Blog Anniversary Q&A Answers

    

   Well, it's been just over a week, so I'll go ahead and answer the questions from the Q&A. Some of these are really fun! Some are similar, too, so I'll combine them.

What made you/inspired you to start a blog?

Well, it sounded fun, for one. Also, I was reading some other blogs at that point and thought, "Why not me?" Plus it's a fun way to get my thoughts/reviews out there.

What's your favorite thing about having a blog?

Probably being in the blogosphere. It has enabled me to make friends, meet famous(ish) authors, and participate in blog events (like book releases and Christmas blog parties). 

What is your favorite blog post/series of related posts that you've done?

Oooh. That would probably be the Ten Days of Christmas series I did. Such fun, and a privilege to do it with other bloggers, including the host of Five Fall Favorites (Rebekah Morris)! My favorite out of that series was definitely the one about Scripture. It was probably the longest post I've ever written on this blog. 

What is the biggest thing having a blog has taught you?

Hmm. Well, I would have to say that it has taught me that sometimes God can use little things (like my posts) to bless/encourage others. And that knowledge in and of itself is a real encouragement!

How many siblings do you have?

Ten, besides myself. Eleven kids total. And guess who's the middle child? *raises my hand*

Have you finished writing Going Ballistic yet?

Sadly, I have not. I hit the dreaded writer's slump a while back, and lost a lot of my enthusiasm for it. But never fear! These slumps are only temporary, and I plan to finish it someday. In fact, I went back and worked on it a bit more a little while ago. And I'm pleased with how it's turning out so far. So rest assured, I haven't abandoned it! The progress is just limping right now. It shouldn't be too long before it recovers and is up and running again (I hope)!

Can you listen to music when you write? Do you like to?

Okay. I do like to listen to music when I write. But I usually don't. Simply because I tend to just get to writing before I even get my music. However, sometimes I will remember, and when I do, I usually listen to instrumental. I like songs with words, but they distract me when I'm writing. Then my brain is trying to focus on the song's words and the story's words at the same time. So I usually go with instrumental (*ahem* often Piano Guys).

Favorite TV show?

Oh goodness. I'll have to go with two of my favorite BBC period dramas: Little Women and North and South. Yes. Yes, I'm a period drama person.

What's one meal you could eat every day for a straight week and not grow tired of it?

Honestly? Salad. I know because some years ago, I ate salad for lunch practically every day during the summer. Plus, you can switch around the toppings and dressings for variety, but it'd still be the same meal.

When/how did you discover you liked to write?

I honestly have no idea when. I've been making up stories for forever, I guess. Although when I was really young, they were too horribly written to be called stories. Mostly just these embarrassing little tales of giant blue worms and getting lost in the woods and families with 15+ biological kids & multiple sets of twins and triplets. Not that the huge families were bad in my stories, but they were extremely unrealistic. Oh, and that one story I wrote a long time ago that I was so proud of. *shudders* In it, this guy proposes to a girl without dating her/talking to her/courting her first . . . also the girl's dad had just died. Oh, and her mom already died earlier in the story. Yeah. I think I might take the liberty of saying I have improved some in my writing since then!

Favorite Bible verse?

Okay, right off the top of my head, there's one verse I've loved and have had memorized for literally as long as I can remember: John 3:16. And Isaiah 53. If you haven't read Isaiah 53 yet, go read it.

I also like Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (NASB) 

Also Isaiah 55:7: Let the wicked abandon his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (NASB)

Favorite color?

Basically any shade of blue, purple, and petal pink specifically. I am very particular about this. I'm not much of a "pinky" person. But I love petal pink. And peach.

Favorite book of all time?

You did not just ask this question.

Okay, I guess you did. 

I'm thinking.

So many options.

Help!

*

*

*

Okay, off the top of my head, I'd say The Raider's Promise by Lois Walfrid Johnson. Go here to see my review of it. I absolutely love this book. And yes, I will admit to skipping to the end and reading and re-reading the ending sometimes.

Paper or computer?

Computer. Then I don't have to worry about my handwriting, or using up my eraser, or my fingers cramping (which they do). Also, I tend to type faster than I write. It's more efficient.

Least favorite food of all-time?

Okay, out of the foods I've never tasted and am merely prejudiced against, I despise caviar and chicken feet. Out of the foods I have tasted and still don't like, I would have to say that braunschweiger is one of the worst. Though I will concede it does smell worse than it tastes.

