3 little Miracles

3 little Miracles

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Un-decked Walls and last post on Christmas

The walls seems to empty now without all of the Christmas decorations up, but we decided to take everything down early since we aren't hosting a New Years party this year.  We had planned to have a large crowd over from our church to RING in the New Year, but another friend of ours from church decided to do one this year and so we are going to their place tonight. 

So once the decision was made it all happened pretty quick, it took me days to get all the Christmas decorations up around the house and it was all down within hours both upstairs at my folks and down here in our part of the house.

So it is now all packed away and already stored away at the storage unit to wait for next year.  Before I took them off the tree I took one last picture of our new Christmas ornaments for 2009.


I did pick up a few great deals at Walmart for our decorations next year, I usually pick up a whole lot more to add to our decorations while the sales are going on, but this year it just isn't possible to stock up like we normally do.  I picked up all these decorations for under $20, I can't wait till next year to use the new green bird and pine cone ornaments (not picture is a pack of 8 red glass balls which were already packed away).



I found these cute ornaments at 60% off and couldn't resist picking them up
for my hope chest and Dreams of a Pink Christmas

Christmas this year seemed a little off, not sure why, but we just didn't seem to have our normal holiday cheer.  Maybe it was the fact that I am such a perfectionist about things and having two very active boys under foot while I tried to decorate and cook for the Christmas season was a little more stressful.  Maybe it was where we are financially at the end of 2009.  Maybe it was the stress of waiting for my liver panel results.  Maybe it was the three back to back dental procedures I had to have from Thanksgiving through mid December.  Maybe it was because for the second year in a row we couldn't afford to visit my MoG's family in New York during the holidays.  Maybe it was the strain of things happening at church.  WHO KNOWS, but what ever it was Christmas didn't seem to be as joyful as it has in the past.  Don't get me wrong, we truly enjoyed celebrating Christ's birth and honoring Him in the ministries He has called us to be a part of all year but especially during the Christmas season.  We also greatly enjoyed our time with my family both at Thanksgiving and again on our family Christmas on the 26th, but it just didn't completely feel like Christmas for some reason.

We are praying for new beginnings with 2010.  We are praying for more wisdom in our financial decisions.  We are praying for more skills to direct the boys energy and focus them on the Lord Jesus Christ and a knowledge of Him.  We are praying for better health for us and the boys in 2010.  We are praying for a new addition to join our family and help our family to feel complete.  We are praying for the Heaven Father to give us peace in His plans for us.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2009 Year in Review


This year has seen a great deal of Joy and some sadness but all has been blessed by my Father in Heaven, He alone is the ultimate peace giver in all things.  So I thought I would take the time to sit down and review our past year and try and mark the changes my 2 little Boys have seen.



The boys started 2009 at the ages of 3 yrs-7 months and 17 months old.

This was the first year that Davey wanted to stay up to see the ball drop in time square . . . . . he fell asleep on the sofa at 11:PM

January my Southern Living at HOME business had a busy month with over $3000 in retail sales.

February brought me to the dermatologist after an unusual growth was found on my back and I had a "nothing" taken off  with abnormal growth cells

In April we celebrated David's 45th birthday and took the craziest family vacation to see friends in Beaufort, SC and then Myrtle Beach for




May brought the celebration of Davey's 4th birthday.

Over the summer I once again organized the Mom's from Davey's preschool class to have play dates once a week over the summer months.  We did a lot of fun things like, going to the park, pool parties, the aquarium, the beach, and backyard play dates.

June also brought my FIRST active consultant to my Southern Living at HOME team, Angel Fish, and I was so excited to have Allison join me.

At the end of June my MoG and I celebrated our 8th anniversary with little fan fair because we were in the middle of Vacation Bible School and a Mission Team visiting our church.



On July 21st I started this blog, thinking to use it to grow my business, but in the end it has become a place for me to write about my days with 2 little Boys, vent about junk, share my design style, and projects from around the house.  I have loved every moment of blogging and the changes I am going through as I develop it more into what I want it to be.

In July Davey did swim lessons for 3 weeks straight and although he didn't like it at first the instructors were fantastic and by the end he was swimming like a happy fish.

