A Nest in the Rocks

Building a nest on the rocks of faith and family

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Book Club, Girls’ Edition: “Edison’s Gold” by Geoff Watson

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Edison's Gold - Girls

 In August both book clubs read Edison’s Gold by Geoff Watson.  I must admit that I was more excited to use this book for a book club event than I have been for any other recent books.  The possibilities are endless with this story because it has everything: action, adventure, history, mystery, math, friendships, family, and more.

 We started out by summarizing and discussing the story.  Talking about which characters were real historical ones and which were fictional made for a neat addition to our discussion.

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 Since the story opened with a really neat car race, I asked each child to bring a car of their own design to our club event.  These girls used a variety – paper, cups, Tinker Toys, and K’Nex.  We raced them down a tilted table in a variety of heats and discussed why the winning car won and what could be done to improve their speed.

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 Since the story was all about Tommy Edison, Thomas Edison’s great-great grandson, and his many inventions, the girls split up into groups to invent something that would solve a problem.  I’m a big fan of this group’s invention:  a machine that would match and dry socks. 

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 Secret codes are important to this story, and Morse code plays a large role.  The girls grouped up again, this time to transmit a message to the other group.  These two decided to blink their message just like the men in the book did, while the other preferred to write out their dots and dashes.  It was fun to see all of the girls hard at work decoding their messages!

What else can you do with this story?  There’s lots more.  Come back next week for more Edison’s Gold fun!

What are your kids reading right now?

 

Shared at:  Embark on the Journey

Help a Family Bring Their New Baby Home!

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Have you ever wanted to help other kids – but you’re not sure what your family can do right now?  I have – but here’s an idea!

You’ve seen a lot of eBook bundles this year, we know because we’ve seen them too. But we hope that you’ll give us a few moments of your time today though, because we’re bringing you a bundle that doesn’t profit affiliates or authors.

The Kelly’s Bundle of Joy Adoption Sale & Giveaway was designed and compiled by Bridget from Becoming a Godly Wife and Misty from Beautiful Ashes. They created it to raise money for their dear friend Mandy from Women of Worship. Mandy and her family have been on the road to becoming adoptive parents and they’ve reached the point in their journey where a large amount of money is due. 

Bridget and Misty reached out through their blogging circles and received several donations for a bundle sale AND an amazing giveaway to help promote The Kelly’s Bundle of Joy Adoption Sale & Giveaway. It is their prayer that God would use this bundle sale to raise funds for the Kelly’s upcoming adoption and that God blesses them with their little bundle of joy soon.

100% of the funds raised through this sale will be donated to Mandy and her family to help bring their little one home. 

The Kelly's Bundle of Joy Adoption Sale & Giveaway

Below you’ll find all of the details for the bundle sale and the giveaway. We would greatly appreciate it if you would share this post across social media. Together we can be a blessing to Mandy and her family. Together we can bring the Kelly’s bundle of joy home! 

The Kelly's Bundle of Joy Adoption Sale & Giveaway

The Bundle Includes:

  1. 31 Days to Start an Online Business ebook by Sunu from Clothed In Scarlet 
  2. Lean on the Lord: 30 day Fitness Devotional ebook by April from 100lb Countdown 
  3. 14 Days of Agape ebook  by Rosilind from Missional Call
  4. The Missional Handbook by Rosilind from Missional Call
  5. Live Worship by Rosilind from Missional Call
  6. Memory Verse Templates Ultimate Family Pack by Rosilind from Missional Call 
  7. Pray the Lord’s Prayer Workbook by Rosilind from Missional Call
  8. New Year’s Evaluation Pack by Rosilind from Missional Call
  9. The Ultimate Missionary Gift Guide by Rosilind from Missional Call
  10. Discovering True Identity ebook by F. Dean Hackett from F Dean Hackett Foundational 
  11. A Proverbs 31 Woman by Bridget from Becoming A Godly Wife
  12. Submissive Wife Myths Confronted by Bridget from Becoming A Godly Wife
  13. What’s For Dinner printable by Bridget from Becoming A Godly Wife 
  14. Home Management Binder printable by Bridget from Becoming A Godly Wife
  15. Dear Wife ebook by Misty from Beautiful Ashes 
  16. Unfulfilled ebook by Misty from Beautiful Ashes 
  17. Tidbits from Help Meets’ Hearts ebook by contributors from Marriage, Motherhood and Missions 
  18. Family Mission Planner printable by Misty from Beautiful Ashes
  19. Back to School K-2 Pack printable by Misty from Beautiful Ashes
  20. Teacher’s Planner printable by Misty from Beautiful Ashes
  21. Candy + Math = Fun printable by Misty from Beautiful Ashes 
  22. Homeschool Planning Pack printable by Misty from Beautiful Ashes
  23. More than Words ebook by Stephanie from The Multi Taskin’ Mom
  24. More than Words – For Moms ebook by Stephanie from The Multi Taskin’ Mom
  25. More than Words – Teen Edition by Stephanie from The Multi Taskin’ Mom
  26. Easy Weekend Meals by Renee from Renee’s Kitchen

