Category Archives: Family

A place to call home.

Meet Mandy Farmer!

Guest Post. Meet Author Mandy Farmer! I’m happy to have her join us today.

Mandy Farmer

Mrs. Mandy (as the children call her) is passionate about children, animals, and music. She grew up on the family farm in Louisville, Ohio and Cambria, Wisconsin. After 25 years of pastoral ministry, she and her husband have retired to Savannah GA near their adult children. Mandy blogs about chronic pain and she is working on a children’s book about fibromyalgia- Soft Hugs for Mommy is close to being released. Also, in the works is a devotional book for the chronically ill.

Holly, the Holstein Talks About Milk Cows

The Birth of Holly the Holstein

Who knew that a simple favor to a friend could grow into a children’s book that the children love? Only God.

At the beginning of the year, I was determined to get busy writing and compiling my devotions for a book. For several reasons, I decided I would self-publish. I attended a writer’s workshop where I met a young mom. She created a course for homeschoolers to help moms encourage their children to write and publish their stories. She asked me to be a BETA tester. Thinking it would be a good introduction into the self-publishing world, I said yes. It was a wonderfully fun experience and I ended up with Holly the Holstein Talks About Milk Cows. The course is now available at Mommyscribbles.com

I grew up on a family dairy farm and always had a passion for animals. So, when we came together to decide what to write about, this was only natural. I figured I would sell a dozen books to family and friends but before I knew it Holly was quite popular. In the first week, the book ranked number 10 in one category on Amazon. So, I created a Facebook page and a website offering free coloring pages. Then the reviews started coming in…

“I have to read this book ten times a day to my kids!”

“My grandkids take this book on their car trips.”

“Every night without fail, this is the book the kids want to read.”

When you read this book, you will meet Holly the Holstein and learn about the life of a milk cow on a family farm. This book is interactive, in that, Holly questions the reader throughout while she explains how much milk she produces, how much food she needs, and where the milk ends up.

Ideas for more Holly books are flooding my brain and I hope to offer more in a series very soon. There will be titles like, “A Day in the Life of a Milk Cow” and “Holly and her Farm Friends.”

Thank you for dropping by, Mandy!

Sally

Facebook Pages

Mandy Dawson Farmer Mandy Dawson Farmer | Facebook

Fibromyalgia Is it for Real? Fibromyalgia Is it For Real? | Facebook

Websites

www.mandyandmichele.com

www.thefarmersplace.com – Holly’s Book Club

Follow Mandy’s Writing journey and know what’s coming next at www.mandyfarmer.com

Book Review & a Giveaway: Farm to Film

Farm to Film

In Farm to Film, the lens of an old camera provides a fun way to look at life on the farm. Author and illustrator, Hannah Miles Pierrou captures childlike wonder as she meanders through the barnyard.

Hannah Miles Pierrou is a lifestyle photographer, designer and artist. She views the world around her from a treehouse cabin in the Colorado foothills. “Hannah loves sharing the concept of capturing the beautiful creation found in everyday experiences. She utilizes her experience as an artist to expose her readers to various design elements such as detail, contrast, movement, composition, shape and rhythm.”

Step back in time to a simpler lifestyle, where there’s ample opportunity to visit the animals and explore the barn. Children of all ages will enjoy the lyrical storyline and pictures, stirring up the imagination in pursuit of the next image caught on film.

Virtues of family (at Pop and Gram’s farm), wonder (to view the world through the lens), and a sense of humor (the Alpaca eats with funny little teeth) lead the way. From A to Z, the animals play their part in farm life and the humans who tend them benefit with honey, milk and eggs.

pig https://www.instagram.com/p/CVehZXcsGtX/

I can’t wait to share Farm to Film with my grands. They’ll love the cow pies, splatters from the galloping horse, and the old truck in the muddy field. Truly, child’s delight!

I am giving away a copy of Farm to Film to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and answer this question, “What is your favorite farm animal?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held three days from now, Black Friday, November 26. I can’t wait to hear about your barnyard friends!

Sally

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through The Blog About Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book Review & a Giveaway: The Growing Season

The Growing Season by Sarah Philpott http://allamericanmom.net/

The Growing Season: A Year of Down-on-the-Farm Devotions didn’t make it a full year for me. Instead, I devoured Sarah Philpott’s anecdotes as fast as I could. Sarah describes farm life, calving season and adapting to challenges we face daily, whether we’re a farm gal or a city gal.

