Book Review and Giveaway:  The Promise Box written by Tricia Goyer

About the book

Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive ‘resident’ status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai, Montana to give comfort to her father after her mother’s death.
She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother’s most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational ‘tell-all’ book about the Amish. Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride. Will the pain of her childhood—and her potential betrayal of her community—keep her from committing her whole heart?

About the author

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of one, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites. In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired.

My Reflections on the book

Do you have a friend or family member that you feel is just lost? They have no direction in life or it’s the wrong direction? If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to witness someone changing their life for the better, you know it can be a powerful experience. A rewarding experience as well. That’s how The Promise Box made me feel—->rewarded.

Most of us have our own emotional baggage that we carry. We may have been betrayed, used, abused, neglected, suffered through feelings of guilt, or blamed ourselves. Lydia and Gideon had emotional baggage too but through patience, kindness, prayer, and trust, they each shed the weight of their baggage. Can this be done in real life and not in the pages of a book? I believe it can as I have done it. Want to know how to release all that burden? Let go and let God guide you. Love yourself. Love others. Take chances. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Slowly read the words in The Promise Box. Soak in the story.  The lessons woven into each page will guide you as you work on letting go of all that wears you down. You’ll feel lighter in the end.

I am giving The Promise Box a 5/5 rating.

**Special note:  I love that the author included characters from past books. It made me smile as I discovered what a few of my favorites had been up to {e.g., Ben and Marianna}.

Would you like to learn more about Tricia Goyer? You can follow her on Facebook , Twitter or visit her website.

You can find my previous reviews of Tricia’s books here.

Giveaway Time

One lucky entrant is going to win a copy of The Promise Box and The Memory Jar {both written by Tricia Goyer}. These are physical copies of the books. You must reside in the US to enter and you must be age 18 or older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Sponsored: Book Review + Giveaway: The Promise Box @triciagoyer {US} #books appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

Image Credit: tumblr.com/tagged/catchers

In my opinion, dream catchers are absolutely fascinating and beautiful. They are a Native American tradition and have been around for generations. Traditional dream catchers are intended to protect people who are sleeping from negative, bad dreams while still letting the positive, good dreams come through. The good dreams go through the hole in the center of the dream catcher and then glide down the feathers to the person sleeping below. This of course is why people say that dream catchers should always hang over your bed, otherwise it won’t work. It is said that the bad dreams get caught up in the web during the night and once the sun rises and shines on the dream catcher, they get destroyed. Native Americans and of course others, truly believe that dream catchers have the power to catch all of your dreams; trapping the bad ones in the web, and only letting the good dreams pass through the hole in the middle. When I was a kid, I even had one in my room.

Traditional dream catchers are made using a hoop of willow and decorating it with bits and pieces of everyday life (feathers, arrow heads, beads, shells, etc). Of course modern dream catchers are similar; however, they are also very different. They are more… decorated and fancier looking as you could say. Well, I have made the decision that I am finally going to attempt to make a dream catcher of my own! I’m pretty excited but nervous at the same time lol. I will soon post it when I’m finished; I’m going to include directions as well!

Traditional Dream Catchers VS Modern Dream Catchers: 

Image Credit: nativepeoplephotographer.typepad.com/native_american_stock_pho/2009/01/dreamcatchers.html

Image Credit: windinourheart.blogspot.com/2012/01/dream-catcher.html

Image Credit: 123rf.com/photo_6472338_painting-of-a-traditional-native-american-dreamcatcher-decorated-with-fur-and-feathers.html

Image Credit: pinterest.com/hscruggs20/history-i-find-neat/

Image Credit: coyotescorner.com/catchers.htm

Above are examples of traditional Native American dream catchers; Below are modern dream catchers.

Image Credit: pinterest.com/1800pin/dream-catcher/

Image Credit: tumblr.com/tagged/brown dream catcher

Image Credit: genesisimports.net/buy/Dream Catchers/Dream Catchers/white-dream-catcher-13×22.html

Image Credit: tumblr.com/tagged/dream catchers?before=125

Image Credit: crystallabyrinth.co.uk/dream;catchers.htm

As you can see, they are very similar. However, the differences are noticeable. I think the major difference is that Native American were mostly concerned with the meaning and spiritual belief of the dream catchers and today, people are more concerned with perfection, looks, and decoration. This of course is just my opinion.

