For Love and Honor

For Love and Honor
Written by Jody Hedlund
Published by Zondervan Publishing
Ages: Young Adult
Cost: $12.99

I have had some HEAVY reading on my list recently, so when I finished my latest 425 page book on the cousin kings of World War I, I was so happy to have some easy reading to give my brain some pleasure.
For Love and Honor filled the gap beautifully.  A story of chivalry, adventure and love, with a historical context (WHICH I LOVE) was a quick and enjoyable read.  Both Lady Sabine and Sir Bennett have a secret that drives this book forward to its finish.  Will it be true love or a disaster?  I am sure you can figure it out, but there were some twists and turns I did not expect along the way, and there is a sweet resolution at the end.
For those concerned about the romantic element, it is all handled modestly...no graphic descriptions, but you can feel the attraction.  If you are concerned about the material, an advanced read might be beneficial.
I personally enjoyed this book, ,but I am also careful not to read too much in the romantic genre as I don't find it helpful in real life.

* I received this product to help facilitate a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and/or opinions may vary.

Promises for You Coloring Devotional

Promises for You Coloring Devotional
60 Days Discovering God's Hope and Love
ZonderKidz Publishing
Ages: 8-12
Cost: $12.99

This is a beautiful hard backed book filled with fun coloring pages and 60 devotions.  This would be a great way for young girls to begin the habit of a quiet time in a way they would enjoy.  There is a page that gives some direction in how to proceed with the book.  I LOVE THIS!

It has some great tips and suggestions...you do not have to start at the beginning...you can look for a page that looks interesting or fun to color.  EVERY word of God is profitable!

 Some of the designs might be a little too detailed for younger or more active girls...

 Some of the devotions might be too simple or short for more advanced or mature readers. This is dependent on where they are in their faith too.

                                                   (aren't these butterflies LOVELY?)

I personally have some mixed feelings about the content of this devotional, but I do think girls would LOVE IT!  It could also be a great way to calm down for the day in preparation for bed or a gentle start to your morning.I wouldn't want this to be the only Bible contact my child had during the week though as it seems to be a little more like a commentary in substance than what we currently do in our family.
One other issue I had, was the book does not lay flat when open.  This would seem to be frustrating to girls trying to color.  The pages are thick and you could use a variety of art materials for the coloring pages.
It would make a sweet gift!

* I received this item to help facilitate a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and/or opinions may vary.

Light Up New York

Light Up New York
Faith Girlz: Glimmer Girls series
Written by Natalie Grant
Illustrated by Cathi Mingus
ZonderKidz Publishing
Age: About 7-12
Cost: $8.99

Light Up New York is the latest Glimmer Girl story out on the market.  I have really enjoyed these sweet stories with issues young people deal with often, sometimes daily.  As the issue of homelessness is seen all around us where I live, I thought this was a timely story, showing what can be done to help out.  While most young people do not have a famous singing mother option for public concerts, television show spots and record deals, I still think that young people can take the principles from the book and perhaps see what they might be able to do.  I know finding ways to help the homeless is a tender spot for many people today.
I also really liked how the book dealt with a side issue of sibling relationships and give suggestions for how to handle conflict.  I won't give a lot of details, but I thought this was handled well.  These girls aren't perfect, but conflicts are resolved in healthy ways in all of the books and sets an excellent example for parents and children alike.
As I have said before, each book has a mystery to solve and this one is FUN!!!  I LOVE this mystery and it has a takeaway for all of us!  Again, no spoilers!!!
Illustrations are simple...not taking away from the story.
I would recommend this book!  I really enjoyed it!

*I received this product to help facilitate a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and/or opinions may vary.

NIV Holy Bible For Girls, Journal Edition

NIV Holy Bible for Girls, Journal Edition
Hardcover
Zondervan Publishing
Price: $29.99
Ages: 12 and up

From the Website:
The NIV Holy Bible for Girls, Journal Edition is the prefect way to apply Scripture to your everyday life.  Designed with the thoughtful writer in mind, a whimsical cover and journaling lines inspire reflection in God's Word.  This Bible contains the full text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) translation.

