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Books

Children’s Books I Bought at The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference 2022

Happy Friday!! Typically today I have a Friday Favorites post for you, but today I am diverting and sharing the children’s books I bought for Harrison at the women’s conference I went to in June. Like I said in my post on the books I bought for myself, the conference book store is the best because it has books that are at a big discount–like I bought a book for myself that was normally $12, but I bought it for myself for $4! Can’t beat that!!

These books are great to buy for your own kids or even gift them to family members! I really believe in having a diverse library in our home. Harrison not only has classic children’s books in his “library,” but he also has children’s book that have a Christian theme in them because again, our children are so impressionable and books teach them about the world and how they should view it–and I am really strategic about what we read.

We read The Jesus Storybook Bible each night with Harrison, but I was ready to look for something different. This Bible is excellent! It’s told in 10 different parts and acts as 1 big story (which is what the Bible is). It’s also on sale on Amazon!

Okay, I am VERY excited to share this book! This book was sold out when we went to the conference in 2018, and because we hadn’t started the adoption process yet, I forgot all about it. I was reminded about it when I saw it in the bookstore last month and couldn’t buy it fast enough. Then I read it when I was waiting for one of my breakout sessions to begin and teared up the whole book. It’s beautifully written and illustrated and I believe ALL families should own this book.

This book does a great job teaching children to see value in all people–people with disabilities and without. Harrison isn’t around people with disabilities much, if any, so I want to expose him to right thinking now.

Hunter Beless, host of the Journeywomen podcast, wrote this book about loving Scripture. It’s a little old for Harrison right now, but something that he will be old enough to understand within a few years. It teaches children to delight in Scripture as a way to worship God.

Full disclosure: This book does not even apply to us at all in our life right now. The only reason why I bought this book is because the author wrote what is probably Harrison’s all time favorite book, Arlo and the Great Big Coverup. BUT I do know that there are kids who struggle with being addicted to screens, and this book does a great job of showing what kids are missing when they stay glued to a screen.

We are currently struggling with getting Harrison to understand that prayer is simply talking to God. Whenever I tell him he can start off our prayer, he tells us he doesn’t know what to say. I hope by reading this book that he can fully realize prayer is simply talking to God and that it doesn’t take special words to talk to Him.

I only bought this book because Janie told me I had to! it’s based off of a lullaby by JJ Heller and is a really sweet book!!

Trillia Newbell, who wrote this book, is the same author who wrote God’s Very Good Idea that I linked earlier. I didn’t know about this book before I bought it, but I only bought it because I like the author. This book teaches kids to love others like Jesus.

I am so glad I bought this book because it’s great!!! It does an excellent job of explaining God’s grace to kids in language they can understand. (And it might even explain it to adults who still have a hard time understanding the concept of grace 🙂 )

I hope this post was helpful in seeing books you could add to your own personal library. See you back here next week!!

Books I Bought for Myself at The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference 2022

Hi friends! I just realized that I haven’t blogged since the end of June…whoops! I asked on IG stories about who would be interested in seeing what I got from the conference and the majority of everyone was interested! I’ll share what I bought for myself first and then later this week (hopefully Wednesday) I’ll share what I bought Harrison.

Book One

I’m currently reading this book! I love how the chapters go through an entire day–from waking and making the bed to evening tea and going to sleep. The author shows how even the most ordinary parts of our day can serve as worship to God if we change our mindset. I’ve only read two chapters, but I’m really enjoying it so far! (Side note: The author is Anglican, but so far in the little I’ve read, I haven’t found anything I disagree with….but also it’s okay to read books by people you disagree with in order to be more well-rounded)

Book Two

I am a HUGE Russell moore fan, so I was very excited to get this book. It’s been out for a while, but I just haven’t read it. I’ve talked at length about Adopted for Life–the book that really changed part of our mindset about adoption, and since I love that one so much, I know I’ll love this one once I start reading.

Here is what Amazon says about this book: Why do our families have so much power over us? In The Storm-Tossed Family, bestselling author Russell Moore (Onward, Christianity Today’s 2016 “Book of the Year Award Winner”) teaches readers whether you are married or single, whether you long for a child or shepherding a full house, you are part of a family. Family is difficult because family—every family—is an echo of the gospel.

Family can be the source of some of the most transcendent human joy, and family can leave us crumpled up on the side of the road. Family can make us who we are, and family can break our hearts. Why would this social arrangement have that much power, for good or for ill, over us?

Book Three

Do you love the Advent season? Because I REALLY do! LOL. I love Christmas so much and that translates into loving the Advent season in anticipation for Christ’s birth. I bought this book not only for myself, but also for my mom and sister–so this would be a great book to gift your friends or small group members before this Advent season. It gives you two options for how to use–either start on December 1st and read through the 25th, or follow along with the Advent wreath. These daily devotions are short and reasonable to do–they begin with short Scripture, then you read a reflection passage, ponder 1-2 questions, and then it ends with song lyrics to Christmas hymns.

