Book Review of Grandparenting Through Obstacles by Lynn Leissler

The following review of Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ  by Lynn Leissler, who contributed a story to the book, was posted on Amazon.com on August 31, 2012:

Children often live in difficult situations, and many grandparents are involved in raising grandkids, either part or full time. Even if that isn’t the case, we interact with them. As many stories as there are in this book, there are as many ways to make that interaction effective. I certainly learned a lot. A good book for the home library.
Lynn

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Book Review of Grandparenting Through Obstacles by Annie Mac

The following review of Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ  by Ann B. Macomber was posted on Amazon.com on November 24, 2012:

There is so much I can do

Grandparenting Through Obstacles by Renee Gray-Wilburn and Dianne E. Butts was a book I thought might be useful since we are grandparents of two granddaughters in town and are the go-to babysitters. Our daughter and son-in-law do attend our church with the girls and their relationship is great, etc. So, what good grandparenting hints might there be in this book format for our benefit? I was overwhelmed with the depth of all the different life family stories and all that the individual grandparents were doing under duress often to insure that the seeds of sound spiritual bases were sown… I didn’t even have that problem. Yet, I found that I was certainly lacking in taking the opportunity to spiritually grow our granddaughters in the word and love of our Lord. I was also reminded of how as grandparents, we ‘get to show the love of God’ just by being grandparents and lovin’ on them! What a terrific reminder, scripture study guide, prayer guide, and encouragement the book has become to me. God is good to guide and mature us as grandparents through this marvelous, fun, enriching book. Renee and Dianne do a masterful job of researching scripture and scenarios to be able to relate to many family situations and ultimately touch each one with the true message of the gospel.

Book Review of Grandparenting Through Obstacles by Lucy Neeley Adams

The following review of Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ  by Lucy Neeley Adams, author of 52 Hymn Stories Devotions, was posted on Amazon.com on November 21, 2012:

Helping to Remove My Obstacles

I need grandmother help and this book did that! With fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren I am usually in need of some guidance. All are precious in God’s sight, and in mine too. However, sometimes they have problems and I am sorry to say that those times often cause me worry and concern.

GRANDPARENTING THROUGH OBSTACLES gives helpful insights into different types of problems. Even looking in the contents gave hope. Some of the titles are: “Won By Love”, “Jack’s Fear”, “Heart Talk” “Passing Along the Faith” and “The Full Armor of God.” Digesting the words of each of the twenty stories in this excellent book, gave me hope for growth in my grandmother role.

The two authors of this book have organized it into four, “Challenges” . In the five personal stories within each Challenge, I was faced with new and encouraging insights.

At the end of each story there are five special directives from the authors. The fifth is a closing prayer entitled, “One Way To Pray”, which is a powerful prayer and to the point.

I recommend, GRANDPARENTING THROUGH OBSTACLES as a joyful way to reach out to all grandchildren. God’s love shines brightly through each page. Thank you to Rene’e Gray-Wilburn and Dianne E. Butts for gathering together this awesome resource for all grandparents.

Lucy Neeley Adams

Grandparenting Through Obstacles featured on “Embattled Spirits” blog

Hi there. Dianne here. I’ve bumped tomorrow’s regular Thursday post into the future so I can post something special today.

Today, over at J.A. Marx’s “Embattled Spirit” site, I’m interviewed about our book.
 
Susan Lawrence’s story in Grandparenting Through Obstacles, “Jesus House,” is featured.

I hope you’ll stop by for a read. Leave us a comment. Use the button at the bottom to share it on Facebook. Tweet it if you can (paste the url into your Tweet).
 
I hope you enjoy the interview.

