First Ask Why by Shelly Wildman (Book Review!)

First Ask Why: Raising Kids to Love God Through Intentional Discipleship

by Shelly Wildman

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Religion / Christian Life / Family

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2018

Number of pages- 176

Age Group- Adult (Parents)

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4486-9

Parenting can be really tough.  We are bombarded with with information and advice, and we feel that we aren’t doing it right at all.  Most books focus on how to get the behavior we expect.  Shelly Wildman and her husband decided to focus on how to focus on your family and children individually.  No family is the same, so we need to focus on building a firm foundation for our children and families.

About the Author-

Shelly Wildman currently lives in Illinois and is a mom of three adult daughters.  She is a writer and speaker.

My thoughts-

This book is one of the most interesting parenting books I’ve read.  It really shows how to strengthen and grow my family.  I know as a Christian that it is important to help our children to grow in their life with God.  This book shows how Shelly Wildman and her husband did this in her family.

I like how this book is divided into four sections: “Our Charge,” “Our Challenge,” “Our Compassion,” and “Our Contribution.”  I could focus on the areas that I thought are the most important to our family at this point in time. 

I did spend a lot of time reading, underlining, and studying the information in this book, so I can best serve my children.  I really appreciated the questions at the end of each chapter, because they gave me a way to think more deeply about the chapter.

I would like to have a bibliography at the back of the book.  There were so many interesting books listed, that I an easy to view list of them.

I highly recommend this book to parents and soon-to-be parents. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received First Ask Why, by Shelly Wildman, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Wonder Years edited by Leslie Leyland Fields (Book Review!)

The Wonder Years: 40 Women Over 40 on Aging, Faith, Beauty, and Strength

edited Leslie Leyland Fields

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Religion / Christian Life / Inspirational

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2018

Number of pages- 232

Age Group- Adult (Women)

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4522-4

Are you nearing 40 or are you past that and are dreading each birthday?  This book is filled with personal stories from 40 different women from the ages of 40-85.  These women have written from a Godly perspective for showing what life can be like after the age of 40.

About the Editor-

Leslie Leyland Fields currently lives in Alaska.  She is a speaker, author, and editor.  She is the founder of Harvest Island Wilderness Workshop.

My thoughts-

I’m over the age of 40, so the title of this book captured my attention.  I liked how it included the stories of 40 women between the ages of 40 and 85.  It shows what can be done for all the age groups.  There were stories from women I’d never hear of like:

• Jen Pollock Michel
• Win Couchman
• Jean Murray Walker

There were also stories from women who I had heard of like:

• Ann Voskamp
• Joni Eareckson Tada
• Madeline L’Engle

I like how the book was divided into three different sections about first, lasts, and always.  The way that the sections were divided showed me areas of my life that will soon be firsts and those that will be last.  It helped give me confidence that I will be able to manage them.  It is always better to have first-hand experience to read and learn from, and I appreciate this book for that.

I know that many women will find comfort with these stories on how to approach these coming years with dignity, so I recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Wonder Years, edited by Leslie Leyland Fields, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.