Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

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Parenting Beyond the Rules, by Connie Albers, is a new book that provides parenting advice for those of us with teenagers or soon-to-be teenagers. What I appreciate about this book is that it recognizes that there is not one set of “rules” that will guarantee a great relationship between parents and teens. It seems obvious, but teens have different personalities, and therefore have different needs. What works for one of your children may not work for the other. This book tackles different areas of parenting, chapter by chapter. These topics include the importance of listening, monitoring your words, tackling tough topics, squashing fear and staying engaged. There are a few questions at the end of each chapter so that readers can evaluate their own parenting techniques. This book also encourages parents to remember that there is a lot to celebrate during the teen years. We need to remember that our children will soon be adults, and it is our job to equip them for this important transition.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I wish I would have been able to read A Life of Lovely about twenty years ago. Given that this book was published only this year, and the author, Annie F. Downs, is in her 30’s, I realize this is impossible. However, I think my 20 year old self would have really benefited from the advice Down gives to young women. The subtitle, “The Young Woman’s Guide to Collecting the Moments That Matter” shows the reader how God can be found in both the extraordinary and ordinary moments of life. Downs has a gift for seeing and hearing God and showing others how to do the same. Even though this book is directed at “young women”, I also found it interesting and inspirational.

The book is divided into three sections:

• When Lovely Is Lost
• Collecting Lovely
• When I Found Lovely

Throughout these different sections, Downs shares personal stories from her life. She is not afraid to be open and honest with her readers about her fears and doubts as well as her triumphs. Because Downs’ journey to find “lovely” is based on Biblical truths, it is a journey to which we should all aspire.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Does your home have an “open door” policy? What I mean is, do you regularly invite people over and practice hospitality? In Open-Door Living, Jen Schmidt gives practical tips on how to share the gift of hospitality with those around you.

Hospitality is not something that comes easy for me and I know that I am not alone in this. Schmidt breaks down hospitality into four parts:

• Food
• Cleaning
• Atmosphere
• Connection

Schmidt challenges the reader to think about which of these aspects of hospitality are easier and which are more difficult. For me, I would honestly say it is a combination of all four! This book offers simple recipes, cleaning tips, ways to make your home feel cozy, and conversation starters. As a Christian author, Schmidt emphasizes the reason why we should practice hospitality. The point is not to impress others, but to serve others and point them to Christ.

I really liked this quote from the book:

Our homes–now matter how imperfect–are the most likely location for changing the world around us.

I would recommend Open-Door Living to any person who needs some encouragement regarding how to open their doors so that they may be a blessing to others.

Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I have enjoyed reading Scholastic books since I was a child. Now that I have my own school-age children, I am excited to pass down the joy of reading. A Drop of Hope, by Keith Calabrese, is a new Scholastic release that will show kids how small acts of kindness can spark hope in the community around them.

My kids and I are currently enjoying this book as a read aloud. It is not always easy to find time to read together before bedtime anymore, but it was nice to bring this book along during our spring break road trip. The wide array of characters and perspectives keep the reader’s mind engaged. As a mom of both a girl and a boy, I appreciate that the storyline appeals to both genders. Although the book is recommended for ages 8-12, I would personally recommend it for ages 10 and up as the main characters are in sixth grade and dealing with the issues that come with that age. The storyline is intriguing, and I would not be surprised if this book is eventually made into a movie. In a world where it seems that hope in humanity is increasingly difficult to come by, A Drop of Hope shows that hope can appear even in the most unlikely circumstances.