The Cartoon Me with Voilà AI Artist

Have you cartooned yourself yet?  I really like the ones of the kids.  Although, it tends to have trouble with our eye colors.  I guess that's the animated me 😉.

Chris Tomlin / Kari Jobe / Bethel Music Tour Info & Giveaway

I have an amazing Music Tour to share with you today, the Chris Tomlin/Kari Jobe/Bethel Music Tour!  For the first time ever, these worship leaders will be TOGETHER on one stage, leading us in ONE voice.

I think most people are ready for COVID to end.  It's been a challenging year and yet God has been here!  I'm super excited about attending this event myself and crying out to the Lord with David and others.  This night is going to be an awesome time to stand and worship and I am happy that it is just a few days before our 20th wedding anniversary and that's definitely something to celebrate 💗.

So many worship songs have a great significance to me in my life.  I think two of my favorite ones are "How Great Is Our God" by Chris Tomlin and "Reckless Love" by Cory Asbury via Bethel Music.  We've been singing "Name above all names, Worthy of our praise, My heart will sing, How great is our God" since A was a tiny tot, so many good memories and it's so hard to believe that she is now 17.  And the lyrics "Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of god, Oh, it chased me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the 99, And I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still You give yourself away, Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God" is such a picture of how important one person is to God.  Knowing that God goes after every single soul, that He is a pursuer is such a powerful thing to know.

Are you excited for this tour?  You can get your tickets starting today, June 11th and experience this worship event of the Summer in a city near you for yourself!  You can buy your tickets here.  Ready for a giveaway?  You can also enter to win TWO FREE tickets!  Enter the giveaway here and good luck!

Disclosure:  Many thanks to Premiere Productions for proving this music tour information for review and giveaway.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I will receive 2 tickets of my own in exchange for this review and post.

Eat a Donut Today

Just your friendly reminder that today is National Donut Day.  Carry on!

Pray for Crush

Please pray for my rabbit-in-law, Crush.  He had surgery yesterday for lobe torsion as I understand it.  He is such a sweet rabbit.  While we don't see him often, he is always the sweetest to the kids and they love petting him.

The kids and Crush, G is so little!

Pursued to Eternity by John Riley Review

Disclosure:  I received this complimentary product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

I have been beyond blessed to receive Pursued to Eternity by John Riley.  This short, fictional story takes you on a fast-paced adventure that begins in ancient times through the present and ultimately ends with our eternal future.  It's the story of God's pursuit of man.

My new paperback!

 

I was hooked from the very beginning of the introduction - dinosaurs, the Exodus, oil, apologetics - what was I about to read?

In this story we follow two brothers, Connor Bridges (a biology teacher and Christian), and his younger brother Dr. Alan Bridges (a geologist and professed atheist).

 

While there are 17 chapters and 151 pages, I found this book to be a fairly quick read because it was so interesting and engaging.  I love that it has a solid message of God pursuing man.  I also really appreciate all the bible evidence and proof about Creation.  I'm the only one who's read it so far but I'm going to have the older kids read it next because I think there's a lot of value in it!  I am such a fan of books that make you think and this is definitely one that does, it might even change how you think about the world.

John Riley has a Master of Science degree and has worked thirty-five years as an engineer.  During retirement, he and his wife, Nancy, have taught physics, robotics, SAT prep classes and an Apologetics: Creation vs. Evolution course on SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  It's a 14 week, video-based course geared for 7-12th grade that demonstrates the evidence and proof for Creationism and lets students decide for themselves what they think.

Check out the short video below from Covenant Books on Pursued to Eternity by John Riley!

And be sure to click on the banner below to visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog to read even more reviews of Pursued to Eternity.

Circuit Maze Review

I have a fun logic game to share with you today from Timberdoodle, Circuit Maze!  Circuit Maze is a single-player game manufactured by ThinkFun and is geared for kids 8 and older or third grade and up (even adults can enjoy it).  It teaches concepts of electricity in a unique way using a series of circuit-building logic puzzles.

What's included?   There is a 5x5 game grid, 17 game tokens (1 two-part power source (start and finish token), 3 LED beacons, 2 straights, 1 bridge, 1 double corner, 2 t-shapes, 5 corners, 1 switch and 1 blocker), instructions and 60 challenge cards that range from beginner to expert with solutions.  I do want to mention that this requires 3 AAA batteries and they are not included.

A closer look at the token pieces.

How to play?  Select one of the 60 challenge cards and set up the tokens on your game grid to match your challenge card.  The exact location and orientation of some tokens will be given but sometimes there will be a rotate sign, this means it is up to you to figure out the proper orientation.  Obtain the tokens that you need to add to the grid to complete this challenge.  For every challenge, you will build a continuous metal strip pathway from the start to the finish that lights up the designated beacons on your specific challenge card.  After you do this using all the designated tokens on your card, you win!!

Above you can see the set up for Beginner level Challenge 1.

And here you can see the solution, notice the yellow light is lit up.  To check and see if you are correct the back of each challenge card shows the solution.

C working on a variety of challenges.

The set up for Beginner level Challenge 7.

C showing me his completed challenge.

 

The correct solution for Challenge 7, C got it correct!

I really appreciate that Circuit Maze teaches basic electronics concepts using a series of logic puzzles.  You have to solve the challenges by creating pathways or circuits using metal strips, light beacons and switches.  As the challenges increase in difficulty, both simple and advanced circuitry concepts are explored (series circuits, parallel circuits, series and parallel circuits in combination, and parallel circuits in bypass).

 

A working on a variety of challenges.

 

 

The set up for Intermediate level Challenge 17.

 

 

A showing me her completed challenge.

 

 

The correct solution for Challenge 17, A got it correct!

I love that Circuit Maze encourages problem solving skills and helps teach logic.  Circuit Maze is a great resource to have for learning about circuits and electricity in our homeschool and in our game collection and we highly recommend it!  If you like this be sure to check out our review of ThinkFun's Cat Crimes.

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  I received Circuit Maze at a discount in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Fun with Mumma & Puppa

 

Mumma & Puppa came for a visit!

The last few days have been so fun.  Mumma & Puppa came to Texas for a short visit and it was great to see them.  Sadly, they left this morning but I'm so grateful for the time we had.

 

Playing cards

 

After months of waiting, B got her learner's permit!

B got her permit while Mumma & Puppa were here so to celebrate they treated everyone to pie!  It was such a nice treat.  Here's to a holiday weekend - we are looking forward to it 🙂.