Gigi & Nate Movie Review

I have an adorable film to share with you, 'Gigi & Nate!'  This film is set to release in theaters tomorrow, Friday, September 2, 2022.   I was blessed to receive a prescreener of this film.

Synopsis:  Nate Gibson's life is turned upside down after he suffers a near-fatal illness and is left a quadriplegic.  Moving forwards seems impossible until he meets his unlikely service animal, Gigi - a curious and intelligent capuchin monkey - who helps Nate finds what he needs most: hope.

Details:  This film is written by David Hudgins and directed by Nick Hamm.  It stars Marcia Gay Harden, Charlie Rowe, Josephine Langford, Hannah Riley, Zoe Colletti, Jim Belushi and Diane Ladd.  This film is rated PG-13 and is 114 minutes in length.

My Thoughts: David and I watched this film together and I really enjoyed it.  I love how this film emphasizes the bond between animals and humans, specifically Gigi & Nate.  After Nate becomes a quadriplegic, Nate's mother looks for him a therapy animal when he seems to have no hope.  While everything was far from perfect, Gigi & Nate learn to trust each other over time and Gigi begins to really help Nate with some of his essential therapy as well as emotional support.  It’s truly amazing how much an animal can impact a life as shown by GiGi and Nate!  Even when this duo is threatened, they find a way to stay together.

Want to know more?  Enjoy the official movie trailer below.

Be sure to engage with Gigi & Nate on social media below.

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Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Grace Media for providing me with an advanced screener of this film to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

The Case For Heaven Film Review

I have an upcoming film to share with you, THE CASE FOR HEAVEN, which is based on the new book by best-selling author Lee Strobel.  This film will be exclusively on Pure Flix beginning today, July 15th!

I was blessed with a prescreening of this film and I thought it was fascinating.  I loved that it included interviews with John Burke, Francis Chan, the late Luis Palau and even a few skeptics as well.  This documentary film is compelling and thought-provoking.  Birthed from Strobel's own brush with death, THE CASE FOR HEAVEN encourages you to investigate heaven, hell and the afterlife.  What lies beyond death?  I really enjoyed this film and I highly recommend it. 

Be sure to watch THE CASE FOR HEAVEN on Pure Flix today!  Go here to start your Pure Flix subscription or free trial today, you won't regret it.

Want to know more?  Check out the movie trailer below.

Disclosure:  Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing me a prescreening of this movie for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Show Me The Father Movie Review & Fandango Giveaway

Remember my post telling you about the upcoming movie, Show Me The Father?  It's the Kendrick Brothers' first documentary and it's full of true stories pointing toward the father heart of God.

I had the privilege of attending a Zoom call a few weeks ago with the Kendrick brothers and it was so fun!  You can see me in the top left corner and you can see the brothers, Stephen and Alex, in the second row middle column.  I really enjoyed hearing from them about how the movie came to being and some of their process in making it.  I so appreciate them taking the time to meet with all of us that were on the call.

David and I were so blessed to watch a prescreening of Show Me The Father together.  I really enjoyed following the different story lines in this film and seeing how each of them played out.  I think there is a reason why so many movies are based on true stories.  It's so great to see 5 true stories in this film.  I know from my Zoom call that the Kendrick Brothers had to narrow it down (they had lots of great stories to share) and I think they choose great ones to include.  I feel pretty confident that one of them (or two, or three) will give you goosebumps.  And while I definitely do not want to spoil anything, I will say that you might be surprised at a few of the twists and turns that happen.  As Chris Tomlin so eloquently put, God is a "good good father" and I think this new documentary helps highlight that for sure.

I want to share the trailer for this movie with you again below.  Keep reading after you watch it for a little giveaway.

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win 2 free tickets to see Show Me The Father this opening weekend via Fandango 🙂.  Show Me The Father hits theaters September 10th and you won't want to miss it!  Just enter below and good luck!  This giveaway is limited to US residents only.

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Sony Pictures for providing this product and product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I was able to see the movie myself and I will also receive 2 tickets in exchange for this review.

Dolphin Island Review & Giveaway

I have a new adventure-filled film to share with you that recently released on Digital HD on most video-on-demand platforms, Dolphin Island!  This fun, family-friendly film is about a young girl, 14-year old Annabel, who runs a nonprofit marine research and conservation center with her fisherman grandfather.  Annabel inherited the center when her parents tragically died in an accident 10 years ago.  Her grandfather uprooted his life to care for Annabelle and live on this island paradise.  

Annabel's best friend happens to be a dolphin named Mitzy which is super fun!  Conflict arises when Annabel's maternal grandparents show up with plans to take her away from the conservation center and the life she knows to New York to live with them.  Will Annabel get to stay or will she be forced to leave?

Check out the trailer below to see even more about Dolphin Island.

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win a digital code (only valid in North America) for you to watch this film from the comfort and safety of your home.  Enter below and good luck! 

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Entertainment Squad for providing this movie and movie information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a movie screening in exchange for this review and post.

Mill Creek Entertainment Life With Dog Review

Mill Creek Entertainment sent us the movie Life With Dog to watch and review.

