William Sirls’ THE SINNERS’ GARDEN iPad Mini Giveaway!

Meet William Sirls: Once a senior vice president in a large investment firm, he was incarcerated in 2007 for wire fraud and money laundering. Life lessons involving faith, grace, and forgiveness are evident in his writing. The Sinners’ Garden is his second novel. William is celebrating the book's release with an iPad giveaway.

  One winner will receive:

• A brand new iPad Mini
• The Sinners' Garden by William Sirls

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 1st. Winner will be announced March 3rd on William Sirls' blog. 

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by William’s blog on the 3rd to see if you won.

Hearts for Home Blog Hop - February 27, 2014

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 called Hands-On Learning About Space was the most-clicked-on post.

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:

-  Volcano Cake & Geo resources for Sci party

- Around the World in 80 Days Book Study/Activities

-  Robert Frost Study in Words and Craft:

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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Please share your family friendly posts here:

An InLinkz Link-up

$200 Visa Cash Card Giveaway & “Amish Roads” Facebook Party with Barbara Cameron

Barbara Cameron is celebrating the release of A Road Unknown with a $200 Visa cash card giveaway and a fun "Amish Roads" Facebook party.

One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card
• A Road Unknown by Barbara Cameron

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 27th. Winner will be announced at Barbara's "Amish Roads" Facebook Party on February 27th. Connect with Barbara for an evening of book chat, Amish trivia, laughter, prizes, and more!

So grab your copy of A Road Unknown and join Barbara and friends on the evening of February 27th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!

My Little TwinkerBellz! {Sponsored Post}

I recently met Ann of Twinkerbellz, a custom -design Etsy shop for women and girls.  I was even more excited when I found out that My Big Helper would be receiving this pretty purple dress!

My Big Helper decided last year that she wants clothing that's more 'artsy.'  Not being artsy myself, I've had a difficult time identifying exactly what that is - but Ann has nailed it with this dress.  My Big Helper loves that it's purple first and foremost - but it has lots of fun details that made her smile.

The pocket on the front is perfect for hiding small treasures, and the bright polka dots definitely qualify as 'artsy.'  The unusual styling of the bow and the fastening in the back is a detail you don't see in typical clothing anymore, either, and it's that attention to detail that makes Twinkerbellz stand out.

My Big Helper is now looking forward to spring so that she can wear her new dress.  Since she's been praying for snow for months and cheers each time the word 'snow' enters the forecast, this is quite a feat!  I'm happy that a single, colorful article of clothing can make her so happy - and especially that it's a well-made, age-appropriate, fun piece.

You know, I'm pretty excited to see her wear it, too.

To order your own Twinkerbellz, visit Ann's Etsy shop.

Menu Plan Monday - February 24, 2014

Last week's craziness and traveling wore me out, but the break from major cooking was nice.  We're pretty busy again this week, but I'm hoping to fit in some simple and healthy meals - and I'm looking forward to being at home again!

Breakfast: 

- Pancakes, grape juice

- scrambled eggs, juice, bananas

- 

- Cinnamon Almond Granola and fruit

- Muffins, fruit

Dinner:

- Wild rice soup & salad - we haven't succeeded in having this yet, but I'm determined to make it this week!

- Barbecue chicken & black bean quesadillas, applesauce

- Pizza Casserole, salad

- Cheeseburger Mac 'n' Cheese (CCC)

- Breakfast for supper - breakfast pizza, fruit

- Baked potato bar

- Leftovers

Our church youth group is having another bake sale fundraiser this weekend, so I'll be baking lots at the end of the week for that.  I'm planning to take a few loaves of wheat bread, lemon crinkle cookies, and maybe a Black Magic Cake with Cheesecake Filling and Chocolate Ganache (CCC), but I'm certainly open to suggestions!

What are you cooking this week?

For more Menu Plan Mondays, visit OrgJunkie.

John Faubion’s FRIEND ME Kindle HDX Giveaway!

