Review of When I Am Anxious: Moses and the Other Stories by Debbie Duncan

Spark a discussion about feeling uncertain through a Bible story that children can read and relate to.

A chapter book retelling the story of Moses, who felt anxious about being called to lead a nation out of Egypt with additional related snippets from other Bible stories. But God cares, providing constant reassurance and support through others around him. A reassuring story to help older children reflect and talk to people they trust about when they feel uncertain, and the support they need to build their confidence, including from God

The 'God Cares' series provides a Biblical approach to discussing emotions and behaviour with children to nurture an attitude of wellness. Children at different ages approach things differently in their stages of emotional development, so this series works at two different levels: Illustrated Readers aimed at 5-7 year-olds and Chapter Books aimed at 8+ years.

Please note that children progress at different reading abilities and stages of emotional development so the age ranges are only a guide for parents and carers.

The Bible stories are retold reflecting on the emotions and encourages children to discuss and relate this within their situations. Sections at the back provide a reflective space for children and practical advice for parents and carers.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon

**My thoughts**

This installment of the series is geared toward older children, as it is in more of a chapter book format. This one tells stories about Moses and talks about how he must have been feeling some anxiety at these various points of his life. And then another story from the Gospels is shared in the middle of that chapter, between two parts about Moses. All three parts of each chapter get into some explanation about the feelings that could have been going on with the various characters in each story and try to relate it to the child's life. The end of the chapter gives some kind of writing prompt of reflection for the child to use to contemplate his own feelings.

For this section, I liked how these familiar Bible stories were being used to help the child explore her own feelings. I felt it was a bit odd and disjointed to have a Gospel story thrown into the middle of the chapter with two parts about Moses surrounding it, though. It was like switching gears midstream somehow. But this did feel like it could be a self-guided study. I appreciated the suggestions it gave to the child about how to approach trusted adults for discussion and guidance.

Then the back of the book is a section for parents and caregivers about how to handle anxiety in a child and when to seek help. This is a great resource for parents. I just feel weird about having it in a book that is designed for a child to read on his own, especially in a book for older children. I think for some kids, it would increase their anxiety as they read the descriptions and start to wonder if that is going on with them.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once You Know by Agnes Deglon L.Ac., MS

Non Fiction / Body, Mind, Spirit / Inspiration & Personal Growth

Date Published: November 5th 2019

Publisher : Acorn Publishing

Our children are our hope, our future, our everything. Yet, we are often very unaware of the consequences of our actions, and the impact they have on our children’s future. The dangers of our lack of awareness are real. For the first time in history, our children’s life expectancy is shorter than ours. It is our duty as parents to educate ourselves and help our children thrive. This book is:

·  An invitation to take a deeper look at the cultural influence on our children’s health.

·  A helpful resource for parents who wish to take an active role in preserving their children’s health in today’s toxic environment.

·  An empowering guide with life-changing information that most of us don’t have.

Once you know, you can make changes. NOW is the time to act.

Purchase Link

Amazon

Excerpt

What is happening right now

As participants in modern society, our bodies are exposed to startling numbers of chemicals from the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and the products we consume. For instance, did you know that many pregnant women and their children are exposed to far more chemical toxins today than a few decades ago? Most newborns today have chemical contaminants in their blood right from birth. Did you know that much of the food sold in the U.S. is far inferior in quality compared to the same foods sold in other nations? Or that some food dyes used in the U.S., if not banned outside the U.S., require a warning notice because they have been shown to cause hyperactivity and cancer? Or did you know that GMOs need to be labeled in many countries but not in the U.S.?

The combination of excessive amounts of toxicity, coupled with a deficit in nutritious and immune boosting foods, is devastating for the physical and mental development of our children.

Furthermore, our minds are exposed to an overwhelming amount of information, resulting in a kind of information overload that includes a lot of negative images. In emergency situations, staying aware of what is happening is indeed a good thing, but in our day-to-day lives, constant negative input can and will influence our thoughts, our happiness, and our health.

Our mental health is an increasing concern in this day and age. It’s especially important to analyze the way we treat it. For example, in the U.S., ADHD is considered a biological disorder and is treated with medications such as Ritalin. In other countries, the causes of ADHD are believed to be psycho-social and situational. Therefore the treatment is focusing on improving the child’s social context rather than prescribing a drug. In the U.S., we use more antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs than any other country, even starting treatment in patients as young as 2 or 3 years old.