Favorite font to use?

Anything flowing and beautiful but still easy to read. For my favorite common-use one, that would be Verdana, which is the font I am using right now. It's my blog font.

Thank you so much for the fun questions! 

Happy Independence Day!

  

   The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

I am proud to be an American. This country was originally founded as a God-fearing country. We believed in God. We believed in freedom. 

I still believe in God and freedom. I still respect the freedoms outlined in the Constitution of the Untied States of America. I thank God He brought this country about, and that He placed me in it . . . because I know He did so for a reason.

It isn't perfect. But it's my home. And I am an American patriot. 

Happy Independence Day, America!

   

One-year Anniversary Q&A!

     

  I have had this blog for exactly one year now. How crazy is that? It feels like I'm still so new to blogging, yet I've been doing it for a year already! Read my first post here. I was still very, very amateur, and had no idea how to format the blog post, use URLs (you can imagine how excited I was when I figured out how simple it was!), and fix the blog background so everything wasn't all just. plain. red. Yes, I'd definitely say I've learned how to manage my blog a bit better than I could that first day I posted. ;P

   Since that first post this day last year, I have written over 80 posts, received over 400 comments, had over 6,500 blog views (woot woot!), and gotten some amazing followers (14 blogger, and I-don't-know-how-many email followers). A big thank-you to all you people who take the time to listen to my ramblings and read the posts of this little blog. 

   Anyway, for my one-year blog anniversary, I'm going to steal an idea I got from various other bloggers and do a Q&A. If you have any questions to ask me, comment below! (However, I reserve the right to not answer it if I feel like it's too personal or something.) I'm going to be busy for the next little while, but I'll try to put up the answers sometime after all the Independence Day hustle and bustle is over. I'd love to see what you come up with!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

    

      I love Christmas. It's one of my favorite holidays. But Christmas, in which a tiny baby boy was born in Bethlehem, finds both its peak and its conclusion in Easter, in which the baby became a man and did something no other person in the history of time has ever done. This man is Jesus.

  He lived a sinless life, was sentenced to death out of spite and hatred, and suffered an agony deeper than any of us can comprehend.

Because His Father, who loved Him so much, turned His back on His Son and laid on Jesus the punishment we deserve . . . in fact, the Father was pleased to crush His Son, putting Him to grief (Is. 53:10)! 

   Let's face it–we don't like to be blamed for something we didn't do. We try to avoid taking punishment that does not belong to us. Why wouldn't we? The person who does the wrong should be the one disciplined for it . . . not some innocent bystander. It takes a lot of courage to take someone else's condemnation on ourselves . . . and a lot of love.

   Jesus Christ loved–and loves–us very much. He loves His Father. But why would He want to take on our punishment if it's just what we have merited?

   He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening [that is, punishment] for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed (Is. 53:5).

   Quite simply . . . that is why Christ had to die. That is why Christ took on the worst agony this world has ever seen.

Because we need Him.

   Without Him, we are lost in our sin. And trust me, you will not find any other hope for salvation except through the blood of Jesus Christ. Many people think they can. But the simple fact is that no one can obtain eternal salvation unless it be through the Lamb of God. 

   Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday evening. Keep the true celebration in mind. The celebration of the event at Calvary. The death of Christ. 

And the triumphant victory of death when Jesus rose from the grave three days later!  

 

He is alive today!

Happy Valentine's Day!

    Some people get cards for Valentine's day. Some get chocolate. Others (like me) are given balloons.

   Well, we got something unexpected this year. No doubt many of you have gotten it as well. Where I live, it isn't as common. Can you guess what I'm talking about?

Lots of snow!

The seeds in our bird feeder have gotten snowed in!

                                            

Our girl pup eats the snow. She was practically inhaling it!

   What's your favorite way to warm up after romping in the snow?

   Mine is sitting by the wood stove and snuggling into a blanket with a warm drink. It's the best!

   A-a-and moving on! I got caught up talking and almost forgot the real purpose for this post! But snow worries, I've remembered. ;) 

   

  

   Wishing you a happy and warm Valentine's Day!

Hope Chest Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to the Hope Chest Scavenger Hunt! Today, I’m taking part of this fun event and giveaway to celebrate the release of Sarah Holman’s new book Fanny’s Hope Chest.

