Cleaning House

Having triplets, I have lived on the reactive side of things for so long.  I struggle now to become more proactive.  Just in little things, in big things, in life!

I had the opportunity to review a digital copy of Cleaning House by Kay Wills  Wyma.  The tag line "mom's 12 month experiment to rid her home of youth entitlement" grabbed my attention.  This fit what I was looking for - to be proactive!

She covers a wide variety of topics.  Clutter, kitchen, cleaning, grounding, etc.  I think she hit the nail on the head that we sometimes do TOO MUCH for our kids and are doing them a disservice.

The conjecture was funny, and the frustration humorous.  Since my kids are quite a few years away from being of "youth" age, I feel some of the jokes were lost on me.  I don't have the snarky teens in my home (and I hope that doesn't come - fingers crossed!!).  My kids actually LIKE to help out.  I feel my husband and I give our kids different ways to help around the house - because they are a part of our family.  Not because we will pay them.  This booked helped me see some other areas I can currently add to their skill set, and also extra help for when they get older.

I believe your kids aren't your servants, nor the other way around.  I feel responsible to teach my three boys how to live on their own, and also pull their own weight in a marriage.  I welcome any books that will help encourage my little boys grow up to be gentlemen.

On a separate note, the author Kay Wills Wyma has a blog "Because a mother of an adolescent teen should never walk (or drive) the road alone."  Check it out!


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.I do not have to give a favorable review.

Unglued Devotional

I've heard from a few people that the book Unglued is something I should read. While it does sound interesting, I have not gotten around to it. When I had a chance to read and review the Unglued Devotional: 60 Days of Imperfect Progress from Lysa TerKuerst, I thought "why not?"

Oh my. I. Needed. This.

You know that time when you're alone and feel like a failure?  You're behind on your Bible study, spoke too harshly to your kids, was short with your husband?  Kitchen is a mess, dinner was frozen waffles, and kids lunches for the next day is peanut butter crackers with gogurts?  You then happen to see a post on Facebook of a sweet friend that is gushing about her kid's quoting the entire Bible while her 6 month old just potty trained and they are headed to Paris for two weeks while she will still be homeschooling her 6 kids via Skype?

I know, I know, it's not THAT bad.  At times it feels like it, though!

This devotional is REAL. Spoken from a real wife and mother, of real issues we deal with in our heads and hearts. However it's not soft. She pulls the truth out of you, tells the root issue, then challenges you to change its God's help. Here is an excerpt from Day 21 titled "I Need to be Honest with my Issues":

"It's easier to avoid these realities than to deal with them. I'd much rather tidy my closet than tidy my heart. I'd much rather run to the mall and get a new shirt than run to God and get a new attitude. I'd much rather dig into a brownie than dig into my heart. I'd much rather point the finger at other people's issues than take a peek at my own. Plus, it's a whole lot easier to tidy my closet, run to the store, eat a brownie, and look at other people's issues. A whole lot easier."

I'd highly recommend this devotional to all women!  Next book I purchase will be her book Unglued:  Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotion. 

Check out my friend's review of the same book.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."