Sarah Philpott is the author of Loved Baby, a book I cherished on finding comfort in the midst of grief. She and her family live on a farm in Tennessee. Sarah finds life lessons in manure spreaders and mudcaked boots, and opens our eyes to the beauty of the fields beyond her window.

The Growing Season is broken into segments of seasons, following the cycle of life. Walk the furrows of the field with Sarah while you plant, cultivate, prune and meditate. Sarah starts with a recipe for hot cocoa (one of my go-to beverages), a challenge to tackle (I’m task oriented), and an invitation to look for the blessings in the mess of life (I need that perspective), and gives practical advice for every gal to “meet people where they are.” Farmer Perry even chimes in with tips for planting seeds, harvesting watermelons and chopping down a Christmas tree.

Farmer Perry Tip

Sarah says taking care of God’s land is holy work, and reminds us we are all stewards. Maybe not of a farm, like she and Perry, but “Stewards of our home. Stewards of our family. Stewards of God’s land. And most importantly, stewards of God’s Word.”

Sarah sees joy in the canvas of the farm horizon and says we can find it, too, when storms dot our landscape. She says, “We don’t always choose change—sometimes change chooses us… We know we can bounce back from anything when we walk with (God). In an ever-changing world, the one thing we can trust will never change is the great I Am.”

I’m loving this new book from Sarah Philpott and can’t wait to try out her recipes for Blackberry Cobbler, Fried Apple Pies, Honeybun Cake and more!

I am giving away a copy of The Growing Season to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and answer this question, “What are you thankful for in this season of your life?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held three days from now, Sunday, November 7. I can’t wait to hear about your blessings!

Sally

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through The Blog About Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Contentment
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Book Review: The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff

The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff

The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff highlights what happens when cool agents Jake, Sophia and Brody face off against Albatross agents in their quest to foil cool agent plans. The misadventures of the lemonade brigade turn sour and send the agents scampering for a back-up plan.

Author and dad, Art Rainer is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Art is a self-proclaimed Albatross fighter who helps people make good money choices.

Right off the bat, we’re introduced to characters with secret intel given from the narrator to the reader. In that conspiratorial tone, we watch from a front row seat as Jake, Sophia, and Brody become cool agents with sunglasses and black suits. The trio take off to solve their first challenge and we hang on to the side of their rocket car for the adventure.

Art Rainer has managed to bring an entertaining element to learning about money management. A fun read for ages 8 – 12, this early-reader fiction provides math problems to solve and giving lessons to learn. It gives parents a solid foundation for talking about money principles and things kids like to be grossed out about, like used chewing gum and stinky body odor. Rainer even congratulates readers halfway through and rewards with unusual money facts.

An excellent book, The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff is one I can’t wait to share with my grands. I know it will bring laughter as the agents race to save their friend from the stinky Albies, agents of Albatross. You can get a copy, too. Hang on for the ride as you set out on your quest to learn how to Give, Save & Live God’s way!

Sally

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book from B & H Bloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Review: Claire’s Dad

Shad Arnold believes a dad is crucial to the upbringing of a daughter, and has written a book to explain why. Claire’s Dad: How I Earned the Title maps out the failures and successes he experienced as a father, and how others can embrace their role, as well.

Shad Arnold invests his life into countless children as the International Executive Director of Novitas Foundation. As dad to Claire and Blake, Shad advocates the greatest time of influence is while they are living in the home.
Shad calls the book a tool, a piece of equipment for your tool chest necessary for building a relationship with your daughter. He includes a recap after each chapter for reinforcement and a checklist for action steps. He says love, respect and chivalry are foundational for a dad to display to his daughter, as well as to her mom.
One of the benefits I gleaned was a better understanding of my husband’s relationship with my daughter. Their special bond creates an exclusive club, yet builds on our family relationships. Claire’s Dad: How I Earned the Title also helped me to see my dad, and this stage of his life, in a different light. We learn deductive reasoning, self-worth, and priorities through the relationships we cultivate in our families.
Are you looking for a Christmas gift for a new dad or a seasoned one? No matter what stage of life, men will benefit from the straightforward talk in Shad’s book. He shows how to give compliments that will affirm character, in spite of teenage self-sabotage. He reminds parents to take a stand for purity, a value that may save her life and choices. And he affirms the importance of a dad, even when relationships are rocky.
Get your copy here. I’m passing this one along to my son, as he raises the next generation of Ferguson women!
Sally

How do you cultivate your relationship with your daughter?

