Intentional Parenting by Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Melissa Trevathan

I've not read that many parenting books even though my child is a little over two. The few I have read, I found so ridiculous and really didn't implement many, if any, of the ideas that I read about in the other books. I've been on a search for a good, godly parenting book - not just one to tell me about the statistics of where my child might end up but one that would give practical advice on how to raise my child (or any other children I might have) in a way that would be pleasing to God. I am so glad that I was able to review this book because I believe I have finally found a good, godly parenting book.

This book is broken up into 12 Chapters with each author writing 4 of the chapters. The chapters in this book include:

1. Being an Intentional Parent
2. Being a Patient Parent
3. Being a Grown-Up Parent
4. Being a Balanced Parent
5. Being a Consistent Parent
6. Being a Playful Parent
7. Being a Connected Parent
8. Being an Encouraging Parent
9. Being a Spiritual Parent
10. Being a Merciful Parent
11. Being a Hopeful Parent
12. Being a Free Parent

Every chapter is full of practical advice. There are thought-provoking questions throughout each chapter that really makes you think and reflect on what you have just read. It is hard to pinpoint one particular chapter being more helpful than another as I found each chapter to have some nugget to take away. I did notice that it mostly seemed geared to parenting older children, though I think this is a helpful book even if you are starting out raising kids (as I am).

I cannot say enough good about this book. Some of the thoughts I'll be taking away from this book are:

• My child needs me to be the grown-up (taken from Chapter 3)
• My child needs me to be consistent - no matter what method of discipline...pick one and stick with it. Kids need structure. (taken from Chapter 5)
• My child needs to see that I need God. I was greatly encouraged by chapter 9 in that I don't have to be a "perfect" parent. My child needs to know that I don't have all of the answers, but that because I'm dependent on God that is who gives me my strength.
• And because I'm depending and trusting on God to help me through every step of my life (especially in wisdom to parent my child) that gives me a freedom to not sweat the small stuff.

I highly recommend this book and will be keeping this one to read for years to come!!! So helpful and practical!

I received this book for free through the Booksneeze.com program. I was under no obligation to give it a positive review.

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble

 

 

 

I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. I had never read a Colleen Coble book before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect, though I think I recall hearing this author's name before in a positive light, which is why I chose this book to review in the first place. I found a lot of the book rather predictable for a "suspense" novel, though I guess in its defense it is classified as "Fiction/Christian/Romance" so that was tagged correctly.

 

 

This book is about Libby who longs for a family of her own and finds out that she has just inherited a house from a father that she thought had died when she was five. No sooner does she find out she has a family, her business partner gets kidnapped and she is the one that the authorities think did it. She ends up trying to find her kidnapped business partner with the aid of one other person in the town, so she can clear her name.

 

While I read this quickly and was looking forward to finding out the mystery, it wasn't much of a mystery. I'm not saying this book wasn't enjoyable. If you are looking for a book that takes your mind off of things then this book will do the trick.

 

 

I received this book in exchange for an honest review through the BookSneeze program, I was under no obligation to give it a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 



 

Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord by Dave Stone

This book was so easy to read. I read it all in less than a day. But the lessons that can be learned in it are so valuable to any parent that wants to raise their kids to love the Lord. My daughter turned 18 months old today. While I realize we are in the very beginning stages of raising her, I figured that this would be the perfect time to read this book and get some good insights on what to do while raising her (you know, before we really mess up!).

I'm not sure what I really expected this book to tell me, but to me it all seemed like a review. But that is only because my parents raised me the way this author writes about. For me, this book was a review and so many of the things I've already started to implement in raising our little girl. However, I can see this book being so practical and valuable to someone that wasn't privileged enough to be raised by godly parents and who wouldn't know what to do.

By the end of this book, I had tears in my eyes because I realized just how lucky (and by lucky I know that luck had nothing to do with it and that God had everything to do with it) I was to have been raised in a family that instilled all of these life lessons in me at a very young age.

I would highly recommend this book to anybody that is trying to raise their kids to love and serve the Lord because it is so practical and down-to-earth! The ideas and principles aren't unattainable! I know because I was fortunate enough to be raised with parents that held on to these same Biblical truths.

I'm so glad that this book was written and I'm sure I will look to it often when I'm getting discouraged in my journey as a Mom.

I received this book for free under the BookSneeze program and I was under no obligation to give it a positive review. 

First Date by Krista McGee

When I saw that book was coming up for review on the BookSneeze program, I immediately wanted to read it. It just seemed like a really cute premise and sounded like it would be an enjoyable read - I was not disappointed.

This book is about Addy Davidson who is 1 of 100 girls that have been picked to go on a reality tv show to win a date with the President's son. Addy really doesn't want to be on the show, but is doing it for the sake of her Christian school. She starts out having a pretty bad attitude about the whole thing, but as the show goes along she realizes that her bad attitude is also a bad reflection of her walk with God. She decides to make the best of this opportunity while she can which totally changes her outlook.

The story was loosely based on the story of Esther, so it was neat to read this book and realize that this could be a modern day version of what it was like for Esther. It really made that story come alive to me too!

I really enjoyed reading this book although it is considered juvenile fiction - it definitely would be appropriate for that age group. It was a very quick and light read - in fact I read it all in one day! I was glad to see that this author will be having another book about one of the other characters in this book coming out in July 2012 and I'm hoping I'll be able to read that one as well.

In closing, I wanted to mention that I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review through the BookSneeze program. I was under no obligation to give it a positive one.