Here’s how to play:

1.     Go to Tangled up in Writing or The Destiny of One and get the full list of items to search for and blogs taking part

2.     Find the hidden item on each blog

3.     Go to Tangled up in Writing or The Destiny of One and enter the giveaway with your completed list.

4.     Tell your friends about the scavenger hunt

5.     Watch to see if your name is drawn on February 16th for 1 of five

 

Okay, see if you can find the item I’ve hidden:

Did you find it? Don’t forget to enter the giveaway. There will be five winners!

Interested in Fanny’s Hope Chest? Grab it for $0.99 through the 14th (Price will go up to $2.99 after)

How old is too old for a hope chest?

When Ellie starts a new job as a home health aid, she doesn't expect to meet a woman in her eighties looking for her hope chest, nor a house as messy as Ellie's own emotional state. But as she cleans up Fanny's house, she begins to wonder if Fanny's hope chest might hold the answers to her questions about disappointed dreams and holding on to hope.

That is, if she can face both the mess and her own heart.

Find it on Amazon

Note: if you comment, please do not state what item you found on this blog, as this could spoil it for those who have not found it yet and do not know what it is! Thank you!

Scavenger Hunt

    Hey! This is just a quickie post to say that tomorrow, there will be a Hope Chest Scavenger Hunt going on to launch Sarah Holman's new book, Fanny's Hope Chest. Just in time for Valentine's Day!

   I myself have not read the book yet, but I hope to. It looks interesting, and that cover is just beautiful! (Whoever said "you can't judge a book by its cover" must have meant it symbolically; I certainly do judge books by their cover! Get an interesting cover, and I'll probably read over the synopsis. That's what the cover is for!)

 

   Also--unrelated note. I made myself a simple new signature. (Yes, another one.) What do you think?

Photo Dump

      Hello, and Happy-Beginning-of-February! I recently realized that I took some pictures a few months ago up that I was planning on posting but have not posted yet. So . . . photo dump! 

   First of all . . . we got a dusting of snow before Christmas. It didn't stay, but it was snow just the same, so we sort of got a white Christmas! I took the first picture with the flash on, and it turned out pretty neat and strange at the same time!

   Here's another Christmas picture. I know, it's way past December 25th now. But our cat was hiding in the Christmas wrapping paper, and he was just so cute!

   And here's another picture of him, but this time, he's sitting on the teddy bear's lap.

   And there was a gorgeous sunset some weeks ago. I just had to snap a photo!

   Well, that's all for now. I have an idea for a more interesting post lined up for another day. :)

Signed,

Martha

Happy New Year!

    A-a-and my blog vacation's over! I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year! I have a few announcements and random notes.

   First off, if you didn't notice it already, I've got a few new pages up there just below the header. Just pointing it out. ;)

    Secondly, I am going to attempt to put up more snippets and the like from my stories this coming year. I can't promise anything, but I mi-i-i-ight even publish my first book in 2021! Obviously, my little flickering hope to finish and publish Millie's Miracle by this last Christmas got extinguished, but now I'm onto a goal to get it done by next Christmas. Plenty of time, so if I still don't get it done next year, any excuses I might give will be pitifully irrelevant. And you can hold me to this if you want. ;)

   Third, I want to point out a new work-in-progress! Yes, I know; I shouldn't keep abandoning my "old" works for any new idea that pops into my brain. But just to let you know, that's precisely what I do. Not the abandoning part, though . . . I mean, I still have my other stories around. They're just, uh, in storage. Now that I've pled my defense, I will move onto the story! It's called Just Another Autumn. I'm really enjoying this story. It's fun, just a bit dramatic, has Christian values, and maybe has a good dash of sarcasm-seasoning thrown in. ;) I kind of write the type of stuff I like to read, so this is very fun. Though I must admit that I'm not very kind to my characters. Why? Oh, because it's so much more enjoyable to throw them headlong into a dramatic and/or distressing situation so that they will have a chance to grow/learn/maybe-have-a-life-changing-experience. This time, in this story, it has to do with a concussion and a chance meeting. I'm not going to give away any more (yet). Go on over to my works-in-progress page to see the collage I made for it!

   And one more little note. I put up a few more things on my "Behind the Blogger" page. :)

   Happy New Year and God Bless!

