Okay, I am back to playing an old Disney nut. I even started a blog label for it. This is probably the best Disney movie ever made. The acting was amazing, the plot was fun and also compelling, and the theme doing what is right and overcoming the odds are two big themes. This is about twin brothers who have a race to decide the family fortune. One is a wild cowboy, the other a Philadelphia preacher. This movie was a favorite as a kid, and is still a favorite of mine today.
Pros: Preacher shown as a good guy, acting is amazing, setting is fun, two kids help out the adults, but are respectful and act like kids.
Cons: Kids talk back the adults once or twice. One quick kiss.
I spend a lot of time working as the administrator of Homeschooled Authors and some of my recent favorites are from these talented people. Today, I would like to share my favorite sci-fi books that my fellow Homeschooled Authors have written. Click on the image to see the Amazon Page
This series has a Star Trek feel to it, but much, much better. Andy lives and works with her father who is the starship's doctor. She has many adventures that lead her to discover much about her faith.
Amazon review of:
This book was so good. It isn't very long, but it has strong themes of living out your faith in hard times, heart-racing adventure, and great characters.
Amazon Review
Amazon Review
This book is written by a number of authors, two of which are home school graduates. I liked some of the authors better than others (see my review) but I found myself enjoying this collection of flash fiction stories about a forgotten planet.
These are short stories with great messages and strong, poetic writing. I really enjoyed these stories that were a cross between sci-fi and fantasy.
The month of February is a celebration of one of the sweetest gifts God gave us for life's journey: love. We celebrate the love that God gave specifically between men and women. Even though I am not married or in a relationship, I still choose to celebrate this time of year, if nothing else because I am so happy that he brought my parents together.
So this month, I will be sharing a gift my sister Rose made for me for my Birthday last year: an audio version of Waltz into theWaves. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Click HERE to listen to the four chapter
Find the e-book HERE
I talked a couple of weeks ago about Overcome. Well this movie was made by the same people. With a stranded-on-a-deserted-island theme, this movie is fun, adventure filled, and full of good morals and faith messages.
Pros: Filled with messages about standing up for what is right, picking the right person to love, and being kind even when it is hard. The setting is fun and believable.
Cons: some minor immodesty (guys with shirt off, girl in shorts), girl goes for the wrong guy at first.
1. Remember they have feelings too. We can easily get caught up in arguments, discussions, and conversations and lose sight of the fact that the other girl has feelings. Whether you are commenting online, feel you need to speak up in a conversation, or talking to a stranger, remember that they have feelings that are as or even more sensitive than yours.
2. Give encouragement. So often it is easy for us to see the negative side of our fellow girls. We need to reach out and say many positive things. Girls need to hear what they are doing right from their friends and sisters, make sure that they are hearing the encouragement from you.
3. Be able to give and accept correction. There are things we all need to work on and there are times when we will see bad behavior that we need to speak up about. We need to be open to giving and receiving correction in love.
4. Do NOT make fun of each other's beliefs. This doesn't mean that you cannot challenge biblically incorrect stands, but mocking what someone holds dear is never appropriate. You may not understand why a girl has chosen to wear skirts only, read books that you wouldn't, or any number of things, but you shouldn't make fun of those choices. If it worries you, start a discussion where you listen to what they have to say and show them where you stand in all gentleness and humility.
5. Remember that the small things matter. Little gifts and notes mean the world to most girls. Send those letters and emails. Leave little notes and gifts. Make your friend or sister's day.
6. Spur each other on. When we get together, we should speak about what is on our hearts. We should spur each other to higher and better things with scripture and personal experience. When we see a fellow girl struggling with something we have struggled with as well, we should come alongside her and build her up.
7. Be an example. Other girls are watching you. Each of us should remember that and be an example to them of godly womanhood.
8. Remember and remind each other that what is inside is what it important. I am not just talking about beauty; I am talking about the essence of who we are. Girls easily fall for the lie that they need to pretend that they have it all together and they never do. We need to encourage them to start by working on the heart and then let that change shine through, not pretending to be something you are not.
9. Do not participate in bad-mouthing and gossip. This one is easy to fall into. I myself have been part of conversations that were just gossip or bad-mouthing someone. We need to take a stand against both. We need to say something when a conversation heads in that direction and/or walk away if we cannot stop it.
10. Pray for each other. It is the most powerful thing that we can do for each other.
2. Give encouragement. So often it is easy for us to see the negative side of our fellow girls. We need to reach out and say many positive things. Girls need to hear what they are doing right from their friends and sisters, make sure that they are hearing the encouragement from you.
3. Be able to give and accept correction. There are things we all need to work on and there are times when we will see bad behavior that we need to speak up about. We need to be open to giving and receiving correction in love.
4. Do NOT make fun of each other's beliefs. This doesn't mean that you cannot challenge biblically incorrect stands, but mocking what someone holds dear is never appropriate. You may not understand why a girl has chosen to wear skirts only, read books that you wouldn't, or any number of things, but you shouldn't make fun of those choices. If it worries you, start a discussion where you listen to what they have to say and show them where you stand in all gentleness and humility.
5. Remember that the small things matter. Little gifts and notes mean the world to most girls. Send those letters and emails. Leave little notes and gifts. Make your friend or sister's day.
6. Spur each other on. When we get together, we should speak about what is on our hearts. We should spur each other to higher and better things with scripture and personal experience. When we see a fellow girl struggling with something we have struggled with as well, we should come alongside her and build her up.
7. Be an example. Other girls are watching you. Each of us should remember that and be an example to them of godly womanhood.
