Abel's Field DVD - A Review and a Giveaway

Website: http://www.abelsfield.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbelsField

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbelsField

About Abel's Field

Left motherless by tragedy and abandoned by his father, high school senior Seth McArdle (Samuel Davis) faces enormous pressure as he strives to support his little sisters. At school, he endures the daily bullying of the football team. But fighting back only finds him singled out for punishment and assigned to an after-school work detail under the supervision of the reserved groundskeeper, Abel (SOUL SURFER’S Kevin Sorbo). Much to his surprise, Seth discovers that Abel may be the only one who truly understands his struggles. As dark times lure Seth toward desperate measures, the reluctant Abel may be the one person who can point him back toward the light.

 

 

 

 

 

My Thoughts

 

I appreciate that so many family-appropriate movies are coming out lately.  Movies that don't use profanity or show questionable content.  It is nice to sit down with my children to watch a movie and know that I won't need to cringe.  And that fact that so many faith-based movies are coming out makes it that much better.  Movies with a moral, a lesson, an encouraging word.

 

All the above things are what Abel's Field is all about.  It is family friendly and it is faith based.  And the message is one that Christians need to be reminded about all too often.  God is more than willing to forgive a repentant heart; unfortunately, we have so much trouble forgiving ourselves.  And why do we too often wait till we hit rock-bottom to cry out to God for help?

 

My family enjoyed this movie and highly recommend it to others.

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

One lucky reader will receive a copy of this great DVD, courtesy of FlyBy Promotions.  Just leave a comment on or before February 15, 2013.  I will choose one name at random.

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Living Books vs Textbooks

"Living Books" is a relatively new term to me.  It wasn't a term that I heard growing up.  But one that I have learned about over the past few years of homeschooling.

There are textbooks on most any subject.  History, science, math, physics, astronomy.  This is the way that I learned in school, growing up.  I read the chapters and I took the tests.  Sure I remembered long enough to take the test, but not much longer than that.  Most details went in one ear and out the other.

I have been homeschooling my daughters since preschool, and my oldest is now in 8th grade.  For the first few years, we used textbooks for most everything.  That is how I was educated; it was what I knew.  But over the years, I heard more and more mention of "living books".

Usually, textbooks are written to cover a variety of topics, barely touching the surface of one topic before moving on to another one.  But living books are written by someone with a passion for the topic.  Typically, the authors write in-depth, with emotion and an amazing amount of knowledge.

Pick most any topic of interest, and you will find a book about that specialty.  Pick most any famous person, and you will find a biography about him or her . . . sometimes even an auto-biography is available.

By using living books, I have been able to learn so much, right along-side my daughters.  I have loved learning this way.  We don't just read a chapter about Pearl Harbor and move on.  We read several full-length books and even watch a documentary or two.  We don't just read a chapter in a textbook about Abraham Lincoln and move on.  We read books about his childhood and books about his adulthood.  We read quotes by Mr. Lincoln and quotes from people who knew him personally.

Along the same lines, we have learned much from unit studies, documentaries, hands-on activities, and even online courses.  A favorite of mine is Pilgrim Story through Dayspring, online.  Forget a passing overview of the Pilgrim's story.  This course delves deep, even going back before the "pilgrim" time, explaining how the circumstances came to be in the first place.  This is an impressive, interactive, multi-sensory way to learn.  (And no, I'm not getting paid to say that.  I just really love this course.)  I hope that the company comes out with more courses similar to this one in the near future.

Textbooks have their time and place.  They are pretty much a necessity for math and English.  Well, not really.  :)  Even these topics can be taught through online courses and DVD tutorials and the likes.  It is all about your child's learning style.  How do they learn?  How do they retain knowledge?  For example, over time, I have realized that my two older daughters have very different learning styles.  One daughter can sit still and listen and focus, and retain what she learned.  My other daughter has trouble retaining auditory information.  But give her something to do with her hands, and it makes an amazing difference.  So while I read, I offer to allow her to doodle while she listens.  She sometimes makes random doodles; sometimes, she draws pictures about the lesson.  Either way, using her hands, helps her to listen and retain what she hears better than if she just listened without drawing.

Homeschooling is an adventure and my daughters aren't the only ones learning along the way.  I am learning many lessons right alongside them.  Some are educational lessons, such as history; others are life lessons, such as my daughters' learning styles.




Homeschooling is a journey, and I'm so thankful to be walking the path with my beautiful children.

God bless,
Kimberly

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty Giveaway is Back!

I just love Melissa & Doug.  Their products are so unique, awesome, and durable.   I hope many of you took the time to enter the Terrific Twenty Giveaway.  And I have some great news!

The Terrific Twenty Giveaway is Back!

So what are you waiting for?  ENTER NOW!





Disclaimer:
As a "thank you" for hosting this blog post, I will be entered to win a chance at free products from Melissa & Doug.

'Scandalous The Musical' on Broadway Soundtrack Giveaway

Website: http://www.scandalousonbroadway.com

Interview with Kathie Lee Gifford: http://vimeo.com/serino/review/50083730/b5bb349f9c

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScandalousBway

Twitter: https://twitter.com/scandalousbway

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/scandalousBway

Stream (3) Songs: http://www.scandalousonbroadway.com/music#.UHbxvrTR1Hg

About Scandalous on Broadway

Two-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello stars as Aimee Semple McPherson, the trailblazing media superstar whose passion for saving souls was matched by her passion for making headlines.

Set in 1920s Los Angeles, holiness collides with Hollywood in the extraordinary tale of one woman's charismatic rise to fame. But as her popularity grows, so do her enemies, until her sermons, her celebrity, and her past combine to put everything she believes in on trial. Two-time Tony Award winner George Hearn leads a remarkable cast of 20 in this new musical about one woman's incredible rise to glory...and fall from grace.

My Thoughts:

I was offered a chance to go watch the musical free of charge, to give my opinion and review of the performance.  I would have loved to go watch the performance.  But, unfortunately, the distance was a hindrance.  So, instead, I was offered a soundtrack from the musical.  

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the 3 songs that I was able to listen to on my CD.  High quality, great music and vocals, entertaining lyrics.  From just the 3 songs on the soundtrack, I'm not able to get a complete feel of the musical.  But I am intrigued.  

I will say that from the songs I listened to, I'm guessing the musical isn't what would be considered "G-Rated".  But then again, I think it is assumed that most shows on Broadway are not "G-Rated", but geared towards adult audiences.

I have never heard the story of  Aimee Semple McPherson, but after hearing the songs and reading the teasers, I would like to learn more about Aimee and her story.  

GIVEAWAY:

One of my readers will receive a free copy of the 'Scandalous the Musical' Soundtrack.  To enter, leave a comment on this post.  For an extra entry, follow my blog and tell me that you do.  I will accept entries until December 5, 2012.

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.