Book Review of Grandparenting Through Obstacles by GardenerGal

The following review of Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ  by GardenerGal was posted on Amazon.com on November 25, 2012:

GRANDPARENTING THROUGH OBSTACLES by Renee Gray-Wilburn and Dianne E. Butts is a relevant present-day guide for all grandparents, not just those with Christian backgrounds. It contains many wonderful and innovative ways to connect with your grandchildren, as well as how to show God’s love and grace in all situations. I love the Nana camp idea; not only does it give opportunity for sharing fun times with your grandchildren – it also provides the same for grandparents to `be a kid again’.

The book gives numerous ideas on how to connect or reach out to the younger generation in your family, without being in-their-faces with personal beliefs. It is a gentle prod to try life from a different perspective and let your grand-daughters and sons see that you are also a person who is a safe haven during family storms, as you reassure younger family members or show you are deeply trustworthy and your love is wholesome and pure because it is based on the truth and integrity of the Bible. In these days when trust can be discounted so easily, this book allows for an easy transition along a path of the purest of intentions and encouragement.

I have ten grandchildren, of ages ranging from twenty-six down to three years of age. Each child is blessed with an individual personality and so each one needs a different approach; but ultimately each one needs the solid reassurance of a stable and loving family member that they can turn to if needed; a place that assures they will be treated with gentle loving respect, and one that gives them the hope and strength that life rooted in the foundational teachings of Christian love can give.

Whether you are a new Nana or Poppa, or a seasoned one you really will find some innovative ideas along with easy studies of biblical grandparents in this diverse collection of grandparent’s stories.

I received this book free of charge from […] in exchange for a personal review.

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Guest Post – “Touching Eternity” by Lori Wildenberg

Today we have a guest posting her recommendations on how grandparents she sees can and are touching eternity by influencing their grandchildren. Lori Wildenberg is a licensed parent and family educator and is a co-author, along with Becky Danielson, of Empowered Parents: Putting Faith First (Bridge Logos, 2003). 

Thanks for sending us your practical, inspiring message today, Lori. Here’s Lori’s guest post:

Touching Eternity

By Lori Wildenberg

Parenting for grandparents. What? Yes! Many Nanas and Papas, Grannies and Pappies, Grandmas and Grandpas attend my parenting classes. They are highly invested and involved in their grandkids’ lives. These folks want to brush up on their communication with little kid skills or gain a better understanding of their own children as parents. Attending games, watching recitals, and babysitting are some of the many things today’s grandparents do.  Present day grandmothers or grandfathers are typically a big presence in the young ones’ lives.

But… what if you are one of the many Memas or Granddads separated from your grandkids by miles?

For most of my kids’ growing up years, they have not had the benefit or blessing of having grandparents live close by. But miles don’t change the hearts of the people involved.  

Connection is important to the kids and adults alike.

Of course visits and phone calls make a big impact but many grandparents want to do more. They long to make an eternal difference yet the distance is a huge road block to accomplishing their heart’s desire.

My colleague and friend, Kirk Weaver, of Family Time Training, passed along a great solution to this problem. He told me how, even at a distance, an older person can impact a younger one’s soul.  Letters. Yep. Old fashioned letters–the snail mail type–with a little cash enclosed. The money does come with a stipulation: ten percent must be given away to a cause, a church, or someone in need. More money will come the following month when the child communicates back how the funds were used. 

Think of all the great and meaningful conversations the grandparent and grandchild can have regarding giving, needs, wants, and worthy charities.  They could pray about where the Lord would like the money to go. This deliberate interaction has the potential to adjust a child’s thinking about money and about faith.

Money is a tool to be utilized, entrusted to us by a generous God.

So… long distance grandparents, you can touch your grandchildren’s eternity by getting out those stamps, envelopes, and a little cash. Make a plan to invest in the younger generation’s lives.

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  

1 Timothy 6:10

What ideas do you have for impacting your grandkids future?

Lori Wildenberg, co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting and Licensed Parent and Family Educator, is passionate about coming alongside parents and encouraging them to parent well.  She loves mentoring moms and dads and speaking on the topic of parenting. She is co-author of EMPOWERED PARENTS: Putting Faith First and co-columnist for the “Parenting Prose” column in Marriage Magazine. Lori lives in Colorado with her husband and four children. Visit http://www.loriwildenberg.com or http://www.1Corinthians13Parenting.com for more information.

