May 012013
 

I’m not even sure I have the words to describe what a treasure family photos are to me. They are definitely one of my most important possessions.  My parents have never had a fancy camera, but they have always been faithful take a photographic journal of our lives.  I remember the excitement I would feel when we would pick up our envelopes of newly developed film and look through them.  I remember even more excitement filling the air when Mom would get all the photos labeled and put in a photo album.  I’m pretty sure I would spend hours pouring over those photos and reliving all the fun memories they captured.

Today, I capture photos of my own family in a couple different ways. I, of course, have my favorite DSLR, but I also have my iPhone for those moments that I don’t have my big girl camera with me.  I have managed to wrack up over 1,000 photos on my phone in just the first few months I’ve owned it!  Please tell me I’m not the only one.

Having a simple way to share digital photos with friends and family is so amazing (seriously, it takes only a few seconds to send a photo in a text or email), but what do you do with your photos after you take them?  Do they just sit in your phone ? Do you even think about printing them off? Yes, it is convenient to have your photos so compact and out of the way, but what about your kids and grandkids?  Will they have the fun experience of seeing printed photos, or will they only associate pictures with images on a screen?  There is just something about holding a tangible picture in my hand that takes my breath away.

This is where Groovebook comes in.  I discovered them a couple months ago, and I am so glad I did!  It is so simple to use, and you will have a little  printed book of 100 photos in your hand in no time!

You start by downloading their app to your mobile device, and follow their simple instructions to start uploading photos!  You sign up for a monthly subscription, where you get the book for free, and pay only $2.99 for shipping!  Seriously, it’s true!

I will tell you that these are not professional quality prints by any means, but phone photos aren’t usually professional quality, anyway!  I do love the fact that they print the date and time and sometimes the place that your photos were taken beside the photo.  No more hours of trying to figure out dates and write them on the back of your photos. . .  Also, if you decide you want to pass a few photos out, the pages are perforated for easy removal.

 To make this all even better, I have a coupon to share with you!  Use the coupon code below, and you will receive your first book for free. . .no shipping cost even!

Hop on over here to try it out, and let me know if you love it, too!

P.S.  I was not asked or paid by Groovebook to write this post; I just wanted to share a product that’s been helpful to me!

P. S. S.  I just asked my four year old if he likes having pictures in a book rather than on Mommy’s phone or computer, he replied, “Yes, that’s better.”  There you have it, you really should try it :)

Your book would make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift!

  ~ Written by Amy @ JerAmy 

Apr 292013
 

Today I share with you a wonderful resource! The Christian Parenting Handbook is available for purchase this week. Not only that but when you purchase it you also are provided with $400 worth of additional parenting resources.

Practical. Biblical. 50 chapters of parenting strategies for all ages of children.

I received a digital preview copy of The Christian Parenting Handbook to help spread the word about this great resource. This post contains affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.

heart approachI’ve been looking forward to The Christian Parenting Handbook since I first heard about it. Remember our sister site, Passionate Purposeful Parenting? Melanie Robbins, owner of Passionate Purposeful Parenting, has a team of authors there. Included are my husband and me. But also – the co-authors of this parenting books – Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, R.N. are fellow writers.

Take a few minutes to watch this introductory video about the handbook, then don’t miss entering the mega giveaway below:

Christian Parenting Handbook Video Trailer from Scott Turansky on Vimeo.

Bonuses For You:

Buy The Christian Parenting Handbook between April 29 and May 5 and get a package of free resources valued at more than $400.00. You can learn more on our website about the 8 items contained in the Bonus Parenting Package. In addition, you can get The Christian Parenting Handbook Companion Guide (This is a workbook with audio clips that will help you apply the material in The Christian Parenting Handbook.) for free if you purchase 5 copies or more of the book. Simply make your purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BAM (Books A Million), CBD or Parable.

To claim your premium, simply forward your purchase confirmation to Gift@biblicalparenting.org and we will email you your special product code for the $400.00 package. If you purchased 5 or more copies of the book, we’ll send you the PDF version of the Companion Guide as well as the audio package.

Now for the Mega Giveaway!

The giveaway includes the following prizes:

  • iPad mini
  • $200.00 Amazon gift card
  • $100.00 Amazon gift card
  • Wii with Sports game included ($199.99)
  • # 9 Kodak EasyShare Digital Frame with Music ($89.99)

Enter the rafflebox widget below:

Christian Parenting handbook giveaway1Don’t miss out on your package of $400 in resources, get your Christian Parenting Handbook this week!

Apr 252013
 

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You know how sometimes you just need to mix things up a bit. You might need to do something new or it might be something you just haven’t done in a long time. The point is it’s something different from what you’re doing at that very moment. Well, a couple of weeks ago I was at that point. That point of knowing something needed to change. The change needed to effect the good or bad consequences I may or may not be handing out depending on my boys behavior or attitude.
 
I knew I needed to be more intentional with my boys about pointing out their good choices, you know those times they were submitting to the spirit, that is why I am using the Fruit of the Spirit Jar again. I also knew I needed to mix things up a bit when it came time to decide on what to do for their not-so-good choices.
 
You see my boys love video games, so I got into the habit of only taking video games away when the boys made a not-so-good-choice. I just felt like that I needed to add some variety into this type of parenting situation. So, for these not so good choices I put out a “Job Jar”. The Job Jar consist of strips of paper that list out different activities that my boys would consider jobs.
 
You know actual work such as:
  • sweeping
  • vacuuming
  • dusting
  • cleaning toilets, tubs, sinks, baseboards, etc.
  • math worksheets, copy work, practice multiplication tables, etc..
 
If they have to pick something from the job jar, they have to put their initials on the strip of paper. That way if they pick it the next time, they will put it back and pick another one that they haven’t done.
 
This has worked:
  • to add some variety
  • give a little surprise factor
  • for me to get a little extra help with house work
  • for them to get in a little practice in on some important educational skills 
I am very pleased and thankful for the prompting of the Holy Spirit to use both of the jars I have mentioned above.  As I said, sometimes you just need to mix things up a bit!
 
~written by Angie
Apr 232013
 

A few months ago I made it a goal of mine to cook dinner for my family more often.  I knew I had become lazy in the kitchen when my afternoon telephone conversations with my husband sounded something like this…

Him: What are we doing for dinner tonight?
Me: I made meatloaf and mashed potatoes!
Him:  You actually cooked?!

 

I had let our busy lifestyle become an excuse for me not to cook.  It was affecting my relationship with him, our family time together at the dinner table, and our finances.  I knew it was time to make a change and that is what I did!  Continue reading »

Apr 182013
 
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