 

This contents of this bundle are valued at over $100 and you can have them all via The Kelly’s Bundle of Joy Adoption Sale & Giveaway for just $10!  

 

>>>>Get Your Bundle Here<<<<

Simply add The Kelly’s Bundle of Joy Adoption Sale to your cart. 

  

 If you prefer to simply make a donation to the Kelly’s adoption, you may do so via their go fund me page below. 

 

 

The Adoption Sale Promotional Giveaway Details:

To help promote The Kelly’s Bundle of Joy Adoption Sale & Giveaway and to thank you for considering donating to the Kelly’s adoption, Bridget and Misty worked to put together a giveaway package for one of you! 

They’re tremendously thankful to all of their giveaway sponsors, without them this sale would have been impossible. Please take a moment and stop by one or all of their sites and thank them for their support. 

 The Kelly's Bundle of Joy Adoption Sale & Giveaway

  1. Freebie Marketing in a Box donated by Sunu from Clothed In Scarlet
  2. Women Living Well (book) donated by Misty from Beautiful Ashes 
  3. Graphic Design Package (Blog Header & Button, FB, Twitter and G+ Graphics) donated by Misty from Beautiful Ashes 
  4. XS Rainbow Cluster Flexi Clip ($20 value) donated by Linda from Apron Strings and Other Things
  5. Complete Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle donated by Misty from Beautiful Ashes 
  6. $20 MasterCard Gift Card donated by Brandy from Origami Owl Independent Designer
  7. 15 ml bottle of Young Living Peppermint essential oil donated by Whitney from Beauty In The Mess
  8. Personalized photo editing (will edit 5 of your kids/family photos of winners choice) and include personalized subway art to print and frame for your photos donated by Marissa from Reading List 
  9. Set of 3 Bible Activities Printables donated by Katie from Paradise Praises.
  10. Putting on the Fruit of the Spirit eBook donated by Katie from Paradise Praises.

This giveaway package is valued at over $300! Be sure you take a moment and enter to win via the Rafflecopter form below. 

 

Sunu from Clothed in Scarlet designed a wonderful booklet of motherhood quotes specifically for this bundle! 

>>>Download The Little Book of Motherhood Quotes Here<<<

 

Rebecca from Mom’s Mustard Seeds has graciously donated a freebie for all of you too! It’s Misty’s favorite Bible study to use when entering a new school year, so it’s the perfect time to get started with it!

>>>Download The Homeschool Mother’s Prayer Journal by Rebecca Brandt Here<<<

 

Jolene from Monsters Ed Homeschool Academy graciously donated another freebie for all of you! 

>>>Download The Dolch List Word Wall Printable Here<<<

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hearts for Home Blog Hop – August 21, 2014

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Introducing … the Hearts for Home Blog Hop!  A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for this weekly link-up, which means that every Thursday you’ll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post.  If you’re a blogger, we’d love to have you link up your posts and join us.  You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.


The most clicked-on post from last week was Not Back to School Day.
 
If your post is listed above, please grab one of our ‘Featured Blogger’ buttons!  Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.