The use of these drugs validates the gut-brain connection. If we are using oral drugs like antidepressants to influence the mood, why not use this connection and positively affect our mental health with the right foods? In the same way, why not provide a positive environment and use our media-infused culture to feed our mind happy and uplifting information?

In today’s society, our souls do not get much attention, time or space anymore, even though studies show that spirituality has a clear impact on our mental health and wellness. Spirituality is associated with significantly lower rates of depression, substance abuse, risk-taking, or thrill seeking. Nothing else known to science and medicine has such a broad-reaching and powerful preventative influence on the daily decisions that make or break health and wellness.

About the Author

Agnes Deglon is a biochemist, oriental medicine practitioner, and the mother of two young boys. She is a passionate children’s health advocate. In the few years she spent in the acupuncture clinic, she came to the conclusion that it is easier to preserve health than to cure disease. 

Aside from ONCE YOU KNOW A Guide to Preserving Your Child’s Health, Agnes is the author of the children’s book series, Kids’ Questions About Life, an educational book series written in simple language for parents, teachers, and kids who are pondering the deeper, more complex yet so essential issues of life. Book two in the series, Wait for me! Would you Mind?, won first place in the 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award. Book three, The Little Souls, was a finalist. 

You can visit her online at WWW.AGNESDEGLONBLOG.COM

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Instagram

Pinterest

LinkedIn

Amazon Author Page

Blog

Facebook

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"Infertility Stinks! 31 Day Infertility Devotional' by Jacqueline Winslow

Are you struggling with infertility? If so, you aren't alone.

Infertility Stinks! details the very personal journey of hope and faith through seven years of infertility woes. Struggling to bring life into the world while trying to remain steadfast and strong is a trial shared by many throughout the world. This poignant memoir will walk you through the soaring highs and desperate lows of the daily – sometimes hourly – endeavor to carry on in the face of individual health concerns, negative test results, an equally grieving partner, and the daily grind that continues despite your strife. This devotional will deeply touch and bring others walking the infertility journey together in prayer and shared sorrows and triumphs. No matter what point in this battle you are in, this book will speak to you and remind you that others walk hand-in-hand with you.

Available on Amazon

About the author:

Jacqueline Winslow, author of Infertility Stinks! A 31 Day Devotional has also written No Time for Love (A sweet romance short story) More Than We Bargained for (Stand-alone romance), & Everything She Wanted (Christmas Romance Short Story). Please be sure to check, review, and enjoy!

'Change Your Mind, Not Your Child' by Michael Cavallaro

Even if you’ve never been a parent or don’t plan to be one this book is for you. Discover how your own upbringing and family patterns influence your life experiences today. See what you can do to change the patterns that no longer serve you.

Learn how to assist yourself and your children in becoming self-directed, self-actualized and loving human beings. Transform the way you parent, ending old family patterns that have been carried on for generations. Create of a new way of living that is rich and fulfilling.

By using the tools in this book you become a model of love and self-actualization for your child. You show them that there are no mistakes only discoveries and that you can choose how you experience life. Nurture, love and guide yourself and your children to become fully self-directed and as you change, life becomes a richer and satisfying experience for all whether you choose to be a parent or just parent yourself.

Change Your Mind Not Your Child: Loving Your Child by Raising Your Consciousness is a call for consciousness to all, seeking to raise healthier, happier human beings, whether parents, those considering having children, families of all kinds, or anyone wishing to have a fulfilling relationship with themselves and others.

Read an excerpt:

Love your child with all your heart 

Love yourself with all your heart. By doing this, you set an example for your child so that they can love themselves. Loving yourself is about accepting all of yourself — even the parts you believe are unlovable. Unconditionally accept that your body looks the way it does, that you are the age or gender you are, that you have the talents you do. When you do this, you show your child that they have the right and the ability to love themselves unconditionally as well. 

There is no greater act of love!

When your child sees you loving and caring for yourself, they will know that they can do this for themselves also. The child needs to see that to love one’s self is possible. By giving them the space and a living example, they will know how much you really love them. 

Children learn by example and use what has been modeled for them. If you show them that you do not love yourself with all your heart, they will come to believe that they do not deserve to be loved. How so? 

A true loving heart is one that has loved itself first and shares/radiates that love with others. Sharing or radiating love is different than giving love. When you radiate love it is because you have become the love. When you are the love then you can be nothing but loving. In this model, love is effortless because you are the living expression of love. 