My little Bear turned 2 in August and seemed to hit the terrible 2's at the same time, Ha!

September 9th Davey started his last year of preschool and Jonathan started his first.




September 11th I celebrated my 50th blog post and a new look from Design Girl

The 2nd weekend of October we took to the North Carolina roads and headed for the Ashboro Zoo.

The following weekend I had a very cold weekend with my Southern Living at HOME booth at the annual Havelock Chili Festival




Late October brought Halloween and all our yearly celebrations of the Lord's Harvest

November brought Thanksgiving with a house stuffed from corner to corner with family



 December 1st I kicked off my first annual 26 Children's Christmas Books in 25 Days

 

December 8th I celebrated my  41st birthday






Just in time for Christmas I got the good news that my liver panels came back normal

And last but not least a beautiful but hectic Christmas together as a family.




May you have a wonderful 2010
and a fun time reviewing your 2009!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

SoupBowl and family Christmas

I wish I could say I had TONS of pictures to share from our family Christmas like a good blogger should . . . . . . but I don't because like my mother did when we were growing up, I spent most of my day in the kitchen instead of socializing.  Terrible I know!  My mother spending her day in the kitchen cooking and cleaning up was always our biggest complaint, we always wanted her to stop and come sit down and rest and chat . . . . . . .  now as an adult and mother myself I find I am doing the same thing.  Mainly because we live with my parents and we have kind of taken over the hosting duties at big family events, but today I even kicked my husband out of the kitchen for him to go play because he spent ALL DAY Thanksgiving Day in the kitchen.

What was the rest of the family doing while I cooked and cleaned my kitchen?  The girls were making jeweled snowflakes (I wish I had done that), the men were playing Corn Hole (fun game terrible name), Jon was napping, Davey was playing with his train upstairs at Mom's, and Mom and Dad ran out to Walmart for Splenda to test their new GPS.

So what was I doing while everyone else played?  I made my famous Chicken Salad (share in another post), White Bean Chicken Chili for my entry in the SoupBowl (recipe below), and another batch of Holiday Bark for the family to munch on.  AND of course cleaning my kitchen, Ha!  I hate a messy kitchen, I must clean it before I start cooking, I clean while I cook, and I clean it again after I am done cooking.  Can you say OCD?

The families first annual SoupBowl was held upstairs in my mother's kitchen were most of the traffic is during large family gatherings. 
 
Entries in SoupBowl:
Honey Cabbage Soup - made by my niece Brooke
Traditional Chili - made by my brother and SIL Kelly
White Bean Chicken Chili - Me
Bison Stew - my brother Ted
15 Bean Soup - made by my SIL Paula
Squash Medley - made by my Sister and BIL Calvin
Mulligan Stew - made by Mom
Unofficial entry - Mom's Broccoli and Ham Soup
 
The concept behind SoupBowl was very fun but the reality of follow through fell flat, Ha!  The idea was that each couple OR adult niece would make a soup, and each entry would be tasted and judged for which one was best.  Unfortunately, not everyone tasted each soup (Me for one) and not all soups were ready for tasting at the same time.  PLUS, each soup had such a different concept and flavor, so you may really love all of them for different reasons and your reasons would be totally valid.  If the SoupBowl had been designed that we each had to make a similar soup, then it would have totally worked.

Top contenders on a casual pole were Bison Stew, White Bean Chicken Chili, and my mother's Mulligan Stew which is like a taste of HOME when you take a bite.

White Bean Chicken Chili Recipe (Paula Deen)
Y'all know it's good if it's Paula Deen
Ingredients

1 pound dried navy beans
5 cups chicken stock
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3/4 cup diced onion
1 1/2 cups chopped green chiles (fresh or canned) (I did not put these in)
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 to 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped

Direction:
  • Rinse beans well, cover with cool water, and soak for 2 hours. Drain.
  • Place beans in large pot with chicken stock and bring to a boil over high heat.
  • In a saucepan, heat butter over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, and chiles and sauté for 5 minutes.
  • Add chile mixture to pot with beans. Add chicken, cumin, oregano, pepper, white pepper, red pepper flakes, and cilantro.
  • Lower heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for approximately 1 1/2 hours.
  • Serve with cornbread, if desired. 
After the SoupBowl we sat around chatting and laughing at the dinner table, this is always my favorite part of our family gatherings.  Then afterward we moved to the living room for the kids to open their Christmas presents from the Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles.


My nieces and nephew:  Cassandra, Brooke, Hilary, Calli, and Caleb
(age range from 16 to 25)

David and I ended the day by watching My Sister's Keeper after we tucked the boys into bed.  Good movie, disappointed that they took the safe way out and didn't end it the way the book is written, that would have SHOCKED the viewers out of their seats.


Overall a very good day!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas Day rewind . . . . . . NO PLEASE!

I could wax poetic and say what a beautiful day Christmas Day was with Norman Rockwell moments around every turn of the hands on the clock . . . . . . . but I can't do that.

Davey was the first one up (kinda, I had been up awake since 3:45am) and was happy to find Santa brought him Buzz Lightytear.

Davey then went into our bedroom and woke Jon up (WHO IS SICK and was finally resting peacefully) and Jon came out to find taht Santa had brought him the Wonder Pets.





The boys very quickly ripped  through all of their presents, with smiles on their faces as they revealed each new toy and treasure.  However, this is the last of the happy, happy, joy, joy pictures, because shortly after this the fighting over toys began, Ha.

A few hours later we finally settled little BEAR down for a nap and I used the peaceful time to finish our birthday cake for Jesus.


As you may have noticed, my decor has been big with Green and Red, so our Happy Birthday Jesus cake followed on with the color theme.  I made a red velvet cake with white icing, then I decorated with green icing, and these really cute red, white, and green Christmas tree candies I found.


and it was YUMMY!

**Oh yeah, I did I mention a BIG blow up fight with my father over something that shouldn't have been fought over at all on any day let alone on Christmas Day?  FUN FUN.

In the evening my sister and her family came over for a delicious ham dinner and afterwards we settled in to watch Elf on TV.  The evening went well considering that there was still a LOT of tension between my father and us.

Tonight the rest of our family will be here and we will have 18 people filling every corner of our home and we will have our first annual SoupBowl.  Hopefully today will be filled with more peace then yesterday ;-)

Friday, December 25, 2009

26 Children's Christmas Books in 25 Days - Day #25


Our final day and so many wonderful Children's Christmas Book read and SOOO many more still to read for next year.  I hope you have enjoyed the past 25 days as you and your family prepared for celebrating Christ's birth.  I pray that your days were filled with the joy of gathering together making cookies, filling out Christmas cards, wrapping presents, decorating the house, and being kind to your neighbors and those in need this Christmas season.

Today our final story book for our tour of Children's Christmas Books, is one we found at the library called Wombat Divine by Mem Fox and illustrated by Kerry Argent.  We really loved the images when this book caught our eyes on the libary display shelf, in fact we sat down on the floor and thumbed through the book right on the spot.  This cute story is set in Australia with the star of the book being a adorable little Wombat (that looks more like a bear).

Wombat loved Christmas and this Christmas he is old enough to be a part of the Nativity play and he is very excited to try out for one of the roles.  Wombat runs to the auditions prepared to play any role that he can and literally tries out for every part.  Unfortunately, one auditon after another proves that Wombat is not right because he is to heavy to be an angel, too big to be Mary, too short to play a king, too sleepy to play Joseph, too clumsy to be the innkeeper, and too short sighted to be a shepherd.  With each audtion Wombat is in one comical mess after another, but with each one his friends encourage him and comfort him to continue to try.    As Wombat tries to hold his disappointment inside, Emu remembers they have forgotten the most important role of all . . . . . Baby Jesus.

Christmas Eve arrived at last.

Everyone was nervous he lay queit and still
throughout the whole performance.
He even fell asleep,
just as a real baby would.

This is a good book, because it teachs kids not only about the Joy of celebrating Christ's Birth, but it teaches them about friendship, kindness, hope, disappoinment, determination, and joy in success.  Wombat may not have been the most talented in the play, but He provided him the perfect role for the character and skills He gave him. 

May you and your children find the joy and success in using the talents God has given you in 2010!

Merry Christmas!

We Wish You a Merry♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...And A Happy New Year!♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪.



