A Net in Time

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Parenting

The Family Adventure Journal

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The Family Adventure Journal is a hard-cover book to take with you on your adventures not matter how big they be! Take a trip to the park, the zoo, or to visit a friend. It is a pleasure to bring this review to you. With loads of space to record your adventures and pockets in the back for storage, it’s the perfect take-along.

The Family Adventure Journal

From the Cover:

This charming and practical keepsake journal makes it easy to turn family outings into memorable adventures. Brimming with inspiring illustrations, family-friendly activities, and more than 50 fill-in prompts-plus handy pockets for storing maps, leaves, and other found treasures-this interactive journal is the ideal way for families to explore nature, connect with one another, and create lasting memories.

The Family Adventure Journal

About the Book

Record your life over 128 fill-in-the date pages, prompts not only encourage different types of adventures, but on things you can look for. Have a scavenger hunt, find a bug, or look for a tree. Maybe your adventure needs a logo or a map to a treasured spot? Trace a memory instead of hurting nature, maybe you can play the scientist and come up with a name for some of your discoveries!

I love the ideas on the pages, it’s a fun book to use. It’s geared to be used by families, I’m thinking more families with children 5-11. My 13 year thinks it would have appealed to him until he was about 11. He mentioned the pockets in the back aren’t made for the types of things he would collect. 🙂 “It’s a good idea for some thing though.”

The Family Adventure Journal

“Mom, did you know they have games in the back? That’s a good idea don’t you think?” This section is a grouping of games, crafts and activities that you can do outside or make with objects found in nature. The nature activity book has similiar ideas in it, these two books would complement each other nicely.

The Family Adventure Journal

It’s a nicely made book that should be a boon to you and your family as you head outdoors. A lovely addition to a camping trip, a vacation on the lake, or any place with a park or trail to walk. Enjoy nature, take full advantage, and make memories worth keeping.

The Family Adventure Journal: Turn Everyday Outings into Memorable Explorations.
Chronicle Books.
128 pages, hardcover, Elastic Close
Keepsake Pockets
Journal, Adventure, Family, Memory Keeper
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

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Dinosaur Devotions

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Okay, I’m doing this devotional right, so you all can decide if it might be a good fit with your youngsters, and I’m sitting here thinking about another dinosaur book that I have in my review pile that if you like this book…you just might like THAT book.  The two go so well together.  SO as soon as I get that review done and posted I’ll link it up here so you can go find it.  Deal?  GREAT.  The book I’m reviewing for you here is called Dinosaur Devotions.  It’s a nice hardcover, devotional designed for dinosaur loving children.  But I really do need to just focus here.

Dinosaur Devotions

From the cover:

Did you know that a Therizinsaurus’s claws were as long as short swords?   And that the Argentinosaurus weighed as much as 10 elephants?  Now that’s heavy!  In Dinosaur Devotions, award-winning author and dinosaur enthusiast Michelle Medlock Adams shares hundreds of dinosaur facts and makes growing in your faith even more fun.

What do you get?

75 dinosaurs discoveries, bible facts and fun facts fill the pages of this lovely hardcover book.   With a blue ribbon to keep your spot, your children will delight in learning about God as they learn interesting facts about dinosaurs that tie into our faith in God.   For instance, the built in noise maker of the parasaurolophus reminds us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, The velociraptor reminds us to be strong and courageous and the family minded mapusaurus encourages us to respect our parents.

Each page is set up the same.

dinosaur devotions

The name of the dinosaur on a banner, with facts about the dinosaur in smaller print down the side.  Under the banner is a bible verse, which, for the most part fit in well with the readings that I perused.  The title of the reading along with the passage.  Page 2 bringing us opportunities to dig a little deeper with questions to answer, and then a chance to do some Jurassic journaling as you write, complete an activity or draw out your thoughts on the passage.  Occasional a dictionary word would appear in this side banner as well. A small ‘did you know’ fact appears with every lesson.   Each reading takes a two page spread.

dinosaur devotions

Family, diet, weight, height and family are given given statistics.  As you can see from this devotional, an interesting fact about the dinosaur is used to help children better understand the life of being a Christian. 

dinosaur devotions

I really liked the stop and think about it banner.  From the digging deeper where a parent can ask their child (ren) questions about the reading, or if you are reading it yourself … to help YOU think more deeply about what you are learning. Applying this knowledge to yourself in the journaling really helps to cement the learning.

My Thoughts:

I have mixed thoughts.   Not being entirely sure what age this devotional was geared to, I handed it to my son (a young teen) and asked what his thoughts were.  They weren’t impressive.   He said “It mostly just talks about having good morals and doesn’t talk enough about God”. 

