Book Review: The Christian Mama's Guide to the Grade School Years: Everything You Need to Know to Survive (and Love) Sending Your Kid Off into the Big Wide World by Erin MacPherson

I was so excited to get to read a book by a blogger! I became even more excited when I found Erin's blog and Facebook page, sent her a message, and got a response back! It's so fun to connect in the blog community and I'm so proud that there are bloggers out there that are able to take it that extra step and have books published, especially when they are about topis so near and dear to my heart.

Those of you who have been following me know that I have a 6 year-old daughter and a 5 month old son. I debated about reading Erin's book The Christian Mama's Guide to Baby's First Year, but having been through these times once already I thought that I may read one on a topic that I am not as familiar with - that is the topic of sending your kid off to the big wide world of school. My daughter has been in school for almost 2 years already, and I wish I had known or thought about some of these things way back then. Erin MacPherson does a great job of interweaving humor, personal anecdotes, and practical advice into this book about a time of life that is very difficult for most moms. MacPherson's book includes chapters on preparing your child socially, academically, and emotionally for school, choosing the right school (homeschool, private school, public school, etc.), and getting involved (or not getting involved) in extracurricular activities. None of us knows everything about getting our kids ready to go out into that big world, but this Christian Mama's Guide gives us the tools to get thinking about what our kids need to at least be somewhat ready and what we can do to prepare ourselves to let go. I look forward to reading more of Erin's blog and developing a blogging relationship with her as I have so many other bloggers out there! Thanks for writing such a helpful book for all of us Christian mamas out there!


I receive these books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Love/Hate Relationship with Breastfeeding

I am guest posting for Ginger at The Wild and Wonderful World of Gingersnaps. I found Ginger on one of the many blog hops I frequent, starting reading her blog, nominated her for a Liebster award, and we've been blogging buddies ever since. Thanks for letting me guest write for you today, Ginger!

My love/hate relationship with breastfeeding.

I tried to breast feed my first child. It didn't work out so well. Not only did I have an overactive letdown, which if you've never experienced it is pure craziness, my daughter also seemed to have some kind of milk protein intolerance. She would cry non stop for at least 2 hours, every single night. I managed to breast feed her for about 2 months before I simply gave up. She was a happier baby for it.
When my son came along, I was ready to have the same troubles. After all, my daughter inherited her milk protein intolerance from her dad. I thought that my milk may come in the same way too. Alas, things have turned out much better this time around and I am breast feeding my son going on 5 months!
That being said, breastfeeding is great, but sometimes I HATE it! It's a love/hate relationship.

So why do I love breastfeeding?
-It's a way to bond with my child. I think I love that “skin-to-skin” as much as he does and it makes him so happy to see me after I've been gone all day!
-It saves a TON of money! It's great to not have to buy formula all the time!
-It's very convenient. Baby needs to eat, the food source is right there. I just have to find a comfortable, discreet place to feed him if I'm in public. I will breastfeed in public, I just try not to do it right in the middle of everything.
-It helped me lose weight and has helped me to keep it off. When I couldn't breastfeed my daughter, I gained back all the weight I lost from giving birth and then some! With my son, I lost 20 pounds just giving birth and another 15 since then.
-It's great for the baby! He was 5 pounds 13 ounces when he was born and he weighed 13 pounds by the time he was four months old. A lot of people who see him say they can tell he's breastfed because he's got those chubby cheeks! I love it!

Why do I hate breastfeeding?
-I'm the only source. I have to get up at all hours of the night and feed the baby, while my husband snores away in the bed. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to work, but I have to be to work at 7 am so sometimes it is really tough.
-I hate pumping. I feel like a cow. Some days, it's tolerable. Some days, I wish I could just skip it. But I know I have to do it to keep up my supply.
-Sometimes, I wonder if my baby only loves me so much because I have the food. Then I think about it for a minute...nah he'd love me either way!!

So, if you are a breastfeeding mom or you are a soon-to-be mom thinking about breastfeeding, remember this. There may be some things you absolutely hate about breastfeeding, but when I weigh the pros and the cons, the things I love versus the things I hate, the things I love definitely win out. Don't let the tough times discourage you. Power through and you'll see that the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences.

Book Review: Organic Outreach for Families: Turning Your Home Into A Lighthouse by Kevin G. Harney and Sherry Harney

As a Christian, I know that it is important and necessary for me to spread God's light throughout my community. The problem has always been, "how do I do this?" It's hard to talk about God at my job (and I can get in trouble for it too!). So how and where can I share God's light? Organic Outreach for Families discusses some practical ways you can turn your home into a lighthouse. It starts with your children. Raise them up in the way they should go and teach them to be God's light to others. This book gives some tips on how to help your children learn about God and share Him with others. It also talks about inviting people in to your home which I think has been the most difficult part for me. I invite people in and I try to be as inviting as possible, but people just don't come. I was hoping that this book would explain a little more about how to get them to come, but it does not really. It does talk about how to make your home welcoming, but if people just won't come in to your home it's hard to know what else you can do.
I did like the chapter about spreading God's word to people in your family. I know there are some people in my family that I would like to know God better. I don't know too well what's going on in their lives and I think I should be closer with them anyway. Maybe this is my opportunity to do so.
All in all, this is a book with some great starting off points if you want to outreach to your community and your family and "turn your home into a lighthouse."


I receive these books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review - Intentional Parenting by Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Melissa Trevathan

I usually do my book reviews on my original blog, Following the Path. But since this book was about parenting, I decided to post my review on Counting My Blessings.



This book was of initial interest to me because I am a Christian and because the authors are counselors of children and parents. They are in a field that I can see myself moving into and I wanted to see their views on parenting as a Christian. After all, that's what my blog is about!
Intentional Parenting seems like it would be a handbook for parents. How to be an intentional parent...but that's not the name of the game. Though this book gives many a tip on how you can be a better parent, it does not claim to be the answer. Ultimately every chapter ends with leaving it up to God. But we have to meet Him halfway there. I struggle in many of the areas that are discussed in the book. Who hasn't struggled with "Being a Patient Parent", "Being a Consistent Parent" (that one's especially tough), or "Being a Playful Parent" (I myself am trying to get more involved when my daughter says "Mom will you play with me?"). I recommend that you get out a notebook and write down your answers to the questions in the chapters. Journal about it, reflect on it. That is how this book was intended to be used. It is to help you reflect on what type of parent you are and work to improve yourself to be the parent God wants you to be for your children. This book can help you to become a better parent by realizing that you can't do it alone, that you are never meant to be perfect, and that you can and will be the best parent you can be with God's help. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know how their faith and their parenting can go hand in hand.


I receive these books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Boys don't play with dolls!"

When my husband was a baby, his mom's friend made him a "Cabbage Patch" doll. It looks like the original Cabbage Patch kids, but it's not really a Cabbage Patch Kid officially. His brother got one when he was a baby too. He wanted to do something special for his kids and carry on this tradition. We had a daughter first. She got a CPK when she was just a few months old. (In fact, it was pretty neat because it was a big sister and little sister pack, so it came with a full size CPK and a newborn CPK. So she was able to play with the little one until she got a bit older.)

Now, we've been blessed with a sweet baby boy and we've learned why my husband's mom's friend had to make the CPK. They don't make (many) boy CPK's and you definitely can't find them in the store, only online. Oh, and don't try to find one that looks like a "mixed" boy because it's not going to happen. We went all over town. Shopko, Target, even Toys R Us. Nothing. So, lamenting over the fact that I can't find this special gift for my baby boy, I post a status message about it. (Names have been hidden to protect the not-so-innocent.)


If you can't read it basically says we can't find a baby doll for the boy and the friend said, "Because dolls are for girls, duh! Get that boy a stuffed animal."

The winky face shows she was saying it jokingly, but still...

Never has something proved my point in such a profound manner. Our entire way home from the store, my husband and I went on and on about how sexist people are thinking that boys don't play with dolls. Boys don't play with dolls because no one lets them play with dolls. I think that if boys were allowed to play with dolls a little more often, maybe we wouldn't have such a problem with lousy fathers who don't give a darn about their kids!

