Purex Complete Crystals Fabric Softener ~ Giveaway Update

I have some great news ya'll!!

I just found out that on the Purex Complete Crytals coupon giveaway I am having they are now giving away coupons for a FREE bottle instead of $2 off.

Isn't that great???

So hurry and go enter!




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January is all about friends!

Over at NaBloPoMo, January is all about friends.

I ♥ my friends!

So during the month of January I'm going to dedicate a post each day to one of my friends. They may be from Facebook or the blogging world or both. 'Cause ya'll know I'm dedicated internet user. ;)

If you don't get picked please do NOT be offended...I only have 31 days. If I could chose you all I would. Promise. {hugs}




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Simple Woman's Daybook ~ 12/31

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… there is snow and ice melting, the sun is shining and it's suppose to be near 55*

I am thinking… I can't believe it's the  end of 2010 already. The year has gone by so fast.

I am thankful for… all the blessings God has bestowed upon me.

From the learning rooms… school's out til January 3rd. Then mama gets a moment of quiet again. :)

From the kitchen… I need to do dishes because according to Robyn from Add a Pinch I'm not suppose to do them (or anything else) on New Year's Day! I think this day is getting better and better.... And I need to decide what we're having for dinner tonight. Something easy preferably. Ideas?

I am wearing… pjs. Yea, I'm slacking. Got something to say about it?

I am creating… memories. Also thinking about what I want 2011 to be like, personally and blog wise.

I am going… to make it happen.

I am reading… a book. Duh. LOL I'm reading A Promise of Forever Love, Book Three in the Second Chance at Love Series by Vanessa Miller. Look for a review in February.

I am hoping… for a peaceful day.

I am hearing… the kids playing together WITHOUT fighting. Whoa what a concept.

Around the house… Christmas has left the building.

One of my favorite things… love ♥


A few plans for the rest of the week… well, it's near the end of the week...but I'll say enjoy my family.


Here is a picture for thought I am sharing…

Courtesy of Graphics Fairy

So. what's your daybook lookin’ like?




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End of Year Blog Hop

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Chores & Allowances

I'm coming to ya'll with some questions today.

I want to know how you determine what chores your child does and what type of allowance they get for doing them. If they get one.

I never got an allowance as a kid, but I never needed that much. I got a Happy Meal each Friday that was payday and every now and again we got little treats. Nothing like what these kids get nowadays. But I was content. I didn't feel slighted. I had my Teen Beat when I wanted it. :)

See Gracie got a Nintendo DS for Christmas. Santa brought her one game, because those things are frickin' expensive!! Gracie was telling me how she wanted a Littlest Pet Shop game...so I agreed BUT I told her she'd have to pay for it. She already has $8.28. We are aiming for $20 + tax which would be $21.20. So we've got $12.92 left to go. I know most DS games are more, but our Game Stop is pretty good with having a large selection of pre-owned games. *crossing fingers they have them when we eventually go*

Gracie said she's willing to work for it. I've explained that the games aren't something she can just ask for and get, that daddy works hard for our money and we can't spend it all on toys. She says she understands and wants to do it herself. Then she waivers a bit and says I'll never get twelve dollars. LOL We'll see how this goes.

Advice people. Please!!?




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Purex Complete Crystals Fabric Softener ~ Review & Giveaway

Purex® Complete Crystals Softener FACT SHEET

WHAT IT IS?
UNIQUE CRYSTAL FORM, 92% NATURAL FABRIC SOFTENER
Introducing Purex® Complete Crystals SoftenerTM*; a purer way to get laundry that smells clean and fresh for weeks. 92% natural, this product’s unique crystal form works differently than traditional oil-based softeners that coat fabrics with oily residue, because it infuses fibers with long-lasting fragrance. In addition, since you add it directly with your laundry, this means no more waiting for the rinse cycle, no messy residual gunk in your washing machine, and no more stains from spilling liquid fabric softener.

HOW IT’S USED?
ADDED WITH LAUNDRY AT THE START OF THE WASH CYCLE
Why struggle with plastic fabric softener balls, risk staining your clothes or waste time waiting for the rinse cycle? Simply add Purex Complete Crystals Softener directly with your laundry at the beginning of every wash cycle to infuse fabrics with long lasting freshness.