As of yesterday (June 4, 2019), the DVD release of Life With Dog is available at Walmart stores.  You can also find it online at Amazon here.

Our dog, Stevie, posing with our new movie

Official Movie Synopsis:
 After losing his wife Alice (Marilu Henner) in a mysterious bike accident, Joe Bigler (Corbin Bernsen) is left alone without faith to help him grieve.  That and the circumstances of Alice's accident leave more questions than answers, and Joe begins a fast descent into the dark abyss of uncertainty.  But his salvation arrives when a dog wanders into his garden and won't leave despite Joe's many attempt to rid him.  Without so much as a single bark, "Dog" as Joe has named him, shares his voice; a deep love and comfort that Joe has never experienced before.  With Dog's love comes the discovery of God's love, and a faith that not only helps Joe toward the road to recovery, but also the unsolved mystery surrounding his wife's accident, and the ability to finally grieve her passing.

Our Thoughts:
 Life With Dog has a run time of 106 minutes and is not rated (NR rating).  This movie is intense.  I found myself yelling at the screen a lot.  Let me share some of the kids thoughts before more of my own.

A really liked the dog and how he helped Joe with his anger issues.  She liked the movie but like me thought it was a bit intense.  B thought it was hard to watch because Joe kept making bad choices over and over throughout the movie.  Joe was expecting God to be systematic (he prays and gets what he wants) and that's not how being a Christian works.  It reminded her of real life and how not everybody believes in Jesus, especially in hard times and during a crisis.  It's too much for her to watch again.  C's favorite thing about the movie was the dog itself.  He liked how he happened to always be there when needed, how he ended up helping more than one person, and how he helped solve the mystery (spoiler).  He didn't like that Joe kept blaming people for things when he didn't know for certain who was at fault.

This film opens with a hit-and-run bicycle accident scene and you soon learn that Joe's wife died in the accident.  Joe is convinced the building company taking over his neighborhood had something to do with it.  Throughout the film, Joe has conversations with his late wife and you see her appear in various scenes.  She is always colorful and bright and when she vanishes you see the contrast of the dim and dark rooms more vividly.  Personally, this film was a miss for me.  I will say that this movie gives you a lot of topics that you can discuss and bring up with your kids like loss of a loved one and dealing with grief, anger, independence, paranoia, the power of assumption, and foreclosure to name a few.  The dog was cute and a great addition to the film but he couldn't carry the whole movie and he couldn't keep it "lighter."  I felt like most of the movie was in a heavy, dark place.  I kept waiting for the mention of God's love and so much more and it just didn't come.  I felt like the few glimpses were weaker than they should have been.  I was also expecting more of a character arc with Joe.  I felt like a majority of the movie was watching Joe continuously make bad choices without true consequences or minor ones at that.  It does touch on the concept of forgiveness but I felt like it was pretty late in the game and fairly weak.  This may be a spoiler but I was personally bothered by the fact that Joe pointed a gun and threatened two different people's lives in this film.  That was hard for my kids, even my older ones so for us it didn't hold to "family friendly."  So, while I am a huge fan of Christian movies (keep making them Mill Creek Entertainment)  I actually cannot recommend this one.  For me, the bad outweighed the good.  I'd love to hear your thoughts though!  I do appreciate that they tackled some tough issues.

Check out the trailer below.



Want to know more?  Be sure to click on the banner below to visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog to read more reviews and other opinions of Life With Dog.

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Indivisible Movie Review & Fandango Giveaway

I wanted to share with you an upcoming movie, Indivisible, which releases in theaters nationwide tomorrow, October 26th.

Indivisible is a movie based on the extraordinary true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife Heather.  With a strong, faith-filled marriage, the Tuners are ready to follow their calling:  serving God, family, and country.  Fresh from the seminary and basic training, Chaplain Tuner and his family arrive at Fort Stewart.  Yet before the Tuners can even unpack their new house, Darren is deployed to Iraq.  Heather is left taking care of their three young children alone...as well as serving the families of the other deployed soldiers.  Despite a desire to stay connected with their loved ones, the harsh realities of war take a daily toll over the course of the Battalion's extended deployment.  Meanwhile back home, babies are born, kids keep growing, and nerves are frayed with every late night knock on the door.  With deeply etched battle scars, the soldiers' long-awaited homecoming is much different than any of their families anticipated.  Carrying burdens the other can't comprehend, the Turners must decide if they're willing to face one more battle:  the fight to save their marriage.  From the director of The Grace Card and the studio that brought you Fireproof and War Room come Indivisible, the story of one marriage...one family...under God.  The movie stars Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Jason George, Tia Mowry, and Madeline Carroll.

I really enjoyed this movie.  I'm super excited about the increase in faith based movies - we need even more!  I say this a lot but I feel like this movie was extremely relatable.  I have never lived on a service base, nor gone through deployment; yet, I felt like I got it watching this movie.  It's hard.  This movie makes us aware of the staggering divorce rate among those who serve in our country.  And as Darren Turner finds out, even chaplains are not immune to this statistic and possibility.  Thankfully as Darren makes a huge impact in the lives of those he serves his marriage is impacted as well.  This movie is not all butterflies and rainbows but it is powerful and it is truth.  What more could I want?

