Linda's Lunacy

Faith, Home, & Family

Lilla Rose Flexi Clip Review & Giveaway

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My girls and I all have long hair. Ranging from below the shoulders to below the waist. Keeping all this long hair tidy and pretty isn’t easy. And I do confess to pulling my below the waist length hair into a single braid in the back on most days. I have to have it back out of the way. Of course, that’s not always the prettiest way to wear one’s hair.

I sure would love to have my hair fixed in one of these styles every day.

 

Aren’t they gorgeous?! I received one of these Flexi-Clips to try. And it’s awesome! It was so easy to pull my hair back. The beautiful clip really dresses up my hair. Beautiful enough for special occasions, yet easy and comfortable enough for every day.

 

 

This is an actual picture of my actual hair with the medium sized Antique Brass Princess Tiara Flexi Clip.

Isn’t it beautiful? The clip, not my hair!

The clip was very comfortable to wear. I was afraid the beads would pull my hair, but they didn’t. It was also very easy to put in my own hair. My girls loved it, too. We all tried it on. And I have promised to share. lol

 

There are so many great styles of the Flexi Clip to choose from, here are a few:

 

 

The Flexi Clip comes in several different sizes ranging from mini to extra large. So even little girls with fine hair can use one of these beautiful Flexi Clips. It may seem confusing trying to decide what size you need. So make sure to watch the sizing video. It will help you choose the right clip for your hair. This is very important. You don’t want to get your new clip, only to have it be the wrong size.

Lilla Rose offers numerous other hair products as well. You can see them all at Jill’s Lilla Rose website. Jill also has a Lilla Rose Facebook Page where she post pictures, styling tips and videos, as well as Lilla Rose specials.

Jill is sponsoring a giveaway on Linda’s Lunacy! One winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to be used on Jill’s Lilla Rose Website. You could pick a Flexi Clip or one of the other great hair accessories. If your like me, you’ll have a hard time choosing!

 

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Hot Chocolate With God

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

 

Today’s Wild Card authors are:

 

 

and the book:

 

Hot Chocolate With God

FaithWords (September 21, 2011)

***Special thanks to Sarah Reck, Web Publicist, Faith Words & Center Street for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Camryn Lynn Kelly is the youngest daughter of Jill Kelly and her husband, retired Buffalo Bills Quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. Camryn has a passion for writing and sharing her child-like faith in Jesus. She loves teaching imaginary students and anyone willing to attend her classes the exciting truths found in God’s Word. While Camryn has loved books since she was just a toddler, her two-inch thick Bible Concordance is one of her favorites. As her relationship with Jesus flourishes, Camryn will continue to encourage others with the light of her faith that she shines boldly and brightly, and without apology.

Jill Kelly is the wife of Jim Kelly and mother of Camryn and Erin. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Without a Word, the story of her son Hunter, who as an infant was diagnosed with a fatal disease. Without a Word was published by FaithWords in hardcover, September 2010.

Erin Marie Kelly is the oldest daughter to Jim and Jill Kelly. Currently in the 10th grade, she enjoys playing basketball and just like her father Erin is a great, competitive athlete. She is a very artistic and gifted writer who also creates very colorful and beautiful drawings in many of her journals. Although she does not know what she hopes to become in the future, Erin believes that God desires her to excel as a student and follower of Jesus-trusting in His guidance all the way.

Visit the authors’ website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Written for young girls 8-12, this brand-new series combines the writings of the Kelly girls with journal/activity elements in an engaging, exciting companion book to every girl’s walk with God. Each book in the series includes scriptures, fun facts, journal writings, and fun personal quizzes. Girls will be able to express their deepest thoughts and feelings, as well as share everything from their favorite ice cream to the things that make them cry.

