Growing In Unity :: Blog Hop

The Introduction:

If you are hopping along with us today: You should have come here from Doreen's blog. If you did, you are in the right place! Welcome!

If you aren't already a follower, I'd love to have you follow my blog!

If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you! Please feel free to join along in the hop - you can start at the Unity blog.

The Hop Order:

Amy
Lynda
Teresa
Brittany
Maria
Doreen
Tifany <--- You are here
Wynne
Paula

The Project:

I created these stamped clothespins with the May HOPE Sustain You sentiment kit from Unity Stamp Company. They are a fairly quick project, and would be great as a simple hostess or housewarming gift...or just to add a bit of color to your own home. 

Just stamp, color, and you are done!

The Prize:
TWO lucky people will win the Frankly Said sentiment kit. (The winners will be announced with the GIU post on Wednesday, June 3rd on the Unity Stamp Company blog.)

Thanks for stopping by today!

The Next Stop:

Wynne

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (May HOPE Sustain You);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Markers: Zig;

Book Review :: The Hiding Place - Young Reader's Edition by Corrie Ten Boom with Elizabeth & John Sherrill

The Hiding Place (Young Reader's Edition) is a version of The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom that has been abridged for young readers. This is an incredible, faith-building story. 

I hadn't previously read the full version of this story (The Hiding Place) and had only heard bits and pieces of it in conversations with others, so I was excited to be able to review The Hiding Place (Young Reader's Edition). 

***If you haven't heard the story and don't want potential spoilers, you may want to stop reading here. Just know that I highly recommend getting this book for you and/or your kids to read.***

The Hiding Place (Young Reader's Edition) focuses mainly on the events in Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom's lives - and what an incredible series of events it is! From hiding some of the most difficult-to-hide Jews (to protect them from the Nazis) to living in a concentration camp themselves, it is amazing to follow along on their journey and find God with them every step of the way...even in barracks infested with fleas. 

I highly recommend getting this book for you and/or your teen and tween-aged kids to read. 

FTC Declaration: The publisher (Chosen Books -  a division of Baker Publishing Group) has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: The Day is Waiting illustrated by Don Freeman, words by Linda Zuckerman

The Day is Waiting is a book that is the result of a somewhat backward process in comparison to traditional books - this one was created from a compilation of illustrations first, then a simple story was written to accompany the illustrations. The illustrations are done by Don Freeman (illustrator of Corduroy), and the story was written by Linda Zuckerman. 

The illustrations are definitely the highlight of this book - there are a variety of illustrations created with different techniques (a variety not generally found in picture books). The story, in my opinion, feels like an afterthought - it doesn't seem to add anything to the illustrations. I would have preferred to have a book of larger illustrations with no text.  

Even so, the illustrations are colorful, inviting, and great for the imagination - they would make great framed art in a child's room. 

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: Princess Joy, Princess Grace, and Princess Charity Sticker & Activity Books - inspired by Jeanna Young and Jacqueline Johnson, pictures by Omar Aranda

The Princess Parables Sticker & Activity Books each contain 16 full-color pages with a variety of activities and 50 reusable stickers that any 4-8 year old girl is sure to enjoy. 

The activity books also have a small story that run through them about each princess. (There are five princesses in The Princess Parables series. They are: Faith, Joy, Grace, Hope, and Charity.)

The activities in the Princess Parables Sticker & Activity Books are simple and a range of levels - some may be a bit too difficult for a 4-year old to do on her own, some may be too easy for an 8-year old to hold her interest, but altogether there is a good range. Here are some of the types of activities included:

• Finish the picture with stickers
• Finish a drawing
• Color the picture
• Word Search
• Decode the message
• Count the items
• Find items in a picture
• Compare two pictures to find the differences

At under $4 retail, the Princess Parables Sticker & Activity Books are a great value and would be a fun gift for a little girl in your life. 

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: NIrV Gift & Award Bible by Zondervan/Zonderkidz

The NIrV Gift & Award Bible is a basic, economical option for anyone looking for a Bible.

The NIrV Gift & Award Bible has a glossy paper cover with interior pages that are similar in color and thickness to newspaper pages. The NIrV Gift & Award Bible comes shrink-wrapped with a paper wrap (no sleeve or hard box for storage).

The NIrV Gift & Award Bible has black text (including headings and the words of Christ), laid out in two columns. This is the NIrV version of the Bible. The text is somewhat small and the margins are minimal (about 1/4"). There are no footnotes or maps like you might find in many Bibles, but at the back of the NIrV Gift & Award Bible you will find a couple helpful resources like a Dictionary (7 pages) and "3 Ways to Read the Bible" (8 pages).

The NIrV Gift & Award Bible has the basics you need at a great price. If you don't have much to spend on a Bible, I would recommend the NIrV Gift & Award Bible, but if you can afford something closer to the $15-20 price range, I would suggest that you look into something more like the NIV Gift Bible or NIV Gift Bible for Kids.
FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

WINNER :: Growing In Unity

Thanks to all who stopped by and commented throughout my week as the Growing In Unity gal...and a very special thanks to each of you who are followers of this blog.

Tarnished Rose

and

Diana Soling

Congratulations!

Please send me an e-mail with your US mailing address so I can get your information to Unity Stamp Company. (You will each receive 25 random stamps.)
{You can find my e-mail address in my blog header or on my Blogger profile.}

Growing In Unity - Day 5

Well, I am the scheduled GIU (Growing In Unity) gal this week, but things took a little turn as I gave birth to my newest baby boy Monday (he surprised us a couple weeks earlier than expected). I hadn't completed a fifth project yet, so unfortunately there isn't anything for Friday's post. I assume you will forgive me under the circumstances. ;o)

Please also be patient with me picking a winner...things with me are moving much more slowly these days.

All of my posts (Monday through Thursday) can be found here at: inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com

Thank you for visiting!