Review: Big Dreams & Powerful Prayers by:Mark Batterson

 
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge from the publisher for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Big Dreams and Powerful Prayers Illustrated Bible, written by Mark Batterson, the New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, presents 30 inspiring stories from the Old and New Testament that will help children understand and embrace the power of prayer in their everyday lives. With Scripture references from the NIrV and stunning illustrations from Omar Aranda, this powerful book will touch the hearts of young readers and help connect them to God. Short Prayer Points after each story encourage children to talk to God and allow him to work in their lives.

Prayer changes things. It brings us closer to God and allows us to communicate with the One who loves us most.
 
My Review:
 The current generation is in need of some Jesus. More today then ever, in my personal opinion. I love that authors take a few excerpts from the Bible and put together a collection of Bible stories for children. I think that it is an important investment in the youth of today. Life is fragile and so many people get so caught up in the "me" part of it that the forget about the "HIM" part of it.

 Reminding my kids every day that this world isnt just about us and that every single part of our day should include some Jesus in it. Reading to your kids before bed is a great way to incorporate this book and Jesus all at once.

 Big Dreams and Powerful Prayers includes 30 stories from both the Old and New Testaments to awe inspire our kids to dig deeper and rise higher for Jesus.

Review:Words to Love By by:Warren

 
*Disclosure* This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
A look at language and how children can use their words to encourage, forgive, express gratitude, heal, and love.

A book exploring the power of words. Young readers will understand how their words can change their lives and the lives of those around them.

My Review:
 A sweet, little board book that teaches children the power of our words. Our words whether spoken in love or hurt or in anger. Words can heal or build friendships. Words cant be taken back once they are spoken. So we have to see the value in each word spoken over another human being. 

 Such a precious book just in time for Valentines Day. Rick Warren has added to his children's book line and it is a book well needed these days. I loved the writing and the illustrations. Great book for this generation!

Review: Love You, Love You by:Alison Brown

 
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Love You, Love You is a cute and cuddly board book that shows the love between family members of all kinds. With heartwarming read-aloud rhymes and sweet illustrations by international artist Alison Brown, Love You, Love You is the perfect way to say, “I love you!” to the little ones in your life any time of year.

With an adorable cover case adorned with glitter, this book is perfect for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, baptisms, birthdays, new parents or grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, or anyone who wants to express love to the precious child in their life.

Love you, Love you,
Mama squeaked.
Into her nest she quickly peeked.
Sleeping babies
softly snore. I couldn’t love you any more.
 
My Review:
 This sweet book features animal families of all types. Doing the same things we all do each day and that it show our babies love. Whether its reading to them or tucking them in, this sweet little book covers it. Family is everything and it is what keeps us grounded whether your 2 or 102, the love of family is everything.

 This precious book is the best for valentines day or any day, really. The illustrations were great and as a board book I would still read this happily to my older kids. Its so sweet!

Review: Piper & Mabel by:Shankle

 
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Piper & Mabel is written by Melanie Shankle, New York Times bestselling author of four books and the hilarious voice behind the wildly popular Big Mama Blog. In her debut children’s book, Melanie shares the adventures of her two very wild but very good dogs, Piper and Mabel.

When the family plans a vacation to the beach, Piper and Mabel are shocked to discover they won’t be joining their people. Instead, they’re headed to doggie day care at the Happy Tails Ranch where they create all kinds of mischief when they discover the accommodations are not exactly what they were expecting.

Dog-lovers everywhere will enjoy the adventures of Piper and Mabel. The book jacket includes embossing.

My Review:
 Piper and Mabel remind me very much of my two dogs, Lily and Annabelle. My puppies act the exact same way as the main characters. So fun, full of love and tons of playfulness. Piper and Mabel are buddies, they do anything and everything together. When they find out that they will stay behind when the family heads to the beach the doggies aren;t to sure how this whole thing will go down.

 But... they are going to have so much fun and get into some much mischief they wont notice at all, that there loving family is missing from it all.

 This story is the sweetest ans so much fun. Such a delight!

Review: She Laughs by:Miljavac

 
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
SHE LAUGHS! In the face of. . .Poverty. Grief. Brokenness. Disaster. Hopeless Situations. Life’s Struggles.
And you can too!

Join CA Miljavac on a journey of joy.

She believes with all her heart that laughter is a gift, providing a sliver of distraction from whatever struggle you might be facing. . .relief when you need rescuing. . .hope in the midst of hardship.

Though her life has been dotted with disaster, it’s through laughter that she found the strength and courage to persevere. . .joy for the journey. And she’ll help you discover all the ways laughter can carry you through your very own painful situations.

In ten laugh-till-you-cry chapters, Miljavac shares how laughter has been an essential and valuable part of her own healing, plus hilarious true stories will help you get started on the path to a life of peace and joy.