HOW IT WORKS?
CRYSTALS DISSOLVE INFUSING FABRICS WITH FRESHNESS
Laundry scent lovers will perk up as freshness is infused into clothes with this new fabric softener. Over time, traditional oil-based softeners coat fibers causing harmful oily residue to accumulate. Purex Complete Crystals Softeners penetrate fabrics to reduce fiber entanglement and smooth frayed fibers providing a naturally soft feel.

WHY IT’S DIFFERENT?
SAFE FOR ALL LAUNDRY AND BETTER FOR FABRICS
Do ALL of your laundry—worry free! Purex Complete Crystals Softeners are safe for all laundry and will not harm, wear down or discolor your fabrics like oil-based softeners. Safe for all fabrics, including baby clothes, athletic wear, towels, and whites. 

Unlike other softeners, Crystals WILL:
• Preserve the flame retardant benefits of your children’s clothes
• Retain your athletic wear’s wicking ability which draws sweat away from your body
• Maintain your towels’ built-in ability to absorb water
• Keep your white clothing from yellowing and graying vs. using traditional softeners

The product won’t harm your clothes and is safe and convenient for the entire family!

VARIETIES?
ON-TREND SCENTS
Purex Complete Crystals Softener is available in three on-trend fragrances: Fresh Spring Waters TM, Lavender Blossom TM, and Tropical Splash.

Suggested Retail Price
Purex Complete Crystals Softener is priced from $3.99 to $5.99 depending on retailer and will be available in food, drug and mass retailers nationwide.

Well now that you've seen what they say about it...now it's my turn. :D

I LOVE it!

I used Purex previously to getting to try this...and I always like it. The price was right and my clothes always came out clean and smelling good. I've used both the detergent and fabric softener. This is such a different type of product. I mean not only is it 92% natural...but it's in crystal form. It reminded me of those bath crystals you use to pamper yourself with. You know when you get to take a bath by yourself with out kids running in and out. ;)

It's so simple to use!

It goes directly into the wash. You use the cap to measure. You can't go wrong. And it smells sooooo good. I used this for the first time yesterday and when I opened the washer to put the clothes in the dryer I could smell it immediately! And then when they were done drying and I was about to fold them I was amazed at how the heat had intensified the scent. I left them in the dryer so my husband could smell them...but where our dryer vent is right near the driveway he could smell it outside. How awesome is that!?

And I've been given the wonderful opportunity to give away a $2 off coupon for a full size bottle to 3 lucky winners!!

Are you excited? Well, you should be!! :)

To enter all you need to do is leave me a comment below telling me why you want to try this...or the scent you think you'd like best. Please leave an email address or make sure your profile has a way I can contact you. Thanks!

Giveaway ends on January 18th at 11:59PM EST. Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

Read an UPDATE here! It's a good one! :)

*Disclaimer: I am a Purex Insider. I was provided this product &giveaway for free. The opinion is my own and was not influenced in anyway.*



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Wordless Wednesday: Christmas 2010

all the little ones in matching pjs - my niece & nephew, Gracie & Matthew (he's not evil - that's his cheeeese grin)

with Granny & Pa

her favorite gift from Santa - Nintendo DS

lovin' his boom-boom :) from Santa

Notice I'm not in any of these? That's because the one picture my husband took of me - was of my backside! :( So not funny Rob. Just for that he doesn't get a picture on my precious blog. :)

Confident Woman Devotional Book Winner

The winner of Joyce Meyer's 365 Day Confident Woman Devotional is...

*insert drumroll*

comment #3 My Passions

Congratulations!! I hope you enjoy your book. :) I'm contacting you now, please respond back asap. Thanks!

Glee Make Your Own Chocolate Kit Review & Giveaway

~ GIVEAWAY EXTENDED DUE TO NO ENTRIES! NOW ENDING 2/14 ~

I was given the awesome chance to do a review for the Glee company. Just the name makes me smile. :)

They have some really cool kits that kids (and grown ups) will love.

* Make Your Own Chocolate Kit
* Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit
* Make Your Own Gummies Kit

Of course I chose the chocolate kit. HA!

Gracie, Robby, and I did it. Matthew wasn't quite ready to stand still and help. He did like eating them though. I had fun watching the expression on Robby & Gracie's face when they tried the cocoa bean. LOL They had NO idea it would be so bitter.

