Fit to Burst: Abundance, Mayhem, and the Joys of Motherhood

Fit to Burst: Abundance, Mayhem, and the Joys of Motherhood
Author: Rachel Jankovic
Publisher: Canon Press & Book Service
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2013-01-29
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 1591281288

Fit to Burst is a book of parenting "field notes" written by a mom in the thick of it all. It is chock-full of humorous examples and fresh advice covering issues familiar to moms, such as guilt cycles, temptations to be ungrateful or bitter, enjoying your kids, and learning how to honor Jesus by giving even in the mundane stuff. But this book also addresses less familiar topics, including the impact moms have on the relationships between dads and kids, the importance of knowing when to laugh at kid-sized sin, and more. Fit to Burst will help us to be moms who parent with the story in mind rather than the snapshot, who know how to give much and to require much from their children in the everyday mayhem, and who understand the importance of biscuits. A note from Rachel: "I don't pull punches or hold back in this book, because I am writing to myself as much as to you. If something in this book strikes a little close to home for you, know that it struck in my home first. I am not writing about other people's problems, although I know many of them are common. I write about what I know, and what I know is the challenges, the joys, and the work involved in raising little people."


Peanut Butter and Dragon Wings

Peanut Butter and Dragon Wings
Author: Shari Zook
Publisher: MennoMedia, Inc.
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2021-07-06
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1513807722

Longing for permission to be real about your own needs and struggles? Permission granted. As good Christian moms, we’re not supposed to ask for much. Jesus meets all our needs and we’re the light of the world to everybody else, right? Wrong. Shari Zook appeared to be an overachieving supermom who deftly supported her pastor-husband and their congregation, looked after their children, and cared for foster children through the ups and downs of placements. But inside, her world was growing increasingly desperate as she struggled with the grief of miscarriage, parenting a difficult child, and spiraling depression. ​ In her darkest hour, Zook let go of her need to appear super-human and reached out to receive God’s unfolding grace. With humor and artistry, Peanut Butter and Dragon Wings gives us permission to step out from behind the appearance of rose-filtered perfection and embrace the authenticity of honest need and human limitations. In the book’s twelve chapters you’ll find twelve practical ways to reach for a faith that includes doubt, and holiness that includes failure.


Glory in the Ordinary

Glory in the Ordinary
Author: Courtney Reissig
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2017-04-13
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433552701

Folding laundry. Weeding the garden. Cooking dinner. Changing diapers. Work in the home can seem so ordinary. Does any of it matter? Is there meaning in our most mundane moments at home? When the work of the home fills our days, it is easy to get disillusioned and miss God's grand purpose for our work. As image bearers of the Creator who made us to work, we contribute to society, bringing order out of chaos and loving God through loving others—meaning there's glory in every moment. In this encouraging book, Courtney Reissig combats the common misconceptions about the value of at-home work—helping us see how Christ infuses purpose into every facet of the ordinary.


Chaotic Joy

Chaotic Joy
Author: Megan Breedlove
Publisher: Revell
Total Pages: 162
Release: 2014-04-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1441224610

If you're waiting to live abundantly until the house is tidy, your kids are clean and well behaved, and you have plenty of free time to pursue a glamorous hobby, you may be waiting awhile. However, you don't have to wait for things to settle down to live the good life, because motherhood--with all its chaos--is the abundance God promised In Chaotic Joy, you will discover how to experience abundant life in the midst of the madness and mess. Find out what's keeping you from the joy and satisfaction you dreamed being a mom would bring, and learn how to recognize God's hand of blessing even through countless diaper changes, toddler meltdowns, and thousands of important tasks that clamor for your attention. Motherhood can be chaotic, for sure. But it's meant to be so much more.