In This House, We Will Giggle: Making Virtues, Love, and Laughter a Daily Part of Your Family Life

After reading this book, here is my take away: Do I pick up a book every now and then to use its suggestions? Do I toss up an occasional prayer and hope my family exhibits crucial virtues like forgiveness, generosity, gratitude, joy, respect that I say we are after? I'd actually like myself and our whole family to BE these things. Not once, not when we are trying to be "good" but more part of who we are. Hey, look at this subtitle! "Making Virtues, Love and Laughter a Daily Part of Your Family Life." Yes. That is what I pray for. What I'm after. So I bought it.I know in my heart we must practice. These virtues don't come naturally at least in my family and I bet to most of us humans! That is why Courtney's book is so wonderfully written as well as laid out for me and my family. It is not a list of a suggestions to go-to when I feel down about behaviors. That kind of book may result in a one-time behavior change. In This House We WIll Giggle is written as more of a plan that is DO-able, aimed toward heart change: harder but worth it.The book takes my mind and fires up the things that are already bonking around in there, organizes them into manageable pieces for me as well as practicable pieces for children. I wish we could go right to everything but they can't practice all 12 virtues at once so we CAN work on one a month, without using the word "practice" or "work" :) As the book claims, each month's suggestions really are FUN and with materials you likely already have and zero pressure to make anything look show-worthy. It's all about the end heart result. I'm so glad it came out in November when we can so easily skip over right to Christmas - we need to work on instilling gratitude to combat all the gimmes. Here we go!I do think this book is best for those caring for children of any age but actually practicable for kids 2 and older.

What a great encouragement !! I used this book for a mom's Bible study and everyone loved the use of virtues to teach our kids values, along with applying Bible verses. The scripture memorization and the little ways to instill the values/virtues in our family's life was so simple yet meaningful. All ages could benefit as they incorporate these into their family discussions at mealtime or on the way to school! Also, some of the virtues hit at the perfect time of year, such as thankfulness, during Thanksgiving . Courtney does a wonderful job relating to moms of all ages! Her stories and questions are compelling and truly make you want to become a better example for your spouse and children; but somehow, rallying the family together to become better! Great read - along with keeping joy in the home!

This is my go-to book to give to mom friends. Parenting day in, day out, can start to feel overwhelming and exhausting, and we run out of ideas on our own. Thankfully, DeFeo has a bajillion ideas for intentional ways to teach our kids things like kindness and generosity while also making it fun. I really appreciate her down-to-earth perspective and casual tone, too. She's the kind of author you feel you could be friends with. Keep this book in a high-traffic area of your home and grab it on days you're running low on inspiration. It'll help!

This book has a great format and is easy to use. Practical ideas with suggestions that are not too overwhelming. Can be used as a quick reference or following the whole concept of teaching a different virtue each month.

I'm loving this book (I'm on the last chapter). I love that each chapter provides tons of application for my family (verses to memorize, stories to read, activities to try) to instill virtues in our lives. This is a great mom book. While reading, I keep feeling that this is a mom I could have a cup of coffee with and that she would totally understand my life.

So far I am really liking this book. We are a spiritual, but not religious family and I am easily able to use the ideas and support in this book. It inspires me and makes me happy to have this kind of a structure in our home- for the whole family and especially for the adults! What we model is what they learn.

What a wonderful book. As parents it is too easy to fall into the routine of parenting and forget these little people are children who want to laugh and have fun with you. It is our jobs as parents to teach and guide our children but shouldnt we also teach them to be light hearted, laugh and have fun as a family unit? Love, love, love this book.

Great book. Came in great shape. Arrived on time. Not for a book club like it was purchased for. It’s meant to be read 1 chapter per month. Great family book!

Ein tolles Buch mit vielen guten umsetzbaren Ideen für Familien mit Kinder in jedem Alter, Auch für die Erwachsenen ist es herausfordernd, denn wir können nur weitergeben, was wir selber erlebt und erfahren haben. Ein Riesengewinn für alle!!