Friendship For Grownups – Lisa Whelchel

Friendship For Grownups

 Lisa Whelchel

 Lisa Whelchel talks about her struggles to make friends. . . for the first time as an adult.  Not just the “Hi how are you?” type of friendship, but the heart to heart friendship many of us long for. 

First off, I expected this to be more of a how to book, but it felt a lot like a personal journal.  Lisa opened her heart up to all of the readers and let them see struggles she had, problems she encountered all while trying to make deep, meaningful friendships. 

You might recognize her from the popular tv show “The Facts of Life” as Blair.  She goes into some of her struggles of making friends when she is given a script on how to be a friend, but didn’t have the time to actually make friends.

When I saw this book listed on Booksneeze.com, I was very excited, I had wanted to get it, and knew that the topic was something that would speak to me.  Lisa doesn’t claim to be an expert on making friends, she just gives ideas on what she has done, what worked and what hasn’t.

A couple of the chapters (that especially spoke to me)  “New Friendships with Old Friends”, “Who are Safe People”, “Conflict Can Be a Good Thing”.  Also included in her book are “Questions for Relection or Discussion”, “Appendix Two: Practical Steps for Developing and Growing Friendships” and “Appendix Three: Conversation Prompts” (That looks fun).

I would recommend this book as a “Learn from someone elses experiences book”, not a “solve all for friendships”.  

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

 

The Blind Side – A movie review

The Blind Side

Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw

Based on the true story of Michael Oher a now pro Football player.

Michael (Quinton Aaron)  is maybe 16 or 17 at the beginning of this movie, and he is from the ‘wrong’ side of town.  Everyone can see he is huge, and he’s great with a basketball.  He ends up getting into a private Christian school, and they want him to play football, but he needs to seriously raise his grades first. 

Leigh Tougy (Sandra Bullock) and her husband Sean Tougy (Tim McGraw) see ‘Big Mike’ walking late at night when it’s cold out, and figure out that he has no home, and invite him to stay with them for the night.  They end up becoming much more involved, and helping his teachers and his coach understand who Michael is.  Helping them learn how to teach him. 

A movie about adoption, taking care of other peoples needs, and not caring about other peoples judgement.  A movie about beating the odds and getting out of unfavorable situations.  A movie about real family love (and Michael IS part of their family). 

I liked the Blind Side, it was a good story that was well written. There was swearing in it, although not so much that I couldn’t enjoy the movie (of course I would have prefered they skipped that all together and it still would have flowed well, but that’s me).  No sex scenes or even hints of it.  Michael did at one point defend his “sister” and “mom” from offensive comments from his old friends.

The first 5 minutes confused me, and I kept waiting for more details about it, but I never did see more about it.  It was about a football accident involving other players, but I didn’t see how it fit.   Because of this scene I was tense waiting for the ‘accident’ and sure that his life was going to be ruined. 

I was able to enjoy this movie even with the swearing, some violence, and the gang members used derogatory slang towards women. Oh, and I know nothing about football 🙂

*Note:  I am writing this review because I want to; no one connected to this movie or Amazon.com has paid me to write it.  All opinions are mine.

 

When God Tucks in the Day by Allia Nolan

When God Tucks in the Day – Allia Nolan

A very short rhyming  story about a bunny who wants to stay awake and play.  Good as a book to read to your child, but also great for beginning readers. 

The pages are built so that as the pages are turned you build the moon!!

My kids love how it changes.  Watching Day turn to night. 
In the end the bunny lays down to sleep and asks God to tuck him in too 🙂

*Note- Amazon and the author of this book did not ask me to write this review, it is just one of the fun books we have around our house right now, that the kids keep picking up.

 

Sabrina – Big Sky Dreams – by Lori Wick

Sabrina – Big Sky Dreams

Lori Wick

Sabrina is book two in the Big Sky Dreams series.  Sabrina is a prostitute living in Denver.  When offered a chance at a new life, she takes it, coming to know the love of Christ a short time later. Even though her heart, and address have changed, some of the people from her former life won’t leave her alone.  Sabrina finally decides with the help of her new friends that she needs to move, and she moves to Tolken City. 

This story was a bit hard for me to read, because I messed up the order of the books and read this one last (after Jessie).  The story is about forgiveness, and restoration.  Sabrina learned to forgive herself of her sins before Christ, and to trust that true brothers and sisters in Christ would not hold her past against her.    I hurt for the characters at times, and books like this remind me not to judge, and to also be thankful for where the Lord has placed me.

