books, books and more books

I've been doing a lot of reading lately. This is something new for me. Don't get me wrong I love to read and I used to read a lot! That was when I was working. I would read many books on the youth culture and what they're dealing with and how to help them through things, and how to plan good events. But after I left the youth director life I put all those books away...sadly I haven't looked at them in over a year. There are some gems in there and I hope to restablish a connection with them again in another year or so (they're all in storage). When I say it's something new for me I mean within the last year. I really didn't read much while on vicarage. I read the occasional Christian novel but nothing that really got my brain working. I read scripture, but not very faithfully. I still need to work on that.

I've been reading a lot about parenting lately. I've found some great books and will probably read them cover to cover and then back again with my pencil in hand ready to underline any gems of wisdom that I find...and I've found plenty. I finished "First Time Mom" by Dr. Kevin Leman about two weeks ago and would totally recommend it to anyone who is about to be a mother for the first time or has just recently become a mother. If I was made of money I would buy a copy for everyone I know who's about to become a mom or has just become a mom. It's incredible. There are so many great pieces of advice and wisdom in that book that I'm going to read it again after I finish the one I'm reading now.

The book I'm reading now is called "Making Children Mind without losing yours" by the same author as the first book. Basically it's about discipline and I am soaking up every word Dr. Leman says. It all makes so much sense to me. It's more about encouragement and loving disicpline than the age old reward and punishment. I'm learning so much and only hope that I can remember half the stuff he says when it comes time for me to put it into practice. Greg is currently reading "What a difference a daddy makes" by Dr. Leman also. He hasn't gotten too far but seems to enjoy the reading and agree with most of the things Dr. Leman says. Next on the list is "The New Dare to Disciple" by Dr. James Dobson, and then eventually "The Strong-willed child" and "Parenting isn't for cowards" both by Dr. Dobson.

I'll keep reading books by these two authors until they really let me down and I don't see that happening anytime soon. They are both Christian men with their eyes on Jesus and their pens on the paper.