The Well-Behaved Child: Discipline that Really Works! by John Rosemond

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A parenting workshop in a book!

The biggest frustration felt by today's parents is in the area of discipline. Family psychologist, best-selling author, and parenting expert John Rosemond uses his thirty-six years of professional experience working with families to develop the quintessential "how to" book for parents. Rosemond's step-by-step program, based on biblical principles, traditional parenting approaches, and common sense, covers a wide range of discipline problems applicable to children from toddler to teen.

Sections include:* Essential Discipline Principles
* Essential Discipline Tools
* Perplexing Problems and Simple Solutions
* Not Your Everyday Problems
* General Questions and Answers

Filled with real-life examples that anyone who's ever been around children can relate to, this book is sure to be one of the most valuable, helpful resources parents have ever stumbled across.

MY REVIEW:

I have five kids under the age of 7, including two year old twins who are, lets say TWO hands full! One can be having great day and the other becomes a Twin Hurricane. As I read what Rosemond suggests about discipline I have to say that I agree with some and disagree with others.

• How kids were raised 40, 30 even 15 years ago is so different then how kids are being raised today.

I know that I would have never hit by parents, back-talked them or be blatantly disobedient, especially in a public place. Rosemond addresses this issue as one of the first things in his book.

• Kids are bad... by nature.

Kids are human, and as a human we are born into sin and therefor we are bad. Kids are going to do bad things. They are just like us, they sin! I am glad that Rosemond touches this point immediately in his book. Some parents freak out and blame themselves for the fact that their kids do wrong. It is our job as parents to teach them, yes, but you can only lead a horse to water, you can't make him drink. We are to train our children in the ways of the Lord and to teach them right from wrong... and correct them, keep correcting them and continue to correct them until they reach adulthood. They are going to need our correction... they are human just like us, they will sin.

• Rosemond gives many ideas for the frustrated parent on way of disciplining and handling your disobedient, wild or strong-willed child.

Some include; Weekly Report cards on behavior and the Consequence Lottery. I personally did not agree with many of them. One idea, Consequence Lottery, has you put ideas of 'consequences' into a jar or fish bowl and when the child is in trouble, the child picks a consequence out of the jar. I think that the punishment should fit the crime. If my child stole something, why would I let her/him pick the consequence when in the real world the law provides the consequence. Some punishments need to be steeper than others.

I love the Q & A sections throughout the book. Real parents with real questions and problems and struggles just like the ones I face or will face sometime in the future. Lots of great advice and good ideas.

I would recommend this to any parent who needs help with getting back the authority in their relationship with their child. I think that new parents should read this upon bringing each child into the family. Don't try to do all the ideas, pick which ones will work for your family.

As a parent who began young teaching my kids that I am the parent and they are the child, I am in charge and they are not, I wish that I would have read this sooner. I have established many consequences, ways of discipline and boundaries already, some which are hard to re-teach my kids now. I will put into effect some great ideas that I have learned from Rosemond.

You can visit his web site at: www.rosemond.com

*This book was a gift from the publisher for me to review. The fact that I was gifted the book has not affect on my opinion of this book.

Voices of the Faithful Book 2 (Nelson Publishing)

BOOK DESCRIPTION
A new year's worth of inspiring stories from the front lines of faith.

"A willingness to go is all they have in common," exclaim Beth Moore and Kim P. Davis, speaking of their friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and with whom they collaborated to create this book. This second book of 366 daily devotionals features stories of God's faithfulness, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide.

From stirring miracles to heroic adventures, this second volume highlights those who daily go to the outer limits of spiritual devotion.

A follow-up to the first book which has now sold over 300,000 copies.

MY REVIEW:
This book full of 365 daily devotions, will bring tears to your eyes, faith to your heart and keep God on your mind. I've been encouraged as I read through dozens of stories that missionaries has shared. Some of the simple way God reminded them about their relationship with Him, others of the struggles of being so far away from family and friends.

