Water My Soul by Darla Weaver

If you're looking for a daily devotional book that is geared toward women, mothers in particular, this may be one to pick up. Darla Weaver is a wife, mother, Christian, and just happens to be Old Order Mennonite. Weaver brings aspects of her culture into her writing and many of her devotion and are also focused around a gardening theme (ie "Joy Requires Tending" and "Powerful Pruning").

I would venture to say that every devotional book is as deep as the time and energy you put into it. This book is no different. If you want these devotionals to touch your soul and challenge you, they will. But if you just skim through it quickly in 5 minutes every morning, it will do little more than serve as a quick reminder of the things of God. It's up to you. I would encourage you to take the time though.

Weaver's Mennonite culture lends a different flavour to these devotionals. I really appreciated it. There is also a "day in the life of the author" section at the beginning and also a FAQ about Old Order Mennonites section at the end. These are great inclusions.

If you are looking for a quick devotional book for three months (90 meditations), and enjoy the simple things in life (cooking, gardening, raising children), this could be a good option. As I said before, it will be as deep as you take it. It won't plunge you into the deep end but give it a chance and it can serve up some important reminders and examinations for your life.

Anything But Simple by Lucinda J. Miller

Anything But Simple is the story of one Mennonite woman's walk through doubt, appearances, and coming to embrace her Mennonite roots. Miller shares how her worldview - and theology - was stretched as she stepped into the outside world through unlikely friendships and writing classes and saw that there were more ways to see and experience God than just how her community did. How does one balance what they've always been taught, what they see in others, and what they feel inside?

While I have Mennonite roots myself, and could understand many of the cultural nuances Miller mentioned, this book is not just for the Mennonite community. What Miller shares can be relevant and thought-provoking for anyone. Miller has a way with words and her book was a joy to read. It was easy to follow her train of thought and understand what she was communicating. With themes of faith, family, and friendship, this is an excellent read if you are interested in culture and understanding how and why people of a certain culture think and act the way they do. Our God is big enough to be trusted with every dream and to accept all who seek to find him.

The Essential Amish Cookbook by Lovina Eicher

Lovina Eicher's The Essential Amish Cookbook is a beautiful book. It is filled with gorgeous photography, showing various parts of the cooking process and the Amish community. The book has the standard categories one would expect in a cookbook (breads, soups and salads, meats and main dishes, etc) and also has some fun other categories like Amish Wedding Meals and Amish Church Meals. It was very interesting to look through when I first got it!

Now, some cookbooks are fun to look at but the real question is whether or not they will actually be pulled off the shelf and used in day to day life! I can honestly say that this cookbook will be used in my kitchen. The ingredients are ones that I already have in my kitchen or pantry, unlike so many cookbooks that have interesting recipes but require a trip to the grocery store before I can start cooking. The recipes in this cookbook are basic and simple but look so very delicious!

The recipes are clearly laid out and are easy to follow. Measurements are in cups, tbsp, tsp, etc. If you're looking for a new cookbook with recipes that your whole family will eat and enjoy, this is it!

The Atonement by Beverley Lewis

This is a book set in modern day Amish country. I used to always enjoy this genre of book back in high school but I didn't enjoy this one particularly much and here's why:

- right from the beginning chapters, you can predict exactly how the book will end. You only read the book to find out how the characters get from point A to point B. And I realize that this is just part of the genre so if you enjoy the relaxed pace of getting from the beginning to the end with no mystery, this book could be for you. I don't always mind this aspect of books but this time I didn't love it. 

- the book had very little subtlety in its writing. Very early on it became clear that the main character has a secret in her past but we are often led right up to the edge of finding out about the secret and then having the chapter end. I found this terribly annoying. I enjoy finishing a book and then being able to look back and see the foreshadowing and hints and subtleties that were woven through the book that I didn't see while I was reading it. This book felt a little clumsy. Imagine the author saying "I have a secret but I can't tell you yet," over and over. It bugs me when people do that in real life and it bugs me when I read it in a book. 

This book does have likeable characters and a relaxing storyline so if you're looking for the next book to read in a long line of Christian fiction, this could be worth your time on a lazy summer day or cozy winter evening. But if you're looking for an intricately woven storyline, you might do better to keep looking. 

