There’s Just Something About A Boy

Mothers of boys, what are the moments you treasure most?  Do you ever wish you could stop time and keep your son little forever?

You can’t.

But you can treasure each moment.

• I wept when my son was born. 
• I cried (hard!) at his first haircut. 
• I trembled with fear his first day of kindergarten.
• I cheered with pride when he slid into home plate.
• No, I’m not yet ready for a teenager.
• Don’t even talk to me about his first date!

Each stage comes with its own hopes, dreams, and fears.  And each stage is beautifully remembered and illustrated in There’s Just Something About A Boy, by Jenny Lee Sulpizio.

In this newly-released children’s book, Jenny Lee Sulpizio captures the hearts and minds of every mother who looks forward to watching her son grow, all the while wishing she could freeze time and keep him little forever.  From conception until adulthood, there’s something magical about watching a son get older – and reading about it along the way.  

There’s Just Something About A Boy is the perfect gift for new moms; it’s also a keepsake book for mothers and sons for years to come.  In fact, I’d love to send you a copy.  Just leave me a comment before Monday to enter a drawing!

Remember, he can’t stay little forever.

I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. 1 Samuel 1:27 (NLT)

Why I'm Leading The Work, Love, Pray Online Book Club

I’m thrilled to partner with 4Word and host the first Work, Love, Pray online book club.  Care to join me?

Great, let’s get started.  To begin, we’ll answer a few questions.

What are we doing?

We’re going to read – and discuss – Diane Paddison’s newly released book, Work, Love, Pray.  Over at 4Word's Blog.  Every Tuesday for the next six weeks.

For those of you how haven’t read the book, it’s a much-needed resource for young professional Christian women and Working Christian Moms who are trying to navigate their careers, family, and faith.  (See my full review.)

Who is participating in the book club?

Easy answer:  You!

And you don’t have to be a Christian or even a young woman (ages 21-40) to join. (Unfortunately, I’m not in that group anymore….)

Work, Love, Pray is for women of all ages, dads, husbands, and even single guys. 

Gals, are you looking for a safe place to discuss your careers, dreams, and relationships?

Older gals, do you need some help mentoring the young women in your life?

Guys, do you want to understand young women better? 

You’ve all come to the right place!  

Why the book club?

If you haven’t noticed, young professional women aren’t exactly flooding our churches.  In fact, many of them are staying away from church just because they think Christians are out of touch with their lives.  And in many cases, we don’t know what to do with a generation of women who need Jesus more than ever.

It breaks my heart to see young women pulling away from their faith communities.  I want to do something about it, don’t you?  That’s one of the reasons I want to get the word out about 4Word and Work, Love, Pray -- and I hope you’ll join me. 

How does this work?

We’ll be meeting every Tuesday at 4Word to discuss Work, Love, Pray for the next six weeks.  This will be our schedule.

Nov 15:  Chapters 1-3
Nov 22:  Chapters 4-6
Nov 29:  Chapters 7-9
Dec 6:  Chapters 10-12
Dec 13:  Chapters 13-15
Dec 20:  Chapters 16-18

You can leave comments on the 4Word Blog. Don’t worry if you fall behind.  Just come back, and we promise it will be fun!  And we’ll finish up just in time for Christmas!

Any questions?

Bring a friend, and we’ll see you at 4Word on Tuesday, Nov 15!

[For those of you who left me a comment here and on the 4Word Blog last week, please send your address to sdimickele@gmail.com so I can send you a copy of Chasing Superwoman!]

Strong, Believable Characters: What I Liked About Yesterday’s Tomorrow

Are you tired of weak, unrealistic characters who put you to sleep?  Me too. 

Looking for some fresh fiction and strong characters?  Then check out Yesterday’s Tomorrow by talented, first-time author Catherine West.

Yesterday’s Tomorrow is an action-packed love story set in Vietnam.  I read it quickly, probably because I loved the two main characters:  Kristen Taylor and Luke Maddox.

Kristen is a brilliant journalist who is chasing the memory of her late father, trying to break the biggest story of her life.  She’s independent, stubborn, and beautiful.  The envy of every women.

