Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky (Book Review)

Friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter may have noticed over the past few weeks that I've mentioned the launch of a new book which has just released. I have appreciated being on the Launch team of  Motivate Your Child: A Christian Parent's Guide to Raising Kids Who Do What They Need to Do Without Being Told by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN

Motivate Your Child is filled with concrete examples and advice to help us "Parent from the heart." What that means in plain terms is learning (or sometimes relearning/refreshing) how to guide our children into maturity, growing their character and integrity with internal motivation rather than external motivation.

I'm sure many of us have fallen prey to using external motivation (Reward or punishment) at one time or another. While it is sometimes the easiest or quickest method to use,  as a consistent method of discipling our children, it's effects are only as lasting as the reward or punishment exist (please note, discipling = teaching vs the common misuse of discipline = punishment). Far better to gently and patiently teach our children to recognize what is right and wrong, and how to make choices that show integrity.

One major roadblock to this method is the popular conception of failure and correction. Dr. Turnasky uses concrete examples as well as wisdom from the Bible to show that correction is something to be embraced. It is a tool to gain wisdom. Side Note: Thomas Edison recognized this idea... "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward..."  I realize that Mr. Edison was speaking about experiments, but he still had to "Correct" his thinking in order to progress...

There are two sections to the book:
Moral Development which covers strategies to grow that internal moral compass of integrity, compassion, and initiative.

Spiritual Development speaks to the foundations of faith in parenting, ideas to help you live out your faith on a daily basis, where your children see you, so that it becomes as natural for them to learn to follow God as it is to learn to ride a bike,  go for hikes, bake cookies, and do anything else that you do on a regular basis.

I have been reading through this book, and highlighting nuggets of gold in every chapter. Some are new strategies, and others are tools and concepts that I've neglected or that have gotten a little rusty with disuse.

I especially appreciated the pictures drawn with words of what honor looks like, and how to encourage it, what compassion is, and how to show it, and again, what correction really is~ a gift to help them learn from their mistakes instead of continuing in them.

I would like to thank Dr. Scott and Joanne Miller for taking the time to put their actions and thoughts into words, to help our generation with #heartparenting.

Blessings~

Wordless Wednesday~ Aftermath

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

From start to finish...

Joining up with 

and
5 Minutes for Mom Wordless Wednesday 

Blessings~

Be a Lighthouse

Blessings~

"R" is for Responsible (Charlotte Mason Inspiration #24)

"R" is for Responsible 

Decisions are the stuff of responsibility~ 

to go 

to stay

to listen, obey

to observe

to turn a blind eye

to move, to flourish

to stop, to atrophy

Oh, to teach them to choose aright... 

Blessings~

The Identical (A FlyBy Promotions Movie Review and Giveaway 1/23)

Some of you may have heard a little buzz about The Identical when it was released in select theaters this past September, and now it is coming out on DVD/BlueRay January13th, 2015.

I had the opportunity to watch this movie with some friends and family last week (In the comfort of a cozy living room), in order to bring you my thoughts on the film. First, here's a little trailer to give you a taste of what you find in the full movie:

Here is a blurb about the movie:
"The Identical: Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd, Seth Green, and Blake Rayne is a redemptive movie about a young man, the son of a preacher, who rejects his father’s desire for him to join the ministry and instead embarks on a career as a rock singer. As he struggles to pursue his dream and rise to stardom, he finds love, pain, success, failure and ultimately uncovers a hidden family secret that reveals who he really us. The Identical is a captivating story about a family restored and a life discovered that lifts your soul and warms your heart."

Clearly, the film has a little bit of Elvis(Style both physically and vocally), a little bit of Jerry Lee Lewis, and a little bit of it's own story besides. The story was interesting enough that it caught our attention, the filming and acting were great, and the music was very listenable. 

While the film is promoted as "heart-warming" it didn't entirely live up to that description. There was a lot of loss and struggle that definitely made it too tense for my youngest to watch. That being said, we found it intriguing at times, slow moving at times, and sometimes we felt as if we were missing out on some of the story~ that we were intended to discern the thoughts of the characters as they stared off into the distance... 

All in all, I felt that this was a good effort, but it didn't *quite* hit the mark for me (to be a favorite). However, it is a respectable option for a "Teen+" family movie night. Elvis fans particularly will either love it (for the similarities) or hate it (for the similarities). 

You can run out and purchase this first thing in the morning, OR you can enter my giveaway for a free copy! :) 
(Please wait for the Rafflecopter to load)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Official The Identical Facebook

Official The Identical Twitter

#theidentical 

Blessings~

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Motivate Your Child: Book Launch Giveaway~ Win a Go Pro Camera, Book Bundles, and Gift Cards!

Hey Friends!

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed a few tweets this past week about motivation.

