I am so excited for this new book!

This new book, The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming, is written by two of my favorite people (Sally Clarkson and her daughter, Sarah Clarkson) who happen to be two of my favorite authors.

It is a lovely, practical book about the value of home.  It comes out next week and I couldn't be more thrilled.  I was privileged to review the first two chapters and it drew me right in with practical ideas.  The different viewpoints from mother and daughter lend much to the book.  Go order it now.  Really.  Today, it's less than $10 on Amazon and will be sure to go up with the release date.  There is also a companion book with more stories and more ideas organized by month.  Sigh.  Loveliness.

I did receive the first two chapters, but was under no obligation to write a review.  I just love these people and their writing and no single family has influenced my parenting more.

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Book Review: Better Than Before

Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Liveswas a complete surprise.  I expected it to be a memoir of the author's experiences changing her own habits with some "helpful hints" thrown in.  While that is an accurate assessment in some ways, it is incomplete.

Ms. Rubin is a fantastic (maybe fanatical?) researcher who dove deeply into facets of habit formation that I didn't even know existed.  She thoroughly investigated those whose habit formation was the antithesis of hers, tried to formulate a "why" and offered solutions unique to the individual.

One realization for me is that I am an "obliger" (author's term), one who easily and completely fulfills outside expectations (I return library books, pay my bills, show up to events on time) but who struggles with fulfilling internal expectations (exercise, daily quiet time, limits on media).  The author reinforced how important it is for us obligers to place external accountability on personal habits (Buddy up for exercise, pay to attend a class, etc.)  This has been helpful as I look to grow in areas that will bring me toward maturity in my faith and personal life while limiting those things that are holding me back.  Sally Clarkson referred to this as dropping my nets.  What nets do I need to drop to fully follow Jesus like the fisherman disciples did?  I need external accountability to help me drop my nets.

Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Liveshas already been practical in my own life and I can see that it will be useful in helping my children to form their own lifelong habits.

Even if you are not looking to form or break a habit, this is a fascinating peek into one more way God created our minds to uniquely display His glory.  What works for one will not work for all.  Insightful, accurate, well-researched, I highly recommend this book.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
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Review: From Tablet to Table

I fully expected to love this book.  I expected it to be about turning away from social media and screens (tablet) toward our families and traditions (table).  I was slightly off.

From Tablet to Table: Where Community Is Found and Identity Is Formedis about how the table is central to our faith and families.  It examined the table in different aspects of scripture:  Jesus' emphasis on eating with people, the communion table, the Last Supper, etc.  While I expected a full-length book, this was more of a gift book size: physically small and a quick read.  

Here's what drove me a bit crazy about this book:  it was so full of table analogies and metaphors that I got caught up in spotting them (and being annoyed) and completely lost the flow of the narrative.  The actual word "table" might have been in each and every paragraph of the book.  Oh my.  I exaggerate, of course, but that is what it felt like.

On the other hand, From Tablet to Table was a great encouragement to engage with culture and local community around your table (or at least around food of some kind.)  Mr. Sweet shared many examples of how hearts are open and personal stories are shared more freely around meals.  As someone who loves having people over for meals (even when the house is a mess!), I agree wholeheartedly that the table is a place where true friendship and community is found.  The message is good, the metaphors are too much.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review.

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