First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner

I read this book in three sittings -- it's THAT good! Brenda and Kurt are delightful and I actually laughed out loud several times while reading this book. Brenda has been through so much in her life already and I just admire her. I'm going through a rough time right now in my life and this couldn't have come at a better time for me. I will be using many of the parenting techniques I learned in this book and I will also be on the lookout for any other books Brenda and or Kurt write. Kurt is just as special as I thought. It's so nice to have a celebrity like him to look up to. Love this book. I might just read it again for the heck of it.

If your looking for a book all about Kurt Warner's football career don't buy this book. If you want to read a inspiring book on how to come together as a family be sure to read this book ! Brenda and Kurt tell of there lives together and how they raise their family. They have some great ideas and seem like a great family. I was pleasently surprised with their story and recommend it to all.

This is a great follow-up to Kurt's first book, All Things Possible. The timing of the release couldn't be better. So many high profile marriages have run into problems, here we have a kind hearted loving couple who set a good example to follow. Brenda gives the background info on how they met and it is clear that she is making a great career for herself while tending to the endless demands of her family. I have watched Kurt over the years and I have always had a lot of respect for him. Too often today sport celebrities get into trouble, make bad choices, get fined by the league, ect.. Kurt is a good role model for young fans and he is of high moral character. Vince Lombardi used to tell his players that you represent the team on and off the field. How many coaches are saying that to their players today? Kurt and Brenda together make great parents. I am confident that the long term outlook for their son Zack is highly favorable. I liked the photo section in the middle, each of their kids get their own page. There are trading cards in the back of the book and on them is Kurt's statement of faith. He really does bring Christ into his game plan! B.T.W. First Things First is also the name of the foundation they created. They share about the work they do and the purpose of the foundation. I was surprised to read Larry Fitzgerald's quote on marriage. Larry, if you think marriage is like eating spaghetti every night for the rest of your life then you obviously forgot to add Chianti to the sauce. He certainly is mischievous! For me, a signed copy of this book would be more valuable than all the gold in Ft. Knox. I have it on my bookshelf next to Quiet Strength by Tony Dungee and Fields of Honor, The Pat Tillman Story. (another highly respected player for the Cardinals) So how many Warners does it take to tackle Kurt? One look at the front cover should answer that question. The back cover photo is cool too. Now that I am done writing my review I must confess that I am only up to chapter 11. Don't tell anyone!

You may have read Kurt's previous book, but please don't think you know the whole story. This book goes much deeper into the complex relationships that make up a blended family with a special-needs child and a Superbowl MVP dad. And lest you think the Warners have no resemblance to your family and are completely out-of-touch with reality, think again. This is a household built on conservative family values rooted in "the good stuff" that once made America great - hard work, love and respect for others, and an unwavering belief that Jesus is the answer to the world's problems. This book won't only entertain you as a great read, but it will also teach you how to instill these same values in your relationships and family. I highly encourage everyone to read this book!

Before the reader starts this book get yourself a whole box of Kleenex. You are in for some big surprises. Most people look at a Super Bowl Champion MVP Quarter Back and his beautiful blonde wife and envy him. When they learn the couple has seven children one of them a special needs son, they are surprised. They may think this doesn't fit into the rich sport's hero image. It also doesn't fit the fantasy image of a true sports hero. Why the general public doesn't realize sports heroes and their families are not perfect is a mystery considering how many pro-sports stars are in the news for doing bad things and/or being in trouble with the law? This is a joint book by Kurt Warner and his wife Brenda. Of the two alternating stories in each chapter, the reader will again be surprised to discover that Brenda, who was/is a United States Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine), has the more courageous story to tell. Life was not easy for her and she never dreamed she'd find a good man to marry her and love her two children (one of which is legally blind) from an unfortunate first marriage. This book is how the two people overcame tremendous obstacles including religious differences and eventually married and had five more children (so far) and how they manage to raise them as normal kids in a world that worships celebrities of any kind. The book is filled with stories, anecdotes and "the rules for being a Warner...what works, what doesn't and what really matters to them." The writing is clever and entertaining as well as helpful. One intriguing chapter title in the book was called "Make out or argue about Jesus?" The book includes a foreword by their high school aged daughter Jesse Warner, who is exactly the kind of person who should be writing about this family and its values. She knows it better than any outsider. There is some interesting football discussed in this volume, but it's minor to the overall theme of the book about how to raise a family successfully. It's got more than a few suggestions about husband and wives communicating with each other. They argue a lot too. Football isn't a big deal with Kurt's children. He and his wife claim "none of the Warner kids really wanted to go see their dad (and his middle-aged friends) play in Super Bowl XLII." When they did go to one of the Super Bowls they were upset that their dad's team lost and they wouldn't be receiving a promised puppy if the team had won. Even when they did attend and take their first row seats, some of the kids were hiding in their hooded jackets playing video games and the girls were mostly interested in being seen on television. They are typical kids in other words. However, the family isn't at all like the television series "Jon and Kate Plus Eight." Besides discovering that weekly pro-football practices included "Bible Studies" the reader will learn the truth about trying to raise 7 kids without the help of a nanny or household staff. The reader will see how the couple spea