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Adams Group book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: The Daily Question for You and Your Child

@WaterBrookMultnomah #Partner #sponsored

What if you had a place to document your child’s thoughts, sayings and dreams? What if you could revisit it next year and add to it? There is such a place, and it’s called, The Daily Question for You and Your Child!
Waterbrook has compiled 365 conversation starters for your family to pursue. Some of your child’s responses will make you giggle and some will blow your socks off, but all will create opportunities for bonding around the dialogue. Over time, the name of the book will change to your child’s journal, as entries add up to document and become a time capsule of a life lived.
I love journaling with our kids! When mine were little, I had a spiral notebook where I jotted down their funny sayings. One day, they noticed me writing in it and wanted to know what I was doing. After that, they made sure I noted everything they said. The Daily Question for You and Your Child becomes a keepsake with those sayings!
The Daily Question for You and Your Child uses such unique starters as:
• What did you do this week that was really brave?
• What is the best way to show someone you’re sorry?
• If you could build anything, what would it be?
• What is something that made you laugh this week?
• If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
• What do you think is the best vegetable to eat, and the worst?
• What is a compliment someone has given you that made you happy?
• What is your favorite Bible verse?
• What made today different from yesterday?
• Name three special qualities God designed in you.
• What is something you could teach someone else?
• What are your three favorite things about God?
Get your own copy and start documenting your memories today!
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the WaterBrook/Multnomah book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: It’s a Jungle in Here

The animal kingdom gets center stage, in It’s a Jungle in Here. Tigers, leopards, lions and elephants share the same habitat as butterflies and Tucans. But, do they eat the same food?
Author and Illustrator, Kristie Wilde has created a children’s book that delights the eyes and intellect. It’s a Jungle in Here abounds with her watercolor illustrations and whimsical designs. She uses her degree in Forestry and her love of Jesus to tickle the fancy of young readers and old, alike. Other books in her Joyful Creation Series include Made For a Purpose and So Great a Love.
It’s a Jungle in Here contrasts animals to show the variety on our planet. Big and small, loud and quiet, all have a place in the ecosystem. But, Kristie turns the story to include all of us, because we all add variety to the world.
A glossary of animals rounds out the book with tidbits of insight into their behavior and preferences. Did you know, “An Okapi’s tongue is long enough that they can clean their eyes with it!”?

I chose the book to share with my grandchildren. Its pages are enticing with visually appealing storyline and it provides a beautiful reminder of God’s creativity. Get a copy for your family and watch them ooh and aah over the pages, too!
Sally
What’s your favorite animal fact?
Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review & a Giveaway: Brave Beauty

At an age when girls are beginning to make some of their own decisions, they need a friend to come alongside and give encouragement. Lynn Cowell has written Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You with 8 – 12 year olds in mind, and provides a calm voice for the tumultuous growing up years. Brave Beauty is a devotional, a short story compilation and a journal, wrapped up into one great resource.
Lynn Cowell is a mom of three who is passionate about helping others find confidence in God’s unfailing love. She brings fresh insights to stories from the Bible, telling them in ways preteens and adults alike can relate. Lynn puts her thoughts into words that draw the reader into character-building values.


Brave Beauty incorporates quizzes and questions to prompt brainstorming and introspection in the process of self-discovery. A Topical Index makes it easy to come back to favorite issues, and projects to tackle include writing a note, sitting with a new friend at lunch, ways to be brave, planting seeds, making bath salts, starting a gratitude journal, taking action steps and thinking about dreams to pursue.
In our world of easy access to news via social media, what child is immune to fear, the comparison trap or bullying? Lynn’s voice provides a safe haven to talk about the issues at hand, and reassurance of a God who sees and hears. She describes what a Brave Beauty Girl does to treat people with dignity and kindness. Lynn tackles self-esteem issues, reinforcing self-worth, defeating insecurity, and embracing courage and bravery.