Check out the trailer below and be sure to enter the giveaway.



Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win 2 Fandango ticket codes to see Indivisible (the codes can only be used for Indivisible).  Enter the giveaway below and good luck!

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a prescreening of Indivisible in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on Cummins Life, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Unbroken: Path to Redemption Movie Review & Fandango Giveaway

I'm so excited to share with you that Unbroken: Path to Redemption releases in theaters tomorrow, September 14th!  I read the book and watched the first film Unbroken many years ago.  Louie Zamperini's story is truly amazing and I am so glad to see the second half come to life in this new film.  I was blessed to see a prescreening of this upcoming film.

Wow, wow, wow!  Louis Zamperini's life story is just incredible.  I remember when I read the book, I kept thinking to myself, all this happened to one man - yes, it did!  I also remember thinking to myself at the conclusion of the first movie Unbroken, wait -  that's not it!  There's so much more.  Well, this is the more!  This movie is real and raw.  Louis Zamperini has real struggles and addictions and this movie shows them head on (hence the PG 13 rating).  It also shows his family and how they stand by him and how God is a God that pursues.  This movie is definitely worth your time.

Full Synopsis:  After surviving a plane crash, weeks of floating on a makeshift raft in the Pacific, and then years of torture as a prisoner of war, Louis Zamperini finally returns home to California, seemingly unbroken.  When the war ended, his battle began.  Based of Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling book, Unbroken: Path to Redemption begins where the hit movie Unbroken concludes, continuing the unbelievable true story of Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini.  Haunted by nightmares of his torment, Louie sees himself as anything but a hero.  Despite battling demons, anger, and alcohol, Louie feels obligated to participate in an Army tour to raise money for War Bonds.  But as he focuses more on hotel bars than his public appearances, Louie is ordered to take R&R on the beaches of Miami.  There, he meets Cynthia, a young woman who captures his eye and his heart.  After a whirlwind courtship, the couple weds and moves to Los Angeles.

While pursuing every avenue of hope he can find from trying to reestablish himself as a world-class runner to get-rich-quick investment opportunities - Louie's wrathful quest for revenge drives him deeper into despair and the bottle.  Hopeless and on the brink of divorce, Cynthia experiences Billy Graham's 1949 Lost Angeles Crusade where she finds faith in God and a renewed commitment to her marriage and her husband.  Now, her most fervent prayer is for God to help Louie find the peace and forgiveness he so desperately needs.  From the producer of Unbroken and the writer of A River Runs Through It, Unbroken: Path to Redemption stars Samuel Hunt (Louis), Merritt Patterson (Cynthia), David Sakurai (Watanabe, The Bird), and Will Graham as his grandfather, Billy Graham.  Unbroken: Path to Redemption brings to life the rest of Louis Zamperini's powerful real-life story of forgiveness, redemption, and amazing grace.

Check out the trailer below and be sure to enter the giveaway.

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win 2 Fandango ticket codes to see this movie!  Just enter below and good luck!  {Note:  Ticket codes will be good until October 14th or until Unbroken: Path to Redemption is no longer in theaters.}

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Disclosure :  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.  I received a prescreener for this movie in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Sony Pictures The Star Releases November 17th

Have you heard of the upcoming movie The Star?  It releases nationwide on November 17th from the producer of Heaven is for Real and Miracles from Heaven (both movies I saw in the theater and enjoyed).  In Sony Pictures Animation's The Star, a small and brave donkey named Bo longs for a life beyond his village mill.  After finding the courage to break free Bo teams up with Ruth, a loveable lost sheep, and Dave, a dove with big aspirations, in a journey of a lifetime.  The friends follow the Star and become heroes in one of the greatest stories ever told.

Check out the official trailer below.



My favorite holiday is Christmas and the story of the first Christmas never gets old for me.  It's pretty amazing!  I love the idea of seeing it through a new perspective, that of the animals.  I'm drawn to animation movies with animals.  Even though he's a donkey, Bo is extremely relatable in his desire for more in life.  I have sometimes wondered what it must have been like for the donkey that bore the pregnant Mary and now audiences everywhere get to watch this adaptation of Bo and all the animals at the first Christmas.  Exciting indeed!

I also really liked the Lyric Video to "Life is Good" by A Great Big World.  I really enjoy inspirational and uplifting music.  Check it out below.



The Star website has some fun resources including an animated coloring book as well as many fun activities including printable diaromas, mazes, connecting the dots, character cards and more!

Remember, this movie premieres in theaters on November 17th.  Check out The Star's website to buy tickets and for more information.  Let me know what you think.

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Sony and FlyBy for sending me this campaign information.  As part of this campaign I will receive Fandango tickets.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Goodbye Christopher Robin Movie Review

I want to tell you about a new movie that releases in theaters on October 13th, Goodbye Christopher Robin.  If you are familiar with Winnie-the-Pooh (and who isn't?) you will recognize the name immediately.  This film will take you to post-war England and into the lives of the Milne family.  A.A. Milne, an author and war veteran of The Great War suffering from PTSD becomes inspired by his son to create the characters that we all know and adore today.

