Vision Forum

HUGE Vision Forum giveaways!

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 23, 2011 By kimc

Shame on me. I’ve been holding out on you. I didn’t tell you yet about the HUGE Vision Forum giveaways currently running.

Would you believe there are currently a total of $2,400 in gift certificates being given away on 4 different blogs? HURRY!

Giveaway hosts are:

Tip #1: In addition to other gift certificates, each blog is giving away a $300 gift certificate exclusively for bloggers who blog about the giveaway, so be ready to post about one or more of the giveaways!

Tip #2: Watch for 2 more of these huge giveaways to pop up on the web very soon. I’ll bet you can guess where you’ll find one of them.

Filed Under: giveaways & deals, Vision Forum 2 Comments

Mystery Box prayers

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 16, 2011 By kimc

This isn’t exactly a sales post, though it might sound like one. I wanted to share Product image today’s Deal Of The Day because it has special meaning to me.

Today’s deal is…

…the Vision Forum Mystery Box, a fantastic opportunity to obtain at least $100 worth of great family-building books, toys, movies, audio albums, or any combination of those items, all for one incredibly low price!

When you open your Mystery Box, you will discover an assortment of Vision Forum products that are sure to surprise and encourage your family. However, we can’t tell you what will be inside your specific box. We don’t know ourselves! The only thing we know about your particular order is that you will receive a combination of products worth at least $100 retail, all for just $30 — a massive 70% discount.

Here’s why the Mystery Box is special to me: the girls and I assembled most or all of these boxes. Knowing that a random selection of products won’t always be exactly what a customer is hoping for, I prayed while I worked that God would make the contents of each box particularly appropriate to the recipient.

If you decide to order one, I would love to hear how He answered this prayer.

Filed Under: giveaways & deals, Vision Forum 13 Comments

For sale: Ballantyne adventure library (20 hardback volumes)

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

September 30, 2011 By kimc

Posted by Lydia

I bought these books for my own personal use around a year ago, but I only read a few before I got distracted by other books, such as Lord of the Rings, the Inkheart trilogy, C. S. Lewis’ ‘Space Trilogy’ and other interesting but not as useful books. We have another set of such books in the house so I don’t need my own set anyway, and I’m trying to earn a bit of money so I can pay my sister back for her half of my shiny new guitar she helped me buy.

I haven’t been playing guitar long. I started at the beginning of July. The only guitar we had in the house was a rather beaten up student size, so I decided I needed a nice full size of my own. Mom has a Yamaha 12 string that was living with Grandma. We brought that one back home and I really liked it, but I still wanted something a little easier to play than a 12 string, and better than a 12 year old student size guitar. I decided I definitely wanted a Yamaha and started looking at the reviews for the different types. I settled on a FG720s. Dad took me to Guitar Center at the beginning of their huge Labor Day weekend sale and to my disappointment they were out of that particular type. The man in the acoustic room was very helpful. He showed me a slightly different and also much better guitar(fg730s). It was on sale for $250, and counting sales tax it came up to about $280 which was what I was ready to pay for the other guitar. The cool thing is this one is a step up from my first choice, and consequently normally costs up to $100 more when not on sale. All the reviews said to wait, save your money and pay the extra because this one is just that awesome. So I now have my very own sparkly.

Normally I wouldn’t be in such a rush to earn money right now but the guitar is half Deanna’s until I pay her back. I also need to buy fabric for an outfit ’cause some friends are having a medieval costume party in just a few short months. So, if you can help me out I would be much obliged.

Here’s what I have for sale:

Complete R.M. Ballantyne Adventure Library (20 Volumes)

Includes the following titles, all in Brand New or Like New condition (some have the very tiniest bit of shelf wear), suitable for gift giving:

•Blue Lights

•The Coral Island

•Deep Down

•The Giant of the North

•Red Rooney

•The Young Fur Traders

•Gascoyne, the Sandal Wood Trader

•The Dog Crusoe and His Master

•The Cannibal Islands

•The Pioneers

•The Island Queen

•Ungava

•The Lonely Island

•The Norsemen in the West

•Post Haste

•Fighting the Flames

These books usually cost $22 each, and the complete set of 20 is $330 right now. I will sell all 20 for $200 with free shipping inside the continental US.

