The Cokeville Miracle Review

Have you seen The Cokeville Miracle yet? It is based on Actual Events, which are always my favorite type of movies.

It is the story of a hostage crisis in an Elementary school and the miracle that took place when a bomb went off and not one child was injured. Many of the children reported seeing angels.

Scott and I saw this movie in the theatre and it was incredible. I strongly recommend it. It promotes faith, love, community and courage. You can get your very own copy at:

                       DESERET BOOK or at AMAZON.

 

Discover America: From Sea to Shining Sea

I think this new children's book is so sweet and patriotic.  

"Follow the patriotic journey of a little red balloon as it makes its way from the West Coast to the East Coast of the United States. Accompanied by the words of one of Americas most beloved anthems America the Beautiful, From Sea to Shining Sea shows the diversity and beauty of our great country through the eyes of our nations children. To add an interactive experience, kids all across the United States will be able to go online to send their own balloons on their own journey." 

 (From the Press Release) 

I found Julie Olson's illustrations magical. I love water color (wish I was more talented, but my last attempt scarred me for life). Parts of Katharine Lee Bates poem "America the Beautiful" is recited on each page as this little red balloon makes it's way across our great America. My kids loved this book. Especially the little ones.

 Make sure to visit her educational interactive website for free printable and free lesson plans.

www.discoveramericabook.com 

• Send your own virtual balloon to friends or family members, who can then send it on.
• Discover and track on the website your balloon's progress as it floats across the United States.
• Discover facts for fun or for school reports by clicking on each state.
• Print out coloring pages from the website for each state's flag,flower, and bird.
• Discover what you know about the book and other places in the United States by taking the online quiz.
• Discover on the website a video of the illustrator, Julie Olson, painting and talking about the book.

Deseret Book / Amazon

Getting Kids (and Adults) to Focus During the Sacrament

I can't possibly be the only one that has become distracted during the sacrament.

You know, all of a sudden you notice the Priests stand up and the Deacons start walking forward to return their sacrament trays and you scratch your head trying to remember if you ever even once thought about Jesus Christ during that special Ordinance.

I mean sometimes I really am bouncing a crying child, or trying to keep a kid from spitting on the kids in front of us...but sometimes there is no one to blame for my distractions but myself.

Taking the sacrament requires preparation and concentration, and it isn't always the children that are having a hard time focusing on Jesus Christ and what the sacrament is really about. It is the adults too.

I found myself getting just as much as my kids out of John Bytheway's new Children's book.

The Sacrament, tells the story of a young boy who travels to visit his Grandpa's house for the weekend and how his experience changes the way he thinks about the importance of the sacrament. His Grandpa shares his experience as a youth when he noticed the complacent behavior of others gathered in the chapel to partake of the sacrament.

There were hundreds in the chapel but the worshipers were few, 

And I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would do-

Yes, I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would say

Should He walk into the chapel  while His Saints behaved this way;

Would His loving eyes be saddened; would His countenance be grim

While He there observed and listened to a service meant for Him?


I've read this book to my children several times and they love the illustrations and the message. The pages seem familiar as they also weekly sit through sacrament meeting. I've discussed the Symbols of the Sacrament with them. This can be easily done using the resource in the back of the book. It discusses the symbols associated with the table, the cloth, the hymn, the bread, the water, kneeling to pray, and the right hand. This book is a great way to deepen your children's understanding of the sacrament, its sacredness and its cleansing power.

Hardcover / eBook

John Bytheway is an instructor at the Brigham Young University Salt Lake Center. He served his mission in the Philippines and earned a master’s degree in Religious Education at BYU. He has published dozens of books and audio programs and lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.

Nathan Pinnock studied at Utah State University, the University of Utah, and Atelier LeSueur in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at Brigham Young University. Between years of school, Nate served a mission in Frankfurt, Germany. He illustrated books and magazines for fifteen years and now spreads his time between his illustration, sculpture, fine art, and teaching. He is a creator. His paintings and books can be found in galleries, businesses, and homes across America. Nate lives in Holladay with his wife, Alison, and kids.

In Tune by Gerald N. Lund & Giveaway

For any parent raising a budding musician, the word's "In Tune" are probably used very frequently. 

