Linda @ Linda’s Lunacy

This Weeks Favorites – Announcement!

February 23, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I started This Weeks Favorites as a way to share websites I loved to read, recipes and crafts I want to try, or recently tried. Instead of hiding them in my favorites folder, I’m shared them here. It worked well for me. Until Pinterest came along.

Even though the links I have shared on Pinterest are different than the links I shared here, I felt like I was duplicating my efforts. So I’m going to stop This Weeks Favorites, and put everything on Pinterest.

So be sure to follow Linda’s Lunacy on Pinterest for lots of great ideas, recipes, crafts, and more.

All the This Weeks Favorites posts are archived under the Linda’s Favorites category. There are hundreds of them! It would take a very long time to transfer them to Pinterest. So I won’t be doing that. lol Those will be available to check out here.

See you at Linda’s Lunacy on Pinterest!!

Classical Academic Press God’s Great Covenant Review

February 22, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

As part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I was sent Classical Academic Press God’s Great Covenant, Old Testament 1. I reviewed New Testament 1 last year and I was glad to receive the Old Testament 1 to review. My son was excited, too. There are three parts to God’s Great Covenant. The Student book, $22.95, the Teachers Edition, $24.95, and an Audio Book Download, $9.95. That page also has a sample of the audio you can listen to. The audio book includes all stories from each lesson. While the audio book is not necessary to complete the course, it is nice to have. Zach loved listening to the lessons. You can see samples of the Student Book, the Teacher Book, and a Suggested Schedule. Old Testament 1 contains thirty two chapters divided into five units, covering Genesis to Ruth. Unit I: In the Beginning -God’s Power Unit II: By the Patriarchs – God’s Promises Unit III: Out of Egypt – God’s Redemption Unit IV: Through the Wilderness – God’s Provision Unit V: In the Promised Land – God’s Faithfulness It is suggested that one chapter a week be completed. Each chapter includes the story, a worksheet, and a quiz. Also included are a memory verse, vocabulary words, and key facts to remember. There are several appendices and maps in the back of the of the book, as well as a glossary for further student study.

I used God’s Great Covenant Old Testament 1 with my 12 year old, 6th grade son. This course is written for grades 3-6. My son, Zach, enjoyed the lessons. The lessons were challenging enough to keep him interested. There is a review chapter at the end of each unit. These include extra puzzles and activities. My son loves puzzles, so these are perfect for him.

We did not follow the suggested schedule exactly. I prefer to allow my children to work through their Bible studies at their own pace. So that is what my son did. He would listen to the story one day, and work through the workbook pages over the next few days. He liked that he could write in the book, making it less cumbersome than using a separate text and notebook.

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The teachers edition has every page of the student edition pictured, with all the answers filled in. Every page also has a full page section of lines for teacher notes. You can see this on the sample pages linked above. This is very convenient when planning your lessons. This would be especially helpful if you’re going to use this course with more than one student over several years. You can refer page to your notes right on the page to see what you did last time. In addition to what is covered in the student text, the Teachers Book has more information on the history, geography, culture, and theology introduced in the text. I am a firm believer in scripture memorization and God’s Great Covenant puts emphasis on this, too. This course also contains Catechism for Children Questions in every lesson. While I think the $22.95 price for the student book is high for a consumable, it is a quality Bible study book for this age group. *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I received no other compensation. 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.”

Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl – Book Review Plus Kindle Fire Giveaway and 3/5 Facebook Party!

February 21, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Gentle and unassuming, Hope Kauffman has never been one to question the traditions of her Mennonite upbringing. She quietly helps her father run Kingdom Quilts and has agreed to the betrothal he arranged for her with the devout but shy Ebbie Miller. Despite the attempts of Hope and other Kingdom residents to maintain the status quo, changes have already begun to stir in the small Mennonite town. The handsome and charismatic Jonathon Wiese is the leader of the move to reform, while Ebbie insists Kingdom must remain true to its foundation. When Hope’s safety is threatened by a mysterious outsider, she can’t help but question what she’s always been taught about the Mennonite tradition of nonviolence. As it swiftly becomes apparent the threat Hope faced is only the beginning, the town that’s always stood so strong finds itself divided. With tensions high and their lives endangered by an unknown enemy, will Hope and the people of Kingdom allow fear and division to break them or will they draw on the strength of the God they serve?

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/huFtI (not my affiliate link)

Meet Nancy: Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband Norman and her very active puggle, Watson. She’s authored fourteen books and is currently at work on a new series for Bethany House Publishing. All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.” Readers can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com. She is also active on Facebook.

