The Grumble Free Year by Tricia Goyer

This was another great self-help type book by Tricia Goyer.  With a hope of creating a home without grumbling, Tricia decided to help her children learn how to live happily together without bickering, fighting and bad relationships.

She incorporated her plans of going a full year without complaining into her homeschooling learnings.  She used scripture, using it to correlate with their goals that they had each set.  They did activities to see what causes the grumbling in their household.  And she writes about how they decided to try to resolve them.

At the end of each chapter there is a reflection page where you can ponder on some of the questions that are also there.  This is a good section to help people to visualize where problems may lie.  As you think about them you realize some of the directions in your life.  She discusses that change begins in your heart.  And what should we do to work on "not grumbling".  We all need to own up to our own shortcomings.  Are they caused by our insecurities?  We need to learn to trust in God's Plan for us.

We all experience hard seasons in life so it is easy to find things to grumble about.

I felt that there was a lot of learning in this book, personal experiences that would relate to the majority of us.  It's a good book to ponder and to help with some of the problems that keep us from having the happy co-existence we all hope to have in our family life.

I highly recommend this book and am sure that there is much to learn from it.

I received an ebook version of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Calming Angry Kids by Tricia Goyer

So first let me say the cover is exactly perfect--a whirling tornado.  I think as parents we have all experienced the angry little and not so little tornados that live in our homes.  This author is wonderful at helping others by sharing her personal experiences of life and what she has learned both through personal prayer and the help of others, including professionals in various fields.

I love how she incorporates prayer and those professionals and comes out with a better outcome than by only following one course.

This book gathers all her best experiences, tips and advice that she's learned through her own life's paths.  Angry Kids are often very challenging to parents, causing stress amongst themselves and all that are around them.  The book is full of suggestions that are tried and true.  And of course all kids are different but I am certain that there will be something that will touch the heart of your angry child.

One subject she touched upon that I know can be a big determining factor is that we may follow a parental cycle that our parents used, which may not have been the best answer and we need to check ourselves before repeating that cycle to see if that is only our lack of control or really the best thing to do.

Good advice, good book and lots to learn from.

I received a copy of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Walk it Out by Tricia Goyer

I just finished reading Tricia Goyer's latest book.  It's a great way to get back into living the way we should.  It's advice, suggestions, and guides on how to improve our lives and pick ourselves up when life isn't going our way, which can be often.

It's a book that reminds us to ground ourselves in our faith.  I think the advice given is good for Christians of any denomination.  The doctrines taught are universal and will fit into the lives of any person believing in Christ.

None us of comes with instructions, so we all have to learn through trial and error, sometimes the errors win and we need to regroup, sometimes needing help from others, either family and friends or professional.  But we should always keep trying to make the connections that will bring us back onto the right track.

This book will uplift your spirit and teach you principles for a happier and more fulfilled life.  By sharing your talents and giving of yourself and time, you will find life will be much better both for those you help and yourself.

I really enjoyed this book and hope to incorporate many of the suggestions that I read about.  It's well worth your time reading.  You will be touched be the beautiful Christian Spirit that it conveys.

You can pre-order your copy here!

Teen Mom by Tricia Goyer (previously titled Life Interrupted)

Tricia Goyer is an outstanding author and I have read quite a few of her books, Amish, as well as non-fiction.  Teen Mom is one of her non-fiction works that bases from her personal life experiences and the learnings that came along with them.

In a non-denominational way Tricia addresses the fact that in order to bring one's life in order, one must seek Jesus to find the answers that are needed to help the teen mom or teen mom to be, face the challenges that are in her life regardless of the type of situation she may find herself in.

She discusses many feelings, realities and things that young moms will face and gives suggestions pm how to cope and deal with them, as well as personal experiences and thoughts of both herself and others that have faced and continue to face these challenges.

Because she has overcome many if not most of these challenges in her own life, she has much insight and experience that will serve to help others who also face the many of the same issues.

I highly recommend this book and feel it will stand to serve many young women.  In her book she includes scriptural references, one which I will quote again here, from Phil. 4:13, I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.


You can connect with Tricia Goyer here.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review which I have given.

Guest Blog article from Tricia Goyer

Tricia Goyer is an excellent author whose books I have enjoyed in the past years.  As a member of her MOPS Street Team, I am happy to post a recent article of Tricia's that she posted on her own blog and has allowed us as members of her team to post on our blogs.