Luke is a talented and mysterious photographer.  He’s the guy we love to hate.  And he’s the guy we hate to love.  Let’s just say he’s a little rough around the edges and easy on the eyes. 

Of course, Kristen and Luke fall in love.  The plot thickens, and they have to decide what’s really important in life.  Relationships? Career? Personal safety?

Here’s another reason I liked this book.  The characters are believable – even human.  Even though this book is written by a Christian author, the faith-based center doesn’t over power the story.  Instead, the characters are allowed to learn through trial and error, experiencing faith lessons through time and circumstances (kind of like real life!).

Sound like something you’d like to read?  Just leave me a comment before Monday, and I’ll put you in a drawing for a free copy.

Have a good weekend!

Need A Radical Sabbatical?

If you’re a working mom (or dad) you may have noticed that “The Schedule” is slightly out of control.  That’s putting it mildly, isn’t it?  If your schedule is like mine, it’s a freight train without brakes.

The train has left the station and there’s no stopping it now.

Right?

Maybe not.  Just wait a minute.  There’s someone out there who has activated the emergency brake.  Yes, I’m hear to tell you that it’s possible (even beneficial) to step back and take a radical sabbatical.

Meet Joanne Kraft.

This brave (slightly crazy?) working mother of four decided to pull the plug for an entire year on all extra-curricular activities.  And she lived through it, became a better mother and wife, and decided to write a book about it:  Just Too Busy – Taking Your Family On A Radical Sabbatical.

I know what you’re thinking.  I’m not that radical.  I could never do it.  My family would hate me.  Our lives revolve around The Schedule.

Don’t worry, I was thinking the same thing.  In fact, I’m not here to suggest that every family should drop out of activities for a year.  And Joanne Kraft doesn’t suggest that either.  Your radical sabbatical will probably look different than mine or hers.

In my case, after reading Just Too Busy, my family took a much-needed 2-week vacation with no TV and internet.  And let me tell you, that was a big step for my ever-loving media addicts (hubby included!).  For me, it’s about taking small steps.  And Just Too Busy gave me the inspiration I needed, plus plenty of ideas to chew on.

I don’t want to give the book away because I want you to buy it on Amazon.  What I will say is that Just Too Busy game me some serious perspective.  In fact, I’d love to give you my copy – just leave me a comment to enter a drawing.

Do you need some perspective?  Do you feel like the train has left the station and you can’t find the emergency brake?  Are you ready for a radical sabbatical?  What are you waiting for?

Win A Copy of Mommy Whispers Here!

Today on Working Mommy Wednesday, we're discussing favorite books.  And while I've read some great adult books lately, my favorite reads these days are with my kids.  After all, they'll grow up soon and won't want Mom to read to them (boo hoo!).

So here's my favorite new children's book:  Mommy Whispers, by Jenny Lee Sulpizio.

Why do I love this book so much?  Here's a glimpse inside the cover.

Mommy Whispers tells the story of a mother, watching her daughter mature and grow through each stage of life.  From birth, to school, to adulthood, to marriage, and to motherhood.  It's the cycle of life that we all cherish, knowing that each stage is a gift that will last only for a season.

But it's not just about the cycle of life.  It's about the yearning every mother has to keep control, and her need to trust God every step of the journey.

Sounds pretty heavy, huh?

I wasn't sure if it would maintain my daughters' attentions (ages 5 and 7) since we often have different taste in books these days.  (Let's just say I've about had it with the Disney Princesses.)

Boy was I wrong.  My girls ate up every word.  They loved the repetitive language (which help makes this book kid-centered) as well as the bright illustrations.  Afterward, my 7-year-old said to me, "Mom, I want to grow up to be a mom someday, just like you!"

Warning.  This one's a tear jerker.

Please leave me a comment before Mother's Day and I'll put you into the drawing for a free copy!   It's the perfect gift for your mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, or friend.

What about mothers of sons?  After all, we too have a story to tell!

Don't worry, Jenny has a book that's coming out for you this fall!  Stick around, and we might just do another give away.

If you haven't met Jenny Lee Sulpizio, stop by and visit her blog here.

The Christian Mama’s Guide To Having A Baby: Book Review and Give-Away!

Today, on Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday I’ve decided to give away (and review) a newly released book.  The Christian Mama’s Guide To Having A Baby, by Erin MacPherson.