When you show a child that you do not have love for yourself and that only others matter, they reflect and adopt this behavior and belief system. What you teach them by not loving yourself is that self doesn’t matter — only loving others matters. Loving others is a nice idea, but being the love that others then feel is to love without effort or sacrifice. Real love is effortless. 

Teaching a child to love themselves first is the sign of a truly loving heart. Loving themselves first means not putting other people’s needs and wants before their own. This is a tricky one for most parents to teach, as parents themselves have had no role models. As you model this, the child learns that you love them so much that your personal needs are not part of the equation in them loving themselves. You give them the freedom to consider their needs over yours and let them know that your love is absolute and pure. The key to teaching this to your child is learning to love yourself without conditions. You’ll learn more about what this looks like throughout the book.

Buy links:

Amazon / Living Concepts

About the author:

Michael Cavallaro’s life work has been finding ways for people to integrate their spiritual nature with their everyday lives. For over 40 years he has helped thousands to lead healthier, happier lives by finding practical solutions to life’s challenges. As an international speaker, his true gift is expressing what each person knows within their own heart but never fully admits; assisting individuals who are ready to shed what’s not working in order to let their own light shine.

Read an exclusive excerpt from 'Shattered Vows' by Linda LaRoque

Shattered Vows

by Linda LaRoque

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

A mother, confronted with her husband’s infidelity, must decide whether to help raise his child or end her marriage.

Annie and Stuart Rayburn have loved each other since high school. Their life is idyllic until their baby dies of SIDS, and Annie falls into a deep depression. Months of therapy help her recover, and they look forward to another child sometime in their future.

Despite his own grief Stuart tries to comfort Annie, yet when he reaches for her in the night, his advances are rebuffed. In a moment of weakness, he turns to another woman. Stu learns his night of infidelity produced a baby girl. The mother died in a car crash, and her will gives Stu custody.

Stu can’t deny the child is his, and he’s determined to raise her. He begs Annie’s forgiveness. Hurt and angry, Annie must face her demons, decide if she can forgive Stu, and love the innocent child, or divorce him and move on without the only man she’s likely to love.

  

EXCERPT :

"Annie . . ." He reached out to touch her, but she shrank from him. Eyes bleak, he stood and walked to the large picture window indicative of the 1950s style home she loved. Hands in his pockets, his shoulders rose and fell as if he struggled for breath. 

"I hated myself for touching another woman." She had to strain to hear him. "My conscience ate away at me. When I came home, I skulked around like a criminal. Every time I thought about it my stomach knotted, and I wanted to puke." 

"Why are you telling me now? You've had . . . what . . . a year? What made you feel the need to come clean now?" 

He turned, and for the thousandth time she noted his handsome masculinity. Tall, muscled and without an ounce of fat. The blue eyes she loved glistened, she supposed with unshed tears. As he stared at her, they darkened, whether from pain or dread she didn't know. This was her man, her husband, and jealousy and suspicion reared its ugly head. "There's more?" Nausea churned in her stomach, and she covered her mouth with a hand. 

Hands in his pockets, shoulders slumped, Stu nodded. A tear rolled down his face, and he wiped it away. His mouth twisted in anguish as his eyes meet hers. 

"There is a baby—a baby girl."

Buy links

Amazon / Smashwords / B&N

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Linda LaRoque is a Texas girl, but the first time she got on a horse, it tossed her in the road dislocating her right shoulder. Forty years passed before she got on another, but it was older, slower, and she was wiser. Plus, her students looked on and it was important to save face.

A retired teacher who loves West Texas, its flora and fauna, and its people, Linda’s stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas and the Midwest. She is a member of RWA, her local chapter of HOTRWA, NTRWA and Texas Mountain Trail Writers.

Linda writes contemporary western romances, time travel romances and futuristic romances. Shattered Vows is her first Inspiration Women's fiction.

Visit Linda at these locations:

http://www.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com

www.lindalaroque.com

https://www.facebook.com/linda.laroque

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/649259.Linda_LaRoque   

Linda will be awarding three individual prizes to randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour:

1st prize—sterling charm bracelet with baby theme and a handmade wooden jewelry box

2nd prize—a handmade wooden shawl pin and an ecopy of Shattered Vows

3rd prize—an ecopy of Shattered Vows

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'Motherlode: Essays on Parenthood' Edited by Ashley Parker Owens

Blurb:

Every mother and father shares the same secret—parenthood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Forget the movies and television shows that encourage unrealistic expectations of the super mom, the benevolent father, and their perfect kids. In reality, all parents struggle, and all kids challenge their parents. Parents need to know they are not alone.

