The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage book giveaway!

The winner is Lori!

How would I like to be married to me?  Hmm....  Lee Strobel brings up this question in The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage (Focus on the Family) and it stopped me in my tracks.  I read those words and my mouth fell open.  My wheels began turning and I was not pleased with the conclusion I came to.  Falling in love is so easy, but staying in love takes work.  Sad to say, I have been lazy when it comes to my marriage.  I adore my husband but when it comes to honoring and treasuring, well, let's just say, I would give myself about a C-.  Ouch.

After reading The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage (compiled by Jim Daly), I feel energized and encouraged!  Each chapter is written by respected and well known husbands and wives.  They've all struggled in their marriages from time to time and honestly share stories and ideas that have helped them.  I suggest taking a chapter a week and really let it sink in.  Utilize the ideas and you'll notice a difference in the way you see your marriage and relationship.  A few of the chapters really made in impression on me although I learned something from every author.  I'd like to highlight a few of the chapters below...

Paula and Terri Reiser bring up the concept of- How may I make your life easier today?  Simple but powerful.  Lightening your spouse's load is an incredible way to show your love.  My husband does it for my every day.  He helps me cook and clean, he puts gas in the car, fixes things around the house, hangs pictures on the wall, is always there when I need a hug, tucks me in before he goes to work and the list goes on.  Yes, he's pretty amazing.:)  I'm going to step up and lighten his load now.  Tonight I actually had dinner ready when he got home, I took out the trash, cleaned out the litter box, put gas in the car, etc.  You know what?  He noticed and was truly appreciative.  I feel great about making his load lighter and we are happier and closer for the extra effort.  Awesome.

Les and Leslie Parrott encourage us to be our partner's best friend.  Laugh with them!  Protect each other from harm.  See things through your spouse's eyes.  For example, my wonderful husband not only bought Justin Bieber concert ticket's for my and the girls, he also attended the concert AND had a good time!  He did that for me.  He saw that it was important and instead of just dropping us off, he joined in the evening.  Another example is when we were dating, I took scuba diving lessons because it was something my future husband enjoyed.  I was scared, but I followed through because it meant something to him.  I'm so glad I did it but it was really out of my comfort zone!  One more example was seeing my husband enjoy his race car driving experience this summer.  I had no idea how much fun he would have but I was thrilled to be there with him.  Friends want each other to be happy.

Joni Eareckson Tada's chapter is about words of affirmation.  Sounds so easy and it is!  Use encouraging words so you can be your spouse's best cheerleader and help build them up.  I'm lousy at this but that is going to change- today.  I know how good it feels when someone takes the time to say a kind word, send me an email, call me or text me.  I feel that I matter and can carry on with a smile on my face, no matter how difficult that day is.  My husband is quieter than some (he's a big thinker!) but I know that he loves words of affirmation as much as anyone.  It's time for me to speak up.;)

The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage is a wonderfully written book and I recommend that both engaged and married couples read it.  As I said before, falling in love is easy but staying in love takes work.  The ideas in this book were such a blessing to me and the techniques are easy to use.  I've only touched on a few of the chapters that really hit home for me but there are many more and the ideas are simple but so true.  This would be a great gift for Christmas.  

**Would you like to win a copy?  PR by the Book has generously offered to giveaway a copy of The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage to one of my readers!  Leave a comment on this post to be entered.  If you're a follower of my blog, leave a separate comment for one additional entry.  I'll randomly choose a winner next Wednesday, the 5th!**

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

The Best Advice I Ever Got on Parenting book giveaway!

The winner is Christy!

My Thoughts:

How I wish that parenting came with a guidebook.  A list of instructions on how to accomplish this wonderful but daunting job would be wonderful!  The Best Advice I Ever Got on Parenting (compiled by Jim Daly) is thoughtfully written by well known Moms and Dads. Their personal stories combined with their struggles, successes and ideas are heartwarming and real.  From babies to teens, it's all here.  Below are just a few of the ideas that truly made an impression on me:   

"What's Your Beef" Nights, created by Tim and Darcy Kimmel, will soon be used in my home.  It's an evening when your child(ren) can tell you about anything that was said/done by a parent or parents that hurt/embarrassed/disappointed them.  Listening and not explaining is key here.  (I always end up talking to much and lecturing, sad to say.)  I know this will open gates of communication for all of us and invited healing.  Such a wonderful, but simple idea!

