Grace Unplugged-movie review

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight a friend and I headed out for dinner and to pre-screen the movie Grace Unplugged.  I watched the trailer that you see right up above my writing.  Just from the trailer I was pretty sure it was going to be a movie that I could connect with but I was blown away, this movie hit me hard.  As a young teen I loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him but as I got older things came up like movies, parties, friends, and of course boys.  I never totally turned my back on Him but I knew that the things I was doing weren't right and that they didn't please my parents or the Lord.  Now, as a parent I see the other side.  All I want is to raise my children up to love the Lord with all their heart, to serve Him and to follow Him.  This movie would make the perfect mommy/daughter date to open up a conversation with your teen about what their hopes and dreams are for their future and what your hopes and dreams are for their future.  They may not always look the same but they don't have to go to the extremes that Grace went to in the movie. 



The cast in Grace Unplugged was pretty amazing and I'd like to share a little bit more about them!


 

AJ Michalka who plays Grace is multi-talented.  You might remember her as one of the daughter's in the movie Secretariat.



James Denton who plays Johnny (the dad) is well known for his role in the hit series Desperate Housewives.



Michael Welch is well known for playing Mike in the Twilight Saga.



Kevin Pollack's most notable roles are in Avalon, Ricochet, A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects, Casino, Deterrence, End of Days, The Whole Nine Yards, and The Wedding Planner.



Chris Tomlin plays himself.  According to Time Magazine, more than 40 million people sing the songs of Chris Tomlin each week. He has ten No. 1 radio singles, three GRAMMY nominations, 18 Dove Awards, one platinum and three gold albums to his credit. His beloved worship songs include anthems such as "Forever," "Indescribable," and "How Great is Our God."



Jamie Grace that plays Rachel and is a young singer-songwriter from Atlanta whose debut single "Hold Me," featuring TobyMac, landed her a nomination at the 2012 Grammy Awards, where she was the youngest nominee. That year, she was also nominated for a Billboard Award and four Dove Awards. She earned the Dove Awards New Artist of the Year.

 At the screening we were fortunate to meet writer and director Brad J Silverman.  He shared some God moments that happened will making the movie and it was a pleasure to listen to him speak about his vision for Christian movies.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Oct 4-6th  Grace Unplugged opening weekend.  Take the whole family, invite friends, get a church group together and head out to see Grace Unplugged!

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Thanks for reading,

 

Guest post by Kendra-Tips for Traveling with Kids

Special guest post by:

Kendra Thornton- Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks.

Best Tips for Traveling with Kids









Family vacations are a great way to spend quality time with your family and get away from life’s daily stress. After many years in the travel industry and now as a full-time mom, I can confidently say that traveling with kids takes a lot of preparation. The best way to avoid hiccups? Make sure to get started early. In order to make my family vacation as pleasant and hassle free as possible, I make sure to follow certain tips.









Getting There


Traveling with kids can sometimes be frustrating. Many kids will get restless fairly quickly, and this happens most frequently during transport. In order to avoid these types of frustrations, we have always started our journey as early in the day as possible. When flights are booked later in the evening, there is a greater possibility of having long delays. For road trips, traffic tends to pile up as 9am commuters mix with bus and school congestion. With my family, we make it a goal to cut as much travel time as possible. This is economic as well, since many flights are cheaper in the early hours. Likewise, avoiding highway traffic means one less stop at the gas pump and more money allocated for fun later.









Traveling in a Car


During the summer, we take the kids on a road trip to their grandparents’ house. During these times, I make sure to keep the kids as comfortable as possible. One way to do this is to bring a mountain of blankets and pillows with them. Although going to sleep in the car is not very comfortable, recreating their bed in the backseat can be fun and cozy. Additionally, this encourages sleep, which can be a nice break from the “Are We There Yet’s.” To help promote naps, try investing in a blind for the window to keep the sun at bay.









Technology


Luckily, the technology of today has allowed our trips to go smoother than ever. Bringing along a portable DVD player, tablet or iPad can provide hours of entertainment for children of all ages. With educational games, movies and an electronic version of the License Plate Game, you can’t go wrong with this piece of technology. In order to keep the fun educational, we also downloaded books on tape for them to listen to. Finally, it is always a good idea to have headphones available.









Traveling with Babies


If you’re traveling with babies, there are additional items and plans to keep in mind when taking a trip. For shorter trips, schedule your travel plans when your baby would normally be sleeping. The white noise of the airplane or highway should help them dose off and will make your life easier as you focus on your route. If traveling during naptime is not an option, try to schedule your trip late at night or early in the morning. If you’re traveling by plane, schedule meals during take off and landing as this will alleviate added pressure on their tiny ears.









