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1 In 2019/ Book Review/ Product Recommendations

47 of the Books I read (or listened to) in 2019

As you may know (or can figure out from this post) I love to read! Here are some of the reasons I read:

In this post, I’ve rated and reviewed 47 of the books I’ve read (or listened to) in 2019.

This post includes some REALLY GOOD BOOKS and a couple of REALLY bad ones too! However, this post includes my FAVORITE books of the year.

Click on any book to purchase your own copy. They are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you choose to purchase one or more.

Even better, download the Hoopla or Libby app, enter your library card number, and listen for FREE!

Here we go…

1. The book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha

Rating: 10/10

Review: Super easy-to-read book filled with 1000 reasons to smile! The whole book is written about things that are AWESOME. SOOO many things that I take for granted and forget to be grateful for ..like:

Free samples,
tripping and realizing NO ONE SAW YOU!
Going to buy something and finding it on sale, ETC.
If you are in a need of a reason to smile … I recommend this book or his blog 1000awesomethings.com

2. The Book of Even More Awesome by Neil Pasricha

Rating: 8/10

Review: The title sums it up. Another book filled with things to make you smile. Not as good as the first one, but a fun book to read. The author lists and describes so many things that are awesome that we sometimes take for granted!

3. Small fry by Lisa jobs

Rating: 6/10

Review: It’s a very well-written autobiography of Steve Job’s (creator of Apple) daughter, but I don’t recommend it. It’s a sad story without a redemptive ending. For a better autobiography, I’d recommend:

4. Capitol Gaines – by Chip Gaines

Rating: 8/10

Review: Chip shared some really fun and interesting stories throughout the book. Overall, it was an inspiring book that shows how hard work, integrity, and a good attitude (plus a smart spouse) can still lead to success. The Gaines family has turned the town of Waco, TX from a place you’d just drive through to get to Austin, to a destination city! There was no reason to visit Waco ten years ago – now people come to visit from all over the world.

5. When breath becomes air by Paul Kalanithi

Rating 10/10

Review: An extremely touching book and powerful story. A memoir of a brain surgeon who is diagnosed with cancer. I couldn’t put this book down, it was a great story and easy to read. However, the ending ripped my heart out!

6. The Broken Way by Ann Voscamp

Rating: 10/10

Review: Since I chose Ann Voscamp’s book, One Thousand gifts, as my favorite book of 2018, I had to pick up her second book. It did NOT disappoint! I loved it. In this book, Ann shares how our brokenness can lead to beauty.

7. The five love languages by Gary Chapman

Rating: 10/10

Review: A classic book that I highly recommend! This book teaches that each person receives loves differently. If we want to make our spouses feel loved, be sure to speak their “language.” If you don’t know what it is, take this quiz.

The 5 Languages are:

Physical Touch,
Acts of Service,
Words of Encouragement,
Receiving Gifts,
Quality Time

8. The five love languages of children by Gary Chapman

Rating: 10/10

Review: A great book for parents!! It’s helping me understand how to communicate with my kids in a way they will feel loved.

9. Things I wish I’d know before I got married by Gary Chapman

Rating: 9/10

Review: I went to two weddings this year and it made me curious as to what Gary Chapman would say to those who are about to get married. EXCELLENT book for newlyweds and those who are considering marriage!

10. Seeking Allah finding Jesus by Nabeel Quresh

Rating: 10/10

Review: This book was written by a man who grew up with a strong Muslim faith. In college, his best friend was a Christian. The two of them had a mutual respect because of their strong faith in God. As they grew in their friendship, they began to challenge each other’s faith. As the author did research to defend his Muslim faith, he began to realize that he COULD NOT defend his faith. The more he studied, the more he realized that there was no truth behind his Muslim faith. This book challenged me as a mother to teach my kids the WHY behind What we believe. We have a defendable faith. It’s based on a solid foundation of historical truth. This book made me decide to read:

11. Talking with your kids about God by Natasha Crain

Rating: 9/10

Review: This book took me a while to read because their is a lot to digest. However, I love how each chapter brings up an interesting question like “Do science and faith contradict each other?” and answers each question with facts and evidence.

Read the post on how both books impacted me by clicking here.

12. War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Rating: 7/10

Review: This book has been on our shelf for years. I finally took time to read it this year. It has such high reviews that I had high expectations. However, my thoughts matched what someone said on Amazon: “Here is this book in a nutshell: what do you want to do? Have discipline and do it. I just saved you ten dollars. You’re welcome.”

13. Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax

Rating: 7/10

This book is a little too doom and gloom for me. However, there were some golden nuggets that I pulled out and here they are for you:

Spend time with your kids. Even when they act like they don’t want to be with you–they really do. Find something they like to do – and do that with them!
Have dinner together
Go camping or find a family getaway where you aren’t connected to work and cell phones
Play games together
Remember YOU ARE THE PARENT, we’ve got 20+ years experience and yet we let our children decide what is best.
Have access to all their social media accounts.
Limit video games
Don’t overschedule
Give your kids chores
Self-control is the leading indicator of overall life satisfaction and we, as parents, can help our kids learn self-control with things like: Not allowing dessert until they eat their veggies; Having them put their own toys and clothes away; Praise working hard over getting the right answer.

