"Their Name is Today: Reclaiming Childhood in a Hostile World" Review & GIVEAWAY! (11/12)

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

About "Their Name is Today":

There’s hope for childhood. Despite a perfect storm of hostile forces that are robbing children of a healthy childhood, courageous parents and teachers who know what’s best for children are turning the tide.

Johann Christoph Arnold, whose books on education, parenting, and relationships have helped more than a million readers through life’s challenges, draws on the stories and voices of parents and educators on the ground, and a wealth of personal experience. He surveys the drastic changes in the lives of children, but also the groundswell of grassroots advocacy and action that he believes will lead to the triumph of common sense and time-tested wisdom.

Their Name Is Today takes on technology, standardized testing, overstimulation, academic pressure, marketing to children, over-diagnosis and much more, calling on everyone who loves children to combat these threats to childhood and find creative ways to help children flourish. Every parent, teacher, and childcare provider has the power to make a difference, by giving children time to play, access to nature, and personal attention, and most of all, by defending their right to remain children.

My Review:

I was excited to have the opportunity to read this book!  So much of it backs up how I already feel about raising my kids.  I want my children to BE children and not caught up in all the 'things' of today.  "Their Name is Today" touches on the importance of playing, limited (or no) screen time, our materialistic culture and so much more!  

In one chapter of "Their Name is Today" the author talks about how technology is harming our children.  I was amazed to learn that in Los Altos, California, the children of Google, Apple and Hewlett-Packard executives attend a school that has NO COMPUTERS!  The 'computer people' know that screen time is bad for children, yet at my kids' school they are getting more computers all the time!  When they get to 5th grade they will have an iPad of their own that they'll keep and will not be using textbooks anymore.  My son's 2nd grade teacher excitedly told me last week how her classroom now has it's own set of computers that each child can use...I smiled on the outside, but my stomach sank and I cringed on the inside....

I'm excited to 'take back childhood' for my kiddos and I hope that it's a trend that will grow.  I highly recommend reading "Their Name is Today" to give you that little jolt to get started as well!

Buy It!:
"Their Name is Today" can be purchased through amazon.com for $10.59.

GIVEAWAY:

Congratulations to comment #1, Katie!

One lucky reader is going to win a copy of "Their Name is Today"!

To enter to win leave a comment below. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address with the comment, so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

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Open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. Giveaway

 will end Wednesday, November 12th , 2014 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.

How Do You Handle Your Child's Pain?

My heart was aching for my little girl, just over a week ago, after what should have been a fun Girl Scout meeting.  She had just been to an art studio with her troop where they were working on earning a painting badge.  For the first part of the time Morgan was to paint a picture of the girl across from her and then the other girl was to do the same.  After that painting they then painted how they felt.  I didn't stay for the 2 hour meeting, but I went back early to pick her up.  She showed me what she had been doing, all the girls got a picture taken together holding the paintings that were painted of them, and we left.

Morgan seemed kinda quiet on the way home.  I tried talking to her, asking her questions about the night, thinking the whole time what fun she must have had....then she broke down crying as we pulled in the driveway.  She tried explaining what happened at the meeting, but was so upset that I wasn't grasping the whole situation.  It took a while, after she calmed down, to understand what had actually happened...and I have to admit I was shocked that another little girl, only a year older, could be SO mean.

When Morgan went to paint the girl across from her, she had a limited amount of colors and chose yellow for the girl's skin.  The leader had already explained to the girls that everyone has different abilities and sees things differently.  Yellow is was what Morgan chose to use...and the other girl got MAD.  She kept telling Morgan that she was painting her picture wrong, then she told Morgan to 'hurry up' and that she was taking too long.  When Morgan was done, and it was the other girl's turn, the other girl proceeded to show Morgan how to paint the skin 'right', then painted a nice picture of Morgan only to purposely destroy it!

I have to point out that when Morgan is with her closest friends she is social and talkative, but in a large group setting she is quiet and shy. In no way would she provoke such behavior from another girl.  I can imagine she sat there mortified.  She already told me she did her best to hold back tears the whole time.

I made sure that Morgan knew she didn't do anything wrong.  I also told her that we always need to do our best to be kind to others no matter how they treat us....as hard as it is.  I never said anything mean about the girl, but made sure Morgan understood what the girl did was mean (as Morgan already knew), and that knowing how much it hurt that we would never treat anyone else in that way.

The girls brought the paintings that were painted of them home.  After it had dried, and I had time to calm down and think, I asked Morgan to go ahead and throw it away.  And while she threw it away, to also throw away the hurt feelings that went along with it.

