Hope For Parents of Troubled Teens by Connie Rae. This is an informative read for anyone with kid's teen years and younger. It is very comprehensive about different struggles that you and your teen might go through and how to handle them. It also is a great proactive resource helping you build a relationship with your children and prepare you for what teens may go through as they grow. I know I will reference this book in throughout the years as it is packed with useful advice and ideas. It's centered on Christian teachings and truths. There are scripture references and prayers as well as lots of ideas on actions you can do to help take a look at the bigger picture during these sometimes-trying adolescent years. It's well written, very conversational. The author, Connie Rae is counselor, mom and also a parent that went through a tough time with her own son as a teenager. She openly shares and draws from her own personal experience. This book is a great resource and help. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of this review.

K5 Learning

We've just completed our free blogger trial with K5 Learning and I'm excited to share about this great site. I let both my children, preschool and early elementary ages, try out this site. Both were engaged with the activities and both would ask if they could play on the site without my prompting. I think that speaks volumes when the kids actually enjoy doing educational games and activities. For those not familiar with K5 Learning it's an online site that offers reading, spelling and math skill building for levels K-5 though I must say my preschooler also found lots to do while on the site. I can see so many applications that this site could help with like; for kids that might be struggling in these areas, for keeping learning activities going throughout the summer months, for a fun but educational outlet for kids to enjoy some computer time after school and as a supplemental to a homeschool curriculum. They also offer an assessment which both of my kids took. It was great to see where they are excelling, on target or where they need a little more help in an area. You can sign up for a free trial to see if it's right for your family and there is also lots of information and resources for parents on their blog.

I Couldn't Love You More & a Giveaway!

I Couldn't Love You More by Jason Ingram and Matt Hammitt with illustrations by Polona Lovsin is a simple read to share with your little ones. There's very little text on each page but there's a powerful message in those words. This story shares two amazing truths of how God is always with us and while we parents couldn't love our children more Jesus loves them even more. It's a wonderful reassuring read, a perfect way to wind down the day with these promises from God. The illustrations are of sweet animals playing or cuddling with their parents. They are vibrant and fun. Matt Hammitt is the lead singer of the band Sanctus Real and wrote these words originally as part of song with the same title that can be found on the album, Every Falling Tear. Here's a link to a video of Bowen and his children sharing about the inspiration behind this book.


I received a copy of this book from Tyndale Publishing for the purpose of this review.

For Busy Moms

Paul C. Reisser, M.D. has put together three guide books for busy moms. They are Busy Mom's Guide to Parenting Young Children, Busy Mom's Guide to Parenting Teens and Busy Mom's Guide to Family Nutrition. I'll start and focus primarily with the one I enjoyed the most which was the Guide to Parenting Teens. I think I enjoyed this one the most as we are not anywhere near the teen years so much of this was new information for me to consider as my own teen years seem far behind me. I thought the book did a great job covering a wide range of topics that will impact our teens at various levels. I am certainly glad I read through this book and feel that I am more equipped with information for those teenage years and the best part is I have all that information at my fingertips to reference again and again as needed. It covers the topics of potential teenage struggles from trying to assert their independence to teen sexuality, to drugs and alcohol to the ever-imposing technological world of internet and social media. It is a Christian world view to these issues which is what I am seeking. I appreciated the organization and breakdown of each section and new topic making it an easy to access quick reference guide. Key concepts/questions are highlighted throughout the text as it moves from one area to the next. The other two guides follow the same suit and are equally packed with useful information. They also have the same organizational breakdown making them quick easy reference guides as well.

The Guide to Family Nutrition was a little bit too nuts and bolts for me though. It looks at the science and nutritional side of foods and their makeups which was interesting and informative but not something I think I'll pick up again and again to reread. In chapter 4 it delves into the matter of controlling our weight and problems that may be faced with eating and diet. This chapter and chapter 6 on diet for children that weren't so scientific in their presentation. As a mom I was most hoping to get more of the practical application of all these facts, maybe in the form of recipes, or a list format of foods to avoid, what to look out for on labels, substitutions you could make. The information is in there, but it is presented in such a way that I feel this book is probably the least successful in being a quick and easy go to reference. I feel like I would have to read through parts to find just what I was looking for or to even figure out what it is I'm looking for.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale Publishing for the purpose of this review.

Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site

I know it's been a while since I've slowed down to take the time to share one of our favorite picture books, but I've finally have got one to share with you all today. It's called Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. If you happen to know my little guy you probably know he's all about things that go so this was the perfect read for him. We see different rough and tough construction trucks as they work during the day but then each one settles down at the end of the day for a good night's rest. The story is just a few lines of rhyming text on each page just the perfect length for little ones. The illustrations are so charming, and you'll find some surprising bedtime favorites that you might not expect being part of rough and tough construction trucks' bedtime routine. It's a very fun read but also a great wind down read to a busy day. I'm sure this will become a bedtime favorite for many!

My Own Worst Enemy

My Own Worst Enemy by Janet Davis caught my attention because I'm sure like many of you I hear those discouraging voices in my head when I'm about to embark on a new direction, adventure, goal, job whatever it may be. This book offers many insights into this occurrence of self-doubt, lack of self-worth, self-sabotage or whatever it is that holds you back. But we were created for a purpose and to ‘shine’ as Davis puts it. We've been given talents and abilities to use and to succeed. Davis shares many examples from her life and those that she has met as well as Biblical looks at women in the Bible. Each chapter in fact has at least one real life experience to share, then moves into a Biblical example, and then summary. Some chapters share multiple examples from each. It was for these reasons that I begin to find this read somewhat formula drives, I knew the basic framework to expect. This book also became overwhelming at times especially when multiple examples were used to illustrate the same point. While there is a lot of great and useful insight to be found in this book it really could have benefited from better editing. I got the point of the chapter and then found myself not pulled back in to continue through more of the same. It was not a book I couldn't put down or wait to get back to, but I did want to complete it because there were moments which I knew I was getting something for my efforts. If you do struggle with self-doubt, it is probably worth the read, I just wish it would have been more concise in its presentation. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing for the purpose of this review.

K5 Learning

K5 Learning has an online reading and math program for kindergarten to grade 5 students. I've been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program. If you are a blogger, you many want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program. I've heard buzz about this site before from some of my homeschooling friends and I can't wait to check them out!