In this first book, it’s all about the reader. Finding out who you are can be a fun process that will take you a lifetime-and this book gets girls started out in style! A self-guided tour through every area of a girl’s inner life, this book encourages girls to find the answers to small questions (What’s your favorite color? Your favorite ice cream flavor?, etc.) as well as large ones (What makes you sad? What makes you angry?)

A section on dreams and special gifts will also be included. All little girls have dreams of what they want to be when they grow up, and this book will help them discover which of the special gifts talked about in the Bible they have been given.

With activities ranging from word searches, create-your-own story fill-in-the-blanks, true/false questions, journaling space, a companion web site, fun facts, and scriptures, this first volume in the HOT CHOCOLATE WITH GOD series promises hours of fun and self-discovery!

Product Details:

List Price: $10.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (September 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0892968451
ISBN-13: 978-0892968459

TO VIEW THE FIRST CHAPTER, PRESS THE BROWSE INSIDE TAB:

 



 

MY REVIEW:

Hot Chocolate With God is an excellent devotional bok for girls. I gave my copy to my 12 year old daguther Abby. I asked her to  her to look through it and do a couple of the sections.

She really loved it. In fact, she loved it so much, she finished the whole book in two days! She did that all on her own. I didn’t even know she was doing the whole book until she brought it to me and told me she finished it.

Now, if a 12 year old takes a devotional book and completes it in 2 days because she likes it, you know it must be great!

The author, Camryn Kelly, is 11 years old. Her older sister and mother contributed to the book, also. Camryn writes like she is talking just to you. It’s really a great writing style for this age group.

Hot chocolate With God also includes journaling space and lots of fun stuff. Quizzes, word searches, design-it, where the girls get to draw right in the book, and lots of other great activities.

If your looking for a great fun devotional for you daughter, try Hot Chocolate With God. My daughter loved it!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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.”

Fairer Than Morning

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Fairer Than Morning

Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor, Eli-until Will Hanby shows her that nobility is more than fine words.

On a small farm in 19th-century Ohio, young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominent family. Eli is the suitor of Ann’s dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautiful things and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.

Ann travels to Pittsburgh, accompanying her father on business. There she meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker’s apprentice. Will has spent years eking out an existence under a cruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. But Ann’s compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul. Through his encounters with Ann’s father, a master saddler, Will discovers new hope and courage in the midst of tremendous adversity.

When the Millers must return to Ohio and their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will can make it back to Ann, will she be waiting?

You can read an excerpt on Rosslyn Elliott.com

 

About Rosslyn:

Rosslyn Elliott grew up in a military family and relocated so often that she attended nine schools before her high school graduation. With the help of excellent teachers, she qualified to attend Yale University, where she earned a BA in English and Theater. She worked in business and as a schoolteacher before returning to study at Emory University, where she earned a Ph.D. in English in 2006. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing ficton. She lives in the Southwest, where she homeschools her daughter and teaches in childrens ministry. For more information, visit Rosslyn Elliott’s website.

Fairer Than Morning is available on Amazon.com. (Not my affiliate link)

 

 

My Review:

Fairer Than Morning is fiction, but the family is inspired by a real family in American history, who to this day are the most celebrated citizens of Westerville, OH. There is a small section in the back of this book that gives the history of this family, and what in the book is based on fact.

Fairer Than Morning is Book 1 of The Saddler’s Legacy. It is also Rosslyn Elliott’s debut book! And what a book.

Young Ann’s mother died, and she works very hard to help her father raise her younger two sisters. The author portrays very well the conflict a young woman would feel when wanting to grow up and get married, yet not wanting to leave her family her needs her. When things fall apart with her suitor, her father agrees to take her on a business trip with him. It’s on that trip that she meets Will.

She feels an instant connection with Will. The only problem is he is an apprentice with a very cruel and abusive master. Parts of this book are very hard to read. But that is part of the history of apprenticeship. We also need to see Will at the lowest point in his life, when he has no hope. Then we see him overcome the adversity, and have hope for a future. Through that, we see that we can have hope in our lives as well.

