by Johann Wyss

"Children are, on the whole, very much alike everywhere, ....It will make me happy to think that my simple narrative may lead some of these to observe how blessed are the results of patient continuance in well-doing, what benefits arise from the thoughtful application of knowledge and scinec, and how good and pleasnat a thing it is when brethren dwell together in unity, under the eye of parental love."

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what one item would you take? This book. It teaches everything from how to make bowls, to how to carve up a whale. It was wonderful, entertaining, instructional, and a good read. A good, long read, but I'm glad we didn't give it up. It took us nearly 6 weeks to read at a chapter or two a day, but it was great. The family Robinson showed what one can do with initiative, knowledge, and a strong faith in God. I strongly advise this book for anyone, and the boys agree with that opinion.

by Sheila Walsh

Sheila Walsh, the best-selling author and Women of Faith Speaker, tackles a simple subject: Jesus' Simple Plan for a transformed Life. As you catch your breath from laughing so hard, the long and short of it is we really do put too many addendums into what we think our life should be like as Christ followers. Sheila shares her personal experiences, those of others, and tales of Tolstoy to show how simple it really can be and how complicated we can make it.

I found this a wonderful book to read, and a great reminder to put yourself back where you were when you first loved Christ.

by Terri Blackstock
second in the Capr Refuge Series

Five babys kidnapped, a teen girl sneaking out with a boy, a police chief missing, and a librarian quitting. Can these all be related and part of the same plot. As surely as Mrs. Blackstock takes pen to paper it certainly can be.

Southern Storm picks up not too far after Cape Refuge left off. Blair and Morgan are moving on with life after their parent's death, but that doesn't mean that life will move on smoothly. With her ability to draw you into the story, you follow along as Blair learns more about God and Cade, and Morgan understands Sadie a little better. A story that proves trusting your instincts does matter at times, and God can turn anything to good.

by H. Norman Wright

This book was wonderful and so full of information. It will help you with your anger, and help you help your children too. Mr. Wright has suggestions, advice, explanations, and questions for you to deal with all the situations and problems. It iw full of bibilcal advice as well.

Did you know that anger is a secondary emotion usually meant to hide hurt, frustration, or fear? When you deal with what is causing the anger you help your child deal with the anger. Instead of saying, "Why are you mad at Joni?" you ask "Did Joni hurt you?" Yes, it does take some thought process and understanding on the part of the parent, but it helps everyone focus on the real problem. Other people do not make us mad, rather our anger shows that there is a problem somewhere else. This book helps you guide yourself and your child into a better understanding of how you feel and why they feel that way. And then working on encouraging, building up, and guiding your children is a wonderful ending to this book.

If you have problems with anger, or have children that do, I would highly suggest picking up this book for a read. Sometimes it might even surprise you as how they children express that anger, and yourself as well.

by Terri Blackstock

Sam Bennett woke up not himself. He was able to hear what God hears. The voices of others souls. What they needed, their deepest longing, their secrets hidden "safely" in their hearts. How does this change Sam, those around him, and those he hears? And what happens when he loses this ability?

This book was a short easy read, with much power to it. It makes you think. What is your need? In the book, Sam points out every nonbelievers deepest need, and every believers deepest need. Have you had your needs met, or are you standing in your own way?

by John R. Lee, MD, Jesse Hanley, MD< and Virginia Hopkins

Did your blood work come back normal, and yet you are experiencing symptoms of menopause? Mood swings, lethargy, pms, exhaustion, confusion...the list goes on, and you are not crazy. At least, that is what this book is saying. Truly this book was very helpful in understanding what is going on with your body, and some choices that will help you deal with it.

I noticed this book relied heavily on balance. Honestly, at times I felt caught in an infomercial, but it was much more than this. It talks about what's going on with your body, what you can do to help your self, and some personal stories of women who have gone through these things and what they were able to do to help themselves.

I think this is a good resource for more information. Your doctor does not have the time to explain everything that is going on, and they also do not have all the information that is out there. Please remember that no matter what you are seeing your doctor for. The more information you have the better off you will be.

A Mom's Look to Heart-oriented Discipline
by Ginger Plowman

I went searching for books when I began to have trouble with the area of discipline. I remember sitting in the aisle near tears just wanting someone, anyone, to help me out and show me what I needed to do. That's when my eyes crossed over this book title. I knew without a doubt that what I needed to do was reach my child's heart, and I thought maybe this book would be able to help me do that.

Mrs. Plowman is the founder of Preparing the Way Ministries and an Assistant Director with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She wrote this book because so many people suggsted that she do just that. She referenced her own studies and reads throughout the book, which included Shepherding a Child's Heart, The Heart of Anger and Teach Them Diligently, and Spanking, A Loving Disciplilne.

Throughout this book, Mrs. Plowman uses many scriptural references on how to discipline our children. Her main emphasis is on removing the old behavior and putting on new behavior. Our children can not know how to behave unless we teach them. I smiled when she said not to be surprised when our children do something wrong because they are born with a sinful nature just like us. I know this, but somewhere along the way I forgot that 2+2=4. Mrs. Plowman definitely proposes a biblical view of discipline which is both challenging and refreshing.

The thing I liked best of the book was in the last few paragraphs. Mrs. Plowman states, "I would like to encourage you to keep searching and learning from your holy instruction manual, the Bible. What a blessing it is that God has not left us to figure out how to raise our children on our own. ... If you depend only on the information I have provided, you will wind up defeated and confused. You must be 100% dependent upon God and His Word." When a book reminds you that God is the true place to find wisdom and all the help you need, well it makes it a little easier to listen to other things she has in the book as well.

I highly suggest this book for mothers who have children between the ages of birth to six. Although I do believe it will give mothers of older children some guidance and help as well, I think that mothers of younger children will be the ones to benefit the most.

by David Kirschner and Ernie Contreras
Illustrations by Jerry Tiritilli

by Max Lucado

This study is based off of a majority of Max Luxado's books. It teaches things from the Bible from Jesus' perspective, which honestly is something I have never seen before. Or at least, he presented it in a different way. I learned much from doing this study, but I can say that , for me, many of the questions got repetitive and I ended up skipping over some in the last few weeks. I would have enjoyed more thoughtful questions rather than multiple choice, or matching. The group of girls I did this study with seemed to enjoy the study as well.

by Phyllis Tickle

A Spiritual Landscape

I had heard mention of The Divine Hours before, but I knew nothing of what it contained or the author. I now know very little of what it contains, but I know more about the author. Phyllis Tickle is the author of that book, as well as this one which is the memoirs of her life.

I have a tendency to pick a book out by it's cover, and although we are told not to judge them in that way, I usually have chosen well in doing so. Mrs. Tickle tells about her life, and how her spiritual life was shaped. I don't know if Mrs. Tickle and I would have ever had the ability to get to know one another had we lived next door, but through this book I can say we shared many things, as well as had many differences. And so lies all humanity.

Mrs. Tickle does a wonderful job in her writing, and in her sharing of just the right stories, to show what it was like for her to grow up in America and how it affected her spirit. You know you don't have everything, but you have enough. Enough to grasp what affected her, how it changed her, and how she came to be who she was. Or enough so that you think you have a grasping. There were so many words in this book that shot straight to my heart. Words that will stay with me because they are true. To be honest, there are probably many things that we wouldn't agree with on the surface, but I am believing that we would both agree on the process of how we can to our own decisions.

This book was a wonderful autobiography and one day I may read more written by Mrs. Tickle, but for now this was enough to have me considering, thinking, and contemplating for a long time to come.