There goes Sunday School.... Noah is not right.

Movie Review: Noah

Hollywood has done it again. A biblical story in disturbing proportions. It's unbelievable how a simple story like Noah and the Ark can get so blown up out of proportion. The latest in Hollywood bunk has opened this past weekend in the form of Noah and I'm afraid this movie will be believed as a true account from the bible.

It's not!!!  The only similarity from the bible account and the movie is that Noah builds an ark, has a wife and three sons and it rains to flood the earth.  All portrayals are so out of wack....this is not a movie for families to watch.

From Plugged In (http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/noah-2014.aspx) we read:

From PluggedIn.com

"Noah goes pretty far off the Sunday school flannel board to tell its story, beginning with 'the beginning.' Noah recounts the story of creation to his children, reciting what happened on each of the six days. Using time-lapse photography, his account blends the Bible with Darwinian evolution, as animals change into other animals in rapid-fire sequence. (And most of the creatures on the ark appear to be evolutionary forebears of the ones we live with today.)

 Unlike the direct commands issued by God to Noah in Genesis, His will is obscured in Noah. The titular character receives only visions, their meaning never fully clear to him. And because Noah and his family deeply desire to do God's will exactly, this exacerbating lack of communication creates some serious conflicts—an echo of sometimes our own uncertainty of what God would have us do now."

It is a dark portrayal of  what really happened.  Noah is a prophet of God. He has the light of goodness in him and is not at all the way Russell Crowe has portrayed him. Although it's not really Russell Crowe's fault. I really like his work most of the time but with Darren Aronofsky as director (also directed Black Swan-another disturbing movie) he didn't have much of a choice.

In the biblical story all three sons are married which is one of main points of having a family get on the ark to start a new life....each son has a wife so they can  have children to populate the world.
 
When I see a biblical story on the movie screen, I expect the story to stay true to it's original writing such as The Ten Commandments or Jesus of  Nazareth not misconstrued as a fairy tale although anyone can produce a movie with their own take. This might be a compelling story but it's not what really happened in my eyes. It was too dark and misleading as to the integrity of it's main character.

I'm sure many curious seekers will watch Noah for the entertainment.  I just wouldn't believe it as the truth...which is what I'm thinking the rest of the world will do.

Feelings of a tender heart as a parent....

In all my driving around recently, I have had the opportunity to think about the effects my children have had in other lives.  I have always felt that if my children thought enough about another person to marry them, then I would accept that person as my own child.

So far so good--all of my married children have married well and I feel that their spouses are one of my own.  So my plan is with nine children is when they are all married at sometime, I won't just have nine children, I will have eighteen.

Recently I have had a discussion with someone I have known for a long time but his family situation had changed and his opinions of family life were way different than I had expected.

This friend and I have discussed many topics of family importance going around and around in discussion so we could not agree.  I finally had to concede to "agree to disagree" because aligning ourselves to each others opinion was not going to happen. The whole discussion centered around parents making decisions for their children and then I found this little gem from Michael Ramey of parentalrights.org  (http://www.parentalrights.org/ )

Two Great Stories of 'Parents Know Best'

                                                                                                                                                             "We turn to 

experts every day for insight and guidance because 

they are, well, experts. They know more on the subject at hand than we do, whether it’s “What is making my faucet drip?” or “Why is my car overheating?” Experts can be, if you will, a helpful diagnostic tool.

But when it’s time to make decisions about your child, you know the real expert is you.

That proved especially true in two heart-warming stories in the news this past week, as parents defied the experts and saved their children’s lives – one figuratively and one literally.

At age 2, Jacob Barnett was diagnosed with autism when, after learning to talk, he suddenly and irreversibly went silent. Experts recognized that his attention had turned inward, and they prescribed what would become a 60-hour-per-week therapy regimen. One specialist warned he would never even learn to read.

Then one day, mother Kristine realized that while she was playing with other children in the daycare she ran from her home, her own son was losing his childhood.“I knew in my heart that if Jake stayed in special ed, he would slip away,” Kristine later told a 60 Minutes interview.