Here’s a little history about dream catchers:

“The original web dream catcher of the Ojibwa was intended to teach natural wisdom. Nature is a profound teacher. Dream catchers of twigs, sinew, and feathers have been woven since ancient times by Ojibwa people. They were woven by the grandfathers and grandmothers for newborn children and hung above the cradleboard to give the infants peaceful, beautiful dreams. The night air is filled with dreams. Good dreams are clear and know the way to the dreamer, descending through the feathers. The slightest movement of the feathers indicated the passage of yet another beautiful dream. Bad dreams, however, are confused and confusing. They cannot find their way through the web and are trapped there until the sun rises and evaporates them like the morning dew.

Originally the Native American dream catcher was woven on twigs of the red willow using thread from the stalk of the stinging nettle. The red willow and twigs from other trees of the willow family, as well as red twig dogwood can be found in many parts of the United States. These twigs are gathered fresh and dried in a circle or pulled into a spiral shape depending upon their intended use. They used natural feathers and semi-precious gemstone, one gemstone to each web because there is only one creator in the web of life

The dream catcher has been a part of Native American culture for generations. One element of Native American dream catcher relates to the tradition of the hoop. Some Native Americans of North America held the hoop in the highest esteem, because it symbolized strength and unity. Many symbols started around the hoop, and one of these symbols is the dream catcher.

Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with dreams both good and bad. The dream catcher when hung over or near your bed swinging freely in the air, catches the dreams as they flow by. The good dreams know how to pass through the dream catcher, slipping through the outer holes and slide down the soft feathers so gently that many times the sleeper does not know that he/she is dreaming. The bad dreams not knowing the way get tangled in the dream catcher and perish with the first light of the new day.”

Story about Dream Catchers

“Long ago when the word was sound, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain and had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi, the great trickster and searcher of wisdom, appeared in the form of a spider. Iktomi spoke to him in a sacred language. As he spoke, Iktomi the spider picked up the elder’s willow hoop which had feathers, horsehair, beads and offerings on it, and began to spin a web. He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life, how we begin our lives as infants, move on through childhood and on to adulthood. Finally we go to old age where we must be taken care of as infants, completing the cycle.

But, Iktomi said as he continued to spin his web, in each time of life there are many forces, some good and some bad. If you listen to the good forces, they will steer you in the right direction. But, if you listen to the bad forces, they’ll steer you in the wrong direction and may hurt you. So these forces can help, or can interfere with the harmony of Nature. While the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web.

When Iktomi finished speaking, he gave the elder the web and said, The web is a perfect circle with a hole in the center. Use the web to help your people reach their goals, making good use of their ideas, dreams and visions. If you believe in the great spirit, the web will filter your good ideas and the bad ones will be trapped and will not pass.

The elder passed on his vision onto the people and now many Indian people have a dream catcher above their bed to sift their dreams and visions. The good will pass through the center hole to the sleeping person. The evil in their dreams are captured in the web, where they perish in the light of the morning sun. It is said the dream catcher holds the destiny of the future.”

Disclaimer** The history and story of dream catchers written above are not mine. I am not taking credit in any way for them. I thought they were very interesting and wanted to share it with you. This is for informational purposes only.

Here is the source for both of these stories. I have also tagged/linked the titles with their individual site pages as well.  :)

The post The History and Story Behind Dream Catchers appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

Have you all heard about the up and coming movie from Disney called Planes? If you enjoyed Cars, you are certain to love Planes! The movie will be released in theaters on August 9th, 2013 and the full voice cast list was just released. It reads like the who’s who of famous voices:

• Dane Cook
• Stacy Keach
• Brad Garrett
• Teri Hatcher
• Cedric the Entertainer
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• John Cleese
• Carlos Alazraqui
• Priyanka Chopra
• Gabriel Iglesias
• Roger Craig Smith
• Colin Cowherd
• Sinbad
• Oliver Kalkofe
• Brent Musburger
• Anthony Edwards
• Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer? Oh yeah, count me in!!

From above the world of Cars comes Disney’s Planes, an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar.

Ready for a sneak peek? I’ve got it for you:

I love it! Since the movie won’t be released until August 9th, be sure to like Disney’s Planes on Facebook and follow along on Twitter. Get access to all the latest news and promotions before the official release!