I know at my house they are.

When the kids are out of tune, everybody in the house knows it. And it can be pretty uncomfortable.

I thought about this analogy as I was reading Gerald N. Lund's new book In Tune.

Scott practicing with Dylan & Kate.

This new book focuses on the Role that the Spirit plays in Teaching and Learning.

As someone who has spent countless hours in church meetings being taught gospel principles, I can appreciate a teacher who follows the spirits direction when presenting a message. I also know that when I am doing my part to be a willing participant and learning by the spirit, I am able to be taught the things that the Lord would have me know. It definitely takes two willing participants for the spirit to convey the messages that the Lord would have us hear.

Lund is an experienced author has written another wonderful book. I found this book to be organized perfectly. It really helps you gain an idea of what the Lord expects of us when we are teaching and how the Holy Ghost functions in teaching the message.

I strongly recommend this book. I think this book is a wonderful resource for everyone. I feel that many of the lessons will actually help me be a better parent. And teaching my children is my most important responsibility.

From the Book Jacket:

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are all teachers. Not only do we have a glorious mandate to "teach all nations" the gospel (Matthew 28:19), we also have numerous charges to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom" (D&C 88:77). In formal and informal settings, as parents or leaders or friends, we are constantly teaching and learning.

"The Lord has given the responsibility to save His children to teachers," writes Elder Lund. "The charge is clear. It is specific. It is inspiring. And, gratefully, the Lord blesses us greatly when we strive to carry out His will."

Elder Gerald N. Lund received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He also did extensive graduate work in New Testament studies at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California, and studies Hebrew at the University of Judaism in Hollywood, California.

During his thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, the author served as a seminary teacher, an institute teacher and director, a curriculum writer, director of college curriculum, and zone administrator. His Church callings have included serving as stake president, bishop, and teacher. Elder Lund served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2002 to 2008.

Elder Lund is a prolific author; his novels include the Work and the Glory series, the Kingdom and the Crown trilogy, Fire of the Covenant, and The Undaunted. He has also written several books on gospel topics, including Hearing the Voice of the Lord and Divine Signatures.

Purchase at Deseret Book / Amazon

Visit my FACEBOOK PAGE to win a Free Copy!

Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard & Giveaway!

*GIVEAWAY!!! Visit my Facebook page and leave a comment to enter to win a signed copy of Porcelain Keys. Thanks Sarah! And for more chances to win this book you can enter Sarah's giveaway over here!!!

Finally, a squeaky clean Young Adult Romance Novel!

I don't even want to pick up a book anymore if I don't know for certain that it isn't filled with trash. Like swearing, pornographic imagery, sex, murder, evil. It can be pretty hard to find anything decent to read with my strict personal policy. This book really passed my test.

Aria's life is full of secrets--secrets about her mother's death, her father's cruelty, and her dream to go to Juilliard. When Aria meets Thomas, he draws out her secrets, captures her heart, and gives her the courage to defy her father. But when tragedy strikes and Thomas disappears, Aria is left alone to transform her broken heart's melody into something beautiful. Porcelain Keys is a captivating love story that will resonate long after the last page is turned.

My Review: Using beautiful imagery through music, Beard crafts this sad tale of broken hearts healing. This book, like notes written out on a page one by one, starts out a melody and crescendo's into this incredibly orchestrated love story, with sadness and hurt pounding through the characters as love and forgiveness ring through in the end.

I really liked this book. It was charming, interesting, sad, sweet and unpredictable. The writing was flawless and fresh, I was able to completely lose myself in the pages. I couldn't believe that this was Sarah Beards first novel. I found myself torn by the characters, rooting for each of them for different reasons. I thought that Beard was able to really bring out the human flaws and honesty in each of the characters which can be really hard to do.

Here is the book trailer if you want to watch it.

About Sarah Beard: Sarah Beard has a degree in communications from the University of Utah and splits her time between writing and raising three energetic boys. She is a cancer survivor, a hopeless romantic and an amateur musician. She lives with her husband and children in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can follow Sarah on twitter at @authorsarahb, or at facebook.com/authorsarahbeard. Her website is sarahbeard.com.

