Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

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What Am I Feeling? by Dr. Josh & Christi Straub is a wonderful book to read to young children who may not know how to name their feelings. I currently work in a Transitional Kindergarten class, and I regularly observe how some kids do not know how to express their feelings. Being unable to express feelings can lead to frustration, anger and conflict. This book shows children that it is acceptable to have different feelings, but emphasizes that “a feeling is just a feeling–it’s not in charge of you.”

The simple story line follows a boy through his day at school. The boy and his friends experience various feelings as different situations arise. The feeling words are highlighted in red and make it easy to discuss the characters’ feelings. The book also teaches kids that they should go to God when they are having difficulties. The book also comes with a cute and helpful illustrated poster of different feelings. Emotional intelligence is an important skill for children to develop, and What Am I Feeling? is a useful teaching tool for kids.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

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Mended, Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters, is a new book appropriately written by a mother-daughter team. The authors, Blythe Daniel and her mother, Helen McIntosh partnered together to write a book about strengthening mother-daughter relationships. I appreciate that the book is written by both a mother and a daughter because it offers different perspectives. As a mother and a daughter myself, I could see myself on both sides of some of the issues that the book addresses.

The mother-daughter relationship is often complicated due to different personalities, opinions and life’s circumstances. This book discusses important topics such as forgiveness, reconciliation and communication. Mended uses real life examples to show how restoration between mothers and daughters is possible when we are restored in our relationship with God. This book provides hope for both mothers and daughters and shows that brokenness does not have to be passed down from generation to generation.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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More for Mom, by Kristin Funston is a book directed at moms that have a lot of juggling to do (isn’t that all of us?) There are so many things that need to be done and we all only have twenty-four hours a day. Funston, a busy mom herself, wrote this book to help other moms live a “Whole and Holy Life”. The author does not claim to be the “perfect” mom who has everything together. She shares her own struggles but exhorts her readers to pursue holiness in our everyday living. Funston emphasizes that “our holiness isn’t about anything we do but about what Christ has already done.” This book includes Biblically-based, practical advice about spiritual disciplines such as fasting and prayer. I also found the chapter about prioritizing our time very helpful. Funston writes in a down-to-earth manner and is funny and relatable. I would highly recommend More for Mom for any mom who wants “more” from this life.

Enter today to win a copy of More for Mom!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Breaking the Power of Negative Words (How Positive Words Can Heal) is a useful book for anyone who has had negative words directed at them. Since we live in a fallen world, I think this would include the vast majority of us! Whether spoken by family members, friends, or complete strangers, words are powerful and can affect the way that we view ourselves, either positively or negatively. The author, Mary C. Busha, systematically outlines ways we can overcome the negative words from our past and replace them with life-giving words that are only possible through God!

Part 1 is entitled “Words Spoken to Us”. It examines how we can carry words directed at us for a lifetime and how we can work through some of the issues that may develop as a result. Part 2 is called “Words We Speak to Ourselves”. Whether we realize it or not, all of us have an inner dialogue that we should also monitor. Finally, Part 3, “Words We Speak to Others” is an important reminder that we need to be careful with the words we use towards others. I would recommend Breaking the Power of Negative Words if you or someone you know is struggling in these areas.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Parenting Beyond the Rules, by Connie Albers, is a new book that provides parenting advice for those of us with teenagers or soon-to-be teenagers. What I appreciate about this book is that it recognizes that there is not one set of “rules” that will guarantee a great relationship between parents and teens. It seems obvious, but teens have different personalities, and therefore have different needs. What works for one of your children may not work for the other. This book tackles different areas of parenting, chapter by chapter. These topics include the importance of listening, monitoring your words, tackling tough topics, squashing fear and staying engaged. There are a few questions at the end of each chapter so that readers can evaluate their own parenting techniques. This book also encourages parents to remember that there is a lot to celebrate during the teen years. We need to remember that our children will soon be adults, and it is our job to equip them for this important transition.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I wish I would have been able to read A Life of Lovely about twenty years ago. Given that this book was published only this year, and the author, Annie F. Downs, is in her 30’s, I realize this is impossible. However, I think my 20 year old self would have really benefited from the advice Down gives to young women. The subtitle, “The Young Woman’s Guide to Collecting the Moments That Matter” shows the reader how God can be found in both the extraordinary and ordinary moments of life. Downs has a gift for seeing and hearing God and showing others how to do the same. Even though this book is directed at “young women”, I also found it interesting and inspirational.

The book is divided into three sections:

• When Lovely Is Lost
• Collecting Lovely
• When I Found Lovely

Throughout these different sections, Downs shares personal stories from her life. She is not afraid to be open and honest with her readers about her fears and doubts as well as her triumphs. Because Downs’ journey to find “lovely” is based on Biblical truths, it is a journey to which we should all aspire.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Does your home have an “open door” policy? What I mean is, do you regularly invite people over and practice hospitality? In Open-Door Living, Jen Schmidt gives practical tips on how to share the gift of hospitality with those around you.

Hospitality is not something that comes easy for me and I know that I am not alone in this. Schmidt breaks down hospitality into four parts:

• Food
• Cleaning
• Atmosphere
• Connection

Schmidt challenges the reader to think about which of these aspects of hospitality are easier and which are more difficult. For me, I would honestly say it is a combination of all four! This book offers simple recipes, cleaning tips, ways to make your home feel cozy, and conversation starters. As a Christian author, Schmidt emphasizes the reason why we should practice hospitality. The point is not to impress others, but to serve others and point them to Christ.

I really liked this quote from the book:

Our homes–now matter how imperfect–are the most likely location for changing the world around us.

I would recommend Open-Door Living to any person who needs some encouragement regarding how to open their doors so that they may be a blessing to others.

Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I have enjoyed reading Scholastic books since I was a child. Now that I have my own school-age children, I am excited to pass down the joy of reading. A Drop of Hope, by Keith Calabrese, is a new Scholastic release that will show kids how small acts of kindness can spark hope in the community around them.

My kids and I are currently enjoying this book as a read aloud. It is not always easy to find time to read together before bedtime anymore, but it was nice to bring this book along during our spring break road trip. The wide array of characters and perspectives keep the reader’s mind engaged. As a mom of both a girl and a boy, I appreciate that the storyline appeals to both genders. Although the book is recommended for ages 8-12, I would personally recommend it for ages 10 and up as the main characters are in sixth grade and dealing with the issues that come with that age. The storyline is intriguing, and I would not be surprised if this book is eventually made into a movie. In a world where it seems that hope in humanity is increasingly difficult to come by, A Drop of Hope shows that hope can appear even in the most unlikely circumstances.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Character Carved in Stone is a book that provides real life historical examples of character in action. The author, Pat Williams, is senior vice president of NBA’s Orlando Magic. He is also a motivational speaker who has written more than 100 books! Williams shares stories of West Point graduates from the Civil War to present day to inspire readers in the way they live their own lives.

West Point stands for twelve leadership virtues:

1. Compassion
2. Courage
3. Dedication
4. Determination
5. Dignity
6. Discipline
7. Integrity
8. Loyalty
9. Perseverance
10. Responsibility
11. Service
12. Trust

Each of these virtues is “carved in stone” on benches that reside at West Point. Character Carved in Stone devotes a chapter to each of these virtues. I have to admit, I skimmed some of the military history parts, but I am sure they would be interesting to others. However, the stories of people like Buzz Aldrin were quite fascinating to me. Even though most of us will never have the opportunity to test our character by walking on the moon, we can still live out the virtues outlined in this book.