Raising Maidens of Virtue - A Review

publishers of

Raising Maidens of Virtue - A study of
feminine loveliness for mothers and daughters

For mothers and their daughters ages 8 - 15

$18.50

by Stacy McDonald  - Stacy is a Presbyterian pastor's wife, mother, grandma, conference speaker, and blogger.  She encourages women in their marriages, motherhood, homemaking, chastity, and Christian culture.

Illustrated by Johannah Bluedorn - Johannah has been homeschooled all of her life and is self-taught in art.  She is an author and an illustrator.

Foreword by Mrs. Jennie Chancey - Jennie is a wife, mother of ten, and the owner of Sense and Sensibility Patterns.



Be sure to take a peek at all the other wonderful books available at Grace and Truth Books.



About this book (from their website):

"The Revised and Expanded Edition. Contains new, updated content and additional chapters.

Now in its 7th printing, this revised and expanded edition of Stacy McDonald’s popular Bible study for mothers and daughters reflects a mature and seasoned approach to mentoring young women. With many of the original chapters polished and revised, and several new chapters added, readers will find this resource refreshing and even more useful than before.

Godly women are not born, but raised. Raising Maidens of Virtue is a storehouse of tools for mothers to employ to raise up a daughter whose life will honor God. Written in an engaging style, Stacy McDonald conveys the truth through stories, conversations, illustrations, and memory-making projects, to warmly encourage girls to think Biblically about themselves and their world. Offers useful counsels on modesty, feminine beauty, guarding the tongue, idleness, sibling relationships, honoring parents, contentment and more."



Our Thoughts:


Purity and modesty, it isn't about the clothes you wear or how you style your hair.  It is about your heart; it is about the reasons behind why you do what you do.

 Did you pick your clothes in order to solicit attention?  Did you choose your hairstyle in order to look like the latest celebrity?  When you go out, are you looking for a quick date, or are you keeping your future husband in mind?

It is a choice.  Live for God or live like the world.  Dress modestly or dress like Hollywood.  Date every guy who asks you out, or live with your future husband always in mind.  It is about your heart.

Be a lovely lady.  A virtuous woman.  A fair maiden.  Both inside and out.

This book is in its 7th printing, but somehow this is the first time I've heard of it.  The thought of working through this book with my daughters thrilled me.  I was so excited to get it and get started.  My heart's desire is for my daughters to be maidens of virtue.  And I am thrilled to have found this book to help us on that journey.

Stacy McDonald has such a delightful writing style.  She uses analogies such as Hannah Hotstuff and Fanny McFrump to depict different attitudes about our attire.  And wonderful stories such as "The Fence Dwellers", to show the dangers of spending too much time dwelling on things of this world and becoming desensitized to right vs. wrong.  The lessons are very serious and our daughters would be wise to learn them; but Stacy teaches the lessons in ways that are interesting and sometimes, humorous.

The book includes beautiful illustrations, very nostalgic.  And heart-touching prayers.  Stacy shares her heart and is very open with her readers.  The questions at the end of each lesson are thought-provoking and open the doors for heart-to-heart discussions between a mom and her daughters.

Here is an example of one of the included prayers:

Dear Lord, help me to notice

areas of my life that need

changing.  Keep me from being

prideful, selfish, or arrogant.  Make my

heart chaste, Lord; and, help to ensure

that my "outside" lines up with my

"inside."  Help me to present myself to 

others in a way that points to you, and

not to me.  Amen. 

Reading this book with my daughters touches my heart.  It reminds me what it feels like to be a young lady, trying to find her way.  And it helps me illustrate to my daughters the importance of living a pure life, holy and acceptable unto God.  My daughters are enjoying the stories and asking lots of questions.  It is reminding me of the importance of searching my own heart on a daily basis.  It truly is all about our hearts, having hearts turned towards God.

The recommended age is 8-15, but I suggest using your own discernment as some topics may be a little mature, although all topics are covered in good taste. 

If all our daughters could learn lessons such as this at a young age, what a difference it would make.  Again, it is all about the heart, purity of heart.

"If a young woman is truly acting in love toward her brother (yes, the guys in your life are your brothers), she won't risk his heart or his purity by seeking to be pursued in a way that is outside of God's will.  She won't play with his emotions or (by her actions, words, or dress) tempt him to think of her in an inappropriate way simply to satisfy some sort of fleshly desire inside herself."

What a treasure this book is.  How thrilled I am to have found it.  How excited I am to continue on this journey with my precious daughters.








 Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge, as part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.

Journeys of Faithfulness - A Review

 Presents...

Journeys of Faithfulness: Stories of life and faith for young christian women


 

$13.00

 Recommended for ages 12 and up

 By Sarah Clarkson

From the website
"A wonderful gift for mothers and their daughters! Sarah Clarkson challenges young women to reach higher and go deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ by exploring the spiritual journeys of biblical women whose faith moves and inspires us even today. Celebrate the beauty, sacrifice, and courage that made these women the heroines they are with this collection of inspirational stories and devotions. Through the journeys of Ruth, Esther, Mary, and others, learn how God can reach into the life of an ordinary girl who loves Him and bring His beauty and grace to bear in the world through her obedience. Recommended for ages 12 and up."

Sample Chapter

Table of Contents


More wonderful products available from Apologia. 

More about the author, Sarah Clarkson.


Our Thoughts:

Sarah's book is full of stories of "life and faith" for young Christian women, but also plenty challenging for more mature women as well.  You will walk along side Mary & Martha, Mary (mother of Jesus), Esther, and Ruth.  The stories of Esther and Ruth are my favorite stories of the Bible.  Stories of women who were willing to do the right thing, no matter the cost.  Women who put God first in their lives. 

