Heck Of A Bunch

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Freebie: Sparkling Ice Mountain®Brand Natural Spring Water

Get a coupon by mail for one free 8-PACK of Sparkling Ice Mountain®Brand Natural Spring Water. Coupon is valid on 12 ounce cans or half-liter bottles.

Offer ends on 7/31/18 or when all coupon supplies are depleted, whichever occurs first. Coupon expires 12/31/18. Offer is valid to residents of the USA.

I signed up to receive my coupon and I'm most excited to try the Triple Berry Flavored Sparkling Water. Which flavor do you want to try?

God Bless You & Good Night - Children's Book Review and Giveaway

Book Overview:

God Bless You and Good Night is now available as a full-size picture book! This beloved bedtime classic has touched more than 250,000 families, and the gift edition is sweeter and more beautiful than ever before.

My Review:

A book that originally released in 2013, God Bless You & Good Night continues to be a favorite for bedtime stories. Perfect for toddlers, this short storybook is written in rhythmic form. It features cute illustrations of animals. There's giraffes, polar bears, penguins, and more. The story starts with seeing the moon so bright, goes to reading a book, and ends with getting tucked in bed. This book is just the right length for a bedtime story and children are given a reminder of how much they are loved.

Win It!

One person will win a God Bless You & Good Night children's book.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received book for review from Tommy Nelson. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services. Your opinions and results may differ.

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SONIC Drive-In Announces SONIC Summer Nights

SONIC Drive-In decided to skip spring and move straight to summer this year. Guests can come celebrate with SONIC at SONIC Summer Nights – this summer’s social evening destination that will satisfy any late-night cravings.

Guests can find half-price Floats, Shakes and Ice Cream Slushes after 8 p.m. every day at SONIC. They’re also adding new Floats so guests can pair their creamy vanilla ice cream with either Root Beer, Coke, or Fanta Orange. (I'm partial to the Fanta Orange myself!)

It's not often that I get the pleasure of dining at SONIC Drive-In. The nearest location is half an hour away from where I live. But I certainly enjoy the food and available drink purchases when I do get to eat there. Their deals and deliciousness are worth the drive.

Bring the family together at your local SONIC Drive-In for the SONIC Nights specials.

How often do you eat at SONIC Drive-In? What's your favorite menu item?

I received product in exchange for this post. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services. Your opinions and results may differ.

Power of Prayer Thursdays - Week 119

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

I believe in a God that hears prayers and answers them. I've witnessed the miraculous gift of answered prayer. And, I want to pray for you. I've started weekly Power of Prayer post every Thursday. We are now on week 119. If you are needing prayer in an area of your life, please leave a comment and I'll commit to pray for your need or request. You can be as general or as specific as you like. Whether it be for healing, salvation, finances, emotions, or another area of life, I'd like to lift it up in prayer.

1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
-------------------------
While I was at Women's Camp last weekend, one of the speakers was a local woman who is principal of the Christian School. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in June 2014. Listening to her speak, I was amazed by her faith and comfort in God. She was candid and admitted to being fearful, but she showed an overflow of love for Christ.

Since her diagnosis, Susan had a camp of prayer warriors surround her. She underwent (and continues to) many, many rounds of chemo. She's a mother to two young boys and a wife. Close to the onset of her diagnosis, Susan was told that the cancer was shrinking. She was becoming a miracle. The doctors were in awe of the regression of cancer.

Susan came to speak at Women's Camp Saturday to tell her story. She wanted fellow women to know the love of Christ she has, even during hard times. She also wanted to give praise for answered prayers.

Although many of Susan's prayers had been answered, she had some devastating news to bear. Just two days before she came to speak to us, she was told by the doctors that the cancer in her lungs had come back. And it was triple in size from the beginning. The cancer in the bones of her pelvis have also spread. It's back to being a very terminal diagnosis.

With all that said, I ask that you please, please, please keep Susan in your prayers. If anything, she's been able to give an amazing testimony. My heart hurts for her and her family, and I ask that you please lift her up in your words to God. Thanks in advance.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The Secret Life of a Weight-Obsessed Woman - Book Review

Book Overview:

Do you think about food too much? Envy those "skinny bitches" and wonder how they do it? Use the needle on the scale as a measure of your self-worth? Are you "just ten pounds" away from happiness? You are not alone. Iris Ruth Pastor, too, was a weight-obsessed woman who found a way to eat all those tempting goodies--without putting on a pound. At age eighteen, she began bingeing and purging daily and didn't stop for forty-six years.