That’s when she decided to focus not on what he couldn’t do, but on what he could. She halted his therapy and instead invested time in what he liked – which appeared to be the stars. They would lie out at night and look at the sky, and make occasional trips to the planetarium.

On one such trip, a university lecture was taking place, so mother and son decided to sit in. At the end of the class, the professor asked if anyone knows why Mars’s moons are oblong. Jacob’s hand went up. “How large are the moons?” he asked when called upon.

When the professor answered that they’re quite small, Jacob correctly responded, “The gravitational effects of the moons are not large enough [compared to that of Mars] to pull them into complete spheres.”

Jacob was 3 years old.

Today, at age 15, he is involved in an international study program for post-graduate level physicists at Perimeter Scholars International in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He has developed his own theory of relativity, expanding on that of Albert Einstein. His level of genius is literally off the charts – and he can share all of this with the world that so amazes him because his mother decided to counter the experts and take an unconventional approach.

In a similar vein, young Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler of Washington recently faced a parental dilemma of her own. Five months into her first pregnancy, doctors discovered that her baby, suffered from Potter’s Syndrome: the baby had developed no kidneys, and could therefore produce no fetal urine. Without fetal urine, she would have little or no amniotic fluid, which would ultimately keep the baby’s lungs from developing.

Doctors told Congresswoman Herrera-Beutler and her husband, Dan, that there was zero chance that their baby would live.

“As the doctor was giving us the diagnosis (Abigail) was kicking,” Herrera-Beutler told FoxNews. “We were totally broken, we’re sobbing, we’re asking, ‘What can be done? Is there anything that can be done?’ And she’s moving inside of me, and the doctor is saying, ‘No, there is no option. This is fatal.’”

But the Beutlers refused to give up, and instead located a doctor at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore who had an experimental treatment he was willing to try. There was no pre-natal fix for the absence of kidneys, but perhaps injecting saline solution into Jaime’s abdomen would provide the fluid the lungs needed to develop.

Miraculously, Abigail was born on July 15 with a healthy set of lungs – the first known survivor of Potter’s Syndrome anywhere, ever. She still needs special care, and won’t be ready for a kidney transplant for about a year. From that point, however, doctors are hopeful she can have a normal, healthy life.

And the difference between no chance and full life was in the decision of loving parents who dared to defy the odds and prove the experts wrong.

Both of these stories feature a variety of experts, including those who "got it wrong" – and those who ultimately helped these parents to save the children they seemed destined to lose. There is nothing wrong with experts.


But there is a powerful, natural reason why parents, not the experts, should make the vital decisions that will ultimately shape their children’s lives. The proposed Parental Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution will ensure that the right to make these decisions remains with parents for generations to come."


  I couldn't have said it better. Thank you Michael Ramey from Parentalrights.org for saying it so well.....
 

Blog Tour for: The Roilden Stone of Elf Mountain...

 If you are an Anna del C. Dye fan or a fan of elf stories (who isn't)  then you are in for a treat. The newest Elf story comes as a pre-sequel to all of Anna del C Dye's books and it's number seven of the series.

The Roilden Stone of Elf Mountain 
    by Anna del C. Dye

Here is a blurb of the story:

Liberty … or Monarchy? Should the wisest of races choose such a path, or return to the traditional council? Their queen has lost the Roilden Stones of Elf Mountain to a power-hungry wizard. After all, one can be deceived, but twenty?

With the stones missing, a fatal drought grips Andoriah, the new elfin home. Death to all is imminent. Who will retrieve the Stones when the Gold Elfs won’t act? Will heroes arise before Andoriah burns in eternal fire?  Can the missing elf queen and her daughter be found?

The Roilden Stones of Elf Mountain is the long awaited prequel, and final installment in Anna del C.’s elf series. Discover the Elfs, an eternal race who chose to live in a world of woes away from their motherland. Love them, feel their pain and their happiness in a land that will test the core of their beliefs and bravery. Written in the genre of The Lord of the Rings and the Shannara series, The Roilden Stones of Elf Mountain comes alive with battles, heroism, action and romance.

About Anna:

Anna del C. Dye was born in the extreme South along some famous beaches. She is the third child and twins with her sister Elena. She grew up with four other siblings being placed in the middle. Her mother died when she was six years old and her father never married again.
The green eyed, brown haired author found a mother in her husband's mother and loves her dearly. She accredits her mother-in-law with teaching her many things in life.
Anna loves reading, but had few opportunities to do so while growing up. Once married she was introduced to the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books that she admits to having collected, which collections she still retains. They were the ones who wet her appetite. A few years ago she was introduced to Tolkien's Lord of the Ring's and to J. K. Rowling's writings, which she loves. She also loves romantic music that she listens to every day, plays that she attends at least six times a year, and cats (when they are not shedding.) She likes her clothes to be very feminine, with lace being one of her favorites. "I am afraid that I do not follow fashions," she was heard to say. "I wear what I like."
Early on in her life she showed an affinity for sewing and took classes that rewarded her with the opportunities of taking care of the costumes for the cast of four different plays, which she enjoyed immensely. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and understands Portuguese.
At twenty-one she moved north to marry Rodney and has resided in Utah since then. Her husband, a native of Idaho, met her in her hometown. They fell in love and she came to Utah on Christmas Eve to be married two weeks later. They are the parents of three princes and a princess.
With her husband and his family she has have the opportunity of traveling to many of the states in USA, most of them camping, and to three other countries, something she enjoys very much. Soon, she would like to visit the castles in Germany and other European countries.
Anna possesses a great mind and imagination, which, with the encouragement of her husband, she set to writing. The creation of her two series of books The Elf Series and her Medieval Romance series; are the result of many years of daydreaming and now, her own laptop.

Anna del C. has received numerous awards like “First Page” “First Chapter” in three of her books. A bronze Medal for book three in The Silent Warrior Trilogy and honor place for others.

Anna is fluent in Spanish and English and loves to travel the world.

You can fallow Anna in her website at: http://www.annadelc.com

Anna is sponsoring an Ebook Giveaway  today until March 8th:  You have a chance to win The Roilden Stone of Elf Mountain. After you "Like" the book trailer.

Trailer is located here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C79Nc2ZjcXs&feature=youtu.be

Remember to leave a comment with your e-mail to receive an ebook. One ebook will be given in each stop in this tour and the entries can be international.

You can find The Roilden Stones of Elf Mountain here:

Amazon: http://j.mp/1dvqXP6

Book Review: Turning Pages

I just finished a wonderful book by Tristi Pinkston.   

Turning Pages is a terrific story for anyone who wants to "get away" from reality for a while.

As the dedication says: "To every girl who has ever spent an entire day curled up with a good book."

With interesting characters and touching story of how a girl deals with the death of her father, Turning Pages takes the reader on a journey to another place. You cheer, you cry, you laugh and you cannot put this book down until you find out what happens.

 Some readers might claim it was a modern "Pride and Prejudice" but I didn't think so.  It did remind me of the story somewhat but there are enough details changed that it really isn't the story at all but it's own world of love and librarians.

Turning Pages
by Trista Pinkston

With his pride and her prejudice, what could possibly go wrong?

When the arrogant Blake Hansen steals Addie Preston¹s promotion at the
library, he pretty much rubs her nose in it. But Addie, who dreams of being
a full-fledged librarian, decides to stick it out. She loves surrounding
herself with books and keeping her father¹s memory alive in the building
where they spent so much time together.

Soon, Addie learns that her beloved library will be torn down to make room
for a larger facility, and she has to make a choice. Fight, or let go?
 To complicate things, she finds herself attracted to Blake, who is engaged
to someone else. Will Blake and Addie ever resolve their differences?


Buy your copy here..............


Tristi Pinkston:


Tristi Pinkston is the author of twenty published books, including the bestsellers "Dearly Departed" and "Dialogue Dynamics." She works as a freelance editor and author mentor, and when she's not writing, editing, or homeschooling her children, she enjoys reading, watching good movies, and taking really long naps. She eats ice, which she realizes is very bad for her teeth but she does it anyway, and she can't write without a tube of Chapstick nearby. Visit her website at www.tristipinkston.com

Our Newest Member of the Family.....

