My favorite books are series. I love when you fall in love with a character and then get to read multiple stories about them! Well, I’ve got a super fun HOW TO series to share with you today! And it’s written by one of my heroes, Sally Lloyd Jones (yes, author of the Jesus Storybook Bible)! Ready?

Book One: How To Be a Baby…By Me, The Big Sister

When one of Lydia’s friends, Juliet (from Silly Eagle Books) became a big sister this year, Lydia wanted to give her all the big sister books she collected when Asa was born (I think there were only two. But it was a big deal to Lydia!). So, when we  found How to Be a Baby…by Me, the Big Sister, we knew we had to give it to Juliet when her new baby sister was born!

The Big Sister in the book gives a monologue about the differences between babies and Big Sisters. (“When you’re a baby, you don’t read books. You eat them.”) She also gives tips, instructions and rules about being a baby. (“…and a special plug goes in your mouth. It’s called a pacifier and it’s to stop your scream coming out.”) It is really one of the funniest books I’ve read! It’s as if you interviewed ten 4 year olds about what babies do and compiled them into a book! It is hilarious.

But my favorite part is how it ends–with the big sister and the little baby thinking about when they grow up—and are best of friends! *sniff*

Book Two: How To Get Married…By Me The Bride

My sister-in-law is getting married in August. At her bridal shower last weekend, we didn’t buy her towels or a toaster. We gave her books. (I gave her The Power of a Praying Wifeand For Women Only.) Lydia gave her How to Get Married…by Me, the Bride.

Honestly, at first I didn’t want to read a book about weddings for Lydia. I’m in the don’t-mention-it-for-as-long-as-possible camp!** But this book is SO sweet and SO adorable, I am the one that wants to read it again! It’s the same idea–a little girl explaining how to get married. My favorite part is when she explains the special clothes you have to wear (you can wear a wig or even bunny ears on your head!)

And the ending? Makes my heart ache–she walks away, waving good-bye to her guests while holding her Daddy’s hand! It was all a playdate. And she knows which man to go home with at the end of the day: her Daddy!

Book Three: How To Get a Job…By Me, The Boss

Now, Sally Lloyd Jones has added a 3rd book to her How To series! It’s called, How to Get a Job…by Me, the Boss! Our Big Sister/Bride is a little more grown up (with longer hair, Lydia noticed!) and her little baby brother is getting in on the fun! In this book we learn about all kinds of jobs from magicians to teachers to police officers. There’s even a section on resume writing, “you must write down EVERY SINGLE THING you’re good at on ONE PIECE OF PAPER…sometimes it’s SO HARD to fit everyone on only one page, you just have to use FIVE.”

If you’re kids love to pretend or imagine what it’s like to be someone else, these books are perfect! And obviously, they are pretty fantastic as gifts, too. I just wish I knew someone looking for a job so I could give them this book!

**{FYI: There was one line in the book that raised my eyebrow and has apparently had people writing bad reviews online. She says, “You can marry anyone you like!” which many people have read as a nod to homosexuality. Of course, the book also says you can marry a flower. The entire book is full of marriage inconsistencies. That’s the whole funny point! In fact, when we read that part, Lydia said, “Except you have to marry a boy!!” and laughed and laughed. For us, it was a conversation starter. Not that we had a conversation about sexuality. THAT WAS the conversation! Point being: read it first if it makes you feel weird.}

I was given these books by Random House. But like I said, I had already bought and given one! Then gave away another. So, you can bet all opinions are mine!

Yesterday was one of the worst parenting days I’ve ever had. There was not one time during the day that one of my children was not completely out of control. I was livid by the time my husband came home. In fact, I crawled into the bed as he finished eating dinner and hid until he had put the kids to bed. (He could feel my weariness and I didn’t even have to ask!)

After the kids went to bed (screaming), my husband and I sat on the couch and talked—about parenting, God and for some reason about dishes. My husband declared that he was better at keeping the kitchen clean because he put the dishes away immediately instead of letting them pile up. (Which, in all honesty, is kinda true.) But after the day I had, this pointed look at my failure to keep the kitchen clean hurt my feelings deeply.

I couldn’t talk anymore. So, I got up, went to my room, got ready for bed and decided to read. I picked up Don’t Make Me Come Up There! by Kristen Welch. You might know Kristen from We are THAT Family. She’s a blogging genius, an advocate for Compassion International and has started The Mercy House, a maternity home in Kenya. And I am in awe of her. I got her book as a review (because I wanted to share the awesome news of her book!) and had read a few of the short chapters when it first came in the mail.

But this night? It was as if the book was written just for me. I started with Chapter 12 entitled, “When I Fail.” Oh, I had failed this day–as a parent, homemaker and even a wife. Kristen tells of how she blew it as a mom, how she was short-tempered and impatient.