Thank you for your support!

Hi, Renee here! I just wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank all of you who voted for our book at Book Fun Magazine and who have supported us by reading our blog, purchasing our book, or telling others about us. Since Grandparenting Through Obstacles was released in August 2012, we have won two awards:

~ GRAND Magazine’s Top Grandparenting Book for 2012; and

~ Book Fun Magazine’s Nonfiction Book of the Year

I believe I speak for both Dianne and myself when I say that this is far more than we had imagined! Our hearts for this book have always been to reach as many grandparents as possible in order to encourage them, put some creative resources and ideas into their hands and imaginations, and arm them with relevant scriptures and prayers.

By doing so, it is our hope that Christian grandparents everywhere will step more confidently into their role of intentionally grandparenting their grandkids in order to ultimately bring them into a closer walk with Jesus.

Obviously, the more that word gets out about our book and the more recognition it receives, the more grandparents it can reach. Awards and accolades are always nice, but they’re not worth much if they don’t help to achieve a greater goal. We’re praying that the accomplishments of our book so far–and hopefully those that are still to come–will help us achieve our greater goal of helping to spiritually equip grandparents to help them do their job more effectively and with more joy and peace.

So, I thank you for helping us to move one step closer to that goal and for your continued support moving forward by helping us promote the Grandparenting Through Obstacles book and blogsite.

Guest Post – “The Christmas Foot” by Peggy J. Cunningham

Peggy J. Cunningham

Today Peggy Cunningham joins us. Peggy write the story “I Like Jesus! in the book Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ. Peggy live with her husband in Bolivia, South America, has written 13 children’s books, and writes for Devokids.com.

Peggy, tell us about your Christmas!

Peggy writes:

This Christmas we were far from our grandchildren––as usual. It’s a long trek from Bolivia to the Untied States. But, we know we are where God wants us, which gives us the peace that passes all understanding. Living thousands of miles away from our family (especially our four precious grandchildren) is the hardest thing we face as missionaries. But, God gives us little sparks of joy when we communicate with them via the Internet, and now, even Vonage phone calls. Of course, pictures are always welcome too.

I record the cute things they say so that one day I’ll have a booklet to give them of all the things they said and did that brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Proverbs 17:6 says, “Children’s children are a crown to the aged,” and I felt that crown this Christmas.

I’ve learned to jot those cute quotes down immediately so I will never forget them––easy to do as I embark on the Medicare stage of life. This Christmas I have a priceless one of our four-year-old grandson, Baden.

Yep, this is Baden himself! So cute.

My husband and I had a confusing email from our daughter on Christmas morning. It wasn’t until we talked to her a few hours later that we understood the message. Her message said, “Baden yelled up the steps to Ben (his big brother), “Come look at your foot.”

Maybe my sleepy (or senior) brain couldn’t decipher the message, but my husband didn’t understand what she meant either. When our daughter called to wish us a Merry Christmas she mentioned how priceless Baden’s comment was that morning. Maybe priceless, but also confusing, we replied. “You didn’t get it?” she replied.

“Not at all,” we admitted with embarrassment.

Rushing downstairs to see what Santa left under the tree, Baden noticed the Christmas stockings bulging with goodies. Excited, he wanted Ben to hurry to see them also. He yelled up the steps, “Hey Ben, hurry, come see your foot.” Priceless! It is a little gem to remember and certainly worth writing down. Don’t you think? 

Peggy’s grandkids’ Christmas stockings.

  Thanks, Peggy! That’s wonderful. Thanks for bringing us a fun story and beautiful photos today.

