Loving My Actual Christmas: An Experiment In Relishing the Season by Alexandra Kuykendall

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• ISBN-10: 080107536X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801075360
• Publisher: Baker Books (September 5, 2017)

Synopsis

The Christmas season is a particularly difficult time for women to slow down and relish what's right in front of them. An annual marker for many, it is a holiday that can often remind us how life is not going as we'd planned. Our family relationships remain strained, our finances stretched, and our schedules stuffed with too much to do in too little time.

Following the formula of her successful Loving My Actual Life, Alexandra Kuykendall shares with readers her own personal experiment to be completely present in her life as it is during the holiday season. Addressing the themes of Advent and Christmas, she reflects on hope, love, joy, peace, and relishing the season, with practical pullouts on common Christmas stressors, such as finances, schedules, and extended family. Kuykendall's signature candor helps women go easy on themselves, remember what truly matters, and find joy in their imperfect Christmases.

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Loving My Actual Christmas by Alexandra Kuykendall is well written and a refreshing, practical guide on how to experience and find joy in the Holiday Season no matter where you are in your life and what is going on in your life. 

It's a call to remember the "reason for the season" and how to avoid sabotaging  yourself and those around you during the Christmas season. 

Ms. Kuykendall's advise and steps of her "experiment" are clearly defined, practical and at times a bit unnerving as she asks you to do a bit of soul searching and stepping out on Faith. 

Overall, a book I will be reading and applying not only to the Christmas holiday season but to other areas of my life as well. I highly recommend this book!

4 Stars!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms.  Kuykendall as well as Bakers Books and Netgalley  for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Bible and Me ~ Stories with a message to live by Retold by Lois Rock; Illustrated by Alida Massari

Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: Lion Hudson (August 1, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0745964958
ISBN-13: 978-0745964959

Synopsis

(from Amazon)

Thoughtfully retold, The Bible and Me begins with the faith stories of the Old Testament that tell of God’s unfailing love. The New Testament describes the coming of God’s son Jesus Christ, who by his life and teaching showed how all people could be reconciled to God.The stories of Jesus’ friends and followers are that of their faith, hope, and love. Each story ends with a prayer, psalm, or passage for reflection. 

 

The Bible and Me is a wonderful retelling of Biblical stories for children. The stories are well written and  engaging. The illustrations are beautifully drawn and quite captivating with their gorgeous array of colors.

This book would be a wonderful addition for read aloud bedtime stories, devotions, family time and/or self-reading time for older children!

5 Stars

Thank you to Kregel Publishing for the free gift of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

365 Family Dinners and Devotions Cookbook by Kathleen Y'Barbo

• Publisher: Barbour Books; Gld edition (August 1, 2016)
• ISBN-10: 1630586110
• ISBN-13: 978-1630586119
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Releases Today!

Synopsis:

This daily, family - faith and food-themed devotional is delightfully unique!  For every recipe (one for every day of the year), there is a family-friendly dinnertime devotional as well. Each reading is themed to appeal to your family--with topics like priorities, prayer, encouragement, love, and dozens more. 

Bonus material includes creative ideas and inspiration for getting the entire family around the dinner table each night of the week, plus a categorized recipe index will help you easily locate your family's favorite dishes. 

365 Family Dinners and Devotions Cookbook is truly a celebration of  family, faith and food! 

My first reaction upon reviewing the recipes in this book was, "Wow, there is something in here for everyone!"  The recipes range from appetizers to salads, main course dishes, side dishes and desserts. They are all simple, homey recipes that just invite you to sit down and enjoy them time and again. They are definitely recipes my family and I will enjoy!

The devotionals that accompany the recipes for each day of the year are well written, to the point and provide a wonderful opportunity for a family to share and explore God's love and plan for each of us. The devotional topics are family oriented and able to be discussed during dinner time. The initial reading of the daily devotional for all the family to hear takes less than five minutes. 

Another bonus are the family dinner time tips interlaced throughout this book. I found them to be practical, helpful and very informative!

This book is a wonderful resource for bringing faith, fun and meaning to the family dinner table. 365 Family Dinners and Devotions is wonderful gift for yourself and your family and would make a fantastic gift for others as well!

5 Stars

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

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Help for the Homemaker ~ Having a Martha Home the Mary Way: 31 Days To A Clean House and Satisfied Soul by Sarah Mae

• ISBN-10: 1414372620
• ISBN-13: 978-1414372624
• Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (March 15, 2016)

Synopsis:

Get your home and your heart in order in just 31 days!

Sarah Mae wants to let you in on a little secret about being a good homemaker: It’s not about having a clean house. She’d never claim to be a natural, organized cleaner herself―yet, like you, she wants a beautiful space to call home, a place where people feel loved and at peace. Where people can really settle in with good food, comfy pillows, and wide-open hearts.

Is it possible to find a balance? To care for your heart―and your home―at the same time?

Journey with Sarah Mae on this easy, practical 31-day plan to get you moving and have your house looking and feeling fresh. But even more than that, you’ll gain a new vision for the home of your dreams, and how to make it a place of peace, comfort, and community. Originally published as the e-book 31 Days to Clean and now revised and expanded in print for the first time, Having a Martha Home the Mary Way will inspire you to find a happier, healthier . . . cleaner way to live.