Goodbye Christopher Robin gives and interesting account of the genesis of Winnie-the-Pooh along with the rise in popularity of A.A. Milne's classic children's books featuring the beloved bear.  The script brings some insight into the lives of the author, called Blue, and his own son, named Christopher Robin but called Billy, as well as the author's wife, Daphne, and the boy's live-in nanny, Nou.  Costumes, setting, acting, and camera art are all very good.  In particular, the performance by the young Christopher Robin is outstanding.  It appears the script is within reasonable accuracy to actual history (I looked it up in Wikipedia as soon as the film ended because I was so surprised with the content.)

I wish the film had better audience engagement.  Of the four main characters: Billy, Blue, Nou and Daphne, each has serious struggles as well as opportunities over the course of the movie.  We see moments to celebrate in their relationships, and tragic relational blunders.  Unfortunately, the audience always seems to be held at arm's length from the characters, their failures and victories, and their coping and their compromises.  In rare scenes we get a glimpse of the depth of a character but mostly viewers are uninvolved observers throughout the film.  Some credit should be given to the concept of illustrating a distant family dynamic always held at arm's length by treating the audience to the same fate, but ultimately the balance tips heavily against this positive possibility.  So many deep issues are presented here with shallow acknowledgement, allowing the audience to react with simply a casual feeling of, "oh, what a shame..." rather than carrying the viewer into the depth of this experience.  Even though this film falls short in some regards, the movie is beautifully made, well polished, and tells an interesting story.  It is also refreshingly free of filth, obscenity, and foul language so common in Hollywood today.  I am glad I saw the film but it is not a film I would watch again.  I will certainly continue to read Winnie-the-Pooh to my children and I expect they will read the stories to their children as well.

Check out the official movie trailer for Goodbye Christopher Robin below and let me know what you think.



Disclosure:  I received an advanced screening of this film in exchange for my review.  All opinions are 100% my own.

When The Game Stands Tall Movie Review

Disclosure: I am proud to be a Family Christian Blogger and Affiliate.  I was provided with my own copy of When The Game Stands Tall to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I am a sucker for inspirational stories.  And when you tell me that it is based on a true story and it involves sports - well, you had me at inspirational already.  Growing up Hoosiers was one of those movies for me.  I loved watching the small town Indiana basketball team rise to the championships.  Maybe it is because I played a lot of sports, but really I think it was more about faith and possibilities.

David and I just finished watching When The Game Stands Tall which shares the inspiring and incredible journey of coach Bob Ladouceur and his high school football team, the De Le Salle Spartans.  Incredibly they pulled off a 151 game winning streak.  Yes, this movie talked about and showed us that amazing streak but it did much more than that too.  I loved that coach Bob was focused more on putting forth your best effort every game than the actual win itself.  Sure he wanted to win football games, what coach doesn't?  But he was striving and training these boys for so much more than football - he was helping his players truly become men.  There is success, there are obstacles, there is tragedy and through all of these life issues the players and the team are ultimately forced to examine their own values and what is truly important.

To Our Boys (C and F) - I am praying you two will grow up to be Godly men!

As a Christian it can be challenging at times to know when ministry and when family comes first.  Sometimes those lines are blurred.  One challenging aspect of the film is the tension in coach Bob's own family.  He has spent so much time investing in his players and the football program that ultimately his own family has suffered.  This can be seen in his marriage as well as his relationship with his son, one of his players.  This comes to a head when coach Bob must step away from coaching for a period of time due to health issues.  While I think that these issues were addressed well, I didn't feel like they were completely healed or wrapped up at the conclusion of the movie.  In fact, I was hoping for a reconciliation scene of sorts.  Even without that, I really enjoyed this movie and I did find it positive and inspirational.  But personally, I would like to add it in :).

To learn more about this movie and/or purchase it from Family Christian go here and you can check out the companion devotional here as well.  This companion contains 52 devotionals that are based on Scripture and each relate to an aspect of the game of football.

If you have seen this movie already let me know what you thought.  And you can check out the trailer of the movie below - you're welcome!

VeggieTales Beauty and the Beet Review

Disclosure: I am proud to be a Family Christian Blogger and Affiliate.  I was provided with my own copy of VeggieTales Beauty and the Beet to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.



Does your family love VeggieTales?  I have a new one to tell you about, Beauty and the Beet.  And right now at Family Christian it is on sale for $9.99 through the 24th of December!  This would make a great gift or stocking stuffer for friends and family.

 D and the rest of the crew love the songs!

About Beauty and the Beet:  Mirabelle and her traveling family band, the Veggie Tones, are determined to get to their next gig.  When a fierce winter storm hits they get stuck at a run down resort.  Mr. Beet, the grumpy resort manager, has them clean and sing for their supper.  Why is Mr. Beet a beast?  Can Mirabelle's kind heart change him?  Find out in this tail of unconditional love.

