Search This Blog
April Reviews Link-Up
May Reviews Link-Up
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia (1)
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (5)
- France (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Thursday, November 02, 2017
Searching for Ways to Make Christmas More Christ-Centered? Look No Further. (With a Giveaway!)
1:00 AM
(Image from Covenant)
"Time, that precious commodity, is what all families want us to give them, and time is what our Savior wants us to give Him" (2).
With the above quote, author Christie Gardiner introduces, Our Family Christmas a low-stress guide that aims to help families make their holiday celebrations both more meaningful and more spiritual. With a section devoted to each day from December 1st to the 25th, it's an advent calendar in book form. Each day, Gardiner offers a scripture or quote plus a short story, thought, or anecdote that introduces a different Christmas-y topic. Then, she gives suggestions for implementing the principle being taught (giving to the poor, sharing the light of Christ, understanding the symbols of the season, etc.) by suggesting fun, easy family activities (crafts, baking, games, etc.). With busy families in mind, she divides the ideas into those that can be done in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 5 minutes. Each day also gets its own recipe, journaling prompts, and a Christmas hymn/carol.
Gardiner acknowledges the reality of busy, stressed-out families by encouraging each to do what works for them, when it works for them. She emphasizes that Our Family Christmas is a collection of ideas, not a stringent program designed to make parents feel even more burdened during an already overwhelming season. She does testify, however, that focusing on simple, Christ-centered activities like those suggested in the book during the Christmas season will bring families closer together while blessing them with a peaceful, more satisfying holiday experience.
Beautifully illustrated with bright, whimsical Norman Rockwell (and Rockwell-ish) paintings, Our Family Christmas would make a lovely pre-holiday gift. If you're already frazzled with Christmas anxiety, do yourself a favor and read through this lovely book. The ideas within are reassuring in their simplicity. Nothing elaborate is required in order to center your holiday more firmly on the things that really matter—honoring the Savior, generous service, family closeness, and spreading joy. Our Family Christmas keeps it real with small, doable suggestions that can have a large, lasting impact on your family. If you're wondering how to make your holiday more meaningful this year, start with giving this book a look-see. At the very least, it will inspire you to remember the reason for the season.
Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Our Family Christmas from the generous folks at Covenant. Thank you!
--
Interested in more opinions of Our Family Christmas? Follow along on the book's blog tour by clicking on the links below:
*Oct. 31st:
http://lisaisabookworm. blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/,
http://heidi-reads.blogspot. com/
*Nov. 1st:
https://www. singinglibrarianbooks.com/,
http://ldswritermom.blogspot. com/,
http://thoroughlyhere. blogspot.com/,
http://www.rockinbookreviews. com/
*Nov. 2nd:
https://ldsandlovinit. blogspot.com/,
http://mybookaday.blogspot. com/, http://thethingsilovemost.com/ ,
http://www.blogginboutbooks. com/
*Nov. 3rd:
http://sweetlymadejustforyou.Want to win a copy of Our Family Christmas for your very own? Enter to win the book, plus a $25 Amazon gift card by filling out this Rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
Daily Prompt 18 March monday4 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Harris, Robert "Fatherland"17 hours ago
-
Breath as Prayer18 hours ago
-
-
The Magic All Around By Jennifer Moorman22 hours ago
-
-
Books from the Backlog #81 day ago
-
-
Don’t Foget Me by Rea Frey1 day ago
-
-
-
-
Sunday Post2 days ago
-
-
Timeline by Michael Crichton3 days ago
-
-
33. Ferris4 days ago
-
-
Persistence: A Review of Ghost Coach4 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Witch Hat Atelier: Kitchen, Volume 11 week ago
-
Catching up1 week ago
-
Review: Dating Dr. Dil1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?5 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra8 months ago
-
-
-
Sundays with Sam – The Sunday Post11 months ago
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ▼ 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)