EmpowerMoms

Celebrate religious freedom with other students across the U.S. on October 6—Bring Your Bible to School Day! Students from kindergarten to college will be bringing their Bibles to school and sharing God with their friends in just a few short weeks. Sign up to be a part of the movement to protect religious freedom for future generations.

By signing up, you’ll receive a free guide with tips, downloadable posters, sticker and T-shirt designs, information on your legal rights, and other fun, interactive activities.

You’ll also be automatically entered for a chance to win a free trip for four to hear the Newsboys, an award-winning Christian music band, in Dallas!

Plus Bring Your Bible to School Comes to Adventures in Odyssey

Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.

Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club.

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I decided to join Momsanity for their FREE #SeptemberStrolling challenge for the entire month of September. Plus, they are giving away prizes at the end of this challenge. You must register to be eligible and the challenge is from August 30 to October 1.

The challenge is to do 3 walks per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) and each walk will be one minute longer than the last. Walk 1 is only 6 minutes, walk 2 is only 7 minutes, etc. By October 1 you’ll enjoy a 20-minute stroll!

I typically do my workouts in the early mornings before work and getting the kids ready for school, so I’ve been doing my strolls in the evenings before or after dinner for my “stress relief” walks. I time them so I know how long I’m walking, but I don’t sprint or worry about my heart rate or count it as aerobic activity.

My recap from week 2:

Tuesday Sept 6 – 9 min stroll
Took my 6 year old up to the school walking track to walk after dinner.

Thursday Sept 8 – 10 min stroll
Walked around the neighborhood with my 14 year old and 6 year old boys.

Saturday Sept 10 – 11 min stroll
Went to the park in the morning and did a workout with some friends, then walked the park track with both my boys as my “cool down” and stretch. The weather was perfect!!

I’ve also been posting live Facebook videos during each stroll on the event page if you want to check it out. It’s been alot of fun for my family!

Do you want to join me for this free strolling event?

Facebook Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/252346401830836/

Register for free here:
https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/1767768292.htm

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This was a funny, romantic, christian fiction story about a girl in Louisiana. It was a light, quick read that had me laughing and almost crying. I liked the main character Lila Mae and her mom. They were both strong, independent, caring women.

I wasn’t sure how the story would end because of some of the conflicts that arose between Lila Mae and Max, but I was pleased with how it ended. There were a couple parts I didn’t care for-like how fast they prayed and received answers, but it’s different for everyone so maybe thats realistic for some.

There are references to the Mormon LDS religion through out the book-no bad language.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Covenant Communications in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Lila Mae Guidry is a Southern girl through and through. As a fourth-generation Latter-day Saint in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she’s proud of her heritage as both a Southerner and a Saint—and she doesn’t take kindly to people who disparage either. Ten years ago, Max Archer was just that kind of jerk. As the mission president’s son, Max spent his entire three years mocking the South . . . and teenage Lila. After Max’s family moved away, Lila forgot about her sworn enemy. Almost.
When a new job brings a grown-up Max back to Baton Rouge, Lila is less than thrilled with his reappearance, especially since everyone seems intent on throwing her together with this old adversary. Yet fight as she may, Lila soon realizes resistance is futile—their connection is undeniable. Max embodies everything she wants in a man—except perhaps the most important thing her life is rooted in the city she loves, but his dreams are bigger than Baton Rouge. With such mismatched visions of the future, Max and Lila are faced with a life-altering decision: jeopardize their aspirations or risk losing love.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Four Hearts (Power of the Matchmaker) by Julie Wright

“The Power of the Matchmaker” series is a 12 book series, with one book releasing each month during 2016. They are all stand alone books, but they do all include the matchmaker, Pearl, who isn’t restricted by time boundaries. Pearl is introduced in the prequel novella matchmaker series book.

Four Hearts is the May release for the Power of the Matchmaker 2016 series. I have read every book so far in this series, including the prequel.

This story follows Andra Stone and her friendship/relationship with Everett for about a 10 year span. He keeps popping in and out of her life-sometimes they are friends, sometimes they are dating; but something always happens to make them part ways.

Andra is very stubborn, spunky, and competitive; especially around Everett. They end up both being very smart and successful surgeons. It was fun to read about their different dating and work situations and how they ended up always crossing paths with each other.

Over the years, matchmaker Pearl keeps popping up to help them with their relationship. Great romance, clean, and funny! I was a little frustrated however that it took as long as it did for them to finally get a permanent resolution to their relationship!!

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review on social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book:
Every time Andra Stone crosses paths with Everett Covington, trouble follows. First she loses her scholarship, then she loses the apartment she’d wanted more than anything. But tragedy hits hardest when she loses her grandmother—the best friend Andra has ever known. She determines that Everett is a talisman of ill fortune. When Everett comes to work in her hospital and is applying for the same position she’d been working toward since residency, Andra believes him to be her personal poltergeist. The human heart has four chambers—four chances to get it right. Andra has only one chance left.

About the Author
Julie Wright (1972-still breathing) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She’s lived in LA, Boston, and the literal middle of nowhere (don’t ask). She wrote her first book when she was fifteen, and has since written nineteen novels–ten of which are traditionally published. Julie was nominated for the Whitney award for her novel Eyes Like Mine and won the Whitney award for best romance in 2010 with her novel Cross My Heart. She has been awarded the Crown Heart award for The Fortune Café. She is agented by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger Inc. She has one husband, three kids, one dog, and a varying amount of fish, frogs, and salamanders (depending on attrition). She loves writing, reading, traveling, speaking at schools, hiking, playing with her kids, and watching her husband make dinner. She used to speak fluent Swedish, but now speaks only well enough to cuss out her children in public settings. She hates mayonnaise and the fickle comma.

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An engaging die-cut board book that introduces little ones to the concept of sunlight and daytime
God Made the Sun is a celebration of God’s gift of daytime to the world. Beginning with the first rays of sunlight and moving through the day, this book reminds little ones that God’s love shines on us just as the sun shines on the earth. With its lyrical rhythm, sweet illustrations, and novelty die-cut feature, the book will serve as a welcome reminder of God’s presence in our lives.

An engaging die-cut board book that introduces little ones to the concept of moonlight and nighttime
God Made the Moon is a celebration of God’s gift of nighttime to the world. Beginning with the first sleepy yawn and ending with a bedtime prayer, this book reminds little ones that God’s love shines on us just as the moon shines on the earth. With its lyrical rhythm, sweet illustrations, and novelty die-cut feature, the book will be a welcome addition to any child’s bedtime rituals.

My Review:

Both of these books (“God Made the Sun” and “God Made the Moon”) are board books, 20 pages long, and are recommended for ages 2-5. They are super cute, especially with the cut outs of the moon and the sun. The pictures are really colorful and calming-perfect for bedtime.

My 6 year old really liked them and they are perfect even for his age because he’s learning to read on his own and recognize words. Short, feel good stories about God’s gifts to us.

These books would make a great gift for toddlers and preschoolers!

I received a complimentary copy of these books in exchange for an honest review on social media-all opinions are my own.

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