We apologize for the delay in posting the next giveaway, and hope all are excited as we are to share with you what it is!!!

As we have told y’all before, we LOVE to read, so this next giveaway is one magazine both of us enjoy reading and I (Miss Antoinette) am greatly encouraged by in keeping my focus on my Savior and my duties in the home and being content till the day (Lord willing) I have a family of my own!

The Kings Blooming Rose Magazine is WONDERFUL!!!!  We recently subscribed to it and has quickly become our favorite!  Miss Sarah B. (the very sweet young lady behind KBR) has graciously donated a free year subscription to give away and we were so excited to add it to our Anniversary Blog Party!!!

Miss Sarah B. has also graciously invested some of her time in answering a few questions,  so you can get to know her and her ministry better and know what kind of a lovely magazine this is! A BIG thank you to Miss Sarah for doing this for our blog! *hugs*

Interview With Miss Sarah Bryant of Kings Blooming Rose Ministry

1.   Konvalin Ladies~ How did KBR get started?

Sarah~ Hello! My name is Sarah Bryant. The King’s Blooming Rose Magazine began in 2005, when I was inspired by another publication to begin a magazine for girls. KBR has grown much in the past 6 years and I am so grateful for all that the Lord has done through its publication. I continue to learn so much as my family and I compile, edit, and mail each quarterly issue. One of my favorite aspects of publishing it is hearing from young ladies with a similar vision for girlhood from across the country.

2. Konvalin Ladies~ Does your ministry have a key verse that you share?

Sarah~ We want to encourage young ladies to prepare to be the “Proverbs 31″ woman and to be ready to fulfill the role given in Titus 2:4-5:

“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Since this womanly calling will not be obtained overnight, it is our desire to encourage girls to prepare to be godly keepers at home and help-meets.

3. Konvalin Ladies~ What other products do you sell?

Sarah~ Along with publishing The King’s Blooming Rose, we have a color 2011 Calendar which has a Scripture Memory theme, Scripture Verse Stationery Sets, “The Young Maid Compilation” (question and answer column featuring homemaking-related topics), and a book that I wrote this year, “The Family Daughter.” Right now we have a sale on the calendars – buy two and receive a free back issue of KBR Magazine.

4. Konvalin Ladies~ What inspired you to write “The Family Daughter”?

Sarah~ In 2008, the Lord prompted me to write a book to encourage Christian girls to love their families, and to serve them as a daughter a home, in preparation for someday becoming a keeper at home, Lord willing. As I embarked on this project, it turned into a bigger task than I had imagined. After a two-year journey of rewriting, researching, and editing, The Family Daughter: Becoming Pillars of Strength In Our Father’s House rolled off the press this summer. To God be the glory for bringing this book to completion! My prayer for it is that young girls will be encouraged to treasure their family and to use their maiden days wisely.

5. Konvalin Ladies~ Any encouraging words you wish to share to other stay-at-home daughters or to others

thinking about it?

Sarah~ Our God-given calling as daughters is such a high and noble calling, though when we choose to make this decision to stay at home with our family, we will face a certain amount of persecution from the world. My encouragement to you would be to not grow weary in well doing! We daughters may be overlooked or scorned by the world, and it can be easy to fall for the mindset that we need to do something bigger to be “important.” Do not be deceived by this worldly idea! Your service for the Lord at home is not in vain; He sees your heart and the sacrifices you make in serving your family. I want to encourage you to delight in the ministry of blessing those around you—treasure the opportunity and pour your heart into it, for it is Christ’s calling for you. May the Lord be glorified through our lives of complete and humble obedience to His will. God bless you each.

So, from today till Saturday January 22 is when you can enter, and be sure to read the entry info. HERE and PLEASE come back to this post to leave your entry comments!

(sorry, no international entries please!)

Question #3 ~ Do you have a favorite magazine you would highly recommend?

May all our dear readers have a blessed week resting in our Savior!

We also enjoy learning about health and nutrition, and how to best keep our bodies well to further the Lord’s Kingdom!  Miss Antoinette will soon be contributing to a wonderful blog “Ye Are Not Your Own” and share some of the things we have learned about health and nutrition!  In this new year we also hope to post more recipes and such here on our blog!

In this first giveaway we are giving away one of our new favorite books.  See the review below so you know how good of a book you will be entering to win! And if you don’t win, it is well worth the investment!

“Health For Godly Generations” by Renee DeGroot

Mother has graciously written this review of the book to share with you:

“Health For Godly Generations:  A Reformational Perspective is refreshing and convicting as the author uses pure scripture to point out biblical principles for health and nutrition.  This is not another unsound ‘diet’ book listing what you should or should not eat, but rather an encouragement to seek what God in His word says about health and nutrition.