Merry Christmas to all of my blog friends!

We pray you have a beautiful Christmas Day filled with great joy and the celebration of Christ the Lord!


David, Laura, Davey & Jonathan

Thursday, December 24, 2009

We are ready for Santa


The reindeer food has been put out

 . . . . snacks have been put out for Santa

 . . . . . Jesus is in the Manger

. . . . . the stockings have been filled with care

 . . . . . and the presents have been placed with love and care.

Sleep my children tomorrow is a big day!

26 Children's Christmas Books in 25 Days - Day #24


Today our 2 little boys had two wonderful stories to read, the first is probably a Christmas tradition in most homes around the world, and the second lives in the hearts of so many Christians all year round and its TRUTH is reflected in God's Word.  Every year we read The Night Before Christmas . . . . . but a few years ago my best friend Erin gave my boys a really great book for Christmas.  A Creature was Stirring, One Boy's Night Before Christmas, adapted and illustrated by Carter Goodrich.

My mother started a few years ago, coming down on Christmas Eve and being the one to tuck the boys into their beds and reading them both The Night Before Christmas and the story of Jesus birth from God's Word.

A Creature was Stirring is told with a twist, a side by side verse from a young boy who can't seem to fall asleep due to his excitment on Christmas Eve. 

You all know this tale,
but read this, you'll see;
One creature was stirring,
that creature was me!

In the very humerous version of a Night Before Christmas, the focus switches from the father to the son, who is up checking out everything to do with Santa visiting his house, inlcuding slipping out onto the roof to check out the sleigh.  I really don't want to give away all the wonderful fun magic of this story but it truly does thrill me to read this to my 2 little Boys each year because it reminds me so much of my own mischievous boys.  The wonderful thing about this book is that on the left pages the original from of The Night Before Christmas can be read by the adult, and on the right pages a child who can read can participate in reading the story by doing the young boys verses.  Of course another option for those more traditional, would be to skip the boys verese all together and still enjoy the images (but the young curious boys verses really add some humor to the story).  The images in this book are truly wonderful, although Santa reminds me of a red ornament ball painted to look like Santa, Ha.  However, that being said, Santa probably looks more like the original idea of the Jolly Old Elf.  Please take time to find this book and add it to the books you read at Christmas, you will LOVE IT as much as we do.

We end the night by reading the story of Christ's birth from the bible and make sure that the boys continue to recieve the message from us, that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas and is the MOST IMPORTANT PART.


Luke 2:1-14



In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Santa comes to town

Santa made a grand visit to our neighborhood with the help of the local volunteer fire department.  Davey was so excited.

Announcing his arrival with the sound of the firetruck sirens . . . . .

Santa hops off his makeshift sleigh to wish Davey (and Maggie) a Merry Christmas . . . .

and even hugs up for a picture with the special boy of mine . . . . .

and Santa calls out as he rolls out of sight,
"Now sleep well, because I am visiting tonight! 
Merry Christmas!"

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Ho Ho Ho . . . . . this is what I have been up to today

Besides doing the happy dance in my kitchen . . . . . .

 . . . . . I did a little bit of Ho Ho work


of course these precious packages will have to live in our room until Christmas Eve when the curious 2 little Boys are asleep, Ha!


 The other thing I did was finish filling up the Christmas tins for my MoG to deliver tonight to our church deacon families (my MoG is a deacon)

 . . . . . he has 6 to deliver tonight (we normally do this together as a family, but littlest Boy is sick with an ear infections).  Little Boy 1 and my MoG delivered 5 tins last night.

Dreaming in PINK

I just got the best phone call I have had in a very long time . . . . . . . . . . . . . my primary physican just called with the latest results of my liver panel and my liver functions are back to normal.  This means we can finally try for Baby #3.  This is officially my best Christmas present so far.


As soon as I hung up the phone I did the happy dance and then picked up the phone and called our specialist to schedule an appointment to see him in January. So January 22nd we will be consultanting with him and hopefully . . . . . prayerfully . . . . . he will give us the go ahead and we will be pregnant by early spring.

