I’m so excited about this review and giveaway!

I’m a Rebecca St. James fan from waaaay back and it’s been quite a while since she’s had anything new come out. This is her first studio project since 2005! And I’m telling you, it’s been so worth the wait!

I Will Praise You by Rebecca St. James

Her newest CD “I Will Praise You” is a new collection of worship songs she terms “her most personal recording to date.” And I’ll be honest, from the opening notes of track one, I was hooked. Even Jonah was asking if I could turn it on and sang along with the lyrics…he’s usually not a fan of “Mommy’s music.” It’s hard to pick a favorite song from the CD. I loved every one of them and had the CD set to replay over and over. The opening song and title track, “I Will Praise You” is catchy and makes me want to dance around my living room with my hands up in praise. I also really like the song, “In A Moment” which talks about the glorious returning of our Savior. All in all, I feel like it’s a more mellow CD than her previous ones and maybe a bit more “grown up”….which I appreciate since I’ve “grown up” since the last time I listened to her music and don’t rock out as much as I used to. (I know, I know, I’m totally getting old.)

You can preview the CD and share it with your friends and family too by visiting the Listening Party.

You can find Rebecca St. James on her Website or on Facebook.

You can also find it on Amazon and preview it there, too.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Want to win your own copy? (Leave a comment for each entry you complete)

• Leave a comment telling me who your favorite musician was “back in the day”…I’ll let you choose the decade 😉 (Make sure you enter your email so I can contact you if you are the winner! I promise your email will not be shared with anyone!)
• Subscribe/Follow Happy Brown House or tell me you already do.
• Follow Happy Brown House on Facebook (or tell me you already do.)
• Follow @happybrownhouse on Twitter (or tell me you already do.)
  
• Tweet it. (I just entered a giveaway for a Rebecca St. James CD @happybrownhouse and you can too! http://bit.ly/eBvzep)

Giveaway ends Friday, April 8, 2011 at Midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Open to U.S. residents only. Sorry to the international friends!

One of the interesting things I’ve come to realize through this journey of motherhood is that at the same time I am parenting Jonah, God is parenting me. Just as I discipline, encourage obedience, and wipe away the tears when Jonah falls, God is doing the very same thing with me.

Another thing….just as I am learning and growing in my faith, God is revealing himself and calling to Jonah’s heart. It’s beautiful and gives me goosebumps even as I type it for you to read. The folks at Tommy Nelson understand this and have a set of devotions perfect for this parallel journey.

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, is a “year’s worth of daily readings to bring you closer to Christ and move your time with Him from a monologue to a dialogue.” The daily devotions are written as if Jesus were speaking to you—beautiful, thought-provoking, and infused with scripture.

My favorite thing about Jesus Calling…..there is a version for adults and a parallel version for kids! Can you imagine what would happen if your whole family were reading the same devotion and scripture passage each day? I can only imagine the conversations just waiting to happen!

Tommy Nelson has 2 weeks of the devotional available for you to download for FREE. They’re challenging families to take a 2-week devotional challenge and see what great things happen. I’ve joined in the challenge! Will you?

And….we’re having a giveaway!

Want to win your own set of Jesus Calling Devotionals? I knew you would.

Here’s how to enter (leave separate comments for each):

1. Leave a comment. Tell me: What things are you doing to teach your kids about Jesus?
2. Visit Tommy Nelson and download the 2 Week Devotional Challenge.
3. Post about this on Facebook!
4. Tweet it: Use @happybrownhouse and @tommynelson to help me verify.
5. Subscribe by email or reader. (If you already do, tell me!)

By the way…I hope you enter. This would make a great Christmas present!

Disclosure: I was provided this product for free at The Relevant Conference from Tommy Nelson in my “swag bag”. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine. The giveway is provided from Tommy Nelson

While at Relevant, I had a chance to meet and mingle with AnnJanette and Abby from Tommy Nelson. As I was checking out their fabulous booth, I picked up a book called The Boy Who Changed the World. The title caught my attention, for obvious boy mom reasons, but as I flipped through the pages, I was captivated by the story–a true story!

The Boy Who Changed the World tells the incredible story of Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, a simple boy with a desire to feed the hungry–but Borlaug couldn’t have accomplished this without the help of Vice President Henry Wallace, who was influenced by inventor George Washington Carver, who in turn was rescued by farmer Moses Carver.  The message of the book: each life is interwoven by decisions–both big and small. You know, the butterfly effect.

The book ends with an inspiring charge to readers…

That means every little thing YOU do matters: what you did yesterday, what you do today, and what you do tomorrow. God made your life so important that every move you make, every action you take, matters…and not only for you or the people around you. Everything you do matters for everyone and for all time!

When you think about it like that…Wow! That means YOU can be the kid who changes the world!

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous! I noticed that there were butterflies on each page–perfect for a game of “I Spy” as you read each page and talk about the book. Want to see some pages from the book? Here is a sneak peek!

My “teacher” mode kicked in when I saw the Curriculum Packet for school, homeschooling, or Sunday school. And yes, as a former teacher, it received my seal of approval. It was full of great ideas and ready-to-use resources!

Want a chance to win your own copy of  The Boy Who Changed the World?

Leave a comment telling me how YOU have changed the world this week. (Or, who you would read this book to and why)

{Bonus Entry} As a way to say thank you, earn 1 extra entry for being subscribed Happy Brown House via email or reader. Simply leave another comment saying, “I subscribe!”

Giveaway closes Friday, November 19, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to the continental US only. 1 winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: I purchased my own copy of The Boy Who Changed The World because I loved it so much. All opinions expressed are genuine. The giveaway is provided by Tommy Nelson, children’s division of Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Psst…come back tomorrow for another chance to win a prize!

This Giveaway is now closed. The Winner has been notified. Thanks for entering!

Right after I posted about the Psalm 23 Hand Motions Video for The M.O.B. Society, I was contacted by Really Woolly Kids to review a new DVD available for purchase at Dayspring. We liked it and I’m excited to tell you about it!  

Really Woolly Kids – Trusting in the Shepherd – DVD

My Review:
We loved this DVD! There are 2 stories on the 40 minute long DVD, both focusing on Psalm 23:4 and emphasizing trusting God even when you might be scared. In between the stories, there is a music video with a catchy song to teach your child the targeted Bible verse.  Jonah wanted to watch the music video over and over. One thing I noticed and appreciated was that of the two stories included, one was geared toward boy interests and the other was geared more toward girl interests. (For the record, Jonah watched both with interest.) I also plan on taking the DVD with me to show the preschoolers at Parents Day Out next week because I think they will enjoy it. I am pleased and would be interested in other Really Woolly Kids DVD’s.