MY REVIEW:

Unbreakable is the second book in Nancy Mehl’s Road to Kingdom Series. I reviewed book one Inescapable last year. I enjoyed reading Unbreakable as much as I did Inescapable. The characters from inescapable are in Unbreakable, along with a few new ones. If you didn’t read book one, you can still enjoy book two. I do recommend them both, though.

The author does a good job of drawing you into the characters, so that you care about what happens to them. Unbreakable is a great read and has something for everyone – suspense, drama, family, romance, forgiveness, and discovering God’s will for your life.

Celebrate the release of Unbreakable with Nancy Mehl by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to the March 5th Author Chat Party on Facebook!

Unbreakable Kindle Fire Giveaway

One fortunate winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire
Books one & two in Nancy’s Road to Kingdom series (Inescapable and Unbreakable)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 4th. Winner will be announced at the “Unbreakable” Author Chat Party on March 5th. Connect with Nancy, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be gift certificates, books, and fun Mennonite-themed giveaways.

Grab your copy of Unbreakable and join Nancy on the evening of the March 5th for a chance to connect with Nancy and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I received no other compensation. 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.”

My Amish Childhood by Jerry S. Eicher – Book Review

February 20, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

Jerry Eicher

and the book:

My Amish Childhood

Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2013)

***Special thanks to Ginger Chen for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 210,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Bestselling fiction author Jerry S. Eicher recounts his childhood in the Amish community of Aylmer, Ontario and his parents’ decision to move to Honduras. Jerry also tells of his eventual conversion to Christ and the reasons for his departure from the childhood faith he knew.

Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736950060
ISBN-13: 978-0736950060

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

I can still see his face. Lean. Determined. Framed by his lengthy beard. I can see him running up the hill toward our house. He was carrying his bag of doctor implements.

Mom was having chest spasms, and any real doctor was miles away—across four hours of the broken, rutted, dusty Honduran road we took only as a last resort.

The running man was my Uncle Joe. The smart one of the family. The older brother. The intellectual genius. When Uncle Joe walked by, we stopped talking and listened intently when he spoke. On this day, he rushed by, not paying any attention to us children.

I knew he was coming about Mom, but I recall experiencing no fear for her life. Perhaps I wasn’t old enough to have such a fear. To me, Uncle Joe’s haste seemed more entertainment than emergency. After all, Mom had looked fine to me a few minutes earlier.

When Uncle Joe left the house some time later, he issued a favorable report that I never questioned. Nor did anyone else. The mysteries of the Englisha world of medicine were even further removed from us than the four hours to town. Uncle Joe studied the books, and we trusted him.

Years later, when our little Amish community in Central America was on its last legs and held in the grip of terrible church fights over cape dresses, bicycles, singing in English or Spanish on Sunday mornings, and other horrors that the adults spoke of with bated breath, it was the look on Uncle Joe’s face as he talked with Mom and Dad by the fence on Sunday afternoon that made things clear to me. If Uncle Joe thought something was over, then it was over.

Uncle Joe lived below us, across the fields, in a house smaller than ours even though his family was much larger. How they managed, I never thought to wonder. Their house never looked crowded. It was kept spotless by his wife, Laura, and their oldest daughters Rosanna and Naomi. We didn’t visit often on Sunday afternoons. Mostly we children dropped by on weekdays, sent on some errand by Mom or we wandered past on our meanderings around the countryside.

They kept goats in the yard, all of them tied with long ropes to stakes. One of them was named Christopher. We didn’t have goats. Dad ran a machine shop, and Mom took care of the garden. Goats were foreign to us. Smelly creatures. Mom scorned goat’s milk, even when Uncle Joe said emphatically it was far superior to cow’s milk.

We all lived near each other in those days—part of a grand experiment to see if the Amish faith could survive on foreign soil.

My grandfather, Peter Stoll, an Amish man of impeccable standing, had taken it upon himself to lead an Amish community to the Central American country of Honduras. He wasn’t an ordained minister, and I don’t remember seeing him speak in public. Still, the integrity of his life and his ideas so affected those around him that they were willing to follow him where few had gone before.

At the height of the experimental community, we ended up being twenty families or so. We all lived on two neighboring ranches purchased in a valley below a mountain. Most of us had come to Honduras from the hot religious fervor of the small Aylmer community along the shores of Lake Erie in Southern Ontario or from the detached coolness of Amish country spread over Northern Indiana. Plans were for the two to become one in mind and heart. And for awhile we did.

Those were wonderful years. The memories of that time still bring an automatic gathering of hearts among the Amish who were there—and even some of us who are no longer Amish. All these years later, most of us are scattered across the United States and Canada—except for the few of the original group who stayed behind.