Whether you are just beginning to think about what it means to eat better or you have been studying nutrition for years, you will be uplifted by a topic that otherwise could be daunting and discouraging.  After all, which of the thousands of ‘experts’ out there do you believe?  Renee DeGroot expresses her thoughts lovingly and gently but also boldly as she exhorts believers to look to scripture for the answers to their health needs.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31“

We thought this post would not be complete without a scrumptious, and healthy recipe!  Here is a simply wonderful guilt-free treat that our family enjoys that is dairy -free, gluten-free, and soy-free!

Nut Butter Balls

1 cup of your favorite nut butter (peanut, almond, sunflower seed…etc.)

1/2 cup raw honey

1 1/2 – 2 cups finely shredded unsweetened coconut

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips ~ *optional

Mix all ingredients together in medium size bowl.  Take teaspoon size amounts of the mixture and roll into bite size balls.  Place on a baking sheet or glass baking pan (9″x13″ inch).  When all the mixture is rolled and in the pan, place the pan into the freezer for an hour or two.  You can eat as is but they taste best when frozen.  *The chocolate chips we use are made by Enjoy Life Foods and are soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free but they do contain a small amount of cane sugar.  Just wanted to let you know in case you need to completely avoid sugar for specific needs.  These are tasty even without the chocolate chips.

Now does that not sound delightful or what!?

Now for entering this great giveaway!!!

Please follow this link HERE for the 3 ways of entering this giveaway!

(sorry no international attendants please)

*Question #1: What is your favorite recipe book or health/nutrition book you enjoy?  Feel free to share a yummy recipe you enjoy!(receive 1 entry)

This giveaway ends on January 8th (at 9:00PM) and will be announced on the 10th!

*disclaimer* We are not affiliated with Miss DeGroot or her site, just some passionate readers wanting to share with you this great book!

Blessings in Christ,

PS. Don’t forget about our BIG sale that ends on the 10th of January!  Click HERE to take a peek at the great savings!

The first one we watched about a week ago for the second time was “Sergeant York” (click the title to see the trailer!) starring Gary Cooper and this one had to be one of our favorite movies! It is up their with “Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals” it is so good!

Here is a short synopsis of the film:

“A stirring biography of World War I hero Alvin York, SERGEANT YORK features Gary Cooper in one of his most famous roles as a wild, hard-drinking young man from rural Tennessee who finds religion… A stirring biography of World War I hero Alvin York, SERGEANT YORK features Gary Cooper in one of his most famous roles as a wild, hard-drinking young man from rural Tennessee who finds religion and reforms after almost killing a man for revenge. Alvin becomes a pillar of his community; when the war breaks out, he refuses to defy the Bible and kill the enemy. However, after being drafted and put into combat, Alvin realizes that duty to his fellow soldiers and his country are important as well and succeeds in capturing more than 100 Germans almost single-handedly at the Battle of Argonne. A moving war drama that boasts an Academy Award-winning performance by Cooper, SERGEANT YORK is an affectionate look at a simpler time in U.S. history as well as an inspirational portrait of a true American hero.”

Another great movie around the same era, this time WW II is “Mrs. Miniver”

This movie has both action and romance in it, though my brothers thought it was ok (due to the romance and not enough action for their taste), my parents and I enjoyed it a lot!

Here is a synopsis of this film:

“It’s World War II. The Minivers, an otherwise happy and well adjusted English middle class family, must learn to live under daily bombardment by German planes. Mr. Miniver joins hundreds of boat owners summoned to Dunkirk to help evacuate British soldiers from the mainland. While he is gone, a downed German flyer seeks shelter in the Miniver home. Mrs. Miniver is one of the best Allied propaganda films of World War II. It shows how the British public reacted to German aerial bombardment during the Battle of Britain (August – October, 1940). President Roosevelt was so impressed with the final speech in this film that he ordered it printed onto leaflets and dropped over occupied Europe.”

The last film is one I enjoyed, but my brothers liked a lot called “Sink The Bismarck” which is based in WWII

“The English Navy faces some hard choices in the spring of 1941. An order for Prime Minister Winston Churchill “Sink the Bismarck at what ever the cost.” puts the Royal Navy on high alert. The Admiralty pulls in every ship it can muster and even takes ships from convoy and troop escort duty to follow the order of sinking the Bismarck. Based on actual events and featuring real combat film footage.”

I hope you and your family enjoy these great films as much as our family has!

Blessings in Christ,

PS. Sorry about Mrs. Miniver trailer, it was the only one I could find, and it is a little bit dark!