And with each confession, I cried more. I felt the same way. A failure.

Then she relayed something her pastor taught her, “When I cut my hand chopping veggies in the kitchen, the blood in my body rushes out of the wound. That’s what it was created to do. Our blood was designed to wash out the impurities and clot to protect us. When I fail as a parent or wife or a person, His blood goes to my injured heart. It rushes to the place I hurt. Because that’s what it was created to do. He is there to wash away my regret and my sin when I fail.”

By this time I was sobbing.

I try so hard–SO HARD–to teach my  kids to love God. I try so hard to point them to Jesus. But sometimes I forget to do the same. Sometimes I lean on my own understanding. Sometimes I rely on my past experience. Sometimes I just think I know best and I fail to do the best thing I can do:

Lean into Jesus.

Bring him my parenting failures.

Allow His blood to cleanse my bad attitudes towards my kids.

Rely on His strength to be my joy.

I ended up reading the rest of the book that night–all 52 chapters. And the more I read, the more God’s Word and Kristen’s open and honest confessions, stories and comfort healed my wounded heart. I felt like I had a sweet friend saying, “Yup. I’ve done that too.” with every one of my mess-ups.

Oh, and my husband came into the room to apologize and held me as I sobbed into his arms. I forget I need him, too sometimes.

Do you need some encouragement today? You’re not alone. You might fail as a mom every day. (I know I do.) There are moms everywhere going through the same thing as you. And Jesus is here. He made your children. He made you. And He put the two of you together. He can teach you to work together, to love together and to lean on Him together.

I’m giving away one copy of Kristen’s book to one of you. I pray it will encourage you as it did me.

Enter to Win Don’t Make Me Come Up There! by Kristen Welch (do one or all, leave a separate comment for each):

• Leave a comment. Any comment will do but something that says, “I know how you feel, Amanda” would be nice, too.
• Tweet it! Win @weareTHATfamily’s new book at @impressyourkids today! http://bit.ly/gb3VpI
• Share on Facebook. It’s easy – just click the “Like” button at the bottom of this post!
• LIKE Impress Your Kids on facebook (see sidebar) or tell me that you already do.

Contest ends Friday April 1.

ps–all the author royalties from Kristen’s book go to Mercy House Kenya. So even if you don’t win…or even if you do–will you buy the book? You can read it and pass it along to another mom!

comments are closed. congrats to our winner!

We have read The Jesus Storybook Bibleso many times that sadly, my kids think THAT is the Bible. And there are some Bible stories they don’t know because we’ve never read them! I’m always on the lookout for new Bible storybooks that aren’t too cheesy or watered down.

This week I got the The Beginning Reader’s Biblefrom Thomas Nelson*. And oh, wow, do I love it! It’s gorgeous–a huge book that’s perfect for laps and for sharing with lots of eager eyes. It even has a bookmark (which Lydia looooves).

It’s actually a real-life Bible with scriptures not stories. The difference is each “story” is told in just a handful of actual scriptures. We chose to read Nehemiah (which the kids didn’t know!) and the story was a collection of about 30 scriptures taken directly from the book of Nehemiah. The kids got the basic gist of the story and heard the actual words of scripture, too. (The scriptures are taken from the International Children’s Bible which I don’t know a lot about because I usually use the New International Reader’s Version. But so far, so good.)

We’ve begun reading this as Asa’s bedtime story. Then the next day we’ll do an activity based on the story. This is super easy because each story comes with a scripture to memorize, a scripture to pray (LOVE THIS) and an activity labeled, “Do God’s Word”. (LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!)

For Nehemiah, the activity was to make a wall out of pillows and then get inside and pray–thanking God for protecting and surrounding us like a wall. So, we collected some every single pillow in our house and made a wall.

After we read the story again, we decided to get out our swords and build the wall with one hand on our weapons! (4:17-18)

We hopped inside our wall again and held hands. I had the kids repeat a prayer (which is like the cutest thing ever when a 2.5 year old is repeating things like “Nehemiah” and “protection”). They stayed inside the wall for at least an hour–they played with animals, pretended to go night-night and even played doctor.

I loved that they felt comfortable in their little wall. I pray they always feel the protection and comfort of God their Father!

Wanna win this gorgeous new book for yourself? Tommy Nelson is giving 1 away today!

Enter to Win (do one or all, leave a separate comment for each)

• Leave a comment. What’s your kids’ favorite Bible storybook?
• Tweet it! Include @impressyourkids & link to this post http://bit.ly/BeginningBible
• Share on Facebook. It’s easy – just click the “Like” button at the bottom of this post!
• LIKE Impress Your Kids on facebook (see sidebar) or tell me that you already do.

Contest ends Friday March 4.

Disclosure: I received this book as part of the Tommy Mommy Club. As always opinions are my own.