A Standard of Grace

A Standard of Grace is the third book by Emily Ley. And Omgosh I wish I'd known about her before. After getting my hands on this guided journal, I am itching to read her other books, Grace, Not Perfection and A Simplified Life. 

So starting on the outside, it is a beautiful and bright hardback. The front lettering is embossed in gold. Also, there are 3, yes THREE, colorful (navy, yellow, and pink) ribbon bookmarks. Yep, excited! This journal is smaller than the average notebook yet larger than the average journal (9x6.6). 

Now for the inside, this is the GOOD paper. I mean you can use gel pens or even a highlighter without worry of it bleeding through. The guided journal is organized weekly instead of daily, with about 2 journaling prompts per week. It's enough to really get into but not so much that it takes us too much time. So it is PERFECT for the busy mama (like myself) or even the busy gal on the go who wants to stop to smell the roses but still has a full plate. There are also loads of beautiful photography found in the book.

Back cover...

The purpose of this guided journal is to get us to slow down to create the life we want and will be proud of. Not a life of perfection but one full of grace and mercy. One that has room for margin, which means less stress and frustration when disruptions to our day come. She also encourages us to dream in our journaling. And there are plenty of nuggets of inspiration and motivating quotes sprinkled throughout the journal. 

I'd definitely recommend, especially for those who could use help in staying on track in journaling. *hand raised*

(FYI: I received this journal from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.)

The Lifegiving Parent

There are some authors I instinctively turn to for parenting advice. Sally Clarkson is one of them. She has a remarkable way of showing parents, especially mothers how our motherhood is ministry work even if we never actually serve in a ministry at church. And here we come to the finale of a trilogy of books (the review for book 1 will come after this one). 

The Lifegiving series is one that seeks to transform the way in which we live, in how hospitable we are, and how we parent our children. It's not pushy as you must do these things but is more of showing different ways that she and her husband are doing it and have been doing it for decades. 

The Lifegiving Parent is a joint effort between Sally and her husband, Clay. Prior to reading, I thought it would be equal writing between them as I absolutely enjoy Sally's writing style. However, after reading, I realize that this is really Clay's book. Sally contributes at the end of each chapter little tidbits of momoirs of her take on what Clay has discussed in the chapter.

I'll be honest, it is a fairly good book when it comes advice on parenting. It has 8 touchpoints of ways we as parents shape and give life to our children. Each one is equally important to the parenting of our children and each one plays a huge part in who they will eventually become. And as parents, especially as Christ-following parents who want to be intentional about raising our children to have a strong foundation and faith in Christ, this book is a good point in the right direction for accomplishing that goal.

My only drawback is that I expected more of Sally's writing. Much of the promotion on this book is that it is a Sally Clarkson book, only to realize once you start reading that it is really a Clay Clarkson book and it banks on Sally's name to draw the audience. Clay is a good writer, however, for me, he doesn't have the charm and drawing in the reader quality like Sally does. Sally's words do more than tell a story and convey a message they illustrate the imagery she wants you to see and helps you to imagine the sights and smells that she's telling you about. Clay's writing does not quite have that effect and that's OK because it's what distinguishes him from Sally. 

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

A Memory a Day for Moms

EEK!! I love, love this book!!! So it's set up as a journal but there are prompts for each day and it is dated. For each day of the year, there are 5 spaces with each space allowing you to put what year you are responding for (see the below).

The great thing is that you can start whenever you like! And it prompts you about yourself, about your kids, and about your spouse. It prompts you to leave memories not just for you to reflect on but ones that you can pass on to your children.

This is a hardcover book with fairly thick pages. There's also golden page marker. Then on each page, there is a bible verse that kind of correlates with the journal prompt as well as a prayer prompt.

I've already started filling in the dates from March (since I got it). I plan to pass it on to my kids when they are older and maybe invest in a second one in order to catch about ten years worth of memories for them.

I do recommend this for mamas, especially busy mamas because it helps us remember to stop savour the little things in life that we often take for granted. 

FYI: I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

She Reads Truth

She Reads Truth promises to be a memoir of two different women who lives have intersected and the current result is the She Reads Truth community, bible studies, and their book.

It is one told from differing perspectives (made clear by name who the speaker is in each chapter).

It starts with Amanda retelling the period of her life when her father was dying. It is an introduction of sorts into the book and why she read truth. 

I'll be totally honest. I am not a fan of the book. I can appreciate the stories they tell. But overall I could have done without reading the book at all. 

The two perspective format of storytelling (in my opinion) only works when they are telling two different perspectives of the same story. Not jumping between two stories, two lives. 

Nothing grabs me by the collar and pulls me in deeper. It's like telling a story but without a climax. Where's the climax? Where's the aha? Where's the wow? And that is what I was hoping to find, to no avail.

Maybe this book will work for someone else. Maybe it won't be so back and forth and trying to piece together like a patch quilt. Maybe it will all make sense for the next gal.

But for me it didn't do it. I'd give it 2 stars out of 5.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher (B&H) in exchange for my honest opinion.}