Turtles are Coming

Well I have to tell you I am so giddy with the anticipation of our new Turtle.  Yeah, we are going to have a turtle!  Not just any old turtle you know.  No!  This is a special order turtle.  My Step Son and his lovely lady along with my Step Daughter (his sister) and my grandbabe all came for a visit the other night.  It was so fun to have them all here.  You see they had so much to share with us...and yes the turtle is part of that.  But let me go on....

First off my time for a lil brag bag....my Step Son (SS) is starting college courses today!!!  Yeppers.  Now this is a boy, well man now, but was a boy who could not hear as a child.  Had to have special classes at first to learn.  Who was well liked but did poorly in academics.  Quit high school.  (Shame on him.)  But 4 years later studied and acquired his GED (Good job!)  And now at 24 (almost 25) is headed off to college.  I am quite proud for him.   So he wanted to have a nice visit with us before he headed off to the land of books.  Now he is also working full time.  He has been at this position for two years now and knows he needs to continue to work, even though he will also be in school.

Also my Step Daughter (SD) brightened our day with a package of beautiful photos of the grandbabes, herself and Daddy Bean.   I love getting photos.  And I have to give it up to Daddy Bean.  He has been ever faithful to send me pics of all of them once he found out I did not have many of my grandbabes.  Now I get regular packages of some of the best looking photos.  I do not have them scanned in for here but I can show you a couple of the grandbabes that I received.

 This is my adorable grandbabe Trentati.  She was my first and a surprise.  You see we were told of her arrival on my wedding day.  Yeah!  Was very shocked but I have to say I could not ask for a better wedding gift than knowing she would be arriving one day.  I still have her first photos (sonogram) on my wall.  She looked like an alien.  Poor dear, but she is shaping up to be a beauty and an avid reader.  I just love that!

And here is my grandbabe Landon.  All boy with a quick smile and laughing all the time.  Good natured does not begin to describe this note of joy.  When we were told that this one was coming to earth to be with us we had to smile so.  Then the day he was born and we was able to hold him for the first time, I knew what real joy felt like.  It has never subsided when I think of him or get to visit with him.

Now I am told about my SS and the turtle.  Yeah, there was another special photo in the batch.  (See I got back to the turtle.)  It was a sonogram of our newest grandbabe to arrive.  And yes....it looks just like a turtle.  I had to laugh.  My first words were.....I am going to be a Nonnie to a turtle.  So we now know of the nickname this one will have.  This is his first child and will be our third grandbabe.  As much as I love and adore my other two I did not experience the giddy feeling I have now.  My TK (Trentati Kae) came early in her mom's life and we were a lil nervous for my SD.  Landon was after a bad split up and again we were worried for my SD.  Now do not get me wrong....we so love our grandbabes and my SD is a FANTASTIC mom!  But we had our fears.  My SS is stepping out on new adventures himself, but for some reason being told I am going to be a Nonnie once again has me twirling, skipping, dancing and just laughing with happiness.  It is an amazing feeling.

I do already have two books to put up for my 'lil Turtle' to come.  The first will be so apt as it is The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari.  I can't wait to read to my newest grandbabe as I do my current ones.  And to share the many books to come.  In The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari we are going to learn about how friendships work.  Working together while on an adventure.  And more so that we are never alone.  I love the bible verse in the back of the book.

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid.... God goes with you; he will never leave you.  

Deteronomy 31:6

What a beautiful message to share with children.  That they are always looked after and safe.  While reading about Dragon and Turtle (by the way their names are Padraig and Roger) I liked seeing how they braved the dark for a camp out.  And that they even braved the dark more so to help someone who was smaller and weaker than themselves.  Can you remember back yard camp outs?  Roasting marshmallows over a fire and telling stories of adventures.  Well here we see just that laid out in a great adventure.  I know that my own lil Turtle will love this one, one day.

To celebrate the release of The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari, Waterbrook Press wants to send your child on their very own backyard safari!

Here’s how to enter:
1.    Enter the contest here. Be sure to fill in all the information and use the contest code SAFARI.
2.    Have your child(ren) make their own Roger the turtle and Padraig the dragon crafts. They have some ideas and downloadable pieces to help you.
3.    Take a picture of their unique Roger and Padraig creations on their own “adventure” (i.e. at the library reading a book! swinging on a backyard swing! on the bus! in a tree!)
4.    Send the pictures to them at info@waterbrookmultnomah.com with “Safari Picture” in the subject line and a short description of what adventure the picture captures.
The grand prize winner will win a “go on safari” kit complete with:
1.    A child-size tent
2.    Sleeping bags (2)
3.    Campfire treats
4.    Essential safari tools (a compass, a flashlight, and a spy glass)
5.    Stuffed animals
6.    Copies of The Dragon and the Turtle and The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari
Two runner-up winners will receive: a copy of The Dragon and the Turtle and The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari and a stuffed animal.

I also have a special book to share with my future Grandbabe.  God Gave Us the World, what a great title and message to give to a child.  Here we share the message that while we are all different that we are all loved, cared for and special.  That God did give us this world in all of it's wonder.  And that each of us was chosen to be just who we are.  I like that in this one Little Cub enjoys seeing other animals and plants that interact.  Some are big and strong and some are fragile and delicate.  But that each is perfect for the life that was chosen for them.  And that Little Cub relishes the fact that they were picked to be just who he is, what joy.  “Every bear has a special place in God’s great, big world.”

If you would like you can go here and download coloring pages for God Gave Us the World.  What fun to share with your own lil cubs.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copies of these books to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.