Kaylea Hutson's Blog, page 35

Blog Tour: Gabby's Stick With It Day (Review)

Gabby is back, ready to conquer the day - or at least Sophie's decision to quit jobs without finishing them.

But Gabby, the little guardian angel, has a plan. She wants to share with Sophia that God wants her to stick to it - and finish her job, even when it gets tough.

Using this passage from Galatians 6:9 (NCV) as the basis of the story, Sheila Walsh has created a story that truly focuses on perseverance. 

Using a study of a passage in Matthew, Walsh has created a series of books (this is book two) that teaches children that God has angels watching out for them.

This story is simple - Sophia learns the importance of finishing a task. The illustrations, created by Natasha Kuricheva, are beautiful and whimsical.

If you have a young child who needs to learn how to stick with it, this book will at least give you something to start them talking - especially when Sophia sticks with her task even when her brother throws spaghetti at her.

On the scale of one to five, I give it a solid three and a half. I love collecting children's picture books. This book is going into my collection - which also means it might eventually be used during a preschool chapel. 

About The Book:
Gabby is a little guardian angel with a big job to do! Watching over Sophie is hard work, but Gabby knows that God wants her to stick to it.

Gabby, God's Little Angel, flies to the rescue as Sophie attempts to help others but has a little trouble sticking with things. Sophie tries to be helpful by washing the family dog for her mom, but she gives up when she's the one who ends up all wet. She then tries to be kind by reading to her little brother, but he has plans of his own, which include a splash of cereal right in Sophie's face! When Sophie is ready to quit once again, it's up to Gabby to encourage her to keep trying and to teach her what the Bible says about perseverance: "We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9 NCV)

More About The Author:
Sheila Walsh is a Bible teacher, speaker, singer, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold.

She is the creator of the award-winning Gigi, God's Little Princess® brand, which has sold over 1.5 million units and won two National Retailer's Choice Awards.

As a featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Walsh has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability and humor with God's Word. She resides in Dallas with her husband Barry and son Christian.

Visit www.sheilawalsh.com for more information about Sheila, her other books or Women of Faith.

Online Resources

Link to buy the book:
At Thomas Nelson
At Amazon

Follow the blog tour:
http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13464258/sheilawalshgabby

Visit Sheila Walsh's website:
www.sheilawalsh.com

Fun freebies to go with the book
http://www.tommynelson.com/free-goodies/

More about the book:
http://sheilawalsh.com/gabby/

Share on Social Media
Share this on Facebook:Gabby, God's Little Angel is back and she's brought a Kindle Fire Giveaway with her. Sheila Walsh is hosting to this fun giveaway to celebrate the release of the latest book in the Gabby series - Gabby's Stick-to-It-Day! Click to enter the giveaway, download the free coloring pages, read what parent's are saying about the Gabby series, and more! http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13464258/sheilawalshgabby

Share this on Twitter:@SheilaWalsh's Gabby is back & she's brought a Kindle Fire Giveaway with her. Gabby's Stick-to-It-Day http://ow.ly/9BpRe @litfuse

It's A Contest
Gabby's back ... and she's brought a Kindle Fire Giveaway with her!

Meet Gabby for yourself here. || Read what people are saying here.

Enter today - Sheila and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have put together a prize package worth over $200!

One lucky winner will receive:
A brand new KINDLE Fire with Wi-FiGabby, God's Little Angel Gabby's Stick-to-It-Day But wait! There's more …
The winner will be announced on the Gabby Landing page on 4/2/12. In the meantime, enter to win the Kindle Fire then head over to the Tommy Nelson site and download the Gabby coloring sheets, watch Sheila's Gabby video, sign up for news about upcoming Gabby and Thomas Nelson products, and much more.



Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse Publicity Group.. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Quote of the Day: Kindness

Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1205770 "Nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness."~ Leo Tolstoy

Blog Tour: You're Already Amazing (Review)

Holley Gerth wants women to know that they are already amazing - regardless of the little voices in her head.

Gerth has created a book "You're Already Amazing" and packed it full of stories, illustrations and even some self-quizzes that a reader can use to do a self examination for personal growth.

Written in an extremely easy to understand style, it seems as if Gerth is sitting down next to you as you read the pages.

Gerth has a life coaching ministry and interacting with the book is almost like having a personal session with her.

Besides her work as an author, Gerth creates a line of cards with DaySpring, a subsidiary of Hallmark. As an "added thanks" Gerth included a hand-signed copy of one of her cards with the review book.

The card - and the warmth of the words - were the balm that my soul needed the day I found it. (The picture doesn't give the card justice.)

Honestly, I found that same warmth and honesty - call it authenticity - in Gerth's book.

The book is intriguing and inviting. It could work as both a personal and a group study.I could see completing the book as a personal study along side an accountability partner.

