Reading, Writing & Pondering

  I was already familiar with Dr. Kelly Flanagan as I read and reviewed his first book, Loveable , in 2017. I remembered finding that book helpful so looked forward to The Road Less Triggered . The Road Less Triggered has a lot of good advice in it for improving your relationships on your own. I think it could also be helpful book to use with a therapist too. Dr. Flanagan divides this book into three parts: Get Calm Get Free Get Connected You have to read  The Road Less Triggered to understand what those three parts really mean.  There are three chapters in each section. Through the stories of others who have followed this advice, the reader can then apply that information to improve their own relationships. Dr. Flanagan especially follows one couple through the book to best see the ups and downs of learning this strategy. The key concept throughout the book is that the reader works to have an open heart. Dr. Flanagan explains how to do that and how to use this concept ...

  Our Friendly Farmhouse by Melissa Fergusson is a tale of one family's dreams that came true. It is aimed at children ages four to eight.  I like that the author wrote this book alongside her children and gives them credit for helping write the book. Our Friendly Farmhouse is a book that is beautifully illustrated by Gretchen Ellen Powers. I love the pastel pictures that show all the fun things that could be going on at the farm. I also like that this book inspired families to either make their own hopes and dreams or reflect on hopes and dreams that came true. In the back of the book, the author shares photos and briefly tells how this is a real dream that came true for her family.    I received a copy of this book from Tommy Nelson. All opinions within this review are my own. 

Have you ever been betrayed by someone you trusted? I think probably many of us have had that happen to us at one time or another or maybe even more than a few times in our lives. Lysa Terkeurst wrote a book dealing with that issue called I Want to Trust You, but I don't . There is also a Bible study workbook to use with it that comes with a streaming video. I have followed Lysa for a lot of years and have read several of her books. I always appreciate her honesty and integrity in writing about her struggles from a Christian perspective. I also think she shares her voice in such a way as to turn the reader towards God and towards having wisdom in their own situations through prayer. I appreciate her honesty in how she shares her story and I also appreciate how she shares that it was not an easy journey to walk. I think her truthful heart and down-to-earth words could be helpful the readers who needs it. Lysa also clearly explains types of abuse and how to talk about the abuse. She...

  Home is Right Where You Are by Ruth Chou Simons is beautifully written and illustrated. This children's book is based on Psalm 23 and that Psalm is on the last page in the book in its entirety. Home is Right Where You Are is a large dust-jacketed book. It measures 9 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches in size and is 32 pages long.  The writing in Home is Right Where You Are just flows so well from one page to the next in this beautifully illustrated children's book. It would make a lovely gift. Ruth Chou Simons wrote this book with her six sons in mind so it is a book to relate to family as well as to God. I have read and enjoyed her adult books previous to this book, and this book is every bit as lovely as her adult books. Purchase Here: https://bit.ly/homeiswhereyouareFGM   I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Frontgate Media. All opinions are my own.  @tommynelsonbooks @ruthchousimons #ruthchousimons #homeisrightwhereyouare #psalm23

  Discover the satisfaction of becoming the man God created you to be in Fighting Shadows .  In a world that’s grown increasingly confused about–and hostile toward–the very notion of masculinity, authors Jefferson Bethke and Jon Tyson send a powerful call to men everywhere: it’s time to step into the light of Jesus’ vision for you as a man. There’s a shadow that’s settled over the hearts of men today. Masculinity is in crisis. Critiques about the dangers of toxic masculinity and the abuses of patriarchal systems have grown louder than ever. The very notions of masculinity and manhood are under attack. In response to cultural shifts, some have doubled down on old stereotypes in ways that just add to the conflict and confusion. The result? Many men simply feel paralyzed–worried about saying the wrong thing, unsure what to do with their ambitions or strengths, simultaneously tempted and shamed by a hypersexualized and pornified culture. Our models and mentors have f...

  Mama's Sleeping Scarf is a beautifully written and illustrated children's book. I was impressed with both the story and the bright illustrations. Mama's Sleeping Scarf is aimed at children ages 3 to 7. It measures about 10 by 111/2 inches in size. It is 32 pages long and is a nicely dust-jacketed children's picture book. Mama's Sleeping Scarf tells the story of a young girl with her mama's scarf that she wears at night to keep her hair soft. The young girl takes the scarf and magically plays with it all day while her mother is at work. This book shares her adventures with the special scarf.  This is a beautiful story. I like that it is about an African-American family. I love how the mother is going off to work and the rest of the family cares for the young girl. And the young girl has a lovely imagination with the scarf. I think it is inspiring for young minds. The illustrations are bright and beautiful. It is a nice bedtime book to read aloud. I received a c...

  Just In Case You Ever Feel Alone by Max Lucado is another heart-touching children book by this caring pastor author. This book is beautifully illustrated by Eve Tharlet with warm and soft images that look comforting alongside comforting words. I love the sweet and kind words throughout this mostly-rhyming book. I like that this book talks about families caring for each other but doesn't explicitly say that you are born into that family. Rather, this book leaves the definition a bit loose so those who are adopted or in a different type of family may also feel love around them and not feel alone. The book also emphasizes that God unconditionally loves us and He is always with us too, so we need never feel alone. It is a lovely book and the words and the pictures work well together.  Just In Case You Ever Feel Alone is aimed at children ages three to seven. It is 32 pages long and measures about 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size. It has a dust jacket too. It would make a wonderful gif...