Evelyn Olivia Steimle

Evelyn Olivia Steimle was born on a special day.  Not only was it her birthday but it was also Ground Hog's Day to one of the worst winters on record.....

AND

            It was Superbowl Sunday.....Not to just any team in the U.S playing in this big game but the team she is connected to....Her parents live in Everett, Washington, a suburb city of Seattle... The Seahawks were playing in the Superbowl against the Denver Broncos and the miraculous thing is that they won.... The Seahawks were the underdogs and never won a Superbowl and they came out fighting. They won!!! They won!!!    but I digress....

Isaac holding Evie

 This is about Evie (as her parents call her) and her birth......weighing in at 8lbs and 8oz. and measuring 22 inches long.  

She will always have a special birthday.

The South Will Be Warm Again......

Snow man we built

From Lower Alabama on the Gulf Coast:
What a crazy week!!  Winter Storm Leon just reeked havoc on the entire south for two days.  Those from the north are just laughing and shaking their heads but they don't realize what it's like to live in the south with ice and snow.  

For one--most  of those living in the south have never really dealt with ice and snow.  And even the best of those from the north can't navigate in a car through ice which is what mostly fell for 10 hours straight.  There were cars slipping all over the place on all the roads. Even the major interstates had cars in the ditches because it was just too slippery.  The traffic got so bad in Birmingham that people were abandoning their cars to walk home.  Unbelievable. Some people stayed in their cars all night because they were just too far to walk home. What a mess.

Ice hanging off a chair

Two-We aren't prepared with snow plows and sand as the north is because we just don't see this kind of weather very often.  Cities don't have the extra cash to stash snow plows and salt away for a snowy day, so we have to do the best we can when this does happened every 10 years.

Among all the terrible traffic and weather good things were happening too: 
A baby girl was born in a car in Atlanta.
A Chick-Filet Restaurant manager started feeding people food and water for free so they won't starve or dehydrate.

Front of our house

Several schools had to keep children overnight for safety and fed and entertained them while at school.          
Out door winter activities were taking place unlike any time before: sledding, making snow angels, snow man building.
Everyone from schools to banks got a mid-winter break to stay home and just snuggle.
I have to add this one:  A 62 year-old doctor walks from one hospital in Birmingham during the storm to another hospital to save a person's life in brain surgery.... see below link.

Frozen leaves from our bush

That's the blessing of living in the South....there are still such good people who care about everyone's well being.  It is truly a blessing to live here.



But never fear.... the South will be warm again.  Just wait a few days and this whole episode will not even be noticed as it will be back in the 60's by the weekend. We can get back to barbequing, 4-wheeling, going to church and living our lives in the warmer weather.

Link to article about Doctor walking in storm in Birmingham
                                               

Indie Author Celebration January 2014!

Happy New Year Everyone and we are starting the year off with a bang!!!

A writer friend of mine is sponsoring a book giveaway through Amazon's Kindle program. So for a week Andrea Pearson is giving away her first book of this Six book series.

Here is what she says:

It's time to celebrate the release of The Golden Symbol, Kilenya Series Book Six, the last in my series!

As part of the celebration, we're giving away a Kindle Fire. Enter at the bottom of this post, after you check out the fantastic eBooks I've chosen to showcase here. All of them were hand-selected based on the fact that they're well-edited and really good. I loved them!

Please note that on January 18, 2014, my first book, The Key of Kilenya, will no longer be available for free. Pick up your copy while you can!

Have fun browsing. I know you'll love these books. :-)

The Key of Kilenya

Author: Andrea Pearson
Original and discounted price: $3.99 to Free
Discounted until January 18
Genre and target audience: Fantasy for readers 10 and older
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? PG
Download it from: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Book Description:

We all have a choice—but we can’t choose the consequences.

Jacob Clark is chased down a path that takes him to another world—a world where he is a wanted young man. The Lorkon want to control him and the special powers he possesses. The people of the new world want him to save them from the destruction of the Lorkon. All Jacob wants is to go home, but even that choice has consequences. He doesn’t know what to do and if he waits too long the new world and the one he came from will be destroyed. As Jacob looks for people he can trust, he finds himself in the center of the fight for freedom—both for himself and the people he’s come to know.

