Blog Archives
My Thoughts on Three Books (and a giveaway)
God Gave Us Love clearly reiterates one theme: all love comes from God. There are different kinds of love — one between mamas and daddies, another between friends and siblings. When we share love with family, friends and neighbors, we share God’s love.
God Gave Us Christmas (pictured below) is a perfect story for the season. In it Little Cub wonders if Santa invented Christmas. Her mama assures her that God gave us Christmas, and He’s way more important than Santa or presents or anything else. The two then travel in search of God and find Him and the story of Christmas all around in creation.
Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps (pictured below) was written by Leigh McLeroy. A small, nonfiction volume, this book encourages readers to consider tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides us toward discovering evidence of Him in our own lives. One endorsement accurately explains it mixes “sweet memories, profound observations, sharp insights and exquisite words into a delicious narrative.” It includes a guide for individual study and group discussion.
My personal thoughts:
Honestly, God Gave Us Love didn’t live up to my expectations. I’ve read a number of books by Ms. Bergren and have always been delighted. This one fell short for me. The explanations seemed vague and incomplete. The illustrations were wonderful, as always, but the text seemed rushed. Click here to see a full review at my other site: Christian Children’s Book Review.
In contrast, God Gave Us Christmas far exceeded my expectations!
We don’t “do” Santa in our house. We talk about Saint Nicholas, but only as a historical figure that some families like to pretend is still alive and part of the holidays. We emphasize that Santa is pretend.
This book talks about Santa neither as real nor pretend — which satisfies our family without offending others who do teach a belief in Santa. The best part, though is this: the book consistently redirects focus to what is truly important: God. In it Mama doesn’t skirt Little Bear’s questions, but she does point her toward the true meaning of Christmas, the true existence of God, and the glory of God in nature. She shares the Nativity story as well as solid theological truths about Jesus. She affirms that “Santa Claus reminds us about many good things like generosity and care. But it is God and Jesus that we celebrate most … We always want to thank God for giving us Christmas.” (a direct quote from the book) I love this book!
Follow this link to read a review posted by another mom at CCBR.
And Treasured … Well, I had originally planned to give this away to one of you, but I’ve chosen to be selfish and keep it for myself. 
It’s a FANTASTIC book!
If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know I delight in finding God in the dailies, in the little details of seemingly mundane lives. That’s what this book is about, but it takes it one step further. It finds God in the mundane details of biblical lives first, then applies those lessons to our lives today. Noah, Hagar, Rahab, Ezekiel, Abraham and Isaac — These lives have grand details and seemingly irrelevant ones. Leigh McLeroy focuses on the mundane details (we too often overlook) to reveal vast truths about our God. It’s — well, it’s so good I HAVE to give one away!
In the comments section of this post tell me about your favorite “little” detail of Scripture. I’ll draw a name randomly and announce a winner on Sunday.
ALSO: CCBR is hosting a giveaway for the other two books! Visit that post to enter. The deadline is noon today PST/ 3PM EST.
Disclosure Note: These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.Stretch Marks
I haven’t officially done Mama Loves in a couple weeks, so today (Yes, I know it’s Wednesday and not Tuesday.) you’re getting a double — no, TRIPLE dose!
Mama loves good books.
Mama loves giveaways.
Mama loves Kimberly Stuart.
I am giving away a great book by Kimberly Stuart! Aren’t you excited? If you’ve not yet been introduced to the terrific KS, let me do the honors.
She’s funny, witty, intelligent and … well, there’s nothing not to love about her! She’s a write-at-home mom who loves her life and the God who gave it to her. Her blog is hysterical, and her books are Christian-infused without being preachy. In one word: she’s AUTHENTIC.
I mean, c’mon. How many other authors honesty write about mucous plugs in dialog or leaky boobs in the grocery store? Okay, so maybe there are thousands of pregnancy and parenting books. But how many write about those things in inspirational novels with a healthy sense of humor? I know of one: Kimberly Stuart.
Her latest book is called Stretch Marks.
Mia and her mother, Babs, could not differ more. Mia dresses retro, cares about the energy crisis, goes to yoga religiously and lives a pure vegetarian lifestyle in Chicago. Her mother, while morally conservative, sports plastic surgery, works as a social director on a Caribbean cruise ship and is passionate about steak. They drive each other crazy!
But when Mia gets pregnant, her live-in freeloader boyfriend jumps ship. Actually, he kinda slithers off into the night. Babs to the rescue. She drops everything and moves into Mia’s apartment building to “help.” Can anything can bring these opposites together? The promise of a new baby, one they both already adore, may be their only hope.