Features include:
     * Lines on each page for journaling and notes
     *Thick paper perfect for any writing utensil
     * A presentation page for gift giving
     * A "How to Use This Bible" page to get started on the right foot
     * Ribbon Marker
     * The complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV)

What I thought...
First, I am not sure what I was expecting, but this was a surprise for me...I sort of thought there would be space to write your own notes and doodles, but I thought there might be a few things you could color.  NOPE...there are just lines on all of the margins.  The lines are grey, so they don't POP out at you...you can definitely see them, but it is not the focus.  The margins are NICE AND WIDE!  I LOVE this feature.  From the edge of the text to the edge of the page, there is potentially 2 1/8 inches of usable space.  The lines are about 1 5/8 inches wide.  Some books have more potentially usable space because of the layout of the passage...say Psalms, for instance.  In one place, there is about 3 1/2 inches of space between the edge of the text and the page.  This is a HUGE bonus if you like writing in your Bible.  I have notes crammed in all over the place in my Bible.

The website says that the pages are thicker, perfect for any writing utensil.  I would test this before I went crazy with this.  They do feel SLIGHTLY thicker than a normal page, but not by much. I tested it with a Pilot Precise Rolling ball pen and can see some from the back...I don't think it bled through the page, but you can definitely see shadowing.

There is a page in the front, giving a few journaling prompts to help you get started, a presentation page and a table of weights and measures.  The cover is beautiful with some foil detailing...elegant, but not over the top girly!  There is an elastic band to keep all your things from falling out.  There is not a concordance in here.  I personally find a concordance so helpful, even if it is small.  That is the one thing I would change about this Bible.

Overall, I am very happy with what this Bible offers!  This one is going to my daughter...Shhh...don't tell!

* I received this product in exchange for a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and/or opinions may vary.

NIV Wonders of Creation Bible

Wonders of Creation Bible
NIV
Zondervan Publishing
Price: $24.99
Ages: About 7 and up

From the back of the Bible:
With detailed black and white illustrations of amazing animals, landscapes and other wonders of creation, this Bible features over 50 ready-to-color pages alongside the full text of the New International Version (NIV) translation

Features Include:
     *Lay-flat binding made for the perfect coloring experience
     *Over 50 pages of black and white illustrations ready to be colored
     *Key verses called out of each coloring page
     * Full text of the bestselling New International Version translation
     *Presentation page for gift giving
     * Ribbon marker


So, what I thought about the Wonders of Creation Bible
First, I am much happier that this is an NIV edition.  I am not a fan of the NIrV translation...and while the NIV can be controversial, it is the translation that I have found the most helpful for my children's needs.
Then, the next thing I noticed was the colorful cover.  This Bible grabs your attention with the cover.

There are a LOT of coloring pages in this Bible.  They are sprinkled in sets of about 4 every so many pages throughout the text of the Bible.  Each picture has a verse on it, but the verses do not line up with where the picture is in relation to the text.  In one chunk, you might have one verse from Philippians and another from Genesis...and that set might be placed in 1 Samuel.  The binding of the Bible does seem to lie flat, no matter where you are in the text.  I really appreciate this feature, not just for coloring or writing in the Bible, but just in case you are juggling a Bible, sermon outline or Bible Study paper and don't have a table to lay it on.  The coloring pages, on the other hand, might stick up at first and you may need to smooth them down a little by running your hand across the inside of the spine.

The coloring pages appear to be pretty intricate, so it is difficult to attach an age to this.  I selected 7, because I think it would appeal to that age, but they might become frustrated with the detailing.  I know that I am not able to color on pages like this for long periods of time myself, and find I need to come back to a page another time.  I think that middle school students would enjoy the coloring, but might find it a little embarrassing to carry this Bible in a public setting if their friends give them grief about it...that should not be a marker for what we do, but I just thought I would mention it.  Again, it was hard to put an age on this.

The text of the Bible is a good size for younger eyes...even my older eyes could read without much trouble.  The margins are VERY NARROW though...so it does not appear there is much room to write in it.  I am not sure how much those who would use this actually write in a Bible, so I don't think this is really much of a problem.

There is a table of weights and measures in the back, but NO CONCORDANCE or DICTIONARY.  I think these features would greatly add to this Bible.  I use the small concordance in the back of my Bible ALL THE TIME!
There is a presentation page: PLEASE WRITE YOUR NAME SOMEWHERE IN YOUR BIBLE!!!
The text of the Bible has paper of the normal weight of regular Bible pages, the coloring pages are slightly thicker.   This does cause you to turn to passages in chunks as the coloring pages are placed.  The illustrations are on both sides of the paper, with the middle pages being a two page spread.

Overall, I think this would be a good Bible for a girl (because of the colors/design on the cover) who loves to color!


