Some Reviews!

 OK, this part is not a "review" but an observation.  About myself.

I realized that I like love pizza.

I love any kind of pizza. (as in any brand name not any topping)

I like frozen, take out, any kind.

I like it cold, I like it hot.

I like the little bits my kids don't eat.

I like the crusts.

I like thin crust, I like thick crust.

I like deep dish.

 

Which brings me to my first "review"!

I'm on Weight Watchers again.

I love this program.

I can eat pizza on this program, but not much.

It sure shows how much we over-eat that's for sure!

 

This mascara!

It's the best!

I have been trying to find a new washable waterproof mascara

for over a year now and finally found one!

I love this stuff!

I, of course, buy the light side stuff, but it's OK if you like the dark side!

it doesn't clump, it washes off easy and looks amazing. 

 

 Nice transition into movie reviews, huh?

Have you seen the new Star Wars movie yet?

 

When is long enough to wait to actually talk about it?

It was SO GOOD!!

 

I loved so many things about it.

I loved how they joined the old with the new.

 

I loved how classy Princess Leia was.

Carrie Fisher really has grown old-er gracefully, don't you think?
I mean, she is older, and I love that she looks like that.
There is such a beauty in aging.
Seriously, how much of Christie Brinkley is actually Christie Brinkley?

Then, there's Harrison Ford.
Good ol' Han Solo, he still has his corny lines.

Everyone clapped when he was shown, as they did
with C-3PO and Chewy and R2-D2

 

I cried in this movie.

In this part.

It was a good cry.

It's good to cry.

 

Go. See the movie!

Then, maybe we can talk about it!

 

(this movie is still in the theaters)

 

 Onto Netflix movies!

(sorry for the blurry image)

 

This one was really really good!

I watched 3 times!

It is a French movie, so there are subtitles,

but there is not a lot of talking, because it's about a blind/deaf girl.

Think Helen Keller, only a newer movie, about a nun that teaches her!

 They did a really good job with portraying the sisters and the Church.

This is based on a true story.

This is a great movie for the whole family!

(well the ones that can read)

 

This is another movie about deaf people!

I also loved this one!

This one was not based on a true story though.

They did a good job of portraying deaf people and some of the things they go through.

It was a little corny, but cute.

Great for the whole family!

 

We watched this one last night!

I loved this one.

Good, also for the whole family!

 

Pan!

This one we had to rent.

(it's not on Netflix)

You can order it via Netflix though, through the mail.

I loved this movie!

I love finding good, clean, family-friendly movies!

 

This is not one of those movies.

I really liked this movie though.

It is for adults.

It's about 3 teens struggling with some severe mental issues.

The adults in this movie are very flawed, and I love movies about flawed people!

(as long as there is progress shown)

And there is.

Thumbs up!

(on Netflix)

 

Oh, my gosh!!

Upon some prompting from a friend that told me

she was sure I'd love this, I finally started watching it!

(via Netflix)

 

(thank you Kelly!)

 

I was sick for over a week, up all night coughing and have watched the whole dang thing now!!

2 seasons so far on Netflix and I thought it would last me a couple months at least!

 

He's the bad guy you hate to love.

Or is he?

And do you hate loving him?

I think not.

And

is he really a bad guy?

And dang it, is he really her father?

 

"I am your father"

(deep booming voice)

Oops.  Wrong movie...we're already done with Star Wars.

 

Back to The Blacklist. 

I can't wait for the next season to be on Netflix!

Thumbs up!

(adult show)

 

I'm still watching The Mentalist and loving it.

I'm towards the end of season 2 now.

 

Thumbs up on this one!

Light-hearted, not corny, yet serious enough to be a drama.

 

Tom and I watched this one the other night.

We rented it.

This one I liked, Tom didn't really.

 

I loved a lot of it, most of it, really.

But, as with most movies, there were some parts, that, you know, make it a little

harder for me to give it a total thumbs up for.

 

Like his love interest....why do they have to insinuate that they slept together?

And a few little things like that.

 

Other than that, really, I liked the rest, it was pretty good!

 

How's that for a wishy-washy review?

 

OK, onto music!

 

This is one of my new favorites!

 

Somehow, my daughter's One Direction CD got onto my iPod list

and

I love it!

(I know, I'm weird)

I like all the songs, but this one is my favorite.

