Keeping the Meaning of Christmas in Your Family's Life during the Crazy Holiday Season

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Every holiday season I look for resources to help my family keep Jesus in the front of our minds. This year I found two books--one for me and one for Hazel (and possibly the whole family) to read together. Both are from Sarah Young's Jesus Calling series. I am sharing them nice and early so you can get a copy for yourself and your family and experience Jesus during the crazy season. The one for children is Jesus Calling The Story of Christmas. 

Jesus Calling for Teens: 50 Devotions for Busy Days Review

Disclosure: We were sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My life has been a bit busy lately. Has yours? I find May always is a bit busy. There is the rush after Easter and our April school vacation week because the end is near. The days and weekends seem full of birthday parties, confirmations, first communions, graduations, award ceremonies, the list goes on and on. Today I am sharing a book perfect for busy teens. It is Jesus Calling for Teens: 50 Devotions for Busy Days by Sarah Young. 

Mommy Time Christian Books Review

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of each of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We have had a bit of a crazy couple of weeks. I find it is always good to give myself some mommy time when life gets chaotic--especially mommy time with Jesus. Today I am going to share two devotionals and a novel with you!! These are perfect books to help you find some mommy time. Let's start with the new novel. It is A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh by Carolyn Miller and is the first in the Regency Brides Daughters of Aynsley series. 

The Giving Manger -- the Perfect Family Activity/Gift for Advent Bringing Christ into Your Holiday Season

 

Disclosure: I was sent this product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

One of my goals this November is to share  amazing Christmas products, so you will have time to purchase them to enjoy during the season. Today I begin my reviews with The Giving Manger by Allison Hottinger and Lisa Kalberer.

Christian Reviews -- Lent Alzheimer and Tweens & Teens

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of each of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

It is hard to believe that Ash Wednesday is this week!! Every year I try to find ways to prepare myself and my family for Easter and one thing I enjoy is having some devotional to help me become more focused on Jesus and the true meaning behind the amazing holiday of Easter. This year I found an amazing small devotional. It is The Easter Code by O.S. Hawkins. 

Christmas and Other Religious Books

Disclosure: I was sent these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is hard to believe Christmas is only a little over a week away. This year is flying by way too fast for me, but I am looking forward to having time with my family. Before that happens, I want to share some more books with you. This is a mix of some Christmas related books, a children's Bible and an adult devotional. We will start with the one that is most related to Christmas. It is Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne. 

Spiritual Growth for Kids -- New Year Resolution #1

Disclosure: I was sent these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is hard to believe another year has begun. Hazel turned nine this past weekend and we had two very fun parties to celebrate. It has been a busy time in our house. However now the festivities are over and I am beginning to think about what I want 2018 to be like for me and my family. Have you thought about your new year? I know I want to focus on me and my family this year. I want to take the time to grow in my relationship with God and get myself healthier and more fit. I also want  to grow in my relationships with Steven and Hazel. And I want to help Hazel grow in her relationship with God. To this end I am sharing with you two great books to help her do just that. The first is Jesus Always: 365 Devotions for Kids by Sarah Young and adapted by Tama Fortner. 

Veggie Tales Book Reviews

Disclosure: I was sent these books to review free of charge from Ideals Books./Worthy Kids. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. I am including links to each item for your convenience but do not receive anything if you purchase them.

Recently Worthy Publishing acquired Ideals Books. They asked me to pick some of their books to review. Hazel and I looked and two of the books are Veggie Tales books and the others are Christmas related so we will be sharing those as it gets a bit closer to Christmas. Now the funny thing is Hazel and I both don't really like the Veggie Tales. I personally find them annoying and Hazel finds them strange. However in books they are easier to deal with since you do not hear their voices and these books looked good so we decided to try them. I have been reading the devotional book, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, for a couple of years now. After finishing the first year, I decided to read it each day again since I didn't remember the readings. I find it really helps me with connecting to Jesus and staying more calm all day. Now that Hazel is reading I wanted her to have a devotional and she actually has asked me for one, so we picked  God Is With Me: 365 Daily Devos for Girls by Veggie Tales. 

Focus on the Nativity

This year one of my goals is to really focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I feel our society is so much turned away from the religious side of Christmas and more into the commercialism and the receiving. I do not want to bring Hazel up this way. I want her to understand why we celebrate Christmas and why it is a special day. So I have been on the look-out for ways to do this. 

Sharing Saturday 18-33

We are back to weekly Sharing Saturdays!! It is time for Sharing Saturday!! This is a link party to share all of your child-oriented crafts, crafts made for kids, activities and lessons as well as your parenting and/or teaching posts. So glad you joined us!!

On Sunday night we also host Crafty Weekends for all your crafts (done by any age), patterns, and craft product reviews! It is the perfect place to share your creative side!! And if you have any cultural or diverse posts be sure to share them over at Multicultural Kid Blogs Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop (a new one starts on Sunday). 

Amon's Adventure -- Lent Book Review

 Disclosure: Kregel Publications sent me a copy of this book free of charge for this review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation.  As in all my reviews I am providing links for your ease, but receive no compensation.

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent is the time Christians prepare for the most amazing miracle and gift from God, the forgiveness of sins and living with God. Jesus came to the earth as a human to suffer for all the sins of humankind. He died because of people's sins and then on Easter morning was resurrected. During Lent people often give up something to share in the suffering and sacrifice. This past December we enjoyed reading a storybook for Advent called Ishtar's Odyssey (the fourth in a series of Advent books). I noticed that Kregel Publications had a storybook for Lent as well, Amon's Adventure by Arnold Ytreeide.