The autobiographical material in this book is intended to describe how the development of a clergy comes to pass! This journey through a clergy person's life is intended to: --help us be aware of all the people who have a vital part in the development of a pastor --recognize the level of commitment necessary to be an effective pastor --a life-long refinement of skills and learning through formal education, life experiences and continuing education --the need to care for our personhood and our family, as well as the parish --the necessity of making the Bible a life-long study project --the courage to act in time of crisis --a good sense of humor --the flexibility to grow and change as society and the church reach out for leadership

"This wholesome story of a delightful but very real family living out the character traits woven into the theme of each chapter will appeal to the reader from beginning to end!"-Celia Stoneking, Teacher of the Year, 2002-2003, Chimneyrock Elementary, Cordova, Tennessee Get ready for action-packed mystery, heartwarming adventures, and eye-watering laughter as you travel alongside the sister-brother detective duo of Maggie and Dillon Burch in The Mysterious Treasure of Blackberry Cove. On vacation with their parents in a quaint village surrounded by fruit orchards near the blue waters of scenic Lake Michigan, the always-curious Reader Whiz Kids find themselves in one mystery after another! Join them as they weave together the mysteries of the midnight light in a dark, abandoned orchard, the mysterious "guest" in the old family barn, the strange noise in Blackberry Cove, and the amazing discovery of two war medals found in an aging apple tree! They somehow connect all these mysteries together to uncover "treasures" in this that have been buried for decades! "Catchy dialogue will make for a quick read...A heartwarming story." -Kathy Akey, Kohl Fellow and Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, 1996-1997, School Librarian and Media Specialist, Clintonville, Wisconsin

"Eight rules for building a successful relationship through your own personal Dad's Class & over 60 topics and dozens of questions to launch the learning."

"Dad's Class is relevant to the current crisis involving the lack of parenting in our country. I would recommend it to any parent or coach as an excellent resource."

- Dr. Tom Osborne
Former Coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers,
UNL Athletic Director and Founder of The Teammates Mentoring Program.

"Of all the goals I have accomplished, being a father and seeing my children succeed has been the most rewarding. Parenting is a continual adventure and Dennis Nun's excellent book Dad's Class provides an invaluable map to follow that enables you to make the trip enjoyable with determination and purpose."

- Dr. John Goddard
World Explorer - Author of "The Survivor" and "Kayaks Down the Nile"

"Dad's Class is a concise and poignant book which reminds us of a simple truth: Dads Matter Dennis Nun has distilled his experience and passion in an easy to read format which will help fathers strengthen their relationships with their children. Dad's Class challenges us to review our priorities and consider how we can improve in the role of Dad. I heartily recommend this book I know you will benefit greatly from reading "Dad's Class" and using it as a tool to strengthen your family."

- Ken Canfield, Ph. D.
Founder, National Center for Fathering
Director of Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine

What I Want My Adopted Child to Know: An Adoptive Parent's Perspective is a tender, revealing look at adoption from the parent perspective. Whether you are an adoptive parent, an adoptee, someone considering adoption, or simply curious about adoption dynamics, What I Want My Adopted Child to Know: An Adoptive Parent's Perspective will touch your heart and increase your sensitivity to the challenges and joys that are unique to adoptive parenting.

Bacchetta wrote the book in response to a need common among adoptive families. "Adoptive families navigate emotional terrain that fully-biological families don't have to. This is a book adoptive parents can give to their child and say, 'I know adoption is painful, unsettling, joyous, and affirming. It's that way for me too. More than anything, adoption is the way we came together, and I'll always be grateful for that.'"

Bacchetta's words echo with the collective voice of over 100 adoptive parents interviewed for this book. With chapters like "I Would Do it All Again," "You Are Not Different Because You Were Adopted," and "I Regret What I Can't Give You," What I Want My Adopted Child to Know is by turns affirming, challenging, thoughtful, wistful, and poignant.

"Save me My child is acting like a brat "

What parent hasn't thought her child was a brat at one point or another? Whether your child really is a brat, is at risk of becoming one, or is simply trying to grow up in a world filled with temptations and distractions, you'll love this book It's the ultimate hands-on guide to cultivating character traits that are tried-and-true "bratbusters." Full of no-nonsense, practical "Tips and Scripts," You're Not the Boss of Me offers just the help you need to deal with many of the more challenging behaviors typical of four- to twelve-year-olds. With Betsy Brown Braun's humorous, supportive, and authoritative voice as a guide, navigating some of the most exasperating aspects of these formative years with confidence and laying the groundwork for your child's future just got a whole lot easier

It's All Here--What to Say and Do to Help Your Child: Get Over the GimmesTell the Truth Be Self-ReliantDevelop Empathy Show Gratitude Be Respectful Take Responsibility Be Independent Exercise Humorand Not Be Spoiled

Twenty thousand families from over one hundred nations have brought their children to the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential. Glenn Doman, founder of the Institutes has brought real hope to thousands of children who have been sentenced to a life of institutional confinement. This book explains why old theories and techniques fail and why the philosophy and revolutionary treatment of The Institutes succeed.

This book helps victims express in pictures what they are unable to say in words.

From the bestselling authors of The Montessori Toddler and The Montessori Baby, The Montessori Child guides parents in using the principals of Montessori to raise their school-aged children in ways that assist their development and foster a respectful relationship between parent and child and world.

