Three Cups

From the publisher:All parents want to teach their children good money habits from an early age. Many start by giving them an allowance. But it’s equally important to teach children a positive, generous attitude as they learn to use money responsibly.

This is a wonderful book. As an adult I have learned the adventure that comes from having giving, saving, and spending in my life. This book is agreat way to not only introduce to concept but have your child(ren) begin to practice it.

What I really liked about this book is that it didn’t say that spending was a bad thing, but rather that all three cups (give, save, spend) were all part of the adventure.

I have been wondering how to teach my students (I am a teacher) how to see the importance of giving money to help others (we already talk about saving and spending) and this is a great way for me to introduce it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to teach a child about life and money and the adventure that can come when all three are in their lives.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Mikasa Giveaway

I know this blog is for book reviews but I saw this Mikasa giveaway on a friend's facebook page and wanted to enter.

http://stonegable.blogspot.com/2011/10/on-menu-monday-week-of-october-24-2011.html

This is a link to the Stone Gable blogspot and the giveaway information is at the bottom of the blog. The contest ends tonight, so enter quickly if you want to!

Thank you, God for loving me by Max Lucado

From the publisher: Little Hermie and the baby bug garden friends teach little ones about God’s love for them.

God loves all of His creatures. Little Hermie explores all of the ways God loves him and his friends in this sweet board book with glitter on the cover.

I had my husband read through the book and then he asked me, "What did you like about it?" I told him that I liked how siimple and sweet the book was. It is for younger children, but I liked the simplicity of it. What I really liked about this book and the other one about Hermie that I reviewed was that I feel that this is teaching children to look at their lives and see how God loves them. God loves us in so many ways that we just take for granted. I like that Max Lucado took the view point of Hermie thanking God for loving him in all different kinds of ways.

I would definitely recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Thank you, God for Blessing Me by Max Lucado

From the publisher:

Meet Little Hermie—the cutest baby caterpillar in the garden! Little Hermie’s thankful heart shows toddlers how to be thankful for God’s blessings.

Little Hermie is thankful for everything God has given him. He goes through his day thanking God for his many blessings in this adorable board book with flocking on the cover!

This really is an adorable and sweet book about a little caterpillar who is thanking God for all he has. I think this should be read to children and discussed with them about how to be thankful for all that God has given them. I love this book and would definitely recommend it to others. I am looking forward to other Hermie books!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Women of Faith Event Part 2

My aunt and cousin weren't able to go on that date because of a school concert.

But my mom and grandma were able to go. She called me afterwards and was raving about how wonderful it was. Here is what my mom wrote about the event:

Women of Faith: Sept 10, 2011 – Philadelphia, PA

To worship with 10,000 other women was a fantastic experience! This was my first time at a Women of Faith event. My daughter won the tickets through Booksneeze. My mother and I attended.

It was a tremendous blessing to hear Lisa Harper, Angie Smith, Sheila Walsh speak'

Lisa's message focused on the scripture story of the widow of Nain. She was so consumed with her own grief that she didn't even see Jesus. But He saw her. He moved into her life with mercy and compassion and gave her the miracle she had stopped praying for. He brought her son back to life. Lisa emphasized that whether you made a mistake or something was done to harm you God could still give you a miracle to recreate your life.

Angie went through a personal tragedy that left her feeling beneath the waves like Peter. As a brand new Christian she was walking on the water, her eyes unwaveringly fixed on Jesus. But when her infant daughter died only 2 ½ hours after she was born Angie sunk to the bottom of the ocean. She was a fairly new Christian when this happened and all she knew to do was say: Jesus save me. She said she had only told this story publically 5 times and she was telling it to us to let us know that Jesus wrapped her up in His arms and held on to her during that unbearable grief and He did save her.