10 Days of Christmas #10: Finale & Giveaway

 

      Well, we've come to the final day of our 10 Days of Christmas! I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have, and thank you so much for participating. I'd no idea how this would turn out, seeing as how I'd never hosted a blog party of any sort before, but you all have been amazing. We'll see what happens, but maybe I could make this an annual thing. Of course, there's so many other Christmas blog parties that go on this time of year, and that's why I say "maybe." What do you think? Should I do this again next year?

And now onto the winner of the giveaway! Drumroll, please . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abigail H., you have been crowned the winner! Congratulations! 

   And for the rest of you as well, I'd like to wish you a very Merry Christmas! Have a blessed day and a joyful rest of your year. And as we go into the next year, keep in mind that nothing that happens is out of God's control.

Merry Christmas!!

Ten Days of Christmas #9: Scripture

   Hello everybody, and welcome to the Ten Days of Christmas blog party! I'm very excited to be participating in this. This blog event will be posted every two days. Specifically, December 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, and 22nd. On each day but the last one, the theme will be associated with a certain letter of "Christmas." At the end of the event (the 22nd), the winner of the giveaway will be announced.

With that brief overview out of the way, let's get started!

Today's letter from C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S is "S" for

   

*Let it be known: because there's so many good points to mention, this may be a bit longer of a post. Please stick with me, though!*

   According to the dictionary:

scripture |'skripture|

noun

(often Scripture or Scriptures) the sacred writings of Christianity contained in the Bible

   I just wanted to start this off with that description of this word. Alright, so how does Christmas relate to scripture? What does the Bible have to do with a holiday about gifts and trees and red and green? Well, it has everything to do with Christmas, it turns out. In fact, those other things --gifts, red, green, etc.-- are the things that were added by man to what many see as the "meaning" of Christmas. But if we look into the true meaning of Christmas, which is a holiday technically made by God, not man, we will see that Scripture holds the story of the foundation for Christmas.

Luke 2:1-3

   Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city.

   Pause! Now, why am I putting in this seemingly random fact into the story? Well, because it's crucial to what happened; that's why. If God had not put the Roman Empire into place, this decree never would have been sent out! And if the decree hadn't gone out, the entire Christmas story, in a sense, would be for naught, because . . . well, let's keep on, and you'll see.

Luke 2:4-7

   Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

   Wow! Besides being beautifully written (by the way, who else agrees that God has got to be the most amazing writer ever???), that was loaded with some interesting facts! Did you catch them? Okay, let's review what we have so far: 

(1) As I mentioned before, it's crucial that the decree be passed. Why? Because it made it necessary for Joseph to travel to Bethlehem with Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus. Why is it so important that he go to Bethlehem? Because it fulfilled the prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. 

   In Micah 5:2, it says: "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." 

   This means that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he fulfilled the prophecy about it from many, many years before!

(2) This made Jesus, through Joseph, from the lineage of David! Why is this fact so significant? Because it fulfilled the prophecy that Jesus would be in David's lineage. 

   In Acts 13:22-23, it says: "After He [God] had removed him [King Saul], He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.' From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus . . ." 

   As I said, this means that when Jesus's earthly father was Joseph, He became of David's line and thus fulfilled an old prophecy! How could men from years before Jesus's time know this . . . unless God had revealed it to them because He already knew it was going to happen?

(3) Joseph was from Nazareth, and later, Jesus spent a his childhood in that place, too! Why is it so important that Jesus be from there? Because it fulfilled the prophecy that Jesus would be a Nazarene. 

  In Matthew 2:23, it says: " . . . And [Joseph] came and settled in a city called Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: 'He will be called a Nazarene.'"

   Again, "what was spoken through the prophets" was spoken a while before Jesus came. What amazing wisdom and foresight God had!

   Okay, let's keep going with the story. I'm going to skip over to Matthew for a moment, because all the gospels fit so beautifully together and tie the story of Jesus's birth together so well. This is actually kind of a "preface" to what we just read in Luke.

Matthew 2:18-25

   Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

   And look carefully at the next part. Isn't it astounding how perfectly God laid out His plan even before it came to pass?

(Continued from verse 22) 

   Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

   Who here is continually amazed by how p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y God wove Jesus's birth, His ministry, and the prophecies about Him together? *raises my hand* As an aspiring writer, I've got to say: that is the best plot I've ever read in my life; it corresponds so well. Also, the word "behold" is such a perfect touch. Just . . . beautiful.