14. Changes that Heal by Dr. Henry cloud

Rating: 6/10

Review: I listened to this book on my Hoopla App and I wasn’t super into it. I wouldn’t recommend listening to this one – if the title intrigues you, check out the real book from the library.

15. I’d Like You More If You Were More Like Me by John Ortberg –

Rating: 10/10

Review: John is such an amazing teacher and writer. He is funny and vulnerable. I listened to this one and LOVED it! It dives into your relationship with God and others.

16. If you want to walk on water, you’ve Got to get out of the boat by John Ortberg

Rating: 9/10

Ted read this book on our honeymoon, 18 years ago (just after publication) and I finally listened to it on my Hoopla App this year. The book challenges you to put away the mentality that you need to know what God’s doing before you agree to obey and follow. John Ortberg talks about the positive difference walking in faith can do for your life!

17. You are a bada** by Jen Sincere

Rating: 4/10

Review: Skip this one. The author gives terrible advice. For instance, ‘buy a really expensive car to motivate yourself to earn more money.’ Don’t waste your time or money on this one. If you want a motivational, self help book – Choose a Zig Ziglar one instead!!

18. Zig Ziglar on Leadership

Rating: 10/10

Review: If you use the Hoopla app, open it up, type in the name “Zig Ziglar” and listen to any one of his 30 books. He is so practical, so funny, and so encouraging! His books are full of real life stories that pull you in and teach you something.

19. It’s not supposed to be this way by Lysa terkhurst

Rating: 8/10

Review: I recommend this book to anyone going through a crisis.

“Feeling the pain is the first step toward healing the pain. “
Lisa Terkeurst

20. 100 things to do in the Twin Cities before you die – Tom Weber

Rating: 8/10

Review: Before we moved to Minnesota, the only place I knew about in this state was the Mall of America. This book shares 100 interesting things to do around the Twin Cities and was really fun to read. I can’t wait to start checking them off my bucket list! If you are visiting or live in the Twin Cities, I would recommend this book to you!

21. The Gift of Failure – by Jessica Lahey

Rating: 8/10

Review: This is a very insightful parenting book. I don’t see myself as a helicopter parent, but I realized I’m doing things for my kids that they should be doing themselves. I often want to show love for my kids by picking up after them, over-helping with things that they are capable of doing alone, preventing them from learning from their own mistakes…all things that keep them from maturing and becoming capable young men. This book had lots of helpful stories and insightful research. I would definitely recommend it to parents who have children 7-17!

22. Help club for mom “The Wise Woman Grows”

Rating: 10/10

Review: This is a woman’s devotional book I read through last semester with a group of women from around the world. If you are a woman, click here to join our group on Facebook!

23. Holidays with the Help Club

Rating: 10/10

Review: An awesome resource for moms! Organizational guide, motivational and simple bible studies to help you have the best holiday season.

24. Another Man’s War by Sam Childers

Rating: 10/10

Review: This book is an amazing true story about a man who goes to the most dangerous parts of Africa to find orphaned children and provide safety for them.

25. Living on the Edge by Sam Childers

Rating: 4/10

Review: After LOVING his first book (Another Man’s War), I was excited to read the second one. However, this book was a HUGE disappointment. The author chose to tell the story in his own words and “self-published” the book so he could say everything he wanted to say. This was a huge mistake. Most of the things he chose to write about in this second book were unnecessary and inappropriate. I threw my copy away.

26. Surviving a spiritual mismatch – by Lee Strobel

Rating: 8/10

Review: I heard the author of this book speak on a podcast and was intrigued by his story – I wanted to read his book to see how they got through the season when their beliefs collided. I highly recommend this book to anyone married to, or considering marriage with someone who has different a different faith than you.

27. Unashamed by Lecrae

Rating: 8/10

Review: I listened to this autobiography on my Hoopla App, read by the author, rap artist Lecrae. I’m not a huge “rap” fan but this artist impresses me! The book is well written and easy-to-read. Recommended for ages 18 and up. Some of his life experiences would be considered ‘for mature audiences only.’

What stood out to me about his story was how he spent so much of his life struggling because he didn’t have a positive male role model in his life. This book reminded me how important dad’s are in the lives of their children. Those man-to-man conversations are something our boys crave.

28. Tailor Made by Alex Seeley

Rating: 7/10

Review: I saw that she would be speaking at a Women’s Conference I was attending, and I’d never heard of her, so I decided to read her book. This is a great book if you are struggling with insecurity. She talks about feeling stupid and not good enough throughout her life, and how she overcome that.

29. Relational Intelligence

Rating: 9/10

Review: This is my second reading of this book. I knew I could use a refresher in relational intelligence after moving to a new state and needing to make new friends. The book teaches that our relationships have a direct correlation to the quality of our lives. Most of us give less than optimal effort to our relationships. Yet…

Our day to day human interactions will determine the quality of our lives more than the tasks of work we do.

By cultivating relational intelligence, we can enhance our ability to affect the people around us more positively.

30. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Coleman

Rating: 5/10

Review: A very data-driven book and not all what I was hoping for.

31. Let your Life Speak by Parker Palmer

Rating: 8/10

Review: A book about becoming who you are created to be.