I made sure the leader knew what happened as well.  She felt terrible!  She didn't know it was going on and would have put an end to it if she had.  She told me to make sure Morgan knew to come to her if anything like that were to happen again.  I relayed what the leader said, but I know Morgan won't tattle...she would break down crying if she had to tell anyone.  And she wouldn't dare cry in front of anyone after the girl that was sitting right next to her was the one who was telling everyone last year at school that Morgan cried for not being able to make it to a meeting...totally embarrassing her.

I wish it never happened, and my kids never had to go through that kind of pain, but it's going to happen.  I can only do my best to show them how to handle it the best I know how.  I'd like to think I did 'ok'...she hasn't said anything else about it, but she did ask when her next meeting was...hopefully in excitement for it and not that she is dreading it. :-/  I'll be praying that it goes well for sure! :-)

Glen Campbell's "I'll Be Me" Movie Review & GIVEAWAY! (10/29)

*Disclosure: (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

About Glen Campbell's "I'll Be Me" Movie:

In 2011, when Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he joined forces with his family to fight the biggest battle of his life. Glen and his wife, Kim, made history by going public with the diagnosis – the first time a major American celebrity would share this experience with the world. The Campbell family then embarked on a short “Goodbye Tour,” but the three-week engagement turned into an emotional and triumphant 151-show nationwide tour de force.  

This epic human drama about the undying bond between Glen and Kim, and their unwavering caring for each other, chronicles a story of love, resilience and the power of song. 

GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME is the true tale of how America’s greatest country star would not give up his music or his family, against all odds.

The film features those who know and love Glen, including Bruce Springsteen, Bill Clinton, The Edge, Paul McCartney, Jay Leno, Vince Gill, Jimmy Webb, Blake Shelton, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Steve Martin, Chad Smith and Taylor Swift among many others. Rare vintage footage and extraordinary new performances of Glen’s most beloved hits immerse this moving cinematic account in the overwhelming talent of this humble family man. With joy and a tireless sense of humor, Glen and his family live each moment in the present while preparing for the future, all while playing their music to sold out venues on a star spangled voyage spanning the country from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl.

About Glen Campbell "The Rhinestone Cowboy":

Glen Campbell’s musical and entertainment career, covering nearly five decades, is unmatched for its prolific breadth, popular appeal – and flat-out musical accomplishment and achievement. His guitar playing is legendary and can be heard on classic tracks from Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, to Frank Sinatra’s, Strangers in the Night.

As a solo artist, Glen has recorded some of the most beloved songs of his generation including Gentle On My Mind, Galveston and Rhinestone Cowboy. 

He has been awarded five Grammy Awards and three Grammy Hall of Fame honors, seven Academy of Country Music awards, a Pioneer Award recognition, three American Music Awards, two Country Music Association Awards and three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. 

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Glen Campbell has crossed the boundary between pop and country and transcended into a true musical icon.

In 2011, Glen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and with the help of his wife and family decided to face the illness head on. He announced publicly about his battle with Alzheimer’s and then released his album Ghost on the Canvas and began his “Goodbye Tour.” 

On Feb 12, 2012 Glen performed on the Grammy Awards, to an audience of 39 million people, and was given the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award.

Take a peak at the trailer:

My Review:
Wow!  Not only do I feel privileged to have gotten to see a sneak preview of this film, but I'm in awe of Glen Campbell, and his family, for their openness and bravery in sharing Glen's battle with Alzheimer's.  So much of what Glen's family had to see, as he lost more and more of his memory, had to be heartbreaking....and yet they all got to be together as he performed his final tour and make good memories of Glen as well.  (I also have to point out that Glen's wife, and her faith, is truly inspiring throughout the film!  She is an amazing woman!)

I didn't know what to expect before watching "I'll Be Me", but I was pleasantly surprised.  The film really drew me in and I know anyone who sees this will be glad they did!  I highly recommend seeking out a theater to see it when it comes out!

"I'll Be Me" releases, in phases, beginning October 24th.  Please stop by the website to see if it is coming to your area: http://glencampbellmovie.com/

GIVEAWAY!:

One lucky reader is going to win a 5 song EP Soundtrack from the film!  The soundtrack features Glen Campbell, Ashley Campbell, and The Band Perry

To enter to win leave a comment below. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address with the comment, so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Extra Entries:(1 extra entry per method. Leave a comment for each.)

*Subscribe to my blog in the upper left hand corner.

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*Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which post.

Open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. Giveaway will end Wednesday, October 29th, 2014 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.