Motherlode is a collection of essays examining eye-opening, poignant, brutally honest accounts of parenting. Essays on bittersweet empty nests, children lost to mental illness, and broken child-parent relationships all share one strong element in common. Despite the challenges of parenthood, the writers have a deep abiding love and appreciation for their children.

Writers include Rebecca T. Dickinson, Amanda Etcheto, Oren Hammerquist, Treg Isaacson, Ann V. Klotz, Andrea Lani, Julia Poole, Michael Schofield, Tamara Kaye Sellman, Rita Reynolds Setness, Stephanie Vanderslice, and others.

Available on Amazon

'Yesterday Mourning' by Renita Bryant

Fiction
Date Published: May 2013

Blurb: 

Yvette is a forty-one year old woman struggling to cope with losing both parents during her twenties—one to terminal disease and the other to life’s complications. Over the years, she learned to repress the pain of watching her mother die and the resentment of having her father casually walk out of her life. Now as she packs her bags to return to her Georgia hometown and the house where final goodbyes were never spoken, a growing sense of uneasiness intensifies.

Vera is the kind-hearted stepsister Yvette never imagined nor wanted. She was an innocent teenager in search of answers when Yvette’s father, the Pastor, entered her life. Although broken from the loss of his beloved wife and daughters, he gave Vera the love and affection she so desperately needed. However, a childhood secret threatens to compromise everything Vera holds dear.

When the Pastor’s health takes a turn for the worse, both daughters must decide if they have the strength and courage to no longer be confined to burdens of the past. Will Yvette overcome feelings of abandonment and forgive her father before it’s too late? Does Vera’s childhood secret hold the key to mending this family’s broken relationship?

Yesterday Mourning is a heartfelt and poignant novella about two women learning invaluable lessons of forgiveness, love, loss and ultimately—peace. It is an impressive debut from an author with an authentic voice and a love for storytelling.

Read an excerpt:

I didn’t know what to say.

Two years had passed since I last laid eyes on him, and I had no clue what would be the first or final words spoken. Maybe I'd ask for an in-depth explanation as to why he didn’t try harder to salvage the relationship we built—the love we shared.
While I wanted to hear his answers, my heart recognized that simple words wouldn’t make our truth any less real. Our perspectives had changed because our lives had changed. Our interactions had transformed into something entirely different than the possibilities we would have imagined a few years ago.

A part of me wanted to run away in hopes of avoiding both him and the complexity of this moment—a moment built on the promise of closure. However, running away stopped being an option a long time ago, and as such, I got the privilege of sitting on a concrete step under an August Georgia sun waiting for my father to turn the corner into our cul-de-sac. I got to wonder whether he would try to hug me or engage in small talk—or do the unexpected and admit fault for the current state of our situation.

I wish things had been different. I wish he had made a different choice—one that involved me, or at least considered me. I replayed our conversations often, wondering whether I was too sensitive or whether he really was as heartless and selfish as I perceived him to be.

We were both mourning a loss—a wife, a mother. He yearned to feel her touch just as I longed to see her smile. Her voice had coached us both through the funeral, the holidays, and the random moments such as being in the grocery store and seeing a grapefruit and remembering how much she loved them. Both of us had changed hospital bed sheets, paged nurses, and authorized procedures while feeling her slip away from our hopeful grasps. The sting of tears on wishful cheeks was no less painful for either of us. Our tears just fell in two different states and for two very different reasons. The reasons were what hindered me from knowing what I should say to him.

Buy links

Amazon \ Barnes & Noble \ Smashwords

About the author:

Renita Bryant, a native of Fort Valley, Georgia, had visions of being a writer from an early age. "There's something magical about using words on a page to emotionally propel someone into another time and place."

Since obtaining her BS & MBA, Renita has worked for some of the world's largest companies on many of their most recognizable household brands. Although she finds the work rewarding, her passion for writing pushed her to complete and publish her first novella, Yesterday Mourning, in May 2013.

Renita currently resides in Ohio and stays actively involved in social media with her blog, Renita’s Mynd Matters, Twitter (@Mynd_Matters), Facebook (YesterdayMourningBook), and Goodreads pages! She's currently working on multiple projects including book #2 and a collection of poetry.