These short stories, shared by missionaries, is such an awesome look into the lives of those who have devoted their lives to serve God by sharing His name with many who have never heard. It's amazing to see that they are just like me and you, struggling with meeting bills, doubting God sometimes, wondering 'Why?'

One of my favorite Sections is found in May, “Follow Me”. I Can, devotion on May 10, the missionary says, No, life on the mission field is not always easy. The struggles and annoyances we face are real. But joy comes from surrendering our frustrations to God.

This was what I need to hear today! As a mom to 5 little ones, life is full of frustrations. This reminds me that I am normal for having frustrations and it also reminds me to surrender them to God and He will replace them joy!

You can not go wrong with this book, Voices of the Faithful Book 2 has been an amazing reminder to me to pray daily for those working in missions, near and far, and that I am not alone in my imperfect walk with Christ.

*This book was a gift from the publisher for me to review. The fact that I was gifted the book has not affect on my opinion of this book.

The O'Malley Chronicles by Dee Henderson

(One of my favorite authors and the very first series I have ever completed!)

This expectational well written and thoroughly thought out series which follows the everyday lives of the O'Malley family and how they all collide together personally and professionally.

Kate, Marcus, Lisa, Jake, Rachel, Stephen and their sister Jennifer have all but ordinary lives. The O'Malley family is not the traditional blood-family. They are a group of abandoned kids who while together in an orphanage chose to become a family, choosing their last name together, and seeing each other through thick and thin, which are by far from the end!

As Dee captures the feelings and realness of each character you will feel as though you part of the family. I hated to see the series end and would love to continue to know more of the family.

In The Negotiator, Kate meets Dave Richards, the man who loves her enough to love her, even in her dangerous line of work. She is a very successful hostage negotiator, he is there to protect her, something she doesn't think she needs. Can Dave love her enough to keep her safe?

Marcus O'Malley's job as a U.S. Marshal is to protect. In The Guardian, Marcus is assigned the case of protecting Shari, the only witness in the murder of a Federal Judge. But he gets more than he bargains for.

Always searching for the truth as a Forensic Pathologist, Lisa is used to being at crime scenes and involved in cases, but now she is apart of the case. Can Quinn Diamond's love for Lisa bring her home safely when a serial killer take Lisa as his next victim? Find out in The Truth Seeker.

In The Protector, Jack is lead on a chase to put out fires that are being set in his district and on his shift rotation. His love for Cassie is put through he fire, will it come out tried and true? Cassie's faith in God brought her through the hardest time in her life, a severe burn while on the job. Join Jack as Cassie shares her faith with him.

As a worker for Red Cross, Rachel, in The Healer, counsels many people, her focus being kids, through the disasters that hit us in life. Now, as she counsels the students from a local junior high where a tragic shooting took place, she finds herself deeper in than she thought. And the gun is still missing.

The Rescuer: Paramedic see a lot, but now after watching his sister Jennifer, fight for her live as a cancer patient, Stephen just wants to get away from it all, including God. When Meghan, a now blind woman that Jack has had a crush on since his teen years, needs help will he come to her rescue?

There is not a book written about the sister Jennifer, but her story is introduced and tangled with many of these books. Each book has a love story of it's own and also continues to keep you updated with the prior and former book characters. With each book, you get new insight into the characters and watch them interact with eachother as siblings!

Dee Henderson did a superb job with this story. It is, so far, my most favorite series. And own these books and will read them again and again!

The Stones Cry Out ~ A Novel by Sibella Giorello

Gripping. Intriguing. Keeps you guessing all along. The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorella is a page turner indeed.

Two men fall from a building during a crowded rally. A murder-mystery or a suicide mystery? Anyway you look at it the authorities handling the case cannot get anyone to talk.

Join with FBI agent, Raleigh Harmon, as she tries to solve this case. She is determined to bring justice to this case, to this family, how far will she have to dig to come up with answers? How far will she have to go to get the answers she needs to bring this case to a close?

There are plenty of twist and turns and if you are like me, you will read this book in just a few days.

I am in anticipation to read her newest book, A River Runs Dry.