Hotel Arrangements


Wherever your travels take you, you’ll need a place to rest your head at the end of the day. To make your trip unforgettable, don’t settle for the first hotel in your online search result. Consider things that are important to your entire family, such as free WiFi, in-room refrigerators or proximity to the beach. Doing research whether through personal recommendations, travel agents or online reviews will help you figure out what your family wants and who will be the best provider. When my family was planning our trip to Hawaii, I was able to read through a host of Honolulu hotel recommendations that ultimately resulted in one of our best family vacations to date! Doing your due diligence before you make your reservations will not only alleviate stress but get you excited for your trip as well.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Daughter of Jeruasalem-book review

Kindle prince $9.99 click here to purchase on Amazon

My Opinion:

Have you ever wondered why Jesus sought out Mary Magdalene after he rose from the dead?  In the fictionalized book Daughter of Jerusalem you get to know Mary better and understand her point of view of the miracle worker, Jesus.  I really enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it as a great summer read!  I let my 13 year old daughter read it and she said she learned a lot of things that she never knew about the Bible.  Of course it's a work of fiction but it makes you think what Mary might have gone through.  I don't want to give too much away and spoil it but let's just say I couldn't put this one down, it's that good. 

 Here's a brief synopsis of Daughter of Jerusalem:

She was a widow, a businesswoman, an adulteress.

In her lifetime, she knew murder, prejudice, and faith. She transformed from a Jewish girl longing for family to one of the closest friends of Jesus of Nazareth -- the Son of God.

HER NAME WAS MARY MAGDALENE.

In this fictionalized story of one of the Bible's most compelling women, New York Times best-selling author Joan Wolf beautifully recreates the history, romance, and tradition of Mary's world. Daughter of Jerusalem follows Mary's life from her first love through her loveless marriage, to the moment she heard of a miracle worker in her own town -- and ultimately to the moment she saw Him risen from the dead.

As this inspiring chronicle reminds us, Mary was the first to witness history's greatest moment. She was a woman who sought forgiveness for her sins, and a follower of God who yearned for a deeper faith. She was Jesus' beloved disciple. Read Mary Magdalene's story and find yourself in this remarkable woman's journey to discover the Kingdom of God.

The author is New York Times best-selling author Joan Wolf.

 Joan Wolf has lived most of her adult life with her husband in Milford, Connecticut, where she raised two children and an assortment of horses, dogs, and cats. Along the way she also managed to write forty-six published novels the writing of which profoundly enriched her life. 

Worthy Publishing was very generous and offered not only 1 book for a giveaway but 2!!!  That's double the blessings for my readers.  Thank you Worthy Publishing! Enter to win.

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Thanks for reading,

 

The Orphan King-book review

Price: $7.99

Format: Trade Paperback

ISBN: 9781400071548

Release: 7.10.2012

Juvenile Fiction - Action & Adventure

Book Synopsis:

The future of the Immortals is in the hands of an orphan
 
My greatest fear was that they would find us and make of us a sacrifice beneath a full moon. Now you, Thomas, must help us destroy the circle of evil.
 
The last words of a dying woman would change the life of young Thomas. Raised behind monastery walls, he knows nothing of his mysterious past or imminent destiny. But now, in the heart of medieval England, a darkness threatens to strangle truth. An ancient order tightens their ghostly grip on power, creating fear and exiling those who would oppose them. Thomas is determined fulfill his calling and bring light into the mysterious world of the Druids and leaves the monastery on an important quest.
 
Thomas quickly finds himself in unfamiliar territory, as he must put his faith in unusual companions—a cryptic knight, a child thief, and the beautiful, silent woman whom may not be all she seems.  From the solitary life of an orphan, Thomas now finds himself tangled in the roots of both camaraderie and suspicion.
 
Can he trust those who would join his battle…or will his fears force him to go on alone?

Author:

Whether writing youth or adult fiction, Sigmund Brouwer is a best-selling author of more than 40 fast-paced novels. He loves going to schools to get kids excited about reading, reaching roughly 80,000 students a year through his Rock&Roll Literacy Show.

Sigmund is married to songwriter recording artist Cindy Morgan. The couple and their two young daughters divide their time between Red Deer, Alberta and Nashville, Tennessee.

My Opinion:

The Orphan King  was a book that I unfortunately have to give a 2 star rating.  I had some problems finishing the book, I fell asleep every time I got started on it.  Of course I'm not a huge Camelot or Merlin fan either so that could be my problem.  However, I gave it to my 13 year old daughter to read and she devoured it a only a couple of days.  That could be the difference, I'm a 40 year old woman and she's a teenager.  In conclusion, if you like Camelot type of books this would be a great book for you or if you're a Young Adult!

Thanks for reading,