The directions were clear and easy to understand. And the kit includes everything you need to make some yummy chocolate treats.

And now I'm giving one of you lucky readers the chance to win! You'll have your choice of one kit. :)

To enter just leave me a comment telling me which kit you'd like to try.

Additional entries can be earned by "Liking" GleeGum on Facebook and following them on Twitter.

Just leave separate comments for each entry method. Also please leave a way for me to contact you (like an email address)...I need a way to let you know you won.

Giveaway will end on January 1st at 11:59PM EST.

*Disclaimer: I was provided the above product free for review. the opinions stated are my own.*



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New Living Translation: Vote & Win

New Living Translation is having a contest by highlighting three ministries, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Oasis International, and The Dream Center. You can click on the link to learn more about each of these ministries and then when you vote for one of them you'll be entered to win one of many prizes.

There are several different kinds of prizes you can win such as...
• Ministries win: Each time the NLT Facebook Page reaches a fan count milestone, votes will be tallied and the three ministries will receive cash donations from the New Living Translation and Tyndale House Publishers.
• Everyone wins: Everyone who enters on the Bible Contest website wins a free download of Matthew West reading the Christmas story.
• Daily NLT Study Bible winners: Vote on the NLT Facebook page and you will be entered to win two NLT Study Bibles—one to keep and one to give away. A new winner will be chosen every day.
• Weekly Give the Word Locally winners: Tell us about a deserving local ministry on the NLT Bible Contest website and they could win five NLT Study Bibles and $250 worth of NLT products.
• One Grand Prize winner will enjoy a unique trip customized just for them and their family (or three guests of their choice), to Wycliffe Bible Translators world headquarters and the WordSpring Discovery Center where they will experience firsthand the exciting world of Bible translation. The Grand Prize winner could also choose to donate the value of the trip--$2000--to Wycliffe instead.

To enter, visit the NLT Facebook page by clicking here.

Where the Jewels Are - Book Review

Where the Jewels Are
by Diana Symons
Paperback
ISBN 978-193499502-0
$5.99
45 pages

How do you say No to a princess who has everything? This princess has a wise father who sends her on a journey to find the one thing she doesn't know she needs. Come to the Land of Wonderful and walk the halls of the Great Castle with the young Princess who comes to value friendship over material things. Though she’s off to find a beautiful jewel, it’s her trusted servant and friend who opens her heart to finding value in others.

Where the Jewels Are is a fairytale for kids 8-10 years old, or for the young at heart. It's the first book in the Tales from the Throne series.

My thoughts:
Wow, what an excellent book. Ok, that's it. Ha! Not likely with my big mouth. ;) As you can tell I liked it.

It's so hard to teach children the difference between wants vs needs. They think they need everything. And if you're anything like me you do not want your child to be spoiled with material things. Love yes...stuff no.

This story is an excellent christian fairy tale. My daughter learned to read last year in Kindergarten and since she has really taken off. She loved this book and read it herself!! She's 7. I was so proud. :) And she was proud of herself. Not only does the book have a wonderful message, it's very easy to read.

To purchase this book please visit the author's site. You can also find Diana on Facebook or Twitter.


*Disclaimer: This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by: Gold Pen Press for this review. The opinion is my own.*

The Lamb’s Supper Study Guide - Book Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Scott Hahn

and the book:

The Lamb’s Supper Study Guide

Image; Stg edition (November 2, 2010)

***Special thanks to Staci Carmichael, Marketing and Publicity Coordinator
Doubleday Religion / Waterbrook Multnomah, Divisions of Random House, Inc., for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SCOTT HAHN was recently appointed as the inaugural Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation at Saint Vincent Seminary (Latrobe, Pennsylvania). He is also professor of theology and Scripture at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. An internationally renowned lecturer, Scott is founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and editor of the Center's academic journal, Letter & Spirit. He is the author of a dozen books, including The Lamb's Supper; Hail, Holy Queen; Swear to God; and Understanding the Scriptures. His scholarly articles have appeared in various academic journals, including the Journal of Biblical Literature, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, and Currents in Biblical Research. He lives with his wife, Kimberly, and their six children in Steubenville, Ohio.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Image; Stg edition (November 2, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307589056
ISBN-13: 978-0307589057

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

How to Use This Book


You may use the book in any way you wish. For each session I have indicated a chapter of the book for advance reading. I have supplemented this “assignment” with pointers to other supplementary material—from the Bible, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and from other Church documents. I have also chosen, for each session, a hymn whose text is related to the discussion at hand. Singing sometimes loosens up the voices of discussion group members. And these traditional hymns will certainly give you something to talk about.