John Faubion is celebrating his debut novel, Friend Me, with a Kindle HDX giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
• Friend Me by John Faubion

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 22nd. Winner will be announced February 24th on John Faubion's blog. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by John's blog on the 24th to see if you won.

Hearts for Home Blog Hop - February 20, 2014

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 called Studying Geography with Regional Foods- Russia was the most-clicked-on post.

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:

-  Free Literature Resources for Great Classics! 

- Teachable Moments: Frozen Bible Study

-  Meal Ideas for a Date Night at Home

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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Please share your family friendly posts here:

An InLinkz Link-up

SMITTEN BOOK CLUB | KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY, FACEBOOK PARTY, AND SATURDAY BRUNCH

The Smitten gals are back with their newest release, Smitten Book Club! Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, and Denise Hunter are celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway, a Facebook party on February 20, and a nationwide book-club brunch on March 22.

 
One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• The Smitten books (Smitten, Secretly Smitten, Smitten Book Club)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 20th. Winner will be announced at the Smitten Book Club Facebook Author Chat Party on February 20th. Connect with Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, and Kristin Billerbeck for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! The Smitten gals will also be taking questions from the audience, giving away books and gift certificates, and sharing news about their upcoming nationwide Smitten Book Club brunch on March 22nd. (Sign up to host today!)

So grab your copy of Smitten Book Club and join Colleen, Denise, Kristin, and friends on the evening of February 20th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!

Sign up to host a Smitten Book Club Brunch on March 22nd!

HOPEFUL by Shelley Shepard Gray | Win a copy!

Welcome to the blog tour for Hopeful, the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray's new series, Return to Sugarcreek. Critics have already given their thumbs up for Hopeful: “Lovable characters and a good story, full of romance and suspense . . . a must read." (Library Journal)

Enter to win one of FIVE copies of the book. 

Five winners will receive:

• Hopeful by Shelley Shepard Gray

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 23rd. All winners will be announced February 24th at Shelley's blog. 

Enter today and be sure to visit Shelley's blog on the 24th to see if YOU won one of the books!

Menu Plan Monday - February 17, 2014

We're having a different sort of week this week. We have three major out-of-town field trips, a party/meeting, and, hopefully, our youth group will meet.  I'm excited about the events but I've been sort of dreading the busyness of it all.  While I usually try to avoid scheduling things like this, it was out of my hands this time - so I'm trying hard to prepare for it the best I can and then to go with the flow.

Basically, I'm not planning to cook this week.  Like at all.  It's hard to cook from the mini-van!

I did some prep stuff on Saturday, though, and I've been putting things in the freezer as I had the chance, so here's my on-the-run plan for this week. 

Breakfast: 

- Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars, oranges

- scrambled eggs, juice, bananas

- 

- Cinnamon Almond Granola and fruit

Dinner:

- Wild rice soup & salad 

- Beef & Bean Burritos, salad, applesauce

- Chili, fruit

- Chick-Fil-A Kids' Night

- Pizza, carrots

- Barbecue sandwiches, salad

- Leftovers

I'd love to say that we're going to bake something fun & decadent, but I'm pretty sure I'll be doing well to keep us in bread and to keep the dishes done, so we'll not push that.  If any baking happens before Saturday, it will just be a happy bonus.

What are you cooking this week?

For more Menu Plan Mondays, visit OrgJunkie.

10 Ideas for Making Valentine's Day Special {in the midst of Snow-maggedon '14}

I heard something on the news that bothered me yesterday:  a Georgia sheriff declared Valentine's Day to be 'cancelled' because men wouldn't be able to get to the closest convenience store at the last minute to pick up whatever chocolate or wilted flowers were left.

That bothers me.  Partly because I don't want somebody else's leftovers, but mostly because it makes me sad that we would assume that all of the men in our society are incapable of being thoughtful or of planning ahead.  Sad that we think that the only way to show love is to purchase something at the store.

I think differently.  We can show love any day of the year.  We can show love without storebought gifts.  We can show love in the midst of a huge snowstorm that keeps us at home.  We can show love at the last minute or by planning days or weeks or months in advance.