Parenting from the Inside Out by Vicki Courtney really hit home for me.  It always seem to focus on "fixing the behavior" rather than trying to discover what is causing the behavior.  It's quicker to fix negative behavior but if you don't take the time to get to the heart of the problem you'll end up dealing with it again and again.  I'm now encouraged to find out the what/why/hows of the situation.  Our children are more than worth the extra effort.:)

Creating a Family Constitution is an insightful idea by Gary Smalley.  It's a gentle way to set boundaries that will benefit all members in the household so you can work toward a common goal.  Can't wait to get started on one for my family! 

The chapter, Talking to Your Kids About Sex, by Ted Cunningham, was eye opening.  Broken down into age groups, there are tips on what to teach at what time.  The bottom line is be the first to teach your child, not the world.  Sex is a gift from God, not something to be embarrassed about. 

The Best Advice I Ever Got on Parenting is encouraging and realistic advice for parents.  It focuses on God and how He needs to be the center of our hearts and lives, particularly while raising children.  God wants us to parent with grace, just like He treats us.

Incredible Insights from Well-Known Moms and Dads

Every parent has moments with their kids that they wish they’d been better prepared to handle. If they’d only known. This clever book, published in conjunction with Focus on the Family, shares heartwarming and vulnerable experiences from well-known moms and dads. Readers will love the upbeat, surprising, sometimes humorous and always relatable stories of raising toddlers, grade-schoolers, tweens, and teens. Contributors include: Jerry Jenkins, Tim and Darcy Kimmel, Stormie Omartian, Dr. Kevin Leman, Gary Thomas, Michael Smalley, Vicki Courtney, Dannah Gresch, Randy Alcorn, and Shaunti Feldhahn.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jim Daly, General Editor, is president of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame-honored daily broadcast, heard by more than 2.9 million listeners a week on more than 1,000 radio stations across the US. Daly has been married to Jean since 1986. They have two sons and reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

*PR by the Book has generously offered a copy of The Best Advice I Ever Got on Parenting for one of my readers!  If you'd like a chance to win please leave a comment on this blog post.  If you are a follower, please leave a separate comment for an additional entry.:)*  Winner will be randomly chosen next Tuesday, the 2nd.

*I was given a copy of The Best Advice I Ever Got on Parenting in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

Something to Smile About

It's back.:)

The Scent of Rain by Kristin Billerbeck

My Thoughts:

Imagine being left at the alter on your wedding day.  Not only that, but none of the groom's friends or family show up.  The Scent of Rain starts off with poor Daphne Sweeten at the lowest point in her life. Thankfully, her best friend is by her side and whisks her away from the heartbreaking scene.  Daphne's next problem, which she discovers soon after the wedding, is that she's lost her sense of smell.  This is quite the dilemma because Daphne is a "nose"- her career is creating perfume!  What ensues is a map cap adventure to regain her sense of smell without letting her new boss realize that she can't smell a thing.  Problems arise when she is unable to smell a gas leak, uses salt in her coffee, gets lip injections from a sketchy physician, and more!  The Scent of Rain is absolutely charming and you'll root for Daphne every step of the way.  Mark, Daphne's fiance, was absolutely despicable (I wanted to hunt him down myself!) and Jesse, Daphne's boss, is incredibly frustrating at times but the potential for a happy ending kept me reading.  Grace and faith in the Lord save the day.  Kristin Billerbeck's writing echoes the longings of the heart without being syrupy sweet.  Humor and love walk hand in hand in this engaging story!

More about The Scent of Rain:

When deprived of her most prized sense, Daphne discovers a life she never expected, right under her nose.
Daphne Sweeten has left Paris – and a career she loves – in order to marry a man she loves even more. But when he stands her up on their wedding day, Daphne’s left reeling. Trained as a professional “nose” or perfume creator, Daphne soon realizes that her sense of smell has somehow disappeared too.
In the days following she moves to Dayton, Ohio, to take on a job creating fragrances for household products. Without her sense of smell, she must rely on her chemistry skills, and hope her handsome new boss, Jesse Lightner, doesn’t notice before she can figure out how to get it back.
Despite her desire to return to Paris, she can’t deny the way Jesse makes her feel. But when Daphne approaches former contacts, she learns her missing ex-fiancé has somehow snagged her old job.
As Daphne and Jesse work on a signature scent for their new line, she feels God at work in her life as never before. And the promise of what is possible is as fresh as the scent of rain.