Filed Under: books and poetry, Vision Forum 3 Comments

Vision Forum 3 day sale: save 74% on 17 items

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

September 26, 2011 By kimc

The Kit & Kaboodle sale is back, with all new products this year! Save 74% and get the whole package for $68 (regularly $223). There’s even a Jonathan Park album, so this one has something for everyone. It could be a good way to start your Christmas shopping…

Includes 17 separate products for a total of 21 messages and 50 episodes on 28 CDs.

Seven Secrets of Successful Multigenerational Visionaries

Jonathan Park Goes to the Amazon (3 CDs)

Adventurous Femininity: When Being “Girly” Is Not Enough (I quoted this message in a recent post about femininity vs. feminism)

Fact vs. Fiction: The Impact of the First Africans on Jamestown

The Biblical Theology of Miscarriage

History Gives Our Children Hope

Providential Battles: Victorious Christian Armies Commanded by Courageous Men of God (6 CDs) (We haven’t listened to this yet, but loved the first 3 sets on the subject!)

How Important Are Educational Choices?

What It Means to Be Noble

Live vs. Death: How Christians Should Respond When There’s Pressure to “Pull the Plug” on Grandpa

Finishing Well: Imperfect Men Who Rallied to Leave Lasting Legacies (4 CDs)

CPS vs. The Family: The State of Parental Rights

Powhatans vs. Englishmen: A Clash of Culture and Arms at Jamestown

Walt Disney: A Christian Critique (3 CDs)

The Church, the Christian Family, and the Reformation of Missions

The Future of Christianity & Healthcare in America

Church vs. State: A Defense of the Church’s Right to Discipline Free from State Intrusion

Offer ends September 28

Filed Under: giveaways & deals, Vision Forum Leave a Comment

Sale on Jonathan Park

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

August 9, 2011 By kimc

One of our very favorite homeschool items from Vision Forum is on sale this week, and I thought you should know. That’s partly because it’s a great sale on some great stuff, and partly because as I told you in an earlier post this morning, my bottom is plastered to a chair today and it’s not moving. Of course the computer is within reach (I chose my chair wisely).

The Deal: Save 40% when you purchase any three or more individual Jonathan Park albums. Or, save 50% when you purchase the 7-album Jonathan Park Complete Adventure Collection or the 4-album Jonathan Park Creation Guide Series. Here are all the individual Jonathan Park albums.

So while I sit here working on other posts for later this week, you can pop over and get some cheap thrills – er, I mean a great price on some real adventures. Same thing, wildly different connotation, huh?

Oh, and enter my giveaway on Facebook for a $35 Vision Forum gift certificate!

Filed Under: giveaways & deals, Vision Forum 1 Comment

Best of Vision Forum

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

July 29, 2011 By kimc

Are you placing an order or trying to take advantage of a great promotion? Need help getting started? Here is an ongoing list of our favorite Vision Forum products and top recommendations. The links below are affiliate links, so I’ll get a commission if you enter the VF site through one of my links.

Family Favorites from Vision Forum

If you’ve been here long, you know we are partial to Vision Forum and you also know why. I’m creating this post as a reference of sorts, for future sales. This way whenever a broad discount is launched by Vision Forum and I’m encouraging you to use my affiliate link to go shopping, I can just point you toward this page for some ideas on how to use it.

When new products come out that we particularly enjoy and recommend, I’ll try to remember (are you laughing at that phrase? Me? Remember?) to add them to this page.

Feel free to link to the this page, of course. And when I say, “Feel free,” what I really mean is, “Please, link to my page! Tell all your friends about my page! Mention it on Facebook and your blog! I made this for you!!!!!“

Top recommendations

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary – Every house needs one on the shelf.

