Raising Grateful Kids: A Review and Giveaway

When I first stumbled across Kristen Welch's blog, We Are That Family, a couple of years ago, I knew I had found a keeper. She had just released her first book, Rhinestone Jesus, and I was immediately drawn to her story. On a Compassion International blogger's trip to Kenya in 2010, she saw things she couldn't un-see, and when she returned home to Texas she knew she had to do something about it. So she, along with her husband Terrell, founded Mercy House to give women in the most unimaginable circumstances a hand up and a way out. Kristen's blog offers a behind the scenes look at her work as well as inspiration and encouragement for parents.

Even though I don't know Kristen personally, I feel like I know her through her writing, and she's so open and honest that I keep coming back for more. She's recently (like just this week) released her second book, Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, and I was lucky enough to get an advance copy. She's quick to point out that she's not a parenting expert, but she is a parent to three kids, and the book is a direct reflection of her family's experiences, struggles, and little victories along the way to a lifestyle of gratitude.

I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it for a few reasons:

Reading Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World feels like sharing a cup of coffee with a good friend. The advice comes straight from the parenting trenches, and as someone who is trying really hard to raise two little girls to be grateful young ladies, I appreciate words of wisdom from another mom who has traveled the same road. 

Kristen offers practical tips and age-specific strategies for instilling gratitude. She covers everything from the pressures that teens face in our selfie-obsessed society to giving little ones responsibility with chores. And that's just in the book itself. There are also helpful appendices like a cell phone contract for older children and the Christian Parent Manifesto, as well as a list of recommended resources. 

It reminded me that we're not alone in this. Sometimes I look at the world around me and wonder if everyone else is crazy or if it's just me. Even when I know we've made the right choice, I feel guilty for telling my children no when it seems like all the other parents around us are saying yes. I loved these words from Kristen:

“We cannot make our parenting choices based on what others are doing. We have to purpose our lives with intention or we will end up being just like everyone else, caught in a trap in our culture that demands we fit in.”

— Kristen Welch, Raising Grateful Kids

I don't know about you, but I don't want to fall into that trap. I want my children to grow up with eyes wide open. I want them to recognize how tremendously they have been blessed. I want that knowledge to foster gratitude within their hearts. And I want that gratitude to move them to serve others. I want it for our whole family.

If that sounds like something you want too, then reading Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World is a good place to start, and lucky for you, I'm giving away a copy to one lucky reader.

The nitty gritty details: Earn up to three entries by  (1) Leaving a comment on this blog post, (2) Following @leslieannjones on twitter, and (3) Subscribing to the LAJ newsletter. Contest closes January 31 at 11:59 pm. Winner will be notified by e-mail within 48 hours of the contest closing. 

Good luck! Until next time, grace and peace.

More Chances to Win!

I'm not the only one sponsoring a giveaway of Raising Grateful Kids this week. Here are a few other places you can enter for a chance to win!

• Kristen at We are THAT Family is giving away two copies of the book AND two adorable cosmetic bags from dayspring to five lucky readers. 
• Kishona from Life in Lape Haven is also giving away a copy of the book.
• Angie at the Life With Green Eyes blog is hosting a giveaway on her facebook page. 

Reading Corner: It's National Reading Month, Y'all!

"I Read Past My Bedtime" Chalkboard Art by Peter Farago for NOOK

I don't know who named March national reading month, but I'm glad someone did. It's no secret that I'm a self-proclaimed book nerd. I LOVE reading. Granted, there was a time in my life when books and I quit hanging out for a while, but our separation was short-lived, and as my husband can attest, more often than not, I have my nose stuck in a book (or glued to my Kindle, but it's all the same, right?).

I recently read an article that claimed that readers of fiction are more compassionate and empathetic than our non-fiction-loving peers. Reading fiction helps us see things from someone else's perspective. Through books, we visit places we've never dreamed of and become friends with people who are quite different from ourselves. Reading literature exposes us to a vast array of opinions and mindsets in the form of characters, which has the real-life effect of helping us understand where other people are coming from. That seems like a good reason to read a book this month, don't you think?

National Reading Month has given me the push I needed to introduce a new little section of the blog that I've been thinking about for a while. I thought I'd pop in every now and then and share my recent reads and thoughts on them. I'll tell you if I loved them or hated them or just kind of tolerated them. I'll give you the reasons why you should read them AND the reasons you should avoid them. And we can both pretend that we're having this conversation face-to-face on my couch. Preferably while we're enjoying steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

All of that to say, be on the lookout for book reviews and updates on my recent reads in the Reading Corner. Until that time comes, though, I'd love to hear from you. What have you been reading lately? How has reading affected your understanding of others?

Until next time, grace and peace.

Learn to Live Wonderstruck

It's been my great privilege over the past few weeks to be a part of the launch team for Margaret Feinberg's latest book, Wonderstruck. In this busy season, it's always a challenge to maintain sanity, much less wonder, but I've been greatly encouraged by Margaret's wisdom. She's graciously agreed to share a bit of the background to Wonderstruck on the blog today. Here's what Margaret had to say:

There have been more seasons in my life devoid of the wonder of God than I can keep track of. I think we all have them. I know I’ve had those seasons when it just feels like I’m going through the motions of faith and God feels ten million miles away.

In fact, Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God was founded out of such a time. Leif and I had just gone through one of the roughest years of our lives. Those who read the Wonderstruck book will learn of many of the challenges and intimate details of that time.

But what was born out of that time of essentially saying, “God, where are you?” was this resounding prayer and desire for the wonder of God. Essentially I was saying, God reveal yourself, your whole self to me. I want to know you like I’ve never known you before. I want to see you in places I’ve never seen you before.

And God did not disappoint.

We began seeing God show up in relationships, our finances, our chance conversations, our everyday interactions—in the most surprising ways. Scripture passages that I’d read many times suddenly came alive in a whole new way. The passion for God returned, not something forced or manipulated, but just burned inside.

So if you are in that place where you feel millions of miles from God. Can I ask you to stop and pray right now and ask for God’s wonder. Ask Him that he would reveal the whole of Himself to the whole of you. And will you live wide-eyed to the ways God answers. Because you never know what miracle, what divine moment, what insight into the character of God that transforms you forever just might be waiting.

To promote her new book, Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God, which releases on Christmas Day, Margaret’s publisher is offering 6 EXCLUSIVE GIFTS (worth over $300) to anyone who pre-orders Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God for only $7.57, from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, CBD.com or their favorite retailer:

1. Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Presence of God as an eBook ($9.99 available on Kindle, Nook, iPad and other formats)

2. Fourteen Days of Wonder Journal eBook ($19.99 as a download)

3. How to Hold an Unforgettable Retreat eBook (a $29.99 download)

4. Pursuing God 14-Day Devotional ($12.99 download)

5. You will be automatically entered to win a brand new Kindle Fire pre-loaded with a suggested retail value of more than $100 worth of books from Worthy ($259.00)

6. Ten people will randomly be selected to receive a free audio version of Wonderstruck ($9.99)

Simply buy and send the receipt to wonderstruck@margaretfeinberg.com This offer is only valid through the end of the day, December 25th. At that point, this offer goes away FOREVER. From what I know of Margaret’s writing, it will be the best $7.57 you spend this Christmas!

Margaret Feinberg is a speaker and author of Scouting the Divine and The Sacred Echo. Become a Fan on Facebook or Follow her on Twitter @mafeinberg.

May you reclaim wonder during this Christmas season.

Until next time, grace and peace.