In Wisdom & Order by Elder Boyd K. Packer & a BIG HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!

One of the things that I love about my husband Scott is that he has a gift for teaching. He has this amazing ability to make his students actually want to learn. Really learn. I remember one time I was sitting in his Primary Class as he was teaching the 8 year old's. Scott posed a question to the class and I found myself with my hand up eager to answer the question. I was a bit embarrassed that I was caught competing with the young kids to give the right answer. I blame Scott though, he just makes learning the gospel so exciting.

I share this story because as I tell you about Elder Boyd K. Packer's new book, In Wisdom & Order, I want to remind you about the amazing Teacher that Boyd K. Packer is. He has such an incredible ability to teach complex gospel doctrines with simpleness and CLARITY. Reading this book I found my self figuratively sitting up on my chair and raising my hand. I was so engaged!

Elder Packer is known for standing out and giving attention to some very difficult and challenging problems that we are facing in the 21st century. Included in his book are messages that he has delivered over the span of 25 years. Among them are such topics as the plan of salvation, listening to the voice of the spirit, the power of the priesthood, marriage between a man and a women is ordained of God, and it also includes the life sketches he gave at the funerals of President Spencer W. Kimball, Howard W. Hunter, and Gordon B. Hinckley. Many are unavailable through any other resource.

At a time when the adversary has succeeded in "confusing the choices of man," Elder Packer shares timely insights gained from many decades of serving as a special witness of Jesus Christ.

Here is the awesome news! 

I am giving away 2 books today!

All you have to do to be entered to win is like my Facebook page:

LDS Kids Learn Scriptures

  It's that easy. 

 Good Luck!!!

To purchase these books visit these links:

In Wisdom & Order

I Will Lead You Along

Does This Insecurity Make Me Look Fat?

Don't let the humor in the title of this book make you discount the powerful punch that its contents are packing.

Seriously.

I loved reading this book.
I was so completely taken of guard when I read it.
Every page surprised me.

Michelle Wilson shares some very personal experiences about humility, insecurity, uncertainty, self-doubt, lack of self-worth and serious pity-parties. And you will feel at times like she is inside your head.

"Ya mean, other people out there feel the same  way I do?

...who woulda' thunk?"

She does an incredible job of using personal experiences from her life and creating unique little "AFTA" (chapter one) lessons that WE all can relate to.

This book might be the perfect dose of "self help" that we all need, a little reality check for us all.

Michelle has crafted this book into this simple little "pep talk" and check list that we can all use to realign our perspective on ourselves, our self-worth, our purpose, and our destiny.

She says...

Heavenly Father knows our longing. I believe he gave us feelings of longing to draw us back to Him, a way to lead us to the truth. In our darkest moments,when the minutiae of life no longer seem important, when we are stripped of pride and pretense, when we are in the throes of a massive pity party, we face our one intense desire: to know our purpose and our worth...as we find answers to that deeply planted longing to know who we are and where we came from, we find perspective and purpose. We find ourselves.

Let's be honest. It can be easy as a wife and mother to sometimes forget who we really are in the monotony of making beds, changing diapers, trying to get a shower in, and trying to find your toothbrush in the bottom of the drawer. "Oh wait, did I get my deodorant on today? My bra?"

But Michelle points us in the right direction. She shows us the power of choice. She shows us what our Heavenly Father see's in us, and she uses incredible analogies to do it.

I'm most certain that Michelle and I could be the Best of Cyber Friends. She is wonderful and a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed her writing so much...I wish I could take her to lunch and pick her brain some more. She even lives in Washington State where I served as a missionary!

Michelle's Blog    Michelle's g+   Michelle's Facebook Page

Purchase your copy HERE AT DESERET BOOK

I can't wait to see what she writes next.

GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter to win this great book on my Facebook Page!!!

12 Gifts For Christ

Well, we are 7 days into December and so far the holiday is feeling wonderful. I'm trying really hard to focus on Christ this year with my family. We have started some new traditions and focused less on some old ones. I'm finding lots of great ideas from the blogosphere and a few that just sort of fell into my lap.

