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Children’s Book Review of Pumpkin Patch Blessings and a Giveaway!
by Sally Matheny Are you looking forward to autumn? An eager, yellow leaf parachuted from a tree outside my window yesterday. The apples are almost ripe for the picking, and soon the pumpkins will follow. In anticipation of the refreshingly cool air, I’m reviewing a children’s book, PUMPKIN PATCH BLESSINGS, today. Also, someone will receive a blessing because we have a giveaway to win a copy of the book! PUMPKIN PATCH BLESSINGS, written by Kim Washburn and illustrated by Jacqueline East, is published by Zonderkidz. Soft lines and colors fill this fourteen-page, board book. Children will take delight scouring the pages for illustrations of God’s creations—plants, animals, and people. On…
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Sharing the Son Means Leaving the Shade
by Sally Matheny My enthusiasm glittered with the morning sun. It was my first time serving a meal at the project. People slowly filtered into the commons area. My cheerful greetings were not returned. Instantly, I sensed a divide greater than the table between us. They had come for the food. Nothing else. Searching in Silence An inexplicable heaviness stifled communication. Icy silence, as well as sharp tongues, severed most attempts at interaction. It was obvious. We were not welcome. After helping distribute the food, I retreated under the outstretched branches of a tree. Thankfully, I’d thought to bring a lawn chair. It provided a secure…
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Share the Hope of Christ with the Mentally Ill
by Sally Matheny Share Hope with the Mentally Ill Many years ago, one of my kindergarten students, “Cody,” exhibited bizarre and sometimes violent behavior. He wasn’t malicious. Yet, he consistently wrecked havoc among the five-year-olds, causing everyone around him great stress and concern. No matter what methods we tried to encourage success for him, they only helped for a short time—a very short time. My assistant and I felt all our efforts were hopeless. And school wasn’t the only place of Cody’s erratic and raucous behavior. One morning he came in with singed hair and no eyebrows. His crystal blue eyes remained expressionless as he told me what he did in…
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Review of Fragile World: A Film by Sandy Boikian
by Sally Matheny An intriguing movie released in 2015. While fictional in story, Fragile World may shatter a few misconceptions about those who suffer with the realities of mental illness. It certainly refreshed my perspective. The award winning, inspirational film has earned the highest rating of five Doves. This nonrated family feature is free of foul language, sexual content, and violence but the storyline is best suited for ages twelve and up. The main character, Rosalie, an interior designer, suffered a mental breakdown after the death of her father and occasionally suffers from delusions. One day, she meets the man of her dreams, but does he really exist? That question, as well…
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A Giveaway and A Review of Sarah Young’s Book: Jesus Calling-My First Bible Storybook
by Sally Matheny Jesus Calling My First Bible Storybook by Sarah Young Today, I’m reviewing a captivating, little book for young children, Jesus Calling- My First Bible Storybook. I’m also giving away a copy! Be sure to read for the details below. First, I want to mention the beautiful illustrations in this book. Antonia Woodward’s use of color and soft lines are friendly and captivating! This forty-page, board book is full-color, cover to cover. Best-selling author, Sarah Young, presents twenty Bible truths in this book using scriptures taken from The International Children’s Bible. The twenty stories are representative of most toddler storybooks. They include: God Made Everything, Noah’s Big Boat, Baby Moses,…
