"Finding God at the Kitchen Sink" Review and Giveaway!

 

It's easy to see God in a glorious sunset or in a beautiful national park, where it's obvious that His majesty is on display for all to see. But, when I'm ankle deep in toys, trying to navigate a Lego "minefield" in the living room, or cleaning up a broken bowl that someone "accidentally" dropped, I tend to ignore, or not see, the glory of God in the mundane moments.

Blogger, photographer and mom Maggie Paulus brings a new perspective to her book Finding God at the Kitchen Sink. In this little gem of a book full of devotional-type anecdotes, Maggie shows that the glory of God is just as brilliant in the everyday as it is in those "wow" moments that occasionally happen in life. God can minister and speak to our hearts even in the boring day-to-day if we are open to His voice.

Finding God at the Kitchen Sink is a 200-page book filled with short "chapters" that include a photo from Maggie's own collection, a story from her life, and a couple of verses to put it all together. This was such a light read, and so encouraging for me, that I didn't want to put it down. You could read a story a day as a devotional, or you could read it all at once-and again-like me. I loved how Maggie paints the picture of us as children and God as our heavenly Father, and how being a parent shows us parts of God's love we could never have imagined.

Maggie also recounts her past, how her birth parents left her and her brother at a young age, and how she was later adopted after having suffered in several bad foster homes. Through her experiences, she has learned that God will never leave nor forsake her, and despite the pain in her past, she has used it to encourage other women to lean on God as their all in all.  

I really enjoyed this book, and I would love to share it with one of my readers. I hope it will encourage you as much as it encouraged me! Moody Publishers has been gracious enough to provide a giveaway copy for one of my readers. 

Simply enter with your name and email address below. Giveaway will end Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 8pm PDT. You must be a resident of the US/Canada to enter. Upon entry, I would love for you to follow Save Money, Live Joyfully on either Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or via Email.

Congratulations Deairdre for winning a copy of Finding God at the Kitchen Sink!


*I received a free copy of this book to review in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Book Review: 52 Uncommon Dates and a Giveaway

I recently posted Date Night on a Budget, which seems to go along well with my latest book review, 52 Uncommon Dates. As you can guess, this book is filled with 52 different dates you can take with your spouse, that don't fall into the typical dinner-and-a-movie routine. The book is written by Randy Southern, with an introduction from Gary Chapman who explains the importance of reading your spouse's "love language" in order to form a more intimate bond.

I like the layout of the book. Each date starts with a Bible verse, tips to make it happen, conversation starters for the date, and how to incorporate your spouse's love language into your date followed by a bunch of Bible verses that discuss the theme of the date. There were some really interesting dates: going to a garage sale together, taking a bike ride together, building with Legos, going ice skating, a date that needs to stay entirely in the car, and watching a sunrise together. Because of the pre-date and post-date content in the book, each date had a purpose of building true intimacy instead of just going out to pass the time.

Before I can accurately share my opinion of this book, I have to explain my husband a little bit. He's very much a military man...which means he likes routine, and doesn't like to share his feelings. Ever. He has amazing strength and wisdom, and I am grateful for how much he balances me in my emotions, but I have to admit that he was not interested in most of the dates, and really wasn't a fan of the conversation starters or references to love language. I think he finds it all a bit frilly. But, that's just my husband, and I love him for who he is =)

That said, I did like the ideas in the book. I'm not sure it really works for us in this stage of life (we don't get the chance to get out without the kids much, and we'd probably prefer to go places and do things we know we're going to enjoy to take advantage of the time away.) But, I think it still offered some good advice and ideas, and I'm sure there are many couples who could benefit from reading this, and incorporating some of the dates for their next evening (or morning, or afternoon) away. I think this book is probably best suited for couples without children, or couples with older children. It would be difficult to do some of these ideas when you're parenting littles.

*Moody Press provided me a copy of this book as well as a giveaway copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Giveaway is Now Over. Congratulations Laura for being our winner!

Winner of the "My Mama and Me" Giveaway

And the winner is....

Kerstin

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Book Review and Giveaway!!!

My Mama and Me: Rhyming Devotions for You and Your Child


Today, I am excited to have the opportunity to review a wonderful Mother-Child devotional book, and also give away a copy of the book to one of my awesome readers! More details about the giveaway later, but first I want to talk about “My Mama and Me: Rhyming Devotions for You and Your Child”.

This hardcover book is geared towards young children (probably aged 2-6) and their mamas. I absolutely love the layout of this book. There are 25 devotions, and each one includes a cute illustration, a Bible Verse that ties in to the lesson for the day, the actual devotion (which is a short, two-paragraph rhyming poem about God’s love, His kindness, and/or His character), and a prayer. What I adore most about this book, however, is the accompanying “Fun Idea for Mama and Me” at the end of each devotion. It’s either an art and craft activity, a question for your children to ponder, a game to play, or a song to sing. I think these little activities really bring it alive for kids, and takes the devotional from a passive listening activity, to an active and fun event.

Since we’re jumping headfirst into homeschooling this year (we’re starting on Monday!!), I think this devotional will be a perfect morning Bible lesson to start off the day. And the layout is such that Stinker will get to be a part of it, instead of just listening. 

Thanks to Tyndale Publishers for providing a copy for me to review, and also a copy to giveaway to one of my readers. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way. 

Now for the fun part! I get to give away a copy of “My Mama and Me: Rhyming Devotions for Your Child!” I'd love for you to head on over to Facebook and like "Save Money, Live Joyfully" if you haven't already! Winner will be notified on Tuesday, September 17.

Congratulations Kerstin, and thanks to all who entered! Stay tuned for our next giveaway!

"Mom Connection" Book Review and Giveaway

It's interesting how differently people are wired. Some people crave interaction and need to be with other people every single day. Some people are more homebodies, and it's impossible to drag them out of the house. I fall somewhere in between those two categories. I enjoy spending time with my friends, but there are days I'd rather just stay home with my family. The new MOPs (Moms of Preschoolers International) book, Mom Connection, by Traci Bianchi, discusses the importance of maintaining relationships within a support group of friends through the crazy young-children years to maintain our personal identity so we are able to give more to our families.

Traci Bianchi is a talented author who had me chuckling (okay, guffawing) at least once in every chapter. Her sense of humor made this book an easy read, and really brought to light some of the more challenging aspects of motherhood: "Those pre-kid women now seem like inapproachable divas. They shop, sip chai lattes, and get weekly pedicures, maybe even tote around random poodles in handbags...We mostly dig overdue library books out from under the couch" (Bianchi, 60).

The main focus through this entire book is that we need to slow down, make relationships a priority, and learn to find our "rhythm," as she puts it. There are several tasks at the end of each chapter, including thoughtful questions, a reminder to pray, and encouragement to keep a journal as we each search to find our rhythm as a mother and as a woman. When we settle into a rhythm and have a support group of other women (we are not alone in our life journey), Bianchi asserts that we will have more patience, joy, and a better attitude through the chaos that is life with young children.
 
I was so excited that MOPs graced me with a copy of this book and gave me the opportunity to give a copy away to one of my wonderful readers! 

Shellee has been randomly chosen as the winner of this book. Thank you so much to everyone who entered!!!

*While I was provided a complimentary copy of Mom Connection, all views and opinions are my own.