"Home ... a place of peace, comfort and community."

quote from Having a Martha Home the Mary Way

I believe that we all long for a place to call home - a special place that supports us, nurtures and comforts us. Yet with today's busy lives, the demands of working full time, juggling a home, a family and everything else ... at times (for me) it's overwhelming and it feels like it's almost impossible to create the home I dream of and long for. 

So, it should be no big surprise that I was pretty excited when I found out I was picked to read and review Having a Martha Home the Mary Way by Sarah Mae! 

The chapters are short and to the point, the household tips excellent and the chats are enlightening and inspirational.  I so appreciated the tips on ways to tweak the program to my individual needs.  I also enjoyed the quotes and chats on creating a home unique to each one of us as well as support and direction through Bible scripture that encourages and helps us strengthen our personal relationship with God.  

This book is practical, wonderful and I give it ...

5 Stars!

Thank you to Tyndale Momentum and Edelweiss for a gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Life Giving Home: Creating a place of belonging and becoming by Sally and Sarah Clarkson

• Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (February 2, 2016)
• ISBN-10: 1496403371
• ISBN-13: 978-1496403377

Synopsis: 

How to make home your family’s favorite place to be . . . all year long.

Does your home sometimes feel like just a place to eat, sleep, and change clothes on the way to the next activity? Do you long for “home” to mean more than a place where you stash your stuff? Wouldn’t you love it to become a haven of warmth, rest, and joy . . . the one place where you and your family can’t wait to be?

There is good news waiting for you in the pages of The Lifegiving Home. Every day of your family’s life can be as special and important to you as it already is to God. In this unique book designed to help your family enjoy and celebrate every month of the year together, you’ll discover the secrets of a life-giving home from a mother who created one and her daughter who was raised in it: popular authors Sally and Sarah Clarkson. 

Together they offer a rich treasure of wise advice, spiritual principles, and practical suggestions. You’ll embark on a new path to creating special memories for your children; establishing home-building and God-centered traditions; and cultivating an environment in which your family will flourish. 

The Life Giving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson is about creating a home for yourself, your family and friends through intention, creativity  as as well as through a strong relationship with God. 

A lifegiving home can be done on any budget as it's not about the things you buy, it's about the quality of life and home. Creating a space you enjoy and where you and others can feel loved, cherished and supported. 

I found this book to be inspirational and full of practical tips and guidance in helping me to work towards my goals of creating a home environment that I and my family want to live in. This book truly touched my heart! 

 I highly recommend this book (5 Stars!). I also want to to let you know that Sally and Sarah have co-written The Lifegiving Experience: a 12 Month Guided Journey as well as a wonderful website: The Lifegiving Resources.  They really great and so worth checking out!

Thank to Tyndale Publishing and Edelweiss for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ishtar's Odyssey: A Family Story For Advent by Arnold Ytreeide

• ISBN-10: 0825443938
• ISBN-13: 978-0825443930

Synopsis:

A new Advent family devotional from the author of Jotham’s Journey! Fourth in a set of Advent adventure books for families, Ishtar’s Odyssey follows the ten-year-old son of a Persian wise man as their caravan follows a star across the desert. Ishtar would just as soon stay in the comfort of the palace, but slowly he learns that there’s much to see, do, and learn in this world that can’t be experienced in school. He eventually meets Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha as he follows his father and uncles in their search for a newborn king.

Arnold Ytreeide’s family advent devotionals have become a much-loved Christmas tradition, enjoyed by multiple generations. With over 100,000 in print they include Jotham’s Journey, Bartholomew’s Passage, and Tabitha’s Travels.

Ishtar's Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide is the fourth in his Advent book series but it can be read as a stand alone book or as part of the series.

It is a historical fiction book that is strongly based on Biblical truths, Bible verses and of course, the story of Christ's birth. Mr. Ytreeide has brought history to life through this book (and series) that the whole family will enjoy as an Advent devotional.

The story is  divided into short chapters  to be read aloud for each day of Advent. After each chapter there is a short summation by the author with end of chapter "thinking points" that can be used to discuss what was just read aloud. He also includes a Bible verse for each day as well. 

There are suggestions throughout the book that can be used to help bring the story "to life" even more. There is a list of Persian food that Isthar ate during his journey next to a "comparable meal for today" as well. At the back of the book there is a list of dates for "Advent through the years" that I think is extremely helpful. 

All in all, Ishtar's Odyssey is a wonderful story and devotional that parents, children and families can share together to experience and celebrate the wonder and joy of the Advent season! 

5 Stars!

Thank you to Kregel publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

99 Prayers for Children ~ A Wonderful Holiday Gift!

• ISBN-10: 1781281912
• ISBN-13: 978-1781281918
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• Compiled by Juliet David
• Illustrator: Elina Ellis
• Ages: 5 - 7 years
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From the Publisher:

A companion prayer book to 99 Stories from the Bible with delightful illustrations in a strong vibrant style and prayers for all occasions. The prayers are a combination of traditional and modern and provide an introduction to family prayer time with young children, bringing talking to God to life in the heart of every child.

99 Prayers for Children is a wonderful compilation of prayers for children.  It is beautifully illustrated with bright colors and scenes. The prayers are short, direct and simple yet eloquent and engaging. 

This book will provide a wonderful resource for parents and children as they read together, share how to pray and encourage a deeper relationship with God. 

99 Prayers for Children would make a fabulous gift this holiday season!

5 Stars!

Thank you to Kregel Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an  honest review.