Guide to the Empty Nest by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates

Barbara and Susan actually wrote the first edition of this book several years ago.  This is a previously released book for them.  This edition contains the original book plus new information.  It is one of those books that got better with the new version because they are able to share more about their time as empty nesters now.  They have learned and grown and I love that they stepped out to bring us a new version.  I had not heard of the book before this one was released.  The timing for me is perfect as we are quickly moving toward this phase of our lives in the next 6-8 years.

The premise behind this book is to show us that we are not alone.  Every mother, for the most part, will go through this at some point.  I do realize that some will have a child at home for the duration of their lives due to extenuating circumstances but the majority will be releasing children into the world and facing an empty quiet home again with their husbands or possibly alone.  Another reason for this book is to equip us with tools to learn how to live in the empty nest phase of our lives.  It is a resource you will go back to again and again I think.

This book is so encouraging!  Rainey and Yates share ways of coping with children leaving the home permanently.  They have gathered personal stories from dozens of women who have gone before us and share how they are surviving and thriving in this new reality.  There are a ton of resources, links, book recommendations and such to guide us through this time.  

Barbara and Susan share their own personal stories, too.  They share how they have grown since the last writing of this text.  It is all written from a Christian perspective on developing our mission and obeying God in our new walk without children.  The key is to keep going.  We must realize as much as our lives revolved around being a wife and mother that is not all we were created to be.  There is a grand life after the children have gone on to have their own families.  It is exciting for me, as we now have our first grandson, to see what a great phase of life being a grandmother will be.  It is still more than that, though.  I can have a whole ministry and mission that is all my own and Dan and I can have a new life together in a changed marriage and ministry.  This is a brilliant book.  I cannot recommend this book strongly enough!

This book was the perfect read at the perfect time for me and I am so glad to be able to review and recommend this book to you.  It was sent to me free of charge from Bethany House Publishing (a division of Baker Publishing).  All they asked in return is that I read and give my honest opinion in a review for you.  If you are anywhere near the empty nest phase of your life this is a MUST READ for you!  

I definitely give this one a 5 out of 5 and would recommend it to every single woman I know over a "certain" age.

Find out more about the authors...

Barbara Rainey

Susan Yates

Baker Publishing Page

Sacred Privilege by Kay Warren

I have been a ministry wife for the past 28 years.  There have been some very hard days in that time.  As I began reading this book I knew, immediately, that Kay Warren understood my life, joys, frustrations, struggles and all.  She is open and honest about her life and ministry with her husband throughout this book.  She shares her ups and downs and, with great wisdom, she gives us great advice straight from God's word and from the depths of all He has taught her over the last 40+ years.

This book is about seeking God above all else.  She encourages us to keep our focus on the Savior who died for us and not on the world and it's hardness at times.  She assures us there will be struggles but God's plan is the greatest thing we can follow.  We have an enemy that does not want us to succeed in reaching a lost world.  Kay is so encouraging to ministry wives both young and old and shares truths from God's word to build up our faith to keep going.  

If someone has compiled a list of books all young pastors wives should read this should certainly be at the top of the list.  I believe that Kay's shared ministry experiences have great value for those who are coming behind her in this world of ministry.  It is not an easy life and she does not give us any fairy tale illusion that it is.  

We have an important call, ladies.  We are to bring glory to God in all we do.  Everything about this book points straight to that message and I believe this book brings glory to Him, too.

Thank you Kay for this beautiful book of hope in a very difficult call!

This book was sent to me free of charge by Baker Publishing Group - Revell Division.  All they have asked in exchange is that I would read it and give an honest review.  I am thrilled to recommend this to ministry wives everywhere!  I give it a 5 out of 5 rating.

Kay Warren's Website

Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in It's Proper Place

This is one of those books that I wish I had read 15 years ago.  It did not exist when my children started using social media and technology.  As a middle aged parent of adult and teen children we spent a big chunk of our time navigating blindly for the start of this social media age.  Looking back I realize that I was making decisions about things as they came up rather than making a plan to avoid the pitfalls of this world we are living in now.  Andy Crouch's book will change all of that for parents and families today.

This book gives 10 excellent strategies for, as the title says, putting technology in it's proper place. Crouch even goes so far as to encourage us to turn it off completely for part of each day.  Sound hard?  With Andy's 10 strategies you might find it easier than you think.

This book is not about trashing our technology and moving out into an isolate cabin somewhere.  Crouch fully believes there is a place for technology in our world today.  He just feels, as do I, that we should step away sometimes and be a family.  We should have meals together with real conversations and game nights indoors and out, and spend time reading stories or listen to music together.  He boldly says that maybe we should even PLAY music together.  I love that suggestion, by the way.

The book is loaded with results from the latest Barna Research Group study on how technology is impacting our lives and families.  Crouch takes that data and provides some very practical ways to change the trends we see toward isolation and addiction caused by our overuse of such devices.

By paying just a little more attention to our habits we can make changes to have more meaningful family and friend time.  All it takes is realizing we need to set these devices aside for part of our day, week and even for up to a week or two a year.

Crouch is very candid at the end of each chapter with a personal evaluation on how his own family is doing in each realm.  He is very honest in saying that sometimes they are still struggling to make some changes but that it is a work in progress.  His family is certainly better for these 10 strategies, though.

He addresses something that I have continually seen in my reading this year.... Sabbath.  It is not only important for us to take time to rest but to let our devices rest, too.  We don't let them rest for their sake.  We set them aside for our sake.

This book is not a giant thick read.  It is divided into very practical chapters that are quick to read and will have you thinking about how you can be more present in your own life.  I hope you will take the time to read a copy of this book and focus more on what is really important in this world.  Let us all put technology in it's proper place and live our lives with more focus on the most important things in this lifetime while we can.

You can read more about Andy Crouch and this and other books he has written on his website

This book was sent to me by Baker Books for free.  All they ask in return is that I read and review it with my own personal unbiased opinion.  I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to every family I can.

I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!