Ten Favorite Summer Reading (repost)

1.  Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco (One of my favorite authors)


2.  Come on, Rain! by Karen Hesse


3.  The Summer Night by Charlotte Zolotow - this is one of my favorite since I was a little girl, and I read it to my kids every summer.  It's hard to find now.












4.  God's Quiet Things by Nancy Sweetland


5.  Night Driving by John Coy


6.  Oregon's Journey by Rascal


7.  Blueberries for Sal (and Make Way for Ducklings) by Robert McCloskey


8.  Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane


9.  Hide and Seek Fog by Alvin Tresselt


10.  Wind Says Goodnight by Katy Rydell

The Passionate Mom

 



I was excited to read this book - a chance to read through Nehemiah and focus on parenting at the same time.  I thought it sounded intriguing.  The author looks at Nehemiah and how he helped the Israelites rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.  She explains the steps that Nehemiah took to handle the task before him and related those to our task of parenting.  There were 10 steps or P's that she pulled out for us to focus on:  Perception, Pondering, Passion, Prayer, Patience, Preparation, Purpose, Planning, Problem Solving, and Perseverance.  I appreciated each one - a great list to think about as we parent each of our children.  

As each "P" is explained, she shares "bricks" in the wall that help us develop that area.  She also describes "gates" in the wall that are places we open to give our children more freedom as they are ready.  The author also refers to her website, imom, for more resources.

I would recommend this book.

(I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

Unfinished Review

I just finished reading Richard Stearns Unfinished.  Overall, I enjoyed this book.  It's a call for individuals and the church to the Great Commission.  Stearns believes the American church has become too relaxed in living out their faith.  He believes that we have lost our sense of urgency with the Great Commission, both as individuals and as a church.  We have been left as Jesus' ambassadors in this world, but we are not rising to the mission.

My husband enjoyed his discussion of our spiritual GPS in the chapter on "Called for a Purpose" -  how we need to commit, pray, prepare, obey, act and trust.  I thought his chapter on "Outposts of the Kingdom" was a good chapter, referring to the church.

He also includes a study guide and shares ways we can live out our faith in the closing chapters.  I would recommend this book.

(I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

 

What I've been Reading Lately

This summer is my summer to read.  I've had a pile of books for months and years that I have been hoping to read.  I catch the time whenever I can. I just finished It's My Turn by Ruth Graham Bell..  My mom gave me this book last summer.

I finished this book last week too.  I started reading this one along with Good Morning Girls Summer Study.

I finished this one as well.  Elizabeth George books always help refocus my heart since I'm so easily distracted from what I know is important.

Here are the ones I am hoping to finish in the next week or two ...  I will be posting a couple reviews for some of these books soon.







What are you reading?  I might add them to my pile.

What a Son Needs From His Mom

I have two sons.  One is getting ready to go to college and the other one is 2 years old.  I would have loved this book when my oldest was younger, but I still found it to be good as he is getting ready to leave "the nest."  What does he need from me now?  And I'm just beginning the parenting journey with the little one.

The book covers the areas of encouraging your son, building confidence, praying for your son, etc.  It's easy to read and includes questions to ponder, journal, and discuss at the end of each chapter.  It addresses all ages of boys.

Cheri Fuller shares insights into how boys communicate and how a mom can help her son.  I appreciated that she said boys will tune you out if you talk too long.  I have definitely found this to be try with both my sons and husband. 

Cheri talks about understanding your son's personality and ways to stay connected.  Maybe it's shooting hoops.  Shooting hoops can connect you both and can open communication (or whatever it is your son enjoys).  Join him.  My son likes to watch movies with me.

I was glad Cheri addressed older sons - letting them go and praying for them.  I can see that as my son leaves for college, prayer can be one of the most loving things I can do for him.  Parenting our sons is lifelong.

I knew I would like this book as I have liked many others by Cheri Fuller.

I received this book free from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

10 Favorite Winter Picture Books



1.  Five Dog Night


2.  Owl Moon


3.  Mama, Do You Love me?


4.  Katy and the Big Snow


5.  Stopping by the Woods


6.  The Missing Mitten Mystery


7.  Snowmen at Night


8.  The Hat


9.  Gingerbread Days


10.  Snowsong Whistling

Linked with Top Ten Tuesday, Read Aloud Thursdays, Works for Me Wednesday, Raising Homemakers, Miscellany Monday, The Better Mom, Beauty in His Grip, Gratituesday, Mindful Mothering, Mop it Up Monday, Mama Moments Mondays, Mommy Link-up!, Women Living Well, Hip Homeschool Hop, Thankful Thursday, Winsome Wednesday, Courtship Connection, and Gratituesday, Only a Breath, Titus 2sdays, Teach Me Tuesdays.