* I received this product in exchange for a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and/or opinions may vary.

Garden of Eden Coloring Book

Garden of Eden
Beautiful Bible Scenes to Color and Inspire
Zondervan Publishing
Illustrated by Paulo Ney Debs
Cost: $12.99
Ages: 8 and up


Coloring has been proven to be a stress relieving activity for so many, it's no wonder that coloring books abound in the stores.  Many enthusiastic artists relish the feeling of cracking open a new box of crayons or picking up a box or tin of colored pencils.  If that describes you, you might really enjoy this book.

Garden of Eden: Beautiful Bible Scenes to Color and Inspire is a collection of  80 drawings that give one artist's idea of what this classic Bible account would look like.  Beginning at Genesis 1:1 and going through to Genesis 3, there is a wide variation of drawings to color for all ages.  Some of the drawings are simple and realistic, others are more detailed and artistic.  Most of the pages include a Scripture reference.

 Illustrations are on both sides of the page and the pages are about 10"x 10".  While 10" x !0" is not a traditional frame size, with a mat, you could make a 12x12" frame work if you wanted to frame...BUT, the pictures are on both sides AND SOME LAYOUTS are two page spreads...so this might be difficult if you enjoy framing pages.

Also, the paper is a nice thickness...but because the drawings are on both sides, bleeding might occur if you are using an art medium that is more wet...say markers.  You should not have any troubles if you plan on using crayons or pencils.

Another thing that was a little bit of an issue for me was the binding...being a lefty, the binding felt a little chunky and the book didn't stay open unless I cracked the binding a little by running my hand over the inside of the spine a little.  Coloring close to the binding could be a little bit of an issue as well.

* I received this above mentioned product is exchange for a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and/or opinions may vary.

Miracle in Music City

Faith Girlz: Glimmer Girls Series
 Miracle in Music City
Written by Natalie Grant
Illustrated by Cathi Mingus
ZonderKidz Publishing
Ages: about 7-12
Cost: $8.99

Miracle in Music City is Natalie Grant's third book in the Glimmer Girls series, and my favorite so far.  The Glimmer girls seem to stumble upon a mystery of some sort each time we join them on their adventures.
This time, the story takes place in Music City and centers upon the historic Grand Ole Opry.  The Glimmer family is heading up a benefit to raise money for a local homeless shelter.  Mr. and Mrs. Glimmer bring their children, Maddie, Mia and Lulu, in to show them they they are not too young to give back to their community.  Gloria Glimmer is a singer who travels around the world. The girls often get to accompany their parents and experience things other children never get the opportunity to do.  Miracle in Music City brings up the issue of homelessness in a way that makes if personal for these young girls.
The Glimmer Girls have a motto: "Glimmer girls sparkle and shine...but most of all, they are kind."  That message of kindness is really a theme in this book and I love the way that so many difficult issues are dealt with in the book.  I won't give any spoilers, but if you have a tween girl...I think they will enjoy this book. Probably my favorite message in this book has to do with having the right heart attitude for all we do in life.
The illustrations are simple and sweet, but there are not a lot, so it doesn't detract from the story line.  This could be a pro or con, depending on your preference.

* I received a copy of the above mentioned product to help facilitate the writing of a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and/or opinions may vary.

Swimming With Faith

Swimming With Faith: The Missy Franklin Story
Written by Natalie Davis Miller
Zondervan Publishing
Cost: $6.99
Ages: 10-14 ish; Swimmers of all ages

From the Zondervan Website:

Missy Franklin is one of the most talented swimmers in the world.  She is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and currently holds the world record in the 200-meter backstroke and American records in bother the 100-meter and 200- meter backstroke.  She was Swimming World's World Swimmer of the Year and the American Swimmer of the Year in 2012.  This story tells of her rise in fame and humbleness  in the sport.

Swimming with Faith takes a look into the life of Missy Franklin, mostly focusing on her high school years.  I have to say, we have not had television for about 10 years and I really did not know anything about Missy and what she had been through.  It was an interesting look into the life of a girl with a passion for swimming and goals she was reaching for and convictions to do what she felt was the right thing.  She sounds like an amazing young woman with a big faith in our great God.  I love that she is presented as someone younger people can look up to as an example...I would LOVE to my daughter to read this book.

Right now, as we speak, Missy is competing in Olympic Trials to see if she will have a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swim Team...so this is unbelievable timing!

