Book: The Crooked Christmas Tree

I thought the description of this book sounded good and was so glad I read it. 

About the book:

In this real-life Christmas fable, when a Dad decides to let his kids select the family Christmas tree, he gets an unexpected lesson about God’s love.

In this thoroughly contemporary holiday story, a father lets his children choose the family Christmas tree. To his surprise, the kids pick one that is crooked. As he tries one thing after another to make the tree look right, he rediscovers the power of God’s love. He begins to understand Christmas in a new way, particularly when his family decorates their tree and crown it with a star, never even noticing the crookedness he spent hours in the garage struggling to hide. The tender and laugh-out-loud narrative of real-life relationships propels the reader through the most un-generic Christmas story. This upbeat and comedic treasure refreshes the Christmas message of love and faith.

My thoughts:
This book has such a wonderful message. It was a great reminder of God's love for each one of us. The author does a good job in expressing his feelings with the tree chosen by his kids and how his feelings about the tree changed.  I think after reading this book you will look at people who are different from yourself in a new light.

I had my husband and son read it too.

It is a quick read, and I believe you will enjoy it this holiday season!  

Visit this site to learn more about Hachette Book Group and books they offer.

I received a copy of this book for my review from the Hachette Book Group. Thank you.


Have a day of blessings! 
  Bethany

Book: Unwrapping the Names of Jesus

About the book:

In Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, Asheritah guides readers through the four weeks of Advent, with a devotional reflection for each day focused on a different name of Jesus, family activities, challenges, discussion questions, and additional Scripture to go deeper. Each week also includes an outline for a family or group celebration of Advent for that week, including lighting the Advent candle(s), discussion questions, reading Scripture, and singing a carol together. This devotional can be used by readers in their own personal worship times or as a tool to engage in family worship during the busy holiday season.

About Asheritah Ciuciu

Asheritah is a writer, speaker, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries–an online community of women who find joy in Jesus through creative spiritual disciplines. She's also the author of Full: Food, Jesus, and the Battle for Satisfaction (Moody, January 2017). Asheritah, who grew up in Romania, her husband, and two young daughters live in Ohio.

My thoughts:
This is a great little book to center your mind and heart on Jesus.  I have read it over the past month and enjoyed these thoughtful devotions on the names of Jesus.  As you read you will be reminded of who Christ is and why He came to earth. 

The book is centered around the four weeks of Advent....Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love.  I did not grow up with Advent and found it helpful that there is an explanation about Advent at the beginning of the book.  What I liked was that after each devotional reading it has some challenges and questions for you to do with your family.

If you are looking for a way to put more Christ in your Christmas this year, please consider checking out this little book.  Advent begins December 2 so pick up a copy today.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!  
Bethany

Thankful Thursday

I am tired and going to bed but I wanted to get this TT done on Thursday this week!

This week I am thankful for...
~ being able to talk and FaceTime with my husband when he was gone. Titus was so hilarious talking to him on FaceTime.  He would talk so loud and every night he wanted to see the swans in Daddy's hotel and also the chips Daddy was eating.

~ my big boy being okay after some injuries in last Thursday's game.  The coaches were very helpful on Friday giving us some information about a clinic where he could be seen.  They x rayed his hand and knee. Both were okay, just sore.  The knee is a problem he has had before and was just aggravated by the way it was twisted in the game.

~ my little guy feeling better. He was coughing and snotty nosed for a week pretty much.  He did get an antibiotic too cause one ear was starting to look bad.  He took it like a champ, I was so thankful for that and that we were done with it this week.  I could tell he was feeling better this week with his appetite and how he acted overall.

~ supper at my Mom's.  She invited us over for homemade pot pie.  It was so yummy! 

~ making my list for "Black Friday" shopping. I am not a big shopping person overall, but the past several years I have made several purchases online with the specials that happen on Black Friday. I started looking at the ads this week and made a list of what I can buy at which place.  It is fun and I love when the packages start arriving.  My favorites are Kohls and Academy!