Delightful characters fill this book! From Frankie, the librarian with technicolor hair (Mia’s best friend), to Silas, the mysterious gentleman who lives downstairs, and Adam, the hottie who runs the local grocery store. Each contributes their own charm to the story. You’ll love it — I promise.
And so does the publisher. If you don’t like the book, you can send it to them under their “Good Read Guarantee!” But you won’t do that, because you’ll love the story so much you’ll want to share it with all your friends.
Leave a comment on this post and I’ll enter your name in the drawing. A winner will be announced on Saturday!
If you can’t wait that long, head over to Amazon to purchase the book today.
Or visit Kim’s blog to get to know her a little better.
O2: Breathing New Life Into Faith
Your physical body needs oxygen in order to survive. Inhale, exhale … one leads naturally to the other. Inhale too long and you feel as if your lungs will burst. Exhale too long and you get light-headed.
The premise of Richard Dahlstrom’s new book is that the same rhythm is essential in the life of faith. You inhale life-giving strength from God through things like prayer, study, solitude, and silence. You exhale generosity, hospitality, and service to the poor. If you try to do one without the other, you won’t last very long.
The author is Senior Pastor of Bethany Community Church in Seattle, WA, in the heart of the city, among university students, young professionals, families, the homeless, and the elderly. He wrote this book after recognizing an unfortunate pattern within the Christian community. People would accept Christ with enthusiasm, then quickly get burnt out for one reason or another. Others would continue saying all the right things, but little of God’s Truth actually sank into their hearts. The author wants to revive these people by showing them the tools to balance the receiving with the giving, the quiet with the active, the inhaling with the exhaling.
This fresh perspective on the classic disciplines of the faith empowers readers to reflect the life of Jesus and keep their faith growing stronger.
Leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered in a drawing to receive O2 for free! I’ll draw a name this Saturday.
Visit the author’s website: http://raincitypastor.blogspot.com/
Read the first chapter: http://www.conversantlife.com/files/resource_downloads/O2.pdf
What My Children Are Reading
Today I’m hosting The Well-Read Child‘s weekly meme. (Be sure to click on that link to check out her blog!) Here are the books we’ve been reading the most around here. If you’re visiting, please note I have a four-year-old son (total boy!) and a five-year-old daughter (complete with blond ringlets).
The Big Green Book of Beginner Books
by Dr. Seuss
This collection, originally compiled in 1997 and re-released this year, includes six popular titles for early readers. The titles include I Am Not Going to Get Up Today!, Wacky Wednesday, Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog?, Maybe You Should Fly a Jet!, I Wish That I Had Duck Feet, and Great Day for Up. All of these are adorable, imaginative stories! While all are written by Dr. Seuss, none are illustrated by him. It’s a wonderful collection for reading to or with kids. Zach enjoys the silliness of the stories and Ellie likes showing off her budding reading skills with such a big book.
ISBN: 0375858075; Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 8/11/2009; Source: BJs Wholesale Club ($10.99)
The Wackiest, Wildest, Weirdest Animals in the World
by Jungle Jack Hanna
Which furry omnivore smells like popcorn? What sea monster has three hearts? How did the blue-footed booby get its name? Filled with large, full-color glossy photos, this book explores some of the lesser-known creatures in the animal kingdom. The format offers facts at a glance, longer story boxes and text bubbles with funny details. This makes it perfect for parents of children with short or varied attention spans. You can choose what and how much to read without feeling like you’re missing large chunks of content. Bonus: the book comes with a DVD of bloopers from Jack Hanna’s show. My kids love both the book and the video!
ISBN: 1400311403; Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 6/9/2009; Source: Review copy from publisher via Amazon Vine
Zac the Tax Man and Jonah’s Story
both written and illustrated by Andrew McDonough
Part of the Cecil & Friends series, these books re-tell the biblical stories of Jonah and Zacchaeus. Both are funny and colorful. They make the stories kid-friendly by modernizing the stories with clever details and filling the pages with bright, cartoon-like illustrations. At the back of the book, parents 
will find the full Biblical text with references and tips for helping children understand the point of the story. My only complaint: the characters are interchangeable. They all kinda look the same. My kids noticed this, too, but they still enjoy the books and want to read them again and again.
Zac: ISBN: 0310719496; Publisher: ZonderKidz, 10/1/2009; Source: Review copy from publisher
Jonah: ISBN: 0310719488; Publisher: ZonderKidz, 10/1/2009; Source: Review copy from publisher
What are your kids reading this week?
