It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

The Christmas Kitchen

Howard Books (October 6, 2009)

This is another book that didn't arrive at my house ... lost in the mail.  I was really looking forward to reading it, so I am disappointed.   After getting a peek inside the book via the link provided below, I'm even more disappointed.  This book is full of great recipes and ideas to make the Christmas holiday special and delicious!  Be sure to scroll down and take a look inside the book yourself.  (Note:  It begins with several blank pages.  I found it worked best if I switched to the two-page view, and let the page load completely before hitting the forward arrow again.  Hit it two times on 2-page version to get past the blank pages.)

***Special thanks to Jennifer Willingham of Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy.***



Tammy Maltby is a writer, speaker, and media personality. For eight years, she was the co-host of the Emmy Award-winning television talk show, Aspiring Women. She serves on the board of the National Women’s Ministry Association, Christian Women in Media and Arts, and Women of Courage International. She and her family live in Colorado Springs, CO.


Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Hardcover: 132 pages
Publisher: Howard Books (October 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416587659
ISBN-13: 978-1416587651

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:





Trusting In Him,
April

At the time that the FIRST WIldcard blog tour for Debora Coty's book posted, I hadn't received a copy.  I posted the first chapter, book summary, and author's biography in my blog tour post, but not a review.  (You can click on that link to read the first chapter of the book.)

They sent me another copy of the book, since the first one was lost in the mail.  I hadn't expected them to do so, but I am grateful they did.  This little hardcover book is refreshing.  To be honest, I hadn't known what to expect ... other than that it wasn't fiction. 

Mom NEEDS Chocolate contains 60 short chapters with humorous anecdotes from the author's life which she uses to make a spiritual point.  Each chapter begins with a Scripture verse and a quote.  It ends with a prayer, and 3 Faith In Action questions to help you apply the spiritual lesson of the chapter.  The short chapters both make me smile, and encourage me spiritually.  Debora has been very real in writing this book, and I can relate to her stories like being the sugar-holic in the airport surrounded by healthy eaters.

The title of this book caught my attention when it was offered for review.  What chocolate lover could resist that title?  But this book is more encouraging and comforting than even dark chocolate could be.  Debora has taken sixty different spiritual lessons and dipped them in the chocolate of humor to encourage us.  The short chapters uplift better than a chocolate treat savored quickly in the laundry room while hiding from the kids.  Although, you could probably enjoy your chocolate and a quick chapter before the kids need you to tie their shoes, wipe their noses, or answer a math question.

I was blessed by Mom NEEDS Chocolate.

Trusting In Him,
April

1. Do you have magnets on your fridge? You mean, is there a fridge under my magnets?!

2. Do you have a calendar in your kitchen, if so, what's the theme of it? I have a calendar that my FIL gives all of his extended family every Christmas. He orders it from somewhere and it has HUGE daily squares to write in. We all love it.

3. What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool? My wooden spatula.

4. Are you lucky enough to have a pantry of some kind? No.

5.What is your favorite appliance? My electric skillet and my bread maker (I let it knead the dough and rise there and then I bake it in my oven).

6. Do you have an eat in kitchen (table in it)? Yes.

7.Do you have a bread box? No.

8. Do you have a picture of your kids on the fridge? Yes.

9. Do you ever cook breakfast in your PJs? Is there any other way?

10. Do you have a favorite cookbook that you use? Yes, an old Betty Crocker book and my own that I've added to since we got married 25 years ago.

11. Are you lucky enough to have recipes that were passed down from your mom or grandma? Yes, and they are in the cookbook that I've made for myself.

12. Whats your favorite food? Mexican, Italian and Briar (that's Ohio-speak for Kentucky country cooking)!

13. Whats your favorite thing to cook? Taco soup.

14. Is your coffee pot electric or stove top? Electric

15. Do you ever make your own bread? Yes, it's the only kind of bread we eat. At least at home.

16. Name one thing that you have hanging on your wall in your kitchen. The last Christmas my daddy was alive he made me a 6 ft. long shelf for my antique and reproduction tins. I also hang some of my garden herbs on it. I love it!

17. Is there a clock in your kitchen? Yes, on the stove and microwave.

18. Do you have a bowl of fruit sitting on your table or counter? Usually, but not today.

19. What type of canisters do you have? Country-type canisters w/gasket lids and a collection of antique canning jars.

20. Does your kitchen have a theme? Country w/antique and reproduction canning jars and tins - all serving a function, not just to look at - and a lot of blue sponge-ware.

