The Million Little Pieces That Make Up a Life - Church of the Small Things

Church of the Small Things! This book is packed with great everyday illustrations of life's "little moments" that truly make up this "big thing" called life.Tender, transparent, yet humorous. Life changing. I loved this book!

This was an enjoyable read. What a lovely sense of humor this author has. I found myself laughing out loud while I read it. There was also a very touching chapter that had me tearing up. Overall I thought this was a good way to remind us that God uses the little things to work in our lives just like He uses the big ones.

Another home run by Melanie Shankle! I true BigMama style, Melanie shared intimate, touching and hilarious details from her life that truly encourage us to "take time to smell the roses." If you grew up in the 70s/80s, you will be especially fond of this book and laugh your head off with the MANY references to things related to your childhood. If you are looking for a quick, easy, light-hearted read, this book is for you.

"Church of Small Things" is a fun memoir that shows it's really the small things in life that mean the most. Covering memories of her grandparents, sister, dogs, friends, and family, this is a sweet book showing that life is truly lived in the small everyday moments.

I received a copy of this via NetGalley.

I’ve read two of Melanie Shankle’s previously books Sparkly Green Earrings and The Antelope in the Living Room and enjoyed them. Melanie is a Christian, but her theology is a little more liberal than mine.* After reading the book, and enjoying it, I will tell you what the book is and is not.
First of all, I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction and the story that she used from the Bible. I too had considered this story and the characters in much the same way that she did. This book is about the small things that we do every day that receive no fanfare, no praise, no earthly recognition, but are what doing God’s will is all about. As a stay-at-home mom who has struggled with the feelings of “not doing enough”, I could completely relate to what she was saying. I can appreciate that we need to be seeing the small moments of everyday life as really the most important and memorable moments and that it is in these moments that God teaches us about what really matters.
This book is not an evangelical, sharing-the-Gospel type of book that the title of the book might suggest. This book reads like her other books and many of the posts on her blog. This book is a collection of stories about her life, the people in her life, and the moments that have shaped who she is today. Melanie writes as if she is sitting in the same room, talking to you. Her writing is lively, and I took turns laughing out loud and crying as I read it. I started reading this book when I was on vacation, and it was a perfect vacation read. Although she does make some deeper points, most of her stories and reflections are very light-hearted. This book came at a great time in my own life when I needed to hear someone share honestly about how life hasn’t always turned out like she thought it would. As a woman close to the same age as Melanie, I could relate to MANY of the stories and experiences she shared in regards to the people, places, songs, brands, and hairdos of the 90s, especially being from a small town in Texas myself. This book gave me warm feelings of nostalgia, allowed me to cry tears of honest regret, and reminded me that I have been left a legacy and will leave a legacy of my own. In her very candid way, she shares these stories that highlight her family, her friends, her mistakes, her hurt, and her regrets, but also the joy she has found in both the expected and unexpected places.
I most enjoyed the last two chapters of the book but wish that she had placed those chapters at the beginning. Those were the chapters that most spoke of God and how He was challenging her and changing her. I do wish that she would share the Gospel more openly in the book since she’s writing to a big audience and has such an influence.
Overall, I will say that I enjoyed this book and was sad when it was over because when I was reading it, I felt like I was interacting with an old friend. Cherish the moments and the people around you, share your stories with your children, love people and show them that you love them, and remember that you are where you are because God has placed you there.
*It bothers me when Christian authors use curse words in their writing and also reference alcohol use. The language is mild, but she does make several references to drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages.
**I was on the book launch team for this book and received a digital copy in advance of the release date. The opinions expressed are my own.
Written by Monica F.

The tag line for Melanie Shankle's latest book is "What if it's the little things that make a big difference?" Indeed. With her Dave Barry-esque wit, she challenges us to embrace the mundane. To stop living for the grand gesture, mountain top type moments and realize the importance of our daily, faithful routines. I was encouraged and inspired as I laughed out loud and regurgitated passages to whoever would listen. Do your soul a favor and pick this up.

Melanie Shankle is one of my favorite bloggers. I have fallen in love with her podcasts with Sophie Hudson and her books. This book is funny, thoughtful, and anyone who loves the 80's & yacht rock speaks my love language. Church of the Small Things reminds me that to cherish the little things, and God is always present in everything we do. This is probably one of my favorite books that she has written. She is like an old friend talking to me while I was reading this book. I don't think this book could be any better that it already is. Looking foward to her next book!!!

