"Welcome to the Minivan Zone...Not long ago I crossed a line that shoved me into a whole new dimension of motherhood: Kurt and I brought home baby number four....it also meant saying good-bye to my standard automobile...And so, no matter how young, glamorous or hip I may want to appear, I am fated to dwell in a place known as the Minivan Zone."
And so begins Olivia Bruner's journey through the highs and lows of parenting four children. She says "it is the season when your needs go unmet and dreams seem unfulfilled." With that sentence, she had me hooked. Here was a woman who understood. But she goes on to say she is trying to make it a point to celebrate these hectic days "today rather than wait until they are mere memories." And with chapters like: Mini-Mishaps: Enduring Embarrassing Times, Mrs. Bruner has good advice for all of us moms in the "minivan zone."
All of her chapters begin with the word Mini, which assured me that anything challenging could be faced a little bit at a time:
Mini Morsels : Consuming Mealtimes
Mini-Prayers: Requesting Miraculous Times
Mini-Stress: Relieving Anxious Times
Mini-Joys: Creating Happy Times
Mini-Budgets: Teaching Financial Times
Mini-Hurts: Redeeming Painful Times
Mini-Sleeps: Revitalizing Bedtimes
Mini-Faith: Influencing Spiritual Times
Mini-Choices: Deciphering Uncertain Times
Mini-Charms: Celebrating Feminine Times
Mini-Sins: Correcting Errant Times
Mini-Enemies: Discussing Devilish Times
Mini-Jurisdictions: Being Responsible Times
Mini-Scholars: Choosing a School Times
Mini-Heroics: Living Sacrificial Times
Mini-Saints: Admiring Courageous Times
Mini-Perfections: Accepting Thankful Times
Mini-Losses: Grieving-Dying Times
(and each chapter ends with a "Mini-Tip" to summarize and apply the chapter's message.)
Throughout the book, Mrs. Bruner threads her and her husband's deep faith and "passion for helping families become intentional about creating a happy marriage and giving the next generation a strong heritage." Through the use of scripture and real life examples from their marriage and family life, Mrs. Bruner gives us inspiration and practical advice for every day life. I really enjoyed this book and give it 4 out of 4 binkies.
You can read more about Olivia and her husband Kurt at their blog Pointing Home or online at Bruner World.
(review cross posted here)
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1 comments:
I think I will have to add this to my to-read list. It sounds like a book I could definitely identify with.
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