Yet I look through it, and I don’t see it.  I see a devotional that (though not perfect) tries hard to connect one love (dinosaurs) with another love (God).  Those connections will never be perfect because well… we don’t know enough about dinosaurs to really understand them, and two.. we live in a fallen world .. using a fallen part of creation to explain the greatness of God .. you will always fall short.  Just like with any devotional some do a better job at connecting the facts then others, and some the verses used seem a bit stretched but I could find a way to connect them.  

In the end my consideration needs to be this this devotional good enough to recommend to others?   I think so, I don’t know that I would give it a teen, but doing it as a family devotional with your children to about 11 or so?   Especially if they have a fondness for dinosaurs?  Definitely.   Ms. Adams has done a good job with this devotional.

dinosaur devotions
Dinosaur Devotions: 75 dino discoveries, bible truths, fun facts and more!
Michelle Medlock Adams
Illustrator: Denise Turu
Tommy Nelson
Hardcover, 160 pages, Devotional
Elementary ages
Discipleship, Faith, Christianity, Dinosaurs

Reviewed for: Booklookbloggers.

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Step Parenting with Grace

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In my family step-parenting is something that I am somewhat familiar with.  Not in my personal family, but in my extended.  I have a brother whose wife has needed to step in as a mom, and neice who is needing to do the same with a young lad.    Therefore when the opportunity arose to review, Stepparenting with Grace: Encouragement for Blended Families, I thought this could be an excellent resource for my neice and an encouragement to her as she starts this journey.

What a nice, grace filled devotional for blended families.   Let me tell you all about it!

step parenting with grace

From the back cover: 

When you set out on your happily ever after again, bumpy roads may not be part of the travel plan.  But let’s be honest, uniting two families into one is hard work.  Your dream destinations of a perfect home with a white picket fence may sometimes seem surreal. 

When all your stepfamily demands start to overwhelm you, these devotions offer peace.  

What do you get: 

Each devotion begins with Scripture along with an encouraging thought for the day and closes with prayer.  Sounds simple and easy doesn’t it?   Saying that though doesn’t do justice.  Over 80 devotionals fill the 190 pages of this devotional book.  Covering such topics as Humility encourages Harmony, Victor or Victim, The Danger of Regret and Celebrating Love.  The topics aren’t always nice and easy, but the advice from veteran stepmom Gayla Grace is real, grace-filled, and always pointing one back to God.   In these pages you will find encouragement, the awareness that you are not alone in your struggles, and God.  God is central.

Each devotional contains the following elements:

stepparenting with grace, devotional items

In every devotional that I read (I didn’t read all of them) I found the scripture verses short and the devotionals connected well to the verses used.  I found they were sometimes taken out of context but that’s not unusual in devotionals, but overall, well done devotionals.  Helpful and constantly turning hearts back to God.

When you persevere in your step parenting role, you will discover unexpected Blessings. Share on X

My thoughts:

I like this book.  I find it well done and full of grace and understanding.  Step parenting isn’t easy and has some challenges that parenting children of your own doesn’t have.  This book is so worth reading if you or someone that you care for it step parenting.   Learn to love up on your children in whatever way they are in your life.  Learn to seek after God in those hard moments of step parenting. 

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Grace Like Scarlett

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Free product received in exchange for my review for Nuts about Books. 

Affiliate links will be used in this review. 

The full title of Adriel Booker’s book is Grace Like Scarlett: grieving with hope after miscarriage and loss.   I DO NOT want the title to set you off though.  This lovely book is geared toward those who have suffered through miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy, but it is a worth-read for anyone struggling to understand God’s goodness throughout difficulty we face in life.    Reviewing this book brought back tons of memories for me at the same as it assured me of God’s overarching plan for my life and those impacted by it.   I urge you to pick it up.   Read it, share it, see God in action even through difficult times.

grace like scarlett

Who is Adriel Booker?

Mom, mentor, bible teacher, writer and advocate.  She leads “The love A Mama Collective” (which helps women in developing countries with safe child-birth) and helps leads a YWAM group in Australia.  She has suffered three miscarriages.

What do you get?

More than 200 pages helping you understand miscarriage and who God is in your life throughout it.

Six sections divided as follows:

  1. Blindsided
    1. among the fields of gold
    2. Hello, deep love
  2. Overboard
    1. The spectacle of heaven
    2. From the dust
  3. Adrift
    1. diary of a broken heart
    2. A thousand shades of grief
  4. Marooned
    1. the 18-inch journey
    2. an invitation to liberation
    3. thistle cove
  5. Anchored
    1. A crisis of faith or catalyst for grace?
    2. Whose fault is this, anyway?
  6. Onward
    1. The business of tear-wiping
    2. And then she laughed

Six appendices to help you work through your own miscarriage and well as to help others.

