20 weeks of bed-rest gave me plenty of time to do something I really enjoy but find hard to make time for during "normal" seasons of my life - reading. I haven't read this much since studying for my counselling certificates from CCEF over five years ago!
Apart from the Bible (especially the Psalms), by far the most encouraging, uplifting, and spiritually rewarding book I've read over the past few months was Kelly Crawford's Devotions, Advice, and Renewal for when Motherhood Feels Too Hard.
With 31 chapters (and 10 ingenious survival tips), it's meant to be read as inspiration for each day of the month. However, things didn't quite work out that way for me. I was so caught up in the message of the book, I finished the whole thing in two days! Ooopsies. No matter though. I know I'll refer back to it many times throughout this motherhood journey!
Kelly's blog, Generation Cedar, was one of the very first blogs I started reading regularly after we heard of it during her interview with Kevin Swanson on Generations With Vision. I immediately fell in love with her writing style and the content of her message. She's been a well-spring of encouragement and her thought-provoking articles have initiated many a conversation between my husband and I.
As busy homeschooling Mom who is also "in the trenches" with her own brood of blessings (#10 on the way!), Kelly's message of encouragement is real. Chances are she's been there and done that. When Motherhood Feels Too Hard provides an honest look at the challenges mothers face in the raising of their children and reminds us why it's all worth it. We are called to our glorious work by the Lord and through Him, we can receive sustaining grace and tremendous reward!
If you're struggling with your lot in life as a mother, question your usefulness, or simply need to be reminded that this is all worth it, you need to get a copy of Kelly's book. At just $8.99 for a paperback ($4.97 for an eBook), Devotions, Advice, and Renewal for When Motherhood Feels Too Hard is available for an affordable price that can't be passed up.
Harry S. Truman said, "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. "In a world of Sheeple who are content follow where the culture leads, a good Christian book is our favorite gift to give. They're relatively inexpensive, easy to wrap or mail, can be read again and again, and best of all, a good book can make an eternal impact on someone's life.
Books are the perfect gifts, and if you're on our list this Season... well, you know what to expect! Here's a list of 100 titles we've loved and recommend:
Motherhood
1. Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
2. Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald
3. Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Krueger
4. Parenting On God's Promises by Joel Beeke
5. Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic
6. The Mother At Home by John S.C. Abbott
7. A Mother's Heart by Jean Flemming
8. Be Fruitful and Multiply by Nancy Campbell
9. A Full Quiver by Rick and Jan Hess
10. Fit To Burst by Rachel Jankovic
11. The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
12. Proverbs for Parenting by Barbara Decker
13. Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
14. Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson Homemaking
1. Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
2. The Hidden Heart of Homemaking by Edith Schaffer
3. The Christian Homemaker's Handbook by Pat Ennis
4. From Mother to Daughter by Vivienne Bolton
5. Homespun Gifts from the Heart by Karen Ehman
6. Homespun Memories from the Heart by Karen Ehman
7. Mrs. Dunwoodey's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping by Miriam Lukken
8. Home Ec 101 by Heather Solos
9. How To Sew A Button by Erin Bried
10. Home Economics: Vintage Advice and Practical Science for the 21st Century by Jennifer Trontz Education
1. Upgrade | 10 Secrets To The Best Education For Your Child by Kevin Swanson
2. Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
3. When You Rise Up by R. C. Sproul Jr.
4. Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
5. Weapons of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto
6. Indoctrination by Colin Gunn
7. The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer
8. Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd Wilson
9. Educating The Whole-Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson
10. Hand That Rocks The Cradle: 400 Classics for Children by Nathaniel Bluedorn
Culture
1. The Second Mayflower by Kevin Swanson
2. Folks, This Ain't Normal by Joel Salatin
3. Apostate by Kevin Swanson
Finances/Economics
1. Biblical Economics by R. C. Sproul Jr.
2. Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury
3. The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
4. Calvin and Commerce by David Hall
Marriage/Family 1. When Sinners Say "I do" by Dave Harvey
2. What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp
3. The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
4. Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson
5. Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
6. Family Shepherds by Voddie Baucham
7. What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham
8. I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris
9. Of Knights and Fair Maidens by Jeff and Danielle Myers
Food / Health 1. Trim Healthy Mama by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison
2. Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
3. Making Babies by Shoshanna Easling
Boys
1. Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson
2. Created to Work by Bob Schultz
3. Future Men by Douglas Wilson
4. Boyhood and Beyond by Bob Schultz
5. Plants Grown Up by Pam Forster
6. Practical Happiness by Bob Schultz
7. Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris Single Daughters 1. So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin
2. It's Not That Complicated by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin
3. Joyfully At Home by Jasmine Baucham
4. Feminine By Design by Scott Brown
5. Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola
6. Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliott
Novels/Biographies
1. End Of The Spear by Steve Saint
2. Safely Home by Randy Alcorn
3. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
4. Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
5. Lord Foulgrin's Letters by Randy Alcorn
6. Deadline by Randy Alcorn
7. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
Children (Read-A-Louds)
1. Wisdom and the Millers by Mildred Martin
2. Storytime with the Millers by Mildred Martin
3. Missionary Stories with the Millers by Mildred Martin
4. The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
5. The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit
6. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
7. The Christopher Churchmouse Treasury by Barbara Davoll
8. The Bronze Bow by Elisabeth George Speare
9. The Door In The Wall by Margaret De Angeli
10. The Tanglewood's Secret by Patricia St. John
11. Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
12. Huguenot Garden by Douglas Jones
13. The Minstrel in The Tower by Gloria Skurzynski
14. The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O'Dell
15. Ink On His Fingers by Louise Vernon
16. The Answers Books for Kids by Ken Ham
17. The Way of the Master: Teaching Kids to Share Their Faith by Kirk Cameron Christian Living/Spiritual Growth
1. The Bible
2. Calvin's Commentaries by John Calvin
3. The Christian's Reasonable Service by Wilhemus Brakel
4. Running Scared by Ed Welch
5. War of Words by Paul Tripp
6. Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
7. Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
8. Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
9. The Answers Book by Ken Ham
10. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry
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Sometimes it takes a broken dishwasher to recognize just how many dishes you use in a day! That's what happened to us. Then, one side of our kitchen sink started leaking and I really started cracking down on the unnecessary habit of pulling new dishes out of the cupboard! Thankfully, I received my Drink Bands in the mail the same week our kitchen drama went down -they saved the day!
Drink Bands are one of those incredibly simplistic solutions to an age-old problem that make you go, "Now why didn't I think of that?!" They worked so well for us at home, we even took them camping!
Here's why I think Drink Bands are such a genius idea:
1. The concept is simple. My children aren't old enough to read yet; writing their names on sticker or cup so they remember which one is theirs is an exercise in futility. They can, however, distinguish between different colors and love picking out which band is going to be "theirs" for the day. Charity's favorite is pink.
2.They work. Since they're especially designed to fit cups and glasses, they work much better than regular or hair elastics. They don't slide, feel funny or awkward, yet they're stretchy enough to fit virtually every cup comfortably. We've used them successfully on coffee mugs, plastic tumblers,water bottles, drinking glasses, and Styrofoam cups. They're durable and dishwasher-proof. And since they're available in 9 colors, family-size wise, we have a long ways to go before we run into a problem. ;-)
3. They're frugal (starting at $12.50 for a pack of 9 regular or small bands). I consider $12.50 peanuts compared to the amount of hot water, soap, scrubbing, and time I'll save over a life-time! These things last forever.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, A Wise Woman., The Prairie Homestead, Modest Mondays, A Mama's Story