My Review: 

 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. Psalm 31:25

This verse is my all-time favorite verse in the Bible. I try to live this out as much as humanly possible. Life isnt the easiest on the face of this planet, but I try really hard to rest in the fact that God's got this. It is very difficult at times not to react to certain situations, especially if you are a hot head like I am, but God is slowly teaching me how I should be. Its not easy, but with His help we can accomplish anything. We are but a vapor, so recognizing that has helped me realize that number one its not all about me and number two I desperately need Him to survive anything here on this earth.

 The author has a quirky way of looking at fear and she helps us through her own experiences fight this demon and put it to rest once and for all. I enjoyed the way she handles it and I will definitely be using some of her tried and trues when worry and fear start to contain me.

Review: Raising the Challenging Child by:Buckwalter

 
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
What's the worst you've ever faced as a parent? An all-out tantrum at the mall? A son who won't take out his earbuds to listen to you? A daughter who's failing at school and won't do her homework? A teen who constantly breaks curfew? A call from the police? Whatever you're dealing with, Raising the Challenging Child will help.

Building on their work at Chaddock, a nonprofit organization that has worked with some of the most challenging kids in the nation for more than 150 years, the authors empower frustrated parents with practical tips and real-life examples on how to

- minimize behavioral meltdowns
- reduce conflict
- increase cooperation
- promote healthy attachment
- improve family relationships

The strategies they share work both for the child who is going through a difficult phase brought on by life disruption or trauma, and for the child who faces chronic struggles. Parents, teachers, and those who work with children and youth will find positive, practical steps they can start taking today in order to understand and address the baffling behavior of the child under their care.

My Review:
 Well, let me tell you what having a child that challenges you at every turn is NOT easy. Ever! Parents have a hard enough time these days without their children not cooperating. The generation we are living with these days is beyond "out of control". Our kids are subjected to things we never were at that age and it makes this mama very sad. My boys see things and hear things and learn about things that I never want them to see, especially at their age. To me, they should be left along to experience being children.

 With all that being said, you have to see that they have so many things being thrown at them on a daily basis, it can be hard for them to decipher what is real and what isn't. Its our jobs as parents to clear the clutter and show them whats important in life. Raising the Challenging Child, will show you many ways to approach a child that well, challenges you at every turn. This book will be able to help no matter the situation. The authors have tried to think about this from every angle.

 And as a parent I welcome this. We need something like this as a virtual guidebook to help our kiddos today before its too late.

Review: Still: 7 Ways to Find Calm in the Chaos by:Donnelly

**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Do you worry a lot? Is it common for you to dread upcoming events? Does pressure or stress trigger outbursts of anger, isolation, depression, or feelings of failure? Do you have a hard time finishing what you start? Do you find it impossible to work in the middle of chaos? Do you wonder if God is really going to come through for you in difficult times?

In Still, Jenny Donnelly teaches you how to experience true, life-giving rest even in the midst of chaos. While most of us think of rest as something we do, Jenny shares how rest is a place from which we live and work. Sharing her own personal story of struggling with life's pressures and spiritual exhaustion, she introduces you to the source of peace and rest: Jesus. She shows you the steps to take to access rest anytime, anyplace, under any conditions. And she reveals how operating from a place of stillness powers your identity, creativity, relationships, and so much more.

If you've been stressed and anxious, operating on autopilot as life whizzes by, it's time you discovered the resting place God designed for you.

My Review:
 I have always been a worrier. As a child, I would get tummy aches worried about if my parents could pay the phone bills. I grew up not 'dirt poor" but extremely close to it. I have carried that anxiety and worry over into adulthood. I have several diagnosis' that coincide with a worrier. So to say its deep in my bones would be an understatement. I would say that is who I am. Jesus is trying to teach me every day to not be so quick to react out of my fear.

 Because worry and fear are basically the same coin only they have two different sides. Sometimes, I succeed and sometimes I don't. But God has never left my side even in my fear and worry and He has assured me that He never will. He is my constant and the ONLY thing I can count on in this life. I know that to my core.

 Fear and worry can quickly transpire over into the spiritual side of us. Very commonly, we are saying that we don't trust God with our fears so to work through these things are incredibly difficult. But the great thing about God is He made us so He knows how we work and how we think. He never gives up on us even in the midst of doubt and fear.

 The author of Still, comes along beside us and shows us how easy it is to be still and let God work these things out. He has come to my side many times and said, "Hey, why are you worried about this?" "Its not going to happen like you think it is." And He will be right. Its hard to trust anyone but God tells us in His word that if we just let Him carry our burdens.

 Worry, anxiety and fear are always going to be a part of me but with God by my side, He will show me the navigation plan to keep the sky blue and clear when it all seems so cloudy.