  • A letter for grieving dads
  • Remembering your baby (memorial ideas)
  • Helping your child process grief after miscarriage
  • Pregnancy after loss
  • Caring for a friend after miscarriage
  • Resources and Support

My Thoughts

Along the way she gives practical advice for talking with your children about loss, how to show them God even in the midst of grief.  There is so much I treasure in this book.   Written in a personal manner you can feel Adriel Booker’s love for women and her strong desire to help them see God even in the midst of a personal calamity.   The occasional journal prompts that appeared were well-timed and appropriate, their goal?  Help you talk to God about your pain, fears and questions.   It’s a good thing to do that.. even in journal form.
grace like scarlett

Quotes that grabbed at my heart

“Do you think God can still be good, even if we don’t know?   Do you think we can still trust him?”  (her son’s response as yes)

“He is not offended by our lack of certainty over the Big Questions; he’ll never equate our doubts or confusion with a lack of faith if, while questioning, we stay committed to relationship with him.  This is why covenant matters.  Your belonging to him, and his belonging to you…. it matters.”

“God will not shy away from your messy faith or your messy theology or your messy life.”

“The language we use for death fails us; these babies aren’t dead, they aren’t lost.  They are alive and found in him for eternity.  We grieve their loss to us here and now, but we grieve with hope because we know there is more to the story.”

grace like scarlett

Poignant words fill the pages of this book, I can’t possibly list all the words that made me stop and think and consider God just a bit more.

Miscarriage is HARD…those hopes and dreams crushed you know?  But God, God is there through every single bit of it.  He is.  He works it out, he helps us grow our faith, he answers our questions, and he accepts us where we are in our moments in time. Mrs. Booker does an excellent job of walking us through not only her own pain, but also in using our pain to help others.  Our very vulnerability is part of the healing process not only for ourselves but also for those we bump into on our journeys.  Use it.

But seriously… please… Go get this book, read it, share it, seek out God all the more and move forward.  DO IT.

grace like scarlett

 

Grace like Scarlett: Grieving with hope after Miscarriage and Loss
Adriel Booker
Baker Books
Softcover, 224 pages
Miscarriage, Loss, Faith
Women’s Issues, Motherhood
Reviewed for Nuts About Books

Review: 1-2-3 Magic Teen

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1-2-3 Magic Teen: communicate, connect and guide your teen to adulthood, is written by Thomas W. Phelan who also wrote 1-2-3 Magic.   In this paperback you will find tools and advice to help you parent your maturing teen to diminish conflict and further relationship building.  With an up and coming teen, this is helpful information. 

1-2-3- Magic Teen

About Dr. Phelan

A registered clinical psychologist, Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D. has worked with children, adults and families for over 35 years. He is a member of the APA.  He writes, produces, lectures, and guest spots on radio and TV.  He has worked on the boards national (USA) organizations that help parents with autistic children. 

1-2-3- Magic Teen

What You Get:

This book is divided into six sections with between 2 and five subsections.

These sections are entitled

1. Straight Thinking
2. Don’t Take it Personally.
3. Manage and Let Go.
4. Stay in Touch.
5. Take Care of Yourself.
6. Relax and Enjoy the Movie.

Much of the advice given is through the presentation of a scenario, with a less than positive outcome, and then the same scenario replayed with a more positive outcome.  This done through text as well as cartoons.

1-2-3- Magic Teen

I liked how Dr. Phelan follows up the change he hopes to see in our parenting with how to change out what we might be thinking, with what might be truth.  

1-2-3- Magic Teen

Throughout the book you’ll find little cut outs that help you either think a bit more about a topic or teaches a key concept. 

1-2-3- Magic Teen

I appreciated that each section broke down the key concepts that would be presented.

1-2-3- Magic Teen

My Thoughts:

There is much in this book that I like.   I have to admit to struggling with some of the adverse reactions that were portrayed.  Partly because I don’t tend to believe that most teenage angst needs to be as bad as people say it is.  I grew up in a household where as teens we had our struggles but we didn’t allow (or weren’t allowed to let) our moodiness to affect the overall operation and attitude of the household. Time is too short in life to allow a bad mood to take over your life. I appreciated that each chapter concluded with a summation of the lessons learned.

