Book Review: Where Treetops Glisten

Wow! So I guess it's a little late for a Christmas book review, but I guess you can look forward to reading this book next year! :) I love having Christmas books to read at Christmastime. It seems very strange to me to read "normal" books at such a special season. A lot of times, I just find quick books to read, very light and fluffy. This year, I was very excited to have "Where Treetops Glisten" especially since one of the contributors is one of my favorite authors, Sarah Sundin!

The book is composed of three novellas each about a sibling in one family and spans most of World War II. This is such a spectacular period in our nations history and I love books set in this period, especially since my grandparents were teens/young adults in this time. My grandpa served in the Pacific in the Army Air Corps. The stories follow Abigail, Peter, and Meredith Turner as they do their part in helping the war effort. Abigail has no interest in romance after losing her boyfriend at Pearl Harbor. Pete is home from the war but suffering from the mental anguish caused by hard fighting. Merry is a nurse hoping to go to the warm Pacific, but ends up in cold Europe. Each of these siblings finds love in unexpected places.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I love the descriptions of the town (especially Glatz candy shop where Abigail worked!) I also loved that each of the stories are connected. The authors are established in their writing and know how to compose excellent stories. I really enjoyed reading this book through the Christmas season!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was provided by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Legend of St. Nicholas

Yes, Christmas is coming very quickly!!! Anyone ready? Yeah... me either. Every year I make plans that the NEXT year I will get my shopping done early!!  After all, I want to relax and be able to enjoy the holiday season! This year, I also have a very special birthday party to plan!!! (One I've been planning for oh.... about a year.) ;)

One thing I love about Christmas is Christmas books. I always have! Growing up we had a stack of books that came out with our other Christmas treasures. And I know it comes as no surprise that I have already started a stack of fun Christmas books for our little family. I was excited to get another new beautiful Christmas book to add to our collection.

The Legend of St. Nicholas begins with a young man named "Nick" who wasn't to eager to spend his savings on gifts for others.  While at the department store he over hears the store Santa telling the story of St. Nicholas and how he came to see the need of others and decided to share what he had to ease the hurt. Nick sees the joy in giving and sharing with the needy.

I love the illustrations in this book. They are very bright and cheerful and "Christmasy!" I love that the book also brings in the birth of Jesus as the basis for the celebration of Christmas and gift giving. I'm sure we will enjoy reading this book during the Christmas season through the years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to Book Look for this review copy. My opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Dawn of Christmas

I don't know about you, but I enjoy reading Christmas books at Christmas time! I don't get as many read in recent years as I used to... the season just keeps getting busier and busier! The Dawn of Christmas was a nice short book to enjoy for a Christmas-y story. Sadie has been burned once in love and she has difficulty trusting another man again. She finds Levi in a field after his horse threw him and helps him get the care he needs. They become good friends, and use their friendship as a way to keep their respective families from hounding them about marriage. But of course this isn't how things stay... but that would be giving it away!

The Dawn of Christmas is linked to Cindy Woodsmall's other books that I have read. (and probably some I have missed.) But you can follow the story whether you have read her other books or not. I like the characters in this book and the way they develop. It is a short work of fiction, so the development has to come at a rather fast pace. Overall a fun, but not considerably deep holiday read.

"Love is Patient..."

The past few weeks have seemed very long... each night making sure we have our phones near at hand for "the call," bags have been packed for several weeks (in fact, I have switched tops out several times because the weather keeps changing...), I have the one going home outfit that I really wanted - in two sizes, the carseat is installed... Weeks on pins and needles isn't exactly fun and I know baby's sweet birth mom is eager for her arrival as well! (After all, she's doing the hard work!) ;)

I was reading this post over on (in)Courage just now and it got me thinking. Love is patient. God's love and His plan are perfect. His timing is impeccable. Even when we can't understand "what is the holdup?"

And I was thinking, as long as it seems that we have been waiting, God's chosen people waited for hundreds of years for the coming Messiah. Each expectant mother hoped that she would be the one to carry this Messiah. The Hope of the world. That's some intense waiting! I'm sure sometimes they wondered if He was ever going to come.

