A Story About Two Famous LEGO Craftsmen

by Sally Matheny

(Part Christiansen and part Sawaya)

This is a story about two, famous Lego® craftsmen. It’s not meant to inspire you to build with colorful, plastic bricks—although it may. Read on and find your motivation. 

Have you heard of Ole Kirk Christiansen? Probably not, but I am sure you’ve heard of his company. 

Ole Kirk, one of ten children who grew up in an impoverished home, worked hard as a wood craftsman in Denmark. Years later, after focusing more on toys than anything else, he named his toyshop “Lego.” Originally, he made wooden toys, but later, in 1947, his company expanded to make plastic toys. 

Ole Kirk was well known for saying, “Det bedste er ikke for godt.” Essentially, that meant, “the best is never too good.” He insisted his toys be of the highest quality. Not all toymakers stood by that motto. But we know by their continued success, the LEGO® company, did and still does. 

Talking with Author Carrie Daws about A NEW HOME FOR ALLIE and a Giveaway!

by Sally Matheny

A New Home for Allie by Carrie Daws

This month, Ambassador International releases a beautiful children’s picture book, A NEW HOME FOR ALLIE. Carrie Daws penned the sweet story about a giraffe named Allie. Joanie Bruce painted the charming illustrations.

The main character, Allie, lives with her parents in Kenya. Her dad serves in the Animal Jungle Patrol. Allie learns her dad received orders and her family must move to Somalia. As her new journey unfolds, so do her concerns about moving.

I caught up with the author of this book in between her writing, speaking, homeschooling, and serving our military community alongside her husband at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. She kindly agreed to share some of her own journey with us.

Giveaway & Book Review of LIVE. SAVE. SPEND. REPEAT—The Life You Want with the Money You Have

by Sally Matheny

Are you ready to live the life

you want with the money you have?

Kim Anderson and her husband paid off 93,000 in debt in two years on ONE income. Then, she wrote this handy little book about it.

Good news spills out from the beginning with encouragement to start right where you are.

The book addresses many topics similar in style to that of financial advisors, Larry Burkett and Dave Ramsey. How to set practical goals, create a doable budget, and how to make do with what you have.

Each chapter begins with a Bible verse or a wise saying. Helpful, “Thrifty Little Tips” and “Momentum Milestones” are scattered throughout the book. The chapters end with an easy-to-read bulleted recap of the content. Some chapters provide work space for budgeting and setting goals.

Book Review & Giveaway of GOD BLESS YOU & GOOD NIGHT and the Winner of I PRAYED FOR YOU

by Sally Matheny

God Bless You & Good Night

Bestselling author, Hannah C. Hall has done it again. Her tenth book in the popular A God Bless Book series, God Bless You & Good Night is sure to delight little ones and those who read to them.

As the title suggests, this is a get-ready-for-bedtime book.

The talented illustrator of the series, Steve Whitlow, creates amazing, beautiful, and humorous illustrations for this book as well.

Each full-color, two-page spread shows a different animal parent addressing different bedtime rituals. A cute polar bear in striped pajama pants receives a yummy snack, the otters have fun in their bath, and my favorite is the baby penguin in his penguin pajamas ready for bedtime.

Review and Giveaway of Children’s Picture Book: I PRAYED FOR YOU

by Sally Matheny

I PRAYED FOR YOU Book Giveaway

This book is dedicated to “all the mamas who prayed for their babies and for the mamas-at-heart still waiting.” 

I’m always on the lookout for books with beginnings which are suitable for adopted children as well as biological babies. I PRAYED FOR YOU, written by Jean Fischer, is one of those special finds.

A mama bear tells her child of the various prayers she has prayed for him. The main text of the story does not rhyme but on each page, is a sentence prayer which does rhyme.

“Dear loving Father in heaven above, send a sweet baby for Mama to love.”

As Mama bears shares about the things her little one has done as he has grown, she also shares about the different prayers she has prayed pertaining to those things. The point of the sweet story is Mama bear will always be praying for her child as he grows. I liked this book.

The illustrations by Frank Endersby are beautiful. The only illustration that seemed a bit odd was the last one. The story progresses from babyhood to starting school. The very first illustration is of the baby bear in a cradle. The last illustration shows him in that same cradle. The story flows well and has a precious ending. But the book shows a growing bear who plays soccer. Clearly, he would not still fit in that cradle.

Little bear and book for your little one.

He has the same blanket as well, but we know some little ones will sleep with their baby blankets for many, many years!

Boys and girls, ages 4-8, will enjoy this hardcover book reminding them of God’s love and the love of a praying mama.

It would make a great gift for a baby shower, adoption celebration, or child’s birthday.

I’m giving this 32-page, hardcover book and a little stuffed bear away to someone who comments below.

Tell us ONE thing you pray (or have prayed) for a little one who’s precious to you. All those who comment will have their names placed in a drawing for the book and the bear. A winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, April 8 and announced here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.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