Annual Review 2017

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December 20, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 3 Comments

I think most holiday newsletters are impersonal, braggy, and rather insulting.

I don’t hear from people all year long (in this day of social media no less!), and then I get (grammatically incorrect) computer-printed, grayscale, two-page holiday stationary outlining every accomplishment of every member in their family, including pets…like they’re saying,

“Hey! See how we’re better than you?!”

It’s like people don’t even know about social media. I’m seldom on my personal private Facebook account (I only have about 30 friends and family on there!). I post more often to my public Facebook Page. I post images occasionally to Instagram. I’m more political on Twitter.

Since most of our friends and family live permanent and stationary lives, having lived in their same house for like 20+ years, I feel like they should reach out to me to chat whenever they want to – online. It’s where I live after all. As a military family, our mailing address changes every 2-4 years, but my email address and social media and blog stay the same.

I realize the concept only too well of “out of sight, out of mind.”

So, here’s my annual review for anyone who may want a summary.

Another year is coming to a close. We get to reﬂect on what we’ve accomplished and the lessons we learned along the way. But, perhaps, what’s more exciting, is that we get to dream of our goals for the future.

Winter 2017 was pretty uneventful. I don’t even have computer file folders for January and February. I took no pictures!

Spring 2017 was busy.

We had orders to Wright Patterson AFB and we were counting down to PCS.

We sold Aaron’s German Audi in February because it couldn’t pass the German auto inspection without about $5000 worth of repairs and that just wasn’t feasible for us since we only needed it until the PCS. So that put us down to one vehicle – our new minivan – and our village was about 40 minutes from where Aaron worked. About once or twice a week, I got up early and went to the gym with Aaron and dropped him off at work and then picked him up so I could have a car.

We chose to have our household goods packed up and shipped as early as possible so they were available at our new location ASAP. We got temporary furniture in our house.

We stopped going to church, using our time to take days trips and explore (like Wissembourg and Cologne and some of the awesome wildparks!) before we moved.

We couldn’t justify enrolling the kids in sports or other extra-curriculars since we were in PCS survival mode and down to just one vehicle.

I got a new tattoo to cover up my faded yin yang on my right ankle.

We took our last European trip in May to Bruges and Flanders.

We reluctantly moved from Germany to Ohio in June/July.

We know we have been so blessed, living in unique places and we get to homeschool wherever the military sends us!

What most people don’t realize is that it’s really expensive (and stressful) to move every few years. While we get a “displacement allowance,” that doesn’t cover everything that moving entails. We often live out of suitcases for several weeks, even a couple months.

We took Patriot Express from Ramstein AFB to Baltimore, Maryland, that was delayed 6+ hours, so we just sat in a huge waiting room with a lot of troops coming home from deployment. We arrived in Baltimore about 2 AM local time, instead of the planned 7 PM.

I will say that the staff on Patriot Express are so kind and the meals are superior. We took a commercial flight to Atlanta from Baltimore late the next morning. Then we began recovering from jet lag. My parents weren’t exactly understanding.

We shipped our two cats ahead to Atlanta in April, to ensure airplane temperatures for them were comfortable, and it was about $1500 to get their vet records in order and their plane tickets and then there were import fees. My parents reluctantly kept our furbabies and I had their special food delivered to them. Those cats are pampered!

We also had to pay almost $1000 + gas for a rental minivan to drive from Georgia to Ohio. We pay most expenses upfront, out of pocket for food and lodging during travel to a new location – but we usually get reimbursed some of it.

We lived on base for a week or so and there is not even a library on Wright Patterson AFB! We were excited by how much organic and natural food the commissary had. We were horrified by the poor selection and high prices of the Class VI beer and wine and alcohol, after a completely different perspective in Europe.

We found a perfect rental house online right before we left Germany. We moved in July 5, because that’s as early as the movers could unload our stuff. A bookshelf got absolutely destroyed during shipment and our secondhand sofas were in even worse shape from the tape and wrappings. My lovely mahogany silverware case was warped and cracked from storage for three years. It took six months for us to receive our claim on the damaged items. But it could have been worse. Nothing was really lost. Nothing really valuable was damaged.

We didn’t get our minivan from Germany until mid-July. We had to drive to St. Louis to pick that up. That was a little bit inconvenient and took two days.

Elizabeth mostly graduated from our homeschool and began college as a dual-enrolled student. Ohio will actually fund students if you get your request in by April, but we didn’t have an Ohio address, so we had to pay out of pocket this year. The grandparents finally came through on their promise (they tried to renege on it) and paid for two semesters, totaling five courses. She is considering a history major with a minor in business and she also desires to certify in aesthetics (beauty and skin care). She just got her first part-time job at Kroger. She has a 529 plan and 1/4 of Aaron’s GI Bill, but most likely, her Kroger money will have to pay for some of her senior college year. We hope to stay in Ohio for her to complete her college education.

Ohio is quite a change for us!

We enjoy the Metroparks and local parks for playing and hiking and fishing. We love all the rivers, creeks, and ponds!