True self is the self that is planted in us by the God who made us – becoming who we were created to be.
Parker Palmer

32. Life Together by Frederich Buechner

Rating: 7/10

Review: I loved the book Bonhoeffer – a book ABOUT Bonhoeffer, but I’d never read a book written BY him. I found one of his books on my Hoopla app and listened to it. It’s a little too deep to listen to. I need to hold this book in my hands and read it slowly to truly appreciate it.

33. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Rating: 5/10

Review: This was the first fiction book I read after “Where the Crawdads Sing” and it just didn’t come close to the character development, storyline and detail of that book.

34. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Rating 9/10

Review – I read this with my boys. Great beginner chapter book for kids to read, or a fun, fiction story for parents to read WITH your kids ages 5-12!

35. Play by Stuart Brown

Rating 9/10

Stuart Brown started as a Violence researcher and switched to a PLAY researcher. The book starts with the story of an open shooting. When research was done on the history of the shooter – they found that he was never allowed to play as a child. His father was extremely controlling and regimented.

The opposite of play is NOT work. The opposite of play is depression.

The book answers the question:

What is play?

He describes it as time spent without purpose.

Most of us think time without purpose is WASTED time. We want to GET THINGS DONE!
Stuart Brown

I recommend this book to anyone with kids or anyone who has a hard time having FUN and relaxing!

36. The Road back to you by Ian Cron

Rating: 9/10

The is a new book about understanding the Enneagram. If you don’t speak “enneagram” – it’s is an ancient personality system that helps you understand how you are wired, both positively and negatively. In The Road Back to You Ian Morgan Cron gives practical ways to use the Enneagram to connect with, and understand, different “personality types.”

Box Car Children Mystery
The book is older than ME!

37. The BoxCar Children and the Mystery Behind the Wall

Rating 6/10

I found this old book and decided to read it to my boys because I LOVED the Boxcar series as a child. The book is older than me, so some of the language is a little outdated. My kids weren’t super engaged in the story, and I didn’t love it as much as I did as a child. However, if you have a child who likes to read mysteries – the Boxcar series are simple chapter books that are fun to read.

38. The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield

Rating: 8/10

Review: An interesting book that provides practical examples of how you can incorporate hospitality into your everyday life.

39. Paul Harvey’s For What It’s Worth

Rating: 8/10

Review: I used to love listening to Paul Harvey with my grandfather. This book is like turning on the radio and hearing his voice again. The book is filled with fun, funny, or inspiring stories sent in by his listeners.

40. The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren

Rating 9/10

Review: This is a great book for a person who may not be familiar with the true meaning of Christmas. A simple, encouraging, easy-to-read book about Christmas.

The entire reason for Christmas is the love of God. God loves you so much that he came to earth as a human so you could get to know him and learn to trust him and love him back.
Rick Warren

41. Creating a Story Brand by Don Miller

Rating: 9/10

Review: I listened to this audio. It’s read by the author, Don Miller. It is an EXCELLENT book for any business owner.

42. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Rating 9/10

Review: This is a fun, fantastic book to read or listen to with your children at Christmas time!

43. A Cup of Cold Water – by Lorie Newman

Rating: 10/10

Review: I LOVED this book. It’s full of simple ideas to make the world a better place. I used suggestions from this book to celebrate my birthday in a unique way! Read that post by clicking here.

4 ~~Giveaways!~~

Giveaway ENDED on December 31, 2019

44. Essential 55 by Ron Clark

Rating: 9/10

Review: This book review 55 “essentials” every kid should know and use. For instance – always say please and thank you. Make eye contact when someone is speaking to you.

I own the first edition and read it as a teacher 20 years ago and decided to re-read it from a mother’s perspective. Many of the tips apply to the classroom (on a field trip, enter the building quietly) but there were good reminders for parenting too!!

45. Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors by Jami Amerine

Rating: 8/10

Review: This book started slow and I wasn’t crazy about it, but by chapter four, I fell in love. It’s an amazing book with the sub-title: “Less than Perfect Parents can raise Kind of great kids!” She is funny and vulnerable and I recommend this one to parents with kids ages 2-12!

I’m GIVING my Copy Away! Share this post to win!

46. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Rating: 10/10

Review: Whether you make $40,000 a year or $400,000, Dave Ramsey gives you easy, practical ways to make your money go further. He gives a very simple strategy for getting out of debt, and saving money. His information is very useful!

I recommend READING the book versus listening on audio. I felt like Dave was shouting at me in the audiobook – but the actual book is full of useful information, interesting facts and success stories. Our copy has lots of underlines and you can WIN it by sharing this Post!

“We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have in order to impress people we don’t like.”
Dave Ramsey

47. My Point of View by Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Rating: 8/10

Review: If you are a fan of Elisabeth, you will really enjoy this book! She shared stories from her time on Survivor, The View, and Fox and friends. She lets us in to her failures and successes. It’s a quick and easy read. My mom bought this book, let me read it and is now allowing me to give it to one of my readers!

I’m giving away FOUR of my books:

Essential 55 by Ron Clark
Sacred Ground, Sticky Floor
Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s My Point of View
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey!!!

