Prayer Warrior Mom, Marla Alupoaicci

So you are searching for an easy to read, but inspiring and useful book on prayer. This would be the book for you. This author embraces the belief that motherhood is a sacred calling - yes - that means what you do as a mother is utterly important. I found this book to be inspiring for the difficult times in motherhood. She has effectively written a book that will lift a mother's spirits, remind a mother that her job does not go unnoticed, that she makes an impact on lives that she may not realize, that she has been called to a holy job. I believe every mother needs to be reminded of these things every once in awhile. I read this book with a notebook beside me and my bible open. The entire time I was underlining and dog-earing my book I was writing notes and quoting parts of it on my face book wall. Prayer is one of those things we all long to do better and here is a book that gives you ideas about praying scriptures over your children. The author explores the fact that this is important to the development of your child. A mother's prayers are vitally important to the life of your child and your words impact them more than you know. The prayers of a mother are never left unheard and the heavenly father responds to them. Thank you Tyndale Publishers for this review copy.

Fasting for a Miracle, Elmer L. Towns

This book is such a wonderfully easy and informative read. From the first page I could not put it down - I wanted to find out what the author was going to talk about next. I was pleasantly surprised at how much information this author put together regarding the different types of biblical fasts there are. I also enjoyed all the illustrations of these principles put into practice. Elmer Towns is a co-founder of Liberty University in Virginia. In this book Towns chronicles the miracles of prayer and fasting in the history of this renowned Christian university. I was amazed at how much his personal conviction of prayer and fasting and that of Jerry Falwell impacted the university. This book gives great history on the college but more so points to the power God grants to His children when they sincerely seek His face in prayer and fasting. Like, Towns, I am a Baptist - and often times fasting (and laying on of hands) is looked down upon or over-looked. I think that many people are afraid of the implications of fasting or feel that it is no longer necessary. This book lays these thoughts to rest by showing the meaning of and the importance of fasting through the Word of God. I appreciated this as many people have written books of their own beliefs on this discipline with out much biblical reference. The fact that Towns does this so thoroughly helps the reader to see fasting through the eyes of God himself. I would highly recommend this book to any Christian seeking a closer more meaningful walk with the Lord. If you are looking for a way to spend some intimate, amazing time with God this book is the one for you. I have read several books on fasting and this climbed to the top of my must have list for this subject. Thanks to Regal for this review copy.

Chronicles of Dinosauria: The History & Mystery of Dinosaurs and Man, Dave Woetzel

This is one of those must have books! I was so excited when we received this in the mail. The front cover design is beautiful and old-world style - it could easily be set out as a coffee table book. In fact ours set for a week on the end table for everyone to pick up, thumb through and enjoy. The inside art work is just as beautiful and interesting to look at. In fact there were times that my boys picked it up and to just look at the artwork and illustrations and wonderful pictures of artifacts. I have yet to meet a little one who is not curious about dinosaurs and dragons. In fact I would say that most adults hold some interest in dragons - this is evident in the number of movies as well as documentaries and shows that center around these mysterious creatures of the past. I did not know that the word "dinosaurs" was a relatively new term. This book is packed from front to back with interesting facts that will help your little one understand dinosaurs in light of God's creation and how these magnificent animals fit into the whole picture. I really enjoyed the little "extras" hidden in the book like "Make a Fossil", "Amber" and "Modern Animals - Dinosaur Bones" - these are little purple boxes filled with extra information or activities. It would be easy to take this book and use it for a week as lessons on dinosaurs and their history, beginning with Adam and Eve. What makes this book unique is that it is appealing to both older and younger children. There is something for everyone in these pages. I would like to thank Master Books for this review copy. I believe that the addition of this book to our home school experience will enrich the education of my children by helping them see that the literal creation recorded in Genesis is correct and that like other animals since these animals slowly died off. It will also help them to see that dragons (now called dinosaurs) really existed with men and that the stories recorded in ancient history is accurate.

I Left My Prostate in San Franscisco Where's Yours?, Rick Redner

I received this book from the author and publisher as a review copy. It has taken me longer than I expected to get my review done. I applaud this couple for the open honesty in which they detailed their story. Many people do not even like their names to appear on church prayer lists for this type of cancer. However, a book like this has been long overdue! On my book shelf I have books for all types of cancer, but none for this topic. I could very easily recommend books to anyone, and now for the first time my husband and I can recommend this one for couples facing this unique and difficult trial. Thank you so much for your honesty and openness -

