A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down

I purchased this book just a few months after my husband Rick passed away, totally unexpectedly. I'd already read Carol's other book "When I lay my Isaac Down" and decided that "A New Kind of Normal" was exactly what I was experiencing and would be helpful at this time in my life. It is so helpful when we are going through our own journey of loss and change, to be inspired by others, like Carol who have gone through excuciating pain and made it. This book, like others of Carol's offers hope when you need it most.

I couldn't put this book down! I read it in two nights. Carol Kent, along with excerpts from her son and husband, show us what it means to not "spiritualize" pain and loss. I can't say "HURRAY" enough! There are so many Christians that just put a pious platitude on their pain, or the pain of others, and the connection that is intended by God between the two never happens. They become "holier than thou" in their suffering. Carol is just the opposite and I applaud her courage for leading the Christian community in the REAL struggle of faith.

What a moving and strengthening book! A NEW KIND OF NORMAL is a lifeline for anyone facing a devastating situation. It is also a beacon for those dealing with every day disappointments. Author Carol Kent's transparent writing touched me deeply. She does not hold back as she relates her agonizing experiences about her son going to prison for murder. She points to the little and big things that have gotten her through. Big is her trust in God. Very helpful are the intimate thoughts and prayers that come from Carol and her husband Gene. They make it clear that they are still hurting. But they share victories and "courage for the long haul." This book is for real. It gives scriptural perspective that helps a person grow. It also includes several true stories from other people who have been "in the pits." I think A NEW KIND OF NORMAL sends a lasting message: No matter your situation, when you seek God through Christ, at just the right time, his living presence will sustain you.

The words of the verdict, "We the jury find Jason Paul Kent guilty of murder in the first degree" changed, forever, the lives of Carol and Gene Kent. Their only son, Jason Paul, was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. "A New Kind of Normal" is the story of the choices they had to make to go on living after their dreams for their son were shattered. Carol incorporates the stories of other bruised and brokenhearted people who have been held captive by their trauma, addictions, abuse, or abortion. Throughout the book, Carol illustrates parallels, from the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, those emotions she was feeling as she relinquished her son to God. Carol introduces the reader to choices that offer hope for a new kind of normal, meaningful life in the midst of adversity. Trust, perseverance, gratitude, vulnerability, relinquishment, forgiveness, and purposeful action are among the lessons Carol and Gene are experiencing in their new normal. The chapters on relinquishment and vulnerability were especially meaningful to me. I appreciated the way both Carol and Gene made themselves vulnerable as they shared entries, telling of their journey, from their personal journals. This book is for anyone who has faced an uncertain future because of an event in time, a "marker moment," which changed their lives forever. This is a remarkable story of a personal pursuit of God while being pummeled by testing and circumstances.

This is a must have for anyone who is or has experienced a life altering circumstance. It is filled with hope giving encouragement and skills to move forward in and through difficult situations. Both the author and her husband reveal a raw honesty of their situation that only enhances the readers ability to connect and know that they too can move forward. This book would be of interest to both men and women.