What we think:  We are huge VeggieFans here so of course we love Larry, Bob and crew!  VeggieTales does such a great job of emphasizing Biblical truths in their videos.  And similarly to the story Beauty and the Beast, this 45 minute episode Beauty and the Beet teaches us about friendship and unconditional love.  In short, Beauty in the Beet is entertaining, fun and a delight for the whole family.  It has "awesome music" according to my children and a fabulous message.  This movie will not disappoint fans and is sure to make some new ones along the way.

Moms' Night Out DVD Review and Family Christian Giveaway

Remember my book review on Moms' Night Out?  I recently had the chance to watch the movie on DVD.  And just like when I read Tricia Goyer's novelization I found myself laughing out loud at several points in the movie.  Allyson and her friends are in desperate need of a peaceful night out but what ensues is a hilarious series of events that Moms everywhere can identify with and appreciate. 

The cast is spot on in this film.  I especially loved Sarah Drew as Allyson, Sean Astin as Sean, Patricia Heaton as Sondra, Kevin Downes as Kevin and Trace Adkins as the biker Bones.  And of course it was fun to see Alex Kendrick in the film.  I am a huge fan of Courageous, Fireproof, Facing the Giants and FlyWheel. 

I can really relate to the fact that parents don't always have the answers or have it all together and that is okay.  Love and family are what is truly important and that far outweighs knowing everything.  Jesus loves us for being us, not being perfect!  I think that is the take home message of the film and it is a good one.

Check out the trailer below!  And enter below to win $25 to Family Christian.



Ready for a giveaway?  Family Christian is generously providing a $25 Certificate to their store.  Just enter the giveaway below and good luck!  Open to US/CAN residents.

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Disclosure: I am proud to be a Family Christian Blogger and Affiliate.  I was provided with my own copy of Moms' Night Out to facilitate my review and Family Christian is sponsoring this giveaway.  All opinions expressed are my own.

What's In The Bible Why Do We Call It Christmas? Review & Giveaway

Are you familiar with the What's In The Bible series?  Our small group is going through this as part of our kids curriculum and our kids absolutely love it!  When I was given the opportunity to review Buck Denver asks...Why Do We Call It Christmas? I jumped on this opportunity.  David and I just watched Kirk Cameron's new movie Saving Christmas and this film is similar in many ways.

Phil Vischer, Veggie Tales and What's in the Bible creator, does an impressive job communicating biblical values to children.  Throughout the What's In The Bible series, Buck Denver and gang tackle tough issues and tough questions and Phil does a fabulous job of answering these questions and giving kids great analogies along the way.  Buck Denver asks... Why Do We Call It Christmas? is no exception.  Not only does it share the Christmas story but it explains several Christmas traditions as well.

Read more about this movie below and enter to win your own copy as well.

About the Movie: 60 minutes
Cutting down trees?  Hanging stockings?  Santa Claus?  What do any of these have to do with Jesus' birthday?  More than you'd think!  Join VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer along with intrepid newsman Buck Denver and all his friends on an amazing journey into the world's most popular holiday!  Sure, you know the Christmas story.  But do you know the story of Christmas?  Don't miss the whimsical, educational, Christmical party to end all Christmas parties as Buck Denver Asks...Why Do We Call It Christmas?

Contains the following topics:
- Where do we get the word Christmas?
- When was Jesus born?
- What do Christmas trees have to do with Jesus?
- Who is St. Nicholas?
- What is Hanukkah?
- Who is Emmanuel?
- Luke 2 Story

Check out the official website here and the DVD Trailer here!

Ready for a giveaway?  One reader will win their own copy of What's In The Bible Why Do We Call It Christmas?  Just enter the giveaway below and good luck!  US/Canada residents only.

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for this giveaway.  Choice of winners are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.  I received my own copy of What's In The Bible Why Do We Call It Christmas? in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Saving Christmas Review & Giveaway

Okay, I know you have heard of Kirk Cameron.  I remember Growing Pains well from my childhood.  Last week I was honored to be on a teleconference call with none other than Kirk Cameron himself.  It was awesome!  He poured out his heart, shared about his family and told us more about his upcoming movie, Saving Christmas!  Being a homeschool Mom of six children is such an amazing blessing - but it is not always easy.  I have my ups and down just like everyone else.  And last week, I was having a hard day.  My kids were doing great in school that day but I had a hard time shaking off a conversation I had the night before, where a total stranger felt the need to give me their opinion about why homeschooling may not be the best idea.  Well, I was so encouraged in this phone call; it was refreshing to hear that Kirk homeschools his own six children for many of the same reasons we choose to homeschool. 

 Kirk how I remember him on TV growing up.

Another awesome thing that happened is that I was able to pre-screen Kirk's new movie, Saving Christmas which hits theaters in just two days on November 14th for two weeks only!

The premise of the movie is simple.  At a family gathering in his own home, Kirk's brother-in-law is having a hard time celebrating Christmas.  He is struggling with being a Christian and feeling that our traditional and cultural celebrations do not honor Christ or the true meaning of Christmas.  Topics discussed include:  Who is Santa Claus and what does he have to do with Christ?  Why do we decorate and display Christmas trees in our homes?  What about materialism and presents?

