Bow of Bronze Review- Geneaology Revelations & GIVEAWAY!

Today I am reviewing the 5 hour general research package from Genealogy Revelations.  They are also offering you the opportunity to win the same package!  :-)

I was asked to provide my name and birth information, as well as for my parents and grandparents.

From that, I was given a 28 page report consisting of the following:

* Pedigree Chart- includes my direct ancestors up to and including my great-grandparents on both sides of my family.

* Ahnentafel Report- this includes every member of my ancestry that were found.  The generations are labelled "Generation 1, 2, etc.)

* Descendant Report- this starts with the oldest generation found (in my case, my great-grandparents) and goes all the way down to me.

* Family Group Sheet- this page has information about myself, my husband and our children.

There was also an appendix which has all of the sources from which Anna Rae found the information.  They include Federal Census reports, Draft Registration Cards (one of my paternal great-grandfathers registered for the World War I draft!!), Social Security Death index and more.

The chart I was provided went back to my great-grandparents and even included many of their children.  Anna Rae even found one of my paternal great-grandmother's maiden name, which I didn't know and unfortunately, my grandmother isn't alive now, so I had no one to ask about it.

I was thrilled to see documents with the report.  There was the official document when my maternal grandfather became a citizen of this country.  I hadn't seen his handwriting in a lot of years and it brought tears to my eyes.  I also learned the day he came to this country and on what ship!

And, speaking of ships, I actually was given a copy of a photo of the ship that one of my paternal great-grandfathers sailed to America aboard.

I am completely intrigued and fascinated with what Anna Rae at Genealogy Revelations was able to provide me about my family.  My husband and I think it is very important for our children to learn about their heritage and something about our ancestors.

I think it is something that most people want to learn about, especially people like myself whose families came to America in the last 2 or 3 generations.  To see ship manifests with their names on it makes it real.  Immigrants in the early 20th century would endure weeks on those ships for their transatlantic crossings.  I cannot imagine the combination of emotions they must have been feeling-- fear of the unknown, anxiety about a long and bumpy journey, anticipation about a new life, joy about seeing loved ones who had sent for them and sadness for leaving the only life they had ever known with only with what they could carry on their backs.

These people and their experiences made us who and what we are and I think it is our duty to learn as much as we can about them and honor them for the sacrifices made so their future children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren could have a better life.  I truly am grateful.

There are a variety of different packages available, depending on how much information and how long of a report you are interested in.  You can find all of that and more here, on the Genealogy Revelations packages page.  I was thrilled with the results, and I'm sure you would be, as well.

Click here to see what my colleagues at Bow of Bronze had to say about their genealogy reports.

Now you can have a chance to win your own genealogy report!  :-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

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Bow of Bronze Review: My Beloved and My Friend

Today I am reviewing "My Beloved and My Friend: How to be Married to your Best Friend without Changing Spouses" by award-winning authors Hal and Melanie Young.  They wrote another favorite book of mine entitled "Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys."

I am not a fan of "marriage" books, or at least I wasn't until I read this one.  Some I have picked up in the past seem to imply that if everything isn't 'awesome' all of the time, there is something wrong.  Hal and Melanie, on the other hand, say that having a true and lasting friendship with your spouse will make those "not so good" moments much easier to bear.

"But why do we treat our mates differently than our friends?  Probably because we let ourselves.  Either we never took the time to develop a friendship with the one we would marry, or we just let ourselves drift apart.  We let ourselves become emotionally distant while geographically close, like co-workers or roomates.  We work together or live togeher, but really have nothing in common.  Regardless of the reason, there's no time like the present to start making your mate your best friend." (pg. 31)

Hal and Melanie's writing style is honest, open and conversational.  You will feel like you are sitting at the table with them.  They have been married for almost 30 years.  One of the keys to their long marriage? Keeping God at the center and saying focused on Him through the good times and bad.  Hal had life-threatening cancer, so the Youngs have definitely had their share of "bad" times.  They stress the importance of going through life as a couple, not 2 separate individuals who are in a union.  They believe in the "us," not the "you" and "me" and can truly say that they have been best friends for 30 years.

"We can choose to enjoy one another, choose to see each other as our best friends.  this is really, seriously, one of them most satisfying things you will ever do.  Make your mate your best friend." (pg. 46)

The chapters in the book are as follows: (and yes, this book even covers topics not covered in other books because they are considered "controversial")

• Leaving and Cleaving
• How to Be Married To Your Best Friend
• In Sickness and In Health
• On Submission
• Fidelity and Loyalty are Not Mutual Funds
• The Physical Aspect
• Children and All That
• Money- Yours, Mine, Or Ours?
• The Division of Labor
• The Spiritual Aspect
• Being of One Mind
• How to Fight So You Both Win

"When you use your disagreements as an opportunity to talk over issues and come to a better understanding of one another, discussing and working over the differences to reach a point where you can both stand together, it will tend to make you both more Christ-like.  And when you've got someone who is that much in agreement with you, that much on your side, it's a real joy and encouragement!" (pg. 231-232)

Love is doing, not feeling.  This is so very important for couples to realize after they come off of the "honeymoon high."  Hal and Melanie say this about it:

"Love for our mate is a command, and something which can taught and learned.  It's not a rush of feeling, but rather a conscious choice of action and thought.  In fact, that should be a source of hope for us-- we can be loving even when we don't feel especially affectionate." (pg. 91)

The book will be officially released on Valentine's Day, but is available now for pre-order ($12) and will delivered in time for Christmas!  You will not be disappointed with this book.

Click here to see what others on the Launch Team had to say about the book.




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Bow of Bronze Review- Homemaker's Mentor and 3 Giveaways!

I am happy to be on the Bow of Bronze Launch Team and reviewing "The Homemaker's Mentor."

I loved the idea of a product geared toward moms and their children. We were able to integrate much of what was in these files as part of our homeschooling day, as well as learning new recipes, household tips and even home crafts (which my daughter just loves!)  

My children are 15, 14, 11 1/2 and 9 1/2 (they like when I add the half part, lol!) and they helped me quite a bit with this review.

The Homemaker's Mentor is available in CD form and is packed with PDF files.  Packed is truly an understatement.  There are 33 files with over 100 audios, pictures and documents.  Everything necessary for teaching your children (or learning yourself) how to run a home is included: organizing, cooking, cleaning, sewing and more.  There are even files on natural remedies and first aid, which I believe is a must learn for all of my children.  My children enjoyed seeing the files on canning, as we do quite a bit around here.  They are also doing some canning with their 4H group.

If you sign up for the their newsletter, you'll get 5 free lessons!  :-)  For the launch, the CD is priced at $37 (regularly $47)

The Homemaker's Mentor is the result of 4 years of gathering recipes, stories and tips.  My children most enjoyed the files on the pizza, cookies and even making a quilt.  The Fall and Winter checklists came in handy for me this time of year.  :-)

Wholesome Childhood has given me TWO sets to give away!  A great big thanks to the Erksine family.  To enter, fill in the form below.

Entry-Form

Here is the third giveaway!  In celebration of the launch of the Homemaker's Mentor, they are giving away over $400 in prizes!  Click here to enter.

Click here to see what the other members of the Launch Team had to say about The Homemaker's Mentor and to enter their giveaways, as well!  :-)

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