance to make things right?

It is spring when the children arrive, and as Charlotte looks around the farm, she hopes the new life around them will signify hope and healing. The miracle of new life, along with God's healing touch, reminds all of them that it's always darkest just before the dawn.

Sweet September picks up at harvest time, as the children are settling into a new school year. While the harvest should be an exciting time, the children don't seem to be getting into the spirit. Emily is struggling with farm life, Christopher spends most of his time alone, and Sam is failing school. Trying to learn from what did and didn't work with her own kids, Charlotte is determined to get her grandchildren back on track.

As tenuous family bonds threaten to break apart, a mystery on the farm might be the one thing that can bond the family together. Charlotte sets out to uncover the truth, and as the kids unite to find answers, this cobbled-together family learns more about one another and the love that binds them together.

The lives of the Stevensons and their grandchildren unfold in this captivating story of the remarkable change that comes from the love of family, the kindness of others, sheer persistence and unshakable faith. As readers follow the Stevensons' inspiring stories, it's almost impossible not feel a part of this friendly, loving community, where God's grace can be seen in every circumstance.

My favorite stories are those that feel real, and unfortunately for the Stevenson's grandchildren, this series does.  The drama and enveloping sadness following a death is there, but so is the hope and promise of spring - of finding a new normal and figuring out how to make life work again.  Friendships and community connections play large roles in helping the Stevenson family to adapt to this major change in their lives.

I loved the steadiness of the farm - of the change of the seasons, of the unpredictable routine of the work, and of the way that it reminded me of my great-grandparents on their farm.  I loved how foreign it was to their grandchildren and how hard everyone had to work - both to come together and to survive.

The cast of characters is pretty cool.  Diverse in personality and talent, they don't even work together very well - but their determination to stick together shines through it all.  

I'm not sure what sort of scope is planned for this series, but I hope that there are more planned.  While the immediate problem of finding tentative peace for the family does reach resolution within these books, the characters do not feel finished to me.  I would love to see more books written into this series and to find out what happens to these characters next.

You can read other reviews on this bloggy hop here or go here to purchase your own copies now.

About the Author: Kathleen Bauer is the pen name for a team of writers who have come together to create the Home to Heather Creek series.

I received a free copy of these books from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

What's your favorite genre?

Last week Heather at Simply Helping Him shared a guest post about ways to involve your children in abstract art - and ways to teach them about famous artists, too!  To find out more, visit Simply Helping Him - and Heather, please visit our Inspired Wednesday page and take the "I was featured on Washed Up Inspired Wednesdays' button back with you.  

Be sure to check out Stephanie's Inspired Wednesday post over at The Multi Taskin' Mom!

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An InLinkz Link-up

"Eventide" by Shelley Shepard Gray

 A young Amish woman harbors a difficult secret. Does she dare share the truth with the man she hopes to marry?

Elsie Keim doesn't want to be left behind. Her twin sister, Viola, and her older brother, Roman, have both found love and are building lives of their own. But Elsie? She's still stuck at home, being treated like a child. No one seems to consider her a capable woman-all they see are the thick lenses of her glasses, constant reminders that Elsie suffers from keratoconus and is slowly going blind.

Elsie knows there's much more to her than her disease. That's why when a new neighbor, Landon Troyer, shows some interest in her, she doesn't want anything to scare him away . . . even if it means keeping her condition a secret.

Landon is ready to start a new life and feels like Elsie may just be the right woman to start it with. But when Roman steps in and shares the truth about Elsie's illness, Landon is floored. His job is demanding and takes him away from home, sometimes for days at a time. How could he keep up with his responsibilities and take care of Elsie?

Eventide is an enjoyable story with a great faith lesson.  It's a story of contrasts - an Amish family with more issues than a newspaper who find their way back to each other and to peace.

Most of the story is anything but peaceful, however.  With the full extended family trying to tell her what to do, Elsie has to figure out what she wants and how to get it - while dealing with her family at the same time.  Throw in a new love interest - a first love interest - and Elsie's storyline alone will keep the pages turning.

What I appreciated most by the end of the story, however, was how aptly named this book truly is.  Gray ties up all the loose ends with thoughtful, peaceful reflection, which contrasts starkly to the drama of the story and shows just how far everyone has come.  She paints a picture of relaxing in God's grace that is both beautiful and hopeful.

Eventide is the perfect ending to this series - and I can't wait to begin the next one.

You can read other reviews on this blog hop here.  Click here to purchase your own copy now.

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the "Sisters of the Heart", "Seasons of Sugarcreek", "Secrets of Crittenden County", and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Connect with Shelley here: http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com/

I received a free copy of Eventide from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

GratiTuesday - Geronimo!

Our local homeschool group is awesome, and this year they came up with a really great field trip to kick off the new school year.   We traveled to Camp Chestnut Ridge, a camp run by the United Methodist church in nearby Efland.

I was particularly excited about this trip.  I was a counselor at my 4-H camp for several years and loved every minute of it - so much so that I worked there as a cook during summers in college.

Our fearless homeschool leaders chose great activities for us.  We had the option to canoe/kayak, do arts and crafts, do archery, take a hayride to a nearby farm, or to zipline.  We could each choose three ....

and I was most excited when My Big Helper chose to zipline.  We watched a few videos at home to prep her, since she had never seen a zipline before, but when the time came, she strapped on the harness and helmet.  She was the first one ready and climbed up the ladder.  That tiny platform was a total of 25 or 30 feet in the air, or so they said, and it was hard to watch her pull herself up those staples-called-ladder pushed into the tree.  She climbed right up, though, ...

having just a bit of trouble when it came time to climb over the edge of the platform.  Her arms and legs weren't quite long enough to reach the handholds, but she did it - and after listening to instructions, she sat on the edge of the ledge and jumped off.

It's one thing to do that yourself, but it's quite another to watch your little girl do it.

I was very happy to be there and be able to check her harness for myself.

Geronimo!

My Little Man wasn't old enough to tackle the zipline yet, but he was VERY excited to try out a bow and arrow for the first time.  He did well, and he stayed to shoot over and over.  Doesn't he look so professional out there?

After rowing peacefully around the lake in our canoe, checking out the shoreline and soaking up some sun, we spotted some kids in kayaks.  My Big Helper decided that she wouldn't mind trying it out, as long as she could stay by the shore, and so after a a quick paddling lesson from the instructor, she hopped in.  She did stay by the shore - for about two minutes.  She got the hang of the paddle quickly and soon took off straight across the lake.  

I really want my kids to have the opportunity to attend camp someday.  Being able to go off and try new things - things I might not ordinarily do - taught me that I could do far more than I thought.  I want them to have that same chance - but at their ages, being able to experience it with them for the very first time is priceless.

Even if my heart does skip a few beats at their bravery and independence.

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.