Memories & Beyond The Sun Movie Release {$50 Amazon Giveaway}

My Dad

Some of you may know but a little over a month ago my Dad unexpectedly passed away.  It was sudden and very shocking for all of us.  If I am honest with you, I think I am still in a state of shock.  Grief is a hard thing.  I miss him a lot.  I think about all the soccer games that my Dad took me to.  I think about the time he strapped the Christmas tree to the top of our van and helped support it with his hand sticking out the driver window.  I remember the tree falling off the car and telling him so but my Dad insisted that he was still holding it so it couldn't have fallen off.  When we rolled into our driveway my Dad was holding a small branch from our Christmas tree.  It was pretty funny.  I learned from my Dad that it's okay to laugh at yourself sometimes.  I think of how much he loved all of his grandchildren and that makes me smile.  You are missed Dad.

I want to share with you about an upcoming children's adventure movie that features a special appearance by Pope Francis and sponsors an exciting contest to Italy!  Beyond the Sun is a modern-day fairy tale of hope, faith, and courage based on stories from the Bible.  The family movie chronicles the adventures of four young friends in search of God.

The film just released across multiple platforms including iTunes, Amazon, and TUGG.  There is also a special contest where one lucky winner will have an opportunity to win an exclusive private tour of the Vatican and front row tickets to an audience with the Pope for four!  If you have ever wanted to visit Italy and the Vatican, this is your chance!  Check out more about this giveaway and enter to win here.  Good luck!

Check out the Beyond the Sun trailer below.



Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.  Just enter the giveaway below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Grace Hill Media for selecting me to participate in this campaign and providing the $50 Amazon gift card for the giveaway.  By sharing this information with you I will receive a $50 gift card.  All opinions are my own.

Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science Audio Book Review

A has been learning about General Science this year through Apologia.  We have the textbook and she recently completed the course at our weekly coop.  When Timberdoodle offered me the chance to review Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science audio book at a discounted price I jumped at the chance!  It's a great companion to the printed text and makes a great addition to a homeschool library.

MP3-CD Exploring Creation with General Science

I love having both of these products: the printed text and the audio book.  Many students learn best by hearing, rather than reading text.  The Exploring Creation with General Science MP3-CD contains an audio recording of the complete text of Exploring Creation with General Science, 2nd edition, as read by Candice Jones.  This MP3-CD also includes "On Your Own" problems but it does not include the study guides, tests and answer keys.

Here is A with her textbook.

This is meant to be an accompaniment to the textbook, not a replacement.  I love that students can follow along in their books to this recording or just listen on their own.  This will be the first time that students learn many of these words, I love that the recording gives them the opportunity to hear the correct pronunciations.  This is so great for doing schoolwork on the go or involving multiple children in lessons.

The Exploring Creation with General Science textbook is very conversational so the audio book read by Candice Jones translates well.  The text is read word for word.  The figures within each module are clearly not going to be on the audio book but even the figures descriptions are omitted.  This is a great example how this is meant to be an accompaniment.  As I mentioned earlier, some students may have an audio strength when learning, some may be visual learners and so it would be important to note they should refer to the text and study the figures and there explanations at some point.  The experiments are also not read in the audio text - supplies, introduction and procedure are excluded.  You are told to perform the experiment and then the audio jumps right into the results of the experiment.  This is why I personally feel that students following along in their textbooks while listening to the audio book is the ideal situation to use both of these products.  Just something to note.

A with her ipod.

This is not a standard CD but an MP3-CD which basically means you will need to play it in a computer, MP3 compatible CD player or an MP3 device such as an iPod or iPhone.  A received an iPod a few years ago for Christmas so this was perfect to put on that!

A's Ipod with the Audio Book loaded

If you are planning on using Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science curriculum I would highly recommend having this MP3 Audio CD as a companion.  Check out more about Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science audio book on Timberdoodle's website.  You can even listen to a sample for yourself!

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  Timberdoodle sent my family the Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science audio book for a discounted price in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Life Matters (Wraith Releases on DVD May 8th)

I have a doozy to share with you today, Wraith.  Wraith is a supernatural thriller that explores the story of a family who invites evil into their home after they decide they may not go forward with an unplanned pregnancy.  The film reminds us that God always protects and provides, and that protecting life is always the right choice.  If you didn't know, I am an advocate for pro-life.  I know that there are situations that can become very complicated with pregnancies whether it's circumstantial (attacks) or physical (illness) but I do believe in protecting and valuing those yet born.

Michael O. Sajbel wanted to take a different take on this sensitive subject.  Sajbel, who is a father of three adopted children, believes in the sanctity of all life.  "I had not seen a film about this subject matter presented this way and wanted audiences to have fun with a little twist but to also incorporate a very important message about valuing all life no matter how complicated it can get.  We see the Lukens couple struggle with this decision about whether they can afford another child and Mrs. Lukens age and how there could be medical complications and her overall concerns with having a baby at her age.  I wanted to convey that no matter what - God provides and the value or protecting an innocent life.  Wraith gives us a chance to present this important message in a very unique way."

As a Mom of seven, I definitely understand the question that people raise whether they can afford children or whether they are equipped to bring a life into this world.  The honest truth (which you have probably heard a lot) is that if people waited till they could afford children or plan every possibility that could arise most couples would probably not have them.  One of the beauties of having children is the unknown, this is also one of the most difficult things as well.  They are not alike and they do not come with manuals.  However, I know my Creator.  I learn more about Him every day through my children and the humbling job of being a parent.  Being a Mom is one of the scariest things I have ever done but also the most rewarding.  What are your thoughts on this?  I'd love to hear them!

Official Synopsis for Wraith
Wraith noun: a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen after, or shortly before, their death
Something is very wrong in the Lukens' house.
After living uneventfully for years in their historic home, the Lukens family have somehow awakened a ghostly presence.  Who is this frightening spirity and why won't it leave their 14 year-old daughter, Lucy, along?
Everything changes when Dennis and Kate Lukens discovered they were pregnant again.  Expecting in your 40's is always high-risk and dangerous, so when the Lukens decide all options are on the table - including termination - the unexpected starts to happen.  Sinister forces are now conspiring against the family.  But is this eerie, wraith-like spirit actually trying to haunt them...or help them?

Wraith is available on all VOD platforms and Blu-ray/DVD tomorrow, May 8th.  It has a PG-13 rating and is a supernatural thriller.

You can learn more about Wraith here.

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Grace Hill Media for selecting me to participate in this campaign.  By sharing this information with you I will receive a $50 gift card.  All opinions are my own.