Through it all, Ann & Will hold on to what they believe in. They overcome many obstacles to live happily ever after.

There is a reading group guide in the back of the book, which makes it nice for book groups. I also find these sections interesting and helpful. You can still go through the guide and answer the questions even if you are a group of 1. They help you bring out points you may have missed while reading the book.

I really liked Fairer Than Morning. It’s one of those books that once you start reading, you don’t want to put it down. I’m looking forward to Book 2 in the series, Sweeter Than Birdsong, which will be available in February 2012.

 

To see what others are saying about Fairer Than Morning, visit the Fairer Than Morning Litfuse Blog Tour Page

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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 Shunning Review & Giveaway

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I love Beverly Lewis’ books. I’ve read quite a few of them. She has a great way of writing about the Amish, making you feel as if your right there with them. And a movie based on one of her books? Even better!

The Shunning was originally shown on the Hallmark Channel, but is now available on DVD. You can also follow The Shunning Movie on Facebook.

The Shunning is Dove Approved!

 

Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning – About the Movie

Before she succumbs to cancer, the dying wish of Laura Mayfield-Bennett is to be reunited with the daughter she never knew. Unfortunately, that daughter, Katie Lapp, is a member of the Amish order. Katie is about to be married, but uneasy about the path ahead. Now she discovers the secret her parents have kept from her: she’s adopted.

The film is based on the celebrated first novel of the best-selling “The Heritage of Lancaster County” book series from author Beverly Lewis. Stars Danielle Panabaker & Sherry Stringfield.

 


BEVERLY LEWIS – Author of “The Shunning”

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is The New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother’s Plain heritage has inspired Lewis to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with “The Shunning,” which has sold more than one million copies. In 2007, Lewis’ “The Brethren” was honored with a Christy Award.

Lewis has been interviewed by both national and international media, including Time magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC. Lewis lives with her husband, David, in Colorado.

You can read an interview with Beverly Lewis about The Shunning.

 

I watched The Shunning with my daughter who also loves books and movies about the Amish. We both enjoyed watching this movie.

The Shunning did not disappoint. Until the end.

When the credits started to roll, I said, “What?!” I looked at my daughter and she looked at me. I said “That can’t be the end!” And she said, “That’s not right!”

We didn’t want the movie to end! We were so drawn into the movie that it didn’t feel like it had been on that long. It needed to be longer. lol

Even though the move was already shown on the Hallmark Channel, I don’t want to give away the ending in case you haven’t seen it.

You really need to watch this movie! So, how would you like to win one?

Thanks to Propeller, I get to giveaway one The Shunning DVD!


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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.”

 

Theo DVD Review & Giveaway

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It is hard to find good quality Christian childrens programs. The quality is often poor. I’m not just talking about picture quality. The Christian message is often presented poorly or not clearly stated.
Theo is different. Not only is the video quality great, the Christian message is awesome! It’s not dumbed down. The story is presented in language that everyone can understand, from kids to adults.
The DVD I received had the first episode, Saving Faith, as well as a bonus episode, Good News. I put the DVD in, and the whole family gathered around to watch. Even the adults. 🙂  Everyone really liked them. They are short episodes, Saving Faith is just 9 minutes long. It is 9 minutes well spent.

About Theo

The animation series of Theo guides children and adults through a careful study of systematic theology. Theo discusses doctrines about sin, Godʼs character, the Bible, salvation and godly living with easy-to-understand illustrations that make children want to learn more about the Christian faith.

Theo Presents recognizes a universal fact: children and adults alike love cartoons. Theo captures the attention of young minds with liberal amounts of humor and high quality animation to present the Gospel of the Christian faith through the teachings of Theo and with the use of his two object lessons, Belfry and Luther.

