Kaylea Hutson's Blog, page 43

Blog Tour: That's My Girl (Review)

I didn't know what to expect when I had a chance to review "That's My Girl" by Rick Johnson.

I hoped the book would not only be a resource that dad's could use, but also one that didn't come across as preachy or obnoxious.

Well, I can safely say that I can recommend this book to the dads in my ministry.

Johnson has written a intriguing parenting book that weaves together insight from his life as a dad, along with stories from raising a strong-willed daughter (with her permission).

This book has an authentic tone. Johnson's writing style is warm and inviting. I can't explain it, but you can almost feel how much he cares for his daughter. This is especially true as he describes the different aspects of their relationship and how other dads can learn from it.

I'll admit, at times, Johnson seemed well, a bit conservative. But his tone helps keep the book from being "overbearing." It's definitely not obnoxious or preachy. Instead the reader is allowed to make their own decision and judgement about the content of the book.

I could definitely see this as a small group resource for a dad's group since each chapter ends with a couple of discussion questions.

In all, I give this book a solid four (on a scale of one to five). If you know a dad of daughters, you might want to pass this book along to them. I'm planning to give it to a friend who is raising four girls - ages kindergarten to sixth grade. I think - based upon recent conversations - he will find this a worthy resource.

More About The Book
(From The Publisher)
Dad, you shape your daughter's future.

You impact every aspect of your daughter's life. You show her how women should be treated, how men should act, and how a man shows healthy love and affection toward a woman. And, perhaps most importantly, you set the standard for how your daughter feels she deserves to be treated by men.

This is a big responsibility, and it's not always easy to carry out.

But parenting expert Rick Johnson is here to help. In That's My Girl, Rick shows you how to develop the close relationship with your daughter that you both crave. His plainspoken common sense, humor, and advice will give you the confidence and the encouragement you need to take up the active, positive role that can change your daughter's life--starting now.

More About The AuthorRick Johnson is a bestselling author of That's My Son; That's My Teenage Son; Better Dads, Stronger Sons; and Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half.

He is the founder of Better Dads and is a sought-after speaker at many large parenting and marriage conferences across the United States and Canada.

Johnson, his wife, Suzanne, and their grown children live in Oregon. To find out more about Rick Johnson, visit www.betterdads.net.

Online Resources
Read an excerpt here.
Buy it at Amazon.com
Buy it at Barnes & Noble
Buy it at a local bookstore.



Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell Publishing, a division of Baker Books. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Project 365+1 (Today's photo & more!)

Last year I decided to try Project 365 - taking a photo each day, to capture a slice of my life.

I did pretty good, only "falling off the wagon" when I had a detached retina/surgery in September... (but that's another story).

When I sat down to put together my Christmas card together, I had a ton of fun sorting through photos and picking out a few highlights to showcase.

So when January came around, I decided to start again. Last year, I just didn't think I could do this...this year, I can't imagine living without this way of capturing my life.

One thing I found as a resource to use in this journey is Capture Your 365 (http://captureyour365.com/) - a daily prompt to just "get the juices flowing" and provide some ideas on what to take each day.

Today's prompt involved capturing your One Little Word in a new way.

Since I'm a wordy person, I decided to take a photo of my word as it appears in The Synonym Finder (by J, I. Rodale). (See the top photo!)

Before I sign off, here's a few of the photos I took this week, as part of my renewed Project 365+1. The photos are shown through the lens of http://instagr.am/ (one of my favorite aps) and http://www.dipticapp.com/ (an ap that lets you put more than one photo in an instagr.am photo!)






So how are you capturing 2012?

OLW: Why Rest

I'm still pondering my word for 2012.... Part of the assignment for this square included really just explore "why" I picked this word.I'm still trying to really embrace my word, understand what it means to me and how it might impact this new year.
So no deep profound thoughts...just taking the journey one step at a time.

OLW: Spell With Flicker: Rest

or

or

or

I love Spell With Flickr
It's just a fun way to spell words using a variety of photo letters.I saw a cool idea - to print these out as 4x6's and turning it into a framed letter sign.
That may be a future project - on a weekend that a embrace the meaning of "rest."
This has almost made me want to start my own collection of letter photos.
What word would you spell with photos?

OLW: Defining My Word, Part 2

Another part of the January assignment for OLW involved finding words that are similar - synonyms - that help tell the story of the word.

It was actually kind of interesting to see the words that were linked to "rest."

Who knew "coffee break" and "Sabbath" were related to rest...although my perfect rest would be sitting at Starbucks with a beverage - either shaken ice tea or mocha frappachino - and a Sunday New York Times and at least an hour or more to read it..

I'm hoping this card helps me continue to define this word and watch how it evolves during 2012.

So here's to the next stop in the journey..... savoring this process...

OLW: Defining My Word

I've started working through the January assignment for the OLW class. One of the first pieces of the word puzzle, is to find a definition that explains your word. 
Out of the multitude of definitions for rest - everything from the interval of silence in a musical piece, to the absence of motion - I've isolated three, which seem to be at the heart of why I my word for 2012 is "rest."
Spot of Light by Ayla87I want to find the peace and tranquility shown in this picture. I think it really showcases the last definition: "a sunbeam rest upon an altar." What an amazing word picture that truly captures the mood of what you can accomplish - or find - when you truly rest.

So here's to a way to find rest in the midst of the chains known as life.

....Because I'm trying to "dwell" or "linger" on this project - I'm breaking the first assignment into lots of chunks - and will probably share it in progress here; kind of as a form of accountability.....[image error]

OLW 2012: Rest

Well I did it. I picked "Rest" as my word for 2012.