1599 Geneva Bible – Every house needs one of these on the shelf right next to the Webster’s 1828.

Jonathan Park Adventures - Creation science at its best! Tune in to listen to the continuing adventures of the Park and Brenan families. Captivating for listeners of all ages while it teaches the truth of biblical, six-day creation. Each adventure is based on real places and scientific discoveries!

Christian Worldview Training Set (22 CDs) by Greg Bahnsen. Very important. We have listened to this as a family several times.

History of the World Megapack – Aptly named. So much to learn here!

Books for children

Princess Adelina

Ballantyne Christian Adventure Classics – Rich vocabulary, strong gospel message, fast-moving adventures for all. Favorite individual titles in our house:

The Coral Island – A classic. Lord of the Flies was written in response to this from an evolutionary view, arguing that children left to themselves would not conduct themselves in such a civilized way.
The Gorilla Hunters – The sequel to Coral Island, but also very good as a standalone.
The Lonely Island – Dark, but good. A favorite of both Lydia and Megan.
Martin Rattler – Lydia’s second favorite.
The Dog Crusoe and His Master - Deanna’s favorite.
Blue Lights - Megan’s very favorite.
Red Rooney - Megan’s favorite, second only to Blue lights
Fighting the Flames - Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned story about firefighters?

Ten P’s in a Pod – The book that inspired us to form the habit of daily Bible reading.

The Birkenhead Drill – a precursor the Titanic tragedy and a good antidote to the modern romanticized version of the Titanic story. Every boy used to know the story of the sinking of the Birkenhead and the selfless sacrifices of the men on board for the sake of women and children.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Vision Forum 5 Comments

Dolls for sale

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

June 5, 2011 By kimc

I’m reposting this from last month because the sale fell through and Natalie has more. She’s hoping to earn some money for a birthday present for Parker, who turns 1 tomorrow!

11yo Natalie has some dolls and accessories to sell. She has several of these, and hopes to find good homes for them. All are brand new in the box, never played with.

Please use the contact form at the bottom to let us know if you’d like a doll and/or wardrobe.

Fidelia doll - made by the Goetz doll company. Exquisitely crafted, Fidelia can stand and sit alone. As durable as she is lovely, Fidelia is ready to be hugged and squeezed with love! Fidelia comes wearing an adorable yellow, feminine dress, complete with white socks and white shoes.

Retails for $75 plus shipping. Buy it for $45 with free shipping.

The Complete Beautiful Girlhood Doll Wardrobe (15 Outfits) - With the Complete Beautiful Girlhood Doll Wardrobe, you can dress your doll in the costume of your favorite heroine of the past and travel back in time to some of the greatest moments in history!

Includes the following: Southern Lady Doll Dress, Maria’s Play Dress, Maria’s Party Dress, Regina’s Colonial Frontier Doll Dress, Priscilla Mullins Doll Dress, Cap, and Apron, Nan Harper Doll Dress, Dolley Madison Doll Dress, Sacagawea Doll Dress, Princess Adelina Doll Dress, Red Princess Doll Dress, Medieval Princess Doll Dress, Abigail Adams Doll Dress, Regina’s Pink “Go to Meeting” Dress, Elsie’s Day Dress, Elsie’s Party Dress.

Retails for $199 plus shipping. Buy it for $125 with free shipping.

Filed Under: Vision Forum 3 Comments

Do a survey; get 20% off Vision Forum

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

May 20, 2011 By kimc

Today is the last day to fill out a brief survey about Vision Forum and get a coupon for 20% off. I just did it, so I can promise that it’s quick and easy, and here’s your chance to let them know what you like and don’t like, what changes you’d like to see, and more.

Vision Forum Survey

Filed Under: Vision Forum 2 Comments

Ballantyne adventures for half price

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

April 18, 2011 By kimc

Vision Forum runs a lot of sales, and I don’t tell you about every single one, but I do want to mention this one because we love these books.

