In this second book from the Duggars, they focus on the principles that equip them to face life’s challenges—drawing from their most recent challenge with the 3-month premature birth of their newest child, Josie. They also share the new challenges their older children are facing as they prepare for adult life. Central to the book is a section on the principles that the Duggars have consistently taught their children. These simply worded principles are basic to the Duggar family and are shared in a way that other parents can incorporate in their own homes. A special chapter on homeschooling gives valuable information to parents who are considering this route or are already invested in it. The world continues to be amazed by their nineteen well-groomed, well-behaved, well-schooled children and their home life, which focuses on family, financial responsibility, fun—and must importantly, faith. The Duggars show how parents can succeed whether they’re rearing a single child or several.

My Comments: With 19 children I don’t know how this couple has time to write a book.  I enjoyed this book quite a bit.  It’s interesting to me to read how a large family works – I’m somewhat envious because I always wanted a large family although for me it wasn’t meant to be!

The Duggars bring about strong positive or negative feelings in people.  I just find it interesting to learn what makes them “work.”  I love the fact that their strong Christian faith is not glossed over in this book or even on their television program.  I’m not sure how Michelle does it, especially after the birth of Josie, the youngest Duggar.  It is wonderful that they have such a great support system, which is part of what helps it work for them.

My respect and admiration for this family only grew after reading their book.  They seem to make technology work for them, the older children help with the younger children, and their family itself is a great training place for the children’s future adult life.  If you are planning on getting married and having a family, I recommend this book.  I was challenged to think in a new and different way.

I received this book as an e-book from Simon and Schuster.  Thank you!

Why do my jeans fit only in the morning?

Why am I always guzzling Pepto-Bismol before a big meeting?

Could my PMS cramps mean something serious?

Here, finally, are the answers to these questions, and hundreds more, about the nagging stomach problems that plague so many women. In this reassuring guide, Dr. Jacqueline L. Wolf, a leading expert in the field of gastrointestinal health, explains the causes and cures for women’s most common digestive ailments (including bloating, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, IBS) and more serious, life-altering conditions like Crohn’s disease and endometriosis. This candid book deals with sensitive issues in a down-to-earth way and eradicates once and for all the secrecy and shame surrounding these urgent problems.

Book Description:

A personal memoir by bestselling author and celebrity journalist Glenn Plaskin, KATIE is a moving story about a man who discovers the true meaning of family after adopting a cocker spaniel puppy. Through the magnetic personality of his mischievous dog, the author soon makes powerful connections with several of his down-the-hall neighbors in a high-rise located in the unique Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. First, Katie trots into the lives of Pearl and Arthur, a warm-hearted elderly couple just a few doors down from Glenn. Later, John, a single Dad, and his rambunctious young son, Ryan, also move in and are seduced by Katie’s charms.

All of their lives are profoundly changed as they are transformed from neighbors to friends to family, with Pearl as matriarch. The motherless boy finds a “Granny”; his Dad inherits a mother, Glenn discovers a confidante. Set in New York City, we witness nearly sixteen years of antics and family adventures spanning Hollywood high times, bad health, accidents, blustery winters, even the terrors of 9/11. Through it all, the family clings to each other, sharing a deep bond that give each comfort, support and security.

My Comments: Dog lovers everywhere will enjoy this book.  Katie is a little person in a fur coat.  She responds to people everywhere and shows lots of love to the people she comes in contact with.  This book shows the deep relationship a human can have with his/her pet.  In this case, Katie brings together five lonely people and helps to create a family, nontraditional, but nonetheless a family.  The common love for Katie bonds these five people.

I found the writing quite engaging and the story moving.  I actually found myself wanting to get into the car and go the the pound to get a pound puppy!  Dog books generally effect me that way, especially well-written ones such as this.  I am a true dog lover, but at this time it would be impractical to have a dog (or so my husband says)  If you love dogs, or need to live vicariously through a dog owner, this is the book for you!  I loved it, and I loved Katie!