I was so excited for another book by Melanie Shankle so I eagerly preordered a copy. Unfortunatley, I mistakenly used my husband’s account (this one) but all my kindle books are on my account. And this book cannot be shared in the family library. How sad that I can’t read her book! ;(

My goodness, I have been a fan of Melanie Shankle for a few years now and after devouring Nobody's Cuter Than You, I have been waiting for her next book. Church of the Small Things is everything Melanie Shankle; funny, serious, passionate, and wise. Honestly, while reading this book I laughed out loud, cried, and said out loud, "me too". Melanie is a gifted writer and I promise you will enjoy every page in this book.

This is such an encouraging book. It reminds us that every small thing can be used by God for His glory. While so often, we search for significance and live for the big things, this book is about embracing the small things and celebrating them. I will recommend it to all of my friends.

Another wonderful book by Melanie Shankle. She reminds us of what is important in life in a hilarious and charming way. Thank you, Melanie, for reminding us all that all the things we do in life add up to be big things; big things that can be used by God. Your writing is a gift!

Was just reading this book the other day. Get it!! She is SO funny. I am African American, from metropolitan city in California and the author is Caucasian from a small town in Texas. But when she mentioned dancing to Sir Mixelot and Tony Toni Tone songs in her college days I cracked up! Me too!! I felt a connection with Melanie Shankle from the get go! And if you are an antique junkie, you Must get the corresponding DVDs. Enjoy!!

This book is exactly what my soul needed with all the attacks our nation are under.....It is a "belly laugh, wipe a sneaky tear" kind of read, quick with long lasting reminders to remember what really matters!! "It's not about doing the glamorous thing. It's about doing the faithful thing." "Some of us are white couch people. Some of us are brown-couch-that-can-be-wiped-clean-with-some-leather-cleaner people" This brown couch girl says to buy this book! You will be so happy you did. #churchofthesmallthings

Love it! Took me back to my childhood/teen years on so many pages. I caught myself giggling with memories of big hair and baby oil baked summers! And i cried. And took pictures of my dog who is only five, but won't be here forever and you can never have too many pictures of your puppy! I can't wait to give my best friend a copy of the book. It's a keeper!

Loved this book from cover-to-cover!! Witty, thought-provoking, and full of hope when we all need it!

Loved hearing about the 80's teen years through Melanie's stories and it made me laugh and remember my own mishaps!

Go get this book!! It's a deceptively light read that packs a punch without you even realizing it until it's over. So much depth in every story and deserves a second look like most of the best works of art do!

Church of the Small Things is encouraging, refreshing and so funny. I listen to The Big Boo podcast and I love Melanie’s humor. I just got this out of the mailbox today and I’m almost halfway through. It’s brought back such sweet memories from my own childhood. I’ve laughed and cried reading these stories that are so relatable. I needed to be reminded to recognize and cherish the beauty found in the small things.

I was disappointed in the book. It was basically the author recounting various things throughout get life. I actually didn't mind many of the stories, they were well written and entertaining to read, but by chapter 4 I was expecting her to start tying in some scripture and making points more than "What I wish I knew back then". Again, not badly written, but not what I was looking for at all.

This book is filled with laughter and truth! Melanie's words and insight are a gift to this world. One of my favorite lines in the book says, "You know what we all do when we sit around thinking about our Fantasy Someday? We miss the holiness of this moment we're living right now." I often catch myself thinking about what comes next in life instead of staying in the present, but Church of the Small Things reminds me to focus on the parts of life that may seem mundane but really add up to create a life. Appreciate those small things with great meaning.

I received a free advanced copy of the book from the publisher.

Ever seen the episode from Will and Grace when Jack declares he found his calling and does a one man show called “Just Jack”, come to find out the show is all about Jack. This book doesn’t stray too far from that concept, it’s about the author and her life experiences with the attempt to tell you to enjoy life’s little moments. Opps spoiler.