Am I looking forward to the invasive exams . . . . . nope
Am I looking forward to the long drives to the doctors office . . . . . nope
Am I looking forward to the ups and downs emotionally that come with negative tests . . . . . nope
Am I looking forward to daily injections to increase my follicles and help me ovulate . . . . . nope
Am I looking forward to the side effects to my body . . . . . nope

Am I looking forward to the potential of more then one baby . . . . . Not so much,, but if God thinks we can handle it then I know he will provide.

Am I looking forward to being pregnant again . . . . .YES
Am I looking forward to holding another warm bundle of joy in my arms . . . . . YES
Am I looking forward to sharing Christ with another child . . . . . YES
Am I looking forward to rocking another little baby and singing sweet lullaby's . . . . . YES
Am I looking forward to decorating another room perfectly for baby #3 . . . . . YES
Am I looking forward to having another little one running around our home . . . . . YES

I am looking forward to whatever God has ahead for us because I know that He will be with us, give us strength, and give us the tools to handle the joys and the sorrows that come with being parents again.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Christmas edition of Getting to Know You

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your blog friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post on your blog. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then come back and leave a comment with a link to your post so I get to know your Christmas character...'Tis the Season to be NICE!


Image courtesy of Southern Living.com emails

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper because I can be more creative


2. Real tree or Artificial? We have Artificial but we also love real

3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving weekend

4. When do you take the tree down? After New Years

5. Do you like egg nog? Yes

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Complete set of Little House on the Praire by Laura Ingalls Wilder

7. Hardest person(s) to buy for? my Parents (at this point in life there isn't much they need)

8. Easiest persons to buy for? My Mog (aka husband David)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, several

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail to family and friends, Lottie Moon Mail Box for Church family

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I dont really recall getting anything that i really didnt like

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas and Christmas in Connecticut are equal to me

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? early fall

14 Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Can't remember ever doing it

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Homemade pizzas and Dad's Chex Mix

16. Lights on the tree? Clear Lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night and Bing Crosby's I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home is prefered but we have to travel 18 hours to see my MoG's family

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Financial struggles hamper me from doing all I would like to do.  I know Christmas isn't about the gifts I give, but I still love giving them.

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? I love our family ornaments we give each year because they are a reflection of our personalites and what was important to us in that year.

24. Favorite food for Christmas Dinner? Formal Christmas dinner, Ham but if its an informal thing Homemade Pizza's

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To watch my 2 little Boys truly enjoy Christmas and its TRUE meaning

Your Turn!

Preview our Southern Living at HOME 2010 Catalog

I am so excited that a preview for our
Spring 2010 catalog
is available HERE


Check out all of our exciting new products and styling ideas!!!

For more information on products or to get your own personal copy of the catalog,
contact me at lcole@ec.rr.com

26 Children's Christmas Books in 25 Days - Day #23


This is one of the wonderful books my 2 little Boys got from Michelle Medlock Adams and I HAD to share it in our final days of 26 Children's Christmas Books in 25 Days.  The name of our book today is Memories of the Manger written by Michelle Medlock Adams and illustrated by Doris Ettlinger.

I really do like this book, and I am not just saying that because we got it as a gift, the illustrations remind me a lot of the images in a bible I had as a child.  The illustrations are beautiful and full of detail, great for young kids who like to pick out all the details as you read to them.  First, I love that Michelle starts off with a bible verse.

And she brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn. - Luke 2:7

This book is one that you and your family will welcome into your family traditions of reading every year to young and old.  Michelle Medlock Adams does a wonderful job telling the story of Jesus birth through a gorgeous old dove that was there first hand to see the TRUTH of Jesus birth. 

The donkey called from down below, "We're ready, Mrs. Dove! Please tell your story once again, The one about God's love."  Old Mrs. Dove settles in the center of the circle of animals to tell the story that the barn yard animals have heard many times before, but all of them long to hear the story again because each time Old Mrs. Dove tells the story it feels new.  "It happened here, right in this barn,  The Son of God was born right here, upon this small straw bed."  My boys looked at me when I read this line, like "REALLY IT HAPPENED THERE?".  The Old Dove continues in rhyming verse to tell the story of a young couple that arrives in Bethlehem, the young woman on the donkey ready to have her child, but there isn't any room in the inn.