How did she tame the triggers that led to bingeing and purging? Deal with the ravenous monster within? The Secret Life of a Weight-Obsessed Woman is Iris's story of ripping down the facade of her "perfect" life and taking steps to break free of her lover ED (Eating Disorder, not Erectile Dysfunction!). If you are grappling with anything that prevents you from operating at full throttle, Iris's bluntly honest, humorous, and inspirational story reminds us all that recovery is within our reach. In this honest, insightful, and inspiring book, Iris Ruth Pastor shares her story of recovery from a decades-long battle with bulimia. She brings a poignant and relatable honesty to this memoir, using both wisdom and humor to bring readers on the journey from despair to healing

My Review:

Although I've almost always been overweight, I've never struggled with an eating disorder. I don't know what it's like to be obsessed with being skinny or counting calories. But, I do know what it's like to have other struggles and thoughts consume my time and mind.

Author, Iris Ruth Pastor, puts into perspective how an eating disorder affected her for many, many years of her life. She's very honest with how it consumed her and how the ED was a large part of who she was. Interestingly enough, there wasn't some big moment in Iris' life that made her start bingeing and purging. It just sort of became a part of her daily routine.

Iris talks candidly about her secret life with ED and her recovery. I wish there would've been more detail surrounding how the eating disorder affected those around her. I feel like I still don't know a lot about the "whats" and "whys". But, I appreciate Iris' resolve and candor. She's a woman of wisdom who mentors readers and helps bring hope to people who are tackling conditions, especially ED.

I received book for review from Smith Publicity. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services. Your opinions and results may differ.

Night Night, Jungle - Children's Book Review and Giveaway

Book Overview:

The remarkable bestselling Night Night series is moving into the jungle! Night Night, Jungle pairs the fun, rhyming text from bestselling author Amy Parker with the award-winning artwork of Virginia Allyn to help your kids wish their world “Night night!” From sleepy sloths to tired toucans, your little wild one will love the colorful art of cute animals settling in for bedtime. The jungle theme features fun and exciting illustrations of wild animals, inviting your children to say “Night night!” to each animal and to the loving God who made them.

My Review:

As a way to settle in to sleep, Night Night, Jungle is a short and entertaining board book. The story is told in rhythmic form and the illustrations feature all sorts of cute jungle creatures including toucans, jaguars, and lemurs.

The story brings in jaguars as they pounce and play just one more time before going to bed, and chameleons asking for another bedtime story. A monkey is rocked peacefully to sleep, and readers are given a reminder that God loves all His creatures.

Win It!

One person will win a Night Night, Jungle children's book.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

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Wordful Wednesday - Crossing Women's Camp

water slide that dumps you into the lake

Late last year our church was able to purchase a camp at a price that couldn't be beat. After some cosmetics and improvements, the place is now able to be used. I spent Friday night and part of Saturday there with about 65 other women, and I'm already wanting to go back.

I felt like I'd been transported back to my 12 year old self, being sent away to church camp. Exploring a new world and meeting new friends. I was waiting for someone to break out the autograph books.

But, rather than getting to stay a week, we got less than 24 hours. That's what we get for being adults with responsibilities.

One side of the housing building was for bunkers who wanted to get an early start at bed. Only about 20 gals opted for the 10 pm "Lights Out" option. Which meant the other side (where I stayed) was pretty full. Bunks were lined up in prison formation. Us late-nighters were up till midnight, when the "room mother" shut off the lights.

My bunk happened to be directly across from the one and only downstairs bathroom. Which means I can say that EACH and EVERY woman had to get up and go pee at least once.

Peaceful Scenery Selfie

Ali taking in the scenery

The scenery of the entire place was so serene and peaceful. We spent a lot of time outdoors, walking the trails and going on a prayer hike.

Although our time was spent worshiping God and doing devotionals, there was also a lot of time for fellowship. Campers had options to go horseback riding, play games, paint on canvas, color books, exercise, and lots more. Like I said, just like church camp back in the day. We even had to fight for shower time.