Links:

Website/Blog: www.renitabryant.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YesterdayMourningBook?ref=hl
Twitter: @Mynd_Matters

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'Believe' by Shelly Hickman

Blurb:

Believe. A message that still taunts her years after the passing of her daughter. In the days of her daughter's illness, she considered herself a seeker, open to the possibilities of prayer and faith. Now cynical and guarded, she is forced to reexamine her beliefs and relive her past when an old love resurfaces, with a sick child of his own. Believe is a story that examines fractures to our foundations in the face of tragedy. It is a story that asks if prayers are always answered, but often in ways we do not see.

NOTE: Despite the spiritual tone of this work, please be aware it contains strong language.

Read an excerpt:

Silent you left
With no goodbye
Don’t understand
Won’t even try
I cannot move
I cannot breathe
I cannot find
The will to grieve
A void of light
Is what you leave
I now know not
What I believe

Six years later, the words to that song still made her think of the morning she woke to find Sarah lying next to her, her spirit gone. She turned down the radio and remembered how determined she was to save the world at that time. It was simply unacceptable that children die, that parents sit by and helplessly watch their child suffer, and she was going to travel the world until she learned the secret to healing.

What a joke. Now her big contribution was taking her miniature Yorkie to the cancer clinic as pet therapy. Woo, hoo! You're really making a difference, Rachel.

It now seemed strange that she ever felt that connected to whatever it is out there, so watched over. It made her question if we're only allowed to feel that way during crisis, simply as a blind impulse. Or maybe it was all in her mind. Now all that remained was a somewhat detached confusion with occasional spurts of understanding—that is, until they fell away again. She sometimes felt guilty that she no longer made the effort to cultivate that relationship, that understanding.

She recalled the day in the coffee house with Cooper. How ridiculous the need for closure, even under the most ill-timed circumstances. What an idiot.  The memory prompted her to reflect upon some of her other bizarre behavior in the days immediately following Sarah’s death. After the people came to collect Sarah the morning it happened, Rachel went apartment hunting. Not seeking comfort in friends and family, but apartment hunting. A pleasant elderly lady drove her around on one of those little golf carts, showing her the grounds of one of the complexes she visited. “You’ll find that we have a very nice workout facility, clubhouse, and over here is one of our two swimming pools.”

Rachel nodded politely as she surveyed the women in their bikinis lounging by the pool. How can they just lie there like that, worrying about their stupid ass tans? I hate them! She continued to pretend like everything was perfectly normal as she journeyed on this little cart, when what she really wanted to do was scream to everyone within a five-mile radius, “I died this morning!”

A few days later, she found herself eating lunch alone at Sweet Tomatoes. It hadn’t even occurred to her, until she sat down with her food, that it was Mother’s Day. The place was busting at the seams with husbands, wives, children, grandparents. Everyone so happy, enjoying a family meal, again, as if nothing existed in this world that was evil or tragic. They never noticed the unaffected android mechanically spooning food into her mouth, failing to taste a thing.

Book buy links

Bio:

Living in Las Vegas since she was two, Shelly Hickman has witnessed many changes in the city over the years. She graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor of Art in 1990, and in her early twenties worked as an illustrator for a contractor for the Nevada Test Site. In the mid-90s, she returned to school to earn her Masters degree in Elementary Education. She now teaches computer applications and multimedia at a middle school in Las Vegas. She loves to write about people, examining their flaws, their humor, spirituality, and personal growth. Shelly lives with her husband, two children, and their dog, Frankie.

Links:

Website \ Facebook \ Twitter

'Parenting Your Child Leader' by Darryl Bodkin

Foreward

Darryl Bodkin has written a wonderful treatise on child development and leadership. He writes from a child’s perspective on parenting and provides invaluable insight on the subject of leadership growth and development.

When I was 11 years of age, my life was torn apart by the loss of my father in a tragic construction accident. It was a defining moment for me. Fortunately, my godly grandmother sat down with me and told me that I had to be the leader in our home since I was the oldest child. From that moment leadership was thrust upon me. Reading this book has caused me to reflect on that landmark day in my own childhood when I started on a leadership journey.

I commend Darryl Bodkin’s book to you for your enjoyment and personal growth. I believe every parent who reads it will benefit from the lessons taught on parenting and will gain an understanding of how to encourage the development of leadership qualities in children. Proverbs 3:5–6 is a sterling reminder of the potential for vital Christian leadership within every child that is born into God’s big world.

