Review: 40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood Devotions and Coloring Book

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood by Sarah Humphrey #christianmoms #coloringdevotional #christiancoloringbook #reviewcomingsoon @litfuse

A photo posted by April E (@elcloudapril) on Oct 26, 2016 at 1:01pm PDT

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood is a devotional first, and a coloring escape to nurture yourself second. Sarah Humphreys walks you through a forty day devotional that builds upon the previous lessons each day. "These 10 minute daily devotions focus on six key topics of motherhood:

• Self-acceptance
• Self-care
• Reconciling with grief, hope and expectations
• Generosity
• Presence
• Forgiveness"

Sarah teaches from her own personal experience as a mother, the lessons she's learned in her struggle to care for herself as well as her family. Each devotional is short, just a few paragraphs long. However each section of the book (divided into groups of 5 devotionals) is introduced with a 2 page lesson. This division by 5 makes it perfect for an 8 week study, giving yourself the weekend to focus on worshiping with your church instead.

Each of the coloring pages is fairly large and simple. This allows you to finish a picture during nap time or in small snatches of your day. It shouldn't take you all week to complete a complicated picture with lots of small details. The pictures are full of flowers, hearts, curls and whimsy!

Sometimes we feel like we haven't made much progress as a mother, but as I read through these devotions, I recognized many of the same struggles I'd experienced as a younger mom, and many of the same lessons I've already learned.  Aha - I have learned something through the years! And yet, it was good to read the reminders, because it's so easy to forget and fall back into old patterns.

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood can help any mother take time to focus on her relationship with God, and nurture her creative side, as well. It gives you permission to rest for a bit and relax, while pointing you to Christ's love and grace. It refreshes you so you can pour God's love out into your family again.  

April E.

Review of Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles by Paul David Tripp

"In the midst of folding laundry, coordinating carpool schedules, and breaking up fights, many parents get lost. Feeling pressure to do everything “right” and raise up “good” children, it’s easy to lose sight of our ultimate purpose as parents in the quest for practical tips and guaranteed formulas." (inside cover of Parenting by Paul David Tripp)

That book description had my attention. I've been through a series of "formulas" in my parenting career, trying to find the right mix of strictness, rules, grace, emotional connections, key words, and discipline tools to achieve well-behaved children with a heart for God. I've swung one direction, and then the other direction. Sigh. The one thing I've learned is - there is no formula.  

Paul David Tripp has been watching others struggle in this same way - putting methods before relationship - and often failing to achieve the results they hoped for. That's why he decided to write Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family, though he hadn't planned to write another parenting book after his book, Age of Opportunity. 

Parenting isn't just a list of tricks of the trade to get your children to behave. It helps you to see their heart, see your own heart, and build a Biblical, godly relationship with your children that will help point your children toward God. It's hard reading at times. It's not just a "feel good" book. It's not a funny book. It's a challenging book, and it can be life-changing if you read it and apply it.

One thing I've realized from my own life, and reading this book definitely confirmed, is that the biggest key to parenting our children is going to be prayer. We must be in prayer for wisdom, in prayer for our children's spiritual lives, and in prayer for ourselves. Parenting isn't just about educating and providing for our children. It isn't just about raising them to support themselves. It is about their eternal future, and there is a spiritual battle involved.

"Parenting is being willing to expend your time, gifts, energies, and resources in a daily battle of worship as God's tool in the lives of your children. It's never just about food, friends, Facebook, homework, sleep-time, clothes, household rules, or sibling squabbles. Those things are struggles because there is a deeper war going on inside the hearts of your children. Every struggle in these areas is an opportunity that is given to you by a God of amazing grace to get at those deeper issues for the sake of the redemption, rescue, and transformation of your children. And God will give you everything you need to engage yourself in that deeper war." (Parenting, page 162)

Just wow! If you're tired of trying formulas, and swinging back and forth on the parenting method bandwagons, you need to read Parenting by Paul Tripp. There is so much more at stake, and there is no instant formula. There is only God's grace, God's wisdom, and a heart committed to serving Him and leading your children wisely.

April E.

Review and Giveaway - Life Creative: Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom

I had no idea how meaningful  Life Creative was  going to be for me. It has been ages since I read a book that made me cry, but the words of Wendy Speake and Kelli Stuart touched me so deeply that I was moved to tears more than once. Two words appeared on the chalkboard in my room - Poeima and Avodah - both explained beautifully by the authors, each speaking hope into my life.


Although Life Creative is a book primarily intended to encourage women to flourish in the creativity God has given them, it is also uplifting in other ways. Each woman's individual worth as one of God's creations and one of His daughters (for those who have accepted His gift of salvation) is repeatedly affirmed. We are all God's poeima - His workmanship, His masterpiece, His poem. Each type of creative gift is recognized and valued, and women are encouraged to embrace their creative gifts and worship through them. Worship is explained as being avodah - work, worship, and service - all combined together.