God’s Holy Spirit is ready to answer that for us in an awesome way, as Henry Blackaby and his son Mel Blackaby make clear in Experiencing the Spirit. You’ll see how the proof of the Spirit’s presence is our awareness of God’s personal assignments for us, plus our supernatural enablement to carry out those assignments.You’ll find essential clarification on the difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts. You’ll explore the dynamics of being filled with the Spirit through intimate relationship with Him, committed obedience, and radical departure from sin.

Instead of considering what you can do for God with your abilities and talents, you’ll be encouraged here to seek what God wants to do through you supernaturally by His Spirit, empowering you beyond your personal competence and capacities. Release the Holy Spirit’s work at the very core of your experience of the Christian life – as He releases you to serve God as never before.

About the Author
Dr. Henry Blackaby, president emeritus of Blackaby Ministries, is the author of more than a dozen books, including the bestselling classic,Experiencing God. He has spent his life in ministry, serving as a music director and as a senior pastor of churches in California and Canada. Today he provides consultative leadership on prayer for revival and spiritual awakening on a global level. He and his wife make their home in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Melvin Blackaby coauthored with his father, Henry, the Gold Medallion winner Experiencing God Together. He travels extensively as a conference speaker and serves as a senior pastor of Bow Valley Baptist Church in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. He and his wife and their three children live in Canada.

My Review: I used this book as part of my morning devotions and was reminded again how when we do God’s work in our strength it falls flat, but when we do God’s work in the Holy Spirit’s strength His will is accomplished.  The book has a back and forth style between father and son.  I liked that.  Between the two of them are years of experience walking with God.  This book made me desire an even closer relationship with God and to experience His moving in my life.  I read one or two chapters a day and was reminded anew that Christianity is a relationship, and a relationship takes time and is ongoing.  Christianity is a supernatural faith and we should expect to see things happen.  The Blackaby men reminded me of this truth.

Who are they?

They are the stay-at-home moms.

These are women who know in their hearts that staying home to raise their children is the right choice for the whole family. Some do it from the outset of their marriages, while others make the difficult transition from career-driven women to homemakers. Either way, it is a choice that is incredibly rich and rewarding, not to mention challenging.

Now Dr. Laura, building on principles developed during her long career as a licensed marriage and family therapist, provides a wealth of advice and support, as well as compassion and inspiration, to women as they navigate the wonders and struggles of being stay-at-home moms.

Learn how:

• to hold your head high and deal with naysayers;
• to see the benefits of being home not only for your children but also for your marriage;
• to understand the changes you see in yourself;
• to realize that the sacrifices you endure now will make for lasting bonds and a stronger family, in addition to a more cohesive community.

Straight from the headlines comes an incredible true story of a son’s treachery. For the first time, readers are offered inside access to the emotional drama that went on behind the scenes. At the core is the remarkable healing power of forgiveness, demonstrated by Kent Whitaker, which shows how the survivors of such atrocious events can still forgive those who have permanently damaged their lives.

One evening, the Whitaker family returned home after dinner, celebrating a son’s impending graduation from college. On opening the front door, they faced a gunman lying in wait. The gunman opened fire, instantly killing the younger sonand Kent’s wife, leaving Kent and his older son lying wounded until police and ambulances arrived. While recovering in the hospital, Kent resolved in his heart to forgive whoever was responsible for the deaths of his wife and son.

Over the next few weeks, it was discovered that the whole murder plot had been orchestrated by the surviving son — whom Kent had unknowingly forgiven. After a trial that resulted in a death sentence for his son, Kent emerged from this harrowing ordeal to share their astonishing journey toward forgiveness and redemption.

My Review: This story is nothing short of incredible. When I read the synopsis, I hadn’t heard of the crime and could only think that this was pretty much one of the worst things you could imagine happening to someone. For that very reason, it’s an incredible story about God.

What amazed me was that within just the first few hours of this all taking place, Kent felt compelled to forgive the person who had murdered his wife and son, and shot him and his other son. He is able to give this forgiveness right away, which sets the stage to offer even more healing and forgiveness. That’s not to say that there isn’t a tremendous amount of pain left to work through…there is, but taking that initial step of obedience made the rest of the story possible.