Dr. Stan A. Toler
Bestselling Author
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma


Reviews

I am very pleased to endorse this book “Parenting your Child Leader” written by Mr. Darryl Bodkin at this very critical juncture in our human economy as it relates to leadership. This book is well positioned to address this pertinent subject, taking a rudimentary approach to the same.

The following quote from the author is testimony to the above, “The leaders who are tasked with confronting the concerns that face us today developed their skills and competencies from their experiences at home from parents and caregivers.”

May this thesis be so utilized that better leaders will emerge.

Scoffield Eversley, Th.D.
President
Caribbean Nazarene College

Darryl has always been bold enough to transform his potential into practical reality, for the time that I have known him he has always been one to motivate, encourage, teach, lead. It is therefore not surprising that he would write a book on leadership, specifically one geared toward the very ones who are naturally charged with the responsibility for raring leaders, parents. In his book Bodkin draws from his own experiences and that of selected biblical historical figures, who themselves were leaders, to give validity to his claims. He also gives very personable examples and relatable illustrations which not only clarify but also seals his position in the mind of the readers. I believe that this book is a very timely piece of literature as we witness the decay of a generation who are content with allowing various factors to make crucial decisions for them and are satisfied to simply follow what everyone else may be doing, whether right or wrong, rather than thinking for themselves and activating the leadership potential which lies dormant within them. Thank you Darryl for your obedience and your willingness to serve this present age!
Russell Léonce
Gospel Recording Artiste
facebook.com/russellleonce
twitter.com/russellleonce

This book is a must read, the author nailed it! As a parent it was really refreshing to get another angle on the topic of parenting. A definite eye opener that any parent can appreciate. This book is alive and real and should come in pocket book size too!
Wendy Butcher, Parent

I highly recommend this book for everyone desirous of investing in a child’s life - which speaks volumes for our future. Darryl has presented a dexterous model of Parent-caddying which is highly effective and invaluable. It presents a strong foundation for our kids to maximise their unlimited potential.
Rhonda McLean, Parent

Available on Amazon
Also available at Barnes & Noble \ Christian Book \ Parable Books

Darryl Bodkin has an undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of the West Indies (May 2008). He is a graduate of the Caribbean Nazarene College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Counselling and Human Resources Management (May 2013). Darryl served as youth ministry leader for five years at the Arima Church of the Nazarene and Student Body President (August 2012- May 2013). His current ministry assignment is as Strategy Coordinator at the El Socorro Church of the Nazarene. In his professional career, he functions as the Operations Manager for Geotech Associates Limited, a civil engineering consultancy based in Trinidad and Tobago. He has represented his country at the regional level at the 2009 CARICOM Youth Exchange in Haiti and has been a facilitator for the annual Barbados Youth Leadership Retreat (2009-20011). Darryl recently published his first book, ‘Parenting Your Child Leader’ in May 2013. It is based on his experience as a child, leader and faith. In June 2013 Darryl was elected to serve on the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene. His blog can be read at darrylbodkin.com. He can be followed at Twitter.com/DarrylBodkin or Facebook.com/darryldbodkin.

'Popsicle Goes to Church' by Cristal Baker

Hello, my name is Cristal Baker, with faith forming an important part of my life, writing a story about God in a way that reaches little ones is the paramount reason behind the book. I wanted to tell children a story about God in a way they can relate to. I have written, 'Popsicle Goes To Church', a Christian children's picture book which teaches young children about God and Faith PRINCIPLES in a cute and fun way, that will captivate their imagination and have them asking, “Can we Go to Church Like Popsicle?”

It is the delightfully illustrated story of a puppy and a five-year-old girl as they both overcome the illness by faith.

Book links

'Lean Not On Your Understanding: A mother's journey from loss to recovery' by Frances Hart

"Lean Not on Your Understanding," is the story of a mother's personal journey, as she struggled to cope with death of her daughter. The author, Frances Hart, describes the event and the intense nature of the changes that followed. Beyond telling the story, Frances offers specific, first hand advice drawn from her own experience as a parent confronted with the terrible grief that accompanies such a deep and personal loss.

~~Available on Amazon in paperback and for your Kindle~~

Frances Hart is a former teacher and school administrator. She is a graduate of Virginia State University and earned her master's degree from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. She is a member of the Practicing Writers Group.