So, I did really enjoy the information in this book.  The hard part for me was the writing style.  It read a little more like a newspaper (or something) than a book for me.  There were SO MANY citings in the book that disrupted the flow of the text for me.  This might be the way books are written these days, but I am more used to just having the citings in the back of the book.  This could be a personal thing for me...

Anyway, a cool feature in the back of the book is a swim dictionary to explain what all those swimming terms mean. 13 pages of terms help readers unfamiliar with the terminology keep on reading.

I think this is a fantastic book for young people to read!

* I received this book in exchange for a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and opinions may vary.

NIrV Minecrafters Bible

NIrV Minecrafters Bible
Zondervan Publishing
Cost: $24.99
Ages: 8-12 ish

My initial thoughts...Minecraft...are you kidding me?  I cannot believe that I get the opportunity to review this item...My boy was SO EXCITED!  I am not personally a HUGE Minecraft fan, but my boy is...and it is pretty cool to combine the Word of God with something he finds fun!

So what this is:
Complete text of the NIrV...Genesis to Revelation

24 color tip-in pages featuring full color illustrations in the style of the wildly popular virtual world building game.

Featured stories such as Creation and great builds of the Bible

So, my thoughts...as you know...My boy LOVES IT!!!  We have some different standards to measure by though!

So, the text is NIrV, which I have said before is not at all my favorite.  I would prefer a standard NIV to this...2 pages at the very front of this Bible explain why NIrV...I have read this several times...and I get what they are saying...Not a fan though.  I will leave that there and let you decide for yourself on that.

Also, the text is just essentially a standard Bible...No commentary, no intros to the books of the Bible...Just the plain text.  The words of Christ are NOT in red...just in case you are wondering.

What makes this Bible unique are the 24 color pages.  These pages are full color in the style of that particular game (this Bible is not endorsed, sponsored, authorized or in any way, shape or form affiliated with that particular game)...and many of the pages have a building theme.  Some just have aspects you might find in that particular game...like planting, stones, or weapons.  A few just show the picture in the style of that particular game.  It is a little weird seeing Jesus in the shape of that guy...is his name Steve?  I am really not in the know here...this the the BIG draw for fans of that particular game.

I think I am neutral towards this Bible...I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.  It is an acceptable Bible.  My boy LOVES this Bible.  I think he just looks at the pictures though...and those, no matter how much fun they might be, are not inspired.  So, there you have it!

* I received these items in exchange for a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your result and opinions may vary.

God Bless...Land That I Love Books

God Bless America
God Bless Texas
God Bless Florida
Illustrated by Peter Francis
Published by Zonderkidz
Cost $ 9.99
Ages: All

Today, I bring to you three books from the Land That I Love series.  I will take these one at a time...so you can get up close with these cute board books!

First stop...God Bless Texas!  Texas--Larger than life!  As we come to Texas in this book, we get to take a look at landmarks, Like Guadalupe Peak, the Alamo, and the Capitol.  I won't give every detail, just a small taste!  Children will follow the sweet bear Henry as he travels throughout the state to see the fun adventures he will have.  The text has a Rhythmic cadence that children LOVE and the books are a good length to keep attention for the youngers that these are mostly designed for...it is a board book after all!
Children get to learn little snippets about Texas through the text of the book...For instance, on the Alamo page, children will learn that the Texans fought Mexico for thirteen straight days for freedom.
At the end of the book, we see Henry on his knees praying, thanking God for the things he saw.  Very, Very CUTE!
The illustrations in this book are colorful and sweet!

Ok, our second stop today is Florida!  In God Bless Florida, we take little peeks into Tallahassee (capitol), Daytona, and the Space Center.  This book follows the same pattern as the one above, just new sights to see.

In the last book today, we get to take the speed tour of the United States.  In God Bless America, some of the sights we get to see in this book are Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, and National Mall.  Two of the sights in this book were in the other two books...I would have liked to see something else brought in...but there you have it.  Once again, this book follows the pattern of the one above!

Speaking of that, essentially, the first four pages and the last four are pretty much the same, with the names changed to protect the innocent...oh, sorry...the names changed for this book.  It is annoying to me to see that as I look at it with a reviewers eyes, but some children really do like that!

If you are travelling to any of these places, it could be fun to add pictures, receipts, etc to the books as a memory book of sorts (I Love altered books!).  Or add postcards of other places you went to in the state or country.   This is why I gave it the ALL age range...the text is really written to younger children.