On the scale of one to five, with five being the highest, I give it a three.

More About The Author
Psst . . . pull up a chair and I'll tell you a secret. You'd better lean in close for this one.

Ready?
You don't have to do more, be more, have more.
I'm sure there are security alarms going off somewhere. You should probably hide this book when your in-laws come over.
But it's true.
It's the kind of true that will change your life, set you free, and make you wake up smiling for the first time in a long time. I know because that's what it did for me. . . .
So watch out, sister. If you keep reading you just might be next.
With this heart-to-heart message, Holley Gerth invites you to embrace one very important truth--that you truly are already amazing. Like a trusted friend, Holley gently shows you how to forget the lies and expectations the world feeds you and instead believe that God loves you and has bigger plans for your life than you've even imagined.

More About The Author
Holley Gerth is an award-winning writer, licensed counselor, certified life coach, and speaker. She is cofounder of (in)courage, an online destination for women, which received more than one million page views in its first six months.

She also reaches out to readers through her popular blog, Heart to Heart with Holley and through her partnership with DaySpring, a subidiary of Hallmark. Holley lives in Arkansas with her husband, Mark.

Online Resources
Check out her website: http://www.holleygerth.com/
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/HolleyGerth
Read an Excerpt Online here.
Buy You're Already Amazing @ Amazon

About Revell, The Publisher 
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival

My friend Laura and I journeyed to the Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival, hosted by Wye United Methodist Church, in Wye, Arkansas.
(Click here to visit the festival's Facebook page)
Even though most of the flowers have "peaked" because of our extremely warm winter and early spring, it was kind of fun to people watch. We had fun watching all of the families taking photos in the flowers that were still blooming.


I took the "big" camera (insert laugh from Laura) and captured a few shots of the flowers. It was fun and even relaxing to take photos just for fun. No reason. I need to do this more often. (Hum... I see visions of the 2012 word - rest peaking in here.)

Anyway, here's a few more pics I took.

I think this was my favorite, because I caught a tiny bug perching on the flower. I'm not sure what it was, but hey, it's an "action" shot!

Some other pics....

Blog Tour: Song of My Heart (Review)

Kim Vogel Sawyer's newest release weaves together a story featuring a young woman devoted to her family and a young man who is convinced that his life's calling is to enter the ministry - even while he serves as a sheriff.

The story, set in the small town of Goldtree, Kansas, dives into Sadie's life and what happened when her work turns out to be something different than she expected. It also explores Thad's desire to be a minister and if it is truly a calling from God or a desire fueled by guilt.

This is a good, simple read. If you like historical novels set during the "old west" time period, then you will enjoy this book. Vogel Sawyer's words create vivid pictures of life in Kansas in the late 1800s.

Song of My Heart is a well written novel with several layers. The problems faced by the characters may be set in the 1890s, but in reality, the issues translate to 2012 with ease - especially when Thad struggles with his calling into the ministry and Sadie makes employment choices in order to support her family.

In all, I give this novel a three out of five. If you are looking for a nice read for Spring Break or a vacation, then this will fit the bill.

About The Book:
Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can't work, she decides to leave home and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent--though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job.

McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit.

After he earns enough money doing sheriff work, he wants to use it to pay for his training to become a minister.

Thad is immediately attracted to the beautiful singer who performs in Asa Baxter's unusual opera house, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he begins to wonder if she's far less innocent than she seems. And when Sadie appears to be part of the very crimes he's come to investigate, is there any hope the love blossoming between them will survive?


More About The Author:
Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of nineteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award.

Vogel Sawyer is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. She resides with her husband, Don, in central Kansas. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.

Online Resources
Link to buy the book:
http://ow.ly/9uLOD 

Follow the blog tour:
http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13461539/kimvogelsawyer%C2%A0

Visit Vogel Sawyer's website:
http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com

Share on Social Media
Share this on Facebook:Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer heartwarming historical romance. To CELEBRATE Kim is hosting a fabulous Nook Tablet giveaway!

Then on 3/29 she'll be announcing the winner at a fun "Song of My Heart" Book Chat Party where she'll be connecting with readers and giving away a ton of great prizes (books, gift certificates  and so much more)! Click for details and don't miss the fun. http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13461539/kimvogelsawyer 

Share this on Twitter:Win a Nook Tablet and chat with author Kim Vogel Sawyer during her "Song of My Heart" campaign @litfuse @Bethany_House http://ow.ly/9uM2V

It's A Contest
Win a Nook Tablet from Kim Vogel Sawyer and RSVP for her "Song of My Heart" Facebook Party {3/29}!

Celebrate with Kim by entering to win a Nook Tablet and connecting with her at the Book Chat Party on 3/29!