21. What's for supper tonight? Not sure, possibly dirty rice.

22. Do you have enough cabinet space? I will once I clean them out - AGAIN.

23. Does your family use paper plates? On occasion - usually in the Summer.

24. Do you have a good set of china? Yes. It is what I have from our wedding. Actually, it's NOT the pattern I picked out - my mom went behind my back and changed my registry to what SHE liked and I didn't find out until we started opening our wedding gifts. I was blessed w/many sets so I kept them. Anyway...I have in mind that I would like to put them on e-bay and then get the one I REALLY wanted (English Rose or Spode's American Woodland/Wildlife)...it's been 25 years, think she'll notice?

25. Do you wear an apron to work in your kitchen? Yes. I wear my grandma's "all over" apron when I fry or bake. I'd like to get another one so that I can keep hers nice.

26. Name one thing, if anything, that you would like to change about your kitchen. Can I make it 3? Ok...a Farmer's sink and a reproduction woodburning stove, like a Hearthstone or something; and a new hardwood floor.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Yesterday, we attended our homeschool group's co-op meeting.  Attendance was lower than usual, and in a small group like ours that is especially noticeable.  But it enabled us to do everything in one group and forgo the rotations we have been using.

We had decided to set aside our usual studies in order to focus on Christmas.  I confess that was a last minute change, but it all came together.  One of our moms has been working on a Bible timeline presentation she's using with children in a church's after-school program.  She started with that, taking the children from Creation to the birth of Christ.  Then we used the Family Life Christmas In A  Box set to talk about the individuals involved in Christmas, and the prophecies of the Old Testament that were fulfilled in Jesus.

After that, we talked about the different names for Jesus, partially using the Family Life Adorenaments set.  I had intended to go more in-depth with that study, and with the prophecy study, but when it came to the actual time ... it seemed better to keep moving more quickly. 

We practiced our Christmas carols, since we're supposed to sing for the Senior Center during their holiday decorating on Friday.  The kids did a good job, and I enjoyed watching them all sing heartily.  Yeah, some of the kids don't carry a tune very well, but that's normal for the elementary ages. 

My 3 year old and 5 year old got up there, too.  5 yo M didn't sing since he isn't reading yet and wasn't sure of the words.  But he stood there very well, looking handsome and shy.  LOL!   3 yo L didn't care if she knew the words ... she sang along with the tune in her ahhh-aaahhh style.  She loves to sing and can follow a tune, even if she doesn't know the words.  I'm looking forward to the caroling on Friday.  We served a Thanksgiving meal at the Senior Center last week, and the children enjoyed it.  I'm sure we'll enjoy caroling and decorating, too.

After our lunch break, which allowed the kids to spend some time visiting with their friends while they ate, we moved into crafts.  Two of our Moms had prepared 4 separate crafts for the kids.  The pre-teens and teens decorated dough ornaments for the whole group to take home.  The preschool and kindergarten age made snow pictures with chalk, cotton balls, glue, and glitter glue.  The young elementary students made coupon booklets they can give as gifts to their parents.  Then they all were able to decorate 3 cookies one of the Moms had made with frosting and sprinkles.

A couple of us had printed out some Christmas word games the kids could do, thinking if we were having rotations there might be some time to fill.  But the children didn't want to do those after their crafts.  They just spent some more time playing together until it was time to leave.  I think some of the Moms grabbed the worksheets to take home with them, though.

It was a nice relaxed co-op meeting ... an enjoyable time with friends.  Our group moved to only having one meeting a month, instead of two this year.  I know we needed to do that, due to gas costs for those who live more rurally.  But I do miss having two chances to get together each month.  The moms have added an evening together each month, though, and that is an encouraging time of fellowship.

Our homeschool group is a blessing to our family.

Trusting In Him,
April

This is a review of three separate books from Waterbrook Multnomah that would make wonderful Christmas gifts:  Treasured by Leigh McLeroy, and Lisa Tawn Bergren's God Gave Us Love and God Gave Us Christmas. 



Treasured:  Knowing God By The Things He Keeps  by Leigh McLeroy
Cigar boxes. Refrigerator doors. Scrapbooks and sock drawers and top shelves. These are the places we store our treasures–the keepsakes that tell the story of whom and what we’ve loved, how we’ve lived, and what matters most to us. God is a collector, too, whose treasures are tucked securely into the pages of his book: a golden bell here, an olive leaf there, a scarlet thread, a blood-stained cloth, a few grains of barley. Each of these saved artifacts reveals a facet of his heart and tells the story of a Father whose most precious possession is…us. In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides us in discovering evidence in our own lives of his attentive love.