Sheila spoke of a time when her depression overwhelmed her and she ended up in the place she feared most – a mental hospital. Her first night there she sat in a corner shaking and crying. Someone came into the room and gave her a little stuffed animal lamb and said: “Don't worry Sheila, the Shepherd knows where to find you.” She said there is the verse that says, “In this word you will have many troubles, but fear not I have overcome the world.” She said even if the trouble is INSIDE you, Jesus knows how to heal you. He will walk with you to the very gates of hell, you will never be alone and no place is too dark for him to find you. He knows where you are and He will carry you home.

Other highlights of the weekend included music by Mary Mary and Natalie Grant! And also dramatizations by Nicole Johnson that had me laughing and crying and praising God all at the same time. Luci Swindoll gave a wonderful testimony about the joys of sponsoring a child through World Vision. She sponsors 14 children at this time. Hearing 10,000 women's voices raised in praise to God as we sang together was another awesome experience.

Gabby God's Little Angel by Sheila Walsh

From the publisher: "What little girl wouldn't love her very own guardian angel? Parents and children alike will be won over by this humorous tale of Gabby, a guardian angel in training who has much to learn about taking care of God's little ones. Her new assignment is to protect a young girl named Sophie, but Gabby soon realizes that watching after Sophie is a bigger challenge than she had expected! After a close call while riding her pony, Sophie learns what the Bible says about guardian angels: "He will put his angels in charge of you. They will watch over you wherever you go" (Psalm 91:11 ICB)."

I thought it was a cute book and I appreciated that Sheila Walsh wanted kids to have a fun book about their guardian angels. However, I can only give it a few stars because it was unBiblical. Yes, it is Biblical about the guardian angels but the Bible says in Matthew 22:30, "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." So if angels don't marry then there aren't baby angels "in training".

While I enjoyed the cute-ness of the story if I gave this book to a child they aren't able to reason through things. Also, how safe would you really feel if you had a guardian angel who was just as clumsy as you? God does have angels to help us but they aren't like this book.

Once again, it was a cute book. But I can only give it a few stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Women of Faith Event

I was thrilled to receive the opportunity to go to the Women of Faith event. Then I was disappointed because the event that was closest to me was on a weekend I could not go. But God has a way of making things perfect in His way.

I chose to send my aunt and cousin, Emily, to the event in place of me in a city near them. I will be talking to them about the even afterwards and writing a blog on it.

My aunt is an amazing women. Her youngest child is diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Autism, and Sensory Processing Disorder. She works tirelessly to meet his needs and the needs of her whole family. This weekend will create a special opportunity for her to bond with her daughter Emily who is a senior in high school before she goes. Also, this will hopefully be a time where she is rejuvenated with God.

I feel that God allowed me not to be able to go so that I could give the tickets to my aunt and cousin. I pray it will be a blessing.

Smack-dab in the Middle of God's Love by Brennan Manning and John Blase

From the publisher, “Willie Juan and Ana couldn’t have children of their own, but somehow, their home is always full of children and laughter and love. One day, when gathered together enjoying a beautiful evening and Ana’s most delicious sopapillas, Willie Juan asks this most curious question.”

I am a teacher for grades K-2 and I thought it would be fun to read this to my class and have them review the book. As I was reading the book to the students they stayed focused and engaged. I did have to explain some of the words that I felt weren’t really explained but they enjoyed learning the new Spanish words.

Here are the things they liked:
pictures/drawings
the Abuela part because it talked about being nice
sopapillas because they sounded yummy
the people believed in God
it showed that God loves all of us
the ending was nice where they all are together and hugged
Willie Juan and Ana walking in Mexico
the children asking about humming birds.

Here are the things they thought could improve (keep in mind these are K-2 students)
Show them praying
Pictures of angels
Pictures of God
More food

I put the improvement part in not because I necessarily agree with waht they said but it gives the thoughts of a child.

I thought the book was well done and would definitely recommend it to someone else. The students couldn’t decide between a four and five stars. I will give it a four only because some of the Spanish words could have been explained better in the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Love You More by Jennifer Grant

From the publisher, “Following the invisible thread of connection between people who are seemingly intended to become family, journalist Jennifer Grant shares the deeply personal, often humorous story of adopting a fifteen-month-old girl from Guatemala when she was already the mother of three very young children.
Her family's journey is captured in stories that will encourage not only adoptive families but those who are curious about adoption or whose lives have been indirectly touched by it. Love You More explores universal themes such as parenthood, marriage, miscarriage, infertility, connection, destiny, true self, failure and stumbling, and redemption.”