I, like Kirk, love Christmas!  I too love the food, baking, decorations, music, atmosphere and spirit of giving.  And as a Christian David and I have definitely talked through our family Christmas traditions and what we want to do and what we prefer to leave out.  We were interested to see things that we both already knew and to see some things in a new way.

Please read more about the movie below and enter to win Saving Christmas swag.

About the movie:
This Christmas, have your family join with Kirk Cameron's family and dive headfirst into all the joys, dancing, celebration, feasting, imagination, and traditions that glorify the true "reason for the season."  Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas is an engaging story that provided a biblical basis for our time-honored traditions and celebrations, and the inspiration to stand strongly against a culture that wants to trivialize and eliminate the faith elements of this holy season.  So take in the splendor; take in the majesty; take in the story.  Take it all in...and let's put Christ back in Christmas!

You can watch the trailer here, visit the official website here and visit the official facebook page here.

Saving Christmas Swag Prize

Ready for the swag giveaway!  One reader will win some Saving Christmas swag which includes a signed Saving Christmas movie poster, the soundtrack to the film and a car air freshener that smells like Christmas trees.  Just enter the giveaway below and good luck!

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for this giveaway.  Choice of winners are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.  I was able to pre-screen Saving Christmas in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification. 

Holy Ghost Movie Review & Giveaway

I have another movie to tell you about, Holy Ghost from Wanderlust media.  This movie reminded me so much of Father of Lights as it has the same director and same feel.  The concept of the movie is simple.  There is no agenda, go wherever God leads and see what adventure awaits.  This movie discusses the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit quite a bit, you might have guessed from the title.  This movie is an encouragement for Christians to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His lead.  When you are new to this there are a lot of questions.  One main question being,  Is that me or the Holy Spirit?  How do you know?  You take risks.  You are willing to make a fool of yourself.  Sometimes you may miss it but sometimes you won't.  As you train yourself to hear the Holy Spirit you will learn to recognize his voice.  You can also watch for fruit.  Learning to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit is similar to learning a language.  What is the easiest way to learn a language?  Be child-like, listen and don't be afraid to get it wrong.  This movie has several examples of people encountering the Holy Spirit.

I think one of my favorite sections of the movie was when the director followed Brian and Fieldy, members of the rock band Korn, around before and after their concert to pray for people.  Brian and Fieldy, both born again Christians, shared about their life, testimonies and prayed for the salvation and healing of many.  It was really cool to be reminded that God can use us anywhere and in any situation.  These guys have an amazing ministry and it was fun to watch.

On September 6th, Wanderlust Productions will host the FREE worldwide premiere of the film at this site -- HolyGhostMovie.com

Read more about this film below.  And make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the film:
Can the Holy Spirit direct a movie?  In this fast-paced documentary from the director of the popular films Finger of God, Furious Love, and Father of Lights, Darren Wilson sets out to make a movie that is completely led by the Holy Spirit.  No plan, no script, no safety net - just go wherever he feels the Spirit leading him to try and discover the adventure God has for him.  Whether it's the riches of Monte Carlo, a heavy metal concert, or the oldest city in the world, the result is a film that not only challenges and excites, but also reveals a God who is far more alive and active than you ever imagined.

The movie features big names such as Lenny Kravitz, Brain "Head" Welch, Bill Johnson, Michael. W. Smith, Todd White, Meredith Andrews, DeVon Franklin, William P. Young, Phil Vischer, and many more!

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win your own copy of this DVD.  Just enter below and good luck!

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive this DVD in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.  Open to US/Canada residents.

The Boxcar Children Movie Review & Giveaway

I have an amazing movie to share with you, The Boxcar Children!  This has been a book in our homeschool library for years so my kids, especially the older ones, are familiar with the story.  If you are not familiar with the story, four children whose parents recently passed away find themselves alone and on the road.  They fear that their grandfather is cruel and wouldn't want them because he has never visited them when their parents were alive.  They find an abandoned boxcar tucked away in the woods and work hard to make it their home.  The children are polite, creative, thoughtful and it is wonderful to see how much they care for each other.  I love the reconciliation in the story with the children's grandfather.  This movie is full of teachable moments and a great addition to our movie library!  My kids adore it and ask to watch it often.

The kids and their friends at the park.

The kids were playing with their friends at the park.  They began to pick up glass all around the park and clean it in a small puddle of water they found.  When I asked them what they were doing they told me that they were making the glass beautiful like the Boxcar children did with their dishes.  My kids were able to see something beautiful from something most people would just pass by and in the end we were able to help clean up our local park and make it safer, a win-win!

Read more about this film and cast below.  Order your own copy here and be sure the enter the giveaway!

About the Film
Four orphaned and homeless siblings happen upon an abandoned boxcar, which with a little creativity and hard work, they gradually furnish with all the comforts of home.  Fearful that they will be sent to live with the reputedly cruel grandfather they have never met, the children keep their new home a secret - until a serious illness forces them to reveal themselves in order to save young Violet.