When children are given independence, the tools to succeed, and the encouragement to build on their abilities, it's amazing what they can achieve. The newest book in the bestselling Montessori series is an everything-you-need-to-know guide to raising your school-aged child (from 3-12 years old, with a bonus chapter for the teen years) in the Montessori way. Educators Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike provide an in-depth, practical guide to incorporating Montessori principles into readers' everyday lives, with advice on everything from setting up your home in ways that encourage curiosity and independence to supporting your child's social and moral development with a balance of limit-setting and age-appropriate freedoms.The book includes dozens of hands-on activities to help foster your child's love of numbers and literacy, art and science, and ones that encourage community-building, social awareness, and connection with the natural world. The Montessori Child offers a powerful alternative for parents who feel that family life has gotten too complicated by showing parents how to make more intentional choices for your family, how to better understand the needs of your children, and support them as they develop their unique potential.

In this ground-breaking book, Dorothy Becvar shows how a spiritual orientation can be used to facilitate healing at the deepest level. By incorporating a " soul healing " perspective into their practices, professionals may be able to help both themselves and their clients find meaning, wholeness, and a sense of the sacred in their lives, regardless of each person's beliefs about religion.According to postmodern theory, each of us creates his or her own reality. With a spiritual orientation, we may recognize that at some level we choose all of our life experiences,including our physical and emotional problems,that provide lessons essential to our personal growth and wholeness at a soul level. Although usually we are not conscious of these choices, our experiences may be part of the process called soul healing."In Becvar's framework, spirituality accommodates the full range of belief systems. Therapy with a spiritual orientation focuses on the whole of the client, and is aimed at the co-creaton of a new context within which healing at a soul level may be achieved. A pivotal part of this approach is the conscious awareness of both the relationship between client and therapist and the sacred trust bestowed on mental health professionals by their clients.In Part I, Becvar draws on her life experiences and shows how they influenced the development of her theoretical framework, which she then describes. Part II focuses on the five principles of soul healing: Acknowledging connectedness, suspending judgment, trusting the universe, creating realities, and walking the path with heart. Part III addresses the ramifications for both individuals and society to consciously undertake a journey toward wholeness.With compelling and sensitive case examples, Becvar illustrates ways in which clients and therapists may experience their connectedness and thereby co-create therapeutic relationship infused with a spiritual dimension.

With the intensity of the California gold rush, corporations are racing to stake their claim on the consumer group formerly known as children. What was once the purview of a handful of companies has escalated into a gargantuan enterprise estimated at over $15 billion annually. While parents struggle to set limits at home, marketing executives work day and night to undermine their efforts with irresistible messages.
In "Consuming Kids," psychologist Susan Linn takes a comprehensive and unsparing look at the demographic advertisers call "the kid market," taking readers on a compelling and disconcerting journey through modern childhood as envisioned by commercial interests. Children are now the focus of a marketing maelstrom, targets for everything from minivans to M&M counting books. All aspects of children's lives - their health, education, creativity, and values - are at risk of being compromised by their status in the marketplace.
Interweaving real-life stories of marketing to children, child development theory, the latest research, and what marketing experts themselves say about their work, Linn reveals the magnitude of this problem and shows what can be done about it. With a foreword written by research psychologist and author Penelope Leach, "Consuming Kids" is a call to action for parents, educators, legislators and anyone who cares about the health and well-being of children.

Every teenager rebels against authority at some point--talks back, breaks curfew, or disobeys. But literally millions of teens take their rebellion to a point where it disrupts their families and endangers their own futures or even their lives. If one of these teens is yours, you've probably lived through years of conflicting advice and pat solutions that don't last. Finally, this breakthrough guide from a master therapist will show you the seven steps to positive, permanent change for you and your teenager:

1. Learn the real reasons for teen misbehavior.
2. Make an ironclad contract to stop that behavior.
3. Troubleshoot future problems.
4. End button-pushing.
5. Stop the "seven aces" -- from disrespect to threats of violence.
6. Mobilize outside help.
7. Reclaim lost love within the family.

Clear, compassionate, and packed with real-life solutions to real-life problems, this book gives parents the tools they need to turn their families' lives around for good.

Students explore and understand the meaning of family relationships. Great books from prompting value-oriented discussions on caring, sharing, and loving.

Dr. Laura Nathanson wrote The Portable Pediatrician to help parents find the joy in parenting and gain the confidence to quickly and easily assess their child's development, medical symptoms, and behavioral problems. Parents can't always visit their pediatrician every time they have a question, but fortunately with this book they have the next best thing.

The Portable Pediatrician, one of the few child-care books written by a practicing pediatrician, offers authoritative and practical advice on:

• Keeping up with, or even one step ahead of, your child's rapidly changing needs
• Setting limits before the one year birthday
• Planning the arrival of the next baby in the family
• Coping with your own as well as with your child's separation anxiety
• Dealing with the four I's: illnesses, injuries, immunizations, and insurance coverage
• Getting prompt medical attention for serious crises -- and what to do in the meantime
• Preventing childhood obesity and eating disorders later
• Confronting complex behavior and medical problems, including ADD, autism, asthma, oppositional behavior (including potty resistance)