"She was so young, so beautiful,
And Mary was her name.
Somehow I knew when she gave birth
I'd never be the same."

"And then it happened, just like that,
I hear the baby's cires. 
She pulled her baby close to her
and looked into his eyes. 

She said, 'Jesus will be your name,
just like the angel said.'
And then she smiled and praise our God,
and kissed the baby's head."

The barnyard animals ask Old Mrs. Dove many questions and she patiently tries to answer them all, then she continues to tell them of the Shepherds that came in from the fields because the angel told them of the Savior, Prince of Peace.  The animals continue to interupt with with many questions, but donkey wants her to continue because his favorite part about "the kings who bring the things" is coming up. 

"That happened later on," said Dove.
"That's what I have been told.
I've heard three kings brought Jesus gifts:
Frankincense, myrrh, and gold "

The animals discuss the gifts and what they would give to Jesus, but Dove brings the story back to the most important part when she says .

"But God gave the best fit of all - 
He gave his only Son.
And Jesus is for you and me.
He is for everyone." 

"That's what Christmas is all about -
"God's never-ending love."

Michelle puts it best in the words she artfully puts onto the pages of this wonderful Christmas book.  Please take the time to find it and add it to the books you read to your children ANY TIME, but especially during the Christmas season, because the author makes it VERY CLEAR what is the most important part of the season of giving, the gift given to EVERYONE in the form of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

26 Children's Christmas Books in 25 Days - Day #22


The Very Special Christmas by Christine Leeson, illustrated by Gaby Hansen, is my 2 little Boys pick for Day 22 of our Children's Christmas Books tour.  I am pretty sure they both picked this book at the winter book fair at school because of the "surprise" at the end of the book.

In The Very Special Christmas (also known as The Gift of Christmas, not sure if this version has the "surprise") Molly the mouse is getting ready to celebrate her very first Christmas.  Molly sees something shining and glittering through the window of the house her mouse family lives near and ask her mom what it is.  Mother mouse explains that it is a Christmas tree, and that people cover them with shiny balls, lights, and stars.  "I wish we had a Christmas tree," sighs Molly.  Why don't you go into the woods to find one?" says her mother.  "You could make it look just as  nice as the tree in the window."

So, Molly mouse along with her brothers and sisters set out to find things to decorate the tree.  Molly finds an old doll in the barn, a beautiful gold ribbon in a tree, and some shinny new crab apples.  All of the found items belong to another animal who normally would chase the mice, but in the spirit of Christmas, they decide to share their items and treat the mice with kindness.  Molly and her siblings go deeper into the woods and find the perfect tree and decorate the tree, but when they step back to look at their work they are disappointed that their tree looks nothing like the tree in the window.  Molly and her brothers, and sisters go home sad with their efforts and go to bed.

In the middle of the night, Mother mouse wakes up all of her children and tells them to follow her.  Much to their surprise she leads them back to the Christmas tree they had decorated.  All around the tree are other animals from the woods . . . . . .  looking with awe at their tree.  The tree has now been sprinkled with fresh fallen snow, and with the help of the moonlight, their tree has now become just and beautiful, shiney, and glittery as the tree in the window.  The surprise to the reader is that the tree in the book also lights up.

Your children will be delighted with the surprise at the end of the story.  The story is charming and the images of the mice and woodlen animals sweet, this one is well worth the effort to check it out from your local library, local bookstore, or online book resource.

Many more blessings then I expected

Shortly after my Tickedl Pink Thank You post on December 14th to Michelle Medlock Adams for visiting 2 little Boys and her kind words about my review of her books What is Christmas?,  Michelle contacted me again wanting to send my 2 little Boys a few more of her books to enjoy.

Yesterday this arrived:

. . . . . . . . . . and this was inside

 . . . . . . . . . . and each one was signed with a personal message from Michelle

 . . . . . .  including one for me.


Michelle, your thank you to us was so much more then I DIDN'T expect!
Thank you so much, I can't wait to dive into every page with my 2 little Boys, they have already started looking at the board books even though its not Easter, Halloween, or Thanksgiving, Ha.  I can't wait to start reading my book, thank you so much for thinking of me too.

I pray you and your family have a beautiful
and Merry Christmas!