Save 50% on Any 3 or More Ballantyne Christian Adventure Classics (ends midnight, April 20)

Ballantyne’s books are filled with shipwrecks, polar bears, Viking expeditions, pirate attacks, Eskimo encounters, the deep jungles of Africa and South America, gold mines, dangerous savages, and many other heart-pounding, page-turning adventures. But though his tales featured earthly adventures and conquests, they were also self-consciously and vigorously Christian.

Not sure where to start? I’ve got you covered. I asked a few of the girls for recommendations. The Coral Island

The Coral Island – A classic. Lord of the Flies was written in response to this from an evolutionary view, arguing that children left to themselves would not conduct themselves in such a civilized way.

The Gorilla Hunters – The sequel to Coral Island, but also very good as a standalone.

The Lonely Island – Dark, but good. A favorite of both Lydia and Megan.

Martin Rattler – Lydia’s second favorite.

The Dog Crusoe and His Master - Deanna’s favorite.

Blue Lights - Megan’s very favorite.

Red Rooney - Megan’s favorite, second only to Blue lights

Fighting the Flames - Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned story about firefighters?

Do you enjoy Ballantynes in your house? What are some favorite titles?

Filed Under: books and poetry, Vision Forum 9 Comments

Save up to 90% at Vision Forum

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

April 13, 2011 By kimc

Have you noticed the Deal of the Day in the sidebar on the Vision Forum site? These are 1 day specials, often for very popular products at discounts of 40-90%.

I try to post these in my sidebar when I see them in time, but don’t wait for me. I miss a lot of the best ones. Now you can subscribe by email so you’ll never miss another daily deal! Now you can tell me when there’s a great deal that I should post in my sidebar.

One more great deal:

Save 45% on 6 bestselling DVDs, the Homestead Blessings collection. Use the code FRUGALHOME to bring the price in the shopping cart from $102 down to just $56!

Filed Under: giveaways & deals, Vision Forum Leave a Comment

Vision Forum specials

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

March 16, 2011 By kimc

Last day to enter our current giveaway for a free toy of your choice from Down To Earth Toys

I just finished my post for tomorrow’s 4 Moms event, and want to give you a quick heads-up on some deals from Vision Forum today before I back away from the computer and vow not to touch it for the rest of the day.

First, if you’re on the email list for Vision Forum, you probably already received your promo code to get 40% off any single item published by Vision Forum. If you’re not on the email list, you might be jealous now. Maybe you should join now so you’ll be ready the next time.

Well, I’ll share my code for 40% off any single item: CD2J8H33D34H (small print: Ends on midnight (CDT) on March 22, 2011, is valid only online, and may only be used to purchase any single product produced by Vision Forum (no other products may be included with your order). This offer may not be applied to past orders.)

Will you share your code in the comments if you don’t plan to use it?

Second, even if you’re on the mailing list you might not know about this sale: FOR 48 HOURS ONLY, save 50% off retail on all Vision Forum Films and DVD Boxed Sets when you purchase three or more DVDs/DVD Boxed sets!

Third, just because this deal amuses me: Vision Forum’s Deal of the Day is 50% off the book that teaches you to Cut Your Grocery Bills in Half. Is it just me or is that discount supremely appropriate?

Filed Under: Vision Forum 5 Comments

Giveaway: Family-building webinar

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

February 22, 2011 By kimc

NOTE: This post as been edited to allow international readers and cutomers to enter the giveaway. Vision Forum will deliver your download – if you win or purchase -through an alternate system that BlueBehemoth.com Thanks!