 

 

My daughter was also listening to my music with me the other day

and when this song came on,

She said, "Of course you would like him! Charlie Poop!!"

 

I was like, "What?"

I love this song.

He's a kid.  A talented kid.

And I guess kids make fun of his name.

At least mine do.

 

Charlie Puth

 

I tend to like male singers more often than females.

I do like females, but not many compared to the male voice.

I like men.

My whole family teases me because of my male singer preference.

 

Here's another.

I heard it the other day on the radio

and found out it's actually an older song:

 

This is a great walking-on-the-treadmill song!

 

Yes, I read too!

This book is not out yet, but, I'm looking forward to ordering it!

HERE

 

I am reading this book right now.

It's really good.

HERE

 

 

I'm also reading this awesome book!

My priest suggested this book for me to read during lent

(I couldn't wait)

It's a "Can't put down" book!

HERE

 

There.

That should keep you busy for a while!

 

 

 

 

 

 





A Book Review!

My good friend, Becky has written a children's book!

I have pictures of Becky HERE.

 

She asked me if I'd review her book, The Little Flower. 

It's been such an honor to pray for her as she has gone through this long process!

 

 

I was so happy and excited to get my copy yesterday!

My pictures do not do this book justice!

The illustrations bring your imagination to what heaven might look like.

They actually brought me back to my childhood and what I thought of heaven.

It is so beautiful, just a treasure to hold and have.

The story is so sweet and my children loved it last night.

It sparked conversations of how we can do little things and

how much God loves us.

For little children, this is BIG!

It was also a great way to talk about the real life of St Therese,

known as "The Little Flower".

 

You can see the entire book HERE in PDF form.

 

I would like to share some love and do a giveaway!

So, leave me a comment for a chance to win this beautiful treasure.

 

I'll do the giveaway next week.

Enter by Wednesday, December 9th. (by commenting)

 

If you do not win, no worries!

You can order this beautiful book HERE

This would make a very special gift for your children, grandchildren, godchildren,

or any special child in your life.

 (my goddaughters will be receiving this soon!)

 

Giveaway is done! 

 



Reviews and Previews

If you have not read this book yet, you are missing out.

You can see great customer reviews HERE

I read this book a few years ago, 

and when I heard it was made into a movie and coming in November,

I had my 2 oldest read it.

It is a "can't put down" kind of book

They both read it within 2 weeks.

first one then the other.

We went to the movie last night

(5 buck free popcorn Tuesdays in Dec)

I was very impressed with the actors that portrayed the characters,

They did a wonderful job and I am so happy we had read the book first.

The woman that played Rosa, Liesel's Foster mama, 

did such a wonderful job of convincing us she was hard, yet soft at the same time.

And Max, loved his character too.
And the mayor's wife
and cute little Rudy
and of course Papa.

Of course we got to see the previews and 

I am kind of thinking this will be a good movie:

Interesting, huh?
Anyone want to go with me in February?
(This is not a Tom movie)
That's the girl from Downton Abbey that married
 the car guy!!

Since I'm on a roll here posting videos, 

Are you excited for Downton Abbey?

Premiering January 5th (PBS Masterpiece)

Just in case you need some help with the characters:

(like I do)

Now there's some new ones coming this season, 

I'll never be able to keep them straight...

I'm still mourning the mean daughter's husband, the heir guy's death.

Consoling the Heart of Jesus

 Consoling the Heart of Jesus

Book HERE

I've been reading this book over the past 2 1/2 weeks.

I'm almost done

It's actually written to be read in a retreat style weekend

but it can, of course be read like I've been reading

(every chance I get)

I've been wanting to write about this book,

but afraid of not doing it justice.

It's that good!

If you feel your faith life, or spiritual life is in the desert now,

this book is for you.

If you feel your faith life is right where it needs to be,

this book is for you.

If you feel there is no way you can add anything else,

 even one thing more,

this book is for you.

If you feel you need a change, or that God is calling you to a deeper

relationship with Him, 

this book is for you.

My copy is written on, marked up,

 highlighted, tabbed and has pieces of paper all throughout it.

I'm actually glad I am not doing it all in a weekend, 

I get to read some, contemplate it, 

pray about it,

and yearn for more!

(although, it would be very very nice to go to a hotel,

without the kids, and read all weekend!!)

It has been life changing, totally life changing, 

which has changed my soul.

My soul yearns like never before.

For Jesus.

To console Jesus.

