Fruitbearers

I think every parent agrees that parenting is hard work. We parents must be vigilant and intentional in parenting and training our child(ren). Based on Biblical principles and psychology, Purposeful Parenting presents six crucial ingredients for bringing out the best in our children: unconditional love, discipline, purpose & passion, character, responsibility, and perseverance. The book is packed with helpful advice, doable ideas, practical tools, and insightful tips. Each chapter includes "A Step Toward..." (concise tips for parents to put into practice) and "My Purposeful Parent Check-In" (a checklist to help parents examine how they are doing with their purposeful parenting). The author concludes the book with Parenting Takes a Team and My Prayer for Purpose. At the end of the book, you'll also find Your Skills and Abilities Checklist. I enjoyed reading this encouraging book and learning quite a bit from it. It's the kind of book that you would wa...

When Calls the Heart series  is inspired by Janette Oke's novel and produced by Michael Landon, Jr. This DVD is the fifth/final DVD of Season 2.  Jack (Daniel Lissing) and Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) have not seen eye to eye since they parted in Hamilton. When Jack confronts a counterfeiter in a fight, Elizabeth must confront her own feelings towards Jack. Mayor (Henry Gowen) demands Abigail (Lori Loughlin) to make repairs on her cafe in a short period of time; otherwise, it will be shut down. Pastor Frank Hogan volunteers to help Abigail and Elizabeth with the required repairs to meet the deadline. Meanwhile, Bill Avery (Jack Wagner) returns to Hope Valley hoping to find out where the rest of the counterfeit money is hidden even though the case is closed. His wife, Nora, follows and accuses Abigail for stealing her husband. Rosemary regrets her decline to Lee's previous attempt at courtship and realizes that she made a mistake when he starts courting Molly Sullivan.  As J...

The statistics about victims of sexual assault are disheartening. We live in a dark & dangerous world. We parents must teach our kids how to protect their bodies. God Made All of Me is a well-written, colorfully illustrated book that parents can use to talk with their two to eight-year-old children about bodies. It helps children understand that God made all their body parts and they are all good and that God loves them and cares about their safety. The book covers several important topics such as the private parts,  the difference between appropriate touch and inappropriate touch, the difference between surprise and secret , saying no whenever they don't want to be touched, asking for help from people whom they trust and feel safe with, and more. There's a note to parents or caregivers from the authors at the beginning of the book and there's a section at the end of the book titled, "9 Ways to Protect Your Children from Sexual Abuse." I appreciate the heal...

When Calls the Heart series  is inspired by Janette Oke's book series and produced by Michael Landon, Jr. This DVD is the fourth DVD of Season 2. Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Jack (Daniel Lissing) decide to go back to Hamilton after hearing that Tom (Jack's brother) and Julie (Elizabeth's sister) were involved in a car accident. Tom ends up in the hospital while Julie is hiding in her bedroom. Elizabeth's family blames Tom's recklessness and irresponsibility. Jack's search for the truth about the accident leads him to develop a friendship with a beautiful & helpful nurse, Faith Carter. Bill Avery (Jack Wagner) parts ways with Abigail (Lori Loughlin) and reconnects with his wife and father-in-law. Lee Coulter and Rosemary team up to combat Henry Gowen's underhanded scheme. Jack tries to help Tom find purpose in life and take a step in the right direction towards a brighter future. Elizabeth's father offers Jack a job in his company. While Elizabeth...

Intersect is a five-session DVD that is useful for evangelistic outreach and small group study. Each short film segment features a different person telling his or her story and a short reflection that points to God and His Word. The five main topics covered in the DVD are Expectations, Rest, Disappointment, Trust, and Control. These are common issues that people can easily relate to. The testimonies given are sincere and heartfelt. You'll hear from a father whose son has autism, a musician, a divorced teacher, a recovering gambler & addict, and a clothing designer/entrepreneur who's also a mom to 2 boys. Their willingness to be vulnerable and share their struggles/trials can help others be willing to open up about their own lives. This DVD will inspire conversations, discussions, and interaction. It includes a study guide which has five thought-provoking questions for each topic/theme and relevant Scriptures. If you look for ways to reach out to unbelievers, check out t...

I'm so pleased to have added this delightful cookbook to my cookbook collection! It is actually more than a cookbook. It consists of not only tested recipes but also interesting stories that accompany the recipes. Gather Around the Amish Table gives us a taste of the cuisine and culture in plain communities. Lucy Leid, an Old Order Mennonite in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, compiles over 200 favorite family recipes contributed by Amish and Mennonite families. I enjoyed reading stories and looking at beautiful, colorful photos (of delectable food and Amish daily life). The book is organized into 10 sections: Breakfast, Breads & Spreads, Soups, Sandwiches, & Pizza, Salads & Pickles, Vegetables & Side Dishes, Meats & Main Dishes, Cakes & Pies, Cookies, Desserts & Candy, and Snacks, Beverages, & Extras. "Extras" include bird treats, homemade baby wipes, menu for a barn raising (enough food to feed 180 men), and more. I picked out 3 recipes...

Joseph Jenkins (Michael Rosander), a drag racer is devastated and depressed after his roll over accident during a drag race. With a class-3 spinal cord injury, his doctor predicts he would never walk again. In the hospital, he meets Elijah Salisbury (Gregory Alan Williams), a patient on a transplant waiting list who is strong in faith and has a cheerful outlook on life. They become close friends. Elijah encourages Joseph to not give up his passion and points him to God. When Joseph returns home, his dad's old racing pal, Paul Sharpe (John Schneider), reignites his passion for speed and helps him start racing again (this time on a race track, not on a street). Joseph gets to drive the 1967 Barracuda (aka "Adrenaline") which belonged to his dad who died when Joseph was only 12. Joseph's best friend, Trace Mallery, and Joseph's attractive  physical therapist, Josie Rigsby, cheer him on. I enjoyed watching the DVD even though I knew very little about cars and racing...