* Note: I have not been paid to write this review, nor have I been asked to review this book by anyone (but myself)  Lori Wick, Amazon, and Harvest House Publishers have not paid me to write this review

 

Bella – A movie Review

Bella

A story of a young waitress (Nina) who finds out she is pregnant, who on the same day looses her job because she is late, and (Jose) head chef (brother to the owner of the restaurant) who walks out on his job to see if he can help her.  Nina is sure that abortion is the only way for her to solve her problems.  Jose has flashbacks to a terrible accident that changed the course of his life forever, but also made him more open to looking at the people around him, and making him care for them.  Nina and Jose spend the day together, finding out about each other’s pasts, dreams they both had, and becoming friends.  Jose trying to convince Nina that her baby deserves a chance to live, and that if she doesn’t want to be a mom, she should at least give it up for adoption vs an abortion. 

My two cents worth 🙂  I liked it.  The movie was a bit fast paced in my opinion, with lots of flashbacks and flash forwards (in most movies you don’t often see where the characters imagine what might happen).  It made it a bit hard for me to keep up, I did understand it all when the film was done, but it just seemed a bit choppy some times.  Scene changes were a bit dramatic sometimes too, often with a bit  of extra noise, or flashes of light.  This didn’t make it bad, just a bit startling sometimes.   I think that the accident scene (I won’t spoil it and tell you what happened) was well done, it gave you enough details  that you understand what happened, and you feel great empathy for those involved, but you don’t go away sick because there are too many details.  The ending is great!! Not exactly what I expected, but very happy.  It also left a bit to the imagination (there were 4 of us watching it, and we didn’t all agree with what the ending meant. . .  that is nice sometimes).

Over all, I liked the movie, honestly wouldn’t pick it as a movie to watch over and over, but I wouldn’t have a problem watching it a second time either.  There were also no sex scenes or swearing – a big bonus for me 😉   

Rated PG (due to the accident scene I think. . .)

*Note:  I am writing this review because I want to; no one connected to this movie or Amazon.com has paid me to write it.  All opinions are mine.

**note: My husband thinks this has the feel of an ‘independant film’

 

Flo: The Lyin’ Fly – Max Lucado’s Hermie and Friends

Flo: The Lyin’ Fly – Max Lucado’s Hermie and Friends

I was first introduced to Hermie and Friends in DVD form, so when I saw the books, I had to get them for my kids, I knew the stories were wholesome, and my kids would love them 🙂

Flo is a pink little fly who has a tendency to . . .  well, stretch the truth and, out and out lie.   The first page has her lying about needing help, and then right after that she lies about knowing ‘The Water Beetles” (Played by Third Day in the DVD)  When she is caught, her friends all leave annoyed that they don’t get to meet the Water Beetles.

When Flo turns around guess who is standing there. . . well, the Water Beetles of course!!  But when she gets her friends and tries to tell them, that they are really there, they don’t believe her, but someone else does, and Puffy the dragon follows her and kidnaps the Water Beetles.   When Flo tries to get help, again no one believes her, so she must rescue them herself. 

During the rescue the Water Beetles make it out safe, but Flo looks lost forever.   The Water Beetles tell the whole story to the crowd, just before Flo comes back. and her friends realize that she was telling the truth.  Flo apologizes and promises to not lie again. 

I have to admit, that the stories are not as great as the movies.  The stories are very short, and leave out lots of details that are in the movie, but I don’t really know that my kids noticed all of the differences.   I would recommend this as a good book, a fun short story for kids to read, or even have read to them.  I would say this is a First or Second Grade reading level. 

*Note, Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, Third Day and Amazon.com have not paid me to write this review, and I only write it because. . . well, I wanted to 🙂 

If you want to watch the video preview of the dvd, here it is 🙂 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1lDPrNx3Ig

 

Cassidy – Big Sky Dreams by Lori Wick

Cassidy – Big Sky Dreams

by Lori Wick 

Cassidy is new in town, and the local seamstress.  With no family around, but lots of friends she is making a new life for her self.  When a family member finds her and decides to make trouble for her, Cassidy will learn who her true friends are.

I really enjoyed this book and love how Lori Wick weaves scripture and lessons into her books.  This is the first book of a new series, and I’m excited to read the rest of them. It looks like Cassidy will have her choice of three guys in the beginning.  Cassidy has many trials through out the book, but continues to trust in the Lord for all of her needs. 
I would highly recommend this book!!  I’ll be writing a review for all three of these books as I get a chance!!

* Note: I have not been paid to write this review, nor have I been asked to review this book by anyone (but myself)  Lori Wick, Amazon, and Harvest House Publishers have not paid me to write this review.