Recipe Swap Sunday: Green Pea Soup
It’s the end of summer and while I look forward to the warming harvest flavors, I’m not quite done with the freshness of summer. Here’s a recipe that combines both beautifully.
It’s from a brand new cookbook by Bindu Grandhi called Spice Up Your Life: The Flexitarian Way.
The what-a-who-ian way? Flexitarian. Don’t worry; it’s good for you! I’d never heard the term before this book either.
Flexitarian is a nice way to say “vegetarians who cheat.” My friend, Karen, knows exactly what I mean. She’s “a vegetarian who occasionally eats boneless, skinless, vein-less, connective tissue-less chicken.” It’s not picky; it’s selective.
Vegetarian diets are tremendously healthy. Fish, chicken and other non-vegetarian choices can also be very healthy. Flexitarians are … well, flexible. They make healthy food choices, even if those exist outside vegetarian realms.
I was actually a flexitarian (I just didn’t know there was a term for it) before I met my husband and he introduced me to the glorious world of red meats.
Bindu’s cookbook combines a healthy flexitarian diet with traditional Indian flavors.
This soup is light, refreshing, invigorating. I gotta be honest: Rick and the kids weren’t particularly taken by it. They’re not fans of spice. But I loved it! Serve it with a nice, hearty bread and a cheese tray; you’ve got yourself a great meal.
Green Pea Soup
by Bindu Grandhi
- 1 1/2 cup sweet peas or 10 oz frozen peas
- 2T extra light olive oil
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 medium potato, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 t cumin seeds
- 4 mint leaves
- 1 1/2 cup whole milk or low fat milk
- salt to taste
- 1/2 t red chili powder
- 1/2 t ground black pepper
- 3/4 t brown sugar
- 1 T cilantro
- bread croutons (optional)
Place peas in a saucepan with just enough water to cover; cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat, drain and set peas aside. Reserve 2 T cooked peas for garnish.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add onion, tomato, potato, and cumin seeds. Saute for 5-7 minutes or until the onions are tender. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Transfer the contents from the saucepan into a food processor or blender fitted with a steel blade. Add mint leaves, milk and cooked peas; puree.
Pour the mixture back into the large saucepan. Add salt, chili powder, black pepper and brown sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes. Serve hot. Garnish with chopped cilantro, reserved peas and croutons.
Tanya’s Notes: I omitted the potato and used Skim Plus instead of whole or 2% milk. Also, I hate doing dishes, so I always use as few as possible while cooking. With this recipe, I kept everything in one saucepan and used my immersion blender instead of a food processor. This means I only had to wash one pot, one colander and a blender attachment — rather than two saucepans, a strainer, a bowl, a blender, etc. (Actually, I think Rick washed the dishes, but you get the point. ) Finally, the author recommends serving it hot, but I liked it at room temperature as well. Either way, it tastes great!
Have you visited CCBR lately?
If you’ve been around for a while, you know I have several blogs. This is my main one, but I also have two book review blogs: my Bookshelf (which is updated in spurts about once a month) and CCBR (which is updated several times a week). CCBR (Christian Children’s Book Review) is a group ministry and we’ve made a number of changes lately. If you haven’t visited in a while, be sure to check it out. Here are few of the recent updates:
- A fresh new blog design! (And a cool button you can add to your sidebar)
- Easier navigation with a top-bar menu and drop-down categories!
- More reviewers: Two new moms have joined our review team!
- More reviews: We now review books for ages 0-18, including picture books, chapter books (both fiction and nonfiction), reference books and Bibles!
So, hop on over there and take a look. If you use our links to purchase books through Amazon.com or Christianbook.com we earn a comission. Not a lot, but enough to purchase more books to offer you more reviews. This is a ministry and you can support us by using the links on our site.
If you have any specific titles or topic you would like us to explore, contact us through the website (or me through here).
The Perfect Gift
Some people have shoe fetishes. Pumps, heels, sandals of all colors, shapes and styles line their closets and overflow from the recesses under their beds. They fret over whether to mail their shoes or pay for extra checked luggage when traveling. You know who you are.
I am not one of those. I own a total of seventeen pairs of shoes. That may sound like a lot, but in a region where we actually endure four drastically different seasons, that’s not much. My collection includes snow boots, rain boots, sandals, sneakers and a few dress shoes. That’s it. I like shoes, but I don’t love them.
No, I love books. And bags.