I'm excited to be on the launch team for a new book Motivate Your Child: A Christian Parent's Guide to Raising Kids Who Do What They Need to Do Without Being Told. If you would like "your child to be more self-motivated when you’re trying to get out the door in the morning, or when your child is working on homework, doing chores, or trying to develop kindness toward his or her siblings. You’ll learn how to build that internal motivation..."

Sound good? Well, it gets even better!  To celebrate the release of Motivate Your Child: A Christian Parent's Guide to Raising Kids Who Do What They Need to Do Without Being Told,  members of the Launch Team are sharing a wonderful giveaway filled with a Go Pro Camera, $50 Mardel Gift Card, $25 Amazon Gift Card, and book bundles from both the National Center for Biblical Parenting and Thomas Nelson Publishing! Three winners will win prizes with a total value of nearly $800! Here’s what you could win:

GRAND PRIZE  ($500+ value)

Go Pro HERO3+ Silver Camera ($300 value)

HERO3+ Silver captures gorgeous, professional-quality 1080p60 video and 10MP photos at speeds of up to 10 frames per second. Built-in Wi-Fi enables you to use the GoPro App to control the camera remotely, preview shots and share your favorites on Facebook, Twitter and more. Compatible with all GoPro mounts, you can wear it or attach it to your gear for immersive POV footage of your favorite activities. It’s waterproof to 131’ (40m) and built tough for all of life’s adventures. Combined with stunning low-light performance, high-performance audio and an ultra wide-angle glass lens, HERO3+ Silver makes capturing and sharing your life easier than ever.  

NCBP Book Bundle ($115 value)

 The Christian Parenting Handbook  and Companion Guide Parenting is Heart Work God's Awesome Story Hero Training Camp Children's Curriculum

 

Thomas Nelson Book Bundle ($90 value): 

The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst, Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine,  All Pro Dad by Mark Merrill,  The Passionate Mom by Susan Merrill

***

FIRST PRIZE ($165 value)

$50 Mardel Gift Card

 

NCBP Book Bundle ($115 value)

The Christian Parenting Handbook  and Companion Guide Parenting is Heart Work God's Awesome Story Hero Training Camp Children's Curriculum

***

SECOND PRIZE ($115 value) 

$25 Amazon Gift Card

 

Thomas Nelson Book Bundle ($90 value): 

The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst, Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine,  All Pro Dad by Mark Merrill,  The Passionate Mom by Susan Merrill

 To enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway dates: January 12, 2015 @12:00am ET through January 28, 2015 @ 11:59pm ET Terms and Conditions: This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  Void where prohibited by law. Must be at least 18 years of age. This giveaway is in no away associated with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Amazon. No purchase necessary for entry. Odds are determined by the number of entries. Selected winner will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blessings~

Q is for Quintessence ~ Charlotte Mason Inspiration #23

Q is for Quintessence 

Quintessence: noun. the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class

black and white dragonfly on VT granite

After a hiatus from my Charlotte Mason Inspiration ABC's I'm going to finish up.
So Sorry to have left you hanging...

So~ who do you think is the quintessential poet of our time? Perhaps a songwriter?
Leave me a note in the comments!

Blessings~

The Legend of St. Nicholas by Dandi Daley Mackall, Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey (BookLook Review)

Now that most everyone has wrapped up their Christmas celebrations (As I sit here looking at our real, cut-down tree~ which has had a couple of new ornaments added to it the past couple of days...), I have a book for the 4-8 year-old crowd that you may wish to pick up for your Christmas book basket for NEXT year, The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving. 

There are many legends of the Bishop of Myra, the original St. Nicholas. This particular version is a sweet story using the dual characters of Nick (to whom the story is told) and Nicholas (about whom we hear). Nick is erring on the side of hoping to have money left to purchase something for himself from his "Gift-giving" funds when he hears a story about a generous and kind young man who uses his wealth to ease the plight of his poor friends, and later other needy folk all around the world, on Christmas Eve. Through the story, young Nick learns the joy of giving that supersedes the desires of greed, and illustrates the reasons why we give gifts at Christmas~ to acknowledge the gifts given to our Lord by the wise men, and to celebrate the greatest gift of all to mankind, God's only Son.

Over the course of the past few weeks this book has become a "Requested" title by my 7 year old more than once or twice. It has earned a spot on our "Classic Christmas Stories" shelf, due to his appreciation of the book, which includes both the story and the lovely illustrations.  I particularly appreciated the little details in the photos that don't really have to do with the story, but add to the richness of the illustrations, including a snowy owl who grows right along with the boy, Nicholas. Sweet! Richard Cowdrey is known for his illustrations of Legend of the Candy Cane, Bad Dog, Marley and A Very Marley Christmas. See the Trailer below for examples... 

You can find  The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving at most book retailers including Zondervan, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christian Book.

Happy day after Epiphany (AKA the 12 Day of Christmas... )

Blessings~