Jacob has no idea where the path he chooses will take him, but once the choice has been made—bring on the consequences.


The Ember Gods

 Author: Andrea Pearson

Original and discounted price: $3.99 to $0.99

Discounted until January 18

Genre and target audience: Fantasy for readers 10 and older

If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? PG

Download it from: Kindle, Nook

Book description:

Jacob Clark’s new abilities are a blessing and a curse. He’s a hero for returning the magical Key of Kilenya to its rightful owners, but at school he's starting to get noticed for something other than his basketball skills. And the attention is freaking him out.

Balancing both worlds is tricky enough, but Jacob has tasked himself with saving Aloren who’s trapped in Maivoryl City by the Ember Gods. He doesn't want to wait for the potion that will protect his team from the corrosive influence of the Lorkon, but the desire to prove himself to the high school basketball coach conflicts with his plans to rescue her.

Feeling pulled by both sides, Jacob must walk a tightrope of warring worlds with lives on the line. Lives that will be lost if he doesn’t figure out how to complete his quest and balance his abilities. Fast.


Those were the first two books to get you started.  Now for the introduction of book 6......





                                                       The Golden Symbol

Author: Andrea Pearson
Original and discounted price: $4.99 to $2.99
Discounted until January 18
Genre and target audience: Fantasy for readers 10 and older
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? PG
Download it from: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Book description:

In the final installment of the Kilenya Series, Jacob Clark and his friends only have two months to prepare for their enemy’s return—an event which is sure to bring war—and to discover the recipe for the special antidote that will cure the Lorkon. As things become more and more dangerous, Jacob is surprised to find help in the most unlikely people and places. Things look up briefly when Azuriah agrees to share the well-guarded secret of the Golden Symbol. With its help, Jacob may have a chance against the Lorkon, but even so, he and his friends are greatly outnumbered.

Will they be able to find the recipe and create the antidote before the Lorkon arrive, or will Eklaron—and Earth—fall into the hands of the evil empire for good?

Moral Issues Under Fire

This is a republication of an article I wrote last year. The ideals here still need to be implemented:

 

Through out our country’s history, we were known to be a people of prayer, religious conviction and those who promote life.  We prayed before meals, before school started, before Congress, and before sport games. George Washington prayed during Valley Forge as well as many other military leaders and men in combat. Congress would pray before each session. So why has the media jumped all over Tim Tebow when he drops to a knee to thank his Heavenly Father for his blessings?

Religious convictions, especially Christianity, have come under fire in many areas including entertainment, sports, education and government. Respect for the divine in our country is on a downward slope. The standard of what used to be acceptable in religion is slowly being undermined. In 2006 a public school teacher was forced by a federal judge to remove Christian-themed posters from his bulletin board.  One of them was the picture of George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge. We remember the Ten Commandment fiasco when a monument showing the Ten Commandments had to be removed from our own state courthouse. There is a lack of regard for what we used to call respect for God’s authority. It is slowly taking over all those who are opposed to those who choose to keep this reverence.

           

As I researched this phenomenon, there was another issue which arose. In the wake of the 39^th March (2012) for Life in Washington D.C., where hundreds of thousands will walk to support the birth of unborn babies this week, the issue of pro-life is under attack.

 Apparently Tim Tebow’s mother Pam had courageously chose to carry Tim to full term despite doctors’ recommendations that she abort him. An abortion never was even considered as Pam knew she was carrying a person within her.  The attacks of their family from certain women’s groups who were opposed to a Focus on the Family TV ad that ran during the 2010 Super Bowl game explaining their pro-life life style was under attack. Pam made her choice but apparently was not the choice others thought she should do.

We all have choices to make in our own life without others judging us and these choices are based on our experience and knowledge.  If the media reports that it’s okay for young mothers to abort their babies, those without the conviction that it is killing an innocent person, will follow the crowd.  But if the true message of what an abortion is all about is revealed, then this knowledge will help women embrace moral understanding; which is why there will be an anti-abortion commercial during the Super Bowl next weekend.