8. Remember and remind each other that what is inside is what it important. I am not just talking about beauty; I am talking about the essence of who we are. Girls easily fall for the lie that they need to pretend that they have it all together and they never do. We need to encourage them to start by working on the heart and then let that change shine through, not pretending to be something you are not.
9. Do not participate in bad-mouthing and gossip. This one is easy to fall into. I myself have been part of conversations that were just gossip or bad-mouthing someone. We need to take a stand against both. We need to say something when a conversation heads in that direction and/or walk away if we cannot stop it.
10. Pray for each other. It is the most powerful thing that we can do for each other.
The month of February is a celebration of one of the sweetest gifts God gave us for life's journey: love. We celebrate the love that God gave specifically between men and women. Even though I am not married or in a relationship, I still choose to celebrate this time of year, if nothing else because I am so happy that he brought my parents together.
So this month, I will be sharing a gift my sister Rose made for me for my Birthday last year: an audio version of Waltz into the Waves. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Click HERE to listen to the third chapter
Find the e-book HERE
Modern Disney movies are pretty shallow, and yes, this one falls into that category. I enjoy watching this one on occasion when I am sick. The story is about a film geek who does a documentary on the most popular girl in school. Yes, with very typical romantic results.
Pros: Cute, fun, reminder not to judge quickly.
Cons: romance (two kisses), no mentions of God, and shallow.
Age Appropriate For: 12 and up for some violence
Best for Ages: 15 to 25
Description: In the wake of a lost War for Independence, Peter Jameson, a young colonel, struggles to protect his tiny patriot state of Rhode Island from the oppression of New Britain, the wealthy British duchy. When New Britain invades and attempts to seize Rhode Island’s newly-discovered mine, Peter finds himself leading his small cavalry against the massive British army. But war becomes the least of his worries when his own men kidnap him and hold him for ransom. Facing certain death, Peter is freed by a mysterious boy who vanishes without leaving his name. Indebted, Peter determines to find his "angel" and reward him. But his rescuer has a secret of his own—he is the exiled rightful heir of New Britain, and he will do anything to keep from being found.
Well, this was my first historical fantasy (a what-if genre, in this case what if the British had won the American Revolution) and it will probably be my last. Hansen has a lot of talent. Her style shines as it did in one of my all-time favorite books, Red Rain. However, I found as a lover of history, this genre just isn’t my cup of tea.
The first third of this book was a bit hard to get into and seemed to drag. I really didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. It wasn’t until tragedy struck the characters of both Edwin and Nathan that I really got into the book.
Peter was my least favorite of the whole cast. He was a nice guy, and I found a lot of admirable qualities about him. However, I just never felt connected with him. After he was kidnapped, he is so embarrassed and keeps acting as if everyone will turn on him because he was so stupid as to get kidnapped. I really wanted to slap him and then yell that the people who would blame him for being kidnapped were not the type of people you want to listen to.
Edwin’s story was the most heart-breaking one and the one I most enjoyed. His love for his family, his faith, and his determination were all believable. Nathan also tugged at my heart, especially toward the end of the book.
The hardest thing about this book is that it leaves you hanging, and the second book hasn’t been released, nor does the author seem to have a release date set. I would hesitate to recommend anyone to get into this series until we are sure the author plans to complete the trilogy.
Nothing that was too startling for the causal historian, but just a fair warning if that is something that could hinder your enjoyment of the story.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy what-if scenarios, strong writing, and well-rounded characters.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert on the subject. This is just what I have learned.
1. Let us be ladies. Some girls find it hard to accept things like opening doors and other courtesies, but don’t stop. Encourage girls to accept your chivalrous gestures as a way to honor and respect them.
2. Ask for our input. Especially the quiet girls, ask them what they think about a situation or a plan. You sister that is normally silent or that shy girl at church probably has some ideas, and just needs someone to reach out them. Also, girls are more content to let men lead, if the man first listens.
3. Understand we are emotional. You probably won’t understand us sometimes, probably because we don’t understand ourselves at times. Girls feel as much as they think. Sometimes the way they feel cannot be explained logically.
4. Don’t blow off the hormone thing. When you say to a girl that she is upset, crying, or some other emotion just because of hormones, this does not help. Many of us would love to be able to have control of what we feel when our hormones are shifting, but we don’t. We can only control how we act, and sometimes we cannot do that well. Don’t try to fix us when we are not reasonable, just be there for us.
5. Lead us. Often we are leading because we feel like guys aren’t doing anything. Refer to number two on this list and then take charge and lead as Christ called you to.
6. Be honest (and kind). Girls need honesty from guys even when it hurts them. If you think a dress is immodest, be honest enough to say something (Dads and brothers, this means you). If you don’t know something, just say so. If you feel you don’t understand what a girl needs, ask instead of guessing. Do all of this in kindness, because girls often need an extra dose of kindness with honesty.
7. Be upfront. This one is mostly for guys outside a girl’s family. Be upfront about what kind of relationship you are looking for. Girls are quick to interpret actions as interest (yes, this is a failing of ours). Being upfront saves a lot of heart-ache. However, make sure your actions line-up with what you are saying. Spending a lot of one-on-one time with a girl after saying you just want to be friends will still give many girls the wrong idea.
8. Don’t expect perfection. We are going to make mistakes because we live in a fallen world. Don’t make girls live up to the standards of your favorite actress, book character, or idea of the perfect girl/mother/sister/wife.
9. Encourage Us. I have watched amazing things happen when guys encourage girls. Girls want affirmation from men. So Dads, brothers, husbands, and friends, when you see a girl standing on principles, consider complementing her. When a girl is taking flack for her convictions, stand up for her.
10. Pray for Us. Pray for the girls in your life every day. Just as you battle with struggles every day, so do we. Never cease to pray for them.
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