'Simon's Choice' Book Tour & Review

Simon's Choice

Charlotte Castle

"But Daddy, who will live with me in heaven?"
 
Doctor Simon Bailey has everything a man could ever want.

Then his beautiful daughter is diagnosed with Leukemia.

He can almost accept her impending death.

He can almost accept the fact that he will have to live without her.

But he cannot stand the thought of his little girl having to face death alone.

He answers her innocent question in a moment of desperation, testing his marriage, his professional judgment and his sanity to the limit.

As cracks form in Simon's previously perfect family, we wonder, as do his loved ones ... will he really make the ultimate sacrifice?

Combining poignant moments of both humour and pain, 'Simon's Choice' is a penetrating account of parenthood at the sharp-end. 

**My thoughts**

This book is absolutely heartbreaking. The loss of a young child is something that no parent should ever have to endure. Unfortunately, it does in fact happen. I have personally dealt with the loss of a child as the result of a tragic accident. I cannot fathom watching a child die a long death from a horrific disease. It was bad enough watching my father go through something like that.

Simon and his wife have gone through varying degrees of devotion over the course of their daughter's illness. They have grasped onto their faith as if it is the very life blood that is keeping them going. They have doubted the purpose of God and questioned His decision to take away their precious daughter. They have discussed the idea of Heaven. Unfortunately, they are rarely on the same page at the same time.

And then their daughter, who is going to soon be leaving them, asks about her eventual transition to the other side. The conversation between Simon and Sarah is one that socked me in the gut. 

What would you say to your daughter if you knew she was going to die? What would you say when she wants you to go with her? Ponder these questions as you examine your own faith while reading this story. And keep a box of Kleenex on hand. You will need it.

Buy links: Paperback  \ Kindle \ Smashwords

About the Author:

The daughter of a successful novelist, Charlotte Castle considers herself ‘chronically unemployable’ and admits to being astounded that her book has had such a positive reception. 

 

“To be honest, I started writing ‘Simon’s Choice’ out of a mixture of genuine desire to explore the horror of losing a child and a fair amount of desire to get out of mopping the kitchen floor. That people want to read it is wonderful.” 

 

A school governor for her daughter’s primary school and actively involved in her local ‘Community Action Group’, Charlotte juggles writing with cleaning up after a man whom she says is “completely unfamiliar with the term ‘washing basket’”, her cat and her two children.

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Review of 'Second Chance: The Story of a Father's Faith, a Mother's Strength, and a Child's Will to Live'

Second Chance: The Story of a Father's Faith, a Mother's Strength, and a Child's Will to Live by Kip Moore is a heart-wrenching story of one family's struggle with E.coli illness in their young eighteen-month-old son, named Chance. Mr. Moore has chosen to share their story, in the hopes of promoting awareness of the problem, and to help families in similar situations to keep the faith.

It all started when the Moore family was on vacation, spending a day at Mount Rushmore. After a random TV interview at the historic site, they decide to go to a local restaurant.

Soon after, Kip found himself feeling quite ill, with flu-like symptoms, lack of appetite, and diarrhea that lasted for ten days. His doctors told him he probably had a small case of food poisoning. Chance became ill the same evening, vomiting repeatedly. The next day, he began to have massive amounts of diarrhea, and even started to pass bloody stools.

The first trip to the pediatrician simply gave Chance some fluids to rehydrate him. When symptoms didn't improve the next day, the Moore family was instructed to take him directly to the Children's Hospital. And thus began a month-long roller coaster ride.

Tense moments, close calls, amazing people, and medical miracles fill the following 100+ pages. Even those who do not have their own children cannot help but feel the pain of a family waiting with baited breath to see if their precious baby is going to live or die. Their unwavering faith and devotion to each other, as well as reengaging with a higher power is inspirational.

This is a book that parents should read, especially as problems with E.coli and other forms of contamination are running rampant today. Chance's parents were not educated on the symptoms of E.coli infection and the outcome could have been quite different. The book also teaches parents how to find faith and to believe in miracles, while also fighting for the rights of their children. No one knows a child better than his parents, and parents need to be their child's biggest advocate.