~ finishing a good book called Mother and Son:  The Respect Effect by Emerson Eggerichs.  Are you familiar with the book Love and Respect?  It is for marriages by the same author.  I have not read it actually but have it.  I heard about this book Mother and Son and checked it out from the library.  I did not get very far reading it, but when I found out it was an audio book on Hoopla I checked it out. I finshed it this week.  It has some great information for how moms need to treat their sons with respect.  It was insightful to me as a mom of two boys.  Now I've already started my next audio book.

Have a day of blessings!
    Bethany

Book: The Beloved Christmas Quilt

One Quilt Binds Three Generations of Amish Women
Enjoy the gift of a brand new romance from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, along with stories by her daughter-in-law, Jean and granddaughter, Richelle.

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Psalm 31:3

The scripture embroidered on the back of a beloved quilt brings hope to three generations of Pennsylvania Amish women at Christmastime.
 
Luella’s Promise
By Wanda E. Brunstetter
Luella Ebersol has been caregiver for a dying woman and her young son. When Dena Lapp gives Luella her favorite quilt, she makes Luella promise to pass it down to her daughter. But Luella isn’t sure she will ever marry if she can’t find someone with maturity and faith like Dena’s husband Atlee Zook.
 
Karen’s Gift
By Jean Brunstetter
Karen Allgyer and her husband moved to a slow-paced village to raise their children, but Karen longs for the closeness of family to help her through the challenges of managing three girls with one on the way. When life’s pressures rise, will Karen cave to her fears?
 
Roseanna’s Groom
By Richelle Lynn Brunstetter
When the unexpected happens on the day of her wedding, Roseanna Allgyer can’t help blaming herself, despite not understanding why. Then an old friend returns to town, and she battles feeling for him—afraid of being hurt again.

My thoughts:
I enjoyed these stories!  I liked that we had three short books together in one book that was about three generations.  The quilt is passed down through the generations. The three women face very different challenges in their lives, but the quilt and the verse on it is an encouragement to them all. 

Because the stories are shorter than a typical Brunstetter book, there is not a lot of depth as you may be used to.  The stories are told, but there is not a lot of "extra." 

It makes a nice book to read around the holidays if you are looking for something to read in the coming months. 

Here is a short video trailer you can watch for this book:


 Visit Wanda E. Brunstetter's site here.

I received a copy of this book for my review as part of the Clippity Clop Club.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
Bethany

Book: Calm, Cool, and Connected

About the book:
It's easy to become consumed and preoccupied with our devices. In turn, we begin to suppress or ignore what’s most important, focusing instead on the urgent and sensational. In Calm, Cool, and Connected, Arlene Pellicane walks you through an easy 5-step plan that will help you center your life on Jesus and love others by decluttering your screen time. By introducing a few easy habits into your daily routine, you can transform your relationship with technology and enjoy more time with God and others.
About the author:
Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, author of six books, media personality, and blogger. Arlene has appeared in major media outlets including the Today Show, Focus on the Family, Fox & Friends, Family Life Today, The 700 Club, The Better Show, The Hour of Power, Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah, and Home Made Simple on TLC, been interviewed on numerous radio programs, and written for several national magazines.

My thoughts:
This is a timely book and easy to read.  I have read others on this topic and really like this one. The plan given by the author using the letters of the word HABIT will be helpful to anyone who needs to put down their phone and connect with the people in their life.  Our phones/technology are overtaking our lives, and this would be a beneficial read for anyone.  Everyone can learn something from it I feel.

I appreciated that the author wasn't "preachy;" she just shared her ideas and tips that are helpful and very "do-able."  There are facts/statistics included throughout the book which I find interesting as well.  I am working to follow these tips in my own life relating to technology.   

I was sent a copy of this book from Moody Publishers for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
Bethany

Book: Why Motherhood Matters

I was not familiar with author September McCarthy, but when I read this book description I knew it was a book I wanted to read.

Here is a little about the book:

Do you ever wonder if your efforts as a mom make any difference?

Take heart. Whether you're struggling through sleepless nights with your toddler or endless battles with your teen, September McCarthy's story offers practical insights and powerful inspiration to encourage you on your own mothering journey.