TO WIN:

Share THIS post on Facebook, text or email – 1 entry per share
Share ANY post I’ve written on Facebook between now and the deadline for an extra entry
Tag me or let me know where you shared the post!

Contest ends on December 31, 2019

CLICK HERE TO READ THE BEST BOOKS OF 2019!

December 26, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Free stuff/ Giveaway/ Things to do in Colorado

A peek inside Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore!

Because I’m a teacher at heart – I wanted my first children’s book to be FUN and EDUCATIONAL!

Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore takes you on an ADVENTURE to the top of Pikes Peak (a Colorado mountain) and teaches you fun facts about the animals who live there.

I worked with a talented local artist who hand painted each illustration.

You can purchase a copy for $10 shipped!

Click here for PayPal, add $10, and I will send you signed 1st edition!

Prefer Venmo? Scan this:

Thanks for your support!

December 12, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In 2019/ Book Review/ Faith/ My Journey

How Muslim culture influenced my Christian parenting

Read to the end for a chance to win a free book!

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Quresh

I recently read the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus and was deeply impacted by the way Muslim parents instill their faith into their children.

Muslim mothers begin reading from the Quran each and every day, out loud, to their children from the time they are born.
Often the FIRST book their children read is the Quran.
Children memorize large portions of the Quran.
Muslim families are a part of a strong Islamic community.

Their Islamic beliefs are often so engrained that they do not even QUESTION whether their faith is based on truth. Instead, they carry on the same beliefs and traditions with their children – reading from, teaching, and memorizing the Quran from infancy to adulthood.

This book left me asking if I’m teaching my children about the Christian faith as passionately and faithfully as Muslim parents.

As I read further into the book, the author (Nabeel Qureshi) shares how he became best friends with a guy in college who was a Christian. The two of them had a mutual respect because of their strong faith in God. As they grew in their friendship, they began to challenge each other’s faith.

As Nabeel did research to defend his Islamic faith, he began to realize that he COULD NOT defend it. The more he studied, the more he realized that there was no truth behind his Islamic faith.

After lots of research, and even a prayer for the one true God to reveal Himself, Nabeel chooses to become a Christ Follower!

This book challenged me as a mother to teach my kids the WHY behind WHAT we believe.

We have a defendable faith.

Our Christian faith is based on a solid foundation of historical truth.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus made me decide to read:

Talking with your kids about God, written by Natasha Crain.

The author covers the evidence for the existence of God, how science confirms the God of the Bible, the nature of God (love, and justice), how Christianity is different from other religions, and how all these things apply to us and the world around us.

If you want to talk to your children about why Christianity is true, or you just need to solidify your own worldview, I highly recommend this book!

I want to read this author’s other book, Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith, next!

Click here to check out her awesome blog – Christian Mom Thoughts.

~~I’m giving away my copy of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. If you’d like to win this book – just share this post on Facebook!~~

The contest runs until November 25th, 2019.

WINNER – Lisa E. – Congratulations Lisa!

I’ve written a post with some simple tips for teaching your kids about God. Click here to read!

Subscribe so you don’t miss a post!

The books recommended are Amazon Affiliate Links. If you choose to purchase one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

November 18, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In 2019/ Book Review/ Product Recommendations

What I’m loving on Amazon right now

Here are a few of my favorite things from Amazon this week. Most of these would be great CHRISTMAS gifts if you are planning ahead! Each item is an affiliate link. That just means that if you make a purchase, I’ll earn a few cents without any additional cost to you!

Winter hat and neck warmer for kids – This hat and neck wrap is so warm and cozy! My son George loves it. The neck wrap is large enough to cover his neck, as well as most of his face too – which is perfect for the really cold days we have in Minnesota. And step #1 for how NOT to HATE winter is to DRESS FOR IT!

Pretty lap top cover – Since breaking my computer, I’ve been borrowing Teds. His one request was that I get a cover for it first, since I’m not as…”careful” as he is :). I love this cover – it’s like a piece of art. It’s pretty, but not TOO feminine.

Reusable food covers – My friend introduced me to these and I am in LOVE! I have one set and use them to cover anything from leftover brownies, to dinner. You can rinse and reuse and use less plastic wrap/aluminum foil. These make a GREAT gift.

This new book by Bob Goff – His books are some of my favorites. Live in Grace, Walk in Love was just released and has a little inspiration for every day of the year.

One line a day journals are an easy way to capture life. There is space to summarize your day in one paragraph. I love it because I can record funny things my kids said, or places we went, or an accomplishment I want to remember. It will be fun to compare year-to-year because this book will hold FIVE years worth of journal entries!!

Photo Albums – My Grandma June used to have matching photo albums, and I loved going through them and looking at all the people and places. I print my favorite photos and have albums that my kids and I enjoy.

Help Club for Moms Christmas edition

I just got this book in the mail and am so excited about using it over the holiday season. Not only is it a Bible Study, but it’s a full holiday resource as well! It’s a guide for planning and keeping Jesus the center of your holiday!

Thanks for reading and please subscribe!