One "songbird" winner will receive:
A Nook TabletSong of My Heart by Kim Vogel SawyerEnter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/28/12. Winner will be announced at Kim's Book Chat Facebook Party on 3/29. Kim will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!So grab your copy of Song of My Heart and join Kim and friends on the evening of Thursday, March 29 for an evening of fun. Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Hope to see you on March 29!Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse Publicity Group.. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May the sun shine, all day long,everything go right, and nothing wrong.May those you love bring love back to you,and may all the wishes you wish come true!
...and may you capture a rainbow or two today!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Service and Worship

The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless. - Billy Graham

Working on the mission trip book and I ran across this quote. Next week 27 students from seven churches from Northwest and Central Arkansas will gather together in Fort Smith for Destination: Fort Smith.

Using their hands and feet, the students - ranging in age from third to seventh grade - will help the Salvation Army (our host site) with two different mission projects.

Hopefully they will learn how to be the hands and feet of Jesus next week - serving those who are lost and helpless (in both body and soul).

My prayer is that they will learn how their service can and is, a form of worship.

Blog Tour: Love's Sacred Song (Review & Interview)

For Mesu Andrews, the journey to her newest book began as she began  to study the book of Song of Solomon (or Songs, depending upon your translation).

The intriguing nature of those scriptures, caused Andrews to dive into the pages of the Bible and create an allegorical-based study in workshop formats.

"I've learned that God has a whole lot bigger plan than we do," Andrews said. "When I tried to get [the study] published, I hit roadblocks because I had no formal credentials. A dear friend suggested (actually, sort of nagged) that I write the story as a novel instead of a Bible study.

"Love's Sacred Song was actually my first manuscript, but Revell asked that we wait to print it until after Jill Eileen Smith's Wives of King David series released. They asked if I would write a second book during the wait—and that's how my first release, Love Amid the Ashes, was born!"

Andrews' said her Biblical fiction includes as much fact as possible.

"I maintain the details of Scripture; then weave in the historical data; and lastly, I fill in with the "mesu" fiction," Andrews explained. "The names of Solomon's advisors, the concept of twelve new districts, Solomon's Ammonite wife and firstborn son—all these are scripturally accurate.

"Solomon's blotting out the tribal divisions and some of King Hiram's involvement was gained through historical research.

"The Sons of Judah, the Daughters of Jerusalem (as individuals rather than a non-descript chorus), a secret conspiracy—these were fiction. Pulling all three levels of information together in a believable story is accomplished through much prayer and trembling!"

In Love's Sacred Song, Andrews tells the story through the life of Arielah - Solomon's treaty bride. The story serves as an allegory of it's own - representing Christ's love for us.

"Now, I know that's exactly the opposite of every commentary on Song of Songs," Andrews said. "I'm not advocating any strange female Christ-figure or anything. I'm going with the Good Shepherd image Jesus gave us and thinking of Arielah's pure, unyielding, sacrificial love and how it so closely mirrors Jesus' love for us.

"No matter how many times Solomon messed up, she forgave. However, there were consequences to his betrayals—as there are consequences to our sins. His poor choices created long-term difficulties on their relationship—as do some of my poor choices on my lifetime.

"But my Savior loves me in spite of it all. Forgives me, accepts me, delights in me—and then calls me to do the same with others. Ugh. Yep, I learned a lot from Arielah's love...can you tell?"

Andrews said she also learned a lot from Solomon by diving into his story.

"My first rough draft shed a pretty gruesome light on poor Solomon. I didn't like him because, in my mind, he represented all the sinful choices I make," Andrews admitted. "But my FABULOUS editor helped me rethink this charming, lovable, young king.

"God adored this man. From birth, He named David's son, loved by God, and then He anointed Solomon with one-of-a-kind wisdom. I needed to re-think sinful Solomon—and perhaps re-think sinful Mesu. I was so busy loathing the sinfulness, I had lost sight of the love that overcame the sin—much like Solomon does at crucial points in the story. Whenever our eyes focus on US rather than on the Lord, life goes downhill pretty quickly. Solomon taught me that—maybe I should say re-taught me that."

Andrews said she hopes, by exploring the story, her readers will grasp (as Paul says) how "wide and long and high and deep" is the love of Christ.

"I had always heard, 'God loves you,' but I never felt absolutely cherished by God until I studied Solomon's Song of Songs. Yahweh pursues each one of us with a passion and relentless abandon that seems reckless to us," Andrews said. "Some have even called Him a god of wrath in the Old Testament. But it is His love that drives the LORD in both the Old and New Covenants—the same God, yesterday, today, and forever."

A Look Ahead
Andrews plans to release two more stories in her current series. Love is a Broken Vessel (March 2013) and Love's Saving Light (March 2014).

