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.