What book would you give an expectant mother?  Many of us have found books like What to Expect When You’re Expecting useful, but have you ever looked for other alternatives -- like a practical, witty guide for expectant mothers, from a Christian perspective?

The Christian Mama’s Guide may be exactly what you’re looking for.

What’s so special about this book?

Well, to start, MacPherson's writing is tender, blunt, and hilarious.  She obviously reads the minds of expectant mothers!  The Christian Mama's Guide is full of practical advice, humor, and spiritual insight.  MacPherson squarely tackles the questions that everyone is afraid to ask --especially Christians -- ranging from sex, intimacy, exercise, and alcohol. 

The Christian Mama's Guide is decisive yet not dogmatic.  MacPherson provides a much-needed voice for today's expectant mother who longs to follow God in a fast-paced and complex world -- a mother who is savvy, excited, and often scared to death!  She comforts expectant mothers with the voice of a "big sister" that has gone before them. 

I wish this book existed 10 years ago when I was expecting my first born.  While there is no lack of information for expectant mothers, there is clearly a lack of spiritual mentoring -- MacPherson takes an important step to bridge the mentoring gap for new mothers.

So, don’t you want a copy of this book -- for a friend, a co-worker, or even for yourself? 
Just post a comment before Friday at 5:00 EST.  I’ll be drawing two winners for a give-away!

Top Ten Reasons To Read I’m Outnumbered! (Plus, A Give-Away)

Today, on Working Mommy Wednesday, we’re sharing top ten lists.  And I couldn’t think of a better place to share the top ten reasons to read I’m Outnumbered! One Mom’s Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys, by Laura Lee Groves.

1.  Laura is a fellow working mom.  As an English teacher and mother of four boys (that’s right four boys), Laura is a kindred spirit to busy, overworked mothers.
2.  The tone is spiritual yet realistic. I’m Outnumbered is written from a biblical perspective.  But I also didn’t find it to be overly preachy or unrealistic.  Laura acknowledges that no parents are perfect, and we all need God’s grace to get us through the journey. 
3.  Laura speaks from the heart.  In fact, Laura is pretty transparent and vulnerable about her own journey – including lessons learns and teachable moments.
4.  Nothing beats experience.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand getting parenting advice from people who haven’t been in the trenches.  (Like, “Gee, I read that you should ignore your child when he has a tantrum.”)  Laura speaks from a wealth of experience. 
5.  Laura offers lots of practical tips.  I’m Outnumbered doesn’t just give advice – it gives examples, resources, and creative parenting ideas.  (Yeah, it’s also a nice compliment to Chasing Superwoman, which by my own admission is more of a rant than an instruction manual.)
6.  Finally, a female voice about boys!  A handful of books have already been written about raising boys.  But few if any are from a female perspective.  (As someone who grew up with all sisters, I really need that female perspective!)
7.  Her sons actually contribute to the book.  One of my favorite parts of the book is where Laura’s sons provide first-hand insight.  (See Chapter 10 – A Word From The Boys.)  It’s one thing to talk about raising boys – but it’s another thing to actually hear from them directly!
8.  Help promote a new author.  This is Laura’s first book.  And first-time authors are always looking for creative ways to get the word out.  Once you read I’m Outnumbered, please consider passing it along to a friend or doing your own book review.
9.  We all need mentors.  I’m always looking for mentors on my parenting journey.  And I love connecting with moms I respect – especially when they’re a couple of steps ahead of me.  Laura is one of those moms!  Her blog is also a great source of encouragement. 
10.  I’ll send you a copy!  Last but certainly not least, I’d love to send you a copy.  By posting a comment on my blog before 5:00 p.m. Sunday, you can enter a drawing to win a free copy.  (Winners win be announced in the comment section of this post Sunday evening.)

Happy Wednesday, and thanks Laura for writing I’m Outnumbered!

Radical: Chapter Two

For those of you who are joining me, today I’m continuing the online discussion of Radical:  Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream.

First, a couple logistical points.  A few of you have asked me where and how to join the book club.  Just click here, and you’ll find Marla Taviano’s website and instructions.

