Goals for 2020

For the last few years, I've done goals for what I want to do in the year.  I schedule blog posts to post on the last day of each month, but half of the months, I didn't remember to go in and enter the amounts for the things I did! I'm going to alter my goals for this year to be a little more generic since I had put specifics like "Sculpt x babies, tat x crosses, knit x hats..." but then I don't do those specific things, but I crochet 5 teapots and knit 4 pairs of socks, but they aren't "counted" because I didn't put them on my goal list. I want to be more specific in my writing goals, however, and not just that I want to write each month.

My goals for 2020:

• Write everyday at least a minimum of 100 words
• Write 500 words a day
• Write 12,000 words a month
• Be creative
• Tat
• Crochet
• Knit
• Sculpt
• Exercise 5 days a week
• Read my Bible everyday
• Blog more than book reviews
• Read books

Book Review: "NIV Investigator's Holy Bible"

"NIV Investigator's Holy Bible" is geared for children ages 6-10. It is all done in shades of blue and orange. The words are blue and the headings are orange. I was impressed with how many special features this Bible contained. I think that this Bible truly will help kids investigate God's Word. The special features are "The Evidence" (Introduce the book, tell what kind of book it is, who wrote it, & what happens), "Break through!" (tells about special words, why a character does something, cultural differnces, & etc), "The Witnesses" (tells the meaning of Bible characters' names), "The Scene" (tells about where an event took place), "Check the Facts" (short quiz about the book), "Case Closed" (summary of the book, how to apply it, etc), Cross References, "Table of Weights and Measures", "Index to Features" (lists all of the other special features to make it easy to find them), a fairly large Concordance, and 8 maps (blue toned). Scattered throughout the pages are little pictures of a little bird doing different things. I really liked this Bible and all that it offers. I think this Bible would be a great asset to help children to learn about the Bible.

"NIV Investigator's Bible" is available in hardcover:

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 1 - 5
• Hardcover: 1792 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (February 7, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310758769
• ISBN-13: 978-0310758761
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 2 x 8.7 inches

I got a free copy of this Bible. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received.

Book Review: "NIrV Minecrafters Bible"

@Zonderkidz "NIrV Minecrafters Bible" is geared to appeal to 6 - 10 year olds who love Minecraft. On the back cover it says, in part, "Do you ever feel like it's more fun to exist in the computer world than the real one? Is that the only place you can control your destiny? Well, God is the original great world builder, and he gave us the power and the skills we need to make changes in the real world. " I was disappointed that the Bible didn't have any aids or special features.  It only has a dictionary and "Great Stories of the Bible" list. I did like the 24 full color pages done in a Minecraft-esque way. These pictures have a title and short summary of that Bible story. They also have a section that says "What to Read" and "What to Do". This section ties the Bible story into something they could do in Minecraft. I liked how it got them actively involved in the Bible by using something they really enjoy. This Bible is not an official Minecraft product and is not affiliated with Mojang.

 "Minecrafters Bible" is available in hardcover:

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 1 - 5
• Hardcover: 1152 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (June 7, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310754976
• ISBN-13: 978-0310754978
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 1.1 x 8.8 inches

or in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 11457 KB
• Print Length: 1152 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (June 7, 2016)
• Publication Date: June 7, 2016
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B01863JT4A

I received a free copy of this Bible. All opinions and thoughts are my own and voluntarily given. No compensation was received.

Book Review: "Faith Builders Bible"

The "Faith Builders Bible" is a New International Reader's Version meant for children aged 6-10.  This version is a simplified version of the regular NIV Bible. Other than the 12 double sided full color pages that feature Lego-type creations to portray Bible stories, this Bible is rather plain. The Bible itself has no special features other than a dictionary and a list of "Great Bible Stories". The full color pages topics include: Noah Builds an Ark, Animals 2 x 2, Building the Tower of Babel, The Ten Commandments, Building the Tabernacle, Solomon Builds God's Temple, Bringing Down Jericho, Samson's Demolition, David Defeats Goliath, Psalm 23: A Psalm of David, Jesus is Born, Feeding a Crowd, A Change of Heart (Zacchaeus), Jesus Walks on Water, The Last Supper, Jesus and the Cross,  The Lord's Prayer, The ABCs of Salvation, The Fruit of the Building With a Strong Foundation, a presentation page, Building with the Books of the Bible, and Can You Build.... These pages give a brief overview of the story and a "Building Block Verse" to go along with it.