Vision Forum is producing a new product that I’m really excited about. This time I made sure to get a copy for myself when I asked to do a giveway:

Just read the titles of the 20 weekly messages by Doug and Beall Philips:

How to Organize Your Home to Promote Family Unity
How to Cultivate a Love of Reading with Your Children
How to Make Mealtime Meaningful
How to Prepare for a Year of Home Education
How to Take Children Safely Through an Airport
How to Involve the Whole Family in Family Worship
How to Address the Plague of “Jive Talk” in Your Home
How to Encourage Masculinity in Sons
How to Encourage Femininity in Daughters
How to Handle a Social Worker Visit
How to Wage War on Sibling Rivalry
How to Use Household Decorations to Teach Character
How to Talk to Your Children about Miscarriage
How to Involve the Whole Family in Hospitality
How to Build an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Your Children
How to Watch a Movie As a Family
How to Cultivate a Love of Meaningful Poetry with Your Children, and Why Doing So Is Important
How to Prepare Your Children to Listen to a Symphony
How to Take a Road Trip with Your Family
How to Select the Best Locations for Family Vacations

Can you see why I’m so excited? It almost reads like a list of 4 Moms posts or FAQ for Families. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m full of good intentions that fall by the wayside, but I’ve resolved that I actually will make time to listen to these, because they are so relevant to everyday life for us.

Beginning March 1, every Tuesday morning for twenty weeks you will receive a link to your new downloadable message from Doug or Beall, hosted at Vision Forum’s partner website BlueBehemoth.com.

Don’t have a free BlueBehemoth account yet? Get one so you can take advantage of daily free downloads!

The Giveaway

These 20 weekly messages are being sold for $95. That’s a great deal at less than $5/message, but you can save $10 by ordering before Feb. 28. You can save another $25 by using the coupon code SAVE25 (exp. 2/28).

Or you just might get them free by entering our giveaway.

For your first entry, leave a comment telling which message from the list above you think would be most helpful to your family. You must do this to enter.

For up to 11 additional entries, do any or all of the following and leave a separate comment for each. Each legitimate comment will count as one entry.

Post about this giveaway on facebook, twitter, and/or your blog. Leave a separate comment here for each place you share.
Share a link to your favorite product from Vision Forum on facebook, twitter, and/or your blog. Again, leave a separate comment providing the link for each.
Share your favorite Life in a Shoe post on facebook, twitter, and/or your blog. Leave a comment telling where you shared it.
Create a free account on Blue Behemoth and leave a comment here to tell me.
Subscribe to Life in a Shoe and leave a comment to let me know. If you’re already a subscriber, just leave a comment saying so.

Don’t procrastinate: Because of the time-sensitive nature of this giveaway, we’ll take entries until midnight Sunday and announce the winner on Monday, Feb. 28. That will give the rest of you time to take advantage of the special $85 price.

Filed Under: Christian living, family, giveaways & deals, Vision Forum 284 Comments

Quick: Vision Forum 1 day special

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

February 1, 2011 By kimc

I don’t usually just paste ad copy into a post, but I’m working on a giveaway for later today so this is all you get now. Anyway, it’s a 1 day special so I had to hurry and tell you about it!

Through midnight (CST) tonight (Tuesday, Feb 1), save 20%–50% off everything at www.visionforum.com. Enjoy excellent prices on home-school materials, character-building tools for boys, heirloom items for girls, as well as books, CDs, and movies for your entire family.

Plus, today only receive a $25 coupon with every order of $95 or more! Your $25 coupon will be delivered electronically and may be redeemed between February 1 and December 31, 2011.

Click Here to Begin Shopping

Don’t forget to come back later to see our latest giveaway!

Filed Under: giveaways & deals, Vision Forum Leave a Comment

Sugar cookies and other sweet things

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

December 13, 2010 By kimc

I put off the sugar cookies for the first 2 weeks of December because I was afraid the mess would endanger my sanity, which would in turn leave my kids scarred, causing them to grow up and hate Christmas and/or sugar cookies. I just wasn’t sure it was worth the risk.

But I’m a wild and crazy person and I hate to let myself be ruled by irrational fears or OCD, so we decided that today was the day. I was on my own with all the big ones gone, but I didn’t let that stop me. I whipped up a double batch of sugar cookie dough, poured a tall glass of milk, and called the little ones into the kitchen.

