Loving My Actual Christmas: An Experiment In Relishing the Season by Alexandra Kuykendall

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• ISBN-10: 080107536X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801075360
• Publisher: Baker Books (September 5, 2017)

Synopsis

The Christmas season is a particularly difficult time for women to slow down and relish what's right in front of them. An annual marker for many, it is a holiday that can often remind us how life is not going as we'd planned. Our family relationships remain strained, our finances stretched, and our schedules stuffed with too much to do in too little time.

Following the formula of her successful Loving My Actual Life, Alexandra Kuykendall shares with readers her own personal experiment to be completely present in her life as it is during the holiday season. Addressing the themes of Advent and Christmas, she reflects on hope, love, joy, peace, and relishing the season, with practical pullouts on common Christmas stressors, such as finances, schedules, and extended family. Kuykendall's signature candor helps women go easy on themselves, remember what truly matters, and find joy in their imperfect Christmases.

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Loving My Actual Christmas by Alexandra Kuykendall is well written and a refreshing, practical guide on how to experience and find joy in the Holiday Season no matter where you are in your life and what is going on in your life. 

It's a call to remember the "reason for the season" and how to avoid sabotaging  yourself and those around you during the Christmas season. 

Ms. Kuykendall's advise and steps of her "experiment" are clearly defined, practical and at times a bit unnerving as she asks you to do a bit of soul searching and stepping out on Faith. 

Overall, a book I will be reading and applying not only to the Christmas holiday season but to other areas of my life as well. I highly recommend this book!

4 Stars!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms.  Kuykendall as well as Bakers Books and Netgalley  for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson

• ISBN-10: 0800722701
• ISBN-13: 978-0800722708
• Publisher: Revell (September 5, 2017)

From the Publisher

When she receives the news in late 1944 that her baby's father was shot down in the South Pacific, Amelia Richards loses hope. Jobless and broke, she has nowhere to turn for help but her infant's paternal grandparents. The only problem is, they don't know that she--or their grandson--exists. When Amelia discovers that the family is wealthy and influential, dare she disclose the truth of her relationship with their son? Or could the celebration of the arrival of another unexpected baby nearly two thousand years ago be the answer to her dilemma? 

Beloved author Melody Carlson pens a story of love, hardship, and reconciliation that will leave readers filled with Christmas joy.

The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson is a delightful romance read for the holiday season! This moving story is well written, engaging and full of emotions. It's an easy read that will relax as well as sweep you away for that well deserved break we all need during the enjoyable but sometimes chaotic holiday season! 

I fully enjoyed The Christmas Blessing and the only drawback was that the ending happened a bit too quickly. I would like to have had the ending detailed a bit more. Still, this book is a feel good Christmas story and as such - definitely worth the reading.

4 Stars!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms.  Carlson as well as Revell Publishers and Netgalley  for the opportunity to read and review this book.

M is for Manger ~ A Wonderful Children's Book for Christmas!

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 17, 2015)
• ISBN-10: 1496401956
• ISBN-13: 978-1496401953
• Authors: Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley
• Pictures by Claire Keay

For Ages 4 and Up

Synopsis:

Travel through the alphabet with this beautiful rhyming storybook that tells the story of Jesus’ birth. 

Begin with the angel who tells Mary that she is God’s chosen vessel and follow along until you reach the zillions of stars that paled in comparison to the star that announced the birthplace of the newborn King. 

Beautifully illustrated and written, this book will be a classic for parents to read to their children every Christmas season.

M is for Manger by Crystal Bowman, Teri McKinley and illustrated by Claire Keay is a delightful new Christmas book for children ages 4 and up. 

With each letter of the alphabet, the story of Christmas and Jesus' birth comes to life in  words along with beautifully drawn illustrations.  The story and pictures are enchanting! 

M is for Manger would be wonderful as a read aloud for younger children, a read along book for older ones as well as a wonderful way for the family to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.  

5 Stars!

Thank you to Tyndale Publishing for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ishtar's Odyssey: A Family Story For Advent by Arnold Ytreeide

• ISBN-10: 0825443938
• ISBN-13: 978-0825443930

Synopsis:

A new Advent family devotional from the author of Jotham’s Journey! Fourth in a set of Advent adventure books for families, Ishtar’s Odyssey follows the ten-year-old son of a Persian wise man as their caravan follows a star across the desert. Ishtar would just as soon stay in the comfort of the palace, but slowly he learns that there’s much to see, do, and learn in this world that can’t be experienced in school. He eventually meets Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha as he follows his father and uncles in their search for a newborn king.

Arnold Ytreeide’s family advent devotionals have become a much-loved Christmas tradition, enjoyed by multiple generations. With over 100,000 in print they include Jotham’s Journey, Bartholomew’s Passage, and Tabitha’s Travels.

Ishtar's Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide is the fourth in his Advent book series but it can be read as a stand alone book or as part of the series.

It is a historical fiction book that is strongly based on Biblical truths, Bible verses and of course, the story of Christ's birth. Mr. Ytreeide has brought history to life through this book (and series) that the whole family will enjoy as an Advent devotional.

The story is  divided into short chapters  to be read aloud for each day of Advent. After each chapter there is a short summation by the author with end of chapter "thinking points" that can be used to discuss what was just read aloud. He also includes a Bible verse for each day as well. 

There are suggestions throughout the book that can be used to help bring the story "to life" even more. There is a list of Persian food that Isthar ate during his journey next to a "comparable meal for today" as well. At the back of the book there is a list of dates for "Advent through the years" that I think is extremely helpful. 

All in all, Ishtar's Odyssey is a wonderful story and devotional that parents, children and families can share together to experience and celebrate the wonder and joy of the Advent season! 

5 Stars!

Thank you to Kregel publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Family Tradition ~ Festival of Lights

I love family traditions, especially around Christmas time. One of my favorite traditions is a family outing to our local Festival of Lights.

It was pretty chilly but there was plenty of hot cocoa and corn dogs to go around and we had lots of fun on the rides!

It was a wonderful family outing full of laughter and fun!

Christmas 2009

Over the river and thru the woods,
To grandmother's house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!

Christmas is always wonderful but this year, it was especially beautiful. Not only were we all together to celebrate Christ's birth as a family, we also enjoyed the first snowy Christmas our neck of the woods has seen in the past 80 years!

It started snowing on Christmas Eve day and it kept on snowing till late at night. We all had such fun playing in it, sipping hot chocolate and watching it gently float down to earth. I was raised in the north-east and my husband in the north-west so we both had plenty of snow growing up. Our boys though have only lived in CA and now in the south so each snow fall is a miracle to them. It's so neat to watch their faces fill with joy as they romp around in it and have fun. The snow had pretty much melted by Christmas afternoon but we had a blast while it lasted!

Our holiday this year was much more frugally done than we have in the past years but you know what? The boys loved their gifts and there was no "toy overload". We felt no lack, no loss of joy or Christmas happiness. I noticed that the boys enjoyed the gifts they got much more than if they had been inundated with too many things. They were truly grateful for all they received and as a family, we focused on the real reason for Christmas ~ Christ's birth and enjoyed the holiday together. All in all, it was one of the best holidays we've had.

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas and wishing y'all a Happy New Year!

Holiday Open House ~ 2008

The Christmas season is finally here! It is my absolute favorite time of year. I tend to plan for this season all year long and usually most of the presents are bought and wrapped by September. This year is a tad bit different. We've not been able to prepare as we have in past years but it has worked out really well because as a family, we've committed to focusing on a more simpler Christmas than we ever have before. It will focus on Christ, family and being together and more on giving than receiving; the things that are the most important all year long as well as during the holiday season.

We'll still be doing all of the traditions that we wrote about in our Holiday Open House ~ 2007. We're adding a few new traditions as well:

• We'll be making homemade Christmas decorations for our tree. I'll be posting more about this soon!



• Wrapping our favorite holiday reading books in Christmas paper or Hanukkah paper and putting them in a big basket under our tree. We'll pull one out, unwrap it and read it together during our family night time reading. (The books that we need to read for certain nights will be wrapped in special wrapping paper so we can be sure to pick them on the right night).



• Christmas Eve will be a celebration of Jesus' Birthday. We'll be watching The Little Drummer Boy, reading The Story of Christmas. We'll be having cup cakes (or cake...not really sure yet) and family reading of the bible and singing our favorite Christmas Hymns. We'll be celebrating Santa coming as well but the main focus will be on Christ's birth.

Wishing you all a Merry Holiday Season!

Christmas 2007

We had a wonderful Christmas. It wasn't grand by any measure but for us, it was perfect! The kids decorated their own small Christmas trees for their rooms.

We all went to see Santa and I think this is the last year the kids will be going. We've been going to see the same Santa since the boys were 4 and 2 years of age!

~ An angel on our tree ~

It was a magical and wonderful Christmas season!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

As a child, I grew up having a small tree with lights and decorations in my room and I just loved the holiday season and falling asleep bathed in the florescent lights of the tree. 
 The boys are old enough this year so we decided to start the tradition with them. They were so excited when Aaron got home with the trees and ornaments. 

I think they both decorated and re-decorated their mini-trees at least three times!

The Holiday Season Has Begun!

The Christmas Season is one of my absolute favorite times of the year. I love the sights, sounds, smells and feeling of the season. I enjoy listening to Christmas music all day in the background while I work around the house. It's a time of good will, memories and family traditions. Baking cookies and making crafts with my kids is a highlight for me and them!

Julie at Joyful Days is hosting a wonderful collection of blog posts called Blessed By Ideals and the Best Gift of All. Stop by and gather some holiday cheer while reading how everyone celebrates the holidays and "The True Meaning of Christmas."