The Christian Mama's Guide to the Grade School Years by Erin MacPherson

After reading (and quite enjoying) The Christian Mama's Guide to the Parenting a Toddler, I quickly grabbed this book when I had the option to review it.  I don't know if it's because I don't have a kid in the grade school years yet, or because I just don't like to think about my kids heading off into the big wide world on their own, but I just couldn't get into this book.  That is not to say, though, that it's not worth reading if you are in this stage with your children (or heading into it soon).

MacPherson covers topics such as choosing a school (private? public? homeschool? other?), setting a vision for your family so your kids can be grounded when everything else is pouring perhaps less than life-giving messages into them, how to handle your kids who are struggling in school, how to prepare your kids for school, how to help them succeed and much more.  MacPherson's mother has alot of experience in early childhood education so MacPherson draws on that experience as she writes.  Throughout the book, there are "From the Principal's Office" sections which include notes directly from MacPherson's mom.  It is nice to hear the inside scoop from someone who has seen more than a generation of children go through school and succeed (or not succeed) and who has a pretty good idea of what helps children succeed.  There are also "Time Out For Mom" sections, just as in MacPherson's other books in this series, that provide a scripture passage and prayer that relates to the current topic being discussed.

MacPherson's writing style is very easy to read and feels much more like a good friend sharing her stories than a top-down, instruction style book.  I did very much enjoy that aspect of the book!

I would recommend this book to mothers of school-age or nearly school age children.  If you're like me and you can't handle thinking about sending your two-year old out into the big, wide world just yet, maybe skip this book for now and pick it up in a couple years when school time is near.  This book would probably be a good read right up until your child is nearing junior high. 

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze blogger book review program and am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Simply Delicious Amish Cooking by Sherry Gore

As a young Mennonite home-maker, I jumped on my chance to review Simply Delicious Amish Cooking.  I was not disappointed! 

Some things I appreciated:
- I recognized all the ingredients in the recipes, and most things were in my home already!
- Recipes are simple and well-written
- Interesting stories and snippets from Amish/Mennonite life in Sarasota, Florida
- Beautiful and colourful pictures (not nearly a picture for every recipe but there are a few groups of "picture pages" throughout the book
- Index of recipes (not all cookbooks have this!)
- Relevant "Tips" in each section (ie. how to brown butter, a guide to flours and how to substitute)

The copy that I received (I assume they're all the same) is also coil bound which is my preferred binding for cookbooks as they easily lay open while cooking for easy reference to the recipe.  I have a feeling this will be a cookbook that I turn to again and again for new recipes as well as old favourites!

If you are looking for a gourmet cookbook, that is not what this is.  If you are looking for exotic recipes with complex flavours, that's not necessarily what this is either.  But if you are looking for a cookbook full of delicious and "homecooked" meal ideas, this is a great option.  It would also be a wonderful wedding, bridal shower, or graduation gift for a new cook as everything is clearly laid out.

I received this book from Zondervan's Booksneeze blogger book review program but am under no obligation to provide a positive review (it's just that good)!

The Christian Mama's Guide to Parenting a Toddler

My first impression of this book (when I saw the cover and title) was that it was a joke.  I didn't take it seriously.  But seeing as I have a 2 year old and the description on the front says that this book contains "everything you need to know to survive (and love) your child's terrible twos," I figured it was worth a shot!

This book surpassed my expectations.  It is a helpful collection of one mom's suggestions, along with input from her nutritionalist sister and early childhood educator/parenting coach mother.  I found many ideas that I plan to put into practice (including bedtime battles, tantrums, food fight, etc)!  It has helpful lists of creative discipline ideas, healthy snacks/meals, and more.  This book also includes special "time-out for mom" sections in every chapter which include a scripture and prayer relating to the chapter.

Now, some parenting "experts" come across in a know-it-all (annoying) way.  Erin MacPerson is quite the opposite.  She is quite willing to share her REAL life and parenting experiences with the reader.  Reading this book is more like having coffee with a good girlfriend rather than hearing a lecture from a well-meaning "veteran" mom who has all the answers.  It is an easy read, as well as humorous and helpful!  I hope to read the other books in this series as I have an infant, will soon have school-age children, and hope to be pregnant again too!

I would highly recommend this book.  Look past the cover and dig in.  You won't be disappointed!

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze blogger review program.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review. (I actually think this is a good book!)