I am a fan of this book! It speaks to me as an adult who also faces life-tests, and reminds me to cling to the One who helps me be brave. Isn’t that the best kind of gift we can give to the preteens in our lives?
Enter the drawing! I am giving away a gift pack of Brave Beauty and the NIV Faithgirlz Backpack Bible, courtesy of Zonderkidz Publishers, to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and answer this question, “How have you taught 1 Timothy 4:12 to the preteens in your life?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held six days from today, September 27. For an extra chance to win the drawing, leave a comment on my review of the NIV Faithgirlz Backpack Bible!
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through The BlogAbout Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

How I’m Planning to Adjust My Budget As I Enter the Workforce

Do you have a student who is graduating? Maybe this insight will be of benefit! ~ Sally

Guest Post by Lauren Davidson, a 20-something Millennial building a career

As a soon-to-be college graduate, the idea of earning my first paycheck is both exciting and daunting. It means freedom — and responsibility. While I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do more things, to have more cash flow, and to not rely on my parents for money, it is a major transition in my life, moving forward in search of my calling. I am moving into my adult life — and I need a budget to match.

The idea of budgeting may seem outdated, especially to those of us who grew up in the age of the internet and apps for everything. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be hard or old-fashioned. Apps like Mint and LearnVest make it easy to figure out how much money you have coming into your accounts — and how much you’re spending. I’m setting up Mint on my phone before graduation, to start the process of learning how to budget — setting myself up for success before I even begin work.

Once I know how much money I’ll have coming in each month, the real fun can begin. It will be time to figure out how much I could spend. First, the necessities: housing, utilities, student loans and other unavoidable expenses. I put together a list of everything that I absolutely have to pay, starting with my student loans. I already figured out if I had private or federal student loans, and whether I have a grace period for these loans (the 6-month period of time between graduation and when you start paying the loans). Although I do have a grace period on some of my loans, I will go ahead and make interest payments on those loans during that time — doing this can substantially cut down on the total amount owed overall. This is a good move, since student loans are my largest form of debt right now. Did you know that the average graduate borrower leaves college with upwards of $28,000 in student debt?

Knowing how much of my budget will be devoted to necessities, I’ll have a better understanding of how much money is left each month. I’ll allocate money for other necessities like groceries and entertainment, and then devote a chunk of money towards savings and retirement. The key for me is to automate both my savings and retirement, which is a painless way to make sure that I am putting away enough to meet my savings and retirement goals. I have learned that the key to a successful retirement is to start saving early — and to put away as much as I can afford each month. By figuring out my budget early on and setting up my account to automatically deposit money each month, I’m making the choice early on to prioritize my retirement savings.

I also took the time to figure out my big picture goals. It can be difficult to know where you want to be in a few years, financially speaking, when you’re just trying to get started in your career. By sitting down and coming up with a list of what I want to achieve, I’ll be able to set up a game plan for success. For me, the most important thing is to pay off my student loans, so I’ll craft my budget around finding extra money each month to put towards my monthly payments.

Learning how to budget fresh out of college can be challenging — but it is very doable with a little planning and preparation.

Guest Post by Lauren Davidson, a Senior at the University of Pennsylvania, double majoring in Communications and English.

http://laurdavidson.com

Book Review: God’s Easter Miracles

Author, Lee Ann Mancini and Illustrator, Dan Sharp have done it again, in creating adorable caricatures that are relatable and entertaining. In God’s Easter Miracles, sea creatures in vibrant colors tell a story in the saga of the Sea Kids.

Easter has come to the coralhood. The Sea Kids are looking forward to the egg hunt after church. One Sea Kid, Paul, is sad because he didn’t find an egg marked for the special prize. Jimmy has a dilemma when he is asked to share one of his eggs. All of the Sea Kids face a crisis when Brian’s brother is in a boating accident. How will they respond?

God’s Easter Miracles provides a story arc, problem solving for children, learning practical ways to care for others, and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It even has a hidden symbol that adds a puzzle to solve. I am delighted to recommend this gem to parents, grands, and all who love children. It tackles tough topics like autism, trauma, and the way God answers prayers, with sensitivity and compassion. And it opens the door for conversations with the little ones in your life, as you read about Jimmy the seahorse, Lenny the manatee, and all of the Sea Kids at Beneath the Sea Play Park. This is a book that extends beyond a holiday, to year-round faith-building fun!

Sally

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”