Invite: Something should change

 I'll be making some changes to the blog, so I invite you to stay tuned... Change is good you know?  Keeps a body on their toes. :)  In the meantime, let me tell you about a meal I had tonight and thoughts I had regarding it.

Pearl Seeker: Seek What is Most Important

 Quote from the book "We all need hope, hope that God will fix our sorrows and relationships, hope that God will fix our children and their problems, hope that God will restore us to the family were we once belonged, and hope that God still loves us no matter what we have done." p.123
"We must love others like Jesus continues to love us.  We must be on our toes and look for those that God sends our way."  (p.124)
 

 Consider the depth of God's love for us.  God loves us so much his son willingly died for us.  That's the depth of God's love.

So what do we do with that love? Accept it.
Let his love mean something, let it change us.

Consider most brand new Christians.  What do they do?
They tell everyone they know about the miracle that God has wrought in their lives.  As a result... the lives of their friends are changed.  The church grows.   Granted, it doesn't always work like that, sometimes faith has a cost. 

We need to consider what God has called us into though.
Not some random grouping, but into a family.
A family loves and cares for each other.
Accepting each others foibles, our weaknesses, our 'not having let go of sin' parts.
But as families go... we help each other along the way.
Jollying, encouraging, exhorting, teaching each other along the way. 

So keep your ears, eyes, feet, mouth and heart alert!   God might be sending a new family member your way, that you can help find their way home.

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

I Just Gotta Write

It's what writers do eh?  We WRITE!   Sometimes we write stories (I like writing kids stories, and have told a lot of them off the top of my head), sometimes we write poetry or music (like.. you know..... poetry is simply fun!), sometimes we write to inform others (reviews, factual things, printables, devotionals etc), and sometimes we write just have a way to put our thoughts down, writing helps us to think more clearly (I've done this since I was little, I admittedly drove my mom a bit nuts).

Art Book: CatDoodles

Do you like cats? Do you like to doodle as a way to relax? Well, let me tell you about this fun little book that crossed my desk today. Catdoodles. The Cat Loves Drawing book. 

Now mind me here.. if cats are TOTALLY not your thing, this is not the book for you.  BUT if you are like my boy and think cats are well... the cat's meow.. then this book just might appeal to you as a doodler.  

Always Remember

So this past weekend I was at the Breathe Conference. One of the workshops that I attended was one were they critiqued poems brought by the attendees.   I can't say they all resonated with me, but one of them did. And quietly sitting me burst out with "That was interesting".  I wish I could have kept a copy, but alas, it was a read poem with no copies available.

 Always Remember

Canada Book: In the Red Canoe

I like to go in the red canoe

I sit low in the bow

I can paddle by myself

My Grampa taught me how. 

Review: Brinkman Adventures #4, Audio Stories

Imagine having stories about missionary adventures, or fun stories that teach important truths being at your beck and call whilst cooking supper, traveling in the car, or wherever you are. Over the past few weeks I have been privileged to listen to Christian Stories of adventures, in Brinkman Adventures Season 4 published by Brinkman Adventures. 

Who are the Brinkman's?
A fictional family produced by Beachglass ministries, a non-profit, non-denomination Christian ministry. Their focus is inspiring and motivating the younger generation of Christian believers. The Brinkman's are a family the walk us through many adventures showing us Christian's in action, and God at work.

What do you get? 
12 Christian Stories brought to life!  Each is about a 1/2 hour long so easy to listen to while preparing supper or folding laundry (can you tell how I used it?)  These stories are a mixture between being based on real life, while others tell a moral story.

I have to admit, my favourite story involved the raccoons. :)  The one that caused me to pause and think "Remember Nhu".  The one that amazed me most was The Five Guys.

These are the stories:

•   A Paradise Lost - learning what missionaries go through at family camp.
•   Remember Nhu - searching for and rescuing a girl from slavery, mission started.
•   Aisha’s Fear - fear turned to praise = evangelist for the Lord
•   Heart Song - the song of Russian Christian, imprisoned, prisoners changed, singer saved from death because
•   The Crashed Kitchen - a crashed kitchen, love shown, hope restored
•   Crisis In The Congo - meeting the flying machine (pt 1)
•   The Mysterious Palm Feller - learning to face up to opposition (pt 2)  This was a good reminder of how it's hard for missionaries to know what to do sometimes.
•   War of the Raccoons - moral story, just a silly story :)
•   The Five Guys - ways God called people to him
•   Toughest Man - the story of a man who gave up everything for God, even trusting God with his family.
•   Cambodian Quest - safe places to live where slavery isn't possible
•   What Brings Us Together - it's a wedding, with mishaps

 The real stories behind each of the tales can be found here. I very much appreciated how they showed what was true and what was changed, they gave a depth not found in the story as well.   It was great to be able to follow links such as this one for Remember Nhu. 

Each story contains a lot of realism from crickets chirping, the real family experiences, with a variety of world wide experiences.  

Another website feature is the Episode Preview section.
Here you can discover the theme of each episode, along with what part of the world is featured, as well as get an audio preview.

How did I use it?
I listened while doing dishes, preparing supper, while cleaning up, doing laundry etc.  It was so very portable carrying them around on my tablet. 

What did I think?
Are they easy to listen to?   Yes.  1/2 hour long, interesting stories.  Approximately 5 hours worth of listening time.
Are they appropriate for all ages? Debatable. I appreciated that they would warn you when adults should listen alongside their children. My son wouldn't have had an issue with any of the stories before age 10, but I know other children are more sensitive.
Are they Faith-based?  Most definitely.  These stories introduced us to different ways that God acts, how his people can serve him, how even missionaries can struggle with doing what they should, or even in knowing what to do, and more.

