7 of my favorite books

I was recently challenged by a friend to post the cover of 7 books that I liked -- one per day-- on Twitter. IT WAS SO HARD TO CHOOSE! But here is a summary of the seven books I chose. Maybe one of them will catch your eye and you'll want to read it, too!

Day One

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

 

SNUGGLE TIME BIBLE STORIES by Glenys Nellist -- Book Review

Snuggle Time Bible Stories is the latest in the Snuggle Time series by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Cee Briscoe.

Reading together with a toddler is such a special connection point with them. You will definitely want to add this lovely book to your home library. As you read together, you will be introducing your child to many heroes of the faith including Noah, Moses, Samuel, and David. My favorite is the story of Jesus with the children. Here is a sample:

Some children came to Jesus
One bright and sunny day.
"He's busy!" the disciples cried.
"You'll have to go away!"

But Jesus called the children
And sat them on his knee.
"I love you all," he softly said.
"And you belong to me."

All of us, adults included, need to be reminded of the Savior's love and of the fact that he calls us his own. What simple, but beautiful words, describing a marvelous truth.

Thank you, Glenys, for another  wonderful story book in this series.

Amazon link: 
Snuggle Time Bible Stories

About the author:  GLENYS NELLIST was born and raised in a little village in northern England.  Her stories and poems have been published in children's magazines where her writing reflects a deep passion for bringing the Bible to life for young children.  Glenys lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, David.

Glenys Nellist's website

Twitter: @Glenys Nellist

Facebook: Glenys Nellist: Author

My first post with Christian Children's Authors --Example of Verse Journaling

I'm starting to blog with www.chrisianchildrensauthors.com

I will do a post every other month on the third Thursday.  So this Thursday was my first post!

So honored to be included in their blog. Click on the link below to see what I posted about verse journaling.

Link to my post with CCA

Need a photo frame craft for kids?

This is an sample craft from my Free Downloadable Teaching Guide/Activity Kit available to accompany my book Mouse's Christmas Gift.

 Click here to download the Teaching guide/Activity Pack

Isn't Mouse cute?

Step 1: Collect the needed items.

Idea: Let the kids decorate their own frame. You can purchase any Christmas foamies or use markers.

Step 2: Take the photos. Option: Have the kids pose with a battery operated candle, or the book.

Step 3: Print pictures, attach pictures to the frames, and give to the families the following meeting.

Need a fun idea for a family ministry outreach?

Need a fun idea for a family ministry outreach?


Idea: Host a "family" gingerbread house building party!

In early December I attended a fantastic event at Harbour Shores Church in Indiana. I was so impressed with how it was organized, and saw great potential for other churches to duplicate the morning with the families in their churches.

Step One-- Invite families

Families registered online and decided if they ordered one, two, or more gingerbread house kits. They prepaid for the event.

Step Two-- Buy supplies, light refreshments, and prepare the work space

Event organizers made sure to have work space set up in the church gym, and enough gingerbread kits for everyone.  In addition to the gingerbread house kits, extra frosting and toppings were provided and laid out at each work station.

Light breakfast food was served as the participants arrived. The menu included fruit, muffins, doughnuts, juice, and coffee.

There was also a station to do a sticker/coloring craft if the participants wanted to do so.

Families mingled, found their work stations, and ate their refreshments.

Step Three-- Read a Christmas story and present the gospel

I attended the event and read Mouse's Christmas Gift. This was a great way to introduce spiritual truth into the event. After the story, I took approximately 10 minutes to present the gospel, using an object lesson.

Step Four -- DECORATE the gingerbread houses

After the devotional time, families worked together to decorate their gingerbread houses. So much fun and so many smiles!

The entire event lasted just under 2 hours.

Christmas Craft Idea from Mouse's Christmas Gift Activity Guide

Interested in the contents of my FREE DOWNLOADABLE Mouse's Christmas Gift Teaching Guide/Activity Pack?

Here is a SNEAK PEEK!