My sons like LEGO bricks so I thought this would be a cute Bible for them. The full color pages are cute, but overall, this Bible is not what I expected and I was disappointed in it.

The "Faith Builders Bible" is available in hardcover:

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Hardcover: 1152 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (October 27, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310754631
• ISBN-13: 978-0310754633
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 6511 KB
• Print Length: 1152 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (October 27, 2015)
• Publication Date: October 27, 2015
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0108NQ4ZI

I was given a free copy of this Bible by the zblogsquad in order for me to give an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.

Book Review: "NKJV Adventure Bible"

The "NKJV Adventure Bible" is a great Bible for children of the ages 8-12.  It is full of colorful elements in a jungle safari theme.

The features include:

• Life in Bible Times (tells what life was like)
• Words to Treasure (Important verses to learn)
• Did You Know?  (Facts to help you understand the Bible)
• People in Bible Times  (Up close look at important people of the Bible)
• Live It!  (Activities to help you apply the truths in the Bible to your life)

The Bible also gives introductions to each book of the Bible

• Who wrote the book
• Why it was written
• What happens in the book
• Who was the book written for
• What do we learn about God in the book
• Who is the key person in the book
• When and where did it happen
• Some stories that take place the book

I thought all of these features made this Bible interesting and relevant for kids.  The 20 special pages in all color jungle safari theme will also be appealing to children.  I also liked the color maps, concordance, and subject index.  

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Series: Adventure Bible
• Hardcover: 1568 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (October 14, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310746264
• ISBN-13: 978-0310746263
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.6 x 8.7 

I received a free copy of this Bible from ZonderKidz in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: 'The Super Heroes Bible in 3D"

I was given a free copy of "The Super Heroes Bible in 3D" from Zondervan through the Z Blog Squad in exchange for my honest review.

"The Super Heroes Bible in 3D" is in the New International Reader's Version, which apparently is an easier to read/understand version of the regular NIV.  

"The Super Heroes Bible in 3D" intrigued my children.  It has silver on the edges of the pages with holographic circles.  The kids really liked this feature but it was hard on my eyes  (I get migraines and shifting lights are a trigger).  It is really cool, I just couldn't look at it long.

The 40 color 3D pictures are the kind that need glasses with a red and blue lens to look right, but there is a pair of 3D glasses included with the Bible and it has a little velum pocket on the inside of the front cover to hold it.  The glasses are a heavy duty cardstock, but will wear after time and depending on  the amount of care they are given.

The back cover gives a "Super Hero Decoder" that the reader can use to "decode" the traits of the heroes of the Bible.  Each book of the Bible has an introduction that tells about the  theme of the book and which super heroes are in that book.  There are character sketches throughout the Bible that tell more about that person, what super hero traits they exhibited, and how the reader can be like the person.  There are also write ups about people who fail and they list a (not!) behind their name so the reader knows they aren't someone to live like.  

I liked the "Power Surge" notes that highlight key verses and what character traits are shown in it (complete with secret codes from the decoder)   We found the blue ink harder to read and focus on.  We would have preferred black.

The back of the Bible has a Super Hero Bible quiz to see if the reader can figure out who the clues are talking about,  an index to the pictures, the Traits of a Super Hero (the same as the decoder on the back cover except it also lists the pages these traits are found), and a dictionary.

I think the "Super Heroes Bible in 3D" would be great for elementary children, epecially boys.

The 'Super Heroes Bible in 3D" has a list price on $32.99 and can be purchased online here.

Book Review: "Young Women of Faith Bible" in NIV

Through the Z Blog Squad, I was given a Hardcover copy of "Young Women of Faith Bible: NIV" from ZonderKidz in order for me to write a review.

I liked the look of the cover.  It was bright and cheerful with it's orange and pink and yellow.  There are several features in the Young Women of Faith Bible that make it helpful to girls.  There are Book Introductions before each of the books of the Bible telling who wrote them and why.  The Side Notes help clarify passages of the Bible or explain life in Bible times. Weekly Bible Studies help the girls apply truths from the Bible to their own lives. The Weekly Bible Studies and some of the Side Notes are linked to the "NIV Women of Faith Study Bible" so mothers and daughters can study together!  Throughout the Bible are "I Believe" sections that are statements of faith and belief.  Journal entries are written from a girl's perspective so the reader feels like they aren't the only one that may struggle with something. There are also Memory Verses that are written out in a bright colorful font making it easy for the girls to find and memorize them.  This Bible also has footnotes, a Concordance, and maps. There is also a chart that shows the equivalent American and metric measurements for Biblical weights and measures. 