Tricia has many good causes and MOPS is one that she has encouraged many to become involved with and to help teen mom's cope with the stresses that they will have to deal with.  Her blog can be found at this link. Be sure to visit and learn how you can help these young women.

Her latest book that she has authored can be viewed at this site and is called Teen Mom:  You're Stronger Than You Think.

Thanks Tricia for sharing your thoughts on parenting.  We, (even us grammas) can learn from others!

Don’t Make These Parenting Mistakes

February 25, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 

On the heels of my upcoming release with Phil Hodges and Ken Blanchard, Lead Your Family Like Jesus, I decided to poll my Facebook and Twitter friends about all things family, parenting, and leadership. Here are their answers to “What’s a parenting mistake you hope young parents don’t make with their kids?” (By the way, the official Lead Your Family Like Jesus website is up and running! Check it out here.)

“Trying to be their best buddy and not teaching respect or discipline.” ~Donita Corman

“Don’t throw money at situations. Tough love it out!” ~Mary Tullila

“I’ve seen too many parents say that they love their kids, but their actions speak otherwise. Show them that you love them every day, and make sure they know it because they may not have you tomorrow.” ~Wendy Noble

“To not forget that they were young once and understanding goes a long way.” ~Shana Marie Casey

“1. Discipline is a must. 2. You don’t need to buy them everything they want. 3. It is ok for them to be ‘bored.'” ~Michelle Strite Hortenberry

“Don’t ever result to bribery, or you will be doing it for years to come.” ~Catherine King

“Making excuses for their child’s bad behavior.” ~Lisa Eichelberger

“Becoming so absorbed in their own work that they fail to provide adequate care and love for their kids.” ~Carrie Fancett Pagels

“I think the worst mistake we can make as parents is to take childhood for granted. It is so fleeting, and each moment should be treasured, adored, and appreciated.” ~Jillian Amodio

“Coddling them and not teaching them to own up to their mistakes.” ~Melissa Reedy

“‘Guilting’ children into doing what parents want. Not letting kids make mistakes. Not teaching kids how to do things on their own (even when they will end up making mistakes). And the most important: not encouraging them to seek out their own relationship with Christ instead of trying to live through their parents’ faith.” ~Jennifer Hill

“Spending too much time hooked up to our ‘devices’ . . . and unhooked from the important little persons around us.” ~Isaac and Corrine Collura

*Photo credit: Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

(Article used by permission of Tricia Goyer) http://www.triciagoyer.com/dont-make-these-parenting-mistakes/   

I just read a book that I recently won in a contest from Cara Putman, one of the three authors of this wonderful book.  I do mean wonderful!  Thanks so much Cara.  This was a treasure to read and I loved it.  I loved how the three novellas meshed so beautifully together to make one great book.

The Turner family is the featured family in this book.  the first story called White Christmas was written by Cara Putman.  These three stories all take place in the WWII time in the US.  Abigail Turner is home working at a candy store and the man she cared about was killed in the war.  So now, romance is not on her to do list.  She meets a young man, who needs her help.  She and her father help him and Abigail finds that this young man has wonderful qualities.  I won't tell what happens, you will just have to read this!

In the second part of the book we find Abigail's brother as the main male character.  The title of this story is I'll be Home for Christmas.  He runs into a little girl who instantly has major plans for Pete.  Which may not be the plans of her mother, who remembers Pete from days long gone.  Clearly he was not a good person in her mindset.  Again, you will want to read this part, too. And I won't be telling you anymore!

Part three is written my Tricia Goyer, an author of whose books I have greatly enjoyed in the past two years.  This story's main character is Meredith or Merry Turner. In "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" she is the sister of Pete and Abigail.   She chose to follow the nursing profession and in so doing, finds herself in the European theater during WWII.  As a nurse she helps the wounded soldiers and experiences death, pain and sorrow.  Yet no sorrow is a great to her soul as the young man she had met prior to this time, a young German man who returns to Germany to serve.  Meredith is so heartbroken and truly feels betrayed. Will the Lord help her mend her broken heart?

I loved this wonderful historical novel.  I have many personal stories of the War because of my German parents' experiences.  It was really a wonderful read and touched me deeply.  This is a must-read!  I love how the stories wrap around three beautiful Christmas carols!

The authors:

Cara Putman author of White Christmas

Sarah Sundin author of I'll be home for Christmas  
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                                              Author Tricia Goyer author of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas