Book Review: Fun-Filled Parenting

Fun Filled Parenting - A Guide to Laughing More and Yelling Less
By Silvana Clark

Most of us have been told at one time or another that children are a gift from God We all enjoy gifts, so why do we forget to enjoy our children? There's more to raising kids than make sure they clean their room and eat a healthy diet...there's nothing wrong with a spontaneous pillow fight or even a burping contest!

Don't feel overwhelmed, thinking that you need to develop a nightly comedy routine or wear a clown outfit to entertain your offspring-each chapter in Fun-Filled Parenting has a gradual, month long approach to making positive changes in your home. Fun expert Silvana Clark show you how to turn meals, devotions, homework time, chores, vacations and other obvious and not-so-obvious family times into moments of warmth, trust, creativity, and most of all, fun!

Valuable resources for instilling positive values include:

Tips to Creating Family Fun

Reducing Homework Hassles

Taming Television Time

Motivating Kids to do their Chores

Crafts for the Un-Crafty

Celebrating the Holidays and New Family Traditions

Children's Book Review: Veggie Tales

Princess Petunia's Sweet Apple Pie
Larryboy meets the Bubblegum Bandit
What's Up with Lyle?
By Karen Poth
Zonderkidz 

Princess Petunia's Sweet Apple Pie 
A Lesson in Being Helpful
When the King of Scone holds a pie contest, every knight wants to win! But what happens when Princess Petunia give up her oven to help another Veggie?

Larryboy meets the Bubblegum Bandit
A Lesson in Doing Your Best
All the residents of Bumblyburg are feeling lazy. Can LarryBoy save the day or will the Bubblegum Bandit take over Bumblyburg?

What's Up with Lyle? 
A Lesson in Using Your Gifts
Lyle the Viking likes to knit. What will Lyle's friends think when he uses his special gift to teach his friends a lesson?









All of the books are part of the I Can Read! Series. You can learn more by visiting Zonderkidz.com.

Book Review: Habitudes

Habitudes – Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes

By Dr. Tim Elmore

http://www.habitudes.org/

Every one of us influence those around us.  Sociologists tell us the most introverted of people will influence 10,000 others in an average lifetime.  So how do you influence others?  Do you even think about it?  Do you make a difference in the world you live in?  How do you add value?

“Habitudes” furnishes images that teach you leadership truths.  They will enable you to wisely influence your world.  This book is part of a series.  It will enable you to leverage personal power instead of mere positional power.

What others are saying . . .

“No one teaches leadership better than Tim Elmore.  This series is a must read.” – John C. Maxwell, author of “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.”

“Tim Elmore is a great communicator.  I enjoyed these images so much, I asked him to teach them to our entire staff.”  Andy Stanley, author and Pastor of North Point Community Church.

“These images will transform any young leader who is hungry to grow.  I highly recommend them.”  Josh McDowell, author

Patti’s thoughts . . . First of all, I love that these stories are short and illustrated well.  If a book doesn’t get my attention and keep it, I’m gone.  I have a short attention span  : ) The principles shared in “Habitudes” can be life-changing if you implement them in your daily encounters.  You don’t have to be a leader of a large business or group of people in order to apply these principles to live a more productive, servant-minded life.  This book is also great for small or large group study.  You could use this book for a group study at work or for family dinner talk time. If we taught these principles to young people, they would have an earlier start in deeply impacting those around them.  Our world needs these principles.  Read them, live by them and pass them on.

Book Reviews

Devote 40 Days

By Jane Jayroe and Faith-Filled Friends

(Tate Publishing and Enterprises) Tatepublishing.com

Devote 40 Days for a  lifetime of difference with stories from Jane Jayroe, Linda Cavanaugh, Betty Catching, First Lady Kathy Keating, First Lady Donna Nigh, Coach Sherri Coale and Nancy Ellis. When you Devote 40 Days, you too will see profound results in your spiritual journey. 

The Life Book

By Carl Blunt

TheLifebook.com

The Life Book presents a brief overview of the Old Testament and the Book of John using an interactive format with honest student comments and real-life questions in the margins. Readers are drawn into the only story that can change their lives forever. 

The Life Book Movement works in collaboration with churches throughout the country to provide the books for free to high school students. The goal is to ensure that every student in every high school in the United States has an opportunity to receive the gift of The Life Book. This approach presents a phenomenal opportunity to impact a generation with the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Curl Up with a Free Book

Enjoy a good book with free downloads.

Listen 
By Rene Gutteridge

Stuck in the Middle
By Virginia Smith

Craving God
By Lysa Terkeurst

Find many others on Amazon.

Free Book Download from Dr. James Dobson

Get yourself a copy of the book Dads and Daughters by Dr. James Dobson. Click Here

Our First Book Reviews

Cure for the Common Life – Living in your Sweet Spot

By Max Lucado

(W Publishing Group) wpublishinggroup.com

God made only one version of you. Cure for the Common Life helps you discover how your ability unveils your destiny…and how to find your uncommon call to an uncommon life.

Max offers practical tools for exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, motivation to put your strengths to work, and the prescription for finding your sweet spot. 

A Way with Words – What women should know about the power they possess

By Christin Ditchfield

(Crossway) Crossway.org

How are we using these words? Do we speak words that build up or words that tear down? Words that encourage and teach or words that control, manipulate, and deceive.

Christin Ditchfield challenges women to realize their incredible privileges and potential to impact the lives of those around them. Take a life-changing look at twelve key principles related to the power words, illustrated with examples from Scripture, history, and contemporary culture. Learn how to use your words wisely and well.