It makes sense to me: praying, religious convictions and choosing pro-life are moral issues which made our country great. In the words of one great American, Ronald Reagan, he said this: "I've noticed that everyone who is pro-abortion has already been born." These standards need to be kept at the forefront of our society and taught to our children at home.

Thankful for Thanksgiving....

 Through out the whole month of November, I've been posting what I am thankful for in my life.  It's funny how we are as a people.  With the holiday  of Thanksgiving, we are reminded of what we have that is so precious to us. If Thanksgiving didn't exist-we might not be so bold as to proclaim what we are thankful for. Sure during the year we might think about it once in a while, but having a special holiday just to remember that we are thankful is a great blessing.  A great blessing especially for those who don't take the time to say thank you....

 Here are several quotes from church leaders and friends who remind us of what we are thankful for in our lives:



Elder Helio Camargo
“I am grateful as I contemplate the years that have passed and the happenings that have unfolded, measuring what the Lord has given me and considering the sure promises for a happier future—a future made even happier by the company of relatives and friends who have preceded me in passing to the other side of the veil. I am grateful for those loved ones with whom I still enjoy living every day—particularly the extraordinary woman that God allowed me to have as a wife in mortality and throughout eternity. Also, I am grateful for the wonderful children and grandchildren he sent to our home to be the joy of our life. As I contemplate all these blessings, gratitude is the predominant feeling that comes to my heart.” (General Conference, October 1990)

 Today I am thankful for all of our friends. All of you from my past on FB and all of my current friends in Daphne. We have truly been blessed with wonderful people in our life. Tasha Smith Quinnelly, Linda Christensen Pam Worsham, Valerie Bashein Steimle Foy, Sabrina Nimmer, Beverly Giles I am especially thankful for you ladies. Such strong examples.
 Connie Frank--Daphne, Alabama


 Yesterday, I watched two baby cousins squeal with delight as they saw each other for the first time in months. I smelled peanut butter breath exit lips curled in a smile, and felt strong hugs from growing muscles. I tasted diverse chocolate dishes until I longed for a salad. Ever had those days? Yes, I'm grateful for the five senses, and that last one, the inner sense that reveals the unspoken need, or unexpressed concern. These blessed tools in our arsenal of humanity, the conduits through which we experience our world and soak in its wonders, also help us record these moments for days when distance and health reduce us to memories alone for a time. And so, for these six senses, I am so very grateful.
   Laurie Lewis--Maryland 


So let's remember through out the whole year to be thankful for all that we have and our lives on earth......

An Amazing Early Holiday Blog Giveaway....

Congratulations to Anna del C. Dye!!!  She won the book set Simplify and Savor the Season by Connie Sokol....

What can I say about Connie Sokol that hasn't been already said?.... We have been on the same blog as authors (mommyauthors.blogspot.com) for a season and she is an amazing example to me on motherhood and womanhood. Here is her newest creation:

 Simplify and Savor the Season

         by Connie Sokol

 Here is my official review:

This handy little gem has come just in time to save you from the holidays.  I say “save you from” because we all know how crazy everyone gets when Thanksgiving is upon us and we are rearing our motors for “Black Friday”.  All of a sudden somebody somewhere says: GO! We don’t stop moving until New Year’s Day when we crash and sleep in hibernation until Easter.

I’ve had conversations just recently with so many people—grocery check-out ladies, customers at Wal-mart, church friends, mailmen, Ect. Ect. Ect.  They are all in agreement that they hate the holiday season because of all the craziness people put upon themselves to over extend into oblivion. Enter Connie E. Sokol’s book Simplify and Savor the Season. This book is a collection of sensible, easy to follow directions on how to focus on the family while keeping the season simple. The first half includes simple planning pages for all the fall holidays from Halloween to New Year’s Eve. 

Connie Sokol’s four step plan using PADE: Plan, Abbreviate, Delegate and Eliminate is a life savor as this guide keeps all of the stress and busy work at bay while helping the reader to not feel guilty in not doing enough for everyone else. The planning pages and master gift list are written right into the book so you don’t even have to run and get paper.