Theo Presents is designed to serve as a multi-media resource tool that will help men, women and children fulfill the Great Commission of Christ, to go into all the world and make disciples and to teach those disciples Godʼs Word. The multi-media outlets include a DVD series, curriculum, books and iPhone/iPad app. Each of these facets are designed to work with one another or individually.

Theo was created to reach kids of all ages. The lessons and teachings ofTheo can be used for Sunday school lessons, Christian school curriculum, missions, evangelism and homeschooling.

About the creator – MICHAEL JOENS

Mike Joens has produced and directed scores of animated commercials for toy companies such as Milton Bradley, Hasbro, Kenner, McDonaldʼs and Playskool. In addition to commercial work, he produced and directed the animation segments for the award-winning video series “McGee and Me,” as well as the animated “Adventures in Odyssey” for Focus on the Family. After a waiting period of over 30 years, God opened the doors to Joens for the production of “Theo Presents.” At last, the dream of a cartoonist, called to teach the Word has come true. It is Mikeʼs hope that God will use Theo to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to children and adults in every country of the world!

What set’s THEO apart from anything we’ve worked on?
The Buy 1 – Give 1 campaign!
For every Theo DVD purchased, Whitestone Media and Child Evangelism Fellowship® will send a child in need their very own copy ofTheo.
You can log onto TheoPresents.com after making your own purchase, and select the region of the world you’d like another copy of Theo to be sent.

 

Yes, you read that right. For every Theo DVD purchased, they will send one to a child in need. How incredible is that? You can get an awesome dvd for your child AND have one sent to a child who wouldn’t otherwise have one. Most evangelism is directed towards adults. Now you have a way to reach children with the good news!

 

For more information about Theo, visit the Theo Presents website. You can purchase the dvds on the website, or on Amazon (not my affiliate link).

On the Theo Presents website, the have a free app for iPhone and iPad! There is even a Theo Curriculum.

 

Thanks to Propeller, I get to giveaway a Theo DVD to TWO winners!

 

 




*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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.”

My So Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

 

Today’s Wild Card author is:

 

 

and the book:

 

My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife: A One-Year Experiment…and Its Surprising Results

Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri | Marketing Assistant | Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sara Horn is a wife and mom, a writer, author and founder of Wives of Faith, a military wives ministry. She’s a sought-after media guest and writer of numerous articles and books including GOD Strong and the Gold Medallion nominee A Greater Freedom cowritten with bestselling author Oliver North. She’s devoted to her husband who serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves, crazy about her son, and passionate about her ministry to women. Please visit

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Sara Horn, a busy writer and mother, deemed the Proverbs 31 wife to be an impossible ideal. Or is it? This surprising, heartfelt personal account of Sara’s one-year experiment reveals how even a domestically-challenged woman can embrace God’s purpose and encourages readers to pursue God’s amazing plan for their lives.

 

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736939415
ISBN-13: 978-0736939416

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Oh Be Careful What You Preach

Yesterday was Sunday.

Our pastor started a new sermon series on the family. We missed the first sermon last week, but we were there yesterday for the second. The first week was “Dads Matter More than Anything.” This week’s was titled “Moms Matter Just as Much.”

Good to know.

As the pastor got started, I pulled out my Bible and my notebook, all ready to take notes. But then he said something that made my stomach churn. My hands instinctively made fists. My eyebrows furrowed.

The biblical passage he was speaking from was Proverbs 31.

Of course, I muttered to myself, turning to the passage I revere and fear at the same time.

The Proverbs 31 wife and I don’t get along very well. I don’t appreciate how bad she makes me look. I don’t like the guilt I feel when I see her. If she is the standard all Christian wives should work toward, then I’m in serious trouble. If she’s the equivalent of Miss America, then I’m a whole lot more like Lucille Ball. I have a lot of explaining to do for why I’m not more like Miss America. And I’m not really sure I can.

The pastor started making his points:

An Excellent Wife Is a Rare Find (v. 10).
An Excellent Wife Can Be Trusted in Every Way (vv. 11-12).
An Excellent Wife Is Concerned for Others (v. 20).
An Excellent Wife Is Strong and Stable (v. 25).
And so it went.

I stopped taking notes at “An Excellent Wife Is a Tireless Worker.”

My husband glanced over at me when he heard my notebook snap shut. He knows that’s never a good sign. Neither was the steam coming out of my ears and the laser stare in my eyes. He started looking for the exits, just in case.

I don’t like it when men tell women what will make us excellent. I don’t consider myself a feminist at all, but I just don’t think men can possibly understand the woman any more than we can understand the man. That’s why Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus was written. Eve may have been formed from the man’s rib, but she definitely had a mind of her own. And maybe, just maybe, if Adam had taken more time to understand her, the whole scene with the apple and the garden might have gone a lot better. Just sayin’.

Part of my struggle with the treatment of the fairer sex comes from the attitudes I’ve witnessed through the church denomination I’ve partly grown up and worked in. I agree with a lot that my denomination stands for. But when it comes to the treatment and attitudes about the service of women in the church, it often leaves me with the same feeling I get when I hear fingernails scratch down a chalkboard.

What I don’t understand is why there’s this 21-verse list of what the perfect wife is and not at least a Top 10 of what makes a perfect husband. I raised this question once on Facebook, and a guy I know who is deep into seminary classes pointed out that Ephesians 5:25-28 is an all-encompassing directive for husbands. See what you think:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Really? That’s great. Husbands are told to love their wives as they love themselves, and wives are given a laundry list of ways to show our love (just in case we might get confused and think the husband, as part of his love, might also “get up while it’s still dark and provide food” for his family). Husbands—you show love. Wives—get to cookin’.

Back to my stewing. I sat, listening to our pastor as he continued to speak on all the things that make an excellent wife, from the example of the Proverbs 31 superwoman:

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.

She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
(Proverbs 31:10-31)

I kept reading this passage, over and over, the successes of this great wifely role model taunting me more than encouraging me, my very being wilting and shrinking as I sat there, no comparison to this giant of an example. I was waiting, for what, I didn’t know. Waiting for something—a bright glimmer, anything that my pastor might say to give all the wives sitting in the audience, or maybe just me, some hope. He didn’t let me down. His last point was the same point I have made in the past: The Proverbs 31 woman’s most important task is to fear the Lord (v. 30).

My breathing relaxed a little. This, after all, was something I understood. Of course, I want to be a better wife and homemaker. I want to be a better woman in general. But my greatest desire is to be closer to God as his daughter. I want that close, incredible relationship with him.

I haven’t always done well with this. If God and I were going for a walk in the park, I’d be the kid running out in front, barely able to wait for him. Patience is not my strength. Waiting on God is hard.

I began to prayerfully think over the pounding of my heart, the churning of my stomach, and my fingers digging into my thighs. OK, so why am I so mad? Am I mad at the Proverbs 31 wife? Am I upset with the pastor? Am I angry at myself? I mean, I argued with myself. Wouldn’t it be great if you COULD be like the Proverbs 31 wife—if you were praying and reading the Bible and really staying in touch with God every day? Couldn’t God help you do it all?

He could if he wanted to, I’m sure. I’m just not convinced he wants me to be able to do it all. I’m not even convinced that the Proverbs 31 wife was real. I mean, I grew up being told King Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs, and he wasn’t exactly a role model when it came to women. He liked having as many wives as he could, and in fact it was his infatuation for the opposite sex that got him into trouble toward the end of his reign.