  Have you ever read an epistolary novel? Do you know what that is? I confess that I didn't know what it was until I looked it up but I have read a couple of them before this book. Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham is primarily told through a series of emails, text messages and the like.  Isabelle Louisa Edgewood (Izzy for short) came to live with her Aunt and cousins as a young girl after her parents died in a plane crash. Izzy and her family live in a small town where she works at the library and spends spare time reading and dreaming of owning her own bookstore. Brodie Sutherland is part of a family that owns bookstores in the faraway land of Skymar. He is a quiet man who also enjoys reading in his free time. Josephine, Penelope and Luke are Izzy's cousins that are more like siblings. The oldest is Josephine and she has taken it upon herself to sign Izzy up for an on-line dating service. Brodie also signs up for the service and the two begin corresponding.  I don't ...

  It truly does seem to happen quickly--your children seem to be in diapers one minute and the next minute, they are all grown up. Love, Pray, Listen: Parenting Your Wayward Adult Kids with Joy by Mary DeMuth is a book for relating to our adult children.  Love, Pray, Listen offers guidance for parents who want to continue to show the love of Jesus to their children when they have reached adulthood. The chapters focus on I Corinthians 13 and showing love to our adult children.  I could relate to Mary's heart of wanting to do things differently as someone who did not always feel wanted or loved by my parents. I never want my child to feel that way. There are also many other examples of other parents whose children have not chosen the path that their parents expected them to. Love, Pray, Listen offers encouragement and advice on grieving and on showing the children love and acceptance in the midst of holding on to your own values. I think it is a good book for our times a...

  Wouldn't it be fun to be gifted a trip to Italy? In Lauraine Snelling's latest book, The Florence Legacy , Breeanna Lindstrom has always dreamed of taking a trip to Italy to see "the David." Breeanna had trips planned with her writing friends a couple of times in the past but they fell through. Then her friend Jade passed away and left Breeanna and her friends in the writing group the money to finally take the trip. Pierre-Rene Dubois is a widower with a dream of opening a coffee shop that will specialize in helping veterans. He is Breeanna's neighbor's brother-in-law--and he speaks several languages. Before leaving for her trip, Breeanna and Pierre meet and then work together to make sure Breeanna can speak some of the language she will need on her trip. Besides the language lessons, there are some sparks of interest between the two. But can they make a relationship work with all the two have going on in their lives? The Florence Legacy is a character driv...

  It seems like most children go through a phase where they ask lots and lots of questions. Sometimes it is fun and sometimes it can be exasperating, if we are honest. I love how Papa Penguin has lots of patience in answering his little boy penguin in Papa Love You, Tiny Blue by Jo Empson. Papa Loves You, Tiny Blue is full of beautiful water color illustrations of life in and by the ocean for penguins. The book is a large size for little hands to hold at approximately 11 inches by 12 inches in size. It is a great book to read together before bed. I like that this book features the dad telling his thoughts and parenting the young one. This book also gives a glimpse into the life of penguins and other animals by the ocean and in the ocean. It is both lovely for animal lovers and for those who cherish love between family members. I highly recommend Papa Loves You, Tiny Blue. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.

  In the days of the times when the Bible was written, Faith was handed down from generation to generation through word of mouth and teachings through the Jewish holy day observations and rituals. Generation to Generation by Yael Eckstein is a book about passing on the legacy of faith to our children in today's world. It starts with an overview of teaching our children and then moves through a series of the holy Jewish holidays talking about teaching our children priorities, knowledge, gratitude, hope, forgiveness, faith, courage and generosity.  Generation to Generation is quite straight forward and easy to understand. On the website, there is a workbook to download to use along with the book that offers a lot of good questions and discussion to help your family understand the Christian principles that you are teaching. The one downfall is that you need to give the organization your email and phone number to get that workbook. There is also a beautiful colorbook that could be...

  Dear Hartley by Jedediah Bila is a compilation of heartfelt letters from a mother to her son. There are a total of 52 letters in this nicely bound hardcover book that touch on a variety of topics from character and friendship to healthy eating, studying in school and fitness.  Each letter in Dear Hartley is written for her son, Hartley, when he gets older. She shares her heart with some of her life experiences with both things she is proud of and things she would do differently if she could. She is also open and honest about mistakes she has made and her wishes for her son. She shares how she hopes his generation can make some positive changes in this world. The letters are of various length, depending on the topic.  I think some of the letters in Dear Hartley are more personal than others. Through part of them, I felt like she was writing to her son and in others, I did feel like she was writing to the reader so they were more of an essay to me than a letter. Still,...