I struggled with the story on page 28-29 where the author seems to be blaming the parents for the poor behaviour, the reckless endangering behaviour of their son.  And it makes me wonder… why is it the parents fault if their teenagers don’t react well and/or make poor decisions?  Part of maturity is learning how to handle disagreements well, and that takes both sides of the party to back off and think through their statements/comments to each other does it not?   There is much good in this book and I am glad that I read it through.  It’s given me additional information in the checking of my own thoughts as I enter into the teen years with my boy. 

Things I Love – Book Bag

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I know it doesn’t look like much hanging there.   It’s just a simple bag, a bag that holds books.   You might ask then, why is it a thing I love?  You already know how I love my kitchen hacks. 

Oh… I love it because it means independence!

YES!  Independence.

The Things I love - book bag

You see, it’s one of my aims.  To raise a boy who will be independent in his thinking.  Not having to cling to me or my opinions, or the opinions of his dad, his friends or others.  One who is secure in his own thinking and able to defend it full well.

How does a simple book bag pull into that?

Well.. I (yes ME) would NOT organize my educational life into a bag.  It is simply something I wouldn’t do. I like to organize things onto shelves and/or spots on the floor or on a table. 

My lad tested my way out and you know what?   

HE DISCARDED IT!  Imagine that!

My lad decided that my methods didn’t work for him.

Along the way it caused him some consternation.   He didn’t know why my methods didn’t work for him. The understanding wasn’t there for why my methods created frustration that wheeled up inside of him.  All he knew is that it simply wasn’t working for him, having books on shelves, or organized in a pile neatly on the floor. 

I let him work it through, letting him know when he chose a method if it didn’t work for me (like a messy pile in front of the door). Encouraging him to figure out a method that worked for his unique style and then one day he got it!  No tidy boxes or separated areas on a bookshelf.  No placing on a table or on the floor under a desk.  Everything nice and neatly piled in his bag. 

Things I love - book bag

His explanation:

His explanation “I don’t have to think about where things are mom.  I know it’s all there OR it’s on the computer.   Just two spots and I don’t have to go anywhere else to look.   I can hang it up at night or put it in my room if I want to start as soon as I wake up. “

It’s a simple thing.

A remarkable thing.

AND I LOVE IT.   This fostering of independence is a good thing. A growing in the small things, and over time, seeing them in the bigger things.   Not always an easy decision or choice, and sometimes growth is seen easiest in the small things.  As he matures I see this independence in other ways… in differences of opinions on what is important in a bible passage, in the joy of reading non-fiction, in the subjects that fascinate him, in his demand to know more and think more and choose more.   It’s a lovely thing indeed. 

Tell me then my readers….. how do your children show independence in a way that YOU love?   Even in the simple small things. How do you let them foster that needed growth?



Review: Every Day with Jesus

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You know how it’s great to encourage children to develop the necessary habit of spending time with the Lord God?  Every Day with Jesus is a lovely devotional written by Charles F. Stanley to help us do just that.  Help our children read God’s word and then to think about it for a while.  It’s a pivotal part of Christian Parenting. 

My Review of Every Day With Jesus

Every Day with Jesus has a balloons theme, balloons on the cover and scattered on the pages throughout.  Each day starts with a one verse reading.   These verses are taken from both the Old and New Testaments. The devotions are one per page. Each devotion has a title, scripture verse, short reading, an ending prayer, and an application point. Scripture is mostly taken from the International Children’s Bible version.  Other translations used are: NKJV, NIV, NLT and NCV.

Most of the time I could easily find the connection between the scripture, but on the odd page I was stumped.  It is admittedly one of my pet peeves with devotionals, when the scripture passage used doesn’t connect with the devotion given.  May 7 was one such day.

Author Charles F Stanley is a pastor in Atlanta, Georgia.  He is a Baptist minister who has written more than 60 books. He is the founder of In Touch Ministries.  This is his first devotional meant just for children.   He wrote this children’s devotional to coordinate with the adult version “Every Day in his Presence”.  It is for the most part, a very good devotional.  He’s changed the readings to reflect the language and interests of children. 

My Thoughts:

I like this devotional.  For the most part the readings fit the text (though not always).  They are short and sweet, include a prayer and close with a main thought to talk about over the course of the day.  The short length makes it a good devotional for elementary aged children. Depending on the age of your children they could use this devotional independently, but it’s often good with younger elementary children to do devotions with them to help them understand God’s word and to answer questions they may have. 

Every Day with Jesus
Charles F. Stanley
Hardcover, devotional, 365 devotions
Elementary children.
Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers. 

Where to find: Amazon Link.

Other Devotionals:

365 Bible Answers
Beginners Bible for Little ones