Sarah takes the facts from the Bible, and intertwines them into longer, more detailed stories.  Stories that allow us a glimpse into these women's hearts:  their struggles and heartbreaks, their dreams and hopes, their deep love for God and for their families.   I did stress to my daughters that the stories in this study were based on non-fiction, but that the author had used dramatic license to add details, not portrayed in the Bible.

After each story, Sarah shares a devotional with the reader, using personal stories from her own lives.  Then she follows it up with several Bible passages to read and ponder, with questions provided for a deeper study.  Sarah wants to challenge young Christian women to "reach higher and go deeper in her relationship with Jesus Christ by choosing well and staying the course in her walk with God."  It covers topics such as taking the time to "just be" in the presence of God, to not always be busy, but to take time to just be.  She also reminds young ladies of the importance of knowing and believing without a shadow of a doubt, because everything else in your Christian life is based on that foundation.

I found this to be an interesting study.  When we read Bible passages, we hear the stories and think, "Wow, they were true heroines.  They did the right thing."  But when we read these narrations in the study, we take the time to ponder their hearts, and think about their struggles.  Maybe they were scared.  Maybe they were discouraged.  Maybe, at least for a short time, they felt that Jesus had let them down.  We see that these heroines were human, with the same struggles that we have, the same emotions we have, but when it came time to make a choice, they chose God.

The topics are challenging and thought-provoking.  The stories, about some of the Bible's amazing women, are engaging and endearing.  The recommended age is 12 and up.  I used this study as a read-aloud with my 10 and 13 year old daughters.  I, personally, think the recommended age is a bit low.  It felt to me like the book was written at an adult level, and I (as an adult) found some of the Bible Study questions to be challenging.  I would recommended about 14-15 years old and up.  I liked the idea of using the guide as a mother/daughter devotional study.





Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge, as part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.

Sugar Creek Gang Audio CDs - A Review

Beloved Books Presents:

Sugar Creek Gang Audio CDs

Each Volume - $54.95

Entire Set of Volumes 1-6 - $279.70

Thanks to the great folks at Beloved Books, we have a...
SPECIAL COUPON CODE for my blog readers:  Receive 20% off of your order with this code - "WLTH-20" 

From Their Site:

"In 1939, Paul Hutchens began writing a series of wholesome Christian adventure books for boys and girls.  Several years ago Paul Ramseyer was inspired to dramatize the book series for radio.  Now your family can own and enjoy the complete 36-book audio series... over 100 hours on 72 CDs!

These Sugar Creek Gang "Audio Adventures" are dramatically read straight from the original books.  Christian families LOVE this series because the gospel message is presented in such a simple, easy-to-understand style.  The whole series is, in fact, a discipleship journey... even parents who listen along witness the Holy Spirit working changes in their own hearts!

Families also enjoy the delightfully interspersed segments of nature study, poetry, hymns, and even science lessons... all skillfully woven into the fabric of the stories."

You may also like to know that Paul Hutchens' autobiography, "My Life and I",  has also been put onto an Audio CD.

 If you are undecided, you may wish to purchase a sample CD of the 1st story, "Swamp Robber" for $4.95, with FREE shipping.


If you are still undecided, read these wonderful testimonies from listeners. And I don't know what higher recommendation I can give than this.  One of my fellow crew members mentioned that her daughter accepted Jesus as Savior, after listening to one of the Sugar Creek Gang audio CDs!  Wow, all I can say is, "Wow!"

Beloved Books offers MANY other inspiring books and audio CDs.  What an amazing collection!


Our Thoughts:

I like a good story.  I love a good story that throws in Christian values and the Salvation story. 

I listened to the Audio CD with my entire family: me, hubby, 13 yo daughter, 10 yo daughter, and 3 yo daughter. 

I liked the wholesome feel of these stories: love of God, respect of parents, devotion to friends.  It has so many built-in values, life lessons, and Christian Values, even mentions of accepting Jesus as Savior.  I didn't have to worry that something inappropriate would pop-up in the middle of the story.  I felt that my children would be grow in wisdom and deepen their values and faith, by listening to these stories.

The narrator, Paul Ramseyer, did a wonderful job of telling these stories.  He puts so much emotion, enthusiasm, and feeling into the telling.

These stories are taken straight from the original storybooks.  The story lines and tone of the narration reminded me of the TV show, "Leave it to Beaver".  I'm thinking that if you enjoyed that show (the stories, the values, etc.), you will enjoy these stories.  I loved that show, and I love these stories.

But, sadly, my daughters did not enjoy the Audio CDs.  Why?  I'm not sure.  For one thing, they don't particularly enjoy listening to Audio CDs.  They prefer to read the book, or have me read the book to them.   Possibly, a story about a bunch of boys "doing boy-ish things" doesn't particularly appeal to them.  Whatever the reason, they just didn't get into it.

BUT, I do like them a lot.  I found it entertaining and uplifting.  It was like a "breath of fresh air" compared to a lot of the "fluff" out there passing as children's literature.  And many of the other crew members have children (boys and girls) who love, love, love the stories.  So I encourage you to give it a try.  You may wish to purchase a sample CD of the 1st story, "Swamp Robber" for $4.95, with FREE shipping.  If your children listen to and enjoy these stories, I truly believe it will have a positive impact on their lives and their relationship with family, friends, and God.

I plan to continue to listen to these stories, even if I listen to them alone.  :)


REMEMBER!  Thanks to the great folks at Beloved Books, we have a...
SPECIAL COUPON CODE for my blog readers:  Receive 20% off of your order with this code - "WLTH-20" 
 







Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge, as part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.