Dog Gone It Vinnie! – Adventures With Vinnie, By: Donna Winters

Having adopted my own shelter dog, Max, seven years ago, Fred and Donna Winters’ story was one close to my heart. The retired couple from Michigan obviously cares a great deal about giving shelter animals a chance. After the loss of one of their dogs they decide to give an older dog a chance to have a ‘forever’ home and chose Vinnie from the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter, or U.P.A.W.S. for short. Donna’s book, Adventures With Vinnie, is the true story of the Winters’ life with their Doberman Lab mix named Vinnie.

Because of everything I went through with Max, I could really relate to Donna’s telling of Vinnie’s antics during her own obedience training. But unlike me, she didn’t get nearly as frustrated as I sometimes did, even though Vinnie did some things that would really scare a pet owner.

The book deals with real life situations that every pet parent must go through. The good, the bad and even the very sad. I will mention that I was put off at some parts when the author describes her dog pooping and puking…yuck! On the other hand, the reader is allowed an even closer glimpse at Vinnie’s life, since there are 12 color pictures of him in the book.

It’s a short read at only 60 pages long and could easily be finished in one or two sittings. I loved the book and would recommend it to young and old alike. After all, it’s about a dog, and who doesn’t like dogs? But in reality, Vinnie’s story is a very real, raw, telling of what it’s like to love a hard to love animal.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and no monetary compensation was received for my review.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

There once was an old country song leader from Lufkin, Texas who served at the church I attend. Every year at Vacation Bible School time he would teach the kids the ABC song. The lyrics say:


A-Admit, tell God you are a sinner, and ask Him to help you become a winner!

B-Believe, that Christ Jesus is God’s Son and that God sent Jesus to save everyone!

C-Commit, give your life to the Lord, and ask Him to be your (clap) Savior!

The cool thing about this song is that it really is that simple to become a Christian. Here’s my version of the ABC’s (Plus a P) of becoming a Christian.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

ADMIT – A person must ADMIT that he is a sinner and that the penalty for sin is death. If he can do that, then he is ready to accept God’s free gift.

FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. ROMANS 3:23

FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. ROMANS 6:23

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

BELIEVE – One must BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the true Son of God and died on a cross to pay the price for their sins.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. JOHN 3:16

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

COMMIT – Once a person ADMITS they are a sinner and BELIEVES in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the next step it to COMMIT their life to the Lord. That means to let God be the boss of your life.

IF YOU DECLARE WITH YOUR MOUTH, “JESUS IS LORD,” AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. ROMANS 10:9

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

PRAY – Pray a simple prayer asking Jesus to be your Savior and Lord.

Dear God, I ADMIT that I am a sinner and that I am in need of your forgiveness. Lord, I BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that You sent Jesus to die on the cross in payment of my sin debt. Lord I COMMIT my life to You and give You complete authority over my life. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!



Homeschooling Can Be Murder – By: Susan Lyttek

To be honest, I stole this book from my girlfriend who won it at a writer's meeting. Just kidding, she gave it to me because I told her I liked the bull dog on the cover so much. Well, turns out that bulldog, named Jelly, have a pretty big role in the story.

Main character, Jeanine Talbott, has two young kids she homeschools and a husband who's a career military man. When her husband receives orders to re-locate, Jeanine let's him pick out and buy their new house. She’s reluctant to leave where they currently live because she feels bad for her kids having to move from the home and friends.

When she arrives at the new house she sees that her husband has bought a house next to a Civil War graveyard. As soon as the husband is called to leave on an army mission, strange noises are heard coming from the cemetery. This is upsetting for Jelly dog who manages to escape his yard, goes to the cemetery only to find a body...a fresh one.

Jeanine and the kids find themselves in the midst of a great mystery involving treasure hunters and town secrets. This was a fun read that any mom or even a young person would enjoy. I could really relate to the main character's feelings towards her kids and her husband and how familiar her life was to mine, except that I don't homeschool. Looking forward to more from this author!

Other readers have commented:

This book was different from most that I read...a little mystery, some suspense, and a dash of romance. Very unique and definitely worth the time!

I loved this mystery that twisted its way through a cemetery, underground tunnels and peoples lives and histories. We are "homeschooled" on how we can use knowledge, our own talents, love for family and friends and a commitment to God and following Him, to find the solutions for many problems, mysterious and otherwise. A good read for the entire family. I'm a grandmother and I loved it.