Second, my current plan is to post every Tuesday, in schedule with the online book club.  The next month looks pretty hectic, so if I skip a week I’ll just pick up the following week.

Now, on to Chapter Two.

David Platt lays it on pretty thick in this chapter.  (Yeah, even a bit too thick for me.)

But I’ll start with the positive.  Chapter Two makes the point that God doesn’t need us, we need him.  I couldn’t agree more.

Platt explains that Christians on the other side of the world are risking their lives to meet in secret, simply because they hunger and thirst for God.  Yet the American church is more interested in programs, comfortable seats, and cool music.  In Platt’s words, many of us have reduced the costly sacrifice of Jesus to a sales pitch.  “Our attempt to reduce this gospel to a shrink-wrapped presentation that persuades someone to say to pray the right things back to us no longer seems appropriate.”  (p. 37)

Again, I couldn’t agree more.

Where Platt and I differ is in his statement that God “hates” sinners.  (p. 29)  First and foremost, I’m pretty sure I’m a sinner.  And I’m also pretty sure God doesn’t hate me.

According to John 3:16, God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son.  The love came first.  And according to Romans 5:8, God demonstrated his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Call me optimistic, but I still believe that God loves me and has a wonderful plan for my life.  I may be taking Platt too literally, but I’m a lawyer, remember?  We tend to get hung up on words. 

I also don’t think it’s a bad thing for Christians to be culturally relevant.  In fact, the Christian subculture often gets in the way of the gospel.  Many Americans walk away from church because they think, I’ve got to become some weirdo in order to be accepted here.  I’ve got to act a certain way, dress a certain way, and think a certain way. 

My fear is that folks who are looking for Jesus might just miss him in church. 

I do agree with Platt’s conclusion that the gospel is costly – it’s a gospel that calls us to “turn from our sin, to take up our cross, to dies to ourselves….” (p. 39)  It’s a gospel I fail to live out every day.  It’s a gospel that motivates me to keep at it – because of grace, not guilt!

Yes, Platt lays it on pretty thick in Chapter 2.  But he has my attention.

Does he have yours?

Radical: Chapter One

What am I doing posting on a Tuesday?  Didn’t I decide to cut back blogging to three days a week?

Good question.

Here’s the answer.  Today’s post is devoted to an online book club I’ve joined with almost 200 other readers.

The book?  Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.

Does the title scare you?  It scares me.  A lot.

I really don’t know why I got into this book club right now.  It’s not like I need more to do.  It’s not like I don’t have enough to read.  And what’s wrong with the American dream anyway?

Let’s just say the first chapter lived up to the title.

In Chapter One, author David Platt challenges our spiritual presuppositions that “bigger is better.”  He points out, for example, that Jesus probably would have failed Marketing 101.  Case in point:  Jesus only had 120 followers at the end of his ministry.  And when new recruits inquired about joining him, he didn’t say, “come along for a fun ride” or “give me a trial run and you won’t be disappointed.” 

Instead, he said things like, “sell all your possessions” and “leave your homes.”  Some would say that he actually tried to talk people out of following him.

Obviously, the Christian church has grown leaps and bounds since those first 120 recruits.  But maybe, just maybe, those of us who claim to follow Jesus need to ask ourselves, who are we really following?

As Pratt asks, have we invented “[a] nice, middle-class, American Jesus?” (p.13)

Pratt goes so far as to say that maybe we’re not worshipping Jesus at all:

“We are molding Jesus into our image.  He is beginning to look a lot like us because, after all, that is who we are most comfortable with.  And the danger now is that when we gather in our church buildings to sing and lift up our hands in worship, we may not actually be worshipping the Jesus of the Bible.  Instead we may be worshipping ourselves.”  (Ibid.)

Ouch!

Want to join me next week for Chapter Two?

The Hole In Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns

When I recently read The Hole In Our Gospel, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. A realistic and informative picture of the Third World? Another guilt trip? A couple of friends had warned me that it wasn’t exactly a warm and fuzzy read. They were right.

I was riveted by the story of Richard Stearns, a CEO who turned his life upside down when he resigned from corporate life to become the President of World Vision -- literally trading the corporate board room for third-world orphanages and AIDS victims.

