Book review: "The Magic of Motherhood"

I really enjoy reading encouraging blogs that my friends have found or that others have shared with me. Many times they have reminded me that I'm not alone in the trenches of mothering a little one and that what I'm feeling is not crazy (well, except maybe when I am actually feeling a little crazy). There is a lot of truth in the CS Lewis quote:

Friendship arises out of mere Companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." 

"The Magic of Motherhood" is exactly like this. It's a whole book full of "What? You too?" moments. Written by the moms behind the blog "Coffee + Crumbs", the 33 entries span the experiences of motherhood. There are stories both joyful and sorrowful, recollections of "mommy guilt" and of hard-fought battles won. It is a beautiful gift-style book with beautiful images to complement some of the memorable moments shared within its pages.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this book. Sure, the subtitle was "The Good Stuff, the Hard Stuff, and Everything in Between" but I still didn't know if it would meet me where I was. However, it didn't take long for me to experience the "what? you too?" feeling as I delved into stories that resonated with me, especially concerning miscarriage or insecurity as a mom. I laughed and cried then laughed some more as I connected with truths about this crazy thing called motherhood and was reminded of the importance in sharing our stories. After all, you never know when someone needs to know they are not the only one. You might even make a new friend ;)

Rating: 5/5 stars!!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: "I Prayed for You" by Jean Fischer

"I Prayed for You" by Jean Fischer is a sweet children's book about all the prayers a mama bear says for her little cub starting before he was even born and as he grows each day. Every spread shares a different prayer, and moms will resonate with the eternally important messages conveyed in those prayers. Beautifully illustrated by Frank Endersby, this sweet book will quickly become a bedtime favorite.

I really enjoyed this book with my little guy. "I Prayed for You" gives mommas a chance to share with their little ones all the different ways they are prayed for as they grow up. My little guy enjoyed seeing Baby Bear do some of the same things that he does, such as playing, snuggling, and getting dressed. We especially like giggling along with Baby Bear when he meets a butterfly for the first time. I like how it gives me an opportunity to let my Munchkin know how much he has been and will be prayed for in his life. Sometimes I get teary reading the prayers for times yet to come in his life, knowing they will be the prayers of my heart as well.

Of note, it was a little different having the story part of the book not rhyme when the corresponding prayers on the opposite page did rhyme. Part of me might have preferred to have it all one way or the other. Otherwise, we really enjoyed this book and I look forward to many more bedtimes with it as our story for the night.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Diary of a Jackwagon

In "Diary of a Jackwagon", popular Christian comedian Tim Hawkins shares his hilarious perspective on life in the 21st century. This is a wide-ranging compilation of his comedy inspiration covering everything from family, culture, and music to church, parenting, and education.

I greatly enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of Tim Hawkins for awhile and it was fun to not only see new material unearthed from his comedy journal, but also to see familiar bits fleshed out and learn their origins. There were some good laughs and it was nice to read something light and enjoyable. It was like being able to attend one of his shows whenever I wanted!

One of the only things with the book is it feels very disjointed at times with each chapter being on a different topic. Considering the type of book though, it is almost to be expected. For those unfamiliar with Tim's comedy, this might not be the best introduction to his work. Might I recommend checking out his YouTube channel? :) You can find it here. Just be prepared for some laughter!

Overall, I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

Happy Reading! Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book review: Henry Hodges Needs a Friend by Andy Andrews

"Henry Hodges Needs a Friend" by Andy Andrews is a fun children's book that will entertain a wide variety of young children with its rhymes and illustrations, though its intended message may miss the mark a little. Henry is a lonely, little boy whose parents decide to help by finding him a pet. His imagination runs wild as he imagines what kind of "one-of-a-kind" pet his parents have in mind. A trip to the shelter later, we meet Hap and they live happily ever after.

The illustrations, imagination, and rhyming lilt of this book are all enjoyable and I had fun reading it to my son. However, the implications of the story never quite sat right with me. First, Henry really has no friends that are willing to make the drive down his long, dead-end street to see him? Just because friends don't live nearby doesn't mean you don't have friends. Also, it just seems wrong to me to imply that a pet can take the place of a human friend. I'm glad to see adopting pets from the shelter promoted but there's something to be said also of learning to overcome our loneliness and boredom and learn to be a friend and make friends.

Saying that Henry needed his "one-of-a-kind" friend just like the reader's friends need them makes me feel like I'm being compared to a dog. So while the composition and illustration of this book is bright and engaging, I think I'll be taking the opportunity to discuss the issues further when we read this book in the future.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”