Monday, November 17, 2014

Growing Up Social *Book Review* + Giveaway

About the Book

-Softcover
-209 pages
-Parent Resources
-Discussion Guides for every chapter (perfect for a bible study!)

Is technology bringing your family closer together or driving you farther apart?

Children today are no longer playing hide-and-seek outside or curling up with a good book—instead they've been introduced to a world of constant digital entertainment through television, video games, and mobile devices. And while technology has the potential to add value to our lives and families, it can also erode a sense of togetherness and hinder a child’s emotional and social development.

In Growing Up Social, Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane will empower you with the necessary tools to make positive changes…starting today. Through stories, wit, and wisdom, you’ll discover how to take back your home from an over dependence on screens. Plus, you’ll learn to teach the five A+ skills that every healthy child needs to master: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology, and attention.

•Equip your child to be relationally rich in a digital world
•Replace mindless screen time with meaningful family time
•Establish simple boundaries that make a huge difference
•Discover what’s working for families that have become screen savvy
•Learn healthy ways to occupy your child while you get things done

Now is the time to equip your child to live with screen time, not for screen time. No phone, tablet, or gaming device can teach your child how to have healthy relationships—only you can.


We all know things are so different from when we were children. We always wanted to be outside. Saturday morning was my only TV time. We loved listening to the radio though. Kids today can operate a tablet or an iPhone before they're 3 yrs old! My how times have changed!!! 

This book is full of information about our children's development and the infamous SCREEN. They go through the A+ skills of Affection, Appreciation, Anger Management, Apology, and Attention. This is referred to as the A+ Method for Relational Children. 

Some of what I read confirmed the way I do things with my children. Then there were things I read where I can see where I slacked and wasn't consistent in certain areas. I know I was more strict with my first child compared to how I am with my youngest. I am in the process of changing the way I approach things with the younger one. Mr. Chapman also touches on the 5 love languages. 

"Nothing in life is more important than knowing how to build positive relationships with people and God. If you equip your child to build positive relationships, it affects their future business, marriage, parenting, emotional and spiritual well-being."

I highly recommend this book for every family. It may change your family for the better. Check out their official website.



About the Authors

    Gary Chapman- author, speaker, and counselor—has a passion for people and for helping them form lasting relationships. He is the bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages series and the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio programs air on more than 400 stations. For more information, visit 5lovelanguages.com.




Arlene Pellicane- is a speaker and author of 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife and 31 Days to a Happy Husband. She has been featured on The Today ShowThe 700 Club, and Family Life Today and formerly served as the associate producer for Turning Point Television with Dr. David Jeremiah. Arlene lives in Southern California with her husband, James, and their three children. Find out more at ArlenePellicane.com.

GIVEAWAY TIME
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.” US & CANADA ONLY

Monday, November 3, 2014

A Lifelong Love *Book Review* + Giveaway

We've all read marriage books. We all want a marriage where we feel connected, loved, cherished, and supported. I know for myself I don't always FEEL that way. Most of the time I do, but this book opened my eyes to some truth that can help my hubby and I move forward on our path of oneness. 



About the Book
Hardcover / 316 Pages 
Discover how to live out a sacred marriage. You believe your marriage has eternal purposes. you long for it to reach beyond your home and encourage others. But what does it look like to have a spiritually intentional relationship in the midst of dirty dishes, work deadlines, and car pools? In Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas showed us that God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy. Now, in A Lifelong Love, Thomas gives us the practical tools to craft our marriages into inspiring relationships that breathe spiritual life to others. Whatever season of marriage you are in, A Lifelong Love gives your the practical help you need to infuse your marriage with a spiritual passion that will not only change you but will change the world around you.

I always read the books' synopsis and think oh yeah, this will be an amazing read. I get about 2 chapters in and can't go on. It's all blah blah blah to me. This book was the opposite. I'm not sure why. Maybe because I've been having discussions with my married friends. As I read, I would think how this chapter would help them, or thank God because in this chapter it explained exactly what I was dealing with. I love books that I can personally relate to.

My husband and I got married and had this plan. He was going to pastor and I would be his helper. I sure was looking forward to getting out of the southwestern desert, that's for sure. As the years passed by his calling changed. He told me his new calling would be leading a bible study small group study here on the military base. Whaaaaat!? How can he do that to me? I have plans you know! Well, apparently God had other plans and they are much better than mine. Being a part of the ministries on base have given me purpose again. When I travel through the spiritual desert I'm blessed to be surrounded by my military family. This has also turned into my calling. Again, we are on that road of oneness.

I want to quote so much of what I read that really spoke to me. In the beginning of the book you read about how your spouse is not just your spouse. That is God's son or daughter you are married to. God is not just your father, but also your father-in-law! "We must be for our spouses as God is for us." Lord, help us see the burdens and hurts of our spouses. Let us not be consumed by our own burdens and hurts. 

The "D" word (divorce) is never in our vocabulary. We agreed to that long before we got married. We realize we are stuck with each other...remember those vows? We have to communicate. I pray the Lord will help me in this area. I never want to cause disagreements or frustrations. You know, keep life light and fluffy...but life just doesn't operate that way 24/7. 

At the end of each chapter are some reflection questions and a prayer. Wonderful prayers!

I pray that my husband and I will continue to seek the Lord in all we do. We can do all things through Christ. Much more than we could ever do on our own. Thank God for his grace and love.




This is truly a wonderful book! I want to give it to my friends and pastors! 

Make sure to take a look inside at Amazon.com

Check out the official website for this book.

About the Author:
Gary Thomas is writer-in-residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, a frequent guest on Focus on the Family and FamilyLife Today radio, and a popular speaker. His award-winning books, including The Sacred Search, have been translated into over  a dozen languages and together have sold more than a million copies worldwide. Thomas and his wife have been married thirty years and have three children. 

GIVEAWAY TIME
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. VALID IN US & CANADA