Every single chapter of Life Creative spoke to me and encouraged me. I was encouraged to value my creativity, to nurture it, and to use it to bless others - first in my home, then in my community, and maybe someday in the world. In His timing, led by Him, and used by Him. This was particularly meaningful to me, since I've been struggling with feeling stifled. I've felt as if my creative side has been left behind and I have no time to indulge in those gifts right now. I've wondered if my voice was heard, if God had any use for me. Life Creative reassured me that my voice, my art has value. That even pouring out my art in my home has value. God sees, my family sees, and it is my act of worship. Every day.

I completely recommend Life Creative for every mom who either feels as if her creativity MUST find a release, or feels as if she isn't creative at all. Wendy and Kelli have written such an uplifting book for every mom.

April E.

Review: Gratitude - A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal

Gratitude coloring journal from @tyndalehouse is beautiful. Create and reflect. #reviewcomingsoon

A photo posted by April E (@elcloudapril) on Sep 9, 2016 at 4:18pm PDT

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal is a small hardcover book which has a cardboard style cover. Every two-page spread has a short devotional thought or prayer, a place for you to write your own response, and a design you can color. Some of the pages include pre-printed color, but almost every page leaves room for you to color a portion.

One thing I like about Gratitude is that the pages are small. The book itself is only 8 x 6 inches in size, so the coloring pages are also small. As a Mom, it's hard to find time for devotions, let alone journaling or coloring. The entries in Gratitude are all small enough that I can finish them in a short amount of time. The book is also small enough to toss into my purse (I have a big purse) to work on while waiting for kids to finish a practice or class.

I'm going to share a youtube video that another blogger (Happy Little Homemaker) created to show the inside of Gratitude. It's just 44 seconds long, and it's worth watching.



This really is a beautiful little book. The devotionals aren't the meatiest, but they are encouraging and they do focus our minds back on God. And in our chaotic, busy life, returning our focus to Him is very important.


April E.

Review: The Drawing Lesson by Mark Crilley

The Drawing Lesson #graphicnovel #artlessons #reviewcomingsoon

A photo posted by April E (@elcloudapril) on Sep 9, 2016 at 4:11pm PDT

I was sure my children would love the graphic novel style of The Drawing Lesson. They read it, and enjoyed it. But my 10 year old daughter said it didn't really have lessons in it. She expected the step-by-step drawing lessons she has seen in most children's drawing books. Instead, The Drawing Lesson gives tips for improving your drawing, in the form of a story of a boy learning from an artist he meets in the park.

The Drawing Lesson was a fun read for my art lovers. #graphicnovel #artlessons #reviewcomingsoon

A photo posted by April E (@elcloudapril) on Sep 9, 2016 at 4:12pm PDT

Now that my children have taken an art class, they've heard these same drawing tips from their art teacher. Suddenly, the book has more meaning to them and they can see that the lessons are actually important for improving their ability to draw what they see. Now, when they read the book, they understand the lessons on white space better. This book reinforces what they're trying to understand in their art class.

Do not expect a step-by-step "draw a cat" lesson in The Drawing Lesson. The book is very helpful in teaching children how to look carefully at what they see, and draw what they see. My favorite part of the book actually happens on page 15, when the artist states that seeing what is wrong with your picture is 90% of the battle. Seeing what's wrong and being willing to erase it and fix it is key to improving as an artist. My children need that reminder because they look at a picture, see what's wrong, and then think they are bad artists. I've used this line to encourage them since reading the book.

The ONE thing I don't like about this book is the way the artist sometimes yells at David, the student. I realize it's probably for humor, or hyperbole, but it bothers me. That is the only thing I'd change about the book. Otherwise, it's a winner in our house.

April E.

Review: NIrV Minecrafters Bible

Yes, my son is a fan of the Minecraft game. All of my kids are, to be honest. I knew that this Minecrafters Bible would be right up my son's alley. He was so excited to receive it.

For the most part, this is a normal New International Reader's Version Bible. The main difference is that there are illustrations that resemble Minecraft creations. On the illustration of Noah's Ark, there is a short introduction/explanation of the Bible story, a Bible verse, and then a challenge. The challenge is to create a large two-level boat and bring two of every animal to it using food. For the story of Samson, the reader is challenged to create a large building with two tall pillars. For the nativity story, you are challenged to create a stable and a manger.

I love that the Minecrafters Bible encourages them to take what they're reading and re-create it in their game. This can also be a fun way for parents to interact with their children, taking their devotional time and expanding it in the game.

Mostly, this Bible just wins for its coolness factor. When my son takes it to church, the other kids ooh and ahh over its cover and illustrations.

The NIrV does make it easier for my son (now 8) to read the and understand the verses himself. He has asked to read his Bible before bed more often now than he ever did before. This is not a red-letter edition. So if it is very important to you to have Jesus' words in red, you won't find that in here.

This is a nice, hardcover Bible that will be getting lots of use in our home! My son gives it two thumbs-up, and so do I.

April E.