Disclosure:  Disney Studios provided me with the information in this post. I have permission to share. No compensation of any form was received. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. 

The post Meet Bravo and Echo From Disney’s Planes: In Theaters August 9th #DisneyPlanes appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

When you were in high school, do you remember having to read “classic” books as part of English class?  I remember reading, Jane Eyre, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Tale of Two Cities, and The Scarlet Letter just to name a few. One of my favorite classics is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The book is full of glitz, glamour, romance, and intrigue. There’s also quite a bit of symbolism in the book {hint:  the green flashing light, the “eyes” billboard}.

With the recent release of the new The Great Gatsby movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, there has been a renewed interest in the Roaring 1920′s. Clothing, cars, and home decor during this time period had a distinctive appearance. Let’s just say that minimalism wasn’t in anyone’s vocabulary. Look at this gorgeous and extravagant Great Gatsby line of items from Joss and Main:

 
Then there’s the 1920′s Great Gatsby Fashion at ModCloth. Here are a few sample items:

While I can’t wait to see the “new” The Great Gatsby movie in theaters, I have to say that I really like the 1974 version starring Robert Redford. Here is the official movie trailer {it shows it’s age}:

Here is the official movie trailer for the new 2013 version:

Have you read The Great Gatsby? Have you seen either of the movies? Thoughts?

The post The Great Gatsby: Fashion and Home Decor + Robert or Leo? #thegreatgatsby appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

Bloggers:  Kimberly from Saving More Than Me and Dawn from Cheap Is The *New* Classy would like to formally invite you to join our free blogger event.

We are giving away a new Dooney and Bourke handbag valued at $175. The bag is made in the USA which is even more awesome!!

Dawn and I have sponsored this handbag ourselves as a way to have a fun summer giveaway. Let’s celebrate together!

The giveaway event will run from June 2nd to June 23rd–open to US entrants only.

If you join the event, you will receive two social media follows on the rafflecopter. Want to learn more and sign up? Please join our Facebook group to access the sign-up form and get additional details.

We hope to see you there!

The post Bloggers: Join Our Free “In Love With June” Handbag Giveaway–Celebrate Summer! #bloggers appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

I’ve always been told by my father {a medical professional} that annual eye exams are an important component of routine medical care.  I definitely agree. Did you know that an eye exam is more than a simple vision check-up? When you get an eye exam, you’re not only having your vision checked but also your neurological function, eye muscle coordination, eye pressure, and the health of the internal|external eye itself.

I have been taking my daughter Bree for eye exams ever since she was nine years old. When Bree was nine, she started taking the medication Plaquenil to help control her rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus. The medication has helped her but it comes with some risk. Plaquenil can cause a condition called hydroxychloroquine retinopathy, often referred to as bull’s-eye maculopathy. The condition sometimes resembles a target, or bull’s-eye ring, on the retina surrounding the macula. If the hydroxychloroquine retinopathy is not caught early enough, blindness can develop. Even though the condition is rare, there is still a risk which is why annual eye exams are highly indicated. I’m not taking any chances, I want my daughter to have annual eye exams.

When Bree moved to Florida last year to attend college, she lost her medical|vision insurance. She is your typical struggling college student. Money is tight and eye exams are not something she can currently afford. I’m a mom, and I worry. I don’t want her future to be impacted by vision loss so I am giving her a gift. A gift to help with my peace of mind and hers.

I was able to give Bree a year of eye care with the help of VSP Vision Care.

From the comfort of my home, I was able to order VSP Direct™ —>a plan for individuals and families from VSP® Vision care that gives you an affordable option so you can always have high quality vision insurance.

Cue the angels singing because this mom is happy.

I surprised Bree by sending her this care package in the mail. It contains my eye chart gift note {shown above}, an updated medical bracelet, emergency wallet card, and directions to the closest VSP Direct Eye Care Provider. Bree received her VSP membership materials directly.

I was surprised at how easy it was to order VSP Direct as a gift. I entered my daughter’s zip code and the site listed the plans available in her area. The VSP Basic plan was the only one available but it covered our needs.

Once I selected the Basic Plan, I was able to view the cost and copay information. Bree’s plan was $149.95 plus a one time $10 enrollment fee. That amounts to $13.33 a month. {less than the cost of a movie ticket in my area}.

