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Love’s Sacred Song

Posted by html404 on March 20, 2012
in Books

Love’s Sacred Song is a fictional account about the wisest king ever to have lived, King Solomon. Mesu Andrews creatively spins a story based on the book of Song of Solomon in the bible.

I loved the character, Arielah, known as the Shulammite woman in Song of Solomon and Solomon’s lover. She was a picture of naivety, beauty and enduring love. I don’t think I would have survived what she was put through in Love’s Sacred Song. She was courageous, full of faith and strength.

In fictional stories liberties are taken to get a point across and I found it interesting how Mesu chose to reveal King Solomon’s weaknesses. I don’t think I would have taken it as far as she did, mostly because it is a very disappointing viewpoint and steals away the beauty of the book of Song of Solomon, in my opinion. It has long been seen as a book about love and the part about Solomon getting involved with a harlot while involved with the Shulammite, Arielah, is not supported biblically and takes away from the mystic of Song of Solomon. At least for me. On the other hand, we do know for sure that Solomon had a weakness for women, as it is stated in the bible that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. I will never get my head wrapped around that fact, however, in light of that I suppose in his weakness Solomon could have sunk to a new low and entertained a harlot. I just never thought of it before. It certainly reveals the struggle of monogamy for one man.

I really did enjoy reading this book, but grappled with certain components of it. It was intriguing, entertaining and certainly not boring.

If you have wondered even a little about the book of Song of Solomon in the bible you will find reading Love’s Sacred Song very thought provoking.

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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Bingzy Bee App Review

Posted by Brande on March 19, 2012
in Education, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Parenting, Shopping

Join Bingzy Bee as your child has fun through this new learning app! Just released in January, this app is available for iPhone, iTouch, & iPad. This adorable character is directed for your younger ones (ages 2-6). There are 4 activities to choose from: “Bingzy’s ABC Song”, “Song & Games”, “Letter Drag & Drop”, and “Bingzy to the Rescue”

Bingzy’s ABC Song – This great little song goes through the alphabet and sounds out the letter, give you a picture, than gives you a word. Perfect for your little ones learning the alphabet

Song & Game – Starts with Bingzy’s ABC Song, then you play a game after the letter D. For example, Letter A is Ant. The app gives you the picture of the Ant and give you _ NT your child then must pick the correct letter out.

Letter Drag & Drop – Similar to the Song & Game section. Except, you get the picture of the Ant and give you _ NT your child then must pick the correct letter.

Bingzy to the Rescue – Save Bingzy’s friends by loading them in the rescue copter in alphabetical order.

My Review

This is a great app for my daughter (3 years old), we are still working on our ABC’s all the way through and this is perfect for her! She’s not quite to the Letter Drag & Drop and Bingzy’s Rescue. But, this is what makes it a great app. She can use it for years to come. At last check this adorable & useful app is available on Itunes for only .99!

Follow them! Here’s Bing Note’s Information!

Website: http://bingnote.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bing-Note/70588121848

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/bingnote

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Science Diet Ideal Balance Dog Food – A BzzAgent Opportunity

Posted by Brande on March 19, 2012
in Animals

I’m sure you remember I joined BzzAgent a while back. Well, I just got to test Science Diet Ideal Balance Dog Food – Chicken & Potato Dinner. My dog Max loves it! I don’t feed my family processed leftovers, so why should I feed my dog it? The first ingredient of his new food is Chicken. The Ideal Balance food is grain-free too! This food does not have corn, wheat, soy, beef, artificial colors or flavors. Ideal Balance does have fruit, veggies including cranberries, along with of course chicken. My little guy Max can have a sensitive stomach to certain foods. He’s in love with his new food. Yes it can get pricey, but it’s a lot less expensive than vet visits. They also have this food available for cats! Here’s a picture of Max.

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Heart’s Safe Passage

Posted by html404 on March 12, 2012
in Books

Yep, read another book this weekend, however, I won’t have too many more book reviews to post as we get into gardening season. There just won’t be time to do much reading, not that there is now, but you know what I mean, right?

Heart’s Safe Passage is the second book in The Midwives series by Laurie Alice Eakes. I read the first one a year or two ago, I believe, and really enjoyed it. I am very pro-midwives, after all I have given birth at home with one for my last three births and have even studied midwifery at one point but had to put it aside when my husband got laid off. I find the history of midwifery compelling and dates back to the beginning of time in the book of Exodus in the bible.