I really think it chose me - rather than me picking it.

It just seemed like the last few weeks, I've been hearing a message that revolves around one word - Rest.

I'm still trying to figure out what it means to me - and how it will impact 2012.

To start my journey, I signed up tonight to take Ali Edwards' One Little Word class at Big Picture Classes (formerly Big Picture Scrapbooks). You can read more about it in her blog post here: http://aliedwards.com/2011/12/one-little-word-2012.html.

I've thought about it for awhile, I almost took the class in 2011, but I talked myself out of it. This year, I talked myself "into" taking it for several reasons.

I want to experience an Ali Edwards class. I've followed her blog for several years (and interviewed her by email at least once for a freelance project). I admire lots of things about her - including her outlook on life. I especially love how she tells her life story through scrapbooking and journaling. A few years ago, she called herself a "life artist"  and I've loved that description - and have embraced it as a way to describe the type of writing/photography I've done as a journalist.

I also thought this class would help give me structure. I hope the assignments will help me really dig into my word - which will let me truly embrace my word, letting me live and learn throughout the year.


I want to savor my word.. I really want to let it shape and mold me. It's my hope that It also lets me deepen my faith.

I feel like I've just taken the first step on a year long journey today by signing up for the class.

So here we go!

A Final Thought  - My One Little Words
(yes, I usually end up with two words each year) Can you see a theme emerging? .2007 - Wonder & Seek2008 - Simplicity & Joy2009 - Dream & Hope2010 - Half-Full & See2011 - New & Renew2012 - Rest


BTW, if you are interested in taking this class, or signing up for Big Picture Classes, I'd be grateful if you use this referral code: C09B0869. If I understand the refer a friend program, once you purchase your first class, we'll both get a 10 percent off the future purchase of a class.[image error]

Happy New Year

Found this on a friend's Facebook wall (originally posted by Melissa Bolton. I thought this was a great way to sum up the beginning of 2012!

Here's to a "sparkly, do-over, shiny" new year!

So Happy New Year!

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A Year Full Of Memories

I saw this idea pop up on a friend's Facebook feed, and well, it struck me as a great way a family - or an individual - could jot down a few memories for 2012.A Memory Jar.The original author (see below for source) said she kept a stack of 4x4 pieces of paper next to a Mason Jar, along with things to write with.Every few days someone in the family would jot down something that made their family laugh or smile. On New Year's Eve (think Dec. 31, 2012), the family bulled out the papers, unfolded each one and read through a year's worth of memories.Simple huh?But the cool thing - what struck me as I read this - is that a lot of times we dwell on the "junk" that happens in life. This jar helps the entire family remember the "good" stuff.Kind of a gratitude journal for multiple generations.There were a few other cool ideas on the blog post I found this idea  - like a memory box of days - you might want to check it out!Source: http://steamykitchen.com/19992-memory-jar.html#.TvyNpYw24_I.facebook[image error]

12 Pearls of Christmas: Day 12 - Jesus, The Reason For The Season

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!
Merry Christmas from all of us at Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoyed these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you missed a few posts, I hope you'll be able go back through and read them on this blog over the next few days. If you'd like to keep up with Pearl Girls and our new book project, Mother of Pearl, coming this spring, just click this link and sign up for our newsletter (lower left sidebar).

Also, just a reminder that today is the last day for the pearl necklace and earrings giveaway! Enter now by filling out this {form}. The winner will on 1/1 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of  Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace  or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***Jesus -- The Reason For the Season
By: Rachel Hauck
Through the narrow scope of 2000 years, Mary, the mother of Jesus, appears to be one lucky woman. Chosen by God to give birth to His son, the Savior of the world? All right, Mary, way to go.

"Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you," Gabriel said.

How many of us would like a declaration like that? Highly favored. The Lord is with you. But Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

The angel told her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Mary's seems confident and resolved when she responds, "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled."

She'd just been told the Holy Spirit will come upon her, that God's power will overshadow her, that she'd become with child even though she wasn't married, and she said, "I'm the Lord's servant. Let your words be true."

I find this amazing! A young woman. Ancient Bethlehem. Unwed mother. They stoned women for such things in her day. But Mary believed in God. And submitted to His will. He gave her the Holy Spirit – the same Holy Spirit given to us. If He gave her confidence, He will give us confidence. Even though, like Mary, our situation seems impossible.

Listen to Mary's song later on in the first chapter of Luke.

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me Holy is his name…"

Conceiving a child out of wedlock, by Divine intervention. Not a girl's every day existence. Yet she had a Yes in her heart to God. She rejoiced. She boldly said, "Generations will remember me!"

How we struggle to trust God with our children. Our finances. Our emotional well-being. We worry. We fret. And wonder why we have no peace.

Christmas is the season where words like joy, peace and love are bantered around like Christmas candy. Let's not take them as just words, but as truth. Let's be like Mary and embrace God's favor on our lives. Boldly declare "He's done great things for me!"

Out of the grit of our own souls, we can reach His heart, and feel Him reaching for ours. No matter the pain of our past, present or future, God is there for us. He is able. Best of all, He is willing. "My soul glorifies the Lord this Christmas!"

*** Rachel Hauck is an award winning, best selling author who believes God has done great things for her. She lives in Central Florida with her husband and ornery pets. Her next release is Love Lifted Me with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, January 2012. Then in April, look for The Wedding Dress. www.rachelhauck.com.

Note from Kaylea: The following is a series of thoughts, from some of today's Christian authors, designed to help you find a "pearl" of faith during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Season. – Enjoy![image error]