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Friday, April 5, 2013

Weekly Reads and a Giveaway!


This week I have been reading (actually devouring) The Passionate Mom.  I applied to be on the delivery team of the book, not knowing anything about the content of the book, other than it was a book for moms.  I know that I need all the help I can get in my journey as a mom so I take everything I can get my hands on! It has been so fun to help share excitement about this book because it has already helped me so much!

The book The Passionate Mom is a fabulous book for any mom in any stage of her journey as a mom.  I wish I had been able to read it when I began my journey as a mom, although it has already been a help to where I am now.  The book is based on the book of Nehemiah.  Susan Merrill says our passion as moms is what will help us find a plan for our role as a mom.  She takes 10 P's from the book of Nehemiah to help us in our journey.  The 10 P's: Perception, Pondering, Passion, Praying, Patience, Preparation, Purpose, Planning, Problem Solving, and Perseverance really encompass the characteristics we need to be leaders in our home in the same way that Nehemiah was a leader for the Jewish people at the time.  Some of these characteristics come more naturally to us than others.  She gives us ideas and encouragement to succeed in all of them.  

I don't know about y'all, but I get discouraged as a mom.  And sometimes it doesn't take much.  I struggle with doubt, worry, frustration, impatience.  One of the things I loved most about this book is that Susan doesn't act as if she has it all together.  She confesses things she has done wrong, or ways she wishes she had done differently.  I never felt like she was talking at me, but rather talking with me.  I have read books that made me feel guilty instead of encouraging me.  This book does not do that at all.  I have been inspired, encouraged, challenged and excited to go on and move forward in my role as a mom.  I also want all of my mom friends to read this book.  It is seriously that good!





The exciting news is that Thomas Nelson Publishing wants to share this book with you!  Please leave a comment below and tell me one thing you wish you knew before you became a mom to be entered to win.  I can't wait to hear what you have to say!

12 comments :

Mary Kathryn Tatum said...

that your bladder would never be the same and that double unders would never happen =)

Tleshia said...

I wish I would have known how intense motherhood would be. Emotions are so much more RAW with your child. I also wish someone would have told me about how defeated you would feel as a mom most days! Thanks for sharing Sarah, I hope I win ;-)

Mama to A&A said...

I have been following her blog since you recently posted about it on fb! I agree that it's so nice to hear from a "real" mom! I love that encouragement.
What do I wish I knew before having having kids? Hmm...a whole lot more than I did know! :) one specific thing, I guess, would be that no matter what you teach your children or how hard you work, they still have their own free will and are responsible for their own decisions. I have to remind myself of this all the time now that I have teenagers! That knowledge helps me remember that I have to trust God with them (so hard! I have to surrender daily to that, which is crazy really, since who loves them more then Him?) and helps me with my worry and guilt.

Thanks for sharing about this author!

Kelley Anderson

Garretts said...

I wish someone would have told me how inadequate I would feel at times. That I'd doubt myself as being good enough for the job of shepherding these two souls, but thankfully I don't have to be enough because God is.

Between You and Me said...

I can't wait to read this book...thanks for the honest review....If you're devouring it, I know I will, too. :)

Salena said...

I wish someone would have told me that being a mother is one of the most difficult, yet rewarding things that a woman ever goes through, and that a mother's heart both rejoices and breaks as that child grows and changes.

Kimberly C said...

That there will be times when you have absolutely no idea what the right thing is to say or do for your child. All you can do is pray for God's wisdom.

our little family said...

I wish I would've really understood how quickly time flies...especially during the exhaustion of the baby/toddler days. I might have complained less and cuddled a tad more. Hard to believe those baby days came & went so quickly. But, dealing that a makes me soak them up a little more these days.

Julie said...

Wish I would have known how hard it is to survive a miscarriage of baby number six....but found my strength in God when we lost our last little one.

Thanks for a fun giveaway!
Julie

Farmgirl Paints said...

i struggle with insecurities about motherhood daily. am i being attentive enough? am i giving them enough chores, responsiblity? i lost my temper... i didn't really see them today etc... motherhood is minefield for guilty, less than feelings. it's just part of the territory. it's because we care so much. love SO hard. we just have to do our best.

something beautiful said...

I wish I would hasve known that hte tten years largly resemble the toddler years. Only you trade physical exhaustion for emotional/mental exhaustion!

Kristen Pare said...

Mental exhaustion--I really did not know how great it is but then its doused with the tiny special moments she gives me. I trust God as He shared her with me after 5 yrs of really intense infertility.