This book is one of those tools that has helped me refocus my vision of Christmas and what I want it to be for my family.

About a month ago my friend wrote on Facebook that she was already dreading Christmas and the stress and the hoopla.

Dreading Christmas???

Wow. Just typing those words make me fee scrooge-ish.

I wanted to make sure that I didn't dread Christmas this year so I evaluated some of the things that make the season seem stressful to me.

I checked *Send Christmas Cards right off my list. This seems to stress me out each year and I always procrastinate it anyway.

I decided instead to focus on 25 people that have helped me feel closer to Christ this year, and to send them personal letters or notes. Immediately I got excited about this idea. Really excited, and I felt warm and happy just at the thought of it.

So, no I ask you, how are you feeling about Christmas this year?
Are you stressing yourself out?
Taking on too much?
Worried about finances and affording the purchase of gifts?
Over-scheduling?

Maybe you need to stop and check some things off your list. What are you doing to focus on the Savior?

I think we all mean to stop and focus on Christ, but it is hard with the society that we live in to really skip the commercial Christmas and create our own Christ-Centered, meaningful one.

Without giving too much of this book away I will tell you that it really inspired me to stop and THINK about what gifts I was going to give to my family and what gifts I was going to give to Christ.

Last year I gave away my love of television. As we sat around the Christmas Tree, each member of my little family picked something that they would give or do for Christ. I can't remember what everyone said but I do know that Kate chose to be modest always, and I chose to give up Television. Yes Television.  It did come after some previous promptings (as I already shared with you in this post) and some encouragement from my dear husband...but I did it.

It has now been a year since I have watched anything questionable, inappropriate, with foul language, or that makes fun of sacred things or gospel principles. It was really hard at first. I was raised on TV. I loved it. (well I thought I did).

But I did it. And I'm still amazed.

And because of this small sacrifice on my part, I have been blessed in so many ways.

I've felt the spirit speak to me more often than ever. It is easy to turn off movies that are also questionable. I've simplified my life. I've felt the Savior close by.  And I can honestly feel the difference that no TV has made. It is measurable.

So, going into this season I am thinking about the gifts that I can give to Christ.

This book focuses on 12 gifts that we can give him.

The Gift of Personal knowledge.
The Gift of Gratitude
The Gift of Remembrance
The Gift of Repentance
The Gift of Obedience
The Gift of Emulation
The Gift of Charity
The Gift of Forgiveness
The Gift of Faithfulness
The Gift of Love
The Gift of Healing Balm
The Gift of Joy

Each of the twelve chapters contains a personal devotional with suggestions for application to everyday life. Merrilee Boyack's goal is to find ways for each family to personally enjoy more than the material blessings of Christmas by giving more to the Savior during the season and throughout the year.

This book came as an answer to my hearts Christmas wishes.

You can purchase 12 GIFTS FOR CHRIST here.

I hope you will find time to read it.

Merry Christmas Season!!!

And now your chance to have your own copy!!!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

READ THIS BOOK: My Name Used To Be Muhammad & Giveaway!

I had to read this book twice. 

I even read the last chapter through muffled tears out loud to my parents. It is THAT good.

This book is fascinating, heart-breaking, eye-opening, educational, life-changing and TRUE.

Yes, you read that right. This book is a true story.

I was engrossed in this story from the first page.

I want to tell you enough about this book so that you will read it, but not too much. I want you to live this story for yourself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





At the age of five Muhammad's father woke him at 4:45 am for the first time, and took him to the mosque for prayer. He was given a Qur'an for his birthday and told to read it. He was then told to memorize it. He spent everyday copying the book word for word. The length of the Qur'an is comparable with the New Testament. I googled that one.

Muhammad's father loved him very much and thought of him as chosen. He was being schooled and prepared to become a leader capable of leading a jihad, or in other words, a holy war. His job would be to convert nonbelievers to Islam. But not just to convert them as modern day missionaries would do. A Jihad is actually going to war against nonbelievers.

Muhammad was a good child. Obedient. Smart. Faithful. He loved his religion and was kind as I suppose the majority of Muslim's are. I felt that in telling his story he was very clear that Muslim's in general do not all feel this way about "Westerners". But his father wanted him to embrace the radical side of his religion.