Leigh McLeroy is the author of The Beautiful Ache and The Sacred Ordinary. An avid collector and recorder of everyday moments, words, and wonders, Leigh’s keen eye for God’s presence in ordinary life infuses her writing and living with a deep, insistent joy. A frequent conference and event speaker, the author makes her home in Houston, Texas, and posts often on www.leighmcleroy.com and www.wednesdaywords.com.

MY REVIEW:  Leigh McLeroy has written an encouraging book that helps us know God better as we also gain a more personal understanding of His great love for us.  Leigh helps us look into our own life stories and recognize the pivotal moments in our faith walk with Christ.  Just this past month, my own pastor asked us to share with him any pivotal moments in our walk with God.  My husband and I each retold our stories to our pastor as we discussed our personal testimony and our relationship with Jesus.  Leigh helps others do the same, and to see the meaning within those moments. 

Treasured would be an excellent book to give to young Christians, or those who are seeking God.  It could be a blessing to someone who just needs to see the beauty in their difficult journey.  Sometimes our lives are messy or sometimes just mundane.   Yet, God treasures each of us and there are moments in our relationship with Him that we treasure as well.  That is what Treasured celebrates.


        

God Gave Us Love by Lisa Tawn Bergren
As Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, the young polar bear begins to question why we must love others… even the seemingly unlovable. In answering her questions, Grampa Bear gives tender explanations that teach Little Cub about the different kinds of love that is shared between families, friends, and mamas and papas. Grampa explains that all these kinds of love come from God and that it is important to love others because… “Any time we show love, Little Cub, we’re sharing a bit of his love.” This sweet tale will warm the hearts of young children as they learn about all the different sorts of love, while the gentle explanations of each provide a valuable opportunity to encourage children to share with others a “God-sized love.”

God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren
As Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear begins to wonder… “Who invented Christmas?” Mama’s answer only leads to more questions like “Is God more important than Santa?” So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that… Jesus is the best present of all. This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than 1.5 million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Love follows in Lisa’s classic tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She lives in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.  Her website can be found at http://www.lisatawnbergren.com/.


MY REVIEW:  I had not previously read any of the God Gave Us books by Lisa Tawn Bergren.  I was missing out on beautiful children's books.  Now that I've read God Gave Us Love and God Gave Us Christmas, I'll be purchasing the remaining God Gave Us books for my children.  Lisa's God Gave Us books are each tender, sweet, and charming.  The artwork is beautiful and warm, and each story helps children understand how special they are in God's eyes. 

God Gave Us Love teaches children about loving others, even when they're difficult to love.  God Gave Us Christmas teaches children about the true meaning of Christmas -- not Santa, decorations, or presents.  These are delightful books I will enjoy reading to my children for years to come. 


These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Would you like to blog for books, posting reviews for Waterbrook Multnomah?   Find out more at this link: http://www.randomhouse.com/waterbrook/bloggingforbooks/.

Trusting In Him,
April

It seems like students often ask, "How am I going to use this math in the real world?"  In other words, "Why do I have to learn this stuff I don't think I'm ever going to use?"  For the reluctant math student, it can help to take math courses from the abstract to the more practical courses like personal finance, or business accounting.  

Michael P. Licata, Ph.D. is a college professor who has designed an accounting course for homeschool high school students:  Professor In A Box's Financial Accounting.  Although the material  is college-level, it is designed to serve as a math elective for high school students.  Once the course is completed, a student could choose to take the Financial Accounting CLEP test to receive college credit for the course, as well.  Any student planning to pursue a business degree, or hoping to own their own business, would benefit from the Financial Accounting course.

The Professor In A Box Financial Accounting course comes with an instructor disc, three student lesson discs, a syllabus/objectives pamphlet, a pencil, and a calculator.  Tests and answer keys are included on the computer discs.  All you'll need is a computer -- with Microsoft Excel or the free Open Office software installed on it. 

The course is divided into 12 chapters with 28 lessons.  This course can be taken as a semester course, or extended for a full year, taking it at a slower pace.  First the student views the slide-show lecture, then they complete the assigned problems, check the answers, and take the test.  This course can be accomplished by high school students who have already covered basic algebra.  You can view the course syllabus HERE  or download a sample chapter HERE.

The current special price  for this Financial Accounting course is $134.99 (instead of $144.99) with free shipping.   Professor In A Box offers a 30 day money back guarantee, if you aren't completely satisfied.

What did our family think? 
My 14 year old is a bit young for this course, but we gave it a try.  She found the lectures to be rather dry and uninspiring, but she's not fond of math ... period.  It would take a lot of theatrics to make math exciting for her, I'm afraid. 

The only other issue we had with this program are the problems inherent with computer-based curriculum:  taking turns on the computer, and staying focused on the curriculum rather than other things on the computer.  But, those relate more to our family dynamics and student personalities than the curriculum itself.   When a curriculum is computer based it is somewhat less portable than a textbook would be, and you can't do your math during a power outage ... but it does eliminate the heavy textbooks and long chapters to read.

