win a Read and Share Bible!

If you'd like to win a Read and Share Bible (reviewed here) please enter your name in the comments (here or below the review). 

I will draw one name and announce the winner here on March 31, 2011.

(Sorry, but this offer is only for residents of Canada and the continental USA.)

....and the winner is Peacelady!

If you could please contact me by email with your address, I'll send the book your way ASAP.

reflection

Cloud shopping

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: SOFT (Pillows, Toys, Snow, Baby, Focus,...)

that's more like it! (#367-377 of 1000 gifts)

It got as high as 15 C last week! (which is 59-ish for you Fahrenheiters). That's more like it! It appears that Spring is getting the message.

Other gifts from the week that was:

368. There's a pink blush on the trees that greet us as we enter our townhouse complex...

369. ...and daffodils...

370. ...and these nameless flowers on our walk.

371. I had a fun evening with poetry friends. (How do you like our website? I'm the techie who set it all up!)

372. A fellow-writer gave me a tip and a sample.


373. Geese honking from the roof of the spring-break-deserted school, as if to say, "In case you didn't know, we're in charge here this week."

374. New online friends met through Twitter, blog memes and Mr. Linkies.

375. Some excellent curling courtesy Canada' s entry into the Women's World Cup. Amber Holland & Co. - we love you! Congratulations for bringing home the SILVER!!

376. An inspiring book about a neurosurgeon who prays for his patients. (Gray Matter by David Levy and Joel Kilpatrick was a free Kindle download a few weeks ago. Wonderful read!)

377. A lovely Sunday walk where my camera kept tugging to all the moss.

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

green

Underwater green - Vancouver Aquarium

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: REFLECTIONS (Mirrors, Windows, Water, Sunglasses,...)

March gray (#358-366 of 1000 gifts)

Gray has been the colour of March so far. (It is Spring Break, after all. I do recall much rainy weather during Spring Break when my kiddoes were young). Nevertheless, life has many gifts that are offset beautifully against a background of gray.

358. It's tax time and time to shred old records. I love my Aurora paper shredder. What a vicious little machine.

359. Crocuses make an appearance.

360. Pieris too.

361. Flannel sheets for cold spring nights.

362. A fun project on Flickr.

363. Our very own adult tea party. That’s how I think of the poetry afternoons I spend with wordsmithing buddies.

364. A Sunday walk at the beach.

365. Followed by a Greek lunch at Cosmos.

366. Followed by a Sunday afternoon visit with son.

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

book review: Read and Share Bible by Gwen Ellis

MA

If you’re looking for a way to share Bible stories with your four-to-eight-year-old, the Read and Share Bible may be just the book for you. It contains over 200 Bible stories retold by “Read and Share” best-selling author Gwen Ellis. It’s also a visual delight with over 400 colorful illustrations by U.K. artist Steve Smallman.

Each titled and illustrated story consists of a mere two-page spread, perfect for the short attention span of little people. Each story’s Bible reference is noted just under the title making it easy for adult readers to find the complete story in a regular Bible should they want to.

Text in a box at the bottom right-hand page of each two-page segment serves a variety of purposes:

For example, sometimes it entices the reader/listener on to the next segment. After Moses gets his assignment at the burning bush we read: “Whenever God asks us to do hard things, He will help us. Let’s see how He helped Moses” - p. 109.

At other times it suggests an application. Below the story of David killing the giant we read: “David was brave and he trusted God. God will help us in scary times if we ask Him” - p. 203.

At still other times it serves to stimulate discussion. Below the story of Jesus’ birth we read: “Why do you think God would want His son to be born where animals were kept?” - p. 301.

This Bible also contains a gift-inscription page and a Tips page with four ideas on how to use of the book. The Table of Contents includes each story’s title and Bible reference. The stories follow the chronology of the Bible with all the stories about each character grouped together.

The book’s sturdy hardcover binding and good quality glossy paper make it one that will stand up under hours of use by little hands.

I like the author’s to-the-point style. Though each entry is short (under 100 words) the telling is clear and vivid. The scope of the book is interesting with stories of lesser-known Bible characters (like Balaam and Deborah) sprinkled amongst the usual Bible story fare. The discussion bits are written in a warm, friendly tone that invites participation. Read the story of Noah as a sample.

This book would be a wonderful addition to any home, preschool, kindergarten, early elementary school, or church library. It could be used as a book for adults to read to youngsters or for beginning readers to read themselves. If there is a little person in your life who needs a first Bible, the Read and Share Bible would be an excellent choice.

DO YOU WANT ONE? 

I have an extra copy to give-away!

If you’d like a chance to win a copy of the Read and Share Bible, enter your name in the comments below (only Canada and continental USA please). I will draw one name and announce the winner here on Thursday, March 31st.

....and the winner is Peacelady!

If you could please contact me by email with your address, I'll send the book your way ASAP.


I received this book as a gift from the publisher for the purpose of writing a review.


Article first published as Book Review: Read and Share Bible: More than 200 Best-loved Bible Stories by Gwen Ellis on Blogcritics.

metal

Snail's fortune

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Thursday Challenge

Next week: GREEN (Plants, Cloths, Cars, Toys, Houses,...)

earth beneath my feet (#350-357 of 1000 gifts)

The horrific videos and still shots of the Japan earthquake and tsunami aftermath hold special fascination for us on the west coast. We are, after all, very near a similarly converging triplet of continental plates. A Saturday headline noted the unusual number of people buying earthquake kits.

Of course there's no way we can predict if or when we could experience something similar. But today I am thankful for stable ground and ordinary life with a warm dry house, electricity, clean water...

Other gifts I have enjoyed this week:

351. Three years (last Saturday ) with a very special little guy in our lives.

352. A longstanding problem — on the verge of being solved.

353. Exotic critters paying a visit to our creek.

A pair of Hooded Mergansers, and a Blue Heron

354. Great Bible teaching from our pastor and one of my favourite TV preachers.

355. An introduction to Young Life (an organization that works effectively with youth) through a new friend at an evening event with some very tasty desserts.

356. A sane schedule to be able to work on a couple of projects with due dates.

357. A favourite team winning the Brier.

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

many

A constellation of starfish (Vancouver Aquarium)

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Thursday Challenge

Next week: METAL (Metallic, Steel, Bronze, Gold, Iron, Shinny,...)

march multitude (#339 − 349 of 1000 gifts)

The past week has flown by with out-of-town company. (What a good excuse to give my office a break!) Our guests were just one of last week's gifts, which also included:

340. A fun birthday celebration (a DQ ice-cream cake doubled the sweetness)!

341. Morning walks in cold, brisk air.

342. A visit with some very dear elders.

343. Seeing our missionary family off to Uganda.

My brother with his soon-to-depart grandkids, at the Vancouver International Airport.

Last supper with niece, hubby and kids. They have probably arrived home in Uganda by now.

Two cuties posing with an R.C.M.P. mascot at the airport

344. More free Kindle books (Friend Nora St. Laurent for the up-to-date skinny on those)

345. Shaw on Demand (the armchair way to rent movies). We watched The Social Network Saturday night. With a glimpse into all that behind-the-scenes history, Facebook will never feel quite the same to me.

346. The Bible — in English.


347. Three new books to read and review.

348. A whole week of curling to look forward to (the Brier!).

349. A couple of interesting projects with due dates creeping closer. My office will see lots of me this week.

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

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