I think for the most part, your family will LOVE these books...I do have one caution though...in each one, Henry buys souvenirs...Now, I am not sure how your family feels about souvenirs, but our family does not buy them for the most part.  They are often expensive and not worth the asking price.  Also, when you have several children, you may have to come up with a lot of extra dollars in your budget for souvenirs... And just do not even get me started on all the stuff they already have without souvenirs added in.  This may or may not impact your child.  Again, I am looking at all three books together and it gives me the impression that this is normal and what we do when we travel.

*I received these items in exchange for a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and opinions may vary

Vacation Bible School, Day Five

Well, this is the LAST post for Vacation Bible School theme ideas.  We will wrap up this carnival with an animal theme!  Animals are all around us---in our homes as pets, on farms providing us with meat, milk and eggs, in the forests, in the sea, and even in the sky!  Kids are often curious about the lives of animals and how God relates to them.  This fun theme helps children get in touch with nature and with animals.

Bible Stories that would fit in with this theme:
Creation
Adam Names the Animals
Noah's Ark
Daniel in the Lion's Den
Elijah and the Ravens
The Lost Sheep
Jesus Rides the Donkey on Palm Sunday

Books to Reference:
7 Days of Awesome by Shawn Byous $ 16.99 (Just my two cents here...we LOVE this book!)
Goodnight Ark by Laura Sassi $16.99
The Beginner's Bible: Daniel and the Lion' Den (An I Can Read Book) $3.99
The Beginner's Bible: Adam and Eve in the Garden (An I Can Read Book) $3.99
The Adventure Bible: Elijah, God's Mighty Prophet (An I Can Read Book) $3.99
Made by God: Animals All Around $9.99
Made by God: Curious Creatures $9.99
Adventure Bible (NIV) $24.99

Craft Ideas:
Ok...so Zondervan gave some craft ideas from Oriental Trading Company and for some reason, I cannot access their site...so check OTC for some inexpensive craft ideas!  They usually have quiet a few projects to choose from.
A few ideas from Pinterest

Decoration Ideas:
Here are some ideas for this...this theme could go any number of ways depending on what you prefer to focus on....Also, check out the Under The Sea board for those ideas as well!
Animal print balloons

Snack Ideas:
Here are a few snack ideas that look fun AND yummy!

Songs you could include:
Father Abraham (I cannot even believe I am suggesting this...this song is not my favorite, but CHILDREN LOVE IT!)
I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N
Hosanna in the Highest

Some other fun ideas include:
Invite a veterinarian or zookeeper to come and talk to your group...maybe they can bring a special animal visitor
Take a trip to the zoo
Volunteer for the day, a a group, at a local farm or animal shelter
Make Handprint Hens
Run a food drive for cats or dogs and donate the collected items to an animal shelter
Host a dog wash event fundraiser and donate the money collected to the church, a children's ministry or to a local animal shelter.
Have a scavenger hunt to spot signs of animal life native to that area
Take a nature walk in your local park or hiking area to spot animals and explore their habitats.
Make animal masks... Enchanted Learning is a subscription site, so there MIGHT be a limit to what they will allow you to print...it looks like you might be able to print this for free, but I cannot guarantee that.
A Pinata is a fun idea...but only if you do NOT make it!

Generic Pinterest Boards...just because you get sucked in to the great time warp
Snacks
Decorations

Ok, that is it!  I hope you have enjoyed this VBS round up of ideas!  A big thank you to Zondervan for putting this together!

Vacation Bible School, Day Four

Many people are fascinated with Angels.  They are guardians and messengers, mysterious and very interesting.  Find out what Angels are all about with this exciting theme.

Bible Stories that would fit with an Angels Everywhere theme:
Creation-God created the angels
Abraham and Sarah visited by three angels
Three youths in the fiery furnace
Jacob's Ladder
The angels guide Isaiah through Heaven
The angel appears to Mary
The angel appears at the tomb of Jesus

(I would be careful with which stories I pick here...For instance, the three youths in the fiery furnace...I have believed that this was an appearance of the Christ and it could be confusing for children.  Perhaps a better choice is a passage where Daniel is praying in chapters 9 and 10 of that book.  There are also many references to angels in Revelation...maybe Revelation 22:6-9, or 19:1-10.  The Angels in the Bible Storybook might be a very helpful resource for this theme.)

