When I Grow Up

I spend a lot of time searching for and reading good books with my children.  This activity has brought me some of my most wonderful experiences as a Mother and has helped me to teach them what is right and what is good. It has helped me to prepare them for changes and new experiences. It has helped me to teach them that they are loved, that they are of worth, that they have great potential.

I often think about the phrase I hear tossed around that children don't come with a "user manual", but in my experience reading to children, with them tucked under my arm, out of the very best books (and the scriptures), you can get as close to a parenting manual as you can possibly get.  I am so thankful for good books.

And today, I'd like to tell you about one.

"When I Grow Up, I'll Go On a Mission" is the first in a series of books by Valine Vikari that explores the ins and outs of life as a full-time missionary serving around the world.  Vikari uses photos of real missionaries to help the reader catch the spirit of missionary work.  She shows that missionaries serve "in any condition", "eat local delicatessen" so as not to be rude, serve the people they teach, learn to be responsible, cook for themselves, study, pray, and even have fun doing it.

The thing that I like about her decision to use photos instead of illustrations is that young children really look up to older kids...especially missionaries.  She also shows a great deal of women serving, and people with specials needs, demonstrating wordlessly that even children with limitations can grow up to serve others and that each of God's children can grow up to do a great work.

I'm going to be giving my copy to Guy for his 6th birthday next week, but I could see this book as a great Baptism gift or Christmas gift.  

If you'd like to WIN a signed copy of this book for a little future-missionary in your life, do any of the following:

1.  Follow me.

2.  Tell me what you are thankful for.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

(PS - I can't wait to see the book "When I Grow Up I'll Be a Mother"!!!  

Maybe we'll all contribute photos to that one!)

I will announce the winner next week.

UPDATE: So many of you have asked where you can buy this book!
You can buy it online...just click here.


The website for this book/author is: http://www.whenigrowup.org/


If you haven't already, you should really read the author's back story about how this book came about!