I felt a little better when a couple of my friends shared some recommendations for boy dolls. However, they are both really expensive. I found a boy CPK on the Cabbage Patch Kids website that looks like my little one, but that was after much searching. Isn't he a cutie?



It costs $49.99. That's a little pricier than most CPK, but I was willing to pay it. I went to check out and THE SHIPPING IS $18!!! Well, maybe my husband's mom still knows where that friend is and she can make baby T a doll because that's about the only way he's going to get this special gift.

THEY LIKE ME!!! THEY REALLY LIKE ME!!!

Ladies and gents - I am happy to announce that I have been nominated for a Liebster Award! For those of you who don't know what this award is all about, basically it is an award that bloggers give to other bloggers. It particularly spotlights blogs with 200 followers or less. I guess you would say it helps to identify us as "up and commers" in the blogging community. I am honored to have been nominated by Lizbeth at Just Dip it In Chocolate. Thanks, Lizbeth!

Now, here's the rules about the Liebster award. I must answer 11 questions that have been posed to me by the one who nominated me, post 11 random facts about myself, nominate 11 other bloggers, and pose 11 questions to those bloggers that they will then answer on their Liebster award posts!

Here goes!

The questions posed to me by Lizbeth:

1.What is the #1 thing you love most about blogging?

Blogging is a great way to connect with others who are like me. I have always had trouble getting to know people “in real life” and it's nice to connect with others, even if it is online. To be able to share my thoughts and know that there is someone out there that cares about what I have to say and that what I could say could help others are strong motivators for me to keep on blogging.

2.What is your all time favorite movie?

The Avengers!


3.Are you a Coffee or Tea person? I used to say tea, but now that I get very little sleep AND have a hard time unwinding at the end of the day, I have to say BOTH! Coffee in the morning to wake me up and chamomile tea at night to help me unwind before I go to sleep.

4.Looking back, which was the best year of your life so far?

I honestly have to say that 2012 was a pretty great year. I gave birth to a wonderful baby boy and I've lost quite a bit of weight too. I feel healthier than I have in some time. My daughter is doing great in first grade. The unfortunate thing is that my husband has been going through some tough times on the job front, but I feel that a change is around the corner as far as that is concerned too. It's in God's hands!

5.Beach house or Mountain Cabin?

Beach house! I live in Nebraska and it is cold for a few months out of the year. I would love to have a beach house to run off to in the cold winter months!

6. Have you ever visited any other country outside the one you live in? Which one you loved the most?

I have never been to another country. I would like to go to Jamaica some day. I hear it's paradise!

7.Do you know when to stop talking when you argue or do you go on and on and on like the energizer bunny? 

It depends on who I'm arguing with. With my husband, it's hard to get a word in because he wants to have the last word. We don't argue a lot but when we do he usually wins! If I'm arguing with someone, say at work, I am usually right which means I will keep going on and on and on until they realize that I am right!

8.Favorite music era and genre?

I like music from the late 90s and the first decade of the 2000s. Anything (rock, pop, rap, r&b, hip hop) is good for me (except COUNTRY)!!

9.If you have to pick a super power..what would it be?

I would want the ability to teleport. Not only could I get wherever I wanted to go whenever I wanted to go there ,(Jamaican vacation, here we come!) but I would save a bundle on gas and I'd never be late for work!

10.When was the last time you ate Fast Food and what was it?

Well...if you consider Little Caesar's fast food then it was on Sunday.

11.First or last person to get a joke?

I am usually the one telling the jokes that other people don't get.

11 Random Facts About Me
-I am pursuing my Master's degree in Clinical Counseling
-I love to sing Karaoke!
-I have a goal to lose 32 more pounds before the summer gets here. Think I can do it?
-I hate wearing socks. Summer is my favorite time of year because I don't have to wear socks.
-I am an extremely picky eater. I have just a few foods that I really like and I get sick of the same food over and over again very easily.
-I played the piano for several years and the drums for 12 years. I haven't played either in by far too long.
-My favorite restaurant is Smashburger followed closely by Five Guys Burgers and Fries. I had cravings for them like mad when I was pregnant and I still love them!
-If there's one thing I can't stand, it's fake people. Be real or just get out!
-I can be really lazy, but I'm working on it!
-I love to go swimming, but I can't really swim.
-I love to take pictures of my kids!

And now! The nominees for the Liebster Award!!
Yours, Mine, and Ours
Women Abiding
Our Before and After
Yoga Mommy's Selftalk(In)Sanity
The Wild and Wonderful World of Gingersnaps
The Three Whiskateers
Dogs Don't Eat Pizza
Momma DOO
Beauty Through Imperfection
Pursuing Heart
Do Small Things with Love

And here are the questions for my nominees:
1. Why did you decide to start blogging?
2. What is your all time favorite book?
3. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be and why?
4. Who is the person that inspires you the most?
5. What is your dream job?
6. What is your favorite thing about being a parent?
7. What do you do to unwind?
8. Do you think of Facebook (and other social networking sites like Twitter) as a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
9. What is your all time favorite TV show?
10. Where do you want to be in 5 years?
11. What is your guilty pleasure?

What defines my family?

At our church this month, we've been talking about families. It's a whole series, going through the basic things like how to treat your spouse and how to parent your children based on biblical principles. Yesterday's sermon was about the family meeting and also about what defines your family. We should talk to our children about 1) who they are, 2) where they come from and, 3) where they are going.

WHO THEY ARE:
So what defines our family? My husband and I were discussing this yesterday evening. Two words that he could think of were "scholar" and "warrior". I agree that we are scholars. My husband has his Masters degree and I am pursuing mine. We always work to learn more and more each day and we are very intelligent on the whole. We want our daughter and our son to be the same way. I started thinking about the word "warrior". Warrior has the base word "war", so it makes it sound like someone who is a warrior is always at war with someone or something. So, as my husband often does when he starts to think of what a word really means, I looked it up in the dictionary. According to dictionary.com, a warrior is "a person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldier". But there is another definition - "a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness". I started to think of the words that describe a warrior - dedicated, perseverance, strength, courage. Yes. This describes my family. We've been through a lot, losing jobs, friends, etc. We've always had each other and we've, each one of us, been a warrior to get through it all.

THIS FAMILY IS A FAMILY OF SCHOLARS AND WARRIORS.

WHERE THEY COME FROM:
It's difficult to trace my roots back too far. I am a European mutt. English, Irish, Swedish - those are the main ones I can name. I did a report in grade school about my ancestry, and it was difficult to go back very far. My husband's family roots may be a little easier to assume, though maybe not easy to trace. There's the possibility that his ancestors were slaves, and we also know that there is Native American blood in his family. So when I tell my children where they come from, I think it really boils down to uniqueness! There's not many children that can trace such a varied ancestry. It's also so important to talk to them about how things were different before. I've written another post in the past about racism, and my daughter has asked questions about skin color from time to time. I try to put it in the back of my mind because it's not really that important to me. I don't want it to be that important to my daughter and my son either. I want them to be able to turn to someone who asks them "what" they are and say, "I am me!" If they ask them if their dad is black and their mom is white to say, "My dad is my dad. My mom is my mom." Yes, where they come from is important. I won't deny that. I just don't want that to define where they can go.

WHERE THEY ARE GOING:
My family is going places. Lately, we are stagnant. But I want us to go places. My father had his Bachelor's degree and my mother a high school diploma. I am going for my Masters degree, my sister has hers, and my brothers are both fairly successful in their chosen career fields thus far. My husband's mother and father both were educated, but they did not get as far as he did. He has two Bachelors degrees and a Masters degree. That is further than anyone in his family has gotten in schooling. So, yes, we are going places. The next step is to have successful careers and live in a house rather than a cramped apartment. When will it happen? Soon, we hope. But our family is going places, with God's help!

Sit down and define your family - WHO ARE THEY? WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? WHERE ARE THEY GOING? Have a clear vision because you can't get there if you don't know where you're going!