This book is wonderful! I have loved all of Melanie's books, but I think this one is my favorite (so far). Melanie's funny and endearing stories are so relatable and heartwarming. I definitely enjoyed this book, but also learned a lot, while not feeling like we (the reader) were being lectured. I laughed, cried and did NOT want the book to end!

Probably my favorite book from Melanie! Insightful, witty, affirming, relevant & funny. Melanie helps you remember that God is in the details & that the little things matter to Him. It is a very easy to read book, perfect for when you have a few minutes to read a few pages. I imagine the Bible study is just as good if not better.

This book was my introduction to Melanie Shankle, and I love her! I listened to the book on Audible, and was surprised to find myself literally laughing out loud, all by myself, with no one around! It was a fun, refreshing book to read with a very good message to those of us who need a reminder that, while we're looking for the big stuff, we are missing the very important small things right in front of us. I loved this book and have already sent a link to several friends. Her other books are now on my "must read" list!

Melanie did it again. I LOVE this book! Inspiring and thought-provoking, funny and fun, it is everything we've come to expect from Melanie. I've ordered the workbook that goes with it so I can re-read the book and dive a little deeper into the messages of this book. If you haven't read, you must!

Melanie has a gift of recognizing the value of daily living. She made me smile and sometimes laugh out loud as she shared her take on regular day to day activities. She warns of the pitfalls of comparison, and encourages her readers to use our God-given talents and opportunities to make our world a better place.

Church of the Small Things by Melanie Shankle from The Big Mama Blog tackles the question we women all ask, "Is my ordinary, everyday life actually significant?" I know right now it is hard to imagine my less than glamorous life as having any significance, but Shankle shares how God actually does care and He uses the ordinary in my life for good things.

In Church of the Small Things, Shankle shares her life stories with a sense of humor to remind us all that we can find meaning in the mundane and ordinary moments may truly be the most special moments when all is said and done. At the end of several chapters, Shankle has fun lists that are darn near worth the price of the book alone: Things I Wish I'd Known about God When I Was Younger, Things That Keep Me Up at Night, and Things I Wish I'd Known When I Became a Mom, and more.

I'll be honest, Shankle is close to my age. I totally get her humor and her stories that include some childhood reminiscing that I can so relate to. Her and her husband also parent one child. I parent one child. There is so much that she shares that I can relate to that I found Church of the Small Things to be a fast read and total pleasure to devour. But I don't think you have to relate quite as well as I do to Shankle to enjoy this book. She has a warm and witty style, but this book isn't all fluff. The shares some sharp spiritual insights that will have you reflecting God's work in your own life. I recommend this book to women of all ages.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for the book.

SUMMARY:
New York Times bestselling author and blogger at The Big Mama Blog, Melanie Shankle in her new book, Church of the Small Things, shares her personal little moments that add up to so much more. Wondering if those small things really matter, she tackles the tough questions while she journeys to a more content place in life. Taking the time to ponder and enjoy, in her witty and honest manner and style of writing, Melanie reveals her experiences growing up which shaped her while offering hope, encouragement and a deeper message.
A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
While expecting something a bit different from this book due to the title, I was not at all disappointed to find the message portrayed within. Nodding my head in agreement so many times while laughing out loud, there were also some heart-aching moments sprinkled throughout. With her usual humor, Melanie Shankle writes an easy to read, relatable and uplifting book that caused me to stop, smile and enjoy the small moments that contribute to my overall busy life. A truly down-to-earth, faith-filled book from a favorite author, I knew I would enjoy this book having read her previous books. Definitely a book I will recommend and reread as the depth intermingles beautifully with the funny.
RATING:
5 (out of 5) pennies
*I received a complimentary copy of Church of the Small Things from BookLook Bloggers for my honest review*

Fun. Relatable. Laugh out loud funny. Easy read. Great vacation or stress reliever book.

Nothing too convicting, but good pauses to look at God in our day to day lives and learn how to integrate Him in all the small things of normal life. Spiritual encouragement with lighthearted humor. But also helps the reader identify purpose in her life, and makes her smile at the author's stories of discovering God in her mundane (which may not seem all that mundane with her humor!)

Simple biblical truths, encouraging the reader to see God in the little things because "being faithful in the small things, because those are the moments that prepare us for the next thing."