This curriculum is re-usable and non-consumable ... which is ALWAYS a big plus in my book.  $140 seems high for a one-year high school math course, until I remember it can be used for future students as well.  Unlike computer download courses, there does not seem to be any prohibition against selling the course when you're done with it, either.

Professor Licata does a good job of explaining the accounting concepts, and this is an excellent option for homeschool families looking for either a more practical math course, or a college-level course.

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.  Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

• It begins on December 14th (12 days before Christmas)... and is for 12 DAYS... 12 consecutive days (or nights)! This is especially fun because most people's traveling and visiting relatives is during these days (keeping in mind that this would be especially fun while visiting relatives  because only you and husband will know what's going on...) 
  

• This involves an investment in your "drawer of many blessings" drawer as well... and yes, you SHOULD have one of these drawers, so make room (throw out some clothes if you have to... your hubby would rather see you in these anyway!)  Start saving money and get your drawer stocked up!  You'll be able to "recycle" here so the money you spend here is worth it in the end.  You're investing in your marriage and that is never money wasted.  (Your size is NOT an excuse either!   Please read, "He loves you... quit hiding!" if you're  struggling with your outer appearance.   Have all your "little blessings" bought by 14th and plan for each day's surprise, along with any evening you might be able to get a sitter and go out (with your "little blessing" on to tell him about over dinner), or a friend to watch the kids so you can stay in (and put your "gift" to use)! 

• Make or get a card to give to your husband on the 13th.  An idea would be:
  

  • "To celebrate the next twelve days of Christmas I have planned a special "gift" for you each day with only you in mind!  Anticipate what each will bring as we celebrate the next twelve days of Christmas... twelve you're sure not to forget!" (Don't forget to sign it, SHMILY!)

1.  I did NOT store my Christmas ornaments and nativities in a paper bag in the corner of my living room all year long.  I would NOT have continually put off the process of packing them all up into their individual boxes in the totes that were waiting for them in the basement.

2.  Decorating for Christmas did NOT mean telling the kids to untangle the bag full of ornaments and hang them on the pre-lit Christmas tree.  No, it couldn't, because everyone knows that Mom has to unpack the ornaments and hand them to the kids one by one.

3.  We did NOT find several broken ornaments in the process of untangling them from their rumpled paper bag.

4.  I did NOT think to myself that this was the easiest tree decorating ever and I did NOT wonder why we complicate it with the tote full of boxes in the basement.

5.  My 8 year old son did NOT just change the words of We Three Kings to be all about passing gas.

6.  Last night on our first evening of Advent devotions, one of my children did NOT sit with their hands on their ears through the whole thing.  And one of my other children did NOT act as if they were asleep through the whole thing. 

7.  This weekend, my son did NOT sleep walk into the bathroom, throw up all over the floor, then go back to bed and not remember a thing.  And my sister's dog and my dog did NOT go in and lick most of it up before my 14 year old did NOT get up and discover the semi-mess.  It did NOT take her and me several minutes to figure out what did NOT happen.  We did NOT try to wake up the boys to figure out who did it, and we did NOT sniff them to determine which one smelled like vomit.  We did NOT have to clean the sink, the floor, the trash can, the step stool, and gather up the floor mats at midnight.  My 14 year old was NOT awake still at midnight, reading, when she should have been asleep ... like I had NOT been.  Nope, not here.

8.  My husband did NOT crack his head on the metal stanchions in the barn when gathering eggs yesterday afternoon.  He did NOT come back and sit with ice on his head for half an hour before he could resume his plan of riding bikes with the kids.  

9.  I did NOT host a late Thanksgiving here for my sister with baskets of unfolded clothes all over the living room.

10.  I did NOT buy a coat for one of my children on Black Friday, only to have them tell me they would NOT wear that coat.  I did NOT tell them "tough cookies."

11.  I am NOT writing this when I should be writing a review that is due today.

12.  And finally, I did NOT just have a computer glitch that posted this as an empty post for several minutes before I came back to finish this post.

Nope ... none of that happened here.    To read more Not Me Monday entries from other moms who did NOT do anything like I did NOT do ... visit MckMama at My Charming Kids.

Trusting In Him,
April

My sweet clingy little one year old boy has a curl at the back of his blonde head.  I've seen that curl before, on older siblings.  For the girls, it usually grows out into mostly straight, slightly wavy hair.  For the boys, it gets cut off eventually.  But it's so sweet, and I love playing with it for now.

Trusting In Him,
April