About the Cast
Featuring an all-star cast of voice actors, including Academy Award Nominee Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now), J.K. Simmons (Spiderman), Zach Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Joey King (Fargo), Mackenzie Foy (Twilight series), and Jadon Sand (LEGO: The Movie), this is the very first full-length animated feature adaptation of Gertrude Chandler Warner's best-selling classic!

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win your very own DVD of The Boxcar Children.  Just enter below and good luck!

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  Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive my own copy of The Boxcar Children in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.  US/Canada only please.

Ragamuffin Movie Review & Giveaway

I have a new film to tell you about, Ragamuffin.  This movie gives you the nuts and bolts about Rich Mullins and his life.  Prior to watching this film I had definitely heard the name Rich Mullins - he has some amazing and renown Christian worship songs including Awesome God and Sing Your Praise to the Lord.  However, I knew nothing about his life or death.  Or even how he rose to Christian music fame.  I haven't done research but this film seems plausibly accurate documenting Rich's life from his perspective.

Rich had a somewhat troubled childhood and throughout the movie you see him chase his demons in various ways.  However, despite his struggles his heart for the Lord and being real with people showed forth in his life and his music.  He was willing to ruffle a few feathers to be real with people and get to the heart of God and his love.  He became known for not only worshiping but preaching alongside his songs as well.

And while this is not a feel good movie, overall my opinion is positive; I felt touched by this film and found it to be thought provoking.  Also, I kept asking myself how Rich's life might have been different if perhaps certain single aspects were changed.  I wouldn't recommend this film for children under 13 - mainly due to the strained relationship Rich had with his father and his addiction to alcohol.

Read more about this film below and go here to purchase your own DVD.  Of course, don't forget to enter the giveaway below to win a copy!

About the film:
Ragamuffin is based on the life of Rich Mullins, a musical prodigy who rose to Christian music fame and fortune only to walk away and live on a Navajo reservation.  An artistic genius, raised on a tree farm in Indiana by a callous father, Rich wrestled all of his life with the brokenness and crippling insecurity born of his childhood.  A lover of Jesus and a rebel in the church, Rich refused to let his struggles with his own darkness tear him away from a God he was determined to love.  As he struggled with success in Nashville and depression in Wichita, Rich desired most of all to live a life of honest and reckless faith amidst a culture of religion and conformity.

About Rich Mullins:
Singer and songwriter Richard Wayne "Rich" Mullins was best known for his worship song "Awesome God" which has been embraced as modern classics by many Christians.  His music has been covered by many artists, including Caedmon's Call, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, John Tesh, and Hillsong United.  Mullins' musical career formally began with Zion Ministries in the late 1970s, where he wrote music and performed with a band called Zion.  Mullins first solo hit, "Awesome God," appeared on his third album and brought his music to a wider audience.  Rich Mullins was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) on April 29, 3014.

Ready for a giveaway?  One reader will win their own copy of Ragamuffin.  Just enter below.

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive my own copy of Ragamuffin in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

When Calls The Heart Movie Review

I had the pleasure of watching When Calls The Heart A Telling Silence recently.  I have said it numerous times before but I am a huge fan of Janette Oke and this movie is inspired by her best-selling books.  I am also a huge fan of Hallmark and Michael Landon Jr. so this was perfect for me.  Let me give you the synopsis first.

Synopsis
Elizabeth Thatcher begins to feel sorry for one of her students, an 8 year old mute who lost her father in a mining accident.  When Rosaleen goes missing, Elizabeth and the town begin searching for her.  Meanwhile, constable Jack Thornton uncovers evidence that Cat Montgomery (a single mother who also lost her husband in the mining accident) may have been involved in a suspicious church fire.

I enjoyed the characters, the storyline and the acting in this film.   I previously reviewed When Calls The Heart and I love getting more insight and additional information and story about the characters that I have already grown to love, especially Elizabeth.  There is encouragement, mystery, adventure and a touch of romance.  If you are looking for a clean and wholesome series I definitely recommend the When Calls The Heart series!

Check out the trailer here and let me know what you think!

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Edify Media for providing me with a copy of When Calls The Heart A Telling Silence on DVD to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Unstoppable Movie Review & Giveaway

I have a new film to tell you about, Unstoppable.  This film is more of a sermon than a feature film but it is good, really good (I just think you need to know that going into it though).  And the back cover states "this is a movie that families everywhere need to see" - I just want to be clear that I wouldn't show it to young children (some of the Biblical stories depicted on-screen include Cain murdering Abel and could frighten young ones like mine).  The Dove Foundation states that it is appropriate for ages 12+ and I completely agree with this assessment.

Cameron poses several questions like Why do bad things happen to good people? and Where is God in the midst of tragedy and suffering? throughout this film.  He uses scripture, his own life experiences, and artistic images to answer these questions and take you along on his sermon journey.  As a Christian it was easy for me to follow along with the Biblical stories spoken and depicted on-screen.  The story of his young friend dying of cancer along with the images of his friend's family and funeral drives the point home that suffering is indeed happening all around us, tragedy touches everyone at some level.  This film doesn't necessarily answer all the questions that it poses.  However, it does take us back to the beginning and shows us that God is there, He is here and He is faithful.