The writing is actually very good in this book as well. It at times almost reads like a novel. One of the things I really liked about this book was the way that Kent was so honest. He wasn’t afraid to share what his honest emotions were in certain situations, but he didn’t make excuses for them.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a great reminder of the power of God and the way He can use even the most damaging and painful situations in our lives for good.

My Review: I’ve been using this devotional as part of my quiet time for about a month now, and I love it.  The true stories from real live missionaries are truly inspiring.  Having been part of the Christian and MISSIONARY Alliance since I’ve been married, I love missionary stories.  They are just real people, who in many ways battle the same things we do, with the added aspect of being in another country.  I highly recommend this devotional.  Beth Moore compiled this book and wrote the introduction.  The missionaries are from all around the world.

Without sugar-coating the realities of pain and suffering, Parting the Waters presents the heart-warming, true story of what can happen when a community rallies around one wounded family. While Jacob’s parents struggle to preserve their faith and family, the prayers and innovative efforts of community members result in Jacob’s gradual awakening. Each dramatic milestone in Jacob’s recovery creates a new ripple, touching and changing many lives forever.

Told from a mother’s perspective, Parting the Waters is a poignant tale of unexpected beauty found in brokenness.

Bonus feature: a “Q & A” section that fearlessly tackles issues regarding God, His love and mercy, and His divine purposes related to suffering.

My Review: Parting the Waters is a touching memoir about how God can use even the most heartbreaking of life events to draw people to Him. It’s not an easy read, and Ms. Damoff spares us nothing…she is completely honest with her feelings throughout the book about this tragic event. And because she is, this book is very authentic and inspiring. The process of dealing with suffering is a gradual one…and even when she can see that God has brought good things from Jacob’s accident, she grieves all that he has lost.

Jacob makes many miraculous recoveries…small victories in his very difficult battle. And God uses everyone around the family to bring support and hope. The community effort involved blew me away.

This is a great book for anyone. If you have ever faced a huge disappointment in life, I also think you will enjoy this book.

You can visit the author’s website here.

After the miraculous birth, the couple coped with months of neonatal intensive care for their newborns as well as Kate’s physical recovery from such complete and prolonged bed rest. Later as the entire family of ten finally arrived home reeling with exhaustion, they still managed to feed, bathe, clothe, and monitor the health of their fragile infants as a steady parade of necessary and helpful volunteers turned their home and family life into a public arena.

The young family lived moment to moment at first, not knowing what each new day would bring and how they would survive on such depleted sleep, money, and emotional reserves. However, as the months progressed, they grew into the next stage of development, proudly letting go of yesterday and looking forward to a brighter and ever-changing tomorrow. Their small home was soon filled to capacity with six cribs, six bouncy seats, several changing tables, never-ending piles of laundry, tubs of colorful toys, stacks of diapers, cartons of formula, rows and rows of bottles, bibs and pacifiers, two triplet strollers, six car seats, and so on. Yes, life was hectic and cramped, but with each major milestone Jon and Kate rejoiced at the miracles that unfolded around them. The crew of six growing babies along with their proud big sisters, Madelyn and Cara, did their part to fill those rooms with squawking, squealing, laughing, and of course, a healthy dose of crying. Kate and Jon eventually came out of the fog of the first precarious two years feeling eternally grateful for the love and support of family, friends, community, and indeed a nation. More important, they felt the ever present hand of a faithful God upholding them and giving them just enough strength and courage to take one day at a time.

My Review:  Jon and Kate plus 8 became my new favorite show last summer.  The children are so darn cute!  The book goes a little deeper into the spiritual lives of this family.  I appreciated that because I noticed Bible verses posted all over the kitchen, but it was never mentioned on the show.

The book is mostly written from Kate’s point of view.  I got a little more insight into who she is.  The TV show tends to portray her as very type A and very bossy.  From the show you assume she loves her husband, but in the book you KNOW she does.  This book was very enjoyable and answered questions I had that the TV show didn’t.  If you enjoy reading about families, you will love this book.