What if this woman we’ve all idolized and tried to emulate is just a concoction from King Solomon and a group of his royal cronies who sat around one day, drinking beers, and decided to have an impromptu brainstorming session on what makes the perfect wife? And some servant of his wrote all of these ideas down on a big Post-it note and it eventually made its way into Proverbs with all the other wise things Solomon wrote? In fact, my Bible notes that verses 10-31, the Proverbs 31-wife passage, is actually an acrostic. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. See? I told you it was a drinking game.1

Or if this woman really did exist, then maybe she was like the Martha Stewart of her day, and I’m sure the majority of the women living in that time didn’t like her and didn’t appreciate her. And while they watched her television shows and read her magazine, Housekeeping in the Holy Land, behind closed doors, they lived in fear and guilt that one day their husbands would come home and say, “Why can’t you be more like the Proverbs 31 wife?”

But then I got a crazy idea. Why can’t I be more like the Proverbs 31 wife? What would it be like to try and actually follow the example of this woman so many hold in such esteem?

I definitely had some things to think about.

 

 

MY REVIEW:

That Proverbs 31 woman sure is hard to live up to! Christian women everywhere are struggling and wearing themselves out trying to be her.

My So Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife : A one Year Experiment and It’s Surprising Results is a great book where the author decides to spend a year trying to be her.

She is very open and honest with her successes and her failures. Which is very refreshing in this day and age when we all try to erect walls so no one sees the real us.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be the Proverbs 31 woman or have a desire to be more like her, I think you’ll like this book. I know I did.

 

52 Things Kids Need From a Mom

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

 

Today’s Wild Card author is:

 

 

and the book:

 

52 Things Kids Need from a Mom

Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri James | Marketing Assistant | Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angela Thomas is a sought-after speaker, teacher, and bestselling author of Do You Think I’m Beautiful, My Single Mom Life, Prayers for My Baby Boy, and Prayers for My Baby Girl. She inspires thousands at national conferences, workshops, and through video studies that she filmed and wrote including When Wallflowers Dance.

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Bestselling author and mother of four Angela Thomas delivers a helpful, encouraging gathering of 52 inspiring ideas for moms who, in the whir of busyness, long to connect with their kids. Moms will learn to lead with God’s love in the small moments that make up an abundant, intentional life.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736943919
ISBN-13: 978-0736943918

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Kids Need Their Mom…

To Pray in Secret
with the Door Open

In my first years as a mom, I desperately wanted to keep a passionate spiritual life with God. I wanted to read the Bible. Sit quietly and pray. Maybe even write a few things in my journal. It’s just that my little people would not cooperate. I had four babies in seven years, and not one of them was willing to go along with my plan. My heart kept longing to go back and have a spiritual life the way I’d always had. Alone. It took me a while to realize that being a mom means you might never be alone again.

Frustrated. Probably even mad sometimes. I remember shaking my head and just fussing on the inside about my crazy, chaotic predicament. I am trying to be with God so that I can be a better mom. Anybody with me here? As you can imagine, being alone rarely happened. And I’d feel guilty about my crumbling spiritual life. And the only ones I knew to blame were them, the ones I loved so dearly, who needed me every minute.

I’d love to tell you that the answer for my struggle came to me in a moment of brilliance. But I was too tired to be brilliant. There was just an afternoon. I think I put on a video for the kids to watch and went upstairs to my bedroom. For some reason I kept the door open and sat down on the floor to read my Bible for a minute, and then I stretched out, facedown, on my carpet to pray. I guess I had been praying for one whole minute, and then they came.

I could hear them coming down the hall, but that day, instead of stopping what I was doing, I just kept lying there, praying. Of course, they walked right in, and I’m sure you can guess what they did. They crawled on top of me. And they played with my hair. And they wiggled their little faces up to mine.

“Hey, mama,” one whispered.

“Hey, honey,” a gentle, not frustrated, voice spoke from inside of me.

“Watcha doin’?” they said in unison.

“Praying.”

“Oh…it looked like you were sleeping,” an honest observer said.

It’s been known to happen, I admitted to myself.

Do you know what they did next? Those little toddling children lay down beside me and mostly of on top of me and prayed too. Oh, they prayed squirrelly prayers that lasted for only a couple of minutes, but they prayed. My babies were praying because they had seen their mama praying.