As Muhammad starts to get older and attends University he begins to be exposed to a lot of different cultures. And after being so sheltered he is actually curious.

I won't tell you the whole story, but he eventually converts to Christianity. He is then imprisoned for 15 years for being a Christian. Did you read that? 15 YEARS!!!

Does this sound familiar to another story being talked about in the news?

I am just heart broken over the news that Pastor Saeed Abedini is still in prison in Iran, after more than a year, for charges of Christianity. How can this still happen? It is so heart breaking. Please pray for him and his sweet family. And please join the cause in helping him.

Religious Freedom is so important. It is vital to all human's. God gave us the gift of Free Agency for a reason.

My heart aches thinking of those who suffer the hopelessness of not being able to practice their faith, and yet are so faithful they just keep praising God.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite scriptures in The Acts 5:

 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
 41 ¶And they departed from the presence of the council, ^arejoicingthat they were counted worthy to ^bsuffer ^cshame for his ^dname.
 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and ^apreach Jesus Christ.

I love these scriptures. I love the example of people like Tito Momen and Saeed Abedini and of course Paul the Apostle, who were able to stay faithful and rejoice in suffering for our  Savior.

Muhammad changed his name to Tito after Titus in the New Testament.

I am really grateful he was able to tell his story!

What a powerful story it is.

What a BRAVE man.

And I have to share this picture. Tito was signing books for readers at the SLC Deseret Book when the man who baptized him, Brother Whatcott, showed up. They hadn't seen each other since 1989 in Cairo, just before Tito was imprisoned. The expression on Tito's face says it all and brings me to tears over and over again. What an incredible story he has to tell.

So does this sound like a book you would like to read?

I would if I were you. I think this would be the perfect Christmas Present.

You can purchase one online at Deseret Book or enter to win a free copy here.

To Enter Giveaway:

Please leave your name and an email address so I can contact you in the comment's below.

Good Luck!

52 Life-Changing Questions From The Book Of Mormon & Giveaway

Have you ever thought about the power of a question?

Have you ever been asked a life-changing question?

I have.

Scott asked me to marry him.

I said, YES!!!

LIFE-CHANGING.

Last year I was asked another life-changing question. 

Well, actually 3 questions. 

As I was flipping through channels, watching "trash-TV" (which is what I call it because most of it pretty much is) , I heard the spirit whisper to my soul...

"At what point in your life are you going to give THIS up and CHOOSE ME?"

Followed by,

"Does this mindless entertainment BRING LASTING HAPPINESS?"

And then sealed with this final question...

"How old will you be when you decide you are ready to SEEK ME FIRST?"

I won't lie. That last question threw me for a loop. And I most certainly wasn't ready to give up watching Modern Family and Grey's Anatomy when, for a brief moment, I settled on the ripe old age of 57.  

My difficult response to these 3 questions I'll save for another post. But were these questions life-changing?

Absolutely. 

Am I a different person because of them?

Most assuredly, yes.

What questions have you been asked in your life that have been life-changing?

Elder Tad R. Callister wrote,

"The power of a good question is of inestimable worth. It is like an alarm clock that awakens us out of our mental doldrums. It is a catalyst that jump-starts our metal engines."

Did you know that...

• There are 61 different individuals in the Book of Mormon that ask questions. Some of these include, prophets, missionaries, investigators and apostates.
• Alma chapter 5 has the most questions of any chapter in the Book of Mormon. 42!
• Alma the Younger asks the most questions in the Book of Mormon. He asks 103 questions. Nephi is in 2nd place with 41 questions.
• The most commonly asked question has to do with how people remember - or forget - the Lord. Variations of this question appear 26 times.
• Jesus Christ asks 35 direct questions in the Book of Mormon

The Book 52 Life-Changing Questions from the Book of Mormon is designed to give you one question to ponder and study, every week for an entire year. 

The authors Brad Wilcox and John Hilton III note that Joseph Smith stated that people would get nearer to God through reading the Book of Mormon than through any other book. They also suggest that one short chapter each week in a year while pondering these inspired questions will propel readers forward to attain that goal.

