‘Parenting the QBQ Way’ Review and Giveaway

 

My friend Kendra told me how encouraging John Miller was at a retreat she attended earlier this year. So I ordered his first book and liked what I read.

“How much better things would be if we all tried to mold and shape our own thought and actions rather than those of others.” – John G. Miller

Then I learned he had a book on parenting. Now that my kids are older (one is even an adult!), I am not sure how effective it is for me to spend a lot of time reading parenting books, but then I read this quote:

“Parenting never really ends. It changes.” – John G. Miller

Parenting is something that each one of us do differently. Is there a right way? I believe when we follow God’s teaching we can make good choices, but since we are all sinners, we are not always going to make the best choices. Mr. Miller’s book gives some great ways for us to take more personal accountability in helping our kids to learn about personal accountability. One of my favorite sayings is ‘your walk talks more than your talk talks’.

“Modeling is the most powerful of all teachers.” – John G. Miller

Here are some things I just love about Parenting the QBQ Way:

1. Nice short chapters – I know that many parents are so busy that they don’t make time to sit down, let alone sit down to read. Most of the chapters in this book are 3-4 pages. Plenty short for any parent to take the time on a lunch break, while the kids are napping, just before bed. No excuses here.

2. Plenty of great quotes – each chapter starts off with quotes from some great people: Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, C. S. Lewis, and even a few Bible verses. There is always thing for us to learn from the Bible and from people who have lived before us.

3. A whole section on transforming your IQs (incorrect questions) into QBQs (question behind the question). – Haven’t you ever asked yourself, “Who made the mess in here?” And what is the usual response? I know, ‘nobody’ lives in our house sometimes too. But if we ask instead, ‘”What can I do to help my child learn good habits?”, it helps us to make sure we take the time to train our children to take some personal accountability for their actions.

4. Remembering that life is fair – a good friend of mine is always telling us that God doesn’t say ‘oops’. He has a plan for things that happen in our life, good and/or bad. But here is one quote from the book that puts this personal accountability thing into perspective:

“Life is fair…because bad things can happen to anyone. The difference is always in what we choose to do about it.”

So now I know you would like your own copy of this book! But before you run out and purchase one, I actually have 2 copies to giveaway!

Giveaway details: In the comments below, share with me your favorite parenting book. Entries will be accepted until Thursday, May 9th at 11:59pm Pacific time. Giveaway only open to residents of the United States. Winner will be randomly selected from comments on this blog post. Winner will be notified by e-mail on or after Friday, May 10th.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of Parenting the QBQ Way in exchange for my honest review of the book.

“Moms Raising Sons to Be Men” Review and Giveaway!

Can you imagine what it must be like to be a published author? I certainly can’t, but I know a woman who is. Let me introduce you to my pastor’s wife and friend, Rhonda Stoppe.

I have known Rhonda since we started attending our church back in 2003. She is a woman who is just a few years ahead of me on this wife/mom journey and someone who has always given me godly advice and practical wisdom for raising a son.

She recently just published her first book, Moms Raising Sons to Be Men, which I have had a chance to read and thought it was filled with the same godly advice for moms that Rhonda has been sharing with the women of our church for years. One theme that kept resonating with me as I read her book is that my relationship with Jesus is an important part of parenting. Our role is not to raise perfect children, our role is to raise children who learn how to love our Lord with all their heart, mind, and strength. We will make mistakes along the way because we are not perfect people. But being real with our children and asking for their forgiveness when we have messed up, will help draw our children into a relationship of their own with Jesus.

Rhonda shared answers to a couple of questions with me, and I want to share them with you.

Question: What brought you to write the book “Moms Raising Sons to Be Men”?

Answer:  I remember thinking what kinds of kids I would raise, and really, I hadn’t a clue. This book is about older women teaching the younger women. I share not only from my experiences, but from mothers from Scripture, mothers of great men from our history, and mothers from today who are fulfilling their role of raising sons to be men.

Question: What is the most important thing a mother can do?

Answer: To realize motherhood is a ministry God has called her to.Colossians 4:17 says, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” God never intended for moms to go it alone. Through His Word, He wants to equip you to train your children to love and trust Him. We strongly influence the character of our little boys so they become the godly leaders of tomorrow.

Now for the giveaway!

I have 2 signed copies of Rhonda’s book to giveaway! To enter the drawing, in the comments, share with me a Bible verse that keeps you going on this parenting journey.

Comments posted by Friday, March 29th at midnight Pacific time will be accepted for the drawing. Only Continental US residents are eligible for this drawing. Winners will be announced the week of April 1st, 2013.

Update 4/4/13: And the winners are tystacyk and Amanda C! Thank you so much for everyone entering this giveaway!

Working With My Whole Family!

One of my favorite things to do as a Compassion Advocate is to work at different events, being able to answer questions of potential sponsors, and encourage them as they begin their journey as a Compassion sponsor. Up until the past weekend, I have not been able to work at an event with my whole family. But now that Kelsey is a Compassion Advocate also, we were able to work at the Rock and Worship Roadshow together!

The Roadshow stopped in Sacramento on Saturday night, so we all put on our Compassion shirts and made the drive up to work the event.

This picture was before the concert started, this place ended up being completely packed with thousands of people!