Some of the people credit the joy of those days to the weather in our Honduras valley. And lovely weather it was. Balmy. Hardly ever above ninety or below forty. Others credit the culture. Some attribute our happiness to being so far from the States that we only had each other. I don’t know the full reason for our happiness. Perhaps it isn’t possible to know. But I do remember the energy of the place—its vibrancy. I do know the years left their imprints on us all.

This was my childhood. Those hazy years when time drags. When nothing seems to come soon enough. And where everything is greeted as if it had never been before. To me that land—that valley—was home. I absorbed it completely. Its sounds. Its language. The color of the dusty towns. The unpaved streets. The pigs in the doorway of the huts. The open fires over a metal barrel top. The taste of greasy fried beans. The flour tortillas and meat smoked to perfection. In my heart there will always be a deep and abiding love for that country.

Around us were mountains. To the north they rose in a gradual ridge, coming in from the left and the right to meet in the middle, where a distinctive hump rose into the air—officially named Mt. Misoco. But to us it was simply what the locals called it: La Montaña. The Mountain. Our mountain. Which it was in ways we could not explain.

To the south lay the San Marcos Mountains. At least that’s what we called them. Those rugged, jagged peaks lying off in the distance. I never climbed those mountains, but I often roamed our mountain—or rather our side of it—from top to bottom. On its peak, looking over to the other side, you could see lines and lines of ridges running as far as the eye could see.

A party of courageous Amish boys, along with a few visiting Amish youngsters from stateside, once decided to tackle the San Marcos Mountains. They threw their forces together and allowed two days for the trip. I was much too young to go along—and probably wouldn’t have anyway. But I waited for news of their adventure with interest. They came back soon enough— defeated and full of tales of dark jungles and multiple peaks that disoriented the heart. No one even caught sight of the highest point, let alone the other side.

In the summer, around five in the morning, the Southern Cross—that symbol of Christianity—hung over the San Marcos Mountains. Its haunting figure made of stars swung low in the sky. I would stand for long minutes gazing at the sight, caught up in the glory of it.

I was eight when we arrived in Honduras. We were one of the first families there after Grandfather Stoll had purchased and settled on the Sanson ranch. Dad seemed driven to the move by motives other than adventure. He was unhappy with the ordnung rules in the Amish community at Aylmer, and he wanted change. Change that didn’t include the great sin of joining a more liberal Amish church, of course.

In time Dad came to love the land along with the rest of us. And strangely, he came to love what he didn’t expect—the old ways, imperfect though they had been. My most enduring memory of Dad in those days is hearing him sing the old German songs at the top of his voice over the roar of his machine shop motors. And in the end, it came down to that question for all of them. A choice between what they loved and what they loved the most.

I grew up surrounded by men dedicated to an old faith. I saw those men, most of them my uncles, tested to the core. I saw them wrestle with the old and with the new, trying to figure out where everything fit together. I lived among giants of faith. I saw their agony and their sacrifice. I saw their choices, and it affected me deeply. Their faith had been hammered out back in the sixteenth century, in the old town of Zurich, Switzerland. Back during the time Ulrich Zwingli thundered his sermons in the old Grossmunster Church.

But in the days of my childhood, those stories of long ago were not mine yet. Those gallant tales of deeds done under fire and sword. Of imprisonment in noblemen’s castles. Of narrow escapes into the Swiss countryside from the murderous Berne Anabaptist hunters. Instead, my memories are of men in my own time. Men who believed that life was not worth living if you didn’t believe in something worth dying for. I was surrounded by men of passion. And if someone should make the claim that these men were misguided, I would insist the fault lay not in caring too much about religious matters. For I learned while growing up among them that this is how a person should live. That true believers follow God with all of their hearts and souls.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading My Amish Childhood. Jerry S. Eicher writes about his childhood from his own memories, not gathering information from those that were adults at the time. He describes what it was like to move from Canada to Honduras. What his life was like there, from schoolyard fights to using electric, and the wrong things that he did growing up. Some that he got caught for, and some he only confessed to after being born again.

Mr. Eicher also writes about his memories of the difficulties that the church had while in Honduras. There were many difficulties moving an Amish group to a totally different culture. He writes about these difficulties in the church and in the community from his own memories, not from a church history.

The only thing I didn’t like about My Amish Childhood was that it ended too soon. I would have loved to read about how he adjusted to moving to the United States after they left Honduras.

Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate Kindle Fire Giveaway and 3/7 Facebook party!

February 19, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Are you ready to strip fear’s power over you and become the confident woman you were meant to be? Have you found that tolerating your personal fear monsters only makes them growl louder?

Okay, sister – take my hand and let’s boldly step up and yank the masks off those shadow-lurking, anxiety-churning, worry-generating beasts.

