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One winter when my siblings and I were young, my mom bought a special book to read us during December. It was one of the Christmas In My Heart series by Joe L. Wheeler. I loved that book. That Christmas collection was actually the beginning of a love for any of Dr. Wheeler’s story collections I could get my hands on. But that’s a whole different topic.

Winters in Alaska are dark, long and cold. But the memories I have of all of us curled up in the living room while the wood stove crackled, listening to our special Christmas stories each December are warm ones. I always determined that I would try to recreate that special memory in our home one day.  It may be well past Christmas time, but Max Lucado’s Christmas Stories caught my eye when I saw it. I hoped it would be something like the Christmas In My Heart Series that I still someday hope to collect in its entirety.

Christmas Stories was a lot different than I expected. Instead of a collection of heartwarming, beautiful old stories from the past, it was a continuing story from the 1800s about a little town and the old, often repeated story of an angel, a candle and Christmas Miracles. It talked about a new Minister, and his introduction to the country people and the story of the candle.

It was, however, a book with two very different, and interesting stories in it. While it might not have been the kind of book I was looking for to read to our little family during the Christmas season, I enjoyed reading about the Christmas Candle and the way it reminded people of our GOD who still works miracles on behalf of His own. The second story is more modern. It is set in Texas and told the story of a German wood carver who made a nativity set and the effect it had on the church and others for years to come.

Maybe some winter, we’ll read it together at Christmas time by our own little fireplace. If not, it was a good step in my search for our next favorite Christmas Story Collection, and a book that did make me smile.

Thanks to booksneeze for a copy of this book for review purposes.

I don’t think it is a secret that I love history. When I get the chance to grab a book about History (especially American History–but I love history from around the world!) I have a really hard time passing it by.

In January, I started reading a new history book. It was American Patriots, a small book by Rick Santorum. I enjoyed it because it told the stories of little known men and women who played a part in the writing of our Nation’s story. It talked about people I’d heard of, but didn’t really know the details of who they were or the background of their moment in history.

Some of the stories were very graphic in that Mr. Santorum didn’t hide the fact that sometimes Freedom comes with a steep price, and that there were times when there was a lot of bloodshed, sometimes for the wrong reasons. Some of the stories were sad. Some of them made me laugh. But in all, I enjoyed getting more glimpses into my nation’s past and people.

I find that there is so much to learn from the people and events of history, and that in spite of dark hours, there are always those who stood up and shone in their day in history. It inspires me to be that person in my chapter.

The book itself is small enough to be read quickly, but long enough that you can’t rush through it. It is divided into three sections, and in the back it has a copy of our Declaration of Independence. (I imagine everyone has read it, but If you haven’t before now, you should.) I think American Patriots could be a great homeschooling resource in the future, so it now has a home on my bookshelves. It will be in good company. I hope that our children will love history, and learn from it so they can know what our nation once was, and why in spite of what she is now, I’m still proud to be an American.

Thanks to Tyndale for sharing a copy of this book with me for review purposes.

I was barely 9 years old when I got volunteered to teach the kinders their bible lesson while the regular teacher was out on vacation. It should have been easy. Help the leader pass out activities and sing the songs. Then teach the bible story with felts.

Except, my introverted little heart was absolutely terrified of public speaking, no matter how tiny the audience.  The thought of teaching a lesson filled me with intense anxiety. Fear showed up in full size, and I wanted to cower away in the corner.

In the few moments I had to gather my felts before teaching the lesson, my legs turned to jello and my hands shook. I could feel seven sets of tiny eyes and four sets of adult eyes boring into my back. I tried to gather up any shred of courage I might have had and turned around.  But my voice had vanished. My mouth moved to form words, but no sound escaped. I couldn’t even force a squeak out.

I was completely humiliated and very much starting to panic. I briefly considered bolting for the door and hiding somewhere for the rest of my life….

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