What struck me most about his story is the plight of the world’s poorest children. AIDS has left behind some 15 million children as orphans -- children who will never experience the love of a parent or the security of a home. And the plight for young girls is even worse. According to Stearns,

Compared to her male counterpart, a girl growing up in the developing world is more likely to die before her fifth birthday and less likely to go to school, since girls are often forced to work rather than attend school …. She is also less apt to receive adequate food, health care, and economic opportunities, but more apt to be forced to marry before age sixteen and to be the victim of sexual and domestic abuse. Some two million children, mostly girls as young as five years old, are part of the growing commercial sex trade around the world.


(Citing Ban Ki-Moon, Children and the Millennium Development Goals, United Nations Children’s Fund (New York: UNICEF, 2007), 58)

As a mother of young daughters, I’ll admit I’d rather not even hear these statistics.  Isn’t it safer to put our heads in the sand and just worry about our own families?

I was putting Anna to bed and she started to pray for the children with no parents -- that they would find food and water and “get some new parents.” I hadn’t told her about the book, so I asked her, where did you hear about these children?


She almost started to cry. Then she told me about some children she saw on TV. They had no parents and no food or water. They had no where to live. She said it was the most terrible thing she had ever seen. 

Of course, with all the media coverage on Haiti, Anna had seen the lost children – and she couldn’t let go of the images.  The same images I conveniently try to avoid. 

When I look at Anna, I realize that but for the grace of God and the privilege of her birth, she could be one of those girls destined for despair, famine, and disease. Instead, she has two parents who love and care for her. She has hope and a future.

Anna continues to pray that the hurting kids in our world will find food, water, and “new parents.”  I pray with her, but The Hole In Our Gospel reminds me that I need to do more.

It's well worth the read.  Check out Stearn’s website for a glimpse.

Angry Conversations With God, by Susan Isaacs

I like books about real life.  Unedited.  I also like writers who don’t mince words.  Susan Isaacs is such an author.

Angry Conversations With God is not for the faint hearted or spiritually frail.  The title speaks for itself.  Isaacs goes to counseling with God and, yes, she is angry. 

I read Angry Conversations With God last year, but I pulled it out again just this past week while I was blogging about Barbie.  (Yeah, I hate to admit it, but Barbie is bringing out my deepest thoughts these days.)  As an actress and writer, Isaacs couldn’t find other artists in church.  Like Barbie, Isaacs didn’t seem to fit in with the “church crowd.”

Who says Hollywood and Jesus have to be that far apart?  Susan Isaacs is never going to fit religious stereotypes, but that’s probably a good thing.

If you like down-to-earth, edgy writing with an authentic spiritual twist, check out Angry Conversations With God. 

Any other Susan Isaacs’s fans out there? 

Fat Chance, by Julie Hadden

I’ve never struggled with being overweight.  Which is why I wasn’t sure what I would learn when I recently read Fat Chance by Julie Hadden.

Julie’s story is truly amazing.  She was selected from among 250,000 contestants to appear on the Biggest Loser, and from then on determined to put her faith in action and not give up.  Sure, she had a few bumps in the road (given that she trained with no-mercy Jullian Michaels it certainly wasn’t easy) but she went on to lose almost half of her body weight and finished season four as runner-up.

Since then, she’s appeared on Oprah, written a book and numerous articles, and she travels around the country inspiring men and women to take control of their health choices.  I love a happy ending, especially when it’s a Cinderella story.

But the ending is not what I took away from Fat Chance.  You see, for Julie, this is just the beginning.  Like so many things in life, her weight loss was not a destination.  It’s a faith journey.

Julie explains in her book that she never wanted to be the poster child for weight loss:   “Speaking still scares me to death, but I know that God has given me this opportunity for such a time as this.  And not seizing it scares me far more than seizing it ever will.” 

The part about not seizing the opportunity really got my attention.  To Julie’s credit, she was blessed with an open window – but she still had to jump through it! 

For many of us, not seizing the moment can prove much more fearful than seizing it.   The last thing I want to do is get to heaven and hear God say, “hey, your life could have been really cool if you just would have had some guts to step out of your comfort zone.” 

Is a window cracked open in your life?  And when it finally does open, will you be ready for the journey?