But if you're one of those people who did procrastinate and you want to turn your situation around, here are some ideas to make this Valentine's Day fabulous.

1.  Make a card detailing your plans.  Maybe you had great intentions of going out for dinner or the theater, but you're now snowbound.  Design your own card, using construction paper and markers or PicMonkey, then share those special plans and when you're going to do them instead.  Spend some time talking about why you've chosen this special event - it's her favorite restaurant, your favorite show as a couple, etc - and savor the anticipation.

2.  Make some hot chocolate and spend some time in conversation.  If you're married, chances are it's hard to find time to talk about anything other than schedules and laundry, but that's important.  Find out what those 'favorite' things are - color, movie, restaurant, snowy day activity.  They might've changed since you last asked!  My husband really listened to what I said on our first date, and he carefully asked questions, and that was a very attractive quality to me.  Renew those acquaintances now that you have some time to spend together.  Need a good hot chocolate recipe?  Here are eight to choose from. 

3.  Snuggle in and play some games.  Board games may not be as popular as video games these days, but they're great for some old-fashioned fun - and since you're not sitting side-by-side at a set of controllers, you can talk, make eye contact, and hang out together while playing.

4.  Prepare a special dinner.  You may not be going out, but staying in can be fun, too, and you can probably find the ingredients to make something fun right where you are.  Make a simple stir fry and laugh your way through dinner while you attempt eating with chopsticks.  Create an omelet with onions, peppers, ham, and cheese, and eat by candlelight. Make some French toast with all of that milk and bread you bought before the snow began and drizzle some chocolate sauce on top instead of syrup.  Or go red and try to eat only foods that are heart-ish in color - spaghetti, lasagna, tomato bisque, strawberry sorbet.  Be creative!  Here's a fun recipe for Pizza Casserole.

5.  Make some snow people.  Yes, it's cold, but there's something both fun and intimate about putting yourself out there for the world to see.  It's also fun to spend time working at a common task - and many of us don't do that enough.  So with this abundance of snow, go make some snow people.  How would you dress each other?  Are you going to put yourselves far apart or holding stick-hands together?  Fill a small spray bottle with some red-dyed water and spray hearts where the hearts would be.  

6.  Stamp a romantic message in the snow.  Just remember, that while you're valentine can see it, so can all the neighbors!  

7.  If you still have power, snuggle in for a movie marathon.  Choose a theme - like chick flicks or action adventure - or take turns choosing the movies.  Snuggle in together with a bowl of popcorn, some chocolate chips, and a shared blanket.  Watching movies together are a great time to give a good foot- or back-massage, especially if you're spending the holiday with the kids. If you want to combine the popcorn and chocolate, try making this White Chocolate Popcorn.

8.  Go for a snowy, moonlit walk.  My husband and I both love snow - but our favorite time to be out in it is at night, when the moonlight reflects off the snow, the world feels quiet and peaceful, and it seems as if you're the only two people alive.  Bundle up and go for a walk through your neighborhood or to a local park.  Take the camera along and look for special shots of snow beauty, or, clown around, taking selfies and goofy shots to remember this snowy Valentine's Day long after the snow melts.

9.  Stage your own mini Olympics with these quick games.  These Minute-to-Win-It style games use very simple materials but are loads of fun.  With the Olympics happening in Sochi, stage your own games and compete to win.  If you're married, perhaps you could choose a fun prize for the winner?

10.  Get grocery-store creative.  Hot, Holy, & Humorous posted a list of items that you can find at your local grocery store to make Valentine's fun.  Chances are, you have at least a few of them in your house already.  If you're married, check out these ideas for a creative and romantic Valentine's Day.

So what would you add?  Snowed in or not, how can you make this Valentine's Day special?

Hearts for Home Blog Hop - February 13, 2014

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 called Girls of American History was the most-clicked-on post.