Hearts for Home Blog Hop
 

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Link up your family-friendly blog posts below. Please add our button to your post to link
back to this one. Happy hopping! 

Hearts for Home Blog Hop

 

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.marriagemotherhoodandmissions.com/hearts-for-home-blog-hop-hosts/" title="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.marriagemotherhoodandmissions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/CoHostH4HButton300x300.jpg" alt="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

    Please share your family friendly posts with us!

By linking up you agree that if your blog post is selected to be featured on any of our hosts’ blogs that we can use an image from your post with a link back to your post.


 

 

Book Club, Boys’ Edition: “The Door to Time”

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The Door to Time Boys

In June our boys were prepped for adventure with the Italian Ulysses Moore Series, the first of which is called The Door to Time.  

 

In this story thee teens attempt to solve mysteries related to an ancient door found in their new house.  Set in a seaside town in England, they are active, funny, and always faced with a new challenge.

 

 

We started out building boats.  At one point in the story the teens find an old sailing ship and need to take it on a journey.  My Little Man helped us get ready by filling up the wading pool while his friends worked on their boats.

 

 

Everyone had very different ideas!

 

 

We put the boats in the pool to see if they would float, and all of them did.  Next we had a ‘race,’ and the boat on the left won.  His strategy of creating the longest boat worked, and it touched the far side of the pool first.

 


 At one point in the story the kids ride their bikes down a big hill into town – and then have to ride them back up again.  Two of them are very athletic and able to ride the hill without difficulty, but the third has trouble.  We decided to try riding up the biggest hill we could find – my side yard.  Two of the boys chose to start back on the flat ground and get a head start, while the guy in blue chose to start at the starting line – right on the hill.  Nobody was able to ride all the way up, but several of them got pretty close!  We decided that you must need very strong legs to propel a bike up a big hill.


 A Door to Time made a great book club choice for our boys. They talked more about this book than they have any other, and they even asked – on their own! – to read the next book in the series.


 That definitely makes A Door to Time  a winner in my book.


 What are your kids reading this summer?

The Story Behind Titanic’s “The Stolen Necklace”

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A few months ago, on a cold and snowy day, I assigned a simple writing project to My Big Helper as part of a school project.  I asked her to imagine the story behind the necklace that was reported stolen – but never found – on the Titanic.  I expected maybe a few paragraphs, but instead she spent weeks writing several thousand words.  When her story was finished, after taking it to a school event, someone commented, “You should publish that and put the proceeds towards your mission project.”

The Stolen Necklace

My Big Helper loved the idea, and so began our journey into the world of self publication.  Her work towards this mission project is not just beginning, however.  She says:

I feel like I’m supposed to go there [to Haiti] and help.  I want to go to the Hands and Feet Mission Project.  I found out about it from Audio Adrenaline.  We learned about the Hands and Feet Mission Project in SPRING, our church’s elementary youth group, and we also learned about the many orphans in need in Haiti.  I want to help because they don’t have enough buildings and when kids walk up asking for help, they can’t go in because they don’t have enough space.  They’re trying to build more.   I cannot go until I’m 13 so I started raising money.

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The Hands and Feet Project allows people as young as 13 to travel to their site and volunteer, so my nine-year-old missionary has a bit of time to plan.  She’s not letting moss grow under her feet, though, and she’s really planning ahead.  She’s held two lemonade stands and kept all of her profits after tithing towards the trip.  She went to the bank and opened a special savings account to hold her savings until she’s ready to go.  She’s planned several other businesses, as well, and is always thinking up new ideas to earn money toward her trip.  To help the children there now, she’s collected money and accepted donations and sent them off to Haiti.

So if you choose to purchase a copy of The Stolen Necklace, you’re not just buying another ebook.  You’re supporting a child’s dream.  You’re helping this child help others in need.

We so appreciate your support.

 

What are people saying about The Stolen Necklace?

“‘The Stolen Necklace: The Diary of Madeline Parker’ was an excellent read! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the description grabbed my attention, and the author did not disappoint! The book was the perfect balance of fact and fiction, and both the characters and plot were well developed. I look forward to reading more from this young author and hope she turns Madeline’s adventures into a series.”

