Fear Not: COVID Christmas Part 2

10 Dec

Last week just after posting Christians and a COVID Christmas my family drove surrounding neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. We hadn’t driven long when we came upon a house I will never forget. It wasn’t one of those with the coordinated FM station and a light show, although we saw one of those too, it wasn’t a larger than life inflatable Santa or a handcrafted nativity. It was simply two words in big, bold lights:

FEAR NOT

It took our breath away in such a manner that I can only imagine what the shepherds thought as they encountered a heavenly host and the angel of the Lord saying

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10 KJV

2020 has been a year of fear. Fear of an unknown virus. Fear of infection, death, the overwhelming of our healthcare system. Fear of loosing employment and paying the bills. Fear that children living in abusive homes will not be reported and rescued. Fear of isolation. Fear of violence. Fear of the loss of our democracy. You name it and it most likely has been a fear this year.

But God.

In His infinite wisdom and divine love our Creator sent His angels to remind the shepherds and every generation after them to FEAR NOT for His joy had come; He sent His Son our Savior Christ the Messiah.

I find it immensely comforting that the calendar concludes each year with the celebration of Christ’s birth. No matter the year behind us or the future before us we are reminded each December that Jesus fully empathizes with all of our earthly struggles and reminds us that He doesn’t treat those who are in Christ Jesus as our sins deserves because He remembers that we are but dust.

The celebration of Christ’s birth reminds us that this world is not our home. We live for a heavenly kingdom that cannot be taken away from us. So that indeed we can fear not.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 ESV

Whatever fears we have as we exit a world-changing year and enter into another year full of the unknown, we can confidently lay our fears at the foot of the cross and follow Him as He leads us in His love.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10: 23-25 ESV

I believe that this letter from C.S. Lewis (see here) is as timely today as in the day in which he wrote it. If you have found any comfort in the words I’ve shared I am sure you will find even more there.

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Christians and a COVID Christmas

4 Dec

When the wise men traveled to see the Messiah they were entertained by King Herod who played the part of a fellow honor giver but whose real intentions were to crush any opposition to his rule. This Christmas I am awakening to the fact that Herods are among us and giving their condolences that Christmas must be crushed once again.

Consider this: Numerous government officials from coast to coast repeatedly tell citizens to stay at home, wear a mask, avoid congregating, especially in church, and don’t eat inside with other people outside your household. In fact, don’t dine out at all. Don’t even go to work.

These same leaders are caught on camera dining in with people out of their household without wearing a mask, getting private haircuts and not wearing a mask, and taking private airplanes to the beach with friends and not wearing a mask all while telling you we have no other option. Oh, and they get to keep their jobs too.

If this were a substantial threat and reason to stay at home while neglecting our sacred duty and right to go to church at the very least, then the following would be true as well:

Politicians would be in bunkers not at the beach.

This would really be about public health including their own and not private wealth.

Masks would be worn at all times and not simply while on camera.

Meals would be eaten in the privacy of politicians homes and not in the most expensive restaurants while the rest of their constituents can’t even go to work and are encouraged to take one for the team… alone.

In short, this is about control not safety or you can bet the tyrant politicians would be protecting themselves first and foremost.

We need to question everything and test every claim by real facts not fancies. Christians ask yourself, do I want my children to grow up heedless of the words of Hebrews to not neglect meeting together and all the more as you see the day approaching?

Our toddlers will turn into teens and then they may not want to go to church. It is imperative to set those practices now or you may forever train them that convenience and safety are higher priorities than gathering for worship.

Some people have real health problems for which they should take all the proper precautions. These words are not for them. These words are for the rest of us.

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Christmas Books To Celebrate the Season

1 Dec

We’ve decked our halls and trimmed our trees. Our large blue wooden box of Christmas books sits stuffed to the brim and many titles have already passed through little hands.