But my outline here is not intended to be a ritual. You’re free to use the elements that appeal to you and your group, in whatever order you please. You may skip whatever doesn’t work for you.



Session 1


Foreword by Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.


SUMMARY AND KEY POINTS

• This book brings together several powerful spiritual realities.

• Eschatology is the study of “last things.”

• It is important that we conduct our study with a proper sense of the sacraments.


At my invitation, Father Benedict Groeschel wrote a foreword to The Lamb’s Supper. Father Benedict approaches the subject of the book from a very different perspective. He is a priest and I’m a layman. Father Benedict is a “cradle Catholic” and I’m a convert. Yet we converge upon a common faith; and, for very different reasons, we see a clear relationship between three realities that many people see as distinct or even unrelated: the Mass, the end times, and the Book of Revelation.

Father Benedict emphasizes the contrast between his own experience and mine. For me, the book is all about exciting “discoveries” I made in my studies. For him, the book is about an everyday reality he has known since he was an altar boy. These elucidations are not a novelty to him, but rather what he has “thought about the Eucharist for decades.”

Father Benedict also emphasizes certain things that are distinctive about Catholic doctrine and practice. He refuses, for example, to classify the Mass as a religious “service,” preferring terms such as “Divine Liturgy” instead. Similarly, he speaks of his own priesthood as a share in the priesthood of Christ, who is our only true priest.

He is especially concerned with the “sacramental” quality of the Church’s worship. According to tradition, a sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church. Through signs that can be perceived by the senses, the sacraments bestow divine grace.

Father Benedict notes that many people are disturbed by the prospect of the end of time, but he is himself at ease with the possibility of its fulfillment in his lifetime or its indefinite delay.

Along the way, he introduces us to certain key terms, such as eschatology, a theological term that refers to the study of last things. He encourages us to study “carefully” and “learn.”


Scripture

Revelation 4:8–11; 5:9–14; 7:10–12; 19:1–8


Doctrine

Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2642: The Revelation of “what must soon take place,” the Apocalypse, is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy but also by the intercession of the “witnesses” (martyrs). The prophets and the saints, all those who were slain on earth for their witness to Jesus, the vast throng of those who, having come through the great tribulation, have gone before us into the Kingdom, all sing the praise and glory of him who sits on the throne, and of the Lamb. In communion with them, the Church on earth also sings these songs with faith in the midst of trial. By means of petition and intercession, faith hopes against all hope and gives thanks to the “Father of lights,” from whom “every perfect gift” comes down. Thus faith is pure praise.


Song


Come, Divine Interpreter

By Charles Wesley

(To the tune of “For the Beauty of the Earth”)

Come, divine Interpreter,

Bring me eyes your book to read,

Ears the mystic words to hear,

Words which did from you proceed,

Words that endless bliss impart,

Kept in an obedient heart.

All who read, or hear, are blessed,

If your plain commands we do;

Of your kingdom here possessed,

You we shall in glory view

When you come on earth to abide,

Reign triumphant at your side.


Questions for Reflection and Discussion


1. Before reading this book, had you ever connected the Mass with the end times and the Book of Revelation? Had anyone ever made the connection for you?

2. How, do you think (or would you guess), are these three things related?

3. Is your own experience of the Mass closer to that of Father Benedict Groeschel or that of the author of this book? Or does your experience share elements of both? Explain your answer.

4. How do you feel about the possibility of the world ending? What hopes or fears does it arouse in you?

5. What, do you think, separates a sacrament from a mere “service” of the sort Father Benedict mentions?

6. What will you look for in your study of “the end times”—your study of eschatology? What are your interests, concerns, expectations, or worries about the climax of history?

7. Have you ever had an experience at Mass that you considered a glimpse or foretaste of heaven? Has anyone you know had such an experience?