Bookshelves literally line our garage. Our car suffers the weather, while our garage serves as an overflow library. Books pile two feet high around my bedroom. I even have a fully-stocked bookcase in the upstairs bathroom (affectionately nicknamed the “Reading Room”). I donate books regularly to all our local libraries and spend more time at Barnes & Noble than I do shopping for groceries each week. And all these lovely books go in my bags.
My beautiful bags. Bags flood my closets, the space next to my nightstand and our attic. And, yes, I even store some in the garage. Big bags, little bags, cute bags. Book bags, shopping bags, quilted bags, leather bags, furry bags. Hobo bags, messenger bags, duffle bags and backpacks. It drives my husband crazy.
Imagine my excitement last night when I found a way to combine my two fetishes into one perfect gift! Check it out: a recycled book handbag.
I mean, it’s JANE AUSTEN and it’s ADORABLE!! What I really like is that she’s not actually destroying the books. The pages can be rebound for you to match your new adorable purse, like this:
Or, if you like the cover, but not the book, she’ll donate the actual book — the inside pages — to a refugee center in Arizona called IRC. Pretty cool – huh? She also makes fun passport holders and wallets. Like this one:
It’s the perfect gift for someone like me.
Oh, and bonus: you can send the seller your own book, even your own choice of fabric and she’ll make it for you. Pretty cool if you’ve got a treasure of a volume sitting around. I may be scrounging the used section of B&N this week just to find something super cute.
All photos taken from Spoonful of Chocolate’s shop on Etsy.
UPDATE: I know have my own shop selling similar items! Not only do I make recycled book purses, but we (my business partner and I) use the inside pages to create beautiful items for home and holiday. Check it out at www.Zaties.etsy.com!
Recipe Swap Sunday: Banana Crunch Muffins
Ina Garten created famous Banana Crunch Muffins for her East Hampton specialty food store. She then published the recipe in The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. Below is my adaptation. The original certainly does NOT need to be changed; I altered it simply because I lacked all the correct ingredients. The original calls for whole milk (which I never have in the house) and sweetened shredded coconut (also never in my house). Instead I used a flavored coffee creamer (always in my house) and LOVED the results. I also altered the flour and sugars since I prefer healthier, more natural blends. The results were so good Rick didn’t even notice the whole wheat flour. (If you knew my husband, you would understand how astonishing that is.) So, here’s my twist on the Barefoot Contessa classic.
Banana Crunch Muffins (Tanya Style)
- 3 c flour (I mix my flour: half whole wheat and half all-purpose.)
- 2 c sugar (I mix my sugar: 1 part raw and 2 parts granulated.)
- 2 t baking powder
- 1 t baking soda
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/2 pound butter, melted and cooled
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 c flavored creamer (I used “White Chocolate Coconut” by International Delight. DELISH!!)
- 2 t vanilla extract
- 3 very ripe bananas: mash 2 of them, dice the 3rd.
- 1 c walnuts, chopped
- 1 c granola, plus extra for sprinkling on top (I used a “vanilla crunch” blend.)
Preheat the over to 350′F. Line two large-muffin pans with paper liners or spray with non-stick baking spray.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl (preferably your electric mixer — when finished, the batter filled my 6 qt KitchenAid). Add the melted butter and blend. Combine the eggs, creamer, vanilla and mashed banans in a separate bowl, then add this mixture to the flour-and-butter mixture. Scrape the bowl (it’s pretty sticky) and blend well, but not too much.
Fold in the diced banans, walnuts, and granola. Spoon the batter into muffin wells, filling each to the top. Sprinkle with extra granola.
Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly, then enjoy.
Blue Like Play Dough
Have you ever read a book that makes you want to be best friends with the author?
I have found the most valuable parenting resources are parents themselves. I can read all the books I want, take all the classes I can, and watch every last episode of TLC, but I learn the most from simply sitting with another mom and hashing about life. It’s over coffee and laughs that I find I’m not alone, I’m not insane and God’s not done with me yet.
Tricia Goyer’s newest book, Blue Like Play Dough, is like that. Reading it feels like a mom-date, a much needed dose of perspective wrapped in love and friendship. I loved it.
The author shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible.
Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.
In this transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognize the loving hands of God at work in your life … and know He has something beautiful in mind.
Click here to read an excerpt from the book.
Click here to learn more about the author via her website. (She writes much more than parenting books. her historical fiction is fantastic!)
There’s more!
With the release of this book Tricia is also launching the Get One, Give One Campaign!
