truth in the tinsel e-book for $2.99 {an Advent challenge}

Truth in the Tinsel.

How sweet is that name?  It's the name of a new e-book out there by Amanda from Impress Your Kids.

Trust me, this book would totally impress your kids.  It's a participatory advent book.  Each day, the book takes you on a journey through a passage of scripture and leads you in making a coordinating ornament to go along with the theme.

The ornaments are super fun and easy to make (and don't require fancy equipment).  Think toilet paper rolls and general craft supplies.  She even gives you a shopping list so you can get all organized before December 1st rolls around!

There is a scripture and ornament you could make every day, but don't feel that you have to do it all.  In the back of the e-book she offers alternative schedules if you can't take the time to make an ornament every day.  You could follow "Just the Basics" which takes you on 6 days of the most basic elements of the Christmas Story.  Or you could focus on "The Characters" and do 10 days of ornament making and scripture reading.

It's so flexible and everything is laid out in easy, readable form.  All the templates for the ornaments are included in the e-book.  So, just print, cut, and trace.

If you have young kids at home (preschool - early elementary) they will LOVE Truth in the Tinsel!

And you will love the price. Today only (Black Friday), the e-book is $2.99 (regular $4.99).  Don't let this deal get away.

And to make it more fun - you can join with everyone at the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page to encourage each other during Advent by posting pictures of the crafts your kids made, funny things they said, etc...  What a fun challenge!

No BLB of the day today... We are having a BLB Groupon-like sale!  All Gift Certificates are on SALE!  Get the full printed price for much much cheaper here.  These are awesome gifts for that someone who might like to design their own Better Life Bag! 

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant

Just finished this book today on my Kindle!  I think I'm reading more now that I have a Kindle (which if you remember, was also a resolution of mine).  This book was excellent.  I love writers who can describe scenes as if you are watching it unfold in front of you.  The twists and turns of this book kept me on edge the entire time - and I even missed the story and the characters on the days when I didn't get a chance to read.  The story was based around a Biblical character, Dinah (Leah's and Jacob's daughter).  It, of course, takes what is written in the Bible and embellishes it to form a pretty interesting novel.  I love reading Historical Biblical Fiction - it really brings the Bible tale to life for me (although, I admit, not always accurately - but how do we know what really went on in Dinah's life when her name is only mentioned 9 times in the Bible).  So, I love to read an author's take on the story behind the story.

The only thing I don't like is when my perception of a Bible character is changed.  I had always pictured Rebecca (Dinah's Grandmother) as a gentle and caring woman, or at least I liked to think of her that way since we share a name.  She did, after all, steal the birthright from her eldest son to give to her favorite son.  And I pictured Joseph as a humble boy who God placed in leadership roles that he accepted graciously.  The book portrays him more as a power hungry ruler.  Oh well, the story was excellent.  Definitely recommend!

I've picked up another book at the library (I refuse to buy books on my Kindle if I can get it at the library).  Same time of Historical Biblical Fiction and I'm LOVING it so far!