Kristin Billerbeck is the author of more than 30 novels, including "What a Girl Wants" and the Ashley Stockingdale and Spa Girls Series. She is a fourth-generation Californian, who loves her state and the writing fodder it provides. Learn more atwww.KristinBillerbeck.com

*I was given a copy of The Scent of Rain from Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

The Shadow Man by Mark Murphy

My Thoughts:

 The Shadow Man had me reading deep into the night.  I could not put the book down.  The storyline is gripping, with a razor sharp edge.  Seemingly random, brutal murders are somehow linked to surgeon, Malcolm King.  Is he a serial killer or is he being targeted in a deadly game of cat and mouse?  Malcolm King's picture perfect life is ripped to shreds as he struggles to find the answers that will save his life.  Horrifying pieces of the puzzle are revealed to the reader bit by bit and just when you think you may know what's going on, another wrinkle is discovered.  The Shadow Man does not lose momentum even for a second.  Twists and turns are delivered until the very last page!  Mark Murphy doesn't give you a chance to catch your breath and, believe me, you'll relish every second.  Great Christmas gift for the suspense lover!

More about The Shadow Man:

Savannah surgeon Malcolm King had a perfect life--a loving wife, devoted daughter, and a thriving medical practice. But when a random airport parking lot hit-and-run links him to a dead body in a Florida hotel and an acquaintance is found dismembered and stuffed into a garbage bag, Malcolm finds himself on the run as a suspected serial killer. But he's no murderer. Or is he?

Who is the mysterious Thin Man who lurks at the edges of his vision? Are the ravens that crowd the skies overhead a warning of impending doom--or do they exist at all?
With the help of Seminole tracker Billy Littlebear, Malcolm tries to untangle the web of clues left behind by a mysterious chameleon-like killer known as the Shadow Man. But will he be too late?The Shadow Man is a complex, atmospheric thriller in the tradition of Stephen King. Darkly evocative and relentless in its twists and turns, it dares the reader to put it down--even for a minute.

*I was given a copy of The Shadow Man from PR by the Book in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

Tyndale Rewards Program= Free Books!

You know how much I LOVE books. Especially FREE BOOKS! Check this out... Join the Tyndale Rewards Program and earn points to get hard copy books and Bibles for free. If you click on the link above and sign up you’ll get 25 points (and I’ll get 10 for you signing up). You can then start earning more points right away by doing a variety of things like signing up for the birthday club, subscribing to an email devotional, taking a 2 minute survey, etc. I earned 70 points in about 6 minutes – enough to get my first free book (delivered to my home with NO shipping costs)! You can take a look at the current rewards catalog here. You don’t need a credit card or anything like that. Just sign up and start earning your freebies!:) I'm off to choose my first free book! I picked It Happens Every Spring- similar to the Mitford series and Steel Magnolias.  Wonderful!) Why not join me?;)

Bible Detective book review

My Thoughts:

Bible Detective is an engaging book for all ages.  The girls (ages 9 and 14) and I had a blast reading the Bible stories together and then searching for pictures in the double paged scenes.  It's appealing for all ages because, although most of the items are easy to locate, some of the pictures can a bit more challenging!  Whether you are reading the Bible stories for the first time or the 20th time, we can all learn something new.  For example, how much do you know about flax and threshing sledges?  That information, along with much, much more is in here!  Educational and fun, I'm quite sure you and your child will truly enjoy learning and puzzling together while reading Bible Detective.  My daughter is planning on bringing it with her on our Thanksgiving holiday.  I hope she invites me to join her again on her search.:)   

Click here for a peek inside!:)

Young detectives will never tire of this picture-search puzzle book. Readers can pore over 17 cleverly illustrated scenes of Bible events to find the answers to the questions posed on each page. Some puzzles involve looking for details of everyday life, others highlight things that happened in the Bible stories--offering hours of fun to readers as they search for the answers.
With lots to find, this kind of picture book is particularly great for reluctant readers and visual learners, helping all children get an overview of the Bible's history and content as they super-sleuth their way through the book. Warning: may be addictive!

Hardcover $14.99
Author Peter Martin
Illustrator Peter Kent

*I was given a copy of Bible Detective from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*