For every copy of Blue Like Play Dough purchased, she’ll donate a copy of My Life Unscripted or Generation NeXt Parenting to a pregnancy, teen or family support ministry (while supplies last).
All you have to do is buy a copy of Blue Like Play Dough on Christianbook, on Amazon, or at your local bookstore, and then go to Tricia’s Go-Go page and fill out the form. EASY! (FYI: This book is also available in Kindle format! )
Still more … An invitation from Tricia for YOU!
Are you a mommy who feels squeezed by Motherhood? Could God be shaping something beautiful in you?
I’m inviting YOU to come bring your stretched self and attend a fun Facebook Launch Party for Blue Like Play Dough! I know you’re busy (and tired) so I’m bringing the festivities to you! So grab your comfiest chair and slip away from that long To-Do list and join me for a two hour Play Dough Party. I’ll be sharing some of my mothering experiences (the good and the bad), hosting a fun trivia contest, giving away Mommy Play Dough Packs, answering questions, and getting to know YOU!
I’d be honored to have you as my guest – and to prove it I’ll be giving away 2 ginormous Mommy Play Dough Packs to two party attendees at random! The winners will be announced at the end of the party. Grab your friends and let’s party! oh, and don’t forget your camera! Snap pictures during the party and upload them during the festivities. I’ll be giving a prize away for the best photo!
So come join me on July 27th from 5-7 pm (PST)! Friend me on facebook and join the fun!
Let me give you Rest!
In 2005 Keri Wyatt Kent released a book entitled Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life. The subtitle is important there, because her emphasis is not on finding space for God, but creating it. The difference is intention. Spending time with God is not an accident; it’s not just a happening. If we want it to happen, we need to make it a priority. We must be purposeful.
Kent’s newest book Rest follows this same line of thinking, but takes it a step further. She encourages readers not only to create a space for God, but to rest in that space. She calls it Sabbath Simplicity. By setting sanely paced, God-centerd rhythms of work and rest we can renew our energy, boost our joy and heighten our impact on the people around us.
Sounds great – right? We’re all tired all the time. We all have too much to do and not enough hours in the day. How can we alleviate the hectic schedules of our lives? How can we find true rest, the kind that rejuvinates and actually makes us more effective?
This book expounds upon six aspects of Sabbath — WAIT! I know some of you are freaking out just a bit at the word “Sabbath.” We’re NOT talking about lists of activities we can and cannot do on a specific day of the week. We’re not even talking about which day of the week. That’s not the intention of this book. Rather, it’s about recognizing Jesus’ teachings of rest, understanding the examples He set for rest and Sabbath, and then seeing how we can emulate those practices in our lives. What benefits can we find from regularly practicing biblical rest patterns?
Now, this book expounds upon six aspects of Sabbath as a spiritual practice:
- Resting
- Reconnecting
- Revising
- Pausing
- Playing
- Praying
Reading through this book I was reminded that Sabbath is not about what you do or don’t do, but relationships. It’s an appointment to stop and know God, to remember who I am in light of who He is and all that He has given me. My identity is not found in what I do or what I wear or where I go. And while I spend all week working to keep a clean house, meet deadlines with writing or my kids or ministries at church, these are not what is most important to me. When I stop, when I rest, I discover what is most important to me.
Only when I remember these things can I truly evaluate how I’m doing. Yes, my kids are memorizing their verses, but are they capturing the meaning behind the rote words? Yes, I’m praying, but am I really communing with God? Yes, I’m busy, but am I effective? Am I fruitful? Yes, my life is abundant, but am I experiencing the joy and peace Christ intended for His disciples?
This book doesn’t set forth a lot of rules. To the contrary, it invites readers to freedom! To the joy of experiencing rest. Throughout the book you’ll find stories of different families and the various ways they celebrate Sabbath. These real-life examples challenge and encourage. It’s a great introspective book, one that I want you to read.
Let me give you Rest! I have a copy of the book I would like to give to you for FREE. You don’t even have to pay shipping. In the comments section below, simply tell me how you practice and teach rest OR why you need more rest. I’ll randomly select a winner on Sunday night (9PM EST), so be sure to enter before then.
A few of you frequently complain that you never win anything. If you’re one of those, just go to Amazon and buy the book via THIS LINK. It’s currently selling for $10.19 — 32% off the cover price! (This book is also available in Kindle format for recent converts.)
Learn more about the author at her site: www.KeriWyattKent.com.
Read author interviews and more reader thoughts when you visit other stops on the blog tour.