You may also be interested in the following blog post:

Earning a little extra money through Swagbucks

October 31, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Inspiration

5 Fantastic Books for Summer

I’ve read about 40 books so far in 2019. I’ll share the entire list near the end of the year, but highlight a few of my favorites throughout the year. Here are 5 books I’ve read this summer that I would recommend.

(Each book has a direct affiliate link to Amazon. If you choose to buy a book, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you)

1. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

This is the memoir of Dr. Paul Kalanithi and has essentially 3 parts:

one part is his story of growing up, becoming a brain surgeon, and taking care of patients,
the second part is his cancer story and him BECOMING a patient,
the 3rd part is a touching story written by his wife.

It was one of those books that was hard to put down. I stayed up way too late trying to get through the entire story and really loved it. If you enjoy memoirs or have interest in the medical field – I recommend this book for you!

Disclaimer – After devouring this book, I was left feeling sad. It gave me a glimpse into how FRAGILE life can be. As a mother with young children, I found myself awake at night worrying about the future. I’m learning that some books may not be good for me during this season of my life.

2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

My friend lent me this book and once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. It made me wish I could skip all responsibilities for 24 hours so I could just READ!

The author is a fantastic writer and made the story and characters, come alive. I’d recommend this book to an adult looking for a great summer read.

Disclaimer – I recommended “adult” because there were a couple parts about the main character and her relationship with a man that were a little graphic. I still loved the book, but felt that a few details could have been left out.

3. Play: How it shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown

This book brings to light all the benefits of PLAY! If you are feeling stressed out, overwhelmed and disconnected – take a break and PLAY. The author believes that PLAY is the cornerstone to happiness. He shares the science, and real life stories, to support his beliefs.

As a mom, I’ve found that taking a few minutes to play with my kids helps us stay connected.

What I hadn’t thought of (but the author pointed out) was how play can also bring life and joy back to a marriage. When was the last time you and your spouse played something together? If your marriage needs a little pep, sign up to do something fun together – mini-golf, axe throwing, or an escape room.

I’d recommend this book to any parent or married person!

4. Relational Intelligence by Steve Sacconne

I read this book several years ago, but picked it back up recently now that I’m in a season of meeting so many new people and beginning new friendships.

I pulled out a few of my favorite quotes from the book here:

Relationships have a direct correlation to the quality of our lives… Our day to day human interactions will determine the quality of our lives more than the tasks of work we do.

By cultivating relational intelligence, we can enhance our ability to affect the people around us more positively.

To be human means to be imperfect and flawed, while simultaneously being God’s unimaginable masterpiece and treasure. This journey involves beginning to fully embrace ourselves as God does, in our beauty and our brokenness, in our goodness and our deficiencies, in our light and our darkness.

Self awareness means consistently investing in our internal growth potential …an unexamined life is an ineffective life.

I’d recommend this book to someone who wants to strengthen their relationships with others.

5. The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha

This book is a super easy-read filled with stories that will make you smile! The whole book is written about things that are AWESOME. I loved how the author pointed out SOOO many things that I take for granted and forget to be grateful for.

Things like:

free samples,
tripping and realizing NO ONE SAW YOU!
Shopping for a specific item and finding it on SALE!
Your colon, lungs, and other body parts that work hard every day to keep you healthy without you even noticing or having to ask

If you are in a need of a reason to smile … I recommend this book or the blog 1000awesomethings.com

Do you have a book you would recommend? Leave a comment and let us know!

July 26, 2019 By Kathryn

3 In Book Review/ Inspiration/ Things to do in Colorado/ Things to do in Minnesota

Little ways to make a BIG difference

Each of us are here for a reason. We have opportunities, every day, to make an impact on people and our world. Usually it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Little bits of kindness add up to a whole bunch of goodness.

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.
Robert F Kennedy

Keep doing little things, and together, we can make a big difference.

Here are 21 fun and easy ways we can make the world a brighter place. Perhaps you can add one of these to your calendar, or set a reminder on your phone to do one small act of kindness this week.

1. Smile and brighten someone’s day.

When I walk past a stranger who is smiling, my mood lifts. Imagine the impact if we all smile and say hello to every person we encounter today.

Did you know that smiling not only has a positive impact on others, it positively impacts YOU too. Smile and your body responds accordingly.

2. Leave a dollar bill at the Dollar Store for someone to joyfully discover.

Oh the happiness that fills a child who has a dollar to spend at the Dollar Store! You could even hide out and wait for someone to find the dollar you left behind :).

3. Pray for a foster child by name.

(Click here to see Minnesota foster kids)

Pray that God’s love would permeate every part of their lives. Pray that they would have positive influences in their lives. Pray for their foster parents and teachers to have patience, wisdom, and unconditional love for them. Pray that they would find a permanent home and family.

4. Buy an extra item at the grocery store and drop it off at a food pantry.

Did you know that families in the suburbs are often struggling more than inner city families? Items of greatest need: Peanut Butter, Canned Meat and Toilet Paper.

Click here to see what and where to give: https://theopendoorpantry.org/how-to-give/donate-food/

5. Drop a penny into the McDonald’s Ronald Mcdonald donation box.

If every customer in the US donates just ONE PENNY every time he or she visits Mcdonald’s, more than $62 Million dollars would be collected to support children and families in need. Wow!