Books to Reference:
Angels: A 90 Day Devotional About God's Messengers by Christa Kinde $9.99
Angels in the Bible Storybook by Allia Zobel Nolan $16.99
Adventure Bible: Facing the Blazing Furnace (An I Can Read Book) $3.99
Beginner's Bible: Baby Jesus is Born (An I Can Read Book) $3.99
Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible (NIV) $29.99

Craft Ideas:
See my Pinterest board
Decoration Ideas:
again, Pinterest
Snack Ideas:
And, Pinterest for the Win...well, actually, It was hard to find angel theme snacks...so here is a generic board for any kind of snack

Songs you could include:
Angels We Have Heard on High
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Angels, From the Realms of Glory

Some other fun ideas include:
Make angel wings from paper plates
Be angels in your community by helping people in need with a food or clothing drive, or a needed activity.
Host an angel hair spaghetti lunch and invite the senior citizens of the church (or neighborhood) to be served by and dine with the children.
Make keepsake coffee filter photo angels
Bake Angel Cookies using cookie cutters and cookie dough
Form groups to build giant angel art figures using recyclables and make angel paintings for an Art Gallery.
Have an Angel Food Cake eating contest- eat slices of angel food cake piled high with whipped cream using only their mouths.
Sing angel themed Christmas songs in the summer...see above!


Ok, that is all for today!  I will see you for one last theme tomorrow!

Vacation Bible School, Day Three

It's Day Three of our Vacation Bible School Theme Round Up and today's theme is When I Grow Up!  Most kids enjoy thinking about all the things they could BE when they grow up and this theme helps them explore that a little bit and reminds them that God is ALWAYS with them!

Bible Stories that would fit into a When I Grow Up theme:

God calls Noah to Build an Ark
God calls Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and write the 10 Commandments
Joseph, the dream interpreter
Jesus calls His 12 Disciples to minister with Him
Jesus calls Paul to be a Disciple

Books to Reference:
The Plans I Have For You by Amy Parker $16.99 (it said it was on special for $11.89...I am not sure how long that is good for)
The Plans I Have for You Devotional by Amy Parker $14.99
Baby Wren and the Great Gift by Sally Lloyd-Jones $16.99
Adventure Bible: Joseph the Dreamer (An I Can Read book) $3.99
Adventure Bible: Noah's Voyage (An I Can Read book) $3.99
Adventure Bible: Paul Meets Jesus (An I Can Read book) $3.99
Kids Quest Study Bible (NIrV) $29.99

This theme was a little more difficult to find ideas for...you may have to tweak the ideas posted or look for ideas from the Bible Stories...but here is what I have.

Craft Ideas:
Create Your Own Puzzle $4.99
Jobs If You Like Career People Craft Sticks- Scroll down for supplies, price varies

A few ideas here

Snack Ideas:
Foods that seem grown up, but that Children love...this will vary, but veggies, hummus or wraps.  You can also have the snacks go with the story for that day.
You can also check in here to find more ideas

Decorating Ideas:
Collect Community Helper costumes and posters.

This theme was a little more difficult to have specific decorations for.  It might be fun to adapt the Never Grow Up ideas to mix with the When I Grow Up theme...Anyway, such as it is, here is my pinterest board


Songs you can include:
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
This Little Light Of Mine
Standing in the Need of Prayer

Other Activities that might be fun!
Invite parents or church members to come each day and talk about their careers
Have children dress up for a career they might like to have
Honor Different Careers each day
Have a pet visit day in honor of veterinarians
Practice safety demonstrations in honor of police, fire fighters and first responders.
Help people in need with a charitable activity in honor of pastors, missionaries and other care givers.
Host a special lunch where kids serve their parents to honor all that parents do for them
Host a Talent Show where children can sing, recite a poem, tell a story or dance that honors a career they would like to have.


Well, that wraps up day three!  I will see you tomorrow for Day FOUR!  I hope you are enjoying these posts, courtesy of Zondervan Publishing and that they are helping to get your Vacation Bible School Plans moving.

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Vacation Bible School, Day Two

Online gaming is very popular with kids as young as five years old.  Almost every kid has heard of Minecraft, and many have accounts of their own where they create worlds with their friends.  My son has been ASKING me to PLEASE let him play...trouble is, I can't figure out how to download it!  So we move on.  Today's Vacation Bible School theme isn't all about gadgets, but gives them that game inspired look they love!