It's a book presented with stories, humor, and even a few tears written in an enjoyable manner with a bit of sass and reality that it takes many by surprise at the humor and boldness. But we all relate and keep reading. In "big mama" style! As I first learned of this author. And loved relaxing with her book. You can see more about her and her blog at: ChurchOfTheSmallThings.com

Quotes I loved as lessons (but you have to read the book to see how the author makes these memorable!):

"Because every moment in what some might consider a small life was a moment painted with great love."
"When we open ourselves up to the life God has for us, it probably isn't going to feel safe, but it will be infinitely better because it's a life filled with purpose...
"We can never underestimate the grace and the strength he will give us for whatever he is calling us to do and whatever challenges we'll face."

As a 45 year old woman, we are in the same season of life and history, so I have many connections to her memories and life experiences, but even if you are much younger, you'll get it, she's funny and real. And I enjoy seeing her faith grow wings and her stories share her heart for God. Blessed to join the launch team, but the opinion is my honest review.

I read somewhere between thirty and fifty books a year. Some I barely get through, others I like enough to give away to a friend, and I genuinely love only a few. Church of the Small Things falls in the LOVE category without a doubt. Melanie Shankle is hilarious, and I feel like we might be long-lost friends. I laughed so much reading this book, much to the chagrin of my trying to sleep husband.

Church of the Small Things is a memoir type book with reflection sprinkled throughout. Even if memoir isn’t your thing, this book will be. My favorite few lines I highlighted I might just frame and hang somewhere I will be sure to see often. Melanie says in her introduction:

“A life is not made from one thing, one big moment, or one huge success. It’s created moment by moment, often with pieces that don’t look like anything beautiful on their own but are the very fabric of who God meant for us to become as we pack lunches, raise kids, love our neighbors, and simply be who he created us to be – nothing more, nothing less.”
It would be a mistake to have you believe this entire book is that serious. It totally isn’t. However, it reaffirmed for me the importance of the people around me. How I should love them fiercely, and treasure them while they are here. Also, that dreams are worth chasing, and friendship is worth the investment. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher and BookLookBloggers. I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t disclose that I sought this book out. I knew I wanted to read it and so i went hunting. I was not compensated and I was not required to write a positive review.

Church of Small Things is somewhat more different than Melanie's first three books. It's still funny, with a clear Melanie Shankle voice, but it approached a more serious plethora of topics. She writers about family, parents and grandparents, her sister, her husband and daughter, about friends, church and community. If you are familiar with her other books you may have read about all these before. Not to mention, if you know her blog, most certainly you will feel like you already know about the people she writes about. Some chapters read more like a blog entry, without the serious-toned or meaning-filled ending. Readers and non-readers of the blog will like it nonetheless. Other chapters are more serious, without the extra-funny parts, and I enjoyed those the most. It's like reading the saga of a Southern family.

I like how she approaches every chapter. She may start from a random idea, but the story is deeper and has meat to it, and you read it feeling like she's telling this personal anecdote and life lesson to a small group of friends, you among them. Melanie is good at telling stories that hold your attention, but without thinking too highly of herself. She is down-to-earth and easy to relate to, despite the decades and countries that maybe separate her from her readers.

I don't usually skip parts in any of the books I read, but this time I did. I just skipped the chapter about her dogs. I don't read the blog entries about the dogs, nor the shenanigans they too often find themselves in, nor do I care about the haikus one of the dogs is compelled to write too often after every event of its life. Those dogs are neurotic and they stress me out. I also regret reading the chapter about her wide selection of pets over the years. Maybe not wide in your opinion, but 3-5 too many in my opinion.

All in all, I sure had a good time reading her memoir. Of all her books so far, this had the most memoir-like feel to it, and the one I enjoyed the most. About her third book I said it was better than the first two; this time I must say that her fourth book is better than her first three. Having followed her writing over the years, I can tell she has become more comfortable in her writing. Now I cannot wait to read her next one.

My only regret is that the advanced e-book copy I received did not have the Foreword by Ree Drummond.