I was able to select the gift option during checkout so Bree was listed as the recipient while I was listed as the purchaser. Membership materials were mailed directly to her.

Peace of mind for this mom=priceless.  

Thank you to VSP Direct™ for providing me with this amazing gift to give to my daughter. “Eye” appreciate it {sorry, couldn’t help it }.

Please help me show appreciation by visiting VSP on Facebook and following them on Twitter.

Wondering what VSP can do for you? “Eye” got you covered. VSP Direct costs as low as 41 cents a day and is a great way for individuals and families to have vision insurance, even if it’s not provided through work. Learn more about VSP here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post The Gift Of Eye Care Thanks To @VSPVisioncare #sponsored #VSPCovered #Lupus appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

Summer Splash Giveaway

Several bloggers have come together to bring you some amazing prizes to help you kick off your summer… with a SPLASH! Each blog is giving away at least $25 worth of prizes, plus we have an awesome grand prize for one very lucky winner.

Be sure to visit each of the participating blogs because the more giveaways you enter, the more chances you have at winning the Grand Prize!

So what’s this Grand Prize we’re talking about? Thanks to Trex Outdoor Furniture, one very lucky winner is going to win a Yacht Club 3-Piece Rocker Set valued at $1,317! Made in the USA and constructed of durable HDPE recycled lumber, this Rocker Set is sure to help you slow down and relax this Summer and for many years to come!

This event begins on May 14, 2013 at 12:01 am EST and will end on May 27, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST

Saving More Than Me is giving away a $25 Amazon e-gift card to one lucky entrant. You must be age 18 or older to enter. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada {except where prohibited by law}.

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Disclosure: This giveaway is self sponsored and is not an official Amazon.com event.

Disclaimer: Please note that the Summer Splash hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prize. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation that they will fulfill their prize in a timely manner. While we are not responsible, we will make every effort to assist the winner in obtaining their prize.

The post Amazon Gift Card Giveaway {US/CAN} + Grand Prize: 3 Piece Outdoor Rocker Set #SummerSplash appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

Welcome to the 2nd annual MamaLOVE Giveaway Hop hosted by MamaNYC!

We are here to celebrate the joys of motherhood with you. It’s the toughest job in the world but also the most rewarding {dads, we value you too}. If you’re having a difficult time coming up with gift ideas, we hope to present you with amazing Mother’s Day gift ideas. The best part is you also have a chance at winning these gifts!

Each participating blogger is featuring prize(s) valued at $25.00 or more. This event begins on May 9th and runs until May 15th at 11:59PM (EST). Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and hop down the linky list for many more chances to win.

For this event, Saving More Than Me is giving away the following:

• One Julep nail color in the color “Molly”
  
• One Julep nail color in the color “Maya”
• One Julep Volumizing mascara in “jet black”
• Approximate retail value:  $40

Good luck and Happy Mother’s Day!

Open to US residents only.

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Disclosure: This prize is self-sponsored and not an official Julep event.

The post Julep Nail Color + Mascara Giveaway {OVER}{ARV $40} {US} #MamaLOVE #beauty appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

As most of you know, the months of May and June are full of celebrations–there’s graduations to attend, June weddings, mother’s and father’s day, and the arrival of newborn babies.

Invitations are received, invitations are sent, parties are planned, events are scheduled, and somewhere in there you hope you don’t miss anything. If you’re worried about invites to your own celebration, don’t stress. Minted.com is here to help.

Minted.com is a worldwide community of independent graphic designers who print and sell their best designs in the form of paper goods. They currently represent 43 countries and their products are perfect for even the most personal celebrations. Minted.com carries invitations (weddings, parties, baby showers, birthdays), journals, party decor, art prints, holiday cards, and even personalized gifts.  There’s an assortment of styles and colors to choose from with extra photo, format, and printing type options as well. The free recipient addressing is certain to save you some time and stress.

Here are just a few of my favorite items from Minted for graduations, newborn babies, and weddings.

This Cape Cod journal can be found under graduation gifts. It can be personalized and comes in three different colors:  navy blue, orange, and red. You are also able to choose from lined, graph, or blank pages. I love nautical themed items so the anchors caught my attention right away.

