Practical in Every Way

Today is another book review day!!! Two great books filled with useful information! How great is that?

More Than a Match-The Five Keys to Compatibility for Life, by Michael and Amy Smalley is a fabulous book. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Using their extensive years of counseling experience and of course their own marriage lessons, the Smalley's outline the skills you need to create lasting love. Secrets include loving well, dealing with conflict, recovering when you hurt one another and even developing a healthy sex life. Like I said, I really enjoyed the book. The Smalley's used their own personal experiences, they were transparent, in an effort to really help those who are going to read this book. It isn't just filled with psychological terms and hypotheticals, this is real people that went through real things. Its got funny and serious wound up together. I think it would good for those who are seriously dating someone they think is "the one", definitely good for those couples who are engaged and even those who are already married. I mean face it, we all have things we can work on, right?? At the end of every chapter there is a discussion page to get couples talking if they need help getting the talk started. If you know someone engaged, this would be a great gift for them.

The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group has rolled out a new series called 99 Ways (times 6) to Thrive. I had the pleasure of getting to review, 99 Ways to Stretch Your Home Budget. Awesome! I know! Who doesn't need to stretch their budget?? I know the Lovelocks do, so it was a wonderful little book with 99 tips on stretching our money. This book was written by Cheri Gillard, a nurse and mother to quadruplets. Ms. Gillard laid out tips that are totally doable, from food-eating in and out, all the way to healthcare and hospital stays! It's practical ideas that families can use to save money around the house. If you are looking for ways to trim your budget without having to fore go buying toilet paper, this is the book for you . Here's what the publisher has to say about the series, "Written for families and individuals who are hoping to not only survive but thrive, during tough times. These value-packed, applicable resources offer relevant and reliable insights to endure the current economic downturn, and are sure to appeal to families in all stages of life."

For these two books, the rest of the 99 Ways Series and more great books, check out Random House.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Kindness=Peace

We start our day with a daily devotion. We haven't been really consistent with this until lately and I have to say that it does make our day go better. Taking the time to have a devotion, say a little prayer and sing a couple of songs is so worth it.

Today our devotion was on being kind. We used this scripture, Ephesians 4:32~And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. I want my kids to be kind children. See, to everyone else they are always good. But at home, to each other, not so much. I am told this is normal sibling behavior, but being an only child I don't get the reasons for sibling issues. I know that squabbles will happen, but I want them to understand being kind to one another and why we are kind to everyone. Paul, here in Ephesians, gave a great scripture for us all, but for kids it sums it all up in one verse. Be kind, be gentle (tenderhearted) and forgive. So for today and maybe everyday to come, we have instituted the kindness chart. It's easy to catch kids doing something wrong, but how many times do we catch them doing something good. We often hear it or see it, but do we acknowledge the good as much as we point out the bad. I believe in pointing out their wrongdoings, I think it's beneficial for them to know when it's wrong; but on the flip side of that shouldn't they also know when they are doing something good and right~~YES! So, for every act of kindness that mommy sees today, they get a smiley face, hence the chart. At the end of the day they will get a kindness award to hang on cork board. I am cooking up a plan as we speak for how I am going to incorporate this into our everyday life. I don't want them to think that if they are good then they get a present. I'm not buying presents for kindness. I am however going to acknowledge their kindness and give credit where credit is due. I am amazed at how differently our day has gone. There has not been one fight or yelling match between Makiah and Sam today. I am not naive enough to believe that they will never fight again but I am hopeful in having more peaceful days ahead.

After our little devotion I began thinking about my own kindness. Am I as kind as I should be? Do my kids see kindness in me? What example am I living? Kindness isn't just something you pull out for the public, but it should be present in our homes. Mommies lose their patience too, except when we lose our patience we make excuses for it. Our excuses are probably justified, but kindness in the end should come through. I want my kids to know kindness because they see it in me. I want my kids to know forgiveness because they see it in me. I want my kids to know tenderheartedness and gentleness because they see it in me. So just like I am on a journey to being thankful all the time, I am also striving to be kind, even when I am wore out and Sam is asking for the 80th time if he can have fruit snacks for dinner or Daniel has decided to take everything out of the trash can, again.

