It's that time of year!

Christmas is here--one of my favorite times of the year. I love the family times, the memories, the baking, the traditions, and the decorating. I also love the books. Every year, I buy a new Christmas book for my children. My oldest daughter is eight years old, so we have quite a few books by now! Every Christmas, I pull them out of storage and put them in a basket in the living room. The kids love reading through all of books like they are brand-new. :-)

This year, I received a book in the mail from Anthony DeStefano. He is an aspiring author, who has written several books, and has now tried his hand at a children's Christmas book. He asked me to take a look at it and give a short review here at Toddler World. He even sent an extra copy, so that I can offer it to one of my lucky readers. ;-)


The book is focused on the story of Christ's birth, although written in a fictional way about another aspect of the story. Mr. DeStefano personifies the star that shines over Bethlehem, in a way that children can connect with. It is a light-hearted story about an insignificant character who finds a way to show his gratitude.

And you may be able to read this book to YOUR kids......just leave me a comment, telling me what your favorite Christmas book is. (I will draw a winner's name on Thurs. night, Dec. 16th)

I know I'm a mom....now am I the worst one?

I told you I have been reading through the book, "The Bathtub Is Overflowing but I Feel Drained" by Lysa TerKeurst. As I mentioned before, it is nothing mind-blowing--just good truths that I really need to be reminded of. I am thankful for the way God reinforces principles in my life, principles that He wants me to apply and live by daily.

I am going to highlight Chapters 1 & 2 today.....I want to share a few of the truths that impacted my mind as I went through this section.

Chapter 1: Who Are These People Calling Me Mom?

Sometimes I feel like this.....how did I become a mother? It is overwhelming and unfulfilling at times (unless you have the proper perspective--a heavenly one!) Lisa pointed out that we have to change our perspective.

I have discovered that if I change the way I think about something, I can change the way I react to it. If I change the way I react, I can change the way I define myself as a mother. (pg.11)

That made me realize that when my day is going terrible and my children are misbehaving and my house is a disaster, I do not have allow those circumstances to define my motherhood. My focus needs to be eternal and then my reactions will be godly. Easier said than done, but I am committing each day to God before I start it.

She focused on 2 Peter 1:5-7, where Peter paints a word picture of our actions and choices building on each other. What a tremendous passage!!

Chapter 2: I'm the Worst Mom Ever

In this chapter, the author shares a (somewhat) humorous story about a "bad mom" moment in her life. Her emphasis is on the fact that God forgives us for our times of failing, if we are repentant. As moms, we cannot sit around focusing on our failing and using them as excuses for bad parenting. In Scripture, God mentions time and time again His unfailing love and forgiveness for those who fear Him. (Read Psalm 103!)

She points out our reason for failing: our lack of immersion into the Bible and our neglect for personal time with our God.

I needed to read that. I try and try and try (and fail and fail and fail) most days; then fall into bed at night, feeling frustrated and angry with myself as a mother. The reason? I have neglected to have my time with God, in His Word that day! Lisa puts it so well:

We're a slave to the tyranny of the urgent. But how can we continue to pour out if we aren't being filled back up on a daily basis? The flood of demands will consume us if we don't take the time to let God right our perspective, reduce our stress level, and whisper His tender truths of love in our ear. (pg. 20)

I will share thoughts from the next two chapters next Monday. I hope the wisdom in this book will encourage you moms today. And I would recommend reading this book--it has some good thoughts for busy moms!

(Speaking of moms, I think this one is wonderful. I will be keeping her in prayer as she tries to juggle much more than I ever will!)

Mommy Mondays: Do I look stressed???!!!!!

(Sorry this is posted on Tuesday......I had a picture to add again, and once again---it didn't work. Grrrr......)

My sister sent me a great book for my birthday. At first I wondered what she was trying to tell me (the book is entitled "The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained: How to Defeat Mommy Stress"). Do I seem like a frazzled maniac? I asked her if I appeared a bit tense. She claimed that I am composed and low-key and that she only bought the book because she "thought I might like it". I am not sure whether to believe her or not.....

Regardless, I am reading the book and am enjoying my study so far. The book is written by Lysa TerKeurst, who has written several other titles and is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is a light Bible study, so if you are looking for something deeply theological, this is not the book. :-) She writes from a mom's perspective, having 5 kids of her own. The book is filled with humorous stories and ancedotes, but she also draws from her own times of spiritual learning and applies those principles to the laughable (but frustrating) times of "failure" that we all experience as mothers.

