Product Description

Kurt Warner is the two-time NFL MVP–winning quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals. Brenda Warner is an ex-Marine turned stay-at-home mom who collects coats for low-income kids and rocks babies to sleep at a hospital for chronically-ill infants. Together they’re the parents of seven, going into their 12th year of marriage, and founders of a foundation that helps disadvantaged children and families. Their formula for success? They put First Things First—family, faith, and giving to others—it’s their family motto, and it drives everything they do. First Things First is an honest, insightful, and entertaining look at life inside the Warner household. Kurt and Brenda speak candidly about their marriage, the values they are working to instill in their kids, things they’ve done right, mistakes they’ve made, the importance of giving back, and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Includes a 16-page full-color photo insert.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10473 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-05
• Released on: 2009-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781414334066
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Back Cover
If you think you know everything there is to know about Kurt and Brenda Warner, think again.

For instance, did you know . . .
• Kurt has to pay his own son to toss the football with him in the backyard?
• before she met Kurt, Brenda spent several years in the United States Marine Corps, working in Intelligence?
• none of the Warner kids really wanted to go see their dad play in Super Bowl XLIII?
• the last time Kurt saw his Super Bowl ring was when the cleaning lady pulled it out from under the living room couch along with a stack of Legos, a handful of Cheerios, and a half-used stick of Brenda’s deodorant?

First Things First is an intimate, no-holds-barred look at life inside the crazed and chaotic Warner household. Speaking from a his-and-hers perspective, Kurt and Brenda talk candidly about their marriage, the values they are working to instill in their kids, things they’ve done right, mistakes they’ve made along the way, the importance of giving back, and the lasting legacy they hope to leave behind.

Customer Reviews

Great Book, Great Family!
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!

A must read for any family, newly-wed or soon-to-be parent!
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!

Powerful and Inspirational Story About Raising Seven Kids
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 speak to each other in such a frank and honest manner that neither one looses touch with what is really important in their world. Kurt has cleaned up more poop in the house that he likes to talk about, but with seven kids there was certainly an almost unlimited supply of it. Ditto for vomit ruining their first car's interior and leaving an odor that still remained when they eventually sold the auto.
This book hammers home the problems the "Octamom" is going to experience on a much more difficult level. They of course don't mention her, but the reader will be reminded of that family disaster story in the making. This is a very enlightening and inspiring story that provides hope that the American Family still has hope. It took me much longer to read than I expected because my eyes kept tearing up and I had to stop reading for regular rests even thought the book is a page turner and I could hardly wait to get back to it and see what would occur next. This is a great read for any family or couple getting ready to tie the knot and settle down. I look forward to Brenda's own memoir that she promises to write when she has the time. This couple also manages to find time to do volunteer work in various charities including one they have created. They are not super human parents, but they do put "First Things First."