 

“Andi is a wonderful writer……..and I love the story!”

 

“Way to go Author Andi! … I would love a series of Madeline as she grows up, does more mysteries and becomes stronger in her Faith! 🙂 ” ~ Lindsey, blogger at Books for Christian Girls

 

Find more, or leave your own review on The Stolen Necklace‘s Goodreads’ page here.

Odyssey Adventure Club iPad Mini Giveaway

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 The end of summer is in sight, and OAC is giving away an iPad Mini back-to-school bundle!

It might seem like summer just began for your kids, so if they need some added motivation to get their homework done, remind them they can jump on the Odyssey Adventure Club after their papers are written and their math problems are solved.

As members, your kids can also listen to Album 58 before the album is released to the public! Sign up today for just $5!

Here’s what part one is about (which you can listen to for free HERE):

It’s a time of surprises as Wooton becomes the celebrity guest at Comic-Connellsville and Whit finds himself in conflict over the upcoming “Let’s Get Together Festival” in Odyssey. Plus, hear an interview with writer-director Paul McCusker about the entire 14-part series.

Album 58 was inspired by Focus on the Family’s The Family Project, a 12-session small group experience that explores the theological, philosophical, and cultural underpinnings of the traditional family, and combines that information with inspiring stories and practical tools to help 21st-century families thrive.

Plus, here’s a sneak peek of a new episode called “The Lone Lawman”!

LoneLawman_Final 2

 

 

 Jason, Whit, Red and the gang rustle up herds of fun while performing a new Kids’ Radio show set in the Old West. “The Lone Lawman” features a confused boy getting mixed up with a shifty band of bank robbers. Can a hero on horseback set things right? See just how wild the West can get in this action-packed send-up of old-time radio dramas.

NOW . . . on to the iPad Mini back-to-school bundle.

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • An iPad Mini

Hurry, the giveaway ends on August 27th. All winners will be announced August 28th on the widget on this page.


Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit this page again on the 28th to see if you won! (You’ll see the winner’s name in the widget.)

Thank You

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Thank you for purchasing from A Nest in the Rocks. 

You will receive an email shortly with your download link(s).  If you have not received an email within 15 minutes, please check your spam folder before contacting support.

 

 

 

“The Revealing” by Suzanne Woods Fisher

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Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can’t see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don’t know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether.

When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can’t ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work— something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe.

As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments’ downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart.

In this riveting conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

 

 The Revealing is a captivating conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series – not that I was ready for it to end.  I think that this one captured my heart more than any of the others – not because Brooke was my favorite character, because she wasn’t, but because Naomi was high on that list.  Naomi’s wavering confidence, her love for her brother Galen, her kind and gentle spirit, in addition to the secret that she’s keeping, make her riveting.


 Having Naomi in the spotlight adds luster to the other characters.  Bethany continues to sparkle just as Mim grows and matures.  Rose struggles to lead her family wisely, and isn’t that what we all want to do?  Fisher nails the reality of these characters.  


 Which is precisely why I do not want to leave them just yet.  While she thoroughly wraps up what’s been happening with Mrs. Miracle, the story of these people is not over.  Unlike most books, their lives didn’t magically wrap up in neat little packages with all questions answered – and I want more books.  More information.  More problems and questions and struggles and answers.  


 I’m not ready to leave Eagle Hill – and I don’t think you will be, either, and that’s not a bad thing.  These are characters and stories that stick in your mind and live on in your heart.  So keep’em coming, please, Mrs. Fisher, and return to Eagle Hill.

 

Click here to read other reviews in this bloggy hop or here to purchase your own copy now.

 

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.

Download Suzanne’s free app! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi

Find Suzanne online: website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest.

 

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

“Treasures of Healthy Living” by Annette Reeder & Dr. Richard Couey

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Treasures of Healthy Living: A Journey Unveiling God's Plan for Ultimate Health and Relationships - By: Annette Reeder, Dr. Richard Couey

I haven’t been this excited about a book in a long time.

For the past few years, I’ve been trying to learn about healthy eating – what God wants us to eat and why.  Mostly, I’ve wanted to know how to help my children make good food choices so that they can avoid my family history of heart disease and diabetes.

