Recent Reading

The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn
Excellent read!  Not the easiest thing that I've ever read, but I will say one of the best books. I just don't know how to describe it....for me that's saying something.  I linked you back to Amazon there above so go check it out. 

Two Graves by Preston and Child
I'm thinking that maybe this is a book about Detective Pendergast and I've kinda started in the middle of a serious but I'm still able to keep up and it is riveting.  I LOVE a good mystery.  Might finish it tonight so I decided to go ahead and include it here.  I've read something by Lincoln Child before but I can't think of the name of it......well, upon looking at some of his other books I believe I have some on the kindle waiting for me so that is why he is familiar.  I will definately be moving them to the top of the list.  I can't wait to read more about Detective Pendergast!

Waterproof Bible

***I received this product for free in exchange for a fair review as part of the Mosaics Review team.

 

 

After Bike Camp last fall Greg brought home an interesting Bible, a Waterproof Bible (his was NIV and camo) so I was a little familiar with this product.  When told I would be reviewing it, I was figuring I would get camo, but look!  I got pink :)  They have tons of other styles/versions/colors available (including a full Bible).  This one is priced at $24.95.

 

 

So, what's so cool about this Bible you ask?  Well, aside from being waterproof, it is practically indestructible.  The littles have wallowed it all around church and after the 1st couple of times of reminding them that is was a Bible so be careful, I let them go (for review purposes only lol) and they haven't managed to put so much as a dent in it. 

 

 

I dumped tea on it with absolutely no ill effects.  It got lipstick on it (I keep it in my purse - did I mention it is purse sized???) and it wiped right off. No page curling, no staining.   No problemo. 

 

 

Did I mention it is the perfect size to fit into your purse or backpack?  Its a little heavier then a pocket Bible but the pages are made out of some kind of plastic stuff so you can expect that.  It is much lighter than my full sized Bible.

 

 

Greg's camo version lived in the van for a few weeks and still looks like the day he brought it home (nothing comes out of that van after an extended period of time without some damage - except this Bible). 

 

 

I cannot say enough good things about this product.  I am considering getting these for Bear and Abby's first Bibles because they are so indestructible (I'm not giving mine up btw).  

Made by Bardin and Marsee Publishing, these things are made to be used by anyone that wants to take the word on the go, wherever they go. 

Books I've Read 5-7-13

There isn't a whole lot to report.  I've not been working home health care much and Norman's been off work so I haven't been reading in the evenings either.  lol  Excuses, excuses, I know :)

I did finish The Eldridge Conspiracy by Stephen Ames Berry.  An excellent work of fiction.  I'm going to say one of the best books I've read in a long time. 

I guess that's it.  lol

Ooka Island - Review and Discount Code

***I've received the following product for free in exchange for a fair review as part of the Mosaics Review program***

I've taught a couple of children how to read :)  I have a method, a very practical, no fuss approach and it works well.  Bear is at that age, so here we go again! 

I was intrigued when I received Ooka Island to review.  Ooka Island is a learn-to-read game for ages 3-7. 

Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of educational games.  I find that they are primarily games with a little tiny bit of educational thrown in for good measure.  That's fine, as long as you go into the program knowing that.  Rarely I will encounter a game that is educational and am always very pleased when I do. 

Ooka Island surprised me.  I think that maybe I didn't want to like it.  I doubted the ability of a game to teach my children to read - believe me, I had to gain grey hair in order for that to happen.  HOWEVER, Ooka Island is different. 
#1 Bear (age 5.5) LOVES it.  Begs to play it.  Forever.  I had to turn it off.
#2 The activities are repeated without being annoying.  Repetition with reading is a good thing.
#3 The games are "self-learning".  I don't have to help at all.  Every once in a while I do a walk-through but otherwise he is on his own.  THAT is a wonderful thing.
#4 He has gained much in the way of phonetic sounds just over the last few weeks.  I haven't really been working on phonics otherwise but he is learning so it has to be the game.

On the Ooka Island website there are activity pages that can be used with the program.  We haven't used them yet, but I think that they will be a good supplement.

If your child needs some phonics supplement, or you are looking for an educational "game" I strongly recommend that you give Ooka Island a try.  To sweeten the deal, they are offering my readers a 30% off discount good until June 1, 2013.