I received a free advanced reader e-book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

"Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces That Make Up a Life" is a gem. Melanie has a way of stirring up memories in her readers that leaves them in tears or in fits of laughter. We are all so busy that we tend to forget the small things in life and to miss them as we trudge through life working towards the next big thing. She makes us realize that the little moments in our lives are truly the most special and the ones that will mean the most. Times shared with grandparents, doing the faithful, mundane tasks in our everyday lives pouring into our families and loved ones that often go unnoticed. Melanie reminds us that God created us each uniquely with our own gifts to make this world better and that we should not compare ourselves to others because they were created with their own gifts to serve their specific God given purpose in life too and how we should embrace the fact that we are all different.

One of my favorite quotes is "God puts dreams, both big and small, in our hearts for a reason. And it's no coincidence that our dreams most often line up with the gifts he has given us." ~ Melanie Shankle

And a funny quote moms can relate to: "The laundry will cause your soul to shrivel up and die because it's a battle you can't win." ~ Melanie Shankle

I was blessed to receive an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I read Shankle's first book, Sparkly Green Earrings, years ago on the recommendation of one of my favorite bloggers (Happy Home Fairy). I admittedly don't even remember what the book was about, but I know that I loved it. Shankle has since written a few more books, but she apparently fell off my radar until this most recent one. After reading Church of the Small Things she has cemented herself as a must-read-author in my book, and I will be placing an order at the library for the past two books of hers that I missed.

This girl is FUNNY. She can ramble for pages about her dogs (I hate dogs) or her career in the pharmaceutical sales industry (I'm a SAHM redneck who had to spell-check "pharmaceutical"), but no matter the subject matter, her writing keeps me riveted, crying with laughter, and wanting more. And yet, she also packs profundity (it's a word - I checked) in the most unexpected places.

At the beginning of each chapter she includes a quote from an outside source. There were quotes from Tolkien, Gandhi, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. But there were also quotes from Andy Bernard (The Office), Tim Riggins (Friday Night Lights), and Frank Costanza (Seinfeld). I think that's called "Well-Rounded."

The chapters on her grandparents and her dad were probably my favorite. For all her hilarity, the sentimental stuff hits me even harder. I read the stories about her grandparents and immediately wanted to buy a journal and start jotting down my memories. And then when she talked about her dad. Oy. If I wasn't medicated up to my eyeballs, I would've cried.

So basically, this book is hilarious and relatable, profound and emotional. I highly recommend it!

*I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.*

In Church of the Small Things, Melanie Shankle attempts to show the reader that we are overlooking the little things that continuously add up to make a meaningful life. To set the stage a little bit I will let you know that I have not read any other books by Shankle. This was my first time reading her work and to be honest, I am not sure I would want to read other books from her.

I have heard a lot of good things about her writing in the past, but I have to say I was extremely disappointed with this book. I expected to read about how we can find joy in all the little things that we must do and how we can focus on them to make our life more fulfilling. What I got to read, instead, was a book that chronicled her life and shows all the little things that makes her who she is. I wasn't expecting a biography.

Now, this book was an easy and quick read, but I had some great expectations that were not fulfilled. For this being the first book of her's that I have read I was completely underwhelmed. It was more focused on what has happened in her life with little takeaway that I could implement into my life, or content that I could even connect with the author on. Sure, the title is catchy and the cover is very drawing, but I wish I hadn't taken the time to read it and I probably won't even read anything else from her.

This might be a book for you if you want to know more about who Melanie Shankle is, but if you are looking for substance, I would skip it.

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.}

This was my first time reading a Melanie Shankle book after hearing lots of praise for her work. The title and fun cover sucked me in and I had really high hopes for learning about lots of little things to do that would add up to a great life. However, I found the book to be disappointing. It was a quick read, but there weren't many points of the book that stand out to me. She glosses over stepping out of your comfort zone, opening your eyes to the people you encounter every day and being a good friend. There were tons of real life stories, real life moments and things that made you laugh. I was just missing the meat of the book. Shankle seems like a fun and funny mom. I would have liked for her to go into more details about all the little things you could do in life to help others, connect with people and build a great life for your family. The last half of book was more on topic and had some good take aways on focusing on the small, every day moments of your life. I just wish there would have been more of a connection to the title earlier in the book. Overall, I wouldn't recommend reading this book.

The author of this book, Melanie Shankle, is the blogger at The Big Mama Blog (which I've never read because I'm not in the mama phase of life, but I'm sure it's great) and is a New York Times best selling author (all unfamiliar to me, but her other books look fascinating). All that to say, I walked into this book with zero preconceived notions of this author.