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:

-  Simple Valentine's Day Art 

- Unstoppable Review and Giveaway 

-  Giveaway - One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp 

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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An InLinkz Link-up

"All Things Hidden" by Tracie Peterson & Kimberly Woodhouse

 Gwyn Hillerman loves being a nurse at her father's clinic on the beautiful Alaskan frontier. But family life has been rough ever since her mother left them, disdaining the uncivilized country and taking Gwyn's younger sister with her.

In Chicago, Dr. Jeremiah Vaughan finds his life suddenly turned upside down when his medical license is stripped away after an affluent patient dies. In a snowball effect, his fiance breaks their engagement. In an attempt to bury the past, Jeremiah accepts Dr. Hillerman's invitation to join his growing practice in the isolated Alaska Territory.

Gwyn and Jeremiah soon recognize a growing attraction to each other. But when rumors of Jeremiah's past begin to surface, they'll need more than love to face the threat of an uncertain future.

All Things Hidden is a most unusual Depression-era story with a very unique twist:  the settlement of Alaska.  I didn't know that the poor national economy spawned a huge government movement to shift people to the territory of Alaska, so the very premise was exciting.  Since the reality of Alaska as our final national frontier is of a rustic, dangerous place, the setting screamed 'new' and 'different.' 

I really liked as a leading lady.  She was both humble and hardworking but human, too.  She wanted to fall in love and have a family, all the while struggling with the one that she was born into.  She's pulled in too many directions, like far too many of us, and she could be the girl next door.

The action sped up throughout the story.  In the beginning you learn primarily about what will happen, at least according to government agents, but as time progresses the plan's problems begin to arise.  With Gwyn and her father being the primary troubleshooters in the new Alaskan settlement, they're on the front lines of action - and that continues as stalkers, murder, and general mayhem ensue.  This makes for a dramatic and page-turning read, and after a chapter or two, I couldn't put it down.

I've never read a Peterson novel that I didn't like, and All Things Hidden didn't disappoint.  If you're a Peterson fan, this is a must-read.

I received a free copy of All Things Hidden from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Free Snow-Themed Printable!

I love this verse from Job.  I love the idea that He has 'storehouses of snow,' which it says in Job close to this verse, and that despite all of our technology, tools, and so-called smarts, we do exactly as this says:  our busy modern lives completely shut down in awe of His amazing power.

The above is a free printable over at our Facebook page today.  To get yours, click on this link and 'like' the page.  Then click on the 'Likers Freebie' tab at the top of the page and download it.

** Many of us are directly in the path of, or are already being affected by, a big wintry storm.  Here in North Carolina our meteorologists are calling for two and three times as much ice as I've ever seen - way more than enough to knock out power for more than a week.  Please pray for those people in danger from this storm - and remember just Who is really in charge of our world.

The Power of Words & How to Use Them Wisely

Words are my husband's love language.  Nothing seems to make him feel as valued and as happy as a sincere compliment or thank-you.

Words are not my love language.  While I appreciate gushy language, I'm not prone to speaking it - and it can make me rather uncomfortable and nervous, too.  Words are not my thing to give. 

But that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate them, and lately I've been watching as my husband and I both received some good words - and some that were hard to hear.

So I've been thinking about words.  How much importance should we be giving them?  How quickly should we throw them out?

Proverbs 4:23 says that we should Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  I think, among other things, that we need to be careful how much weight we give the words of others.

So when words hurt, ask yourself:  Are these words true?  Not Are they painful?, because being painful does not make them correct.  If they are true, painful or not, then what do you need to do about them?  Do you need to ask for forgiveness, correct a wrong, clarify the statement, etc?  Determine what, if any, action is needed.

But often we're faced with how to use words.  Again, what does the Bible say?  Ephesians 4:29 says Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

From my perspective, that's not always easy.  Sometimes I need to walk away to calm down before I say something that would most definitely not be discouraging - like asking HOW a certain child could lose a shoe AGAIN when it's time to go out the door?  When we're already late and I was supposed to be early and there's a special place just for those shoes?   ;-)

But while discipline has it's place and frustration is real, sometimes we're not supposed to express that.  Sometimes we (I) need to be more encouraging.  So here are some ways to use encouraging words, even when those might not be our first choice.

