Signed, Sealed, Delivered {Review}

Did you ever watch the show Touched By An Angel?  It was one of our family's favorite shows when I was young.  We didn't watch a whole lot of TV and my parents were pretty particular about what we did watch, so having a wholesome show we could watch together as a family was great!

Recently the creator of Touched By An Angel, Martha Williamson, has come out with a new series, Signed, Sealed, Delivered. I had heard about it a few weeks ago and thought that maybe this could be a another good family show. I didn't get a chance to check it out until today, though.  It airs on Sundays at 8/7c on the Hallmark channel, but I got to preview this coming week's show just to be able to tell you all about it!

I thought this show was delightful!  It is definitely one that could be watched with my family without fear of them being exposed to all the negative things that fill most TV shows these days.  I don't know that our 5 and under crowd would sit and watch for too long, but our older kiddos would enjoy most of it.  The main characters, a team of postal workers named Oliver, Shane, Rita, and Norman, are quite likable as they work to deliver undeliverable mail. In the process they are drawn into the lives of the recipients. In this episode they meet a couple with down syndrome who are trying to be allowed to live their own lives.  There is also another storyline about Rita entering an office competition against the supervisor's daughter.  Both Rita and the couple with down syndrome learn to not let other people squash you or your dreams like a bug!

I love that scripture is incorporated into this series, something that is so rare in any TV show these days!  The American Bible Society has even created a 7 day study to go with each episode!  So after you've finished watching each week, you can still dig deeper into the scripture with this helpful study all week long! To sign up for this you need to head HERE, but hurry because it is currently only available for one week.  You can also watch previously aired episodes that you missed or want to watch again through that link.  I know that I will be finding some time to go back and watch the ones that I missed!

About the Series - Signed, Sealed, Delivered
From Martha Williamson, the creative force behind "Touched By An Angel"

The new original series "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" is a wonderful combination of romance, comedy and drama that follows the lives of four postal detectives who transform themselves into a team of detectives to track down intended recipients of undeliverable mail. Their missions take them out of the office and into an unpredictable world where redirected letters and packages can save lives, solve crimes, reunite old loves and change futures by arriving late but somehow always on time. The team includes charming Oliver O’Toole (Eric Mabius), a genius postal detective and the group’s leader; new team member, Shane McInerney (Kristin Booth), a technophile who brings 21st century sensibility to the group; free-spirited, “girl next door” Rita Haywith (Crystal Lowe) who has a photographic memory; and lovable Norman Dorman (Geoff Gustafson), a master in conventional research methods.

Be sure to check out the Hallmark channel on Sundays at 8/7c to watch this delightful new series! If you want to find out more about Signed, Sealed, Delivered, please feel free to check out the Hallmark Channel or the Facebook page. 

Thanks to FlyBy Promotions I was given the opportunity to preview the upcoming episode of Signed, Sealed, Delivered.  All opinions are mine.  As a participant in this preview I will be entered in a drawing for a prize pack.

Blessings,

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn {Review}

I haven't done much reading since having our baby boy, but really enjoyed getting back into it with The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton.  One of my favorite kinds, Christian historical romance, this one is full of adventure, suspense, and romance. The settings, events, and characters are all described so well. The main characters, Jesse and Tamsen, are very likable. Often times, I can figure out how most stories will typically end, but I really couldn't figure this one out and was pleasantly surprised how it all came together in the end. I will definitely be looking out for more books by Lori Benton!

From the back cover:

Frontier dangers cannot hold a candle to the risks one woman takes by falling in love

In an act of brave defiance, Tamsen Littlejohn escapes the life her harsh stepfather has forced upon her. Forsaking security and an arranged marriage, she enlists frontiersman Jesse Bird to guide her to the Watauga settlement in western North Carolina. But shedding her old life doesn’t come without cost. As the two cross a vast mountain wilderness, Tamsen faces hardships that test the limits of her faith and endurance. 

Convinced that Tamsen has been kidnapped, wealthy suitor Ambrose Kincaid follows after her, in company with her equally determined stepfather. With trouble in pursuit, Tamsen and Jesse find themselves thrust into the conflict of a divided community of Overmountain settlers. The State of Franklin has been declared, but many remain loyal to North Carolina. With one life left behind and chaos on the horizon, Tamsen struggles to adapt to a life for which she was never prepared. But could this challenging frontier life be what her soul has longed for, what God has been leading her toward? As pursuit draws ever nearer, will her faith see her through the greatest danger of all—loving a man who has risked everything for her?

I received this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah.

Blessings,

Rhyme to Read {Review}

I recently had the chance to review a great new app called Rhyme to Read.  Since Lovebug is so excited to start Kindergarten since he turned 5 a few months ago, I thought this would be a fun app to try out and see if it is something he could use soon.  This app has 20 books that focus on word families.  Here is a screen shot of book 1 using the -at family.

This is near the end of the book and all the -at words that have already been used in the book are on the left.  This makes it easy to review the words before trying to read the sentence on the right.  Some site words are also introduced throughout the story and there is always a list of those in the upper right corner.  Kids can touch any of the words to hear it read to them if they are having trouble with it.

Each book also has some great suggestions for use at the beginning to give me ideas of how to best use this with Lovebug!

 Here is a little more about the app from the Rhyme to Read site:

The program emphasizes word families (e.g., cat, rat, sat) which are color-coded to assist children in discriminating the different patterns. The only prerequisites are the recognition of letters and knowledge of consonant letter-sound connections. Rhyme to Read enables children to feel confident as they enter the world of reading.

I think this will be a great app to use in helping my kiddos learn to read and I recommend it to any of you that would like to help your own kids!  Just head over to the Rhyme to Read site and you will be able to try one book for free or purchase all the books for only $9.99.

I received this app for free for review and all opinions are mine.

Blessings,

The Promise Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for The Promise DVD!  Here is the winner that random.org picked:

Congratulations Carla!  You will have 48 hours to get back to me or I will have to pick a new winner.




Blessings,

The Sound of Music Live!

 Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

One of my favorite movies is The Sound of Music.  I enjoy so many of the songs from it and it is such a great family movie.  So I was pretty excited to hear about the upcoming new LIVE version of this classic movie!  Coming this Thursday, December 5 at 8/7c, The Sound of Music will be shown live on NBC.  I can't wait to watch this with my family and hope that you all will be able to as well!

From executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("Smash," "Hairspray," "Chicago") comes an instant holiday classic: "The Sound of Music," based on the original Broadway musical. Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer star as Maria and Captain von Trapp in this beloved story of the young novice who falls in love with Captain von Trapp and his seven children, set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Austria. The jewel in the Rodgers and Hammerstein crown, "The Sound of Music" contains some of the most famous songs ever written for the stage, including "The Sound of Music," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "Climb Every Mountain" and "Edelweiss."

This new version of "The Sound of Music" will be a faithful adaptation of the original stage musical, to retell the story for a whole new generation. And more than that, it will be broadcast LIVE, adding a whole new level of immediacy and excitement. Get ready to reintroduce your family to the most joyful, most emotional and most musical family adventure of them all.

This post is part of the Faith & Family Viewing Party featuring THE SOUND OF MUSIC, live on NBC.  As a participant in this party, I will be receiving a $25 VISA gift card for pizza and snacks.

Blessings,