As a mom for 25 years who continues to raise young children and love her young adults, September imparts words of wisdom and grace in key areas of Christian parenting, including...

• faith—getting honest with your family about your need for Jesus
• wellness—learning to take care of your kids...and yourself
• education—raising a new generation with creativity and character
• relationships—speaking to the heart of your children in unique ways

In these pages you'll find sweet anecdotes and gentle guidance for those moments you need both a breather and a lifeline. Motherhood is an incredible labor of love—and in the scope of eternity, it matters more than you know.

My thoughts:
I loved reading this book!  It has so much packed into it.  I kept writing down pages with quotes I wanted to save and share.  It gave me such encouragement to read this book.

As mothers we all go through similar experiences and challenges.  Sometimes we just need someone to come alongside us and remind us that it is going to be okay and we are doing a good job on this mothering journey.

I appreciated how the author shared from her own mothering experience with honesty.  I highly recommend mothers to read this book.  You will be encouraged!

#WhyMotherhoodMatters

Visit the website here.

I received a copy of this book for my review from the publisher.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings! 
Bethany

Book: The Blessing

Today I want to share with you book #2 in the Amish Cooking Class Series.  It is called The Blessing.

About the book:Six new cooking class students.  New friendships form, a romance blossoms, and hearts receive healing nourishment. Will Heidi’s own hurting heart also be healed?

Despite stressful changes occurring in their lives, Lyle and Heidi once again open their Ohio home up to those seeking to learn about Amish cooking. This time a teenager helping her divorced dad cook for the family, a caterer needing new recipes, a food critic, a hunter looking to impress his buddies, a wife given the class as an unwanted gift, and a mailman lured in by the aroma of good cooking gather around Heidi’s table.

During each class, Heidi teaches culinary skills, but it is her words of wisdom that have a profound effect on her students—though, this time Heidi’s own hurting heart will need some healing nourishment.

My thoughts:
I enjoyed the main character Heidi in the first book and she continued to be one of my favorites in this book.  I like that the recipes she makes with her students are included in the back of the book because as I read about them they sound good and like things I'd like to make myself.  This group of students is diverse just like Heidi's first group. At the beginning I wasn't sure how well they were going to mesh with each other so it was interesting to read and see them develop relationships through the six classes.  I can tell you that they all learning something in their cooking classes and it isn't just about being better cooks.

This is a good book to read and I look forward to what happens with Heidi and her husband and their desire to have children.

I reviewed The Seekers,  which is book #1 in this series here.

Find out more about Wanda E. Brunstetter and her other books at her website.

I received this book from the publisher for my review as part of the Clippity Clop Club. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
  Bethany

Book: Pierced & Embraced

About the book:

Throughout the Gospel accounts, Jesus engaged women differently than He did men. Sometimes the difference is subtle. Sometimes it is stark. Always it is profound.

Sometimes the love He offers them is gentle. Sometimes it is fierce. Always it is powerful.

Sometimes that love feels like a warm embrace. Sometimes it’s more like a piercing jab. Always, it changes everything.

Women today long to experience the same sort of life-changing love that Jesus lavished on His followers 2000 years ago. We still want to be completely seen and known and valued and set free—as painful as that process might sometimes be.

Pierced and Embraced digs deeply into seven encounters that Jesus had with a wide variety of women in the Gospels to show how His love can be equally transformative in our lives today. It mixes attentive Scriptural engagement with personal narrative and relevant application, making the content fresh, accessible, engaging, and practical.

You will:

• Understand the unique and powerful and complex ways in which Jesus loves the women of the gospels.
• Recognize your own longings for love and the (often inadequate) ways we seek to satisfy them.
• Discover how to live in the fullness of Jesus’ love for you.

My thoughts:
I received this book in the mail to review as a surprise, it was not one I requested.  I did enjoy it and feel like I learned a lot from the book.  As you can see in the book description, in this book each chapter focuses on the encounter Jesus had with a different woman of the Bible.  The author relates these encounters to our present lives and how Jesus comes to meet our needs too.  It opened my eyes to the ways Jesus interacted with the women, these are stories I have been familiar with my whole life but this book offered a new approach to them.  One thing I particularly liked was that the author added her own stories to connect with the Bible stories.

