Book Review:: Everything Christmas

Last year I received  Everything Romance just in time for Valentines Day. This year Everything Christmas by David Borden and Tom Winters arrived a few days after Christmas. I enjoyed the fun little facts in the first book and with a growing family eager to celebrate Christmas I was excited to begin this book. Once again the authors provided such fun details about the history of Christmas traditions from around the world.

Do you know the real history of Christmas?

It can be traced back centuries before Christ was born.

WHAT!?

"The twelve days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule logs, gift giving, carnivals, carolers going from house to house, holiday feasts, even church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians. These traditions were passed down throughout the known world and were popular in Rome long before the birth of Christ." (pg. 7)

Didn't see that one coming, did you?

I sure didn't!

Throughout the book, Borden and Winter offer recipes for traditional Christmas meals from countries such as England, Portugal, Denmark and Poland as well as some of their activities and plans. You can learn about the history of the Christmas stocking, your favorite Christmas carol, and decorations including the story of the candy cane. Ideas for thoughtful presents for each person in your family, fun activities to do with your children, and suggestions of planning your day so it centers around the true meaning of Christmas (did you know in Poland there is no cooking done on Christmas Day?). 

This is all done in a format of an Advent calendar. Each day you learn a history of Christmas and ideas on how to celebrate that day as the big day draws near.

This year my daughter wasn't old enough to really get into the Advent calendar. It didn't mean that we couldn't as a family but I really want her to know what Christmas is all about. We talk about it like it's nothing, "the true meaning of Christmas" is even recited many times over in the Charlie Brown Christmas special. But do we really know what it means? This little book gave me some ideas on how to make Christmas special and memorable without going overboard. It gave ideas for traditions we can start doing while giving a basis for ones we already do. It also ended on Christmas Eve with the story of the birth of Christ. 

Next year, I plan to prepare our hearts and lives for Christmas so when the day comes, we can celebrate the birthday of our Savor.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. All opinion expressed are my own. 

The Original Curious George

The library finally got this book for us. We have been waiting patiently for it to come through the library hold system. 

This is the very first Curious George book. Not edition but the first one written.

It was not what I expected. It actually left more questions than it gave answers.

I was hoping it would tell us how George got to be with the Man with the Yellow Hat. Yes, it did chronicle his journey from Africa to Man's house. But (spoiler alert) he ends up in the zoo.

And the Man stole him from Africa!!!!!

I couldn't believe it. What in the world!?

There were a lot of things in this book that were completely unexpected. But it was written many many years ago. I would imagine everything that was said and done was acceptable during that time period. It's just kind of weird now to see what happens.

Some how George ends up living with the Man with the Yellow Hat....

Book Review:: Come to the Table

I could not wait to receive this book! Ever since I finished Stand By Me by Neta Jackson I couldn't wait to find out what happened. I knew there had to be more. She just couldn't leave us that way.

Ok, so she could have but I was hoping she wouldn't. I needed to know how things turned out for Rochelle and her parents, how the rest of the summer unfolded for the four friends and, especially, how Kat got involved with the church and her grand ideas about food (not really, but it sounds better than I wanted to know how Kat got involved, also, with Nick. In fact, by the end of this book they are one in the same, so there! :-P)

Jackson didn't disappoint.

Come to the Table chronicles the rest of the summer in Chicago. At the end of the first book Olivia moves out and heads back home while Rochelle and Conny move in. Tension grows are Conny takes a liking to Nick, a very strong liking. One that makes Rochelle view Nick as a possible father for Conny. Meanwhile Conny's dad lashes out at Nick because of the relationship he has with Conny and the uncomfortable view from the outside of apartment living situation (Nick living with three women and a child). Nick begins his internship at SouledOut and must address the issues rising between him and Rochelle and Conny as well as his growing feelings for Kat.

And then there's Kat. She comes to church members with an idea to help the homeless eat more healthy food. Boy does she learn a lot about eating, just plan eating. While developing her ideas, Kat becomes involved with a food pantry and her heart bursts. She sees what the problem really is. Her heart for food becomes a mission at the church. She finds her calling, her purpose. She finds Jesus in the midst. She learns what it means to actually feed and take care of the hurting.

I can't tell you all the goes on in this book, there's just too much. God has promised "that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). This can't be more true for this characters in this book. They find His will for their lives and they flourish.

It's a 'feel good' Romans 8:28 book.

A book that claims the promises of God.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.