I have to say that the book description calling Shankle "easygoing and relatable" is entirely true. Melanie is undeniably relatable, like your best friend from college type relatable and comfortable. She speaks directly to the heart of women of all ages who are longing to find significance and meaning in their normal, sometimes mundane, world of busy activities most of which are traced to little humans. Her premise is that God uses those mundane, boring and small acts of faithfulness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's an easy read and left me laughing out loud at some points. I'll be adding Melanie's other books to my "must read" list.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this book would be about finding God in ordinary, everyday moments - you know, like the description, cover, and intro all say it is? Instead, I read a collection of rambling short stories from the authors life that she desperately tried to make humorous, but weren't actually funny at all. "I grew up in the 80's! I had banana hair clips in every color and dressed up like Bad Sandy from Grease all the time! Isn't that hilarious?!". "Our lake house was in a town so small, we called Walmart 'THE Walmart', because it was the only one. Can you believe that?!". "My teenage daughter decided she wanted bangs, so she got bangs. And she instantly regretted it. How funny is that?!". "My dogs are so terribly behaved, they got kicked out of doggy day care! You guys.... aren't I so funny?!". I kept waiting for her to tie each story back to theme, but she didn't! I'm sorry, but what did your terrible story about not liking exercise have anything to do with serving God in your ordinary, daily life? NO ONE likes to exercise. It's not that funny! How in the world did this publisher get away with marketing a book as one thing and delivering something entirely different?! I can't believe I actually 1) bought this book and 2) even finished this awfulness. I would sell it, but I don't want to subject other people to it. I can't believe it's gotten so many 5 star reviews! What did those people read that I didn't? Disappointing is an understatement.

“Sometimes the biggest things God does start out in the smallest, most ordinary acts of daily faithfulness.”
Any hot pink book with an elephant carrying a bird’s nest on the cover will grab my attention- and this one was an absolute treat! Melanie is now my best friend ❤️ (I’m pretty sure every reader comes away with this belief) and managed to pack a powerful punch while causing me to laugh out loud. That’s what happens when you write chapters like “The Glamorous Life of a Writer” and “Fish, Frogs, Crabs, and a Farm of Lies.” As she takes an honest, humorous look at friendship, parenthood, hospitality, courage, dogs, family, and life in general, we see God’s incredible faithfulness in the small things, the everyday, the mundane. Such an enjoyable, encouraging read!

"Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces That Make Up a Life" is a gem. Melanie has a way of stirring up memories in her readers that leaves them in tears or in fits of laughter. We are all so busy that we tend to forget the small things in life and to miss them as we trudge through life working towards the next big thing. She makes us realize that the little moments in our lives are truly the most special and the ones that will mean the most. Times shared with grandparents, doing the faithful, mundane tasks in our everyday lives pouring into our families and loved ones that often go unnoticed. Melanie reminds us that God created us each uniquely with our own gifts to make this world better and that we should not compare ourselves to others because they were created with their own gifts to serve their specific God given purpose in life too and how we should embrace the fact that we are all different.

One of my favorite quotes is "God puts dreams, both big and small, in our hearts for a reason. And it's no coincidence that our dreams most often line up with the gifts he has given us." ~ Melanie Shankle

And a funny quote moms can relate to: "The laundry will cause your soul to shrivel up and die because it's a battle you can't win." ~ Melanie Shankle

I was blessed to receive an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I became a follower of Melanie's blog several years ago and have purchased each book as they came out. I give a solid 5 stars to each of them. In her newest book, she deals with that small little voice that we all have that whispers "Is this it? Is there something BIG I'm supposed to be doing? Am I missing it?" WIth wit and wisdom, she reminds us that life is so often made up of small things - seemingly insignificant at the time but in looking at the big picture we can see that small thing was exactly the finishing touch to a masterpiece. Never before had I thought of the story of the little boy who shared his lunch with Jesus from the viewpoint of the mama that packed that lunch. Her chapter on the role her Dad played in her life had me sobbing as I so gratefully identified with the gratitude and pride I feel toward my own precious Daddy, now gone home. Reading her books is like a great conversation around the kitchen table - laughter and tears, rabbit trails and deep truths. I can't recommend her enough!