You can read more about this book here.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my review. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
Bethany

Church of the Small Things

About the book:

Is my ordinary, everyday life actually significant? Is it okay to be fulfilled by the simple acts of raising kids, working in an office, and cooking chicken for dinner?

It’s been said, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.” The pressure of that can be staggering as we spend our days looking for that big thing that promises to take our breath away. Meanwhile, we lose sight of the small significance of fully living with every breath we take.

Melanie Shankle, New York Times bestselling author and writer at The Big Mama Blog tackles these questions head on in her fourth book, Church of the Small Things. Easygoing and relatable, she speaks directly to the heart of women of all ages who are longing to find significance and meaning in the normal, sometimes mundane world of driving carpool to soccer practice, attending class on their college campus, cooking meals for their family, or taking care of a sick loved one.

The million little pieces that make a life aren’t necessarily glamorous or far-reaching. But God uses some of the smallest, most ordinary acts of faithfulness—and sometimes they look a whole lot like packing lunch. 

Through humorous stories told in her signature style, full of Frito pie, best friends, the love of her Me-Ma and Pa-Pa, the unexpected grace that comes when we quit trying to measure up, and a little of the best TV has to offer, Melanie helps women embrace what it means to live a simple, yet incredibly meaningful life and how to find all the beauty and laughter that lies right beneath the surface of every moment.

My thoughts:
I was excited to find out I was part of the launch team for Melanie Shankle's new book Church of the Small Things.  I have read her blog The Big Mama Blog for years as well as her other books (previously reviewed on the blog) and knew once I started this one that I wouldn't want to stop reading.  I made myself read slowly and enjoy it!  This is definitely one I want to read again.

I think so many times in life we are looking for something BIG to happen or something GREAT to do.  We want to feel important and for others to notice our contribution.  We miss out on the moments that really matter sometimes because we rush through them or don't pay enough attention as they are happening.  We think it is just another day, doing the same routine with the same people.  This book is a great reminder to appreciate those little moments that DO matter and are significant.   Slow down and don't rush through life!  God wants our faithfulness to our tasks as we daily serve Him doing whatever it is we do....at home, with our families, in our jobs, with our friends.

This book will make you laugh out loud and nod your head in agreement (maybe even shed a few tears) as Melanie shares snippets of her life with stories about her childhood, college days, marriage, friendships, and parenting.

There was so many quotes I liked in this book!  Here is one......

(As a side note I liked that she mentioned Alamo Cafe in this book. I have always wondered if she ever ate there since she lives in San Antonio.  As a fellow Texan we always eat there at least once when we visit San Antonio so I wondered if I'd ever run into her there.)

Find out more about this book on the website ChurchofTheSmallThings.com

You can pre-order this book now before it comes out on October 3.  Look at all these extra free "goodies" you will receive with your pre-order.....

Please consider buying this book today. You won't be disappointed!

I also wanted to share the book trailer with you. Take a couple of minutes to watch it.  Sometimes I think these trailers for books are corny but this one is such a perfect one for this book.  Watch it here.

I received this book from the publisher for being part of the launch team, and this review is my own opinion.  Thank you.

#ChurchofTheSmallThings

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

Book: Slow Down

Are you familiar with the song called "Slow Down" by Nichole Nordeman? If not, I highly recommend that you click over and listen to it!  I loved it when I first heard it and used it in the birthday videos I made for our boys this year.

Today I have a book by Nichole Nordeman to share with you called Slow Down Embracing the Everyday Moments of Motherhood.

Book description:

The days are long, but the years are short.

No matter if it’s your child’s first step, first day of school, or first night tucked away in a new dorm room away from home, there comes a moment when you realize just how quickly the years are flying by. Christian music artist Nichole Nordeman’s profound lyrics in her viral hit “Slow Down” struck a chord with moms everywhere, and now this beautiful four-color book will inspire you to celebrate the everyday moments of motherhood.