No, she doesn’t have smudges on her face from making cookies. This poor child always looks like this. I wash her face every 20 minutes all day long, but you’d never know it. Good thing she’s so cute.

I never noticed in real life, but in photos my hands look just like my mom’s. I hope my kids will look down at their own hands someday and have sweet memories of doing things with their mom.

Gold sugar sprinkles for the bells and stars, red for the candy canes, green for the wreaths. We’ll add stripes, dots and other details with white icing later. No, I’m not a control freak. Why do you ask?

See? Not a control freak. I let her mix gold, red and green for her stars. Well, the last three stars. All the others were done correctly.

He takes his food seriously, and he thoroughly agrees that cookies ought to be decorated in their proper colors. He’s on my side.

More sweet stuff: this boy is so sweet we call him Sweet Pickle. I know his ears stick out, but that doesn’t keep all the girls from falling for him. I don’t just mean his sisters. Everywhere I go, he flirts with the ladies and makes each one feel special. ”Did you see that,” I hear them whisper. ”He’s so cute, and he smiled at me!”

Puppies are almost as sweet as kids making sugar cookies. Want one? A puppy, I mean, not a cookie – though we would be happy to include free cookies with the purchase of any puppy. Purebred Golden Retrievers for $350 to $400, ready just in time for Christmas, and we’ll throw in lunch if you come pick up your Christmas pup in person.

While I’m selling you stuff, we still have tanks. Really cool remote control tanks, 2/$45 including shipping. They’re in my living room. Please take them.

And a few sweet deals, if you’re still reading:

$5 flat shipping. Did you see that part? Just making sure you’re paying attention.

Jubilee Doll: $45 (all dolls and dresses on sale 25-40% off)
save 40%

Princess Adelina (hardback): $7.20 (pop quiz: who remembers why this book is special to us?)
save 60%

All-American Pop Gun: $6.00 (I can never resist a sale on these!) save 50%

Filed Under: blogging & technology, family, food, photos, Vision Forum 12 Comments

Dolls and doll wardrobe for sale

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

December 7, 2010 By Meg

[updated to add more dolls for sale]

posted by Meg …and expanded by Mom…at Dad’s request…

I have a brand new doll wardrobe for sale at $125.00! (retail value $285.00 and it’s on sale for $200.00 from Vision Forum right now) This is fifteen brand new doll dresses of all kinds, and remember folks: any sales will go towards Christmas presents for my sisters and family.

Includes the following in original packaging and brand new gift-giving condition:

Southern Lady Doll Dress •Maria’s Play Dress •Maria’s Party Dress •Regina’s Colonial Frontier Doll Dress •Priscilla Mullins Doll Dress, Cap, and Apron •Nan Harper Doll Dress •Dolley Madison Doll Dress •Sacagawea Doll Dress •Princess Adelina Doll Dress •Red Princess Doll Dress •Medieval Princess Doll Dress •Abigail Adams Doll Dress •Regina’s Pink “Go to Meeting” Dress •Elsie’s Day Dress •Elsie’s Party Dress

Also, other members of my family have some dolls for sale. All are new but from the clearance rack so they may have minor flaws and/or soiling, but we think they are completely suitable for gift-giving. They will arrive in their original boxes.

Liberty doll – Blue eyes, long brown hair, pink-checked dress. $45 shipped.
Old-style Liberty doll (made in Germany) – Blue eyes, long brown hair, pink-checked dress. no socks or shoes. $40 shipped. PENDING
Old-style Liberty doll (made in Germany) – Blue eyes, long brown hair, medieval princess dress. no socks or shoes. $45 shipped. PENDING
Jubilee doll - Brown eyes, long blonde hair, green-checked dress. $45 shipped. PENDING
Jubilee doll – brand new, not clearance - Brown eyes, long blonde hair, green-checked dress. $50 shipped.
Fidelia doll – Brown eyes, long brown hair, yellow-checked dress. 3 available. $45 shipped. 2 Available