Amanda's Books and More: April 2013

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #34

Do You Believe in God?

Last March I finished teaching high school German levels 1 and 2. These were private lessons at the high school. We completed the textbooks and workbooks that we began a year ago. I knew in my heart that I should finish with my students and not try to get a new group going, but I didn't really know why, except that there really wasn't enough interested kids to make up a good-sized class. At the time, I believed I was being led by God, but I was left wondering what to do next.

Then last week I got a phone call about a part-time job at a private school. The principal had heard that I was available to help as an assistant teacher, primarily in the English department, and he wanted to meet with me. I was being offered the job first and I could choose my hours within the school time. I told the principal that I am a volunteer at the Blind Institute every Wednesday morning. He was fine with that. He also offered that I run a German conversational club (for a fee) at the school as there are a few German speaking kids who are getting rusty in their German. This had never even crossed my mind, but I told him that I would be interested.

The arrangement is that I work 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, not including Wednesdays. I start at 9 and finish at 12. The English classes that I help teach are grades 5 - 9. I'm also helping with grading and such, but because I'm employed for those hours only, I don't have to take any work home. My first day on the job was Tuesday. It's been lots of fun, because I enjoy this kind of work.

Amanda's playgroup is less than five minutes away by car and her class finishes at 12:15, so I pick her up after work. I also give a 45 minute Bible lesson for a grade 4 class at the primary school once a week from 7:30 - 8:15, so I can continue with this too. It's such a perfect arrangement for me in every way. I'm still amazed. I wasn't even asking around for a job. I'm so glad that I believe in a God who cares about the details of His children's lives. I'm very blessed.

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

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Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #37

Welcome to another Wordless Wednesday link party!

Today I thought it would be fun to look at Amanda's past week in photos.

She built a 120 piece puzzle all by herself for the first time.

She balanced blocks, which was no easy task as they were slick

because of the paint. And, she coordinated the colors too.

She watched the very first episode of Sofia the First on Disney Junior.

I decided that it was a big deal, so I made popcorn and watched with her.

The kittens also got photographed. I must say that Prince doesn't look

like a kitten anymore. He's grown so big.

Linking with:

Now on to my blog hop...

Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday (with or without words)

or any picture post at this Picture Perfect Party Linky (P.P.P.L.)! Come join me

(Tina @ Amanda's Books and More) on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Leave me a comment with a link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow me. Please leave a comment so that I can follow back (as long as your blog is family friendly).
Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
Grab the button below and add it on your post or side-bar.
Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #33

I love Fridays because there are always several fun
link parties on the go. Today I'm linking with
Janine's Finish the Sentence Friday

and Nan over at BlogShe.

I also have a link party on the go just below.

And, if you missed it, I just posted a book

review on a South African mystery novel.

Finish the Sentence Friday
I thought I was so cool when I...

...did backward flips off the side of the pool. I thought I was fearless. I never pictured myself growing up and becoming like my mom. She was scared of heights and roller coasters. Now she’s cool and I’m the un-cool one. She knows how to ski with her feet together. I can only snow-plow. I’ve lost my sense of balance and I feel sick on rides that spin, like the teacup ride at Disney World. How did I get like this? I’m on a quest to get my cool back!

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet (M.M.S.S.) blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

South African Youth Literature

Book Review - The Magyar Conspiracy

I was very excited to review a novel written by a South African. The author, Neil Malherbe, has taught English at a number of schools around South Africa, both at High School and Primary School level and is currently the principal (headmaster) of Penryn Preparatory School near Nelspruit.

He is passionate about sport, specifically waterpolo and rugby, and has coached waterpolo at national level. His other passion is to enthuse children about reading, particularly as many seem to lose interest as they enter their teen years. This is his first novel and it received the Silver Prize for Youth Literature.

The Magyar Conspiracy is a mystery novel that takes you from the iconic slopes of Table Mountain to the historical towns of Hungary. It’s a coming of age story about a high school boy who has to come to terms with tragedy and unravel the secrets that have been hidden for longer than his lifetime.

This novel is suitable for 13 years to adult.

My favorite part about this book was how well the author captured the experience of the mother and son when faced with the sudden and unexplainable death of the father. I felt like I was living it with them.

My least favorite part about this book was the times when I didn’t feel like I was living the story, but rather just observing.

I love a good mystery and the secrets are worth finding out.

This book can be purchased in softcover or as an eBook at Kalahari.com.

I just discovered that Neil has a blog, Neil's Blog, where he writes more about his book and his life in general. One post I recommend tells how he got his idea for the story on "The Next Big Thing."

I did not receive any pay for this review. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #36

Our daughters' kittens are so cute when they sleep.

They also look funny in the different ways that they nap.

There's a linky below where you can add your Wordless Wednesday.

I've linked my latest 1camera1mom post, so pop on over and have

a look at some South African wildlife.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Sleeping cats in black and white.

Linking with:

Now on to my blog hop...

Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday (with or without words)

or any picture post at this Picture Perfect Party Linky (P.P.P.L.)! Come join me

(Tina @ Amanda's Books and More) on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you're interested to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or my Saturday hop,

please send an email to:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on

Leave me a comment with a link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow me. Please leave a comment so that I can follow back (as long as your blog is family friendly).
Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like. Make sure you let them know that you’re following through this P.P.P.L. hop, tell them how you are following them and add your URL to the message, so they can follow back.
Grab the button below and add it on your post or on your side-bar, so that we can spread the word and get more people to the party.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

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Friday, April 12, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #32

I have two very important events to share with you today that are not to be missed. If you take the time to check out my post, you may be able to help save a child. It's as easy as buying a movie ticket!

Today I'm linking with Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday.

This is Prince, as a kitten, sitting on my laptop.

Today's Five Minute Friday writing prompt is on the word "here."

Start…

Here I am sitting at my computer in my pajamas. My husband is at the TV watching Frasier. It’s the morning and the kids are all at school. We both spend our time on the computer, here in our home office. It’s a good thing that we have to share this laptop, because we both get so caught up in our work that we would hardly leave this room.

For example: Hubby only came to bed after 1 am this morning. He was working on a comment to someone’s post, but he couldn’t get the wording quite right. Eventually, he left his comment in a Word document to look at again later. This kind of thinking it over and re-thinking it is very common to my husband. He won’t waste this effort, because he’ll turn it into a post that he can use on our shared blog, Real Church Life.

Here is also South Africa. My hubby is South African and I am American. Our ministry is here. We live in the Western Cape, a beautiful region of the country. This country became better known world-wide during the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to live in the here and now. Sometimes I want to be somewhere else in the future.

Stop.

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet (M.M.S.S.) blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you would like to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or on my
Saturday hop, then contact me at:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Two Events Not to Be Missed!

I have the privilege to promote two extremely important events today, The Innocence Revolution and Not Today the Movie. BOTH events can be life-changing. BOTH seek to rescue children from abuse and exploitation. Please take a moment to check them out.

A Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse
The Innocence Revolution April 14, 2013

The Innocence Revolution: A Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse was created to build awareness and launch a global crusade against the crime of child sexual abuse.
Description: Slated to be launched in cities throughout the World on April 14, 2013, this event was created not only for those who have experienced sexual abuse, but also for all those interested in uniting in the fight to end the sexual violation of children. We welcome you to join us in this crucial, historic event.
Goal Of This Group: To create and coordinate a coalition of organizations and individuals to mobilize a global effort to end sexual abuse of children.

The good news: 35 States and 40 Countries Signed on to Host Events!

With a flash mob planned in London, road races in Kenya, DC and Florida and an outdoor music festival in India with a clothing drive to clothe naked children in the streets, there will be plenty of opportunity to make an impact and allow our voices to be heard. Pakistan, Italy, Australia and Africa are among the countries joining in.

Please go to http://www.TheInnocenceRevolution.net and register for an event in your area.

More ways to get involved:

Get 30 white balloons and a press release and orchestrate a balloon release in honor of the day.
Arrange to have your church ring their bells in honor of The Innocence Revolution.
If you have any media contacts, please share the word with them as well.

Do something and get involved in the fight to end child sexual abuse.

Now is the time to tweet and post on Facebook. Please use the hashtag #TheInnocenceRevolution

We appreciate your support in this monumental global event. On April 14th, we intend to make some noise so together we can stop the silence.

Thank you in advance for all of your support and help in spreading the word and making this day a success.

Jill Starishevsky
Prosecutor, Child Abuse/Sex Crimes
Author, My Body Belongs to Me (http://www.mybodybelongstome.com/)
Co-founder, The Innocence Revolution (http://www.theinnocencerevolution.net/) - April 14, 2013

And, not to be missed, an eye-opening movie that I just have to tell you about!

Not Today the Movie
IN THEATERS APRIL 12

Check out this awesome movie trailer:

Not Today Official Trailer (HD)

About Not Today the Movie:

Caden Welles is living life as large as any 20-year-old could dream ... until his eyes are opened to a world few Americans know still exists: a thriving human-trafficking trade. Spurred by a true purpose, an unlikely new friendship, and the prayers of his mother and girlfriend, Caden begins an unlikely search to rescue a young girl.

Not Today is a powerful reminder change is possible if we're willing to open our eyes today. Make a difference April 12.

To learn and help even more visit Freedom Climb, the website.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #35

Beaux-Arts Kidz Kraftz

Creativity in Action!

I left her one project on the table and the kittens knocked it down.
Samantha, her sister, looked at the pieces and said,
"He loves me, he loves me not. He loves me..."

Here's a picture Amanda drew for me the other day.
I love that the dress has patterns on it.
The little poodle at her feet was inspired
by Barbie's pooch.

Linking with:

Now on to my blog hop...

Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday (with or without words)

or any picture post at this Picture Perfect Party Linky (P.P.P.L.)! Come join me

(Tina @ Amanda's Books and More) on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you're interested to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or my Saturday hop,

please send an email to:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect

and also on