6. Provide a meal or groceries for a single mom.

When I was young, there was a season when my mom was trying to provide for 5 young girls as a single mom. I remember what a delight it was when someone left a bag of groceries for us. Many single parents are living on a very slim budget and every bit helps.

7. Donate snacks or make a donation to an organization that gives children food to eat over the weekend.

There are children in each community who don’t have enough food to eat over the weekend.

Many local schools and churches collect snacks to give to children in need – ask your child’s school and church. If you live around Lakeville, Minnesota, here are three places that collect and provide snacks for kids:

Hosanna church, 9600 163rd Street West Lakeville, MN 55044
952.435.3332
Kenwood Middle school -17630 Juniper Path
Lakeville, Minnesota 55044 Phone: 952-232-3800
Edge Real Estate Services at 18472 Kenyon Avenue (near 185th &35W)

Another organization is The Sheridan Story – a project designed to fight child hunger by providing a weekend’s supply of food to hungry children.

8. Keep $5 gift cards to Walmart or McDonalds to give to a needy person you pass on the street. Or bring an extra sandwich to share.

9. Invite someone to church

9 out of 10 unchurched people said that they would come if someone invited them. My friend, Terri, buys pizzas from Little Caesars every Wednesday. She invites the neighbors over for pizza and takes a car load to youth group on Wednesday nights. The teenagers in her neighborhood know if they want to have dinner and go to church, she’s the one to see. She’s also built a mentorship and rapport with these teenagers. Every neighborhood needs a “Terri!”

10. Look for an opportunity to help ONE person today!

Every person you encounter is fighting some sort of battle. It may be a new mom who needs a NAP! Someone else needs a hug. Another person needs you to ask them how they are REALLY doing. Create margin in your day to be able to help someone.

My friend Nanette told me she invited a recently widowed father and his children to eat with her family on Valentine’s day. What would normally be a hard holiday for this hurting husband was a night filled with joy, laughter, and happy memories.

11. Visit a nursing home

Have your kids draw pictures, sing a song, play an instrument, or just give a hug to the elderly.

12. Provide respite care for foster families

Give foster parents a break for the weekend or occasional help when needed. Childwelfare.gov/adoption/adopt_parenting/services/respite.cfm

13. Volunteer at a Food bank

You can volunteer once a year or once a week. If you are in the Minneapolis suburbs, click here to volunteer at The Open Pantry Food bank in Eagan or Apple Valley.

14. Donate needed supplies to a woman’s shelter

Call your local women’s shelter and see what their needs are. Click here to find a women’s shelter near you. https://www.womenshelters.org

In my area, Dakota Woodlands Women’s Shelter is currently needing baby items, personal items, and waterproof mattress pads!

15. Donate diapers to a pregnancy clinic

https://www.amnionpc.org

https://www.burnsvillepregnancyhelp.com/services

16. Do you have a friendly pet? Consider taking it to the hospital to cheer up sick patients.

17. Donate toiletries to a homeless shelter

I always grab the extra shampoo and soap from my hotel rooms. These are the perfect size for donations to your local homeless shelter. homelessshelterdirectory.org

18. Play with your kids or spend time with your grandkids!

For parents – take just 5 minutes to PLAY with your kids! The benefits of PLAY are endless – two benefits include improved behavior and learning. Play Tag, a board or card game, chase, throw a ball…anything! Play creates incredible bonds between you and your kids. Click here to read about more benefits.

For grandparents – There are ENDLESS benefits to the child/grandchild relationship – reduced depression and improved immune system are just a couple. Click here to read an awesome article for more on the topic of benefits of being a grandparent.

I remember a time in my life when I thought to myself: My grandmother is the only person in this universe who loves me. Obviously, that wasn’t true but I’m grateful that when everything hit the fan, I knew I was unconditionally loved by my grandmother.

I have so many good memories with each of my grandparents and am grateful my boys have amazing grandparents who love them and invest in them.

Click here for a list of fun activities to do with your kids or grandkids!

19. Donate feminine products to a high school.

The Open Door Food Pantry delivers donated feminine products to a local alternative high school. The girls who are given these items often cry in gratitude because they have no money and no one to purchase these for them. Call your local high school to see if there are girls in need. I imagine that every middle or high school has girls that will be completely grateful for this simple donation.

20. Provide clean water.

Did you know that 80% of illnesses in developing countries are caused by lack of clean water? A gift of $10 to thewaterproject.org provides clean water for one person for 10 years!

21. Pick up trash

What’s the #1 thing our kids say when we ask them to pick something up around the house?

“I didn’t do it” – or – “It’s not mine!”

Guess what? We, as adults, do the SAME THING when we walk by a piece of trash on the ground and ignore it. Imagine if each of us picked up not only our own stuff, but random pieces of trash we see along sidewalks or in parks? Our homes and communities would be so much cleaner.

Each of us can make a little difference that will add up to a big change.

I’ve provided twenty ideas for you! If you have an idea I haven’t mentioned, leave me a comment and share it with us! What is ONE little thing you will do THIS week that could make a big difference?

I’m currently collecting:

snacks for kids,
peanut butter and other food items,
diapers and wipes.