Fr Michael E. Gaitley, quotes many saints,

 St Faustina, Saint Mother Theresa, 

St Maximilian Kolbe, St Louis de Montfort, 

Blessed John Paul II and St Therese to name a few.

I have been yearning more than I ever have

 to go to Mass

to go to Adoration, 

and just to pray and be close to Jesus.

(and to read more of this book!)

No wonder.

Fr. Gaitley talks about Christ's words from the Cross:

"I Thirst"

He tells us to tell Jesus,

I thirst for You, Jesus, 

help me to thirst for You more.

Please pour Your grace onto me, I beg You, 

fill me with Your Grace.

(those are my words, but that is what he explains to ask for)

He writes these meditations that take you right to Jesus.

He's really good at writing in terms you understand and can 

relate to.

I'm going to give you an example with the first meditation.

I was so on fire for our Lord after reading this, 

I could hardly contain myself.

(Beginning quote of Meditation)

We're at the bottom of the hill of Calvary, also known as Golgotha.  Look up the hill.  See Jesus at the top, hanging on the Cross.  He doesn't see us because he's surrounded by a huge crowd of people.

The people who surround the Cross laugh at Jesus.  They mock him and insult him right to his face.  They aren't afraid to go to him.  No, they go right up to him, laughing and even spitting at him.  The Lord loves them, but his Heart is broken because of their rejection, which means their own death, 

if they don't change, for he is Life.

Many dark shadows go in and out of the crowd.  They're demons.  They enjoy stirring up the crowd to mock and torture Jesus more.  Seeing us at the bottom of the hill, two of them approach.  The first one stands about seven feet tall, and his face is a featureless void.  He stops directly in front of you.  As he towers over you, he says in a terrible, hissing voice, "You jussst ssstay right where you are and everything will be jussst fine."  Meanwhile, the other demon, a ghost-like little creature no bigger than a sparrow, settles on your shoulder and whispers in your ear:

You don't belong here. Don't you have other things to do?

You don' tneed to be here.  This is much too painful for you to see.

  After all, aren't you the reason for that man's torture?

Don't you have some important business to take care of?

Isn't that television show you like so much going to start soon?

Go ahead.  Go take your mind off this.  There's nothing you can do.

Look at the huge crowd.  What difference is your being here going to make? 

These words are tempting.  Thoughts come into your mind: "Yes, what am I among so many?  Jesus won't notice if I go home.  He'll never even know I was here.  Besides, it's cold, and he'll probably be dead soon anyway."

So there you are at the bottom of the hill.  The crowd is overwhelming.  These demons are frightening.  You're a sinner aren't you?  Perhaps you've lost your right to be here since you've sinned so much, and really, what can one person do amid such a multitude of people?  Standing here, hesitating, you're stuck at the bottom of the hill.  Meanwhile, Jesus suffers alone.

What was that?  Did you hear it?  What's such a beautiful sound doing amid so much blasphemy and raucous laughter?  It's a woman's voice.  Sweetly, it begins to fill your soul, bringing it  light and peace:

Listen and put it into your heart, my dear little child. 

The thing that frightens you, the thing that afflicts you, 

is nothing.  Do not let it disturb you.  Am I not

here who am your Mother?  Are you not under my 

care and protection?  Am I not the source of your joy?

Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing 

of my arms?  Do you need something more?

Let nothing else worry you or disturb you.

Mary is with us.  Let's go with confidence to the foot of the Cross. Let's run there.  Nothing can harm us.  Mary is with us!  She'll teach us what to do.  Let's go console Jesus with Mary.

Filled with courage, we run up the hill.  Demons scream in horror as they're cast aside by some invisible force.  One cries out, "No! Don't let them!  Everything will be ruined!"  The ugly mob parts like the Red Sea, and some are struck dumb.  We arrive at the foot of the Cross.  Look up.  Behold that Heart which loves so much yet is so little loved.  Unfortunately, Jesus still doesn't see us.  His sorrowful gaze is on the crowd.

Turn to Mary.  Speak to her from your helplessness:

"Mary, what can I do?  I'm so weak, and I, too, have hurt Jesus and caused this."

Smiling, despite her tears, she tenderly speaks to you:

Just tell him.  Tell my Son that you love him.  Thank him for

what he is suffering right now out of love for you-

 he only sees the rejection of the crowd.

  You touch his cheek with your hand and direct his face toward yours. 