   Okay, let's keep going. I'm jumping back to the Gospel of Luke now.

Luke 2:8-14

   In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 

   Okay, a few things here. Um, first, I definitely would be TERRIFIED if an angel suddenly stood right in front of me on a dark night! It's no wonder that, time and time again, we see angels in the Bible saying "Do not be afraid" to the people they appear to. 

   Secondly, did you notice it said "which will be for all the people?" That means anyone, no matter their state, background, or former religion, can still come to Christ. I mean, God saved Saul (better known as Paul, the author of most of the New Testament epistles), and Saul had been a fervid persecutor of the Christian church. Read Acts 22 for the story of his conversion. 

   I'd keep going, and read through the whole continuing story of the shepherds, Kind Herod, the Magi (or wise men, as they're also called), and the flight to Egypt. But that would literally take probably the rest of the day, so I'll leave you with this and urge you to read the first few chapters of Luke and Matthew for the rest of the Christmas story.

   Just remember: it isn't about good food. It isn't about giving and receiving earthly gifts. It isn't about shopping. It's ultimately about the birth of Jesus, the Son of God Who came to earth and took on the body of mortal man so He could eventually die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins upon Himself. 

   That's what CHRISTmas is really all about. This is not to say that giving gifts to others, spending time with friends and family, eating a delicious Christmas meal, and decorating in reds and greens is bad, because it isn't. Just so long as we keep the focus on Christ and not on ourselves or even each other. This holiday is called CHRISTmas, not "me-mas" or "others-mas." :)

   As someone said just today: the Gospel is the only gift that "keeps on giving."

   It won't wear out, break down, become irrelevant, or cease to exist. It's not like our earthly gifts --though those aren't bad in and of themselves. But they don't last. They don't bring about ultimate salvation. 

   But the gift of God does. It does last, stays sound, remains relevant, doesn't disappear, and does bring about salvation for those who would receive it.

   So as you go about your business these few days before Christmas, keep the Greatest Gift in mind. The gift God Himself gave to us in love.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 Visit Little Blossoms for Jesus, Culinary Scribbles, and Rebekah's Reading Room to see the coordinating posts from the other participants, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

10 Days of Christmas #8: Activities

 

   Hello everybody, and welcome to the Ten Days of Christmas blog party! I'm very excited to be participating in this. This blog event will be posted every two days. Specifically, December 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, and 22nd. On each day but the last one, the theme will be associated with a certain letter of "Christmas." At the end of the event (the 22nd), the winner of the giveaway will be announced.

With that brief overview out of the way, let's get started!

Today's letter from C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S is "A" for

   Some of these activities, I've already covered in the other posts, so I'll just skim over them. A few of my favorite Christmas activities include:

-Cookie decorating

   We make multiple different kinds of cookies (see my last post about it), and it's so fun to roll our "snowballs" around in the powered sugar. Messy, but oh so fun! And those spritz . . . I'm not sure why, but I think colored sugar sprinkles are so cute!

-Christmas decorating

   I touched on this one, too (see here). It is so fun, though I will admit that until this holiday season, I hadn't been too involved in decorating. Well! I've amended that, and we now have beautiful garlands across the top of our wooden cupboards, a jingle-bell-covered ribbon adorning our bedroom doorway, lights glimmering from the short tree in front of our house, and "snowball" lights strung across our front window.

-Singing songs

   Whether it be classic carols like "O Holy Night" or more contemporary songs like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," I enjoy belting out the songs in my soprano voice (and sounding good, I hope!). The songs just come to my head randomly, and I'll find myself leaving off "Edelweiss" (from Sound of Music) and spiraling into "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Now tell me: how in the world did I get from point A to point C in my singing, and why do those two totally different songs somehow coordinate?? 

   Another thing. It is so fun to hear my little siblings sing one of those songs and end up with words so foreign to the actual lyrics that I wonder whether they notice that what they're singing has nothing to do with the song's original topic. Example? My little sister was walking by me the other day and singing out in her sweet, confident tones: "We three kings of glory and tar . . ."