Treasures of Healthy Living has all the information that I need – and much more – for this journey, all in one handy-dandy book.

Annette Reeder’s family was suffering from lots of aches, pains, and other medical issues when someone suggested that she find out what God had to say about food.  That launched her family’s healthy eating journey, and this book shares what she learned.

Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of being healthy – a food group or issue – like proteins, sugars, or stress – and then breaks each topic down into segments of Bible study, short stories, and scientific explanation.  The information is very easy to understand but clearly shows both the Biblical basis for the information and  the science behind it.  It’s rare to find both.

This book is super detailed and yet concise – the information is broken down well so that it’s easy to find the information that you need, and yet Reeder’s explanations are full of scientific information so that most laypeople will learn a lot about each topic.

Following Reeder’s plan for a healthy lifestyle in American culture would not be easy; chemicals, preservatives, and fake stuff are all around us, from our clothing to our food to our cleaning products, but whether you follow every step or make the changes that you can, you’ll find many ways to become healthier in this book.  Addendums in the back of the book make it easy to assess where you are in your health living journey and help you to reflect about what steps God might wish you to take to become healthier.

My only issue with Treasures of Healthy Living is that there is apparently a nutrition manual which is meant to go alongside this book.  It is referred to occasionally throughout the book, and I would have loved to explore that, as well.  There is also a Healthy Living class, but I don’t have any information about it.

All in all, I love this book.  I’ve already shared it with several people and plan to show it off to several more. If you have any interest at all in living a healthy lifestyle, this is a must-read.

I received a free copy of Treasures of Healthy Living from Glass Road Public Relations in exchange for an honest review.

“Tales of the Undefended Ones” by Beth Guckenberger

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 Ben and Joseph lose their mothers, but find a family looking just for them. Antonio is rescued from what seems like a hopeless situation. Caitlyn dares to trust that truth will set her free. Jorani is delivered from slavery into the arms of grace.

 

Follow these real-life stories as they take you on a journey to foreign places and extreme struggles. Travel through their challenges and see the hand of the great Storyweaver – our Defender God shielding and defending the defenseless in the amazing ways only he can.These are the tales of the ones left wounded and weak-ones made whole and strong . . .

 
I read the first chapter of Tales of the Defended Ones through curtains of tears.  The stories that Beth shares are heartbreaking – and yet they will confirm your hope in a God who cares and defends those whom He has created, but you won’t be able to stop there.  You’ll want to do something – anything – to reach out beyond yourself and be used by Him to help those who live in disparaging situations.
 
The Storyweaver series reminds me of just how incredibly blessed I am in my comfortable American life and how so many all around the world face choices that I cannot imagine.  The stories in this particular book seemed harsher to me in that the situations faced by the children were not just those of hunger or poverty but sometimes of violence.  I think that Beth handled these situations with tact, making it possible to share them with children but for teens and adults to gain a fuller understanding of each story.
 
A curriculum exists for Tales of the Defended Ones, but I have not seen it yet.  For the past school year I’ve been teaching the curriculum that accompanied Tales of the Not Forgotten Ones to elementary children at my church, and I’ve heard from several parents about the impact it has made.  I’m hopeful that this curriculum contains the same quality of resources as the previous one.
 
If you are mission-minded at all or want your children to be, this is a top-notch resource.
 
You can read more reviews in this blog hop here, or click through to this site to purchase your own copy.
 
 
Beth Guckenberger and her husband, Todd, are the founders of Back2Back Ministries which communicates a lifestyle of service by sharing the love of Christ and serving God through service to others. Guckenberger travels and speaks regularly at women’s and missions conferences, as well as youth gatherings and church services. In addition to her children’s releases in the Storyweaver series, Guckenberger has written two mission-minded books. She has also partnered with Standard Publishing on the mission content in its 2013 VBS program. The Guckenberger family lives and serves in Monterrey, Mexico. 
 
Find out more about Beth at http://www.bethguckenberger.com/. 
 
I received a free copy of Tales of the Defended Ones from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
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