Daddy Dates

I think Greg Wright may have stolen this idea from my dad! Not really, I think that God speaks to godly men when they truly seek Him. I wanted to read this book specifically because my father "dated" my sister and me. It is a concept that my parents came up with when we were kids and honestly, it works! My sister and I both have high expectations of what a future spouse should be. Hers are so high, she never plans on marrying, but don't blame that on the dates.

I remember people looking at me strangely when I would tell them about "dating" my dad, because our world doesn't understand the concept of dating to connect with a person on a deeper level, but rather our world sees dating as a means to an end. (While I'm talking about this, if you aren't "dating" your spouse, you need to commit to doing that too!) This book is filled with ways to understand and communicate with your daughter. Wright is humorous and heartfelt in his accounts of his experiences. It is an easy read that will help not only fathers better communicate, but is a great read for moms too.

Oh, and if you are a single guy looking for dating tips....pick up this book too! Follow his 2 rules of dating, no dinner and no movie...come up with something original that she would like to do that doesn't involve staring at something other than her and you will do well with women!

I received this book FREE via Booksneeze for the purpose of this review, and no other monetary compensation was received.  All opinions are 100% mine. 

Money Secrets of the Amish

When I asked for this book, I was thinking it might tell me to go off the power grid and start canning my own food that I grow. Well, since I'm a blogger and manage a web-based business, going off the grid was out and my small garden doesn't provide enough to survive on all year.

But that wasn't what this book was about at all! Money Secrets of the Amish is practical advice for the everyday "Englisher" (anyone not Amish). Use it up! Wear it out! Make do! Or Do without! De-spoil the kids! Don't Eat the Marshmallow! Shopping second-hand! Things we all know, but need to relearn and put into practice more often.

My favorite idea is in the chapter on Rethinking Gifts. The author, while not willing to go completely Amish in gift-giving, implements the principal of the three wise men: "We each get something we want, something we need and a surprise!" What a great way to curb the gimme's during the holiday!

Some books, I read once and then pass along, but Money Secrets of the Amish is one book that will be used as a reference in the future!

I received this book FREE via Booksneeze for the purpose of this review, and no other monetary compensation was received.  All opinions are 100% mine. 

God's Promises for the American Patriot

For months now, I have been listening to the news talking about all of the conflict in America. We have political conflict, racial conflict and class warfare. We have arguments about the direction of our country. We have large group of people who fear the financial future of our government. On the other side stands a group of people who seek to have the government level the playing field for all people, sometimes at the expense of those who have worked hard to get ahead. 

Then I heard a commentator say that the conflicts we now face are not the worst conflicts of our American history. The Civil War was. Then God led me to this quote from Abraham Lincoln in God's Promises for the American Patriot:

 "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!
It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."

It is so true! If you have someone who loves America and is looking for quick daily devotional, this is a great gift! When I am done with it, I plan on sending it to a soldier with a thank you note for their service. What have you done for your country lately? 

I received this book FREE via Booksneeze for the purpose of this review, and no other monetary compensation was received.  All opinions are 100% mine. 

May Budget Challenge!

Do you ever feel that your budget is out of control? I know I do. Even though we are saving money and not using the credit card. I still feel like we could be doing more. So, this month I am challenging myself to write it down! I want to know where the money is going this month.

So, is any one willing to do it with me? Anyone up for a budget challenge? What if there were a prize at the end of the month? I'm not going to say what the prize is yet, but I will come up with one if someone join me!

Secret Words

Want to get your little one excited about reading? Try secret words. Create a note, flashcards or sentence with white crayons on white paper. Then have your child revel the message with ink made of food coloring or water color paint. With Easter right around the corner, why not write words on your eggs before dying them?

How to be a perfectly polite princess!

What They Say: 

A fun guide book for God’s little princesses.
What does it take to be a princess? Sheila Walsh has some important answers to share for every little girl. This trendy design features black & white line art and a two-color pink and black interior. The art will tie to each how-to topic in the book—how to make the best pink cookies, how to wear a tiara, how to earn money at home, how to care for a royal dog, how to be respectful, how to use good manners, how to help Mom, how to follow Jesus, how to act like a princess when things go terribly wrong, and many more.

My Take:  This is such a sweet book for little girls! It is cute and funny. Some of the advice is silly and made me think...really? Does my child need to know which type of tiara best fits her face? But honestly, it is well worth it.

I have a 5 year old, so I'll be reading this to her or will put it away for a few years. I think this would be a great addition to my home school curriculum in a few years!

I love that the book isn't just manners and etiquette rules. There are crafts, quizzes (little girls love quizzes) and other activities. It has recipes and party tips. There is even a chapter on using the phone and internet safely and politely!

This isn't your grandma's etiquette book! Check it out!

I received this book FREE via Booksneeze for the purpose of this review, and no other monetary compensation was received.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Seriously God, You want me to "rest?"

What They Say: 
To rest does not mean to cease all activity.
Bestselling author Dan Allender presents an insightful and fascinating look at the origins and purpose of Sabbath. Serving as volume three in The Ancient Practices series, Sabbath examines the key issues of this oft-misunderstood day of the week.
This "day of delight" as instituted by God has become a dirge for millions of believers. For many, it is simply a break from the busyness of the work week. So, what keeps us from properly understanding, sanctifying, and celebrating this important day? Allender looks at not only the history of this discipline, going all the way back to ancient Israel, but also at the modern manifestations and misunderstandings of its practice.
Allender bases his premise on the Hebrew word for rest, Menuha, which is best translated as "joyous repose, tranquility, or delight." It is through this lens that he resurrects this lost definition of what it really means to rest.
A volume in the eight book classic series, The Ancient Practices, with a foreword by Phyllis Tickle, General Editor.

My Take:  In our lives, we often take for granted our days off. We rush, rush, rush all week long and then when we don't have to "work", we fill our weekends with birthday parties, kid's little league, shopping and housework. But one of the Ten Commandments tells us to, "Stop! Take a day off! Spend time with God and enjoy His presence and the presence of your family."

Seriously God, You want me to "rest?"

Yes, God wants us to spend a day doing nothing, but enjoying Him and our family. "Well, I go to church on Sundays....doesn't that count?" Reading this book I started to think about my church experience and ask myself am I really taking a sabbath on Sunday. The answer was no! As church secretary and nursery director, my Sundays are anything but relaxing. My husband and I have commented on the fact that so often going to church feels like another day at the office for me. People don't always realize that I'm there to worship too. I'm sure our pastors feel the same way.

So, what to do? My husband and I have set aside Saturdays as our Sabbath. It is a time to play. Enjoy one another, our child and God. We spend quality time together and have become so much closer. Honestly, this book was life changing for us. Read it!


I received this book FREE via Booksneeze for the purpose of this review, and no other monetary compensation was received.  All opinions are 100% mine.