Kindness and gentleness are fruits of the spirit and I want to have a luscious crop for my children, my Hubs and others to pick from.

And the Winner Is. . . .

Random Generator chose number 8, which is Amy B. I hope you enjoy the book and I wish you a very merry and blessed Christmas!

Thank you all for playing along!

It has been a nutty day around the Lovelock household~~more so than usual. So I am not even going to try and write a coherent post for today.

Okay, ready for a nap. Back tomorrow bloggity friends!

Monday Madness

So it's Monday and my to do list is longer than my arm, but I am cheerily crossing things off said list. That's right, I said cheerily. I am cheery for many reasons, but the main one, is because the joy of the Lord is my strength and cheeriness is a choice and I choose cheery. Okay, that's enough of the word cheery for now. We woke up to a little bit of snow this morning and even though I normally loathe snow, it was so pretty this morning.

What is on this to do list? I am so glad you asked. Besides the long list of Christmas gifts I'm making (which is growing daily I might add), it is menu planning day, laundry (of course that's on my daily list), going through more toys to see what can be donated to a good cause, a good kitchen scrubbing, meeting with a young couple to offer encouragement and our sage advice (help us all!) and then more Christmas gift making. I also have to get my Christmas cards done that I need to mail this week!!

So that means no more blogging for now, I must go finish that scarf that I am giving away in about three hours. Fortunately it's almost done!! I hope your Monday is a cheery one!

Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme

Okay, so TodaysMama is giving away a hefty sleighful of gifts that, well, I would love to win. To enter you participate in the meme, which is a pretty great meme I think. I had fun filling this one out and I haven't done a meme in a long time. Enjoy!!


1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? Gone with the Wind, the 70th Anniversary Edition. That was the only thing I specifically asked for, I left options open; purse, shoes, books, etc. I really didn't make a list this year. I also asked for a Brita Water pitcher which definitely shows I need help in gift list making. Ha!

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? My all time favorite hand made gifts are my afghans and quilts made by various women in my family. I love and treasure each one. And of course I love anything my kids make, but because it usually has grape jelly on it somewhere, it can't last forever.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I have always wanted to make an afghan for my mom. She has made so many for me and the kids that I wanted her to have that I made. I crochet and I do a fine job, but I get bored if the project doesn't get done fast enough. I guess I'll shoot for next year and that way I can take breaks doing it!

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? One year my Nanny had the idea to make a little doll of each granddaughter. The doll had our hair color (yarn) and she made the doll and it's clothes (I've told you all the lady was talented). She even wrote a little book about each of us and attached it to the doll. She wrote in there a little story and what she loved about us. It truly was the best gift she gave me as a child. And I still have it, I will give it to my daughter one day.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? Nintendo DS, Leapster 2, a game for each. They are also getting a couple of little things and thats it. Keeping it simple, or trying to anyway.

6. What is your favorite holiday food? Dressing! I love dressing. I would rather have that than anything else. I think dressing might even trump my beloved chocolate.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? We are making most of our gifts this year for our friends and family. Scarves, hats, dish rags and dish clothes, special picture frames for the grandparents, broaches, painting, even decorating our own Christmas bags. I am also making a few preemie hats for the NICU at the local hospital. My hands and right arm already hurt from all the crocheting!

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? I think A Charlie Brown Christmas is my favorite. Not really a movie though is it. Okay, I guess I'll go with It's a Wonderful Life.

9. Favorite holiday song? The Christmas Song and Joy to the Word

10. Favorite holiday pastime? Being with family. Just being. I love the spending time, the laughing and the eating. Reading about the birth of Jesus and just being. I love it!

More Books!!

As I said yesterday we love books around here. Mama gets as excited as the kiddies when a new book is sitting in my hands and a cuppa tea is right beside me. I am happy to tell you all about this one.

Treasured, by Leigh McLeroy was a true treasure to read. I enjoyed it cover to cover and even re-read a couple of the chapters. I dearly love books that make me think about my relationship with God and this one does just that. I love that the author opens herself up and shares many personal stories that coincide with what scriptures she is using in each chapter. Her concept was one that I have never seen before and I love it's originality.

The publisher had this to say about the book:

In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides readers in discovering evidence in their own lives of his attentive love. Drawn from the pages of Scripture, the author considers twelve such treasures and personalizes their meaning for readers, such as a green olive branch that offers proof of God’s “new every morning” mercy and a scarlet cord that demonstrates his willingness to adopt “strays” of every sort.Weaving these treasures together with scenes from her personal history, Leigh McLeroy invites readers to discover God’s heart for them and embrace their unique role in his redemptive story. Treasured offers readers a guided experience of God’s love and character and invites them to consider their own treasures that point to their part in God’s ongoing story.

Perfect to read as a devotional or even to use in a women's group for a devotion.

Another very special book that I got to review was, God Gave Us Love by Lisa T. Bergren. This book was just delightful. Let me give you the publishers summary and then I'll tell you more about what happened during our story time.

In God Gave Us Love, Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, and the young polar bear begins to ask questions like why must we love others . . . even the seemingly unlovable? Why is it easier to love those we like? Where does love come from? And why does God love her so much? Grampa Bear patiently addresses each one of Little Cub’s curiosities by explaining the different kinds of love we can share: the love between friends, the love between families, the love between moms and dads, and the love for God. He also assured Little Cub that because of the love God has given her through his Son, there’s nothing she can do to make God love her any more or any less. Through Grampa Bear’s encouraging Little Cub to love others with a “God-sized love,” children will be inspired to love others and to be patient, gentle and kind, so that in every way, they too can demonstrate God’s love.

After reading God Gave Us Love, my kiddos asked a lot of questions about love and who we should love and why. It led into a perfect little devotion for loving our siblings. This book is one our shelf and I am sure that it is one that we will read time and time again. And because I have artists in the family and the fact I am not one so I appreciate great artwork, these books are beautifully illustrated. Kudos to the illustrator for so wonderfully capturing this story and making a family of polar bears come to life for us.

To purchase these books and many more please visit Random House.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

A Christmas Book and a GIVEAWAY!!

We love to read in the Lovelock house. It's one of our most favorite things to do. We read in the mornings, in the afternoon and before bed. Now that Makiah can read, she reads to her brothers (which I totally LOVE) and so suffice to say we have a LOT of books. Like we could have our own book store, a LOT of books. So when the opportunity came up for me to review books on my blog, I said, "yes, yes, pick me, pick me". This is my first review, so don't be to critical of my reviewing abilities.

We had the wonderful opportunity to read God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa T. Bergren. It was a delightful story. There is a family of polar bears and Little Cub asks if Santa invented Christmas. Mama bear then explains why we have Christmas and they take a little journey. The journey that they take bring Little Cub and the readers to the conclusion that Jesus is the best present you could ever get! My kids loved the book!! The illustrations are beautiful and you begin to really feel like you are there. My preschooler and third grader were both inthralled with the story. If you are looking for a new Christmas book to read this year, this is the one you want.

I would love to share the love and give you all chance to have this book in your very own collection!! That's right its a first Mamalovelock giveaway!! Leave a comment telling me what your favorite Christmas tradition is and I'll enter you to win. Earn extra entries by becoming a follower to the blog and tweeting the giveaway. Please leave a comment when you are a follower and for every tweet. The comments will close at 9 p.m. Monday, December 7. You'll get it just in time for Christmas! I am sorry but this giveaway is only open to US residents.

For this and more great books visit Random House.

**This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.