I’ll be donating them to the organizations listed above on June 10. Send me a message if you have something I can give on your behalf!! I’d be happy to come pick it up if you live in my area.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end… ideas for this post came from the book: A Cup of Cold Water in His Name: 60 ways to care for the needy.

May 19, 2019 By Kathryn

4 In Book Review/ Product Recommendations

Books I’m reading – and a Giveaway!

Here are some books I’ve been reading lately, and you must read to the end to ~~find out how to win a copy of one the following books~~ see who won!

I’m usually reading two to four books at a time. I have one by my bed, one by the couch, one in the car, and another I’m listening to on my phone with the free Hoopla App. Here are my thoughts on the books I’m currently reading, or recently finished.

The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey

I’m not a helicopter parent, but this book did shine light on areas where I could back off to allow my kids grow. It made me realize that some of the strength and confidence I have, comes from being put in really challenging situations as a young adult, and figuring out my way through it (I’ll write about this in a future post). I would recommend this book to parents who have children 7-17. The book has a few really great sections, and other parts were repetitive that I skimmed through. I’d rate it a 4 out of 5.

Capital Gains by Chip Gaines

I mentioned to a friend how much I loved The Magnolia Story, so she recommended I read Capital Gains. It’s basically Chip Gain’s biography and shows how hard work and a good attitude (plus a smart spouse) can lead to incredible success. Their family has turned the town of Waco from a place you’d just drive through to get from Dallas to Austin, to a destination city. I liked The Magnolia Story better, but would still give this a 4 out of 5!

Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors by Jami Amerine

I heard the author speak in an interview/podcast with Crystal Paine so I purchased this book on Amazon. After reading the first couple of chapters, I didn’t think I was going to like it…but by chapter 4, I was all in. I loved the author’s honestly, vulnerability, and HUMOR. The tag line is: “How less than perfect parents can raise kind of great kids” … and I would recommend it! Rating: 4/5

Educated by Tara Westover

I neglected all household chores for about 24 hours to devour this memoir. I couldn’t put it down. Tara Westover shares her fascinating story of growing up completely sheltered and was not allowed to go to school. Without any formal education or GED, she earned a Doctorate from Harvard! Rating: 5/5

A Cup of Cold Water by Lorie Newman

This is an incredible book with tons of suggestions on how we can make the world a better place. I heard the author speak on a podcast and purchased her book right away. I’ll share more in a future post about what I’m doing with what I learned in this book. I highly recommend it! Rating 5/5

Talking to your Kids about God by Natasha Crain

Once again, I heard this author speak on a podcast and decided to purchase her book. I had just finished reading “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” and I was inspired/convicted about how well Muslim parents instruct their children in their faith. I was excited to read this book about how to teach our children about God. Natasha Crain discusses the evidence for the existence of God, how science confirms the God of the Bible, how Christianity is different from other religions, and how all these things apply to us and the world around us. I’m not finished yet, but I’m REALLY loving it. Rating: 5/5

Help club for moms: The Wise Woman Grows

This is a Devotional I’ve been reading through this semester with a group of women from around the world. If you are a woman, join our group on Facebook, and pick up a copy of the book on Amazon. Rating: 5/5

Another Man’s War by Sam Childers

I received this book as a gift from my father-in-law and loved it! It’s an amazing true story about a man who goes to the most dangerous parts of Africa to find orphaned children and then provides a safe place for them. Rating 5/5

~~I want to give my copy of Another Man’s War to one of you! To win…~~

Do any of the following between now and May 1, 2019

Comment on this post (use the little text box icon beside the title)
Share this (or any) post on Social Media, through text or email! Let me know you shared it.
Every share and comment will receive you an entry to win the book. The drawing will be on May 2, 2019.

WINNER is Annie! Congratulations Annie!

Thanks for reading!

April 27, 2019 By Kathryn

2 In Book Review/ Faith

Is there evidence to support the Christian faith?

As I scrolled through Instagram today, I noticed a wave of posts celebrating “Resurrection Day.” Some even said, “Happy Resurrection Day!”

But it made me pause and ask:
What exactly is the Resurrection? And is it really worth celebrating?

The word resurrection means coming back to life after death. For followers of Jesus, Easter is a celebration of the moment when Jesus did exactly that—He conquered death and rose again.

But is there any real evidence this happened?
Actually… yes.

Let me introduce you to Lee Strobel.

Lee graduated from Yale Law School and worked as a legal editor for The Chicago Tribune. He was smart, analytical, and—at the time—an outspoken atheist.

One day, his wife came home and told him she had become a Christian.
Lee was devastated. He described it as one of the worst days of his life. The first word that came to his mind was divorce.

But instead of walking away, Lee decided to investigate the Christian faith with the same journalistic and legal rigor he used in his career. He set out to disprove Christianity—starting with the Resurrection.

He thought it would only take a few days.
But after nearly two years of research, Lee came to a surprising conclusion:
The evidence for the Resurrection was clear, compelling, and impossible for him to deny.
He chose to put his trust in Jesus and became a follower of Christ.

Here’s a summary of what convinced him—he called them the “Four E’s”:

1. Execution – Jesus really died. Roman crucifixion was brutal and final. No credible historian disputes that Jesus was crucified and dead.