  Mom Vs. Dad by Lucy and Tom Riles is a fun book about the little things that couples often end up fighting about. I think many couple would agree that some times those little things can feel like big things in the heat of the moment. Mom vs. Dad talks about the issues like: Sharing restaurant food with your partner, Are expiration dates really important?, How much should you pay the babysitter, and that ever present big issue, Should the toilet paper go over or under? Forty-one issues are debated throughout the book. Each chapter takes one of these issues and both parties share their sides. Then at the end of the chapter, you vote on who won, mom or dad? Mom Vs. Dad takes a light-hearted look at a variety of small married-people issues. I'm not really competitive or into the reality shows, but if you are, I think you would enjoy this book even more. I also think this book might offer a good way to talk with your spouse about some of these issues. It may help you both realize th...

In Secrets of the Pastor's Wife by Christina Ryan Claypool, Cassandra Martin has a few secrets she has been hiding for several years. For fifteen years, Cassie has been married to John--the new lead pastor at Maple Avenue Community Church. Throughout that time, her secrets have been getting a little heavier and heavier. It seems they have some communication struggles in spite of their seemingly happy marriage. Cassie wonders if maybe those hidden secrets are contributing to their struggles. Throughout their married life, John and Cassie have moved frequently. Life became busy. John was busy with church and ministry. Cassie was trying to be a good wife and to help supplement their income. However, when they move to Maple Grove, Cassie meets coffee shop owner, Katherine "Katie" Montague and finds her to be a reliable confidant--and things begin to change in her heart. I was drawn in to Secrets of the Pastor's Wife from the first page. Though it is fictional, thi...

It has been said before, and also in this book, that everybody has a story. In Before and After by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate, the authors share the real-life stories of orphans who survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society. I was immediately drawn in to Before and After as I started the book. I struggled to put this book down just as I did Lisa Wingate's book, Before We Were Yours. Before We Were Yours is a fictionalized account of orphans similar to the real-life stories in this book. I found these stories to be fascinating. It is hard to believe that anyone could be as unkind and unfeeling as Georgia Tann who ran a black market child adoption business in Memphis through the Tennessee Children's Home Society from the 1920s until 1950. Over 5,000 orphans were cleared for adoption through her agency so literally thousands of orphans and families were affected by this corrupt agency. If you haven't read Before We Were Yours , I would encourage you to re...

Are you looking for a family adventure? Like our family, you probably would like one but you live on a budget so you don't think it is possible. In Randy Southern's new book, 52 Uncommon Family Adventures , there are a bunch of adventures that are fun without breaking the bank. Gary Chapman writes the forward in 52 Uncommon Family Adventures sharing about love languages and how they can come in to play with the adventures. Chapman is the bestselling author of The Five Love Languages which you may have heard of previously. The book has enough adventures to do one a week if you choose to do them all. Each adventure includes information about the time commitment it will take, the cost, the location and the love language that could come in to play through the adventure. Some examples of adventures include a family volunteer day where you all work together to help an organization in need, a family challenge day where you challenge another family in an afternoon of silly compe...

I can't imagine leaving my grandchild something more personal than this book full of all my stories, love and wisdom for them. Dear Grandchild, This is Me is a gorgeous journal or record book of sorts that you can fill with personalized stories and encouragement for your grandchild. Dear Grandchild, This is Me goes through the seasons of your life as you share wisdom and stories from each season to your grandchild. This book also has places for you to leave private letters to your grandchild to open at certain seasons of their life. There are places for mementos and photos--and mounting stickers included in the back of the book. There is a special section to leave favorite or secret family recipes. There are some places to write fun stories and there are places to write stories of faith. This is a book for your grandchild to cherish and treasure as a truly unique and special keepsake from you. The publisher has truly made this gorgeously illustrated book one that you can pers...

I don't know about you, but I have struggled with the idea of God as my father. Not Forsaken by Louie Giglio reminds us that God is our heavenly father. However, He is not a "bigger version of our earthly dad." Instead He is our perfect father when we are born again and He wants us to remember that we share His heavenly genes and He does truly love us like no other. I listened to this audio book of Not Forsaken and it was good. However, I am a visual learner so seeing the words on the pages helped me drive this concept into my heart and head better than just listening. Giglio uses a lot of Scripture to help readers see that God is our Heavenly Father. He also uses some personal stories that well-illustrated his points on how God cares for each of us. He also talks about how hard it must be for so many of us who had far less than perfect fathers to see God as father. He acknowledges that the struggle is so real for so many. Yet, I like that Giglio never comes across...

Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher is the second book in the Legacy of Faith series. In this book, Ben Henning and Ashley Showalter meet through their mutual love of horses as Ben works to set up his equine therapy mission on his great-great-grandfather's farm. Ashley has the experience Ben needs to help find the right horses for the mission to be successful. While they both share a passion for horses, they also are afraid to share their secrets. Ben is a recovering alcoholic. Ashley's brother is an opioid addict. Are they both willing to share all of their hearts and to give love a chance? While we read the modern story of Ben and Ashley in Cross My Heart , Hatcher also flashes back to share more of Ben's family history through the story of his family members during the early 1930's. This story is also emphasized through the family Bible that Ben inherited.I love that this family Bible takes a prominent place in each book in this series. I especially love seeing...