The Lamb’s Supper - Book Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Scott Hahn

and the book:

The Lamb’s Supper

Doubleday Religion; First Edition edition (November 9, 1999)

***Special thanks to Staci Carmichael, Marketing and Publicity Coordinator
Doubleday Religion / Waterbrook Multnomah, Divisions of Random House, Inc., for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SCOTT HAHN was recently appointed as the inaugural Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation at Saint Vincent Seminary (Latrobe, Pennsylvania). He is also professor of theology and Scripture at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. An internationally renowned lecturer, Scott is founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and editor of the Center's academic journal, Letter & Spirit. He is the author of a dozen books, including The Lamb's Supper; Hail, Holy Queen; Swear to God; and Understanding the Scriptures. His scholarly articles have appeared in various academic journals, including the Journal of Biblical Literature, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, and Currents in Biblical Research. He lives with his wife, Kimberly, and their six children in Steubenville, Ohio.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $21.95
Hardcover: 174 pages
Publisher: Doubleday Religion; First Edition edition (November 9, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385496591
ISBN-13: 978-0385496599
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

In Heaven Right Now

WHAT I FOUND

AT MY FIRST MASS

THERE I STOOD, a man incognito, a Protestant minister in plainclothes, slipping into the back of a Catholic chapel in Milwaukee to witness my first Mass. Curiosity had driven me there, and I still didn’t feel sure that it was healthy curiosity. Studying the writings of the earliest Christians, I’d found countless references to ‘‘the liturgy,’’ ‘‘the Eucharist,’’ ‘‘the sacrifice.’’ For those first Christians, the Bible—the book I loved above all—was incomprehensible apart from the event that today’s Catholics called ‘‘the Mass.’’

I wanted to understand the early Christians; yet I’d had no experience of liturgy. So I persuaded myself to go and see, as a sort of academic exercise, but vowing all along that I would neither kneel nor take part in idolatry.

I took my seat in the shadows, in a pew at the very back of that basement chapel. Before me were a goodly number of worshipers, men and women of all ages. Their genuflections impressed me, as did their apparent concentration in prayer. Then a bell rang, and they all stood as the priest emerged from a door beside the altar.

Unsure of myself, I remained seated. For years, as an evangelical Calvinist, I’d been trained to believe that the Mass was the ultimate sacrilege a human could commit. The Mass, I had been taught, was a ritual that purported to ‘‘resacrifice Jesus Christ.’’ So I would remain an observer. I would stay seated, with my Bible open beside me.


SOAKED IN SCRIPTURE


As the Mass moved on, however, something hit me. My Bible wasn’t just beside me. It was before me—in the words of the Mass! One line was from Isaiah, another from the Psalms, another from Paul. The experience was overwhelming. I wanted to stop everything and shout, ‘‘Hey, can I explain what’s happening from Scripture? This is great!’’ Still, I maintained my observer status. I remained on the sidelines until I heard the priest pronounce the words of consecration: ‘‘This is My body . . . This is the cup of My blood.’’

Then I felt all my doubt drain away. As I saw the priest raise that white host, I felt a prayer surge from my heart in a whisper: ‘‘My Lord and my God. That’s really you!’’

I was what you might call a basket case from that point. I couldn’t imagine a greater excitement than what those words had worked upon me. Yet the experience was intensified just a moment later, when I heard the congregation recite: ‘‘Lamb of God . . . Lamb of God . . . Lamb of God,’’ and the priest respond, ‘‘This is the Lamb of God . . .’’ as he raised the host.

In less than a minute, the phrase ‘‘Lamb of God’’ had rung out four times. From long years of studying the Bible, I immediately knew where I was. I was in the Book of Revelation, where Jesus is called the Lamb no less than twenty-eight times in twenty-two chapters. I was at the marriage feast that John describes at the end of that very last book of the Bible. I was before the throne of heaven, where Jesus is hailed forever as the Lamb. I wasn’t ready for this, though—I was at Mass!


HOLY SMOKE!


I would return to Mass the next day, and the next day, and the next. Each time I went back, I would ‘‘discover’’ more of the Scriptures fulfilled before my eyes. Yet no book was as visible to me, in that dark chapel, as the Book of Revelation, the Apocalypse, which describes the worship of the angels and saints in heaven. As in that book, so in that chapel, I saw robed priests, an altar, a congregation chanting ‘‘holy, holy, holy.’’ I saw the smoke of incense; I heard the invocation of angels and saints; I myself sang the alleluias, for I was drawn ever more into this worship. I continued to sit in the back pew with my Bible, and I hardly knew which way to turn—toward the action in the Apocalypse or the action at the altar. More and more, they seemed to be the very same action.