The Young Women of Faith Bible: NIV is listed as being for ages 8 years and up and I agree with that assessment. 

You can purchase a hardcover "Young Women of Faith Bible:  NIV" for $21.59 on Amazon.com.

• Age Range: 8 and up 
• Hardcover: 1696 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (March 11, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310730864
• ISBN-13: 978-0310730866
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 1.8 inches

Review: Waterproof Bible by Bardin & Marsee Publishing

When my package from Bardin & Marsee Publishing arrived, I tore it open in excitement!  My review Waterproof Bible ESV New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs had arrived!  It was even nicer than I expected.  I riffled the pages and enjoyed the way they moved just like any other book.  The pages didn't seem plastic but rather like ones from a children's picture book (I have a lot of those around with which to compare!) and much nicer than a paperback. The pages are about 3 times as thick as a regular Bible's pages.

I stuck it in my purse and carried it with me.  I would pull it out and admire it.  I loved the smoothness of the pages and how you can't see the backside print through the paper.  I wrote my name in the front in pencil (and I could erase it, too), underlined my favorite verse in ballpoint pen, and another favorite verse with a "pencil crayon".  I tried using a regular highlighter but it washed right off. 



But I couldn't bring myself to do anything else to test the Bible out!  I am so used to taking extra care of my Bible, I mean it's the BIBLE!  Then we had a nice rainy day and I forced myself to take the Waterproof Bible outside.  I was supposed to be testing it out for my review afterall!

Andy looked at the Waterproof Bible in the rain while we waited for his bus:

I tossed the Waterproof Bible in a puddle:

Then put it into the muddy leaves and muck from the rain:

It washed right off under the running water!

 I set it on it's spine infront of the heat vent:

As good as new:

It gives the information about how to care for the Waterproof Bible on the bottom of the Table of Contents:

When it came time for the boys' bath, I wanted to test out the Waterproof Bible's ability to float:

It floats!

Andy enjoyed reading the Waterproof Bible in the bathtub and holding it under the water and then letting go to watch it rise to the surface ☺

The Waterproof Bible is very sturdy and well made.  It is made of synthetic paper that is stain and tear resistant which is first sewn with synthetic thread and then glued with waterproof glue.

It is sewn with synthetic thread before being glued

The Waterproof Bible is available in 5 translations with 3 cover choices in both the full Bible or New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs.

Translations available include

1. King James Version (KJV)
2. New King James Version (NKJV)
3. English Standard Version (ESV)
4. New Living Translation (NLT)
5. New International Version (NIV) (2011 version)

The available covers are blue, pink, or (tree bark) camo:

  

The New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs is 4 1/4" x 7" x 5/8" thick and weighs about a ½ pound.  The full Bible is 6" x 9" x 1" thick and weighs about 2 pounds.

I loved the Waterproof Bible ESV New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs so much, I bought a full version!

Having both the full Bible and the New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs, I decided to compare the two:

They both have cross references, foot notes, and section headings but the full Bible adds book intros before each book of the Bible.   The full Bible's section headings were bold print and the New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs had italicized section headings. 

I have been leaving my New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs on the table where my kids do their Quiet Time Bible devotions.  Spills seem to be a common occurance on this table, and now I don't have to worry about my Bible getting ruined!  I think that the Waterproof Bible would work great for baptisms and for members of the armed services. I can also see it being great for camping or for our Civil War reenactments when it tends to be quite damp in the mornings. 

I think that at $24.95 for the New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs and $44.95 for the full Bible, the Waterproof Bible is a good price comparable to the price of regular Bibles with the added benefits that come with having a waterproof Bible!

Bardin & Marsee Publishing also sells accessories like waterproof Bible jackets, all weather journals, dry highlighters, bookmark magnifiers, Bible index tabs, and hats.

To read what other reviewers had to say about the Waterproof Bible, click here.

I recieved a free copy of an ESV Waterproof Bible New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs in exchange for my honest review.  I did not recieve any other form of compensation.  Each person is different, so your opinions my differ from mine.

Jonah and the Big Fish

I found these pictures and thought it was cool how it shows there ARE fish big enough to swallow a man!