It's easy! Draw a face on a small clothespin and wrap with a piece of felt. Tie with a string. Then use a tissue tube cut in half to make the manger. 

This sweet friend of mine enjoyed it! I bet your child will, too!

Two Creativity Challenges in One Month!

Let the brainstorming and creativity begin to roll!

I am happy to announce that I am a proud Storystorm participant. This means I am committed to brainstorming at least one picture book idea per day during the month of January. (I can do more than one if I want) :) This is put on by Tara Lazar. She gathers many "experts" in the field of picture book writing and offers advice and give-aways all month long. I highly recommend this experience.

I also joined a creativity challenge put on through Accent Interactive. Each day during the month of January participants are challenged to do something "creative" to make it a habit. I am committing to make at least one Pinterest pin that will link with my blog to help me grow my "tribe."  I am happy to announce that today I made 13 new pins, all linking back to a previous post on this blog. It was fun and felt great to "create!" 

So thankful for the people at Accent who are joining together to BE CREATIVE!  

If you would like to join in the creativity fun, email ken@accentinteractive.net and tell him your commitment. 

Also, check out their services at http://www.accentinteractive.com They are a very talented group of experts!

Welcome 2019 What's your WORD?

restart

reset

renew

remove 

realize

recover

refresh

reform

refuse

regain

rejoice

release

repair

revise

review

rejuvenate

All of these words "relate" to my goals for 2019. How many apply to yours? 

What's your #1 from this list?

Blog Tour Week #9 THAT'S A WRAP

I really enjoyed the blog tour for Mouse's Christmas Gift! What a delight to see how each blogger interacted with the book and created such interesting posts. I am very appreciative!

12 Days of Christmas Books Contest CCA: Enter to win!

Today I made my first post with christianchildrensauthors.com.  Starting in 2019, I will be blogging on their site one time every other month. I am excited to participate with them in this way!

For 2018, I am participating in their 12 Days of Christmas Books currently going on this month.

 I am DAY 9

That means I am holding a contest this week on their site and giving away a copy of Mouse's Christmas Gift. 

My post on Christian Children's Authors website


Feel free to click over to that site and enter. To enter, either leave a comment on that blog. If you share the post from their site either on Twitter or on Facebook you will receive an extra entry for a total of up to "3" chances to win.


Thanks for your interest in Mouse's Christmas Gift!  Good luck in the contest!

Congrats to EMILY!  A book will be sent very shortly!  Thanks to all who entered on the CCA website post!

Blog Tour #8 Everyone Loves Giveaways! Hosted by Rebecca Angus, literary agent

Blog Tour Week 8! Literary agent Rebecca Angus is hosting me this week on her blog and offering three fantastic give-aways!  Click the link to check out all the details!

Rebecca's Blog Post

Gingerbread Houses + Mouse's Christmas Gift = Special Morning

I had a great morning today with Harbour Shores Church! A big shout out to Lora Schultze and her crew for all their efforts. It was an honor to share Mouse's Christmas Gift with everyone!

#wewillmakeadifference

#wewillbealight

#wewillcelebratejesus

Blog Tour # 7 Book Review by Laurie Winter and a GIVE-AWAY

Check out this week's blog tour give-away. Get the inside scoop about Mouse's Christmas Gift on Laurie Winter's blog and leave a comment on her blog post to enter the give-away. It's as easy as that! 

P.S. You might want to check out some of her sizzling romance novels while you are on her page. She has written some beautiful books!

Laurie Winter's post about Mouse's Christmas Gift

Thanks, Laurie! It is an honor to be on your blog!

Book Review -- MY CHRISTMAS HOPE-- by Penelope Powell

Will two broken souls recognize that the best gift of Christmas is HOPE?

My Christmas Hope, written by Penelope Powell is a cozy holiday novella that will make you want to make a second cup of hot cocoa and to keep reading. When Michael Hennessy and his son Jimmy move next door to Hope Langford for a fresh start from their painful past, a Florida romance between Michael and Hope begins to spark. As Michael’s son Jimmy deals with relational wounds from the past, Hope demonstrates patience and extends friendship which leads to a softly emerging love and a happy ending. I enjoyed picturing Christmas in sunny Florida and I thought the author did an excellent job developing realistic characters. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Penny, for an ARC of the book. I really enjoyed it. It is an honor to help promote your book!