Book Four

I was introduced to John Piper in college and I’ve admired him ever since. He has also taught at both TGCW conferences I’ve been to, so that’s literally been the highlight of each trip ha! John Piper is a deep thinker, so anything I’ve ever read by him has taken me longer because I’ve really had to sit and digest–and even reread! This book contains lots of essays of suffering and the sovereignty of God. We all have suffering in our lives, and I believe this book will help whoever reads it to understand our suffering better.

Book Five

I almost started this off by saying I’m a huge Jen Wilkin fan, but I’m realizing that I’m a fan of almost every author whose book I bought ha! But in all seriousness, I really respect Jen Wilkin. I’ve read numerous books by her, done a few of her Bible studies (maybe 4 or 5?), and listen to her podcast, Knowing Faith. I’ll admit–I almost didn’t buy this book because I had already bought a lot, but I was at the Crossway table and one of the workers really praised this book and since she breaks down each of the Ten Commandments (and I’ve never read a book like it), I thought I’d give it a try!

Book Six

I am really looking forward to reading this book. I have a book I bought for Harrison by this author that I’ll share later this week, so I was happy to see an adult book by her. I don’t want to say too much about expectations since I haven’t read it yet, but here’s what Amazon has to say about this book:

On the Last Day every tongue and tribe will be represented in the glorious chorus praising God with one voice. Yet today our churches remain segregated. Can we reflect the beauty of the last day this day? 

United will inspire, challenge, and encourage readers to pursue the joys of diversity through stories of the author’s own journey and a theology of diversity lived out. 

It’s time to capture a glimpse of God’s magnificent creativity. In the pages of United, Trillia Newbell reveals the deeply moving, transforming power of knowing—really knowing—someone who is equal yet unique. As we learn to identify in Christ rather than in our commonalities, we begin to experience the depth and power of gospel unity.

Book Seven

I posted a while back that Dustin and I go through a catechism with Harrison in hopes that these questions and answers will permeate his heart and he will one day follow Christ as a Believer. My post was really popular with y’all because not only are the questions relatively easy (aside from memorizing the entire Ten Commandments…which we have skipped ha) but the answers are so theologically rich. And here’s the thing–I’m also catechizing myself while I catechize Harrison!

I saw this devotion related to the catechism at the conference and picked it up to help myself understand a little more about each question and answer. My only complaint is that the answers are a little more wordy than the kid’s book but that might just be because this devotion is for adults. This is how it’s set up: there’s the question and answer (the order is the same as the kid’s one), then Scripture, then commentary (the first is from someone older in the faith like Charles Spurgeon or Jonathan Edwards and the second is from a contemporary person like John Piper or Ligon Duncan), and then a prayer at the end.

A great perk of attending The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference is that you also get free books each day! I’ll do another post later on the free books I received!

Finding Freedom: My Thoughts on the Latest Book about Harry and Meghan

Y’all know how much I love the royal family. I remember my mom explaining to me when Princess Diana was killed, but my true love came when William and Kate got engaged and I eagerly awaited their royal wedding. Fast forward when Harry first announced his engagement to Meghan and my obsession really began 🙂

Finding Freedom was just released last week by two British royal reporters–Omid Scobie, who I already subscribe and listen to his podcast weekly, and Carolyn Durand, who I’ve never even heard of.

First, I want to begin by saying that I absolutely LOVED this book. Because I listen to a few different royals-based podcasts, I’ve learned how the royal media works (the Royal Rota)…and it’s crazy. I realized a while ago that Omid Scobie is a trusted reporter who sticks to the facts and is one of the reasons why he’s been allowed to get the inside scoop on some of H & M’s news. I really appreciated the note in the back of this book from the authors explaining that they made sure each fact in this book had two sources so it could be verified as the truth.

I loved the details the authors included in this book. I enjoyed getting to read about H & M’s pre-engagement days and how they were able to take a few trips without the media ever finding out or about how they actually were engaged before he proposed in the kitchen at Nottingham Cottage while she was roasting chicken (you need to read to find out the whole story!).

I loved reading about the details of their wedding and reception since their reception was kept private. When I read what their first dance song was, I immediately had to look it up on Apple music to hear it, and I have to say, it really sounds like the perfect song for them. Oh, and I can’t forget the morning of the wedding and reading about how calm and relaxed Meghan was listening to a playlist she made on Spotify.

Here’s what I found to be the most interesting (and also infuriating): we all know the British royal family has a “never complain, never explain” policy….which is fine because it seems to keep them out of the drama and above the fold. Except when it came to the outrageous stories being printed about Meghan, H & M were never allowed to release any statements refuting the claims while Kensington Place was able to immediately release a statement refuting the claim that Kate got baby botox???? I remember reading about Meghan being upset the Queen wouldn’t allow her to borrow a certain tiara for her wedding, but when I read what actually happened, it couldn’t be farther from the truth–and I’m actually not a fan of the Queen’s personal dresser now, Angela Kelly.

The authors said they wrote this book because so many false and untrue stories were being published about H & M and they wanted the truth to be out there. They knew of certain events that had happened and then when stories were published about them, things were made up or fabricated.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Finding Freedom because I think you’ll find it as fascinating as I did! And when you read it, please come back and tell me your thoughts! I tried talking to Dustin about it, but he’s about as interested in it as I am in his hunting shows lol!