Over the next few Mondays, I am going to share short reviews of the chapters that I have already studied. I hope that the thoughts I have drawn out of the pages of this book will be an encouragement to all of you mothers out there who experience "mommy stress" every once in awhile. :-)

Mommy Mondays: But for grace.....

Our pastor is doing a series on family, and this week he spoke on "Proactive Parenting". Since I do not feel that I have arrived at all in the parenting category, I was thrilled as he laid out some practical--and very convicting--guidelines for training children.

One book that he referenced much during his sermon was Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel. He emphasized how impressed he was by the book, so I decided to check it out. I found a great review of it here, and was glad to see that it is highly endorsed by one of the ministry leaders at John Piper's church.

So....I think I will be heading on over to Amazon this week (using my Ebates account, of course!) and buying a summer read. It looks like Tim has written many good books--I may have to buy a whole bundle of reading....

Have any of you read this book? Thoughts......?

~~MOMMY MONDAY~~

I wanted to share another book that I am making my way through--VERY sloooowwwwly, mind you--but I intend to finish it. The author, Karol Ladd, is very down-to-earth in her writing, as well as extremely practical. I think every mom feels "hopeless" at times, and it is hard to do positive things when you feel hopeless. This book has encouraged me to view my job of mothering as a positive opportunity--a way to uplift, encourage, and cultivate lives! I need to be reminded of the awesome privelege that I have as a mother.

And to those of you who do not have children, she speaks of being a positive influence and a reinforcer of godliness to other people's children. We all have a responsibility to the next generation!

This is what my copy of "The Power of a Positive Mom" looks like.....ironic, I think. (I had to maintain a positive attitude when I found it covered in crayon "pictures". :-)

And this is something I found in a book I am "recycling"......the Lord knew I needed to find it on the last page, and read it, before I got rid of it! Hope it can encourage someone else today also.

Teach me, my God and King, In all things thee to see;

Teach me to be in everything; All thou wouldst have me be.

In all I think or say, Lord, may I not offend.

In all I do, be thou the way; In all be thou the end.

Each task I undertake, Though weak and mean to me,

If undertaken for Thy sake; Draws strength and worth from Thee.

Teach me, then, Lord, to bring, To all that I may be,

To all I do, my God and King, a consciousness of Thee.

--George Herbert

"MOMMY MONDAYS"

Beginning today, I am going to focus Monday's posts on things pertaining to mothering. I am personally always looking for new tips, insights, and anecdotes , so I thought it would be fun to find things and share them with my ever-so-faithful readers. :-)

I did not have time today to scour the internet for mind-shattering info though (had to take Littlest E to the dr. to diagnose an ear infection and pick up the meds), so I will just share a book title that I have found helpful.

We are "blessed" with a very strong-willed--and often hard to understand-- oldest child. Sometimes I feel like I am at my wit's end when dealing with her.....I just cannot get a read on her thought-processes! I ran across this book while visiting one of my dearest friends awhile back (at her awesome church bookstore) and bought it to look through. The book is entitled "Aaron's Way" by Kendra Smiley. It was so encouraging....the author gave her thoughts and insights on her strong-willed son, and then each chapter ends with the son's (now grown up) insights into what he was thinking in those situations. As I read through it, I was relieved in a way to realize that I am not the only one dealing with these seemingly unending battles. :-)

The book is saturated with Scripture--many parenting books are not, unfortunately--and the author is careful to always point to the Biblical perspective. I would highly recommend this book, not just for parents of strong-willed children, but all mothers who desire to have a plan for discipline and instruction.

"Parents, every day you have to decide where you'll draw the line--what behavior is permissible and what will not be tolerated. You'll have to be ready for battle every day until your child makes his own decision to stop battling. The hope is that his determination for control will lessen each day. But until he decides to acquiesce, I guarantee you that you will be pushed and tested. The more often you give in, the worse it will get, and the longer the process will take. If you hold firm, your strong-willed child will eventually give up engaging in many of the fights. Don't be short-sighted. Raising a strong-willed child is not a sprint; it's a marathon." pg. 40-41

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

*Hebrews 12:11*