1.  Write a note on the bathroom mirror.  Dry erase markers will wash right off of that glass, and positive words written there are sure to be a fun surprise.  Writing a compliment to your spouse?  Write in lipstick.

2.  Write on a banana.  Sounds weird, I know, but carving a short message into a banana peel with a paring knife is super fun.  The edges you cut will turn brown in a few hours, making your message stand out - and the recipient smile.


3.  Put together a simple gift basket with a card.  Someone did that for me this week.  The gifts are fun but the words meant the world.  Seeing happy and positive thoughts at a time when I was discouraged really changed my outlook.

4.  Say thanks.  When my children fight their way out of a habit that bugs me, or even make a tiny snail-sized step in the right direction, telling them how much I like what they've done often gives them the incentive to repeat it - without any ugly words or disciplinary action needed.

5.  Post a compliment on Facebook. We recently took a field trip with a bunch of other people - a trip that I planned.  We returned later that afternoon and I found that I had been flagged in someone else's post.  She was exclaiming how much her family had learned on the trip, and by tagging me, I was sure to see it - and that made my day.  I'm sure it took only a second to add my name to a post she was going to write, anyway, but it definitely brightened my day.  How easily could the rest of us do that, as well?

How can you use words wisely today?

Ruth Reid’s A MIRACLE OF HOPE Kindle HDX Giveaway and Facebook Party!

A Miracle of Hope is the first book in Ruth Reid's new series, Amish Wonders, and she is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX Giveaway and an Author Chat Facebook Party!

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Miracle of Hope by Ruth Reid

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 11th. Winner will be announced at the A Miracle of Hope Facebook Party on February 11th. Connect with Ruth for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, prizes, and more!

So grab your copy of A Miracle of Hope and join Ruth and friends on the evening of February 11th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

Introducing Twinkerbellz!

Drumroll, please ......  Introducing TWINKERBELLZ!

Twinkerbellz is the brainchild of Ann D'Entremont, a Texan who's been sewing for over 20 years.  She has the amazing talent of being able to look at a piece of clothing and then sew her own without a pattern.  Since patterns are the bane of my sewing existence, I think this is pretty amazing!

Ann sews custom couture pieces for women and girls.  She operates a Facebook page and an Etsy shop, where you can stay up-to-date on the latest specials and sales.  You can also order a custom outfit!  

My Big Helper's first Twinkerbellz design is currently winging its way here via the mail service, so I haven't gotten to see any of Ann's work in person just yet, but since the Twinkerbellz shop is having a grand reopening today, so I thought I'd share.  This week Twinkerbellz will be offering 15% off with the coupon code REOPEN.  Hop over and check them out!

Menu Plan Monday - February 10, 2014

I'm really not sure how to plan meals for this week.  We have a few big things going on and then there are rumors of a huge snowstorm coming our way.  They say we might get three whole inches!  Gasp!  

So here are my best guesses for the week, but ... it could always change.

Breakfast:

- Breakfast burritos, fruit

- scrambled eggs, juice, bananas

- 

- Cinnamon Almond Granola and fruit

Dinner:

- Wild rice soup & salad

- Beef & Bean Burritos, salad, applesauce

- Chinese New Year Dinner - Sesame chicken, fried rice with vegetables, egg rolls, pork dumplings, Mongolian beef and broccoli, seaweed crackers, apples and oranges, sweet rice ball soup, cream cheese wontons

- Pizza, carrot sticks, apples

- Leftovers

 

- Ham party sandwiches, salad, applesauce

 

I haven't decided on any menu plans for Valentine's Day yet.  Suggestions??

Our kids' youth group at church is having a bake sale this Saturday.  I'd love to hear your ideas.  I'm currently planning to take two loaves of bread, some lemon cookies, and perhaps a bar of some kind. 

What are you cooking this week?

For more Menu Plan Mondays, visit OrgJunkie.