living intentionally by faith everyday

L.I.F.E by Ashley Pichea

Monthly Archives: November 2009

Advent is almost upon us…

I’ve never celebrated Advent before – at least not that I can remember. We didn’t celebrate it in church when I was growing up, and it wasn’t something that our family celebrated either.

But I’m about to change all that. At least for this year. I’m going to start a new tradition at our house. We’re going to celebrate Advent – well, sort of. We’re going to focus on Christmas at least once a day for the next 25 days, starting tomorrow. I’m going to get Jenny’s nativity set (Fisher Price Little Peopl – complete with shepherds and wisemen) out. We’re going to read a Christmas story book (some Biblical, some not) and talk about what Christmas is really about, as well as learning the Christmas story.  We’re going to do Christmas-y activities (cookies, decorating, crafts, etc) during the weeks to come, as well. 

I’m getting excited.  And I wasn’t excited last night.  Christmas is coming way too fast, but nevertheless, my mission field is my home – specifically my children – and I need to be proactive in teaching them what Christmas is all about and sharing the wonderful news that Jesus came to earth to save us! 

No matter how many gifts we give or get this Christmas season, the only one that matters is the gift that God gave us that first Christmas night – the gift of Jesus!

Q4U: How do you prepare for Christmas?  Is Christmas just a day at your house or is it a month-long celebration? Do you celebrate Advent?  What special activities will you be doing in the weeks to come to get ready for Christmas?

Disclosure: At times there will be affiliate links within my posts. I do make a small profit from anything you buy from those clicks, but not at any additional cost to you.

Merry Christmas from Revell!!

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, has graciously given us a special gift this Christmas season.  They have allowed me to review two of their newest Christmas books and have given me access to excerpts from these books and another to share with you.

The Christmas Dog (see my review here):  Read an excerpt from this book here. (You will need the free Adobe reader.)

The Unfinished Gift (see my review here): Click here to read an excerpt from this page-turning novel set in WII Philadelphia. (You will need the free Adobe reader.)

Finding Christmas: Click here to read an excerpt from this book. (You will need the free Adobe reader.)

I hope you will enjoy this books as much as I have!

Disclosure: At times there will be affiliate links within my posts. I do make a small profit from anything you buy from those clicks, but not at any additional cost to you.

"The Christmas Dog" by Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine.  She writes in such an easy conversational style, and her books are light and fun to read.  The Christmas Dog is no exception.  This is such a fun story (though filled with struggles, conflicts, and all of the key elements of a good story) and an easy read.

Normally, I’m not one to pick up a book about an animal, but I made an exception for this book, since it was a Christmas story, and I love Christmas.  I’m glad I made the exception.  I really enjoyed this story and the message contained within it.

From the back cover: Betty Kowalski isn’t looking forward to the holidays. She just can’t seem to find Christmas in her heart. Maybe it’s because her husband is gone. Maybe it’s because she’s missing her children. Or maybe it has something to do with her obnoxious new neighbor, who seems to be tearing his house apart and rearranging it on the lawn.  But when a mangy dog appears on her doorstep, the stage is set for Betty to learn what Christmas is really all about.

The story really isn’t about the dog, but rather how the dog is used to bring people together and to remind Betty what Christmas is all about.  The story brings out the good in situations that otherwise look grim, and remind us to look beyond the surface to the real person inside.

Click here to read an excerpt from this book. (You will need the free Adobe reader.)

Thanks to Revell for providing a copy of this book for me to read and review.  Be sure to grab a copy of this fun Christmas read for yourself at your local bookseller!

Disclosure: At times there will be affiliate links within my posts. I do make a small profit from anything you buy from those clicks, but not at any additional cost to you.

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"The Unfinished Gift" by Dan Walsh

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided me with a copy of this book to read and review.

Click here to read an excerpt from this page-turning novel set in WII Philadelphia. (You will need the free Adobe reader.)

This book was an enjoyable and easy read.  The story of a grumpy old man, full of bitterness, and a young boy who has lost his mother in a car accident and whose father is a bomber stationed in England.  Through circumstances outside their control, the two are thrown together and forced to work through the issues of the past 10+ years.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing more books from Dan Walsh hit the shelves in the years to come.  He writes in an easy-to-read style, yet brings the language and settings of time-period to life.  This story has twists that are unexpected and will keep you turning the pages.

Disclosure: At times there will be affiliate links within my posts. I do make a small profit from anything you buy from those clicks, but not at any additional cost to you.

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"The Silent Gift" by Landon & Kelley

A joint effort by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley, The Silent Gift is a beautifully written historical fiction book.  The story of a single mother and her deaf-mute son, The Silent Gift is a tale of their struggles through life and the faithfulness of God throughout it all.

From the back cover: The decade of the thirties was a time of enormous uncertainty – for the world, for America, and in particular for one lonely, struggling mother and her disabled son. Their story is one of unyielding love and incredible sacrifices in the face of circumstances beyond belief… But then The Gift appears… where has it come from, and why? How can a young boy who cannot communicate provide comfort and direction to seekers who learn of his special ability? Whatever the source, its presence brings a single shaft of light and hope to Mary and her beloved son, Jack… Will it be enough?

An easy and enjoyable read, The Silent Gift is a book that will have you captivated.  I enjoyed the twists of the story, the tension of the characters, and the reminder at the end of how the story came to be.  Read this book with an open mind, remembering that it is a work of fiction, and you will enjoy this story as much as I did.

Thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy of this book for me to read and review.  Pick up your copy at your local bookseller this fall.

Disclosure: At times there will be affiliate links within my posts. I do make a small profit from anything you buy from those clicks, but not at any additional cost to you.

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