We got memberships to Brukner Nature Center and Boonshoft Scienc Museum and attend their monthly homeschool classes. The kids have made some friends in the neighborhood and it’s so nice that they ride bikes, scooters, roller blades, and play together.

We attended a church right around the corner for a while. The girls were involved in the youth group and Tori and Katie were acolytes.

Our humanities studies this year span approximately 1700-1900 and finally include USA, so that’s exciting that we can see some of the places we’re learning about, just like we planned learning trips in Europe.

We’ve been really focusing on science this year and it’s been so much fun doing experiments and learning together. Tori and Katie completed their level 6A math books. They’re continuing their studies in Greek, Latin, and French this year. Alex begins Latin next month!

Tori (and Aaron) have convergence insufficiency and begin vision therapy in January. It’s SO expensive and TRICARE doesn’t pay for it.

Alex played baseball for two years in Germany and just played fall baseball here in Ohio and really loves it. He’s already enrolled for spring season. He likes playing catcher, short stop, and first base.

Liz is realizing how broken people are, being in customer service at Kroger. Who knew people were so angry about grocery shopping? We have amazing conversations about relationships and integrity.

Tori is becoming quite the artist. Katie’s sense of humor is disarming. Alex is very active and talkative, asking questions about everything.

They all constantly surprise me.

I found a lovely hair stylist and got my hair done for the first time in forever!

We’re excited to rebuild our essential oils and natural living home business. We couldn’t do a home business in Germany due to taxes. The blog business is coming along nicely. I mostly break even, with a little extra to pay for Netflix and Spotify services.

I got a post republished on For Every Mom and some on Military Bridge. That’s pretty exciting!

Aaron is a Lt. Colonel select and will most likely pin on in March!

It’s certainly been an adjustment for us to be back in the States.

The kids had lots more freedom in Europe and were treated more respectfully than here. Europeans trust kids more and are typically delighted by them instead of seeing them as a burden or bad.

Airfare was super cheap in Europe, and we miss the ease of traveling. We miss the food for sure. The holidays seem uneventful after the Christmas we spent in Rome and Maui.

Water is very expensive here. Our utility bills are so high! And in a wry turn of events, BAH actually goes down in 2018, so we will still not break even on our rent. Our goal is to be debt-free, and we currently only have our minivan payment and one low-interest loan. We don’t use credit cards! It’s important to teach our kids financial freedom.

We don’t mail out holiday cards anymore since they seem a waste these days. We’re minimizing and simplifying.

We made some cookies to give to neighbors, but we ate them…so now we have to make more!

We’ve had a busy year.

We don’t measure ourselves by grades, trophies, or awards.

We measure our growth in how much kindness we can give to others.

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5 Ways to Cultivate Relationships Over Stuff

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November 20, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 28 Comments

I have decided not to give our kids lots of presents.

My husband and I have long not given presents to each other to save money and to reduce clutter and stress. I want to reduce the quantity of presents on birthdays and Christmas.

For years, I said we would downsize Christmas and birthday present piles. Yet, I would weaken and buy stuff anyway.

Having four kids is expensive, and it’s hard to be fair and equal and equitable with different ages and interests.

And I have issues with stuff. I feel less than and so bought more to combat those feelings.

I loathe the expectations and inevitable disappointment.

We moved to Germany. We purged and sold loads of stuff before moving. I have no desire to re-clutter. We had little storage.

We purged again when we moved to Ohio.

I feel that having too much stuff is the root of discontent.

And I’m really tired of arguing about the cleaning up and the putting away.

So, again a great purge.

I’m being very intentional and proactive about what I purchase for our homeschool and for the kids to play with. Mostly, if we get something new, something old has to go.

I don’t really want underneath the Christmas tree to be empty or the birthday child to wake up with nothing to unwrap.

I just want those special days to be about more than stuff.

Because holidays should not be about stuff. Birthdays should celebrate the child. Thanksgiving should celebrate gratitude. Christmas should celebrate Jesus and love.

Celebrations should center on relationships.

(And food.)

I want to make memories with my kids and teach them the value of family.

I have lovely recollections of family gatherings, and since my kids live far from any extended family, I want to cultivate a loving home atmosphere with our little circle of six.

As with any worldly thing taken away, it should be replaced with a meaningful option.

Our goal is to be debt-free and Christmas is no exception.

When we lived in Germany, we traveled every Thanksgiving (Prague and Porto and Venice!) and Christmas (Rome!) and during birthday weeks. It was convenient and usually not very crowded, so we took advantage of these opportunities. It became a new tradition.

Now, we’re back in the States, in Ohio. And we have to reinvent our priorities again.

5 ways we cultivate relationships over stuff:

Cooking and eating special meals together as a family, passing down fun recipes.
Focusing on serving others instead of ourselves by donating our time and money.
Attending religious services to worship, sing, celebrate, and fellowship.
Creating new traditions for our family to promote togetherness, such as board game nights and movie nights, as well as nightly read alouds all year round.
Making gratitude a lifestyle and teaching our kids how to be thankful for everything that comes from the Lord and content in all things.

Yes, this is difficult and I’m a work in progress!

We try to overcome the obstacles to being frugal or debt-free during holidays.