Peggy Cunningham and her husband, Chuck, have served as missionaries in Bolivia, South America, since 1981. They have a children’s ministry, teaching practical skills to underprivileged children in rural areas of Bolivia while reaching them for Christ. Peggy is also a freelance writer and contributes to several Christian publications regularly. She is a contributor to Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ. Visit Peggy’s web site at  http://www.peggyjcunningham.com and her blog at http://www.peggyspostings.blogspot.com.

Grandparenting Through Obstacles wins “Book of the Year”!

Wow! What a way to start the new year! In my post earlier today I mentioned we had some exciting stuff coming up. I was waiting (anxiously waiting…and waiting…like waiting for Christmas, time moved so s l o w l y !)  for this announcement that was just posted: Renee’s and my book, Grandparenting Through Obstacles, released just last August has won the Nonfiction “Book of the Year” at The Book Club Network!

Can we all say it together? Whoo-hoo! 

You can see the official announcement in the Book Fun Magazine on pages 66 – 67. Grandparenting Through Obstacles was published by Tracy Ruckman’s Pix-N-Pens Publishing, and we are very grateful to her and her confidence in us and in this book. Tracy has a heart to bring hope and joy to people of all kinds and in all situations by helping them come to or walk more closely with the Lord Jesus Christ. She has amazing energy to publish and promote books that reveal Jesus and His love and personality, and I am so grateful we connected with her to publish this book.

According to the article in Book Fun Magazine , our book received “28.67% of the votes. An overwhelming lead!” In the article from the editorial manager, Fred St. Laurent, on page 4, he stated, “We actually had the largest voter turnout in our history! Interestingly more votes were cast for nonfiction books that for fiction books. As a result we plan on focusing on nonfiction books and authors more than we have in the past. Fiction will always be a part of what we do but nonfiction has our attention.”

The largest vote turnout in history, more votes for nonfiction than fiction, and our book had an overwhelming lead in those nonfiction votes! You did this. Our biggest heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this happen by voting for us. You’re amazing! I can’t tell you Thank You enough.

Personally, for me as a nonfiction writer this is huge. Everyone wants to write fiction, but when people want help, have a need, or want to learn, they look for nonfiction. Nonfiction is bigger than many people give it credit for and I’m so grateful to you for helping us get the attention of people who promote books and reading! This can only help me in my future. You probably know Pix-N-Pens recently published my next nonfiction book, Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus. It was amazing to talk with readers at several book events I did in December who are hungry for this type of book. Fiction is great for entertaining and we definitely can teach through story, but there is a real hunger for solid nonfiction teaching, so I’m thrilled Fred at The Book Club Network is bringing attention to this.

Congratulations also to Jennifer Fromke with the second-place win in the Fiction “Book of the Year” category. Jennifer’s A Familiar Shore was published by Pix-N-Pens’ sister publisher, the fiction-publishing side of the company, Write Integrity Press. Turn back a page in the Book Fun Magazine to pages 64 – 65 to see the announcement for Jennifer’s book.

 Renee, Tracy, and I are so grateful to all of you for your support and interest in our work (whether you voted or not!). I hope you’ll keep your eye on Pix-N-Pens Publishing and Write Integrity Press for more “winning’ books.

 In the coming days I’m hoping to also get Renee and Tracy here on the blog to share their thoughts and feelings about this amazing development and honor of The Book Club Network’s “Book of the Year” award for Grandparenting Through Obstacles.

Happy New Year! Some exciting stuff coming in 2013…

Renee and I are wanting to wish you God’s very best for you and your grandchildren in 2013.

We’re looking forward to a fresh new year and have some exciting plans coming up. We’re hoping to have some big announcements soon. And we have Guests scheduled to post here in the New Year.

We hope you’ll join us here regularly to see what’s new.

And now, may God be glorified in you in 2013 and may you bring Him much glory in your living for Him and in your interactions with your grandchildren throughout this coming year. Whatever awaits us in 2013, which may cause some to fear or worry, God already knows it and He will be there with us.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  (John 14:27)