First Blog Book Review & First Give Away

I am so excited to be doing my first blog book review for Random House books! I love to read & even as a busy mom, I read every day even if it is a few minutes before I go to bed. Even just that 5 or 10 minutes allows me to wind down. Occasionally I will really get into a book & have a hard time putting it down! After reading a blog book review a couple of months ago, I knew I could really get into this! For some of my book reviews I will be able to give away a copy of the book & for this first review I will be having a very "official" drawing on Sunday August 2nd. So for all 2 or 3 of you out there :) this will be a great book to win!

About two or three chapters into Tricia Goyer's book Blue Like Play Dough, I thought that her writing was a little "all over the map." It was not very long after that very brief thought that I realized, not only am I all over the map myself but so is motherhood in general. After all, how in the world could a writer sum up SO much? I soon changed my thinking & was so thankful that she was able to cover so much. Tricia Goyer touched on subjects that sometimes we are hesitant to admit we struggle with as self imposed super moms. She shared her personal story as a teenage mother & was very vulnerable in sharing many of her feelings during that time & how God used that part of her life in an awesome way to minister to others. In fact, every chapter has very personal stories. I really appreciated her honesty, encouragement & how down to earth she comes across.

One thing that I couldn't personally relate to was how she shared about the struggle of giving up dreams (as a writer) as a part of motherhood. I am thankful that it really always was my dream to be a wife & mom as well as be a nurse. So I can't really say this is something specific I have struggled with but overall I loved this book. Blue Like Play Dough is more than just a warm fuzzy read but truly points us to the One who molds us, strengthens us & guides us as moms.

"One day I was praying about all the hard stuff in life, and into my mind came an image of a blue lump of play dough. As I focused on it, I realized the lump wasn't something my kids or I held in our hands. Rather it was something God held in His. I was that lump. As I watched God pull and tug, I saw that He was following a pattern. He had something in mind. God, the artist, was shaping me, forming me to represent an image of His Son."

This is truly a story of not only redemption but God using our circumstances. "I thought I knew what I wanted. Instead God knew what I needed. I love that He does that."

I do too!

Leave a comment by Sunday August 2nd (9pm) & I will have my very official helpers pick a winner! Or go get your copy here.

In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible.

Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.

In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognizes the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.

visit www.triciagoyer.com