Some of my favorite questions that they cover in their book are...

• Have ye received his image in your countenances? (Alma 5:14)
• Why do not angels appear unto us? (Alma 21:5)
• Is not a soul at this time as precious unto God? (Alma 39:17)
• How is it that ye have forgotten? (1 Nephi 7:11)
• What evidence have ye that there is no God? (Alma 30:40)
• 
  

GIVEAWAY!!!

So now comes one more question.

Is this a book that you think you or someone you know could benefit from?

If the answer is yes, you are in luck.

I'm GIVING AWAY  one copy to a lucky reader.

Please leave me a comment, or a question below and you will be entered to win.

You can purchase this book also. Visit Deseret Book.

Good Luck!!!

READ THIS BOOK: The Rent Collector Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Every so often a book comes along that is just the perfect read. And this book was. I curled up with a blanket on the first cold day of fall and couldn't stop reading.

I mean...it educated me, made me feel compassion, made me want to be better, made me wiser, made my heart hurt, made me cry, made me happy, made me wonder...

It made me wish I had never read it so that I could experience the joy of it all over again.

Do you know what I mean? Have you every wished you could just start all over?

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright did that for me and I am so THANKFUL.

This book is so beautifully written and crafted. I loved his writing. I loved the characters and the humanity. I'm sure a part of that is because this book is based on a REMARKABLE TRUE STORY. But I give Wright so much credit for his crafting and delivery of this book. My heart strings were pulled, tightened, lengthened and nearly broken.

Sang Ly is a mother living in the harshest conditions in Cambodia. She literally lives in a dump. Just like the picture on the cover of the book. This dump is a real place. It is called Stung Meanchey and it is the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia.

Why you ask would anyone live there?

Well, the people make their living there. They collect garbage and use it to survive. They sell precious treasures that they find for money. There is an economy in this dump that barely keeps things going.

Life there is almost unbearable, but somehow this book helps you to also seek and find beautiful treasures in the dump. I came away from this book realizing just how amazingly miraculous the world can be, even in the hardest conditions and the most painful times.

I'm so happy to get to tell you about this book. I hope you will read it and let me know if you loved it just as much as I did.

GIVEAWAY!!!

Leave me a comment and you could win your own copy of this book!

Good Luck;)

Follow Me To Zion Book Review And Giveaway

Follow me to Zion is a new compilation of intimate stories, photo's, journal entries and incites into the lives of the pioneers that were part of the Willie Handcart company.

The experiences of over twenty different families are recounted in this book. There are dozens of full-color illustrations depicting the trying circumstances and the bravery and sacrifices made by these early pioneers.

I love hearing the stories of the pioneers. I love learning about these faithful Saints who put their trust in God, and pressed forward through trials so difficult most of us could never possibly even pretend to imagine them.

How is it that these ordinary people became so extraordinary in facing the hardships that came to them?

I wonder if I too would have faith sufficient to deliver me through such daunting and unthinkable conditions.

Do you have any ancestors that crossed the plains?

I do.

My great, great, great, great grandfather Horace Strong Rawson left his home and farm in Nauvoo for Salt Lake City. And while he was not part of the Willie Handcart company, still I know that they must have also suffered greatly on their journey.

 

I love these beautiful Illustrations by Julie Rogers.

 One of my favorite things that the authors have done is include a section at the end of each chapter called, "Reflections of a Descendant". I found the words and testimonies of these descendants to be so touching. I can't help but wonder how many of us would rise just a little bit higher if we knew the stories of our ancestors, and what we are really made of.

I think that this book is a treasure for any Latter-Day Saint. These people are our people. They are the roots that support our tree. We are strong because they were strong. We trust God because they taught us how to, because they proved his promises to be true.

When I think of "doing His will" I think of faithful believers in God who have, since the beginning of time, sacrificed all, everything they had, even their lives, to build the kingdom of God and to keep his laws.

I am so grateful for people like these emigrant pioneers,
who with faith and fortitude,
answered God's call.

