I Believe In Jesus Too

Title: I Believe In Jesus Too
Author: Mark S. Neilsen
Illustrator: Craig Stapley
Pages: 32 (Hardcover)
Release Date: February 2012
Publisher: Deseret Book
ISBN: 978-1609087418
Buy it: Deseret Book | Amazon | The Book Depository 
Add it: Goodreads | Shelfari 

Description (From Deseret Book): All around the world, Latter-day Saint children go to church, sing songs, pray, read scriptures, participate in family home evening, and get baptized. We may meet in different types of buildings or speak different languages, but we have a lot in common. Why? Because no matter where we live, we all love and believe in Jesus, and He loves each one of us just the same. Are you like Pablo, Dimitri, Bayani, Junpei, and Shamara? Do you believe in Jesus too?

My view: You know my son saw this book and crawled right up into my lap and asked me to read it to him. The pictures are beautiful and the words and message are simple and wonderful and full of love. It was fun to talk about places all over the world and see that we are both very similar and also have fun differences. We've only had this book for a week and already we've read it a dozen times. It's delightful!

More info on Author Mark S Neilsen: ~Website ~Facebook
From facebook: I have wanted to become a published author since grade school and I am so excited to finally have my 1st children's book come out. It's taken about 11 years of writing and sending in my manuscripts to finally have my dream come true. "I Believe in Jesus Too" comes out February 21st, 2012. Thanks for sharing in the excitement with me!

Marriage Monday: Harsh Startup

"Have you ever launched a conversation only to wish you could rewind it and start again? This happened to me recently. It was after dinner and my wife, Julie had gone downstairs to her office. My daughter and I both felt a little disappointed because we'd been looking forward to spending the evening with her.
So I yelled down the stairs, "Hey, Julie, stop working! It's family time!"
My harsh tone put Julie on the defensive, so she answered back in an angry tone, I can't! I've got to get this done!"
Imagine (as I did the next day) how I might have started this conversation with Julie differently. I might have said something like, "Hey, Julie, we miss you. Come upstairs as soon as you can, okay?"
Our exchange was a classic example of what I call 'harsh startup': You want to connect with somebody, so you make a bid for that connection. But because your bid begins in such a negative, blaming, or critical way, you get just the opposite of what you're after: You drive the person away. "

Instead try beginning the conversation on a softer note, revisit the situation later, or try admitting you're sorry or began wrong.

The quote in this post is from The Relationship Cure A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships by John M. Gottman, Ph.D. and Joan DeClaire




You can find my other Marriage Monday's here.