Today's Theme:  World Builders!  I can almost hear the Mission Impossible Theme song...oh wait, that was last week's band concert!  Well, Adventure is out there and waiting for you.


Bible Stories that would fit with a World Builders Theme
Creation
Noah's Ark
Joshua at the Battle of Jericho
Mighty Samson
David & Goliath
Jesus calling the 12 disciples (I guess in online gaming, players call on other players to participate in battles or group events)
Revelation: Jesus' return and the new Kingdom of Heaven (I just studied Revelation with BSF and focusing on the Victorious Lamb could make this possible.  I would be careful with this story though)

Books to Reference:
Minecrafter's Bible (NIrV) $24.99
Picture That! Bible StoryBook  $9.99
The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game $3.99
Faithgirlz: 101 Way to Have Fun $14.99 (This is a bit outside the age range for VBS students, but some activities might be adaptable.  It is a fun book though, so I left it in the list!)
Adventure Bible: God's Great Creation (An I Can Read Book) $3.99
Beginner's Bible: David battles Goliath $3.99
Faith Builder's Bible (NIrV) $24.99

Craft Ideas:
Pickaxes $6.25/12
Swords $6.25/12

And some ideas from my Pinterest Board


Decoration Ideas:
Bright Foam Blocks $17.99/48
Inflatable Torches $10.99/12
Cobblestone Aisle Runner $47.50/100 ft.
Design a Room Stone Wall Background $15.99
Minecraft Steve Head $24.99
Minecraft Creeper Head $24.99

And a few more from Pinterest

Snack ideas from Pinterest too!
So these boards have some ideas that would not be practical for VBS, but would be FABULOUS for a Five Day Club in the neighborhood or ahem, maybe a boy's birthday party! (Could be for a girl as well...I just have a boy...who I need to throw a party for!)

Some other fun ideas include:
Saving up a LOT of boxes and painting them to resemble Minecraft elements.  Let the children build away.  You will need A LOT OF BOXES for this!
Teach kids to code using this free resource
Create your own game characters following this tutorial from Captain Nintendo Dude
Have a Watermelon carving Contest and create delicious edible game characters like these
Be World Builders in  your own community by planting a garden, cleaning up an abandoned lot or helping elderly with yardwork.
Plan a scavenger hunt using a GPS and GeoCaching.
Play a game of Creepers vs. Endermen Dodge Ball
Using Lego, Duplo or other bricks, build your favorite Bible story using examples from the Faith Builders Bible.
Create Minecraft inspired MadLibs using this glossary

Songs may include:
Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho
Only A Boy Named David
There were Twelve Disciples

Well, Day Two is DOWN, but Day three is coming up!  See you tomorrow!

Vacation Bible School Day One

Vacation Bible School was a much LOVED event for our children.  They each had their favorite part, but they loved it as a whole.  Now that my children are now mostly too old to participate (still have one guy little enough!), they help out and give other children the same love for VBS that they had.

We attend a SMALL country church and our attendance for Vacation Bible School is pretty small. Our budget is pretty small as well.  Doing all the BIG decorations, craft, snacks and extras is often difficult  Zondervan Publishing has put together a Vacation Bible School resource list to give ideas if you have not chosen something already in your church.  These would also be fun if you wanted to hold a five day club in your backyard or at a park.  I will will highlighting one theme each day...so keep checking back!  You might be thinking, VBS?  It's only May!!!  Well, it takes some advance planning and MUCH PRAYER to run a Vacation Bible School.  Also, just in case you are wondering, I do not get any kick back or commission for sharing this... I am not an affiliate for any of the links, I do not get paid in any way.   As a member of the Z Blog Squad, this resource list was made available to us to share...being in a small church, I really appreciate having this kind of information.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Today's theme is: Under the Sea

 This summer, Finding Dory, the much anticipated sequel to the beloved Disney movie Finding Nemo will release on June 17.  Kids everywhere will be excited for everything under-the-sea related---which also makes it a FUN theme for Vacation Bible School!

Bible Stories that would fit well with an Under the Sea theme:
Creation
Noah's Ark
Jonah in the belly of a big fish
The Loaves and Fishes
Jesus Walks on the water
Jesus says, "I will make you fishers of men"

Books to reference:
The Under the Sea NIrV Bible $24.99
Made by God: Sea Creatures (An I Can Read level 2 book)  $3.99
Jonah and the Great Big Fish by Rhonda Gowler Greene $9.99
Ocean Adventures by Peter Schreimer $7.99
Ocean Adventures DVD Series
     Volume 1 $9.99
     Volume 2 $12.99
     Volume 3 $12.99
These resources would be a great accompaniment to the story period or play the DVDs in segments at your opening and closing sessions.  They would also be great gifts to award for children who brought friends, had perfect attendance or maybe just need a Bible.