 Now he sees you.  You smile and speak to him from your heart:

Lord, don't look at them.

  Look at me...Lord Jesus, even though my sins are many,

 I know the mercy of your Heart

I'm sorry I was afraid to go to you.  

I'm sorry I left you alone.  But look, here I am

Please forgive me my sins.

I'm going to try to do better.

Please forgive them their sins, too. 

Lord, if only they knew you, they'd love you.

Lord, I can't offer much right now,

except for my weak trust and love.

Jesus, I do trust in you, and I love you.

Praise you Jesus, and thank you for everything, 

especially for what you're suffering right now

friend.  Don't be sad.  I love you, and there's nowhwere

else I'd rather be than right here, praising you, 

thanking you, and consoling your broken Heart. 

(End of Meditation)

This did it in for me!!

Wow, I was right there!!

Were you?

There are a lot more wonderful meditations 

in this great book! 

I want to keep that yearning 

and still take care of my family.

 I think they go hand in hand.

One makes the other stronger, if I let it.

It's that balance of my vocation as a wife and mother, 

and yet still a child of God.

Although, I'd rather go to Mass and stay for Adoration 

for hours, I know I must take care of my family.

and that makes me thankful to God that I have 

the opportunity to do so.

  

A main theme of the whole book is Trust, Praise and Thanksgiving 

in all things!

You know I love that, right?

That's what my "Thankful Thursdays" are all about

Seeing all the blessings in our life, no matter how small, 

and even sometimes the hard things, the struggles.

(like snow in October or messy houses)

Here's a quote that spoke to my heart:

"Jesus, I thirst for you. Help me to thirst for you more.

Use me, Jesus.  

Form me into a saint. 

Make up for all my faults.

I trust in you.  With Mary's help, I give you my yes."

"Form me into a saint."  !! 

Did you read that?

Lord, make me a saint. 

A prayer I pray often.

In fact a lot of the things in the book 

were things I do and pray all the time, 

but it was more.

More intense, deeper.  

So much more.

(the above picture is a picture of a Monstrance, which holds Jesus, in the Eucharist, we, as Catholics, believe once the bread and wine is consecrated during Mass, it becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus)

(John chapter 6--Jesus says it 6 times in a row)

Now, of course, if you've ever done daily Mass,

or weekly Adoration, you already know that 

somehow the Holy Spirit works in your soul 

and you start to yearn for more.

More often, more Jesus.

When we do the bare minimum, 

it seems our souls become content and 

the yearning is gone, the fire within extinguishes.

But not completely.

Something like this comes along 

and we are on fire again. 

Gaitley has a lot more in store for you in the book.

He has ways of thinking about prayer,

ways to imagine your soul and your spiritual life

so much so that you feel it.  

You feel the grace working in your soul.

Grace.

We all need grace, right?

I love his spiritual book suggestions, and of course he 

suggests the Bible as the first book to read for your spiritual reading.

I admit, I struggle with what to read in the Bible.

I have my favorite quotes, I love the Sunday Gospels,

but to pick it up and just read...I struggle.

He gives suggestions where to start and how to do it.

(I can't wait!)

He also has an appendix that he includes 

selections from St Faustina's Diary.

I have her whole book 

and it's huge!!  

It's kind of nice to have it broken down

into selections like

 Knowledge/Love and Loneliness/Longing

 like he has done for you.

Have I convinced you yet to order this book?

Order HERE

And because Colleen and Madeline told me to, I'm linking up
HERE
Housewifespice has weekly book link ups,
Christine, you'd love it!

Great Book!

 I read this at least 10 times per day. 

And it makes me laugh every time.  

The end has a twist!  

(a funny kid kind of twist)

Great book!

A Book Review and My First Giveaway!!

When author Sharon Altman contacted me about reviewing her  Advent adventure book,

which she wrote with her daughter Christine Winkelman,

I started thinking about how rich our Advents are

and how much we, as Christians and Catholics do to prepare 

for the infant Christ.

She had me very excited and I didn't have to wait long, 

I received the book the very next day!

I've read about half of the book's 24 chapters 

and 

am stopping myself to start over and share with my children when Advent begins

(18 days to be exact I believe!)

The book has 24 chapters, which is perfect for each day in December leading up to 

Christmas Eve, but, I need that extra time for those times when we might miss a day!
(so I'm starting when Advent begins)

This book was a delight.

The chapters are short enough to do every night and not feel pressured to "fit it in".

At the end of each chapter, the authors wrote a page called

"Travel Guide to the Past"

where they explain customs and facts about the era of time and geography.

It's really interesting.

Another thing I really liked was, at the beginning of the book,

The authors came up with a list of 24 items, one for each chapter, 

to be wrapped up and opened each day.

The items are mostly found in your home,

or are very inexpensive.

(things like the camel from your Nativity set, or the sheep, dates, pistachios, a pear or an orange)

I'm going to quote here from the back of the book so you have an idea what the story is about:

"Two boys, Isaac and Jediah, experience adventure while traveling through ancient Palestine.

As their journey unfolds, the boys find themselves at the heart of the Nativity Story and gradually

realize God's greatest promise, the birth of the Messiah, is at hand."

I would like to giveaway 2 copies of this book to you readers

(my very first giveaway!) 

Leave your name and how to contact you in my comment box.

(email info)

I will have a drawing on Monday, November 14 and post the winners here!

Last chance to enter will be Sunday evening, November 13th

(So, if you don't win, you'll have a chance to order in time for Advent!)

THIS IS NOW CLOSED!
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!!
I'LL POST WINNERS TOMORROW!

One Thousand Gifts--My Thoughts So Far

I got this book (below) in the mail Friday.

I'd been wanting it since I saw it many months ago on someone else's blog.

I think I actually saw something on this person's blog that had listed their

one thousand gifts. I liked it.

I tried to link up, but it didn't work.

That's when I decided to just start up my Thankful Thursday posts.

I found it even better.

No linking up

Just simple thanksgiving every week.

We all need a little gratitude in our lives.

When I finally decided to get it,

the book was only like

10 bucks, so I ordered it.

I love it.

It is written by Ann Voskamp, who is not a Catholic.

So her writing is from a Protestant point of view.

I have a really good friend who is Protestant.

She is one of my closest friends.

Although there are some things that we differ on when it comes to our faith,

there are far more that we share and have in common.

If we dwell on the differences, which come up once in a while,

then, well, our friendship won't work.

But, if we concentrate on our similarities,

well, then, we have so much to give each other.

The above picture is what we, as Catholics, believe about the Eucharist.

It is central to our faith.

I yearn to receive Him daily.

I yearn to spend time with Him, our Eucharistic Lord, in Adoration.

I, SO want to share this with our Protestant friends,

this yearning in my heart,

that only He can put there.

Immediately, after receiving our Lord in Holy Eucharist,

I have a multitude of "Thank You's" in my heart, I can't even

concentrate on the Communion music, I have to get those "Thank You's" out.

Now, I guess this book has some controversy surrounding it.

I was unaware of any controversy before purchasing it.

I have only read 2 chapters so far.

Not because I don't like the book,

actually,

I have a hard time putting it down

But, having 5 children,

I must at times.

(put it down)

So far, though,

I really am loving this book.

She uses the term "Eucharisteo"

and it's meaning, it's literal meaning.

Grace

Thanksgiving

Joy

Reading this, I am even more in love with our Eucharistic Lord

It has brought even more meaning to me, as a Catholic.

Her Protestant words, have brought me closer to my Catholic faith.

It has me wondering if she will ever feel the fullness in complete?

The fullness I feel about my Catholic faith when reading her words.

For what it's worth,

those are my thoughts so far.

Book Review--Red in the Flower Bed

Red in the Flower Bed

I was asked to give a book review a while ago, I picked Dec 9th, is it already Dec 9th?

That sounded so far away back then.

Well, Red in the Flower Bed, by Andrea Nepa, is a sweet and loving look at how through the journey of a seed, there is purpose for everything, as the seed finds his home in a new flower garden. The beautiful art pulls you into the story.

Red in the Flower Bed is a wonderful, simple way to explain adoption to children.

Book Review--Little Star

I was asked by Anthony DeStafano, the author of Little Star, to read a review copy and see if my readers might like this cute Nativity story about the star of Bethlehem.

I love Christmas books.

Little Star does not disappoint and I think it will become one of our favorites.

I love stories that have signs or symbols that turn out to be all for our Lord's birth.

Little Star is just that, a star bursting with love for our Lord.

"He was only aware of the child in the cold stable."

I love that line from the book.

Words we can ponder in our own lives, to focus only on Jesus.