I chose this book because I wanted to know more about adoption and I wanted to see how she felt God leading her through this process.

I really enjoyed this book. Jennifer Grant doesn’t sugar coat adoption, but instead lays out the joys and struggles that can and do happen. I felt that this was a realistic book for those looking at adoption. I really enjoyed the reference section at the end of her book.

I only wish that the book was longer and there were more details about how she worked through the different situations. However, one person’s story is never exactly anyone elses so she may not have gone into detail for fear of people trying to copy her methods and then being disappointed.

I appreciated that she brought God in through the whole book. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in adoption or who just wants to read a good book...but mostly for those interested in adoption.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence Richards

From the publisher:

Kids are daily exposed to the theory of evolution by the media and public schools. It’s not safe to assume that your kids will reject that theory. It’s up to us as parents and Christian leaders to make sure our children know the truth about the creation of the world. With thousands of evidences to prove He created and sustains the universe, It Couldn’t Just Happen will fascinate kids with fun activities and examples of God’s marvelous works.

I was really excited when I saw this book on Booksneeze.com because as a teacher I want books that will help me teach about Evolution and Creation. This book is full of color photographs that will catch the eye of kids. This book is not for younger children to read on their own, but it can easily be read to them and discussed. It is a great resource for parents, teachers, etc who want a solid resource to begin talking to kids about Creation and Evolution. Older kids could read this on their own and even adults would find this book interesting and engaging. The book doesn’t assume you know all the scientific words and evidence and does a good job of explaining different terms and ideas.

Also, I loved that the last section was on the validity of the Bible.

I would highly recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Place Called Blessing by John Trent, PhD

From the publisher, “Five-year-old Josh and his two older brothers lose their parents in a drunk-driving accident. A series of foster homes and a shocking tragedy eventually separate them, leaving Josh alone, angry, and distrustful of most everyone. At age eighteen, Josh strikes out on his own to find work. With only a high school education and few life skills, he is one step away from homelessness when Providence brings him to a place where he finds much more than physical shelter. For the first time in his life, Josh receives unconditional love and something every human being craves, the gift of ‘the blessing.’”

It is a simple book. Not in a bad way, but it was simple to read and easy on the heart. At the end it talks about the message they were weaving into the book and I could see it looking back. I’m not sure that I could say that I would have pulled all those exact things from the book but I thought it was a very unique way to introduce or review the ideas.

I would recommend this book to other people because it was a simple book with a good message.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Waiting Place by Eileen Button

From the publisher, “A collection of essays describing the beauty and humor that can be found in what often feels like a most useless state—The Waiting Place.
We all spend precious time just waiting. We wait in traffic, grocery store lines, and carpool circles. We wait to grow up, for true love, and for our children to be born. We even wait to die. But amazing things can happen if we open our eyes in The Waiting Place and peer into its dusty corners. Sometimes relationships are built, faith is discovered, dreams are (slowly) realized, and our hearts are expanded.”

This book was amazing. It was beautifully written and poignant. Each chapter could stand on it’s own but yet they all weave together. I savored each chapter and was blessed. I have been in “the waiting place” recently and reading this book was as a balm for my soul. I felt as if I could begin to see what beauty could be found in the waiting places I’ve been.

I plan to buy this book for some of my friends and family. I am so glad that I got to review this book. I cannot say enough good things about it. Read it. You won’t regret it.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf

From the publisher: “See the story of Esther in an entirely new way—with all the political intrigue and tension you remember, but told as a passionate and tender love story between a young man and woman. Misunderstood by many, King [Ahasuerus] was a powerful but lonely man. Esther’s beauty caught the eye of the young king, but it was her spirit that captured his heart.”