I found this second book interesting as well, though again this novel was not so much about the midwifery as much as the spiritual and personal life of the midwife, Phoebe Lee. The story is set in the early 1800s and shares Phoebe’s story, which was only hinted at in the first book, as she helps her sister-in-law Belinda. Phoebe is a spunky little thing. I actually loved Phoebe’s spunk, she made up for Belinda’s character…one spoiled rich girl.

Even though this was a romance-y book, there were twists in the plot and a fair amount of guessing when it came to figuring out who was against Captain Docherty, what Phoebe would do in any given situation and how she and the two other female characters were going to survive their time on board a privateer brig (different than a ship).

Revenge, bitterness, forgiveness and healing are important elements in this book and when these are presented there is always something for everyone to learn.

Heart’s Safe Passage gets two thumbs up from me!

“Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Sarai Book Review

Posted by html404 on March 12, 2012
in Books

Sarai is the first book in the Wives of the Patriarchs by Jill Eileen Smith, who wrote the a Wives of King David series, of which I read two of the three in that series. What can I say? After the Wives of King David series, I have to say that Sarai really did not entice my interest as much for some reason. I felt that it was dry for lack of a better descriptive word.

I enjoyed what the book made me think about and consider – what it would be like to be married over 50 years and then decide to give your husband your handmaid to produce an heir. I could not fathom that at all. This isn’t something I thought about while reading the story in my bible.

It also made me question the kind of faith Abraham had to believe for years and years and years that God would provide him a son, but then throws it aside when Sarai’s faith falters. They could have saved themselves so much agony and kept their relationship exclusively magnomous if they had stayed strong together and waited for God’s timing. Easy for me to say. They are human, I know. Although it does say a lot of Abraham that he did not take another wife all those years when he and Sarai did not conceive, but again their faith faltered and they get themselves into a disastrous love triangle.

I could not relate to Sarai’s barrenness and wondered at the fact that women were blamed for not conceiving more so than men. I liked the fact that Ms. Smith portrayed Abraham as a kindhearted man who took into consideration that he might be the cause of Sarai’s barrenness. But wondered why God didn’t just tell them and others in bible times the man determined the sex of a child? Why do eastern countries still blame the woman for barrenness or the sex of the child? These are all questions I asked as I pondered Sarai and Abraham’s story.

I liked the thought provoking questions the book brought about in me and how accurate the story was to the biblical account, but otherwise it left much to be desired.

“Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Pillow Pets Review

Posted by Brande on March 11, 2012
in Fun Stuff, Holidays, Kids Toys, Shopping

Come sing the jingle with me. I know you’ve heard it….

and a 1….. and a 2……

“It’s a Pillow, it’s a Pet… It’s a Pillow Pet!”

When Jennifer Telfer observed her sons crunching up their stuffed animals to make pillow out of them, Pillow Pets was born.

Most little kids have a special friend that goes EVERYWHERE with them. The Pillow Pet does double duty. BONUS for me – less to carry. These snugly creatures are very soft and have Velcro under their belly. They also have a flap to cover the sticky part of the Velcro. What began as only 6 Pillow Pets is now a huge line, including Farm, Zoo, Ocean, Fantasy, Sports, Specialty and Disney. Coppins Gifts has a large variety to offer.

My Review:

Sir Horse joined our family and he is very much loved by my daughter. He has gone from the grocery store to the couch. Much to my daughters dismay – the other day she found her Daddy taking a nap on Sir Horse. So, it’s a great product even for adults! I really like the flap to cover the Velcro, it keeps the Velcro clean and it doesn’t catch on everything. Go and buy your kids a Pillow Pet. Or tell the Easter Bunny to bring one as Easter is coming!!

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The Swiss Colony – Lady Bug Truffles Review and Giveaway!

Posted by Brande on March 9, 2012
in Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Fun Stuff, Gift Ideas, Giveaways, Holidays, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Seasonal Stuff, Shopping

How cute are these little guys! And VERY tasty too!

Swiss creme covers these wonderful little bugs of goodness. With their centers made of light and airy chocolate truffle. These Lady Bugs are delightfully decorated and almost hard to eat (key word ALMOST).

The Swiss Colony website offers may choices in addition to these adorable Lady Bugs! Easter’s Coming!!!

My Review:

Funny story first. I have a 3 year old little girl, who was very upset that I was eating “bugs”. She learned very quickly, that these “bugs” were very good.

These Swiss Colony Lady Bug Truffles are wonderful! I really enjoy chocolate and these made me close my eyes and enjoy the smoothness and flavor. I recommend The Swiss Colony! With Easter coming, now is a great time to order Lady Bugs! Not only are they very good, but they are a conversation piece! Add them to your Easter Table as decoration then eat them! Decoration and Dessert! Below is a picture of my box! Maybe the Easter Bunny will bring me some more!