After a few minutes they were done, but I just kept lying there while they ran in and out. Back to the video. Then back to check on praying mom. And God settled something inside of me that afternoon. The days of being a college coed with lots of time to be alone to pray were over. That chapter was closed. And honestly, I didn’t want to go back. I just longed for the sweetness of how I used to spend time with God.

But lying on my bedroom floor that day, I knew I heard Him speaking to me:

This is how I want you to pray now. Pray in secret—with the door open. I want them to see you being with Me. I want them to catch you turning to your heavenly Father for guidance. I want them to learn from you how to walk with Me. No dramatic presentation needed. No fanfare required. Angela, this is a new season with a new way. And this new way for your heart pleases Me.

I remember being so very humbled. And grateful. My uptight, “everything must be right” personality could have kept me away from God for years. Trying to get it all together. Trying to be just right before I could spend time with Him. But that day God so tenderly walked me step-by-step through one of the most powerful lessons about grace I have ever known.

Come to Me messy.
Come when you’re tired.
Let the children lie on top of you.
Let them interrupt you.
You do not have to be perfect…just come to Me and let them see.

A woman stopped me last night. She said she’d heard me tell this story a few years ago and it completely changed her as a mom. She too had been trying to keep the rules and do things neatly, in order, the way she always had. She told me, “I do my Bible study sitting on the bathroom floor while my kids are in the tub. Most of the pages are warped by splashes of water, and some of my notes written in ink run, but those messy, imperfect books are treasures to me now.”

My kids are older now, but the lesson remains. They still need to catch me praying. They should walk past my room and know I’m reading my Bible. They need to find the notes I’ve taken lying on the counter in the kitchen. They need to overhear me praying with a friend on the phone.

I bet your kids do too.

It seems that the lessons we so want to teach our kids are transferred—and not because we sit them down in the living room, pass out ten pages about being spiritual, and then give them a long-winded lecture about how our family is going to follow God. The thing that shapes them more deeply is that you and I pursue God in the everyday of living—that our spiritual lives become the backdrop for their childhood. Bibles left open are normal. A kneeling, praying mom is an ordinary sight. Bibles studies done at bath time, routine.

Reaching Their Hearts

One afternoon I had gone to pray in secret, but God so beautifully taught me that my “secret” needed to be seen. Jesus said in Matthew 6 that we are supposed to keep a secret life. To give in secret, pray in secret, and fast in secret. But I think that when we become moms, for a season those sets of eyes sent from heaven to watch you need to see what you do with God in your “unseen” moments.

May it be so for you and me. And may the children who witness our prayers learn to pray more powerfully because they catch us being with God.

 

 

MY REVIEW:

It is so hard to try to meet all our kids needs. Let’s face it, we as mothers (and fathers!) often fail at this. Truly, there is only One who can meet all their needs. We still need to do our best, however, to raise our children to love and honor God. That means we need to do our best to meet their spiritual, mental, and emotional needs.

In 52 Things Kids Need From a Mom, Angela Thomas has come up with a list to help us meet our kids spiritual, mental and emotional needs. In 52 short chapters she helps moms pray (with & for them), teach them manners, and be their biggest cheerleaders in everything they do.

In chapters such as Kids Need Their Mom…..

To Hang Hearts of Love Over Their Lives

To Take Christmas to People Who Have Nothing

To Miss a Few Things They Do Wrong

To Give Grace Filled Consequences

The author teaches us how to live, love, play, pray, and show mercy & grace to our kids.

 

I read this book all at once, however, it is a lot to take in and implement at one time. I think 52 Things Kids Need From a Mom would be great read one chapter a week. That way, we could concentrate on one aspect at a time, and really make a difference in our kids lives.

If your looking for ways to connect or reconnect with your kids, show them how much you love them, and teach them values and show mercy and grace to others, I highly recommend 52 Things Kids Need From a Mom.

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