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read and I really enjoyed “A Reluctant Queen” by Joan Wolf. The book kept me engaged throughout the story. Esther is a well-loved Bible story and well known, Joan Wolf did a good job of highlighting things in a new way that kept me interested until the very end. I enjoy thinking of Esther as a love story, even though it probably wasn’t like that in real life. I thought the love story was well done and tactful for the situation Esther was in.

I was surprised with Haman and Mordecci’s characters. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I thought it was interesting how Joan Wolf decided to depict them and flesh out the Biblical account.

Persia and the surrounding countryside were beautiful developed and I enjoyed having some of the descriptions to certain articles of furniture, clothing, or customs that would have been there during that time.






Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Beyond Talent

From the publisher: People everywhere are proving him right. Read the headlines, watch the highlights, or just step out your front door: Some talented people reach their full potential, while others self-destruct or remain trapped in mediocrity. What makes the difference? Maxwell, the go-to guru for business professionals across the globe, insists that the choices people make--not merely the skills they inherit--propel them to greatness.

I had heard of John C. Maxwell from my mentor in high school but had never actually picked up on of his books. This book was great. Each chapter held your attention, allowing the reader to be engaged and hopeful for what they could potentially do with their talent. What I really appreciated about the book was that at the end of each chapter he had a very practical application to get the reader on task to what the chapter had been talking about. The “application exercises” is what I feel really made this book great. Theory and ideas by authors are great to read but when an author makes it very practical that is when a book becomes great.

I would recommend this book to anyone—especially if you have a dream that you want to become a reality.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Please Stop Laughing at Me...

From the publisher: This powerful, unforgettable memoir chronicles how one child was shunned--and even physically abused--by her classmates from elementary school through high school. It is an unflinching look at what it means to be the outcast, how even the most loving parents can get it all wrong, why schools are often unable to prevent disaster, and how bullying has been misunderstood and mishandled by the mental health community.

Please Stop Laughing at Me definitely kept the reader’s attention. I wanted to see if her next school, or new situation would help change the horrible cycle Jodee found herself in. As a teacher the book challenged me to continue to take seriously what my students say and to be ever aware of bullying. Something I struggled with in the book was how it seemed impossible to stop the cycle of abuse that she was in because it came from her having morals and standing up for what was right. Her mature stance was what most parents would want from a child, especially going through all the temptations of high school. Yet, as the book progressed it seemed that the “normal” things that “everyone was doing” was what Jodee craved. As a Christian it was hard for me to read about her excitement over a boy’s sexual interest to her as a positive thing. The book makes you want Jodee to fit in and be normal that when things are progressing with her boyfriend in ways that aren’t appropriate, as the reader you almost are happy with her. I struggled with that.

It was still an interesting story that should make teachers, physicians, and parents really take a look at what is going on in students’ lives and evaluate how they are responding.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Fight of Our Lives

The Fight of Our Lives is a call to stop being “politically correct” and instead call things by what they need to be called so that America does not destroy the values that it was built upon and has fought for. William J. Bennett and Seth Leibsohn discuss what happened after September 11 and how since then America has become weakened by our fear of speaking the truth and acting on that truth. Through the course of the book the authors boldly call out radical Islam for the things that have happened that our government is afraid to label. However, they do not label any situation without reasonable and reliable resources.


A major focal point was that President Obama has tried to have open communications to stop terrorism and the like from happening but instead more terrorist attacks have happened since he has tried his foreign policy. America is seen as weak by those countries who would destroy us and turning a blind eye to the real issues has only made things worse.


While I though Bennett and Leibsohn did a good job and laying out what had happened in the past and how America was going to disintegrate what ideals it has as a country, I did not feel that they gave us anything that we could do to change the problem. Yes, we can vocalize what we see as truth but when our government is headed in a direction that goes against standing up for the truth, it seems that voting is the only thing to do—and even then nothing is guaranteed.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Sneeze

Hello!

This blog is going to be for book reviews in conjunction with Book Sneeze.

Basically you pick a book from their list, read the book, write a review on their blog and on the cycle goes!

I'm excited to start!