Oriental Trading Company has some great ideas for crafts, here are just a few I have chosen to highlight.  HOPEFULLY, they will not be out of stock if you decide to use them
Under the Sea Treasure Prayer Box $8.25 for 12
Under the Sea Clip Magnet $3.48 for 12
Clown Fish Sea Anemone Pop Up $8.25 for 12
Under the Sea Paracord Bracelet $11.99 for 12
Flowerpot Whale  Well, it looks like this one is out of stock...maybe it will come back...it is very cute!
Find other ideas from OTC here or from Pinterest Decor, Crafts, and Snacks.  You can find INFINITELY more wonderful ideas on Pinterest or by just doing a Google Search.  I can get lost for days on Pinterest...SHINY...PRETTY, Oh, you want dinner?  Also, I tried to choose snacks that were more on the healthy side than sugary.  There are some sweet treats in there too, but children...on sugar...not such a great idea.

A few more ideas could be:
Make cupcake liner fish
paint seashells by the seashore...well, not by the seashore!  Turn them into necklaces, paperweights, magnets and frames.
Scuba Diver Costume
Outdoor fishing games using mini swimming pools and foam fish.
Visit a local pool, lake or beach for swimming.
Visit an aquarium or zoo.
Create an Under the Sea wall mural using recyclables.  Invite parents to check out your "art gallery" at the end of VBS.


Songs for this theme can include:
Rise and Shine
Who Did (Swallow Jonah)
Deep and Wide
And more ideas here

Come back tomorrow for the next theme:World Builders!

Kids Study Bible

NIrV Kids' Quest Study Bible
Zonderkidz Publishing
Ages: 6-10
Price: $ 29.99

Is your child curious about the Bible or have LOTS OF QUESTIONS?  This MIGHT be the Bible for them!
So, there are 1,618 numbered pages in this Bible.  I am going to attempt to give an accurate portrayal of this, but I have NOT read every page.  Please extend grace if your opinion differs from mine or you find something that I missed.

First, there is a presentation page that seems a bit babyish in comparison to the cover of the Bible.  It has the feel of a Noah's Ark nursery theme to me.
Then, there is an intro to this Bible...that was pretty interesting.  I think most kids would enjoy it!  It sounds exciting and adventurous!
Then there is a few pages about the NIrV...parents may enjoy reading this, but I am pretty sure it will be snooze-ville for most kids.

Features include:

Over 500 questions from kids like you, along with real answers
These questions are sprinked in through the text right where the scriptural answer for it is.  I like that this gives the impression that when we have questions, the Bible has answers for us.  Not only is there a main verse to support the answer, but there are also back-up or related verses as well.  I really liked these!  Some questions were pretty stinkin' cute!

Quest challenges help you apply the Bible's teachings to your own life by pointing to Scripture
The ones I looked at asked a question related to a theme in the chapter and then pointed the child to another Scripture to find the answer.  I love this!

Book introductions help explain what each book of the Bible is about
I find these are helpful to understand what the book is about!  The intros in this Bible are short and easy to read!

A dictionary and subject guide help you find what you are looking for
I personally would rather have a concordance than a dictionary or subject guide...but, kids might like it.

Colorful design with cartoons makes the Bible fun to look at and use
The cartoons ARE FUN!  I just wanted to keep flipping the pages!  I think these will be very popular with kids who get this Bible.  Not only are there cartoons, but the main text is blue and then the headings are in orange, so there is contrast that is appealing visually to kids!
Speaking of color...there are NO MAPS...I would have loved for this to have some maps!

Complete NIrV translation -The NIV for kids!  The NIrV is written at a third-grade reading level, so it is easy to understand.
Ok, I have heard the arguments...this Bible has pages that argues for the NIrV...but it is JUST not my favorite.  I personally prefer the NASB and that is what my pastor preaches from.  For my children, I like the NIV, because that is the translation that is used at BSF, so it makes doing the lessons a little easier when you need to fill in the blanks.  This is completely my own opinion and preference.

Ok, so I really do like this Bible!

I received this item in exchange for a frank and honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and opinions may vary.