The book also provides up-to-date information about E.coli, with links to the latest research and organizations. Again, the goal of the book is to arm readers with information, in the hopes that other families don't have to go through the same horror story that the Moore family faced back in the summer of 2005.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review of 'The 5 Love Languages of Children'

At my previous teaching job, ten years ago, my boss was always asking me if I knew what each child's love language was. I had no idea what she was talking about at first. Then, she finally told me about a book called The 5 Love Languages of Children. It was originally published in 1997, which would have been the edition to which she was referring. In 2005 it was updated; now it has been updated yet again in 2012.


Every child has a particular way in which he demonstrates or best accepts love. Some children respond best to that physical touch. They like to be hugged and kissed or even to have a backrub. Others thrive on "words of affirmation." They want to be told all the time what a good job they are doing, to be encouraged. Some just want to spend quality time with their parents. Some prefer gifts. And finally, some demonstrate love the best through acts of service. Each child's emotional needs are going to manifest in a different way. This book is a guide for parents to figure out what the child's needs are and how to satisfy them.

Each love language is given its own chapter for definition and includes ways to fulfill that emotional need without going overboard and having the opposite effect. Real stories of real children and adults provide examples as to how these needs can manifest. The author also points out how different it can be from when a child is in preschool to when she is a teenager.

Advice on how to discipline and educate children based on their love languages also makes up a couple of chapters. These parts in particular can help educators as they work with a variety of children. So many children in classrooms have so many different needs today. Sometimes they just aren't getting what they need at home and look to receive it at school. Teachers who are familiar with the 5 love languages can help to also educate parents as to how best help their children.

At the end of the book are resources for more information. There is also an exercise known as the Love Language Game, adapted for each age group. Groups of parents and teachers may wish to utlilize the discussion guide at the end of the book to strategize for different children.

The information in this book is familiar to me, as I have implemented the ideas for several years in my classroom. It felt good to finally read the book that explains all of it, as a sort of refresher course. I would recommend it to parents and educators.


I received a complimentary eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This review also appears on Books for Parents & Teachers.

Review of 'Growing Happy Kids'

Maureen Healy went on her own pilgrimage to Tibet for a three-month period. Part of her mission was to see for herself the causes of supreme happiness that she had witnessed in her Tibetan Buddhist friends' children. Her job working as a counselor to children with so many problems was a daunting one. She wanted to be of better service to them. The result was a sense of happiness and strength like she had never before experienced. Desire to teach other adults and children to be just as happy and strong played a huge part in writing this book, Growing Happy Kids.

In order to have inner confidence, you must cultivate a healthy self-esteem, which she describes as a snapshot of how you feel about yourself. You also need outer confidence, which is your ability to believe in your abilities now and into the future. She outlines the steps of achieving this. While it is best to start boosting your child's confidence from the very beginning, it can still be done at any age.

Healy shares stories of parents and children in the "real world" from a variety of cultures. Their stories demonstrate the inner confidence that their children have and how they have achieved it. Each story is followed by a takeaway that expands upon the moral of the story.



When I first started this book, I feared it was going to be a lot of New Age spiritual information that would easily turn off some who picked it up. Once you get past her history of how she came to write this book, you find a lot of real world advice that can apply to any culture and any religion. East truly meets West in the ideas and actions outlined within the book. It is also clear how Healy has drawn upon her experience as a child psychologist and scientific research to create realistic advice. A lot of this practical advice seems so common sense. A lot of the ideas were naturally implemented by my own parents. As a teacher, however, I have seen how quickly and easily a lot of these ideals are forgotten. It isn't done on purpose; society is just different today.

A lot of her tips and ideas would apply to adults, as well. We often forget about maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise and adequate sleep. We allow people to be negative toward us and forget to have faith in ourselves and our lives.

Another thing I like about this book is that it teaches you how to instill confidence in your children without going overboard. You can learn how to teach confidence without becoming cocky, or by causing the child to feel like a failure when things don't quite work out the way they are supposed to. Sometimes, something can happen to shatter your child's confidence. Healy shows you how you can also rebuild your child's confidence.

The book ends with several lists of activities that can seamlessly become part of your daily routine with your child, to help boost his or her inner confidence. Many of these could be implemented in a classroom, as well. This book is beneficial for both parents and teachers to read, as they are the ones closest to the child who will have the most impact. Further reading is also included for those who wish to learn more.

Proceeds from Growing Happy Kids are being donated to both UNICEF and the Seramey Thewo Khamsten Children's Program.

Visit Maureen Healy's website for further information, including her articles from Psychology Today.



Growing Happy Kids is also available for your Kindle.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This post also appears on BlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest