book basket

A few years ago I started the tradition of purchasing a new Christmas book each year.
This year I decided to try the idea of wrapping them all so we could open one each night leading up to Christmas.
Since I only own a handful, I had to supplement from the local library.
So far, we've enjoyed doing this and it has created some special moments with opportunities to talk about our feelings about Christ. 

Our 2011 pick is Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett, a cute little story that teaches we can't take Christmas,
instead we must be generous and giving.

Others in our basket this year:
The First Christmas by Nonny Hogrogian
God Gave us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren
The Friendly Beasts
What is Christmas? by Michelle Medlock Adams
Kipper's Christmas Eve
Babushka by Sandra Ann Horn
Mystery in the Stable
 Merry Christmas Curious George
The Doll in the Window
 Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck
The Christmas Bears
The Gift by Jan Balet

Project

My project of the past few months:
editing, design & layout of Pony Express Adventures --
Exciting, REAL stories of the daring Pony Express riders
retold and delightfully illustrated to appeal to younger readers.


I have enjoyed working with my dear mother-in-law 
(researcher & storyteller extraordinaire) 
and my talented husband 
(graphic designer & professional mapmaker)
to produce a work that celebrates the rich heritage of the American West


It has been fun to hear the adventures of my children's 5th great-grandfather, Major Howard Egan, and get into the historical and ancestral spirit of the upcoming 150th Anniversary celebrations. 


View more information at News Blaze


If you are interested, you can order a copy at http://lulu.com/ponyexpressbooks

Babushka

You never know what you might find at library storytime.

Of all the Christmas books she shared, this wasn’t one of them.

She only mentioned Babushka as one of Russia’s gift givers.

My curiosity was piqued.

I spent a good two years living in the heart of that great country,

associating with her good people and I did not remember

ever hearing of this Christmas figure.

Nor in all my academic studies had I run across her.

So when I found the book on the shelf I couldn’t wait

to take it home and discover something new.

What I found was a beautiful, tender message that

touches my heart each time I read it to my daughter.

(Once at naptime, once at bedtime. daily)

And while the story and the lovely illustrations may be new to me,

the message is truth that I have known;

remembering it in such a sweet tale was a wonderful

welcome to the Spirit of the Season.

A unanimous pick for our 2009 Christmas book.

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Matthew 25:40

Words

Picked this up from the library at a friend's suggestion. I couldn't put it down and finished it within a week.

And then I couldn't return it. I kept it, not wanting to let it go, until the day it was finally due. And before relinquishing it, I re-read the ending and was just as moved as the first time.

Sarah is a true Tawanda woman. I am changed because of having read it and much more appreciative of my trials and my abundance. Highly recommended.