I hope I can too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"James G. Willie led 400 emigrant pioneers on a thousand-mile journey across the plains, he knew the trek would be arduous. They were leaving dangerously late in the season, and the company was ill-prepared for the rigors of the trail. But what he could not know was that the winter of 1856 and 1857 would be unpredictable early and extraordinarily severe. Nearly one-sixth of  his company would die along the way. Yet from one of the worst tragedies of the American western migration emerged triumphant stories of personal endurance, unsurpassed courage, epic heroism, and unwavering faith." 

-Deseret Book Press Release

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY!!!

If you would like to win your own copy, just leave me a comment below! Good Luck.

To purchase your own copy or as a gift visit Deseret Book Here.

Written On Our Hearts by Emily Freeman & GIVEAWAY!!!

Oh, how I love Emily Freeman's writing.

I am blown away by her ability to "Liken" the scriptures to me.
To you.
To everyone.

I read her books and I think to myself, "Self, you have never thought of it that way before." or "Self, now you get it don't you."





Have you read any of her books before?
*21 Days Closer To Christ
*Love Life and See Good Days

Oh, they are excellent. They make me love the scriptures. I mean, I already love them...but I start to really understand them, and 'listen' to them and then I really LOVE them. This new book has the prettiest cover of any book I have ever seen. It is stunning. When my copy arrived I just stared at it. It is so beautiful.

Written on Our Hearts is a book about Invitations From The Old Testament.
It is so well written. She uses personal testimony and experiences, modern day prophetic council and deep rooted questions, to pull life and meaning from the pages of the Old Testament. It is crafted so beautifully. I was teary eyed at almost every page turn. My heart was softened in such a sweet, delicate way. I have devoured almost every page and I'm so glad that I still have a few more chapters because I don't want it to end. I am sure I will read and re-read this book.

Read Daily Inspiration from Emily on her blog HERE!!!!

I'd love to give one of you a free copy.

GIVEAWAY!!! 

All you have to do is leave a comment Below! Good Luck.

"Say Love" and my interview with Hilary Weeks.

Guess what cool thing happened this week?

Hilary Weeks’ new CD “Say Love” landed on three Billboard charts.

You can buy a copy of her CD Here or  download it Here.

It’s No. 9 on the Top Current Contemporary Christian list, No. 161 on the Top Albums-Billboard Top 200 and No. 2 on the Top Current Albums-Salt Lake City, according to Shadow Mountain Records. This is such awesome news.

My kids and I have her CD memorized and I'm giving away a copy of her new CD on my Facebook Page tomorrow so hurry and enter Here. 

I'm lucky enough to have had a chance to ask her a few questions that were on my mind and I thought I would share her responses with you. Have fun getting to know Hillary as I'm sure you have been enjoying her much for years, just like me.

• How do you balance writing and recording with being a wife and a mother?  It has definitely been a learning process!  When I first started receiving requests to do firesides, my husband and I held a powwow.  We discussed the number of requests I could commit to and still feel like I was able to effectively fulfill my first priority - being a wife and mother.  Once I had accepted a certain number of requests in a month, then I would turn down the rest.  I felt a little bad saying "no" to firesides and other worthy requests, but something Stephen Covey said echoed in my heart, "It is easy to say "no" when there is a deeper yes burning inside."  My "deeper yes" is my family.  There have been times when music has needed more attention and it has caused an imbalance at home.  But my family is very supportive and we work together to get through those periods.  Once the commitments have been met, I am able to restore balance at home.  Recently, while recording the new Say Love CD, I rarely had time to make dinner!  We ate out a lot.  Too much.  (But at least the children were fed...albeit with chicken nuggets.)  One night I actually had time to make dinner.  It felt foreign to eat a home cooked meal, and I practically had to explain, "Children, this is a homemade meal.  It is different than Wendy's, Subway, or Cafe Rio.  Most families eat this every night."  We all got a good laugh.

• What music influenced you growing up?  Afterglow, Amy Grant, Michael McLean, Bruce Hornsby and the soundtrack from "The Man from Snowy River."  I remember getting together with my friend Kari Lindquist on Sunday afternoons and singing the music of Janice Kapp Perry.  She was a soprano, I was an alto and we sounded AMAZING together...at least that's what we thought!  I accompanied us on the piano and we sang for hours.  Then we would eat "Crunchies" -  Special K cereal mixed with peanut butter and topped with chocolate.  (My mouth is watering just thinking about it!)   Kari was an expert at making them. Truth be told, Crunchies were the real motivation behind our get-togethers.