Filled with thought-provoking writings from Nichole, as well as guest writings from friends including Shauna Niequist and Jen Hatmaker, practical tips, and journaling space for reflection, Slow Down will be a poignant gift for any mom, as well as a treasured keepsake.

Take a few moments to reflect and celebrate the privilege of being a parent and getting to watch your little ones grow—and Slow Down.

My thoughts:This book will resonate with any Mom I believe because we all soon come to realize that time passes quickly as we are raising our children.  I really enjoyed reading this book and the reminder as a Mom to slow down and to accept our children as they are.  The days pass and soon a new stage comes before we realize it....sometimes we are ready for that stage to be over and other stages we don't want to let go of.  But either way we need to enjoy the moments we have with our children, not trying to change them or worry over things that don't really matter.

The book has 14 chapters on a variety of wisdom and insight for mothers using stories about her children. Then it follows up with a few questions about that topic for you to consider.  There are also short little inserts from other Moms too. The pictures of children are beautiful as well and add to the beauty of the book.

This book will encourage you as a Mom!  I highly recommend it to you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have a day of blessings!
  Bethany

Heart on the Line

Today I have another wonderful read to share with you from Karen Witemeyer.  It is book #2 in the Ladies of Harper's Station series.  

About the book:
Grace Mallory is tired of running, of hiding. But when an old friend sends an after-hours telegraph transmission warning Grace that the man who has hunted her for nearly a year has discovered her location, she fears she has no choice. She can't let the villain she believes responsible for her father's death release his wrath in Harper's Station, the town that has sheltered her and blessed her with the dearest friends she's ever known.

Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity. His telegraph companion, the mysterious Miss G, listens eagerly to his ramblings every night and delights him with tales all her own. For months, their friendship--dare he believe, courtship?--has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intended for him. Yet when he takes the next step to meet her in person, he discovers her life is in peril, and Amos must decide if he can shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.

My thoughts:
I believe I enjoy each Karen Witemeyer book a little more than the last one!  The characters and story lines are always unique and a little different from your typical historical fiction romance. When you start reading you can sort of guess what will happen but lots of unexpected things are thrown in along the way which make for a great read!  I like the characters of Heart on the Line and how the reader gets to know them.  I appreciate that the hero of the story, Amos, does not fit with the qualities of your stereotypical hero.  I thought the story line having these two "meet" over the telegraph wires was a fun idea and made for a great story.

This was a fairly quick read for me because I wanted to find out what would happen next.  This is a great series, and I highly recommend this book to you if you enjoy historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.  Thank you.
Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

The Farmers' Market Mishap

The Farmer's Market Mishap is the sequel to The Lopsided Christmas Cake by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter.

Elma is the main character in this book.  She is living alone after her twin Thelma marries. She lives across the street so the sisters see each other often, but Elma still misses their closeness.  Elma is happy for her sister but longs to find her own love.  Thelma things Elma and her husband's friend Delbert will make a good match.  When a man from out of town (Ben) begins to show interest in Elma after they meet at the farmer's market, Thelma is concerned her sister will move away.  She wants her sister nearby since she is expecting a baby and will need Elma's help.  Can Ben and Elma have a relationship even though they do not live in the same city?  

I did not read book one in this series yet but was able to follow along with these characters.

Read more and find other Wanda books at her site here.

I received this book from the author and publisher for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

Audio: 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You

Today I will share with you an audiobook called 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke.  The title is self-explanatory, but I wanted to share a little about the book here.

What effect is your phone having on your life?  The author shares a very insightful book that is very relevant to our culture.  There is a whole lot of information here about phones, social media, etc. and our responses to this.  It is really eye opening to think about how attached we are to our phones.

One thing that stuck out to me was how when we post pictures on social media we are looking for the approval of others.  How many likes will this get?  The author even shares stories of people who spend great deals of money getting the "perfect image" to share.  What he goes on to say is are we more concerned with getting the approval of men or of God?

I do not have a smart phone but do have an iPad so this was still relevant for me.  It has given me a lot to think about for myself.  This is a message that we all need to consider.  I highly recommend this book to you.