I plunged with renewed vigor into my study of ancient Christianity and found that the earliest bishops, the Fathers of the Church, had made the same ‘‘discovery’’ I was making every morning. They considered the Book of Revelation the key to the liturgy, and the liturgy the key to the Book of Revelation. Something powerful was happening to me as a scholar and a believer. The book of the Bible that I had found most perplexing—the Book of Revelation—was now illuminating the ideas that were most foundational to my faith: the idea of the covenant as the sacred bond of the family of God. Moreover, the action that I had considered the supreme blasphemy—the Mass—now turned out to be the event that sealed God’s covenant. ‘‘This is the cup of My blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.’’

I was giddy with the newness of it all. For years I had been trying to make sense of the Book of Revelation as some kind of encoded message about the end of the world, about worship in faraway heaven, about something most Christians couldn’t experience while still on earth. Now, after two weeks of daily Mass attendance, I found myself wanting to stand up during the liturgy and say, ‘‘Hey, everybody. Let me show you where you are in the Apocalypse! Turn to chapter four, verse eight. You’re in heaven right now.’’


STEALING MY THUNDER


In heaven right now! The Fathers of the Church showed me that this wasn’t my discovery. They had preached about it more than a thousand years ago. I was, however, convinced I deserved credit for the rediscovery of the relationship between the Mass and the Book of Revelation. Then I discovered that the Second Vatican Council had stolen my thunder. Consider the following words from the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy:


In the earthly liturgy we share in a foretaste of that

heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the Holy City of

Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where

Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, Minister of the

sanctuary and of the true tabernacle. With all the warriors

of the heavenly army we sing a hymn of glory to the

Lord; venerating the memory of the saints, we hope for

some part and fellowship with them; we eagerly await the

Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, until He, our life, shall appear

and we too will appear with Him in glory.


Wait a minute. That’s heaven. No, it’s the Mass. No, it’s the Book of Revelation. Wait a minute: it’s all of the above.

I found myself trying hard to go slowly, cautiously, careful to avoid the dangers to which converts are susceptible; for I was fast becoming a convert to the Catholic faith. Yet this discovery was not the product of an overwrought imagination; it was the solemn teaching of a council of the Catholic Church. In time, I would discover that it was also the inevitable conclusion of the most rigorous and honest Protestant scholars. One of them, Leonard Thompson, has written that ‘‘Even a cursory reading of the Book of Revelation shows the presence of liturgical language set in worship. . . . [T]he language of worship plays an important role in unifying the book.’’ The images of liturgy alone can make that strange book make sense. Liturgical figures are central to its message, Thompson writes, revealing ‘‘something more than visions of ‘things to come.’ ’’


COMING ATTRACTIONS


The Book of Revelation was about Someone Who was to come. It was about Jesus Christ and His ‘‘Second Coming,’’ which is the way Christians have commonly translated the Greek word Parousia. Through hour after hour in that chapel in Milwaukee in 1985, I came to know that that Someone was the same Jesus Christ Whom the Catholic priest lifted up in the host. If the early Christians were correct, I knew that, in that very moment, heaven touched down on earth. ‘‘My Lord and my God. That’s really You!’’

Still, serious questions remained in my mind and heart—about the nature of sacrifice, about the biblical foundations of the Mass, about the continuity of Catholic tradition, about many of the small details of liturgical worship. These questions would define my investigations through the months leading up to my reception into the Catholic Church. In a sense, they continue to define my work today. These days, however, I ask not as an accuser or a curiosity seeker, but as a son who approaches his father, asking the impossible, asking to hold a bright and distant star in the palm of his hand.

I don’t believe Our Father will refuse me, or you, the wisdom we seek regarding His Mass. It is, after all, the event in which He seals His covenant with us and makes us His children. This book is more or less a record of what I have found while investigating the riches of our Catholic tradition. Our heritage includes the whole of the Bible, the uninterrupted witness of the Mass, the constant teachings of the saints, the research of the schools, the methods of contemplative prayer, and the pastoral care of the popes and bishops. In the Mass, you and I have heaven on earth. The evidence is overwhelming. The experience is a revelation.