Disclosure: I received this item free of charge from The
Swiss Colony. No monetary compensation
was received or offered, nor was I under any obligation to write about this
product. All opinions expressed are my
honest thoughts. I am not offering any
sales or taking orders for this item. I
will not receive any compensation in connection with any sales of this item.

Giveaway – You Could Win One Too! **Only open to the US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Get on the Shelf…of Walmart!

Posted by html404 on March 7, 2012
in Gardening, Home, Products for Mom

I never knew that Walmart held voting for consumers to vote on products they want to see on the shelves of Walmart stores, but they do. Starting today you can cast your vote for products you would like to see in your Walmart store. I want to encourage you to vote for KitchenKuffs! Remember Professor did a review not too long ago on these and many of you thought they were a great idea.

You may vote every day until the voting closes on April 3, 2012. Round 2 will be from April 11-24. Vote today to get KitchenKuffs on Walmart shelves!

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Barefoot Executive Review

Posted by html404 on March 5, 2012
in Books, Business

It is always exciting to learn of a person who is doing what you want to do. In my case it’s work-at-home. I know, I know, I am doing that already, but let me finish. Work-at-home and make enough money to obtain financial freedom for our family. Those are my goals and have been during the last four years since my husband was laid off and earning less than he did. Carrie Wilkerson minces no words in her new book, The Barefoot Executive and how she reached her financial goals.

Carrie shares her own journey and the lessons she’s learned in this book. I pretty much marked my copy all up reading it because what she had to say is what I needed to hear/read.

Quotes I like from the book:

“You simply cannot spend your life in fear of losing your job, your health, your life or your wife. I decided that I had to create my own financial reality and job security. Was I afraid of failing? Yes, but I could continue being scared and broke, or I could be afraid and well paid. I chose the latter. At some point, you have to be more afraid of not trying than you are of failing. ~ Carrie Wilkerson”

“Never, never, never give up.”

“To live an extraordinary life, you must resist the ordinary.” ~ Frank Mckinney

“Most miss opportunity because it shows up in overalls and looks a lot like work.” ~ Ben Franklin

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci

Those quotes were just nibbles, I could add a slew more!

This past weekend I spent time going through Carrie’s websites, videos, blog etc. and I must say I was impressed. Impressed but still skeptical, but only because that is my nature. I am impressed because in some ways she echoes what I have heard in the past but Carrie has more credibility than the others. Carrie has made her money. She’s been on CNN, Forbes, Lifetime.com, Success and others. She’s established herself as an expert and I want to learn from her. There are not too many business books I go ga-ga over but I have gone ga-ga over The Barefoot Executive.

If you have ever been waiting, waiting, waiting for something and then it was all of a sudden right in front of you, wouldn’t you be in relieved? Excited? That’s me. I feel like this book was written specially for me at this time in my life.

You may learn more about Carrie and her book at http://BarefootExecutiveBook.com/

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WWJD: The Woodcarver ~ Movie Review

Posted by Professor on March 5, 2012
in DVDs & CDs, Movie Review Monday, Movie Reviews

Vivendi Entertainment and Nasser Entertainment bring this heartfelt story to life on DVD!

Synopsis:

Rebelling against his parents and the broken home he comes from, fifteen-year-old Matthew Stevenson makes a destructive choice to get attention: he vandalizes the church his father is renovating. To avoid criminal charges, he agrees to repair damage he caused to the intricate carvings and finds himself working alongside Ernest Otto (John Ratzenberger), a talented but reclusive woodworker. Laboring together, an unlikely friendship forms and both come to realize that all things are possible with faith, family, and friendship.

Our Review:

This was a wonderful movie! My entire family thoroughly enjoyed the film. I especially liked that I did not have to pre-screen the movie since it has the DOVE seal of approval (Family Friendly). My family loved the parallel theme of restoring the church and resorting faith that ran throughout the movie…this was a great topic of post-movie conversation! It was also neat to see John Ratzenberger in the role of Ernest. I remember him from Cheers and the children know him from the Disney Cars movies…so it was nice to see a familiar face in the film! This is a great film for the Easter season also… in respect that it exemplifies restoring belief in God and in life. What a great way to teach faith and forgiveness! Constantly remembering that change is possible if we simply follow God!

Overall a great family film…even my 3 year old was engaged throughout the entire movie! The movie itself created a great sounding board for post movie discussion with your family and children…I loved that I could tie this movie into the Easter season. I will be glad to pass this movie on the family and friends!

This film can be found at your local retailer…I noticed it was even available through Walmart! Available in stores this week.

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