A few weeks ago I finished an absolutely WONDERFUL book called “Mary Bunyan” by Sally R. Ford and let me tell you, it brought me close to tears many times ( it takes a lot for me to cry) in the amazing life of John Bunyan’s elder blind daughter Mary.  I had read a pre-teen book that I borrowed from the library a few years ago about her, but it did not go into nearly as much detail and depth as this book did and it is not just about “Poor blind Mary” (as she is called in the book) but about the whole family, and the many dear brothers and sisters in Christ they knew as well.  I just love how there is scripture throughout this book and the characters are so encouraging!

It is such a good book to read for some history during that era in 17th Century England when King Charles II reigned, and the puritans where being persecuted greatly at this time and they stood strong in their faith no matter what the circumstances!  I will tell you, this book on the outside might have a sad ending, but it is such a beautiful testimony for us Christians today to have that same zeal for God and to proclaim His name until our dying day when God calls us home weather it is by old age, something medical, persecution, or something else,  we MUST with the life we have been given by Christ share with others in our actions toward others, our dress, and our speech the love of our savior and what He has done for us.

My mom is now getting ready to read it and I am very sure she will enjoy it as much as I did!

You can find this wonderful book and many more at one of our family’s favorite book stores :             

Solid Ground Books

If you wish to see what my mother and I have been reading or are reading so far this year, I have created a page called “Our Book Lists” so when I or my dear mother finish reading a book, I will write the title on that page so you can see what I am reading or what I have read, so keep checking the whole year round!

Many blessings to y’all

“March 17

The Worker’s Ruling Passion

“Wherefore we labour that…..we may be acceptable of Him.”   2 Corinthians 5:9

“Wherefore we labour…..”  It is arduous work to keep the master ambition in front.  It means holding one’s self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be “accepted of Him”.   It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of labouring to keep the ideal right.  Once a week at least to take stock before God and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes.  Paul is like a musician who does not heed approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master.

Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being “approved unto God” may end in our being castaways.  Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul says- ” Lest my body should make me take another line, I am constantly watching so that I may bring it to subjection and keep it under.”                      (1 Corinthians 9:27)  I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and to maintain it without any cessation.  My worth to God in public is what I am in private.  Is my master ambition to please him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?”

Grace and Peace dear readers,

I thought I would share this post from a friend of mine over at the blog “Walking With Sarah” on abortion called “Worse Than Hitler!!!”!  It was very well put together and should cause you to think and ponder many things! I was very moved by this post to continue to pray for our country and for the people that think it is a burden to have children, that the Lord would open their eyes to see how wrong they are as God’s word tells us that children are a blessing!

I also have a dear friend who has a non profit organization called “Coins and Quilts 4 Life” that you can donate handmade quilts (not store bought) given to shelters for mothers as a thank you for making the right chioce in not aborting her child, and gives them comfort.  You can also donate money to help her in her endeavors in buying supplies for crisis pregnancy centers that are suffering financially as well!

I would also recommend watching a thought provoking movie called ‘The Monstrous Regiment of Women” and  how feminism is part of the cause of abortion and other things that are effected by feminism! *Warning* there is     a seen of an abortion in the movie, but they do give you a countdown and a warning beforehand,  so in case you have       little eyes watching, you can skip it!

I hope you all are encouraged by this post and those mentioned!

Blessings in Christ,

Miss Antoinette

As much as they pick up where we left this lovely town of Cranford in the first movie, with it’s distinct people and culture and the railway coming to the small town that does not so easily welcome change this sequel fell far short from our expectations.  Over all we thought it was okay, but  really enjoyed “Cranford”  better (is that not like most movies with sequels?)!  Sadly, we do not feel we want to own a copy of the sequel and will not be adding this to our girlie collection.

First off we noticed even more feminist actions and attitudes in the characters than in the previous movie which was quite sad and ruined the movie for us!   With Miss Sarah Smith being engaged and then breaking it off because she thought marriage would hold her back from a writing career was disappointing!!!!  We were quite saddened by  some remarks made throughout the whole movie!

They crammed too much in only 3  hours and ended it quite abruptly (with no wedding at the end!) *Sigh*  We do not want to give too much of the movie away for those of you who have not seen it, but to critique a movie with out giving some of it away is almost impossible, so If you have not seen it yet, we are quite sorry to “spill some of the beans”!   We are also sorry to have to give such a dismal review.

So what did you think of the movie?

Love in Christ,

Mrs. Donna & Miss Antoinette

Here is a link to my Dad’s review of the movie HERE if you have not seen it already, and you can visit the main web-site for the movie HERE and watch the trailer!

I hope everyone is having a blesed week so far!

Grace and peace,

Miss. Antoinette K.