I absolutely love this wedding invitation. It has everything in one and the design is fully customizable! It’s the official guidebook/minibook invitation which leaves plenty of room for all of the details for your special day. You can choose from a whole assortment of colors and personalize it with photos. There is also an option for either matte cover stock paper or pearlescent paper which gives it a subtle shimmer finish and rich look. It also has matching RSVP and Thank You cards that you can get as well.

I thought that this personalized birth announcement card was adorable and elegant. It is called Oliver Birth Announcements and it has two formats to choose from– a flat card with backer options or a folded card. It also has matching Thank You cards as well. You are able to choose from four different kinds of paper- Minted signature paper, premium 100% recycled paper, pearlescent paper, or their new triple thick paper. There are three colors and five different shapes you can choose from which is a great addition. These cards are fully customizable to fit your sense of style and to celebrate the new addition to the family!

As you can see, Minted.com offers you a lot of options to fit your style and needs. You can personalize just about anything for those memorable celebrations in your life!

Minted.com would like to help you with your May/June celebrations. They are offering one lucky reader a $75 credit towards anything in their store. The giveaway is open worldwide and the winner will be chosen via random.org. You can enter below on the rafflecopter. Good luck!!

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Disclosure:  I received Minted.com credit in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are 100% mine and are accurately reflected. 

The post Order Personalized Invites, Announcements, or Cards At Minted.com+ $75 Credit Giveaway {OVER} {WW} appeared first on Saving More Than Me.

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day blog series—a nine-day celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today’s best writers (Tricia Goyer, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Beth Vogt, Lesli Westfall, and more). I hope you’ll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother’s Day.

AND . . . do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful handcrafted pearl necklace and a JOYN India bag. Enter at the bottom of this post. The contest runs 5/4-5/13, and the winner will be announced on 5/14. Contest is only open to U.S. residents.
If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info, subscribe to our blog, and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith to help support Pearl Girls™.

Mizpah by Margaret McSweeney

On April 14, our family’s precious Pongo passed away. This beloved Chihuahua was with our family for nearly fourteen years. He played with my daughters during their childhood and comforted them during the challenges of adolescence. He rested by my side during breast cancer treatment and worked alongside Dave in his home office.

Yes, Pongo was always a source of surprises. Before he was one, he somehow swallowed a brownie patch attached to a string of beads and a safety pin. That was his first stomach surgery. Then, the following year he bit off the sharp edge of Mr. Potato Head’s ear. That was the second stomach surgery. Throughout the fourteen years, we were in and out of the ER for dogs. He ate a bag of cough drops in the pantry. He jumped on the table and ate the kids’ chewable vitamins. And the list goes on. . . .

House guests would always have to place their purses on a table without chairs. Otherwise, Pongo would rummage through the bags in search of his addiction: chewing gum! But above all, Pongo’s greatest gift and lesson to us was unconditional love. Yes, Pongo brought such joy to the family for so many years. No one could believe that he actually smiled! He knew how loved he was. I think that is why he outlived his life expectancy by three years after being diagnosed with a heart condition. It was his kidneys and stomach cancer that ultimately claimed his precious life. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at home.

The day after Pongo died, I read a beautiful Bible verse: Genesis 31:49

And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

Isn’t that beautiful! Mizpah signifies an emotional bond between people who are separated by death or circumstance.

Perhaps, instead we can say:“Mizpaw” to express this same emotional bond between people and their precious pets.
Pongo, I love you and miss you so very much. Thank you for being a blessing in our home. You have left a “fur-ever” heartprint in our lives. Mizpaw!

Margaret lives with her husband and two daughters in a Chicago suburb. She is the author of Aftermath: Growing in Grace Through Grief, Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls, A Mother’s Heart Knows  and the co-author of Go Back and Be Happy. She is the founder and collaborator of Pearl Girls. All the proceeds of books sales from Mother of Pearl (2012) and Pearl Girls (2009) to go support the work of two charities, WINGS AND HANDS OF HOPE. Margaret would love to meet you too. Follow her on twitter (@McSweeney) or friend her on facebook. You can also keep up with Margaret at Kitchen Chat, her weekly radio show.Visit her website.

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Disclosure:  No compensation in any form was received in exchange for this post. 

The post Pongo’s Gift To His Humans: Unconditional Love #mothersday #giveaway appeared first on Saving More Than Me.