All that said, I really enjoyed season two previously reviewed.  This set, didn't seem up to the same standard, at least not as completely.  I found that one episode was overacted, and another was slow to get going. When it comes right down to it though, I think part of my discontent is that I want longer stories.  I want more depth, and intrigue, something that will get ME fired up as an adult. For instance, the story with the five guys and how they came to faith, I wanted to know more about their stories.  I wanted to know more about the guy behind the scenes.  I just wanted MORE.  :)

Right now I listen to full length books with my family and the biggest reason they don't want to listen to Brinkman Adventures with me is not that they don't enjoy the stories, but like me, they want MORE. It would be fascinating to have a full length story made up of these tales, showing God in action in a person's life, giving more detail and what not. It's fact that I liked the stories, but I wanted more depth provided. Time perhaps for an adult version of these stories or just a longer CD???  I think it would be interesting to listen to, to have these stories (or new ones) made for a teen or adult audience as well.

Brinkman Adventures Season 4
Brinkman Adventures
Produced by Beachglass 

Series: Brinkman Adventures
Type: MP3 or CD

$25.99–$31.99 depending on format

Reviewed for: Homeschool Review Crew

80 members of the Homeschool Review Crew had a chance to listen to these adventures, see what we thought by clicking the image below or RIGHT HERE.

You can find Brinkman Adventures on facebook. 

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Listen, Listen My Child

Hush, quiet, be still
Hush, quiet, be aware.
Hush, quiet, be one who listens.

Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  Psalm 34:11

Thinking about Anxiety and Homeschooling

I admit to approaching this topic with a fair amount of trepidation. How does talk about anxiety without sounding either judgemental or too understanding?  And I don't know.  I don't know if I can approach this topic with the understanding that it needs.  But I'm willing to try, but in the end ... it matters.

Plan, A Thanksgiving Meal

I sit here tonight with a cold, I've come back from a busy weekend and a long drive and am feeling rather beat.   It's thanksgiving weekend too.  It would be lovely to have a meal together don't you think?   What does one plan when one is away and there's a meal to put together?  One leaves it to one's hubby!!!!!

Hymn Study: Speak, O Lord

Oh... A long while back now.. before I was married, I went to a women's conference in the States.  I had a great time but it was pre-tablet days and by the end of the conference I was going batty.  Too much sitting, not enough doing.  It was a great conference for all that.

At the conference I was introduced to The Getty's.  Oh.. their music just flooded my soul with energy and praise to God. 

Review: Overboard!

Overboard! Is part of the Survivor Diaries series written by Terry Lynn Johnson.   In this book Travis and his family, and their guide, get thrown into icy cold, chaotic waves when their boat capsizes. Will they manage to survive?

Hold, as from the Scripture

Owning your own story

This weekend I am at a writers conference called breathe.

It was a bit of a challenge getting down here, but God has been so good, from little things like a road sign in just the right place that helped me to know turn here!   The friendliness of strangers willing to help a gal out when she got turned around, and more.

Fun Friday: Mudworks Part One

Did you know that I am teaching an art class at my homeschool groups Co-op days?   The class is called Mudworks.

I have this cool book (called Mudworks) that I did a art book post on... hold on while I find that. Ah, here it is.  Anyways, when I looked at this book I thought, how much run would it be to do this with a mixed ages class, so when HOPE days came up  I said SURE, I'll do this!  :)

Pearl Seeker: Seek to be Just A Christian

Know Before Whom You Stand. this was a message from a mantel the Germans tried to destroy during the night of Glass.  During the world war.  They were unable to do so.  This was a reminder to the Jewish leader to always remember whom he served.  Question left with... do I know whom I serve?  What reminds me of that?

I have to admit, this chapter and I just didn't sync.  It felt like it jumped around and I just couldn't follow it, so this is what I picked out.

Trust

Trust

Trust me he says
Trust me to know what is best.
Trust me,
Let it Go.
Know that I have this under control.
Let it Go.  Seriously.  
You do not have to be in control.

And yet I sit
I fight
I hold on tight.
This is my worry
My fear
My thing and it's MINE.
You can't have it.

Again it comes.
Let it go.
It's not good for you this thing.
Let it go.
Trust me.
I have a better thing for you.

Slowly, loudly
Fighting all the way
I let it go.
and I discover a truth.
There is a better thing
there is contentment in what I have
A joy in discovery
that, that other thing, 
the thing I held on to ever so hard
Wasn't good for me.

It's a joy.
A relief 
A total surprise.
that indeed he knew better.

And so slowly
reluctantly at times
I learn to
Trust
because I am learning
what hope truly is.

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Art Book: Kawaii Doodle Class

Kawaii Doodle Class is a fun softcover book, that was a pleasure to review.  This book is all about creating cute images from food, drink, nature, monsters, everyday items and more. Zainab Khan shows us how to give these items a cute outlook on life and faces with character. 

My Hope

What is your only hope in life and in death?

That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Faith is Key, Romans 14.

Romans 14:13-23, 10 verses to peruse today.

Therefore... that's a connector word.  Connecting one passage with another. Remember that God is the one that judges?  We can't judge each other, we are all under God's authority.    So what should we do instead? 
¹³ Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 
Make a decision to do this: To not put stumbling blocks in front of each other. Don't hinder each other in our journey of faith.