Don't you love the cover? The next time I'm at the beach, I am totally making a "sand" snowman.

Link to book on Amazon

Link to Penny's website: Penelope's website

More about the author:

Penny writes:

A southern girl at heart, I loves green rolling hills, wind chimes that tinkle on warm summer nights, and my momma's fried pies. I've been luckier than most. I've enjoyed a life surrounded by family, friends, and a faith that has taught me to discern my worth in a Righteous Savior.

Having traveled and lived in many places, I've been fortunate enough to meet people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, which has given me a broader perspective that occasionally splashes onto the pages of my novels. 

​

Like the things we experience, I believe good fiction can inspire and change someone’s perspective. It’s my prayer that my words will show others a Savior who loves them.

Mouse in a Matchbox - Craft Idea for Kids

This week I am heading to Springfield, Missouri to celebrate Thanksgiving with my brother and extended family. On Saturday, I am doing another Story Time Event with Barnes & Noble. 

This is the craft that I am bringing to share with the children. 

I can't believe I haven't shared this craft on the blog yet. 

Isn't it cute?

And so easy to make!

The craft is one of four ideas in the FREE DOWNLOADABLE teaching guide that Zonderkidz helped me format. 

I purchased the matchboxes (and emptied the matches) at Meijer. ($1 for 10 boxes).

 I cut pieces of felt for the blanket, 

and I cut make-up remover cotton pads into two pieces for the mattress.

 The paper doll is from the download. It comes in three sizes, but I chose the smallest size, made a screenshot, and created a document so that I can print a bunch all at once on white cardstock. 

Finally, assemble it!

I tell each child that Mouse loves to hear their stories. 

I hope many children end up telling Mouse their stories in the days and months to come.

FREE TEACHER/ACTIVITY GUIDE for MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT

This is content that I am reposting because you will not want to miss out!

Have you heard about the FREE, DOWNLOADABLE Teacher / Activity Guide that Zonderkidz helped me create for Mouse's Christmas Gift? 

It is perfect for parents, teachers, Children's Ministry leaders, Awana leaders, or anyone who is interested in teaching spiritual truth to children. 

It includes teaching lessons, application worksheets, and crafts. 

Here is the link to the download.

FREE TEACHER/ACTIVITY GUIDE

Merry Christmas!

Blog Tour #6 Five Fun Facts about MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT & a GIVE-AWAY

Over the last several years I have had the privilege of becoming friends with Glenys Nellist. She is such a wonderful person and a talented author. This week she is hosting me on her blog and we are sharing "5 Fun Facts" about Mouse's Christmas Gift. Plus, we will be giving away a copy of my book. Check it out!

Here is the link:

Glenys Nellist's blog

Tea Party with Mouse

You are never too old for a tea party!  I had a blast at this tea party I threw for my family over Fall Break. (Yes, Christmas is on my mind early this year because of MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT) 

Thanks to my friend Tonia, I found this fabulous "Christmas Mice" peanut butter cookie recipe from Taste of Home on Pinterest. 

Pinterest Link from Taste of Home

Aren't they cute? 

I added the cheese cubes (see above) so Mouse would have something to nibble. My kids pointed out that Mouse would not appreciate eating a "mouse." 

Merry Christmas!

P.S. Do you have a favorite holiday cookie or treat? Feel free to share it in the comment section!

Blog Tour #5 Penelope Powell Takes Mouse to a Gala!

Check out these darling Christmas dishes--mouse-themed, of course! It seems that currently, everything in my life is mouse-themed. But I'm loving it! A big thanks to Penelope Powell for hosting the blog tour this week. Check out her thoughts at this link:

Penelope's blog

P.S She interviewed me earlier this year (Christmas in July post) so if you are interested, click over to read my answers to her questions.