• How do you stay grounded when the whole world is singing your songs?  Clean the bathroom!  Haha!  Motherhood and family life take up 90% of my time - music is a smaller portion of my life than you might think.  Folding clothes and doing dishes in more common in my life than signing autographs and taking pictures.  I try to remember why I write and sing and Whom I write and sing for.  That keeps my focus on the glory of God - which is the reason why all of us do what we do. 

• If you could give one message to Christian women and mother's, what would it be? One night while driving home from a YW activity that I had planned, my heart felt sad.  The activity had been a flop.  The girls didn't seem to like me.  I wondered if I was making any difference at all.  The Spirit whispered something to my heart that I have never forgotten because it changed my life.  "Don't worry about what others think of you; worry about what they think of themselves when they're with you."

• Do you ever visit Alaska anymore? My parents have moved to Utah and live seven houses down from me - they are even in my ward!  I love Alaska - I will always be Alaskan in my heart, but I don't visit anymore.  Someday I'd like to take my family on a Disney Cruise to Alaska...but that will take about 50 summer's worth of lemonade stands to pay for!

Can you believe how amazing she is? I can just feel her warmth through her songs. I love singing them at the top of my lungs with my kids accompanying me on our soccer trips. I love it that I can hear my kids singing wholesome, beautiful music...the kind your soul craves...instead of the trash on the radio. What an amazing gift to be able to sing your testimony. I sure try, but my pipes don't sound like hers. I hope you enjoy her CD.

Thank you Hilary!

The Not Even Once Club

I'm going to tell you about a new book that I think EVERY house should have a copy of. If you have kids, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, if you teach primary or Sunday school, this book needs to be in your home. And I am not just saying this because Deseret Book sent me a free copy to look over. This book was just what my home needed.

We introduced this book at Family  Home Evening a few weeks ago. 

This is usually what Family  Home Evening looks like at our house. We sing songs, share talents, learn a new scripture and have a lesson. We all take turns. Some lessons are well prepared and others are thrown together. But we do it every week and we have been very blessed because of this learning time together.

I was really excited to introduce Wendy Watson Nelson's new book as our lesson.  I read it a few times previous and knew it would be perfect for our family. 

In this beautifully illustrated book, Tyler moves into his new ward and meets his new Primary Class. Tyler's new friends invite him to their Primary class tree house and they give Tyler the secret password: "Not Even Once." Tyler then gets to visit the tree house and discovers all the amazing treasures inside. He is asked to become part of the club, but first he has to pass the test.

My kids were so engaged by this book. They understood it, they got the message and they too wanted to join the club.

From this moment on:

I will never break the Word of Wisdom, lie, cheat, steal, do drugs, bully, dress immodestly, or break the law of chastity. I will never intentionally look at anything pornographic on TV, the Internet, a cell phone, billboards, magazines, or movies. 

Not. Even. Once.

My Family loved this book. In the back of the book there is a guide for parents and children to help introduce these difficult topics in a way that they can understand. These helps simplify Modesty and Pornography for a younger age group like my family. I personally thing that kids are never too young to discuss these topics, but that doing so requires skill and prayer and direction from the Holy Ghost.

I mean it is a 

SCARY

NASTY

GROSS

world we are raising our children in and I want them to be surrounded by

BEAUTY

FAITH

LOVE

RIGHTEOUSNESS

and if we help our children put on the Armor of God, they will be ready for the battles that lay ahead.

There is a LINK included in the book that will allow you to print your own NOT EVEN ONCE POSTER. 

The Peterson Family is saying "NOT EVEN ONCE"!!!!

You can buy your own book at Deseret Bookstore, or you can enter my giveaway and get one for free.

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GIVEAWAY!!!

All you have to do to be entered to win a copy of this book is visit my Blog's Facebook page and leave a Comment on the Post Titled The Not Even Once Club GIVEAWAY. Good Luck.

Enter>>>Here