Say Mmm Review

Hey ya'll.

I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. We've been having a lot of snow. Like a lot. :)

And that means school cancellations...and me with both kiddies home - going wild. Being around Christmas has made it worse. Santa's coming, don't ya know?!! :)

I know I'm falling behind on stuff and I promise I'm trying to get caught up soon. Really, I'm trying. The holidays usually kick my hiney! This year is NO different.

But I found a way to stay a little more organized in the kitchen this holiday season. Say Mmm was gracious enough to let me try out their Say Mmm Plus membership for FREE. Nice of them, huh?

About:
Say Mmm is a website that was created to help parents get their recipes, meal planning and grocery shopping organized so that dinner time is NOT a hassle and you can spend more time (and money) on other things.

Meal Planning can now be easily done using their online calendar. You can choose from daily, weekly, or monthly. You input your recipes and add them to the calendar with a click of a button.

You can add your recipes and keep them organized by different categories...how ever you want. It's your own personal cook book!

And of course, the grocery list option is great! You can either add to the list by items you purchase most of or from your meal plan.

My thoughts:
I found it to be a very easy site to navigate. I liked all of the features. My only suggestion to them would be to add more recipes to their database. I would have liked to have been able to try new meals or find recipes like what I make without having to input them myself.

SayMmm is a free service, but you can subscribe to their Plus membership which is only $3/mo. Say Mmm Plus has some extra features for tracking grocery prices, counting calories, and more. It is also ad-free and lets you organize as many recipes as you like.

You can find SayMmm on Twitter and Facebook.


*Disclaimer: This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by: Founded by Brian Hutchins for this review. The opinion is my own.*

Rosetta Stone Giveaway @ Other Such Happenings

Now is the perfect time to give your child the gift of possibilities for the holidays with Rosetta Stone Homeschool — and you can WIN a Level 1 Homeschool program, language of your choice (valued at $249)!

Right now Rosetta Stone is having a special Holiday promotion on our Homeschool Edition program and we’d like you to help spread the word! Everyone can save up to $150 on Rosetta Stone Homeschool by visiting our website at http://www.RosettaStone.com/hsw1110.

By helping us spread the word you can win a Rosetta Stone Homeschool Edition Level 1 program, language of your choice, valued at $249.

This is a computer based curriculum and Rosetta Stone will also include a headset with microphone, and a supplementary “Audio Companion” CD so you can practice lessons in the car, on the go, or where-ever!

Students participate in life-like conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone incorporates listening, reading, grammar, vocabulary and writing along with speaking and pronunciation lessons. For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program to allow parents to easily enroll up to ten students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, grade completed work (the program grades the work automatically as the students progress), and you can view and print reports for transcripts. Homeschooling a lot of kids at your house? This program is designed to enroll and track up to ten students (five users on two computers) and will work for nearly all ages — from beginning readers up to college students.

To win this program, copy these paragraphs and post them in (or as) your next blog post, and/OR post about this contest on your Facebook page. Then go to the original page at
http://www.othersuchhappenings.com/2010/12/rosetta-stone-giveaway-yay.html
and leave a comment saying that you’ve posted about, or have linked to, the contest. Please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post, and good luck!

MGM & Fox's Holiday Gift Guide

MGM & Fox just made this holiday season a whole lot more fun!

Your Movies. Your Moments.

MGM & Fox have some of the coolest movies you could ever imagine, all perfect for your Holiday Gift Guide suggestions. Whether it's for Mom, Dad, or the kiddies, they've got you covered with a wide assortment of titles perfect for every member of the family.

Below you will find a great selection of affordable classics that are available in stores now.

Celebrate the Holidays! Great films for the whole family!
The Home Alone Collection: Includes Home Alone & Home Alone 2 on Blu-ray
The Christmas Collection: All-new 4-disc Blu-ray collection
The Holiday Classics Collection: All new 2-disc Blu-ray collection
All Dogs Christmas Carol
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Pink Panther Christmas
Prancer
Blizzard
March of the Wooden Soldiers
The Bishop's Wife
The Secret of Nimh
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Luther

Family Favorites! Family classics and friendly franchises!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Ice Age
Ice Age: The Meltdown
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Horton Hears a Who
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Strawberry Shortcake: The Glimmery Ball Movie
Strawberry Shortcake: Berrywood Here We Come

MGM Classics! Must own titles in every genre!

Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V
Robocop Trilogy
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection Blu-ray
James Bond Collection: Volumes 1, 2, & 3
Cher: The Film Collection
The Sergio Leone Anthology
The Man with No Name Blu-ray Box Set

MGM Blu-ray+DVD Combo Packs! You get the best of both worlds!

Showgirls: 15th Anniversary Sinsational Edition
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
The Graduate
The Princess Bride
Rocky

We hope you've found something you like in that great list of releases! All of the above titles are available now and are perfect for the holiday season.

Hollywood Movie Money

MGM & Fox have partnered with Hollywood Movie Money to offer up to $10.00 (on select Blu-ray titles) and up to $7.50 (on select DVD titles) toward the purchase of theatrical tickets to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of The Dawn Treader and Gulliver's Travels. This is a fantastic deal, which you can find directly on the Blu-ray and DVD packaging in store.

Please see below for a complete list of participating titles as well as examples of the stickers that you'll need to look for in stores.

    

Select Blu-ray Titles Include up to $10 in Hollywood Movie Money!
The Christmas Collection
Night at the Museum Collection
The Home Alone Collection
The Holiday Classics Collection
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Miracle on 34th Street ('47)
Miracle on 34th Street ('94)
Jingle All the Way  
Home Alone
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Night at the Museum
Alvin and The Chipmunks
Ice Age
Ice Age The Meltdown
Horton Hears A Who
The Pink Panther 2

         

Select DVD Titles Include up to $7.50 in Hollywood Movie Money!
Home Alone: The Complete Collection
Christmas Classics Collection
Christmas Favorites Collection
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Ice Age
Ice Age: The Meltdown
Horton Hears A Who
Alvin and The Chipmunks
Night at the Museum
Miracle on 34th Street Special Edition ('94)
A Christmas Carol ('84 Live-Action)
Miracle on 34th Street Special Edition ('47)
Jingle All the Way Family Fun Edition
Deck the Halls
Home Alone Family Fun Edition
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Garfield's Pet Force
Garfield Gets Real
Garfield's Fun Fest
Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Merry Christmas
Olive The Other Reindeer
The Family Stone
A Christmas Carol (Animated)
The Ultimate Gift
Pink Panther: A Pink Christmas
Love's Long Journey
Loves Unfolding Dream
One Night With the King
Mother Theresa
Love Takes Wing
Love Finds A Home
Robe, The
Bible, The
Angel Wars: Messengers
Be Still
Secret Things of God
Love Comes Softly
David and Bathsheba
Man Called Peter
Loves Abiding Joy
Story of Ruth
Love's Unending Legacy
Last Sin Eater
Saving Sarah Cain
Loves Enduring Promise
Passion of the Christ
Francis of Assisi
Final Inquiry

We hope you've found something you like in that great list of releases! All of the above titles are available now and are a perfect way to not only stock up on Blu-ray and DVD for the holiday season, but also to get some money toward the purchase of a ticket to two great theatrical releases!

If Tomorrow Never Comes

If you have something to say to someone, say it today. We aren't promised tomorrow. Let the people in your life know just how important they are to you.

Don't wait til tomorrow. Tomorrow may never come.

You're probably thinking this is coming out of left field and honestly it is. So what prompted me to post this? Actually a tv show. A rerun of One Tree Hill. Matthew was taking a nap and I've recently developed a daytime addiction to OTH. Today's show was where a young basketball player, Quentin, died. So many people had things they wanted to say to him...but put it off because they thought they'd have the chance to do so.

I think we all do it - we wait and say "Oh, I'll tell them later." We don't take those few minutes to pick up the phone and say "Hey, I love you...you're important. You matter to me."

It's such a simple matter, letting someone know how we feel. Yet, it's hard too. Maybe we don't want to feel rejected or silly for blurting it out. But don't ever apologize for how you feel. Love is one of the most important things in life. Share your love.

So right now, right here...I'm telling you (yes, you!)

Hey, I love you...You're important and yes, you do matter to me.

Spread the love.  ♥