 

Big Picture Story Bible – David Helm

Big Picture Story Bible – David Helm

One of the Pastors at our Church recommended this book a few months ago, and we talked about getting it, and finally just did.  I hadn’t really seen the inside of this, so we weren’t sure what we would think of it.
We LOVE it!!  The pictures are simple but descriptive, the story is short but accurate.  I can’t tell you how many ‘children’s bibles’ we have had to cross words out of because they change things.  The Big Picture Story Bible tells real bible stories and tells them accurately.  I was also happy to see that it skipped a lot of the stories that everyone writes about, but instead some of the stories that are great, but not often heard by little people. 

The Big Picture Bible is 453 pages broken up into 11 Old Testament stories, and 15 New Testament stories.

A great book to read to your kids and to let them start reading when they are able to!!  Highly recommend it!

*again, I paid for this book, and wrote the review, simply cause I wanted to 🙂  I like this bible!!

 

You’re a Brother, Little Bunny! by Maribeth Boelts

You’re a Brother, Little Bunny!  by Maribeth Boelts

We got this book from my parents when we were expecting our second.  Our oldest was still very young, only 16 months at his brother’s birth.   So I’m sure it didn’t make much sense to him then, but with a new addition coming soon, I was excited to find it again in our book shelf. 

The book is about a young school aged bunny who gets a baby doll for a present, so he can practice being a big brother.  He was very excited!! When the new baby comes, he’s still very excited, and loves his new baby brother.  But it doesn’t take long before he starts to not like his brother so much.  His brother cries a lot, gets lots of attention, and stinks (those crazy diapers), and has all kinds of adults telling him what a big help he needs to be.   Through it all, his parents continue to show Little Bunny their love for him, making sure he feels a part of the family.  When it’s Little Bunny’s turn to bring something to show-n-tell, he brings his brother, because by that time his baby brother has learned how to laugh and is much more fun!!

A cute story to remind new ‘older siblings’ that their new baby will grow up and become more fun as they get bigger. 

* Note, Amazon and the author did not pay me to write this review, it was just a fun book on our bookshelf.

A good book to read to your young child or about a 2nd grade reading level

 

The Noticer – Andy Andrews

The Noticer is about an older man who is the “noticer” for quite a few people.  He (Jones is his name, not Mr. Jones, just Jones)  notices things that most of us ‘see’, just don’t notice.  The book goes through many different people, and situations and tells of the things that Jones notices. 

For example:

• The first person who Jones talks to is the author (Andy gives his background and a bit of his life story in the first few chapters) .  Jones explains to Andy that he is looking at the situations in his life incorrectly.  It’s all about perspective.  His life is rough (he’s homeless, living under a pier or in peoples unlocked garages)  and doesn’t eat so great, but his attitude about it makes it so he won’t change.
• The next people are a couple who love each other, but decide they don’t like each other, and are going to get a divorce.  Jones notices that people speak 4 dialects of love language, that all correspond to animals. Dog, Cat, Canary and Goldfish.  Dog’s just want you to affirm them “Good job”  “Wonderful job” type people.  Cat’s are touchy people, back rubs, hugs, you get the picture :).  Canary’s are time people, you don’t need to touch them or praise them, you just need to listen to them ‘sing’ and spend time with them.  Goldfish are acts of service type people,  wash the car, do the dishes, put the kids to bed type people.    Each person has a primary dialect, but might minor in a second dialect.  We tend to speak the dialect that we want to hear.  He shows them how to speak the other person’s dialect to them.
• The next guy that Jones talks to is an “Eeyore” type guy.  He is the type who is sure that life is going to get worse.  Jones explains to him why he thinks this way, and how he can tweek his thinking so that he is no longer an Eeyore .  (This is actually me a lot of times. . . hmmm)  The goal is to change your thoughts to good things. He recommends writing down (everyday) the things you are grateful for (not just thinking about it, but writing it down) 
• Young people who wanted to know how to get married and STAY married.  (a great chapter for anyone dating!!)
• An older lady who decides that she is of no value because she has no more to give (how many of us have heard that??)  He then lists the achievements of some people who didn’t do ‘great’ things until they were older, or did something that seems small, but affects great numbers of people.

There are more, many more who were touched by Jones, and the book goes into details for about half a dozen more.  

All through this book, it seems to me that Jones is an Angel. The book is written as if all of this is real, and all events are true.  I can honestly say that I have never met an angel (and known it) so it seems weird (far fetched) to me. 

Are the lessons that are taught (and learned) good?? YES.  Do they make sense, and seem applicable?? YES.  Does it read like fiction?? NO.  Would I recommend reading this book?? Yes 🙂 

*Note:  I did not know what to expect from this book, I had heard Andy Andrews at Women of Faith, and so I was excited to read this book (I also thought from listening to Andy at WOF that Jones sounded like an angel). 

** Note: This book was not given to be to be used as a review, I am reviewing it because I just finished reading it and I want to.  Andy Andrews and  Thomas Nelson have not paid me to write this review.