2. Early accounts – The Resurrection wasn’t a legend that grew over time. We have written accounts of Jesus rising from the dead within months of the event.

3. Empty tomb – Even Jesus’ enemies admitted the tomb was empty. The real question is: how did it become empty?

4. Eyewitnesses – Hundreds of people saw Jesus alive after his death. These accounts were recorded, circulated, and many died for their testimony—without recanting.

Still not enough?

Lee also uncovered dozens of ancient prophecies—written centuries before Jesus—that predicted His life, death, and resurrection with stunning accuracy. The mathematical odds of one person fulfilling even a handful of them are astronomical. Yet Jesus fulfilled them all.

So the evidence is there. The question is: Will you open your heart to believe it?

“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
— John 1:12

If you believe the Resurrection happened—and that Jesus really is who He said He is—the next step is simple: receive the free gift He offers. The gift of forgiveness. The gift of eternal life. Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross so we don’t have to.

When we say yes to Him, we become sons and daughters of God.
And that changes everything.

I’m so grateful to be a child of God.
It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

If you’re ready to take that step, here’s a simple prayer:

Jesus, as best I can, I believe You are the Son of God. I want to receive Your free gift of eternal life. Thank You for dying for me and paying for the things I’ve done wrong. Today, I choose to follow You. Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer or want to talk more, I’d love to hear from you—send me a message!

Want to hear Lee Strobel tell his story?
Check out his video: The Case for Christ explained
Or read his bestselling book: The Case for Christ

Thanks for reading and Happy Resurrection Day!

Click here for a fun and unique way to teach kids about the resurrection.

April 21, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Family/ Memories/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Peek into our winter week(s)

Mom’s Morning Out

I had just started writing for the Colorado Springs Mom Blog when I found out we were moving to Minnesota. I subscribed to the Twin Cities moms blog right away because I knew it would be a helpful resource and a good way to connect with other moms. It’s been all of that! Last weekend I gathered with other moms from around the Twin Cities to create something original at a place called Projects in Person. If you are a mom who is looking for a helpful resource and connection with other moms, click here to find out if there’s a City Moms Blog Network in your area.

Daddy Day at Preschool!

Luke woke up saying “TODAY IS DADDY DAY,” with a big smile on his face. Ted comes downstairs a few minutes later and says, “Today is Daddy Day!” Luke smiles and says, “I JUST said that!” And they both laughed.

Luke really pays attention, because when describing his dad, he was pretty accurate…

He knows his dad works on the computer (that’s what he SEES him do…though that’s only a small part of Ted’s job), he likes to eat Salad (YEP!), and he knows Ted loves him SO much!

But he must also think Ted has a really big nose….:)

Clark breaks his thumb

During our super cold spell in February, we were cooped up inside for four straight days. We were all going a little stir crazy. On the fourth day, Clark was doing a fancy jump trick off the couch and landed on his thumb. At first I just thought he’d just bruised or jammed it, but the next day it it was getting worse, so I took him to the doctor. He had a broken thumb and had to wear a cast for 3 weeks.

Draw your favorite book

It was Read Across America last week at school, and the boys had to do a drawing of their favorite book. Clark and Paul chose our book, and I think they did a great job re-creating the cover of Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore! Paul also mentioned to his teacher that his dad’s book is also one of his favorites. Paul hasn’t read it, and could not remember the title, but he did a good job remembering what it looked like!

Clark’s Drawing of Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore

Paul’s drawing of my book and Ted’s book

My Goodwill find

I’d been watching for a good deal on hiking shoes the entire time we lived in Colorado. I finally found a GREAT deal. Goodwill had a pair of Merrel hiking shoes that were practically brand new and only cost $2.50! The same ones are currently selling for $99!

What I’m loving right now:

Playing games with my boys…

This super fun snow ball maker...

A great book….

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines – This book was absolutely delightful! Chip and Jo share stories about their lives growing up, how they met, and the hilarious story about how their show Fixer Upper almost didn’t happen. If you need an easy, entertaining, funny, and fun-to-read book, this is the one!

March 11, 2019 By Kathryn

2 In Book Review/ Product Recommendations

9 books to read in 2019

Here are 9 of my favorite books from 2018, if you haven’t read them…add them to your MUST READ list of 2019!

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp – An incredibly well-written book that reminds the readers of how gratitude can positively change your life.

2. UnSuperMommy by Maggie Combs – This is a must read for moms with young children.

3. What’s God Really Like? by SJ Hill – Each page made me smile as I was reminded of how GOOD our God really is!

4. Conversations with a Billionaire by Ted W Egly – A truly inspirational book filled with tons of great stories. An easy-to-read book that will leave you feeling encouraged and challenged…get a glimpse into the book by clicking here.

5. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver – An awesome book if you like food and are interested in finding out more about what you eat. This book is also inspiring for gardeners (or wannabe gardeners, like me).

6. Love Does by Bob Goff or his next books which was equally Awesome:

7. Everybody Always – I was nervous to read this book because I didn’t know if it would be as good as his first…but it was amazing!

8. Speak Life by Brady Boyd – Our words shape our life. This book contains great examples on how we can improve our communication and challenges us to speak life-giving words.