The book was read by Tom Parks. He was a great choice for this book in my opinion and very easy to listen to.

Find out more by visiting christianaudio.

 I received this book for my review from christianaudio Reviewers program. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

Whispers of Rest

Today I'd like to share a book with you called Whispers of Rest by Bonnie Gray.   I was intrigued by the description I read.

About the book:
Life is noisy. But what would happen if every day - for the next 40 days - you soaked in God's love as He intimately whispered words of rest just for you?
WHISPERS OF REST is a 40-day devotional detox for your soul, a spiritual journey to refresh you and guide you to greater peace, while helping you discover who God truly made you to be: His beloved. Renew your spirit with powerful affirmations of God's love with uplifting words of Scripture, journaling prompts for reflection, and practical challenges to spark joy. Bonnie will lead you to places of rest, where you can deeply experience the Savior's presence in your everyday life.

This beautiful guidebook will create space for your soul to breathe:
         Soul Care Tips & Trail Notes - Reduce stress and nurture your body and spirit.
         Daily Beloved Challenges - Brighten your day by taking simple soul care actions.
         A Simple Prayer Practice - Deepen your intimacy with God through easy-to-enjoy prayer prompts, inspired by classic devotional practices.

A lot can happen in 40 days. A new rhythm. A new heart. A renewed faith. Transform your life as you take the journey to say yes to God, embrace your true identity, rediscover your dreams, and begin your healing. Dare to enjoy each day fully and celebrate your calling as the beloved.

My thoughts:
I am over half-way finished with this book. I have been reading it for part of my quiet time.  The book is divided into 6 sections. Each one has a different focus for the days.  I really liked the layout of each chapter with something to read, then a short reminder from God's word and prayer, then some questions followed by a prayer prompt and a challenge related to the day.

I really liked all of the different prayer prompts and the challenges.  These challenges have helped me look at my life in a different way and to look for ways to stop and rest.

I received this book from the Hachette Group for my review. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

The Seekers

Wanda E. Brunstetter has a new series called The Amish Cooking Class.  I finished the first book called The Seekers.

Heidi decides to offer cooking classes to teach students how to make a few Amish dishes.  She has quite a mixture of personalities who sign up to take her class.  As the weeks pass the students begin to share their personal experiences and problems.  They all seem to gain something more than just learning to cook through these classes.

I enjoyed this book and the characters with their various ages and backgrounds.  The author has another series which I've read called The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club that is similar.  I liked the main character Heidi's gentle way with her students and how she wanted to help them in their lives, not just teach them a few lessons on cooking. Another thing I liked was that the recipes Heidi teaches her students are included at the back of the book!  I want to try Amish haystack for my family. I look forward to read what happens to these characters, especially Heidi with her longing for a child of her own.

Click here to view a trailer for the book.

A copy of this book was provided to me for my review by the author and publisher.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

Long Days of Small Things

Wow!  Reading this book has blessed me so much!  Let me tell you about it.

About the book:
Rich, soul-inspiring practices for moms who have neither quiet nor time. Dirty laundry, crayon-smeared bills, and smashed crackers . . . And there’s your Bible—buried under a pile of diapers. Bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, without a moment of peace and quiet, you wonder if the spiritual life you crave is even possible. But God sees you. He designed this parenting journey, after all. He understands the chaos of motherhood. And he joins you in everything—whether you’re scrubbing the floor, nursing a fussy newborn, or driving to soccer practice. Catherine McNiel invites you to connect with God right here, in the sacred mundane of every mothering moment.

My thoughts:
I could relate so well to this book.  There is so much we do as mothers that we can easily be depleted.  The idea the author presents is that while you are doing these daily tasks....wiping bottoms, washing dishes, folding clothes, cleaning messes.....that you can praise God and focus on Him in the midst of all of this.

One quote that I absolutely loved at the beginning of this book:  "I hadn't know that I felt invisible until I felt seen.  I hadn't realized how thankless the ceaseless sacrifices of motherhood felt until someone gently pointed me to their honor and value."