-Present-wrapping

   Wrapping the presents is sometimes almost as fun as giving the gift. Some years ago, I had to wrap a 4-foot-something-tall box that held a large gift for someone, and their astonished reaction was so wonderful. Christmas wrapping is an art and it's one I am striving to become accomplished in if I can. 

-Present-giving

   Yes, this absolutely counts as an activity! And it's so fun to see people's reactions over what you've given them. Especially those really little kids who are ready to scream for joy when they get a pack of gum. ;D

-Scheming and having to sneak around behind people's backs while you're stuffing their gift inside your jacket so they won't see it

   This is a very active thing to do. You have to be vigilant, always on the alert to make sure that one person is not looking over your shoulder at the paper you are writing their gift on. And the smuggling of the presents into the other room so you can wrap them . . . . ! A risky business, indeed.

   And I could give so many examples more, but I'm afraid this post would exceed its word limit! 

   Visit Little Blossoms for Jesus, Culinary Scribbles, and Rebekah's Reading Room to see the coordinating posts from the other participants, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Favorite Authors & Books #8: A Snow-Globe World

    Okay, I know this is not for the 10 Days of Christmas, but I ha-a-ave to gush about this book to you all, so here goes.

 A Snow-Globe World 

   I recently (like, two days ago) read this and oh. my. goodness! It's one of the most beautiful Christmas stories I've ever read! It's sweet, encouraging, oh-so-Christmasy, and very clear in presenting the message of what Christmas really is. And that cover . . . just . . . *delighted sigh*

   It was written by a special writer-friend of mine, Chelsea Burden, so I was super excited to read it. And it did not fail my expectations. In fact, it surpassed them. It's well-written and engaging. And creative! I've never read a book quite like that. Oh, and not to mention the very eloquent wording.

Sensitive content: none (that I'd caution on)

Age recommendation: 8 or 9+ (basically, all ages)

My rating: 5 stars

And guess what! You can get the story for FREE all of this week, so hop on over here and get it, if you can!!

10 Days of Christmas #7: Movies

       

   Hello everybody, and welcome to the Ten Days of Christmas blog party! I'm very excited to be participating in this. This blog event will be posted every two days. Specifically, December 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, and 22nd. On each day but the last one, the theme will be associated with a certain letter of "Christmas." At the end of the event (the 22nd), the winner of the giveaway will be announced.

With that brief overview out of the way, let's get started!

Today's letter from C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S is "M" for 

         

   We wait until after Thanksgiving, and then the day after . . .

   It's Christmas season, and that means we can start watching Christmas films! I enjoy a good holiday movie. Even though we usually just rewatch the ones we already know, sometimes an extra one or two sneaks into the batch.

Here's a few I like:

-It's a Wonderful Life

   Good movie. It emphasizes how just how many blessings we have that we often forget about. Some kissing (but it's nothing I personally consider inappropriate).

-Shop Around the Corner

   A Christmastime romantic comedy. I only just watched this last year for the first time, and I personally really enjoyed it. Where has this movie been hiding?? As a (very) brief and vague synopsis, a gal and guy start falling in love over their anonymous letters, but they are bitter enemies in the workplace because each does not know the other is their pen pal. Some kissing (but same sentiment as with the above movie). Nothing else questionable (that I can remember. I haven't rewatched it this holiday season yet).

-A Charlie Brown Christmas

Classic. Fun. And does mention the real reason for the season. 

-White Christmas

   A tale of two war buddies who go into show business . . . and end up meeting two lovely ladies. Some kissing (same sentiment as above) and some other scenes I personally find a little strange, but that's cause they're in show biz. I don't mind them too much, but I can get awkward over random stuff. Feel free to disagree with me on this or not. ;)

   I am going to hop off down the rabbit trail for a few moments here, so bear with me. This technically isn't a bona fide "Christmas" movie, but it has Christmas in it, and it's my favorite version of this story, so on the list is goes!

-Little Women- BBC version

Yes. Yes. And yes. This is definitely my favorite version. And we all know Little Women has Christmas appear multiple times in the storyline. It's even mentioned at the very beginning; "Christmas" is the very first word of the book! So yep, it's on my list. 

   I have other favorite Christmas films, but I'm going to pause the post here. See you in two days for the next "10 Days of Christmas" post!

Visit Little Blossoms for Jesus, Culinary Scribbles, and Rebekah's Reading Room to see the coordinating posts from the other participants, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!