With her own brand of off-beat wit and wisdom, inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of women worn down by everyday fears – financial, health, relationships, loss, pain, the unknown, the what ifs …

With fresh spiritual insight, Debora shares hope, true life stories, scriptural lifelines, and a few LOL’s along with simple, practical tips for sidestepping fear with faith. And a fistful of chocolate!

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/hyrj3 (not my affiliate link)

Debora Coty is an occupational therapist, a piano teacher, and a freelance writer. She’s also involved in the children’s ministry at her church and is an avid tennis player. Debora began writing to fill the void when her last child left for college, and it has since become a passion. Debora has a real knack for getting across sound biblical concepts with a refreshing lightheartedness as attested in her monthly newspaper column entitled “Grace Notes: God’s Grace for Everyday Living.”

MY REVIEW:

In 2011, I reviewed Debora Coty’s book Too Blessed to be Stressed so I was happy to get the chance to review another book by her. I was not disappointed.

I found Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate an extremely helpful book. I love the authors writing style. She writes like she is speaking to just you, her best friend. Complete with confessions, jokes and scripture.

Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate is divided into four sections – Internal Fears, External Fears, The War is On – Protecting Ourselves with the Armor of God, and Faceless Fears.

Each section has chapters that covers common fears and how we can deal with them. The author uses plenty of Bible verses to back up what she is saying, and shows us how we can trust God to help us overcome our fears to live the live he has for us.

If you have ever experienced any kind of fear in your life, and who hasn’t, Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate should be on your must read list.

Celebrate the release of Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate with Debora Coty by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to the March 7th Author Chat Party on Facebook!

One “sweet” winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire
A Debora Coty Library (Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate, More Beauty, Less Beast, Too Blessed To Be Stressed, and Everyday Hope)
Chocolate (Every good thing begins with chocolate!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/6/13. Winner will be announced at Debora’s “Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate” Facebook Party on 3/7. Debora will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement – bring your friends! She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Debora via Skype.)
So grab your copy of Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate and join Debora and friends on the evening of March 7th for an evening of fun. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!

I Am That I Am – Book Review

February 18, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I recently received the book I AM THAT I AM, Tracing the Footprints of God by Judy LeBlanc from CrossLink Publishing to review. This book is much bigger than I expected at 492 pp.

I AM THAT I AM, Tracing the Footprints of God is a book that you’ve always wanted to have in your library but could never find. I AM THAT I AM provides a biblically based, theologically sound narration of all eight covenants of God—presents main themes and summaries of over forty-five of Jesus’ timeless parables—describes over fifty supernatural miracles that God executed through the hands of Jesus—and traces over fifty divine names and titles reflecting different facets of God’s nature, character, and personality. The captivating pages offer commentaries by over seventy-five renowned bible scholars, includes full color archeological images of recent excavation findings of biblical events, and historical illustrations and map images showing relevance to contemporary locations—all uniquely woven into one convenient reader-friendly volume.

I have been very impressed with I Am That I Am. I have not finished reading it yet, but since I’ve had the book for over 30 days, I thought I’d go ahead and give you my impression so far. I’m trying not to rush through the book just to write a review, but to learn and study while reading it. That’s why it’s taking so long.

I thought I Am That I Am, Tracing the Footprints of God was going to be a book on the names of God. While over fifty names and titles of God are traced, this book is so much more. The Table of Contents alone of this large book is three pages long. Three pages front and back, that is. So I can’t even begin to list everything covered in this book. I Am That I Am begins at, well, the beginning, with the Edenic Covenant and the Adamic Covenant. Then continues on through the Gospels and the ministry of Jesus.

Plenty of maps and charts are included to help you in your study. I liked the way the book is laid out, with the maps in the section that they pertain to, not in a special map section in the back of the book. It makes it much easier to study the maps while your reading.

I recommend I Am That I Am for anyone wanting to do a deeper study of the Bible.

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What’s For Dinner?

February 18, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Instead of serving spaghetti last week, like the menu said, I decided to serve stuffed green peppers. I used green peppers than I had cut the tops off of, seeded, and frozen from out garden last summer. They were so good!

I had already served two peppers out of the big pan when I remembered to take a picture. I put the planned extra stuffing into the pan on the right for the kid who didn’t want the peppers.

What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – Sabbath- Make ahead meals- – Meatloaf, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, peas

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Chicken sandwiches, homemade pickles, fruit cocktail

Monday – chicken – Baked chicken, rice, yellow squash casserole

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – – Homemade Pizza with homemade turkey sausage, carrot sticks

Wednesday – super simple – Crockpot Deer, potatoes, carrots and onions

Thursday – beef – Spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans

Friday – Sabbath Dinner – Turkey a’la mama over rice – Think chicken a’la king with turkey and lots of veggies in the gravy

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

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