Please consider blessing a young mother in your life with this valuable book.  It would be a beautiful gift for a baby shower or Mother's Day.

On a side note...A ironic thing is I was going to read this one night as I took a bath.  My little boy came running into the bathroom to see me and bumped the book, knocking it into the tub and soaking it.  I had to laugh how perfect it was that he knocked THIS book into the water.   So I had to let it dry out before I continued reading.

It took me a while to read this book simply because it was beautifully written, and I wanted to read slowly and absorb what I read, if that makes sense.

This book was provided to me by Tyndale for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
    Bethany

Audio book: A Love Transformed

I am a big fan of Tracie Peterson and have read many of her books through the years.  I'd borrowed the first book in the Sapphire Brides series (A Treasure Concealed) from my local library and was happy to receive the audio version of book #3 for my review.

This book is called A Love Transformed.  In the beginning of this book the main character Clara is widowed.  She is not grief stricken by this though because she did not have a marriage of love to her husband.  She says she has only ever loved one man and her mother took her away from him.  She has two young children and decides to take them to Montana to her aunt and uncle's home where she spent time as a young girl. She discovers her first love there at the ranch recovering from an injury.  Her children fall in love with the ranch life and Clara has to decide whether to stay or return to her home and another loveless marriage with her late husband's brother.  Then she finds out a secret about her husband and his brother.

I enjoyed this book and the characters.  The children were delightful and I like how they were portrayed throughout the book.   I did not like Clara's mother and got annoyed with how she treated Clara and her children.

I did not see any connection with these characters and the first book of the series so it was fine to read on its own.  I recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction.

This book was read by Melissa Hurst.  I enjoyed her voice and felt she had the right voice for this historical book.  She did a good job and made it enjoyable for me.

I received an audio version of this book from the christianaudio Reviewers Program.  Thank you!

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

Lists To Love By

About the book:
It's no secret that there is a wide emotional gap between men and women. Couples crave love and attention from one another, but they don't always know how to show it. LISTS TO LOVE BY FOR BUSY WIVES presents creative and practical ways for wives to bridge this gap and improve their relationship. These thirty lists will carry wives through an entire month of learning to love their husbands more deeply with advice they will come back to again and again. From lists addressing a wide range of topics, readers will learn to set better expectations for their marriage, to communicate more effectively with their husband, to build a deeper foundation of love in their marriage, and much more.

My thoughts:
What a neat little book!  This set of books came out earlier this month, and I'm glad to tell you about them.

There are 30 lists here about a variety of marriage topics.  For example there is "10 things husbands want to hear from their wives," "4 decisions that define forgiveness," "6 things to do when you're lonely in marriage," and "7 things you should stop doing to your husband in public."

I found this book to be very helpful as a wife.  It is one that is good to go back and reread the lists. We all need the reminders, and I think this will help me improve as a wife.

Since there are 30 lists, this is a good size book to read in a month and read a different list each day. Or you may just find the lists that seem applicable to your current situation and read them in that order.  Either way you will surely find useful ideas and help for your marriage.

I enjoyed the lists and recommend this to you.

Also, there is another book for your husband called Lists to Love by For Busy Husbands.....

About the book:
Husbands and wives bring different personalities, upbringings, experiences, and expectations into their marriage, which can lead to miscommunication and emotional turmoil. LISTS TO LOVE BY FOR BUSY HUSBANDS presents practical dos and don'ts along with step-by-step advice for husbands who want to bridge the emotional gap and improve their marriage. Mark and Susan Merrill understand that couples crave love, but don't always know how to express it to one another. These thirty lists will carry husbands through an entire month of learning to love their wives more deeply--wisdom they will come back to again and again. These real-life answers from a Christian perspective will help readers evaluate, refresh, and strengthen their own marriage.

My thoughts:
 I have not read all of this book, but it is similar to the one for wives.  The ones I read I did think were applicable and would be good for husbands to know about wives. My husband read some of the lists and thought it was good, useful information.

This set of books was provided to me for my review by Hachette reviewer program.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany