Family
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A Night of Great Joy- Children’s Book Review & Giveaway
by Sally Matheny Christmas is almost here. Can you believe it? Before the little ones become enraptured with twinkling lights and toy displays, snuggle them in for a story. The picture book, A Night of Great Joy, written and illustrated by Mary Engelbreit, would be a delightful choice. Allow me to share with you a little about the book, and how you may possibly win it. This beautifully illustrated book is sure to captivate young children’s attention. Engelbreit chose to tell the nativity story through a children’s Christmas pageant. Children of all ethnicities, clad in colorful costumes, tell the story of Christ’s birth, on a stage using handmade props. The story…
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Trusting God Through a Miscarriage (Part 2 of 2)
by Sally Matheny October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. In my last post, I shared with you the excitement of my third pregnancy and the devastation of a miscarriage. Today, I want to encourage you by sharing another portion of my miscarriage journey. If you’re dealing with an infant or pregnancy loss, you already know some days are hard. Really hard. I promise you, it will get better. I hope you’ll find encouragement here and in a resource I’ve included at the bottom of the post. And, if you’re someone who has never experienced a miscarriage, and are at a loss of knowing how to help someone…
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Trusting God Through a Miscarriage (Part 1 of 2)
October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. In remembrance of that, I want to share with you a portion of my own miscarriage journey. Perhaps you can relate. Hopefully, you’ll be encouraged. Excitement Not even the startling, cold lubricant squeezed onto my belly could stifle my excited chatter. I was on the verge of being the first to hear a great secret—the gender of our third baby! Earlier that day, I had taken our seven-and nine-year-old daughters to a sitter. They desperately wanted to go with me to my 12-week check-up. I told them I wasn’t due for an ultrasound for several weeks. I assured them they could…
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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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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…