Christian Mama's Guide to the Grade School Years, Erin MacPherson

The fourth in the Christian Mama's guide focuses on the milestone of starting school. That time when your little one who thinks you are the center of the world (and you share that same opinion) takes their first independent steps in uncharted water. Although I now home school our 5 children my first went to public school. I was shocked when I received a "welcome" letter from the school describing drop off and pick of procedures - I was sending her to school but was not yet ready for the whole put her on the bus experience. The letter indicated that I was to drop her at the curb of the school intrusted to a "guide" to be shown to her class. Well I can tell you this mommma did not do that. Oh no I walked right into that school holding my precious baby girl's hand and holding a 2 year old on the hip. When they tried to explain their procedures I asked for a hall pass and very firmly explained that I was not in the habit of leaving my baby girl ANY WHERE until I had met those who would be taking care of her and seen her classroom. They did not stop me and at the door I gave my daughter a big hug, kissed the palm of her hand and reminded her that if she missed me that all she had to do was remember the kiss in her hand. This is no easy transition for a stay at home mom - in fact I think it likens to the empty nest syndrome you feel when you send your child off to college - only to a lesser degree. I went home feeling that a part of my world was empty, what was I to do to occupy the 6 hours until I picked her up again. This book explores these fears and helps a mother to better adjust to the change. I think it is best suited for a public school mother than a home school mother. The reason being that a home school mom faces very unique challenges and joys that can only be explored by a home school mom. I will throw this out for those considering home school - in the book Erin indicates the cost of home school as being too much. Although this can be true it is not always. When we began home schooling we chose a very expensive program that just isn't feasible for five children and a one income family. My children get a very well-rounded education for a VERY affordable price. Home school associations and groups further make home schooling affordable since many people share resources, ideas and support. Also - socialization, well really that is a term that ought to be thrown out. If this is the main reason for fear of home schooling you can rest assured that your children will be as socialized as you allow them to be. I have seen some very un-socialized public school children. Erin has done, again, an excellent job at presenting very useful ideas and resources. I enjoyed very much reading this book. She focused a lot on a parent's duty to instil Christian morals, values and lifestyle. I appreciate this as I see many parents who seem to push this off on the church and the school. Believe me if you are not teaching your child Christian guidelines and helping them to hide the Word in their heart the world will fill their heart, mind and life with secular world views that will be damaging to their walk with God. Thank you Erin for taking time to invest in the lives of others by writing this book for those going through this stressful and monumental time in motherhood. Thank you so much Erin and Thomas Nelson for this book. I would recommend it to everyone. This entire series would be a blessing to a first time mom tucked into her baby shower gift or in the diaper cake you painstakingly create.

The Christian Mama's Guide to Parenting a Toddler, Erin MacPherson

So your cuddly bundle of joy is now an ambulatory machine of energy. No longer crawling and easily contained you can now relate totally to the book "Love You Forever" with the little toddler sitting on the floor covered in a roll of toilet paper with smiles and giggling as he holds it up in proud display. So now you find yourself feeling stretched for time and energy, laundry seems a daunting never ending task, dishes are piling up, and the little one needs a ton of attention. This book will be a blessing for you to read. This is the third book in the Christian Mama's Guide by Erin MacPherson. Again she chronicles her own journey during this season and also shares the stories of close friends and relatives. In her friendly writing style she makes the reader feel like they are having a conversation with a close girlfriend. This season is one of joys and struggles as you learn to meet the needs of your spouse and your kids. This book is filled with practical advice and references. Again I enjoyed this book as much as the previous too and would recommend it to any who is a mother. During this time it is important to have books that provide inspiration and encouragement as well as some much needed laughs. I think that learning to laugh as mom will make life more enjoyable and motherhood more memorable. So take a little time to read and enjoy this Christian Mama's take on parenting a toddler. Thank you to the publisher and author for this free review copy.

The Christian Mama's Guide to Baby's First Year, Erin Macpherson

The second in the series of 'Christian Mama's Guide' series and it is also a great book! Again, Erin chronicles her own experiences and those of friends and family. This first year of motherhood - hmmmmm.....no quite what we all expected - just be honest. Each new mother envisions motherhood through rose colored glasses with high expectations of a perfectly behaved baby, easy nursing (or bottle-feeding), no diaper rashes or sleepless nights. I have been there (more than once) and have been ever grateful to the break in the day to day tasks for a laugh at this season. This author has a way of bringing the sun to rainy days of motherhood, of bringing the sound of laughter in the middle of the storms of motherhood. All mothers at some point feel inadequate to the task, overwhelmed by the tasks of running a household on a very limited amount of sleep. In this book Erin explores the topic of baby sleep - yep that ever tiring struggle of getting that bundle of joy to sleep through the night (you know when you reach this point you are one Awesome mom!), breast feeding and bottle feeding, weight loss and neat ideas to burn those extra calories, and time management. And yes, she does it in an unbiased totally sweet way. In fact reading this made me smile more than once as I reflected those moments of first time motherhood when I sat deflated on the floor in the middle of a pile of unfolded laundry with a cranky baby on my lap and spit up on my clothes. Oh, and what about those sleepless nights of floor-walking, baby bouncing and trying to mix a bottle in the middle of the night because nursing did not work out. I would have greatly appreciated this book in that first year - just so I could have had a "girl-friend" that understood this totally un-done time of my life. So I laughed on these reflections, and made a mental note to buy this book along with the others for the next baby shower I attended. Thanks again to the publisher - Thomas Nelson and the author for this review book.