"When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart" Review

*Disclosure:  I was provided the following DVD in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

About the "When Calls the Heart" television series:
Produced and directed by Michael Landon Jr. and inspired by the best-selling books by Janette Oke, tells the story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young woman of priveledge, working as a teacher in a prairie town in the Western Frontier.   The local Mounty Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing), has began courting the high society teacher, but new orders have taken him away from the town,  Abigail Stanton (Lori Loughlin) has trouble of her own, their forced to confront the most powerful man in town in a battle that may ruin her deceased husband's reputation.

About "When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart"

Jack finally gets Elizabeth to agree to join him for a dinner date just as Elizabeth’s younger sister, JULIE THATCHER, arrives in Coal Valley, surprising Elizabeth.  Julie is accompanied by Mountie PATRICK O’REILLY, the man who has been sent to inform Jack of his new posting, and become the new Constable of Coal Valley.  Jack had already forgotten that he sent in a request to transfer the week he arrived in Coal Valley, and the news takes him by surprise.

Check out the trailer!

My Review:
Absolutely wonderful as usual!  Each episode keeps us guessing as to what is going to happen and we can hardly wait to see the next one!  As you can see from the cover, the relationship seems to be growing between Elizabeth and Jack, which is super exciting for the kids and I!  Although the circumstances change and the kids are no longer thinking the next episode will have a wedding like they have in the past.  Of course there are suspenseful moments with a couple other things going on in town as well.  This is such an amazing series and, again, if you haven't had a chance to see the series, please check it out!  You will not be disappointed!

Buy it!
"When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart" can be purchased through Christianbook.com for $16.99.  Check out the other episodes on the site as well and learn more about the series at www.whencallstheheartmovie.com/

Never a Dull Moment

It all started with the kitchen sink.  The sink that had been clogging and backing up on me all summer.  I had went to shred zucchini, to make zucchini bread and use up some of the last of it from my garden, when the sink finally clogged to the point where water wasn't going down and it was coming back up the other side.  (It's a double sink.)  Rich had just finished putting a new grill together, and was feeling productive, so he went ahead and snaked the sink for me using a little kit that came with the Drano.

As he worked away, I started mixing up ingredients for the bread and hear a gush of water in the basement.  I ran downstairs to see where it was coming from, afraid we had burst a pipe again, (it's happened before and sounded much the same), but no...the water was coming from under the sink...upstairs.

I spent the rest of the evening between trying to get the bread finished up, without using the kitchen sink, and cleaning out whatever got mucky under the sink.  Replacing the corroded/broken pipe was going to have to wait until the next day as it was much too late at that point.

Rich got the old pipes taken out quite quickly the next day.  I stood there and watched him...you know...for moral support.  As I'm watching him, I hear sirens and look down the road out the kitchen window.  WAY down there I see flashing lights coming our way and figured there was some type of emergency down our road.  But as the lights got beyond some brush, I see that it's a police car chasing a motorcycle.  I tell the kids to look out the living room window quickly and we all got to witness a police chase!  About 2 minutes later we hear fire tones go off for a rescue at the end of the road for an accident...it turns out it was just the motorcycle and he was fine....but going to jail.  (That's probably the only police chase I'll ever see out here, so I had to write about it!)

Back to the kitchen sink.  Rich was able to replace the pipes, but they were leaking, and still backing up, even after 3 trips to the closest open place that carried what we needed, about 10 miles away, AND using the Drano.  Being it was Sunday, that place closed early, but Rich's parents offered to go to Lowe's/Home Depot and get more pipes to replace even more under the sink.

A couple hours later the rest of the pipes under the sink were replaced and the sink was STILL backing up!  Rich's dad then ran home to grab his snake to snake the remainder of the pipes down into the basement.  While he was gone, Rich asked his mom if she could help 'band' the bull calves.  So we all made our way out to the barn.  I decided that I'd collect eggs in the tougher places to get to, up in the hay, while they were working with the calves.  There is one spot that the hens lay, right against the wall, but down the height of a bale.  It's always kind of dark down there, but the eggs show up enough to grab them.  Of course I get down close to look and don't see any eggs, but I do see a SKUNK sitting there...inches away from me.  I really don't know what I did, but I got away from him QUICK!  I'm very thankful that our little skunk seems to be pretty laid back...he didn't spray, but I think I'm leaving those eggs for him from now on!

Back to the sink...again.  So Rich's dad returns with the snake and they do their best to snake out some of the grossest stuff we've ever seen and the sink STILL backed up.  It didn't take but a few minutes and they got that issue fixed...thankfully!  The excitement of the day was over...or just beginning...because now I have a sink that drains beautifully! ;-)

I can imagine that was probably the most memorable, supposedly 'simple', home improvement day we'll have for a long time! :-)