Love in a Broken Vessel shines a light on the story of Hosea and Gomer: Can Hosea's faith overpower Gomer's unfaithfulness?/i>

Love's Saving Light tells the story of Queen Athaliah and Baby Joash: Will Jezebel's daughter snuff out the last king on David's throne.

Connect with Mesu
Andrews' writes a free weekly e-devotional on Mondays. Folks can sign-up to receive them by visiting my website: http://www.mesuandrews.com/. She also loves to connect with readers on Facebook (Page), Facebook (profile), Twitter, or Pinterest too! "You can check out my "Character Faces" Pinterest Board to comment on my celeb nominations of a potential Solomon and Arielah!"

What I Thought
Once again, Andrews has created a novel which makes me want to dive into the scriptures. Like Love Amid The Ashes - the story of Job and Dinah; Love's Sacred Song sheds new light on King Solomon's life.

Andrews has a unique way to showcase a Biblical story with a new twist. I truly love her writing style and the lyrical narrative she weaves.

The story is simple - the tale of love between Arielah and King Solomon. The layers of intrigue, some Biblical and some "Mesu" fiction, give it an amazing depth.

While Love Amid the Ashes continues to be my favorite of her two releases, Love's Sacred Song is a great read. On the scale of one to five, with five as the highest, I give it a solid 3.5.

I can't wait to read the novel she's writing next - Hosea and Gomer's love story. The only disappointment - I'll have to wait a year to read it.

More About The Book
Wisdom came as God's gift, but sacred love was forged through passion's fire

Standing in the shadow of his famous father, young King Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, longing for a love that is true and pure--a love that can be his cornerstone.

A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah has known since she first laid eyes on Solomon that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father secures a promise from Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams will come true.

But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon's harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart?

More About The Author
Mesu Andrews is the author of Love Amid the Ashes and is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture.

Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.


Online Resources

Check out Mesu's Website: http://www.mesuandrews.com/
Buy Love's Sacred Song @ Amazon
"Like" Mesu's Page on Facebook
Click here for a Bible Study for Love's Sacred Song
Click here for a reading group guide for Love's Sacred Song
Read my review of Love Amid the Ashes (The first book)

About Revell, The Publisher 
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Wednesday Funny: Easter Egg App?

For all my friends who are children's pastors, and getting ready for the upcoming Easter Egg Hunts.
There's an app for everything!

Twelve on the Twelfth: March 2012

It's time again to take 12 photos on the 12th....This month, I decided to snap 12 (ok yes, more than 12) photos
of things that made me smile (or laugh).
Technically I snapped this on the evening of Sunday, March 11.
Spencer lost his first tooth - and it took me all day to get him to a) smile and b) show me his missing tooth.So seeing this photo on my phone on Monday,
made me smile again.
Several days a week, in the room across from my office, the
preschool students have music class. It's hard to have a bad
day when you are listening to them sing!
One of the Upward dads forwarded me a YouTube videohe made with the pics of his son's team. I even make a cameo in the first scene.
Getting ready for the mission trip. One of my friends, a dentist, provided tooth brushes for the mission trip.We're going to use them as "prayer joggers."We'll write the prayers on the brush (with sharpie)and then it is geared for the kids to think about theprayer request each time they brush.
 It's that time of year again, time to really dig in andget things ready for VBS. Ready or Not, it's time!
One of my favorite beverages - slightly sweet tea from McAlister's. (I generally do unsweet teawith a hit of sweet tea yummy.)
You just never know what you'll see at St. James.
Today it was "Elvis" singing for the Senior Lunch Bunch.
Elvis was in the building today.
Outside my office window is the playground for the preschool. I went outside on this beautiful day just to snap a few pics. Again, it's hard to be sad with the kiddos playing outside your window.
I went with some of my girls (pictures below) to servethe first meal at Geyer Springs UMC.We're going to have to earn some "street" cred with the people we're trying to serve, but we were able to send several meals to the homeless camp nearby.
Delaney and Lucy. These girls - and their passion for service - make me smile.
Allison and her dry sense of humor makes me smile. Before I got out of the car, she wanted to make sure I saw the app on her dad's phone that talks when you holdit up to your mouth.
I don't usually have Skype activated on my laptop, but I happened to today. It let me catch Gretchen online so we could chat for a few minutes.
Ending the day with a cup of hot tea.Even the cup makes me smile because Shelly Morangave it to me as a thank you while she worked for the Siloam Springs hospital.
The newest book on my Kindle App.I "borrowed" it from the library and my turn finallycame up today. I've been wanting to try it, but decided I would read it first before buying.
Ending the day wrapped in the prayer shawl that the St. James Prayer Shawl Ministry team gave me during "eye gate." last fall. (The lamp also makes me smile because dad bought it for me - it's made from an old milk bottle.