Happy Sunday!
For a while now, our family scripture study has been in desperate need of a re-vamp. For about a year we tried reading from the kid’s scripture story books with pictures, but they sort of grew tired of them. Then, we tried reading a few verses directly from the scriptures. I think our kids are just too young to really get much out of this approach. Sometimes we just tell them stories- this works pretty well at keeping their attention, but it’s sometimes hard to keep coming up with new and interesting stories on the fly every night when we’re tired.
We want to teach our kids important values found in the scriptures and we want someone to make this task very easy for us :) Thankfully Nicole Carpenter so nicely sent me her new book 52 Weeks to Fortify Your Family: 5-Minute Messages. It’s a nice little book- about six inches tall- and every week there is a new theme (kindness, honesty, humility, courage, service, etc) and everyday there is a little discussion point or thought and a short scripture or two.
I don’t know why I’ve never thought to do little topical studies for our scripture study at nights. Probably because it seems like too much work, but thanks to this little book our nightly scripture study teaches some principle and we read one or two scriptures and talk a little about that principle. I really really like this approach because it makes it so easy to teach my kids a lesson from the scriptures and try to hone some good character traits at the same time. It’s great and it makes me feel like I’m doing my motherly duty of teaching my kids (and myself) how to be a good person.
Nicole is here today to tell us more about her book and about how we can use it throughout the year.
– Celeste
I have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest. I love the pretty images, the useful life hacks, the picture-perfect recipes and the birthday party ideas.
Yet I hate how the beautiful images make life seem so unrealistically perfect and the picture-perfect recipes haunt me because I never cook them. Most of the things on Pinterest remind so many of us of our weaknesses, not our strengths.
However, when it came to the origins of my book 52 Weeks to Fortify Your Family: 5-minute messages, I loved Pinterest. Like love, love loved Pinterest. Because of this image and idea-sharing site, my original devotional series posted years ago on MOMentity.com spread like wildfire and other families all over the world could find the spiritual help they were looking for to fortify their families.
One of my favorite things about this book is a section included near the back that I haven’t talked about much — holiday devotionals. Now it’s nothing near as fancy as the holiday helpers you’ll find on Pinterest, but as far as teaching the gospel in your home goes, I think you’ll love them!
- Love & Valentine’s Day
- The Atonement of Jesus Christ & Easter (part 1)
- The Resurrection of Jesus Christ & Easter (part 2)
- Nation & Independence Day
- Fear & Halloween
- Gratitude & Thanksgiving
- The Nativity & Christmas
So as you continue to search Pinterest for homemade Valentines ideas or fun Easter crafts for the kids, just know we’ve already got your devotionals covered!
I’m so excited that 52 Weeks is already a #1 bestseller on Amazon! If you want your own copy you can grab one online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or in person at Deseret Book or Seagull Book. Or – if you’re feeling lucky – maybe you’ll be the winner of the autographed copy we’re giving away!
To enter the giveaway just leave a comment in the comment section! The giveaway will end in one week,
looks awesome!
Glad we aren’t alone in the circus acts of Scripture study time
Definitely not. And circus act is a very apt description 🙂
Celeste I’ve always loved reading your blog and hearing your stories and advice! 🙂 this book sounds awesome and exactly what we need for our little family scripture study! How much is it?? I guess I can look it up on amazon! Or maybe we’ll win! Ha 🙂 thanks for sharing about it!
Thanks Theresa! I’m so glad! Here’s the link to it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=52+Weeks+to+fortify .
It’s $10
Hey Celeste,
How do you know Nicole? I went to high school with Nicole and need to get that book soon! Love, love your blog! We miss our cute Iowa ward!
Kelli- I met Nicole on an LDS bloggers Facebook group 🙂
And our little Iowa ward misses you too!!! 🙂
Count me in for the giveaway! Looks like a neat book.
This sounds like a book I personally would benefit from.
This sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
Am I too late? I would love to teach my kids out of this book!