Yet... in the "Fullness of time, God sent His Son..." God had everything all lined up and ready for His perfect Son to be born into the world. I don't know what God has to get "lined up" for our little one to get here. And I sure don'
t understand His timing right now... and sometimes it seems that this little one will never come. But she will... (I've yet to see a mom walking around pregnant for 18 years...) ;) And her arrival will all be in God's perfect plan.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A note on our adoption process: I have gone over it a bit here, but I thought I would tell a little about how we think things will happen... the plan is for us to be at the hospital when the baby is born. After the time required, the birth mother can then sign the relinquishment papers. (Until then, nothing is legally binding.) After a bit more paperwork, we will be heading home with baby.

We will try to keep things low key around here for a little while - hard to do this time of year! :) I also won't be sharing a lot of details - on my blog or in person. I know I am not the only adoptive mom to say this, but our child's story will be just that - her story. We want to protect her privacy as well as the privacy of others involved.

But mostly I wanted to thank you all for your wonderful support for us along every step of the journey that we have shared. Bloggers are a wonderful community!! Thank you for you encouragement and prayers!!

Days of Christmas

The past few Decembers I have enjoyed getting a picture up each day leading up to Christmas. This is turning out to be a very eventful year for our little family (and no, still no baby yet... She seems to be quite satisfied with her spot at the moment..) ;) So I'm not sure I'll get pics up each day - I'm already a day behind - but I will try to share a bit of our celebrating.

My decorating is more simple than usual. While I do miss our full sized tree, it was nice to get the decorating done so quickly. I do have our small tree up. 

I had to take a trip to Hobby Lobby for some garland for the mantle. Most of my Christmas boxes are rather buried in storage (including some I thought I had seperated... So much for Christmas mugs.) I did decorate a little differently on the mantle. I bought a few things to match our little Coca-Cola tree. I love this little snowflake owl!!

Hope everyone's December is off to a great start!! 

Days of Christmas: Day 25

A very merry Christmas to you all!! So glad we can celebrate the Reason for the Season!

Days of Christmas: Day 24

After our Christmas service at church yesterday evening, we drove around and looked at Christmas lights! So fun!! I hope each of you is having a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Days of Christmas: Day 23

Reading by the Christmas tree. There's never enough time for one of my favorite Christmas pastimes.

Days of Christmas: Day 22

A handmade ornament that came in the mail! Thank you, Piper! I love it!! :)

Days of Christmas: Day 22

Presents under the tree!

Days of Christmas: Day 21

Christmas goodies!! Baked by my hubby! (Although I DID crush the candy...) ;)

Days of Christmas: Day 20

Well, I had a very busy day today!! So today's picture is from a few weeks ago - before we started Days of Christmas. The last Thursday in November, Mark and I enjoyed the local Christmas parade with our friends Andrew and Clara! Here we are after the official tree lighting! :) (Warning: very grainy cell phone pict to follow... sometimes the memories are more important than quality photos...) ;)

Days of Christmas: Day 19

Story time with Mr. Andrew. We had a Sunday School Christmas party at our house this evening. I'm just a little tired... ;) Mr. Andrew is a great storyteller... He read about Humphrey the Camel.

Days of Christmas: Day 18

Just some favorite music! What's on you list to listen to each year?

Days of Christmas: Day 17

Wrapping presents with my sis! So glad to have her back from college!!

Days of Christmas: Day 16

Church Christmas program! The kids did so good!!!

Days of Christmas: Day 15

Christmas fudge! Yummy!!!

Days of Christmas: Day 14 and Finished Object Friday

I finished the Christmas star ornament!! :) It was a very quick knit.... you, know... when I actually took the time to do it! :) I used this pattern, and only went to row 9 - I think... after a year of resting, I wasn't sure WHAT row I was on! :) But I'm really glad I stopped when I did, because it was quite big enough already.

I wasn't sure about the "stiffening." I've never used that much starch before, but it turned out really cute!! Hmmm... maybe I should make more of these! ;) I did use some pins to block it nicely. (Instead of just doing it by hand. The yarn has a little sparkle to it... it shows up a little better in the picture below:

Ok, it's your turn! Any little holiday projects that you have been working on??

Days of Christmas: Day 13

Loving my Christmas cards!!!

Days of Christmas: Day 12

Just a little bit of Christmas knitting!! I've hardly knitted at all recently. When I picked it up this evening, it felt so relaxing! I wondered what was keeping me from it?? :) This is a little project I started last year (see, I told you I haven't been knitting much!). It is a small star ornament for an aunt that hosts a family dinner every year. Shhhh... Don't spoil the surprise! (Hmmm... I don't THINK she reads my blog....) ;)