Read more about this film below and make sure and enter to win your own copy!

About Unstoppable
Inspired by the death of Cameron's close friend who succumbed to cancer at the age of 15, Kirk Cameron takes viewers on an inspiring and  hop-filled visual journey to better understand the biggest doubt-raising question in faith: "Where is God in the midst of tragedy and suffering?"  Going back to the beginning - literally - Kirk investigates the origins of good and evil and how they impact our lives...and our eternities.  Unstoppable will prompt audiences to consider the role that pain and suffering has in our lives, as they affirm their personal views on faith, and encourage conversation starters about God, suffering, and hope.  In theaters for only two weeknights (Sept 24th and Oct 3rd 2013), Unstoppable: A Live Event with Kirk Cameron sold a staggering 260,000 tickets and reached a theatrical gross of over $3.2 million dollars.  In just two nights this independent project sent a loud message - audiences want thought-provoking and meaningful entertainment.  Kirk Cameron is best known for his memorable role as "Mike Seaver," a cultural icon of the 80's, with his mullet hairstyle, cool glasses, and wisecracking comebacks.  More recently he enjoyed much success with the No. 1 grossing inspirational film of 2008, Fireproof, and his recent documentary, Monumental.  Kirk and his wife, Chelsea, were on-screen sweethearts during their Growing Pains years and are the founders of Camp Firefly, where terminally and seriously ill children and their families are provided an all-expense paid retreat (www.CampFirefly.com).  Together, Kirk and Chelsea live in California with their six children.

About Provident Films
Provident Films, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, produces, markets and distributes faith-based films.  The company is part of Nashville-based Provident Music Group, which has been one of the world's leading Christian entertainment companies for more three decades.  Films from the company have included Courageous, October Baby, Fireproof, and Facing the Giants.  More info is available at ProvidentFilms.org.

Now, ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win your own copy of Unstoppable.  Just enter the form below and good luck!

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

When Calls The Heart Movie Review

I have a great movie to tell you about, When Calls The Heart by Michael Landon Jr. based on the book by Janette Oke.  My friend Maura introduced me to Janette Oke books years ago and I absolutely adore them.

I really enjoyed this movie for a number of reasons.  It was clean, wholesome and just a pleasure to watch.  I know that sometimes when I watch made for television movies I expect the acting to be subpar but not so in this wonderful film.  I was pleasantly surprised with the cast, the actors did a great job filling their roles nicely.  I also liked the two complimentary story lines that unfolded - young Elizabeth and her desire to teach (even with a harder assignment) and her Aunt Elizabeth serving as a teacher on the frontier years ago (discovered through her diaries).  I liked how the young Elizabeth was able to receive encouragement through her aunt's past adventures in her diary and ultimately take a leap of faith and trust God with her future.

This movie was encouraging, refreshing and enjoyable just as Janette Oke books have been to me as well.  There is a little bit for everyone - adventure, romance, comedy and drama.  I hope if you get the chance you will watch this movie and enjoy it as I have.

This movie originally aired on the Hallmark Channel and recently released to video last month (November 19th).

Read more about this movie below.

When Calls The Heart
Directed by Michael Landon Jr. and based on the best-selling books by Janette Oke, this film tells the story of a young, high society teacher receiving her first classroom post in a prairie town in the Western Frontier.  Determined to prove to her family that she is brave enough to live on her own, Elizabeth (Poppy Drayton) struggles with her own fears and doubts until she discovers her late Aunt's diary.  Her aunt (Maggie Grace), also named Elizabeth, had set off on a similar adventure as a teacher into the frontier, where she struggled with prairie life and eventually met and fell in love with a Royal Canadian Mountie (Stephen Amell).  Reading her aunt's words, the young Elizabeth decides to put her future in God's hands and embark on her own adventure where she uses the diary as her guide as well as Edward, another Mountie (Daniel Sharman), sworn to see her arrive.

When Calls the Heart debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 3.2 million viewers, making it the No. 1 movie of the week on ad-supported cable.  Distributed by Word Entertainment, the DVD became available for purchase in Christian retail last month on November 19th, 2013.

Michael Landon Jr. - Director
Michael Landon Jr., son of the late television legend Michael Landon, has been in the film business for over 25 years.  With two of the highest rated films in the history of the Hallmark channel, and several top ten releases targeted to the Christian market, Michael has become known for creating heartfelt, inspiring films that connect to the family.  He has developed and/or produced, directed, and written screenplays for Fox, CBS, NBC, Disney, Sony, Lifetime, and others.

About Word Entertainment
A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and on-line initiatives.  Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Patrick Ryan Clark, Everfound, for KING & COUNTRY, Group 1 Crew, Love & The Outcome, Dara Maclean, Point of Grace and Sidewalk Prophets and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Print, Word Films, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group's Word Records, Word Worship and Fervent Records.

Check out the trailer here and let me know what you think!

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Edify Media for providing me with a copy of When Calls The Heart on DVD to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.