We add to our Christmas book collection each year and develop new favorites as we revisit old friends. Traditionally our family celebrates the season at a slow pace as much as possible. Several years ago I wrote about 5 Helpful Principles Every Type A Woman Needs to Embrace and I’ve since tried to abide by them. With my husband working in the ministry the Christmas calendar has the potential to quickly fill up with church events alone so we have traditions that we maintain in our home but not always around town. The first and foremost tradition is reading wonderful books!

Christ is the central focus of Christmas in our home and here are the books we read to aid us with that intention:

Most of the books we read embody the spirit of Christmas without telling the Christmas story explicitly. There are many many of these but here are our favorites:

There are so many 12 Days of Christmas books that I don’t have a strong favorite at this point. In fact, I have five or six I want to try out this Christmas and decide which one I love the most. Here is another cute edition by Hilary Knight:

https://a.co/d/c1mcxhZ

While Santa doesn’t deliver presents to our house (read more here), we have a few that incorporate St. Nicholas and Santa Claus. Here are some that we would recommend checking out at your local library or adding to your collection:

Santa Mouse may be the cutest mouse you will ever meet!

Don’t you love a wonderful Christmas story? The kind that offers peace, hope, and good will towards men?  Me too! I reread A Christmas Carol every year and typically I Saw Three Ships and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Following is a list of my 16 most cherished Christmas chapter books to read aloud or individually. Please share your favorites in the comments and feel free to ask me any questions that you have.


 I have a few that I’ve introduced to at least one of my children and plan to introduce to each of them this year:

 The Little Match Girl made an impression on me when I was a child. It is one that I haven’t shared with my children but plan on doing so this Christmas. I think this will open the door for rich conversations around our responsibility to look for ways to help others. 

Finally, I’ve posted here about Christmas books that have corresponding movies. Check out the list and see if there are any of your favorites!

Merry Christmas to you and yours. May your days awaiting the celebration of Christ’s birth draw you nearer to the heart of God.

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Five More Picture Books to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

11 Feb

I couldn’t let the Valentine’s holiday pass without giving you five more picture book read aloud suggestions! Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is a wonderful reminder of the power of community; please be sure to check this one out or purchase a copy of your own. Have you read any of these?

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
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Five Picture Books To Celebrate Valentine’s Day

10 Feb

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Are you looking for a few Valentine’s Day books to add to your read aloud time this week? I’ve listed a few of our favorites below. Let me know what you’re reading to your family this Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!

This first one doesn’t have an image available; however, it’s the one pictured above. The Great Valentine’s Day Balloon Race (here).  This book is from 1980 and may be harder to come by. Please look at your local library. It is worth checking out.

Bonus Book:

Bunny’s Book Club isn’t a book about Valentine’s, but it is a book about the love of reading! You will want to read this one! It captured the attention of ALL my children; even if they wouldn’t ALL confess such if asked! 

Happy Reading!

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Picture Book Biographies of 30 Influential Americans

12 May

Picture books pack a punch for the whole family. Yes, even your teenagers! The beautiful illustrations and text with rich vocabulary targets a wide age range which is especially good for larger families. With picture books, you gain a great overview of a topic in a very short amount of time. Plus, if something or someone particularly peaks your interest, now you have a springboard from which to find more books on that topic. 

Since summer is quickly approaching, I have compiled a list of 30 picture book biographies of influential Americans, most likely many of whom you have never heard of before. Head to your local library or the Amazon links below and choose which people of American History you most want your family to learn about this summer. From artists to architects, authors to library advocates,  computer programmers to female firefighters, and inventors to scientists almost all fields of interest are covered!   

Below you will find the biographies listed in chronological order and divided into women and men. Enjoy your summer read aloud time!

Evolutionary time frames mentioned.

For more picture book biographies please see this post on the Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire books and this post on Kadir Nelson’s books. 

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New Books for Mother’s Day

27 Apr

Mother’s Day is the perfect time to treat your mom, or any special woman in your life, to a new book, a gift card to her favorite restaurant, and a heartfelt handwritten note.

Here are some recently published books that I recommend. Each book focuses on women while providing back stories and behind the scenes looks at some of our most beloved stories including: Little House, Anne of Green Gables, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the wife of C.S. Lewis. I devoured each of these books and hope you and the women in your life will eat them up as well. Happy Mother’s Day!

What new books would you recommend?

 

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Gifts for Your Easter Baskets

15 Mar

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While the truest gift of Easter cannot fit in a basket, I always look forward to a few carefully chosen items to bless our children with Easter Sunday morn. This year I am completely excited about the stunning coloring books I’ve linked in this post. In fact, I’ve already ordered two for our home! Additionally, below are some wonderful books that speak of spring and joy and hope. It is my desire that you either find a few items of your own here or inspiration for items to add to your baskets as you create memories this Easter Season. 

Let me add, the weeks leading up to Easter find our family reading through a pile of books, many of which are listed in this post: Twelve Books to Celebrate Easter With Your Family.  The memories that we build around these books, yearly traditions, and the gospel message are ones I hope will last long after gifts in Easter baskets are forgotten and all the chocolate eggs gobbled away. 

All ages:


 

 

Two of our kids share a room, which makes reading after bedtime a bit of a challenge. These little book lights are an easy solution. One is on its way to my door to pop in a basket of our own. 


Little Boy and Girl:

Elementary to Middle Grade Boys and Girls:

Spring is in full bloom. What about some resources to explore creation?

Handicrafts:


Missionary biographies and some favorite books for spring:


What are some of your Easter basket essentials?

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10 Children’s Book Illustrators You Should Know: Kadir Nelson and Sophie Blackall

15 Feb

Today’s first children’s book illustrator that you should know is perhaps the most talented illustrator among the ten I am highlighting throughout this series. Kadir Nelson, an American artist born in 1974, is most widely known for his stunning oil paintings capturing African American history. His oil paintings have been displayed throughout the world and his art work commissioned by Sports Illustrated, The Coca-Cola Company, The United States Postal Company, and Major League Baseball to name a few.  He has authored and illustrated several books and illustrated for multiple authors, including former President Barack Obama. 

Kadir Nelson has won multiple awards many times over including the Coretta Scott King Award and the Caldecott Award to name just two. Here are my favorite of his works. Perfect selections for February as we celebrate Black History Month and President’s Day. The pictures are feasts for the eyes and the historical content is rich for discussion.  

 

Sophie Blackall, originally born in Australia but now residing in Brooklyn, New York, is a two time Caldecott award winning illustrator. She is also the recipient of other awards including the Era Jack Keats Award, Society of Illustrators Founders Award, Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book, and New York Times Top Ten Picture Book. 

My family, from youngest to oldest, immediately fell in love with the stunningly illustrated book, Hello Lighthouse, and the charming story, Finding Winnie. Additionally, the beauty and richness of A Fine Dessert: One Dessert Over Four Centuries, captured our history and baking loving older children. Ms. Blackall has illustrated a few multicultural books including Ruby’s Wish and Big Red Lollipop highlighting Chinese and Pakistani culture respectively. Parent warning: The Baby Tree is a book to be read with a child when they are ready to know where babies really come from. So please, don’t plop down with this picture book until you are ready to answer this question with anatomically correct terminology. However, when you are ready, this book may prove the perfect choice for your child!

Here are our favorite selections illustrated by Sophie Blackall, a children’s book author and illustrator you and your family should know. 







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15 Cherished Christmas Chapter Books

21 Dec

Don’t you love a wonderful Christmas story? The kind that offers peace, hope, and good will towards men?  Me too! Following is a list of my 15 most cherished Christmas chapter books to read aloud to the whole family or individually. Many of these are classics with a few newer selections thrown in. Please share your favorites in the comments.

I hope that December has been filled with wonderful memory making even as it highlights our depravity and utter need for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

You still have time to cuddle up with a good book and read past Christmas Day as we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas and Three Kings Day.

Merry Reading and Merry Christmas!


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