 In the second half of the book, there are wonderful “Savory Snippets” of holiday messages to warm your heart and really help families everywhere to feel the true holiday spirit.  There are anecdotal quips and stories which help those searching for some enlightenment on how to keep the holidays from going over board yet find time to really savor the true meaning of spending time with family.

This book is a must read now before the craziness begins as it will give you a head start on how to keep the holidays from becoming an overbearing boss we hate to deal with at work. So “Savor the Season” and enjoy the fruits of your labors in Connie E. Sokol’s Simply and Savor the Season.

Back Blurb from Connie:

Ready for the holidays? Would you like to be?

This year, organize and re-energize with Simplify & Savor the Season, a three-part holiday planner to help you savor the celebrations!  

First, get ready by brainstorming what’s needed for each of the Big Four—Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Then detail the to-dos, including menu and gift planning, with quick tips on how to lose the unnecessary and focus on the essential. Keep all your notes in this book or its workbook companion, Simplify & Savor Take-along.

After organizing, sit back and enjoy the season with “5 Holiday Juicers”—tips that teach how to keep life joyful, not stressful. Then curl up and relax with “Savory Suggestions, Snippets, and Stories,” a collection of laugh-out-loud anecdotes including “How the Real Halloween Fright Happened the Next Day,” “Thankful for Warbling,” and “Let Go of the Cookie-Cutter Christmas.”

Make your holiday celebrations meaningful and memorable as you Simplify & Savor the Season!  

 Simplify & Savor Take-along is the second little gem which comes with the first book.  It's a companion book which is especially published to keep all of your holiday planning notes.

 For a sneak peak: Check out Connie's blog for a sneak of both Simplify & Savor AND Simplify & Savor Take-Along companion book on November 5th only:

 Connie Sokol's Blog

 Now for the giveaway:

OUR THANK-YOU BLOGGERS CONTEST! Enter to win a free e-book from this blog (The Blessings of Family Life) AND enter to win an additional contest—our Back to Basics Holiday Gift Set. This festive collection includes three e-books, each with a specific tool to create a meaningful season: Simplify & Savor the Season to organize; 40 Days with the Savior to spiritually focus; and the Life Is Too Short collection to lighten up as needed. 

Visit www.conniesokol.com and either 

1) email a way you’ve simplified the holidays, 

or 2) sign up for our weekly e-letter. 

Winners chosen weekly! 

To have the chance to win a free e-book and print copy of the take along planner from me--post in the comment section below of your favorite Christmas tradition with your family. Your name will be added to the giveaway.
Comments will be taken until the 15th of November.

 Two wonderful ways of winning....

 Here are what other people are saying:

“Connie's inspiring stories and practical tips will help you do exactly that. She has a wonderful way of speaking to women's souls, and de-cluttering our minds and hearts.”

 

–Trina Boice, author of How to Stay UP in a DOWN Economy

 

“Re ading Simplify & Savor the Season is like getting an early holiday gift: permission to let go of meaningless frills and pageantry and instead, focus on family and love. And it helps the most diehard procrastinators get organized in time to enjoy the holidays.”

—Elyssa Andrus, author of Happy Homemaking: An LDS Girl’s Guide

“Love it!  I don’t have to hold my breath anymore. Connie is the master at bringing clarity to the chaotic. This book brings to light the little things that make all the difference. I want to tell all women that serenity during the holidays really can happen. What a gift!

–Kalli Wilson, International Wellness Coach

 Connie Sokol

Connie Sokol is a mother of seven, a national and local presenter, and a favorite speaker at Education Week. She is the Motherhood Matters contributor on KSL TV's “Studio 5 with Brooke Walker”, and regular blogger on www.ksl.com. She is a former TV and radio host, newspaper columnist. Mrs. Sokol is the author of several books including The Life is Too Short Collection, Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, Create a Powerful Life Plan, 40 Days with the Savior, and Caribbean Crossroads. She marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats. For her blog, TV segments, podcasts and more, visit

 www.conniesokol.com

For a November 5 only see this link to down load for free:

Simplify and Savor the Season