I had to have Kelsey help me with this picture! Hadn’t taken a selfie with the new phone yet. We were getting ready to do the child packet pass during intermission.

I know you can’t see him all the way down there on the stage, but that is Jeremy Camp down there. Other than helping to get Compassion kids sponsored that night, his performance was my favorite part of the concert. And he is a Compassion Artist which gives him brownie points in my book (wink).

While we were waiting inside the stadium for the child packet pass, I was able to listen to Kutless. I didn’t realize that I knew so many of their songs! They were selling their CD for $5 a piece at the concert, so I have a little giveaway for my readers since I bought 2 of their CDs!

Giveaway: One new Kutless CD

Giveaway rules: In the comment section below, tell me who your favorite Christian artist is. I will give you a bonus entry if your favorite artist is also a Compassion Music Artist. Deadline for entries is Friday, March 15th at midnight pacific time. Limited to readers in the continental US. Winner will be announced next Monday, March 18th.

I can’t wait to hear who your favorite Christian music artist is!

Update: Congratulations to Jill for winning the Kutless CD!

And the winner is…

…Amber!!

Be sure to send me your mailing address to kymk99 at yahoo dot com and I will get this out to you next week.

 

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! Stay tuned, because I will be announcing another giveaway on Monday… :o)

Time for a Compassion Giveaway!!

Have you been wanting this book?

 

When I participated in the Compassion Blogger Blog Month back in September, I was able to earn a copy of this book. Since I already have a copy, I decided to give away this copy to one of my readers! I will also be sending along one of the ‘You Can Change the Story’ bookmarks that were available at the Global Leadership Summit during the summer.

 

How to participate?

 

Leave a comment on this blog post letting me know what book(s) you are currently reading.

 

Entries must be submitted by midnight (pacific time) on Thursday, December 6th. I will draw and announce the winner here on the blog on Friday. Giveaway only available to those living in the United States.

 

If you are a Compassion sponsor, you will want to add a copy of this book to your library!

Holiday Countdown winner is…

 

 

A couple of days ago, I posted about a giveaway for this cute holiday countdown. Today was the day to pick the winner, and the winner is…

 

 Yay Jill! Be sure to send me your mailing address to kymk99 at yahoo dot com. I know your family will enjoy this!

 

I really enjoyed reading everyone’s Christmas tradition, so now I am going to share one with you. Years ago, I read in an article in a Family Fun magazine about wrapping up your Christmas books each year at Christmas. Each day, the kids choose a ‘present’, open it, and then you take the time right then to read the book. Over the years, I have accumulated quite a few Christmas books! Our Christmas books are always packed away and only come out at Christmas time, which makes reading them each year quite special.

 

 Now that my kids are older and our schedule is sometimes a little busy, we don’t always have a chance to ‘open’ and read every book that has been wrapped. These were the leftovers from last year.

 

 Since Matthew was at school today, Kelsey went through and picked these books to read this year.

 

 These are the extras! This is the result of lots of after Christmas half off sales.

 

Our stack of books is wrapped and ready to be read! I wonder which one the kids will pick in the morning?



Holiday Countdown Giveaway!!

Have you seen this ’12 Day Holiday Countdown’ from DaySpring?

 

I happened to purchase 2 of these last month, thinking that one of my blog readers might like to win one of these to share with their family during Christmas. What is really neat about this countdown is that you can use it during Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving!

 

The numbered drawers have different pictures on each side for the three holidays.The countdown also comes with a devotional book to read with your family as you countdown to each of the holidays represented. You can read one of the sample devotionals here.

 

Would you like to win one of these for your family?

 

Here is what you need to do – tell me in the comments what is your favorite Christmas tradition in your family?

 

Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, November 28th at midnight pacific time. We will draw a name from the comments left on Thursday and announce the winner on Thursday.

 

"One" winner!

I had fun reading everyone’s goals they posted for the “One” giveaway!

The winner is…………Hopeful Hez!

Be sure to e-mail (you can send it to kymk99 at yahoo dot com) your mailing address to me and I will get the book out to you this week! 

Time for "One" Giveaway

A couple of months ago, a Compassion blogging friend of mine was doing a giveaway on her blog for this book:

I was really excited when I learned that I was the winner of the giveaway! This book was published in 2002 for the 50th anniversary of Compassion International. It has a history of how this ministry started with one man, Everett Swanson, in 1952 in Korea. The book is filled with stories and pictures:

I just love this picture! The expression on her face is priceless as she is reading a letter from her sponsor.

Since I was able to find another copy of this book used from Amazon, I want to give away a copy to one lucky reader! To enter this giveaway, leave a comment on this blog letting me know what is one goal you hope to accomplish this year. Deadline to enter is Friday, January 13th at midnight pacific time.

Knitted Dishcloth Giveaway

Time for another giveaway!

I love to use knitted dishcloths almost as much as I love to make them. My favorite knitted dishcloth pattern book is ‘Love to Knit Dishcloths’ by Evelyn A. Clark. All of the dishcloths have at least one heart in the design. I like to make these and have them on hand for bridal showers.

In order to be entered in this drawing, please tell me something that you like to make and giveaway. Entries will be accepted until midnight Pacific Time on Monday, December 19th. Good luck!