We read and worship through Advent. We learn about and celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas. We don’t do Santa Claus. See how we celebrate a Christian Hanukkah!

I participate or lead a Blue Christmas service.

We read lots of Christmas and holiday books.

For us, books and apps and travel are great presents. We can never have too many books! The kids love educational apps on their iPads, and as they grow in knowledge and understanding, they need more mature learning games to replace the old games they’ve outgrown.

I only buy clothes as needed or when I find a great deal and know it will be needed soon. We don’t have too much storage for handmedowns.

I’ve never seen kids so excited about socks in my life, y’all.

I’d rather make travel memories with my kids than buy stuff that gets stuffed in a dresser or collects dust on a shelf. We’re trying to be minimalist and I hate dusting.

Presents are not the focus of our celebrations.

Guide for gift-giving:

Something they Want
Something to Wear
Something they Need
Something to Read

I like these simple wish lists and these printable wish lists to help kids focus on what’s important.

How do you focus on relationships instead of gifts during the holidays?

Resources:

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge
Low: An Honest Advent Devotional by John Pavlovitz
Honest Advent: Awakening to the Wonder of God-with-Us Then, Here, and Now by Scott Erickson
Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A little book of festive joy by Beth Kempton
Have Yourself a Minimalist Christmas: Slow Down, Save Money & Enjoy a More Intentional Holiday by Meg Nordmann
Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case For A More Joyful Christmas by Bill McKibben
Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season by Jo Robinson and Jean C Staeheli

Hope in the Dark

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Please see my suggested resources.

November 14, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 17 Comments

Are you in the middle of a dark November crisis?

The dreaded holidays…

approach.

The winter gatherings creep toward loneliness, greed, accusation…and we tend to feel unable, inferior, invisible.

For so many, the holidays remind of bad memories, unmet expectations, disappointments.

With the early nights and dreary days come the work parties, family dinners, church potlucks, and all those social obligations.

I’ve never been successful to paste on a smile and fake it.

I’d like to hibernate until March.

My heart feel heavy within me. I am weighed down with the loss of loved ones, the loss of opportunities, the shifting of hopes and dreams.

As many people eagerly await the birth Jesus, it’s hard for me to lift up my heart.

As many plan to celebrate and sing with joy, I often find the days gray and my tongue unable to rejoice.

God knows the emptiness I sometimes feel. God knows the feelings of abandonment, anger, loneliness, and depression I feel. God knows me from the depths of my heart, and God sits with me as I learn to be whole.

I can be assured of God’s love and compassion. He can handle my darkest fears. I can rail at him and ask, “Why?!” I don’t have to hide my tears or sad face from him.

We don’t have to continue any traditions that leave us broke or in debt, stressed out, overwhelmed, tired.

A simple holiday can be a better holiday.

There really are no obligations. You can say no. You don’t have to explain or justify.

I don’t attend many holiday events. I don’t really like parties. My husband is organizing a greening of our church potluck/Friendsgiving for Advent. I’m planning a longest night service.

We stopped sending cards. They seem impersonal and wasteful in this age of social media.

We have always lived too far away to visit my parents or his sisters.

We stopped gift-giving with adults and extended family. We barely have a relationship beyond our immediate family and the gifts were not heartfelt, but just duty.

We minimize decorating.

We streamline celebration meals with our little family. Pinterest perfection is not the goal. We cook and eat what we like!

We limit presents to our kids and prefer experiences over stuff.

Then there’s sometimes still disappointment. The dreary days trudge on towards spring and warmth that seems so far away.

There is hope in the dark.

Reach out to others.

You may be someone’s lifeline during these dark days of winter.

Light a candle.

I will light candles this Christmas;
Candles of joy despite all sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,

Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all the year long.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.

~Howard Thurman

Next time you pass the peace in your church, try passing the hope instead:

“We wouldn’t be the same without you. Hope be with you.”
And the response: “And also with you.”

Let hope burn bright.

Christmas is for the abused & oppressed. Christmas was an act of resistance against all that is evil.

“Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease.”

Though you may be wrapping gifts, planning special meals, and spending time with family and friends, I hope you will also take time to allow the Advent darkness to do its work as well.
Richard Rohr

May we have hope in and for each other.

You might also like:

Resources:

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge
Low: An Honest Advent Devotional by John Pavlovitz
Honest Advent: Awakening to the Wonder of God-with-Us Then, Here, and Now by Scott Erickson
Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A little book of festive joy by Beth Kempton
Have Yourself a Minimalist Christmas: Slow Down, Save Money & Enjoy a More Intentional Holiday by Meg Nordmann
Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case For A More Joyful Christmas by Bill McKibben
Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season by Jo Robinson and Jean C Staeheli
WinterSong: Christmas Readings by Madeleine L’Engle

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We love reading holiday books during December.

I’ve compiled a list of our Christmas favorites!

There’s a little something for everyone on our list – animals, pirates, fun, history, and religious stories.

Our Favorite Christmas books:

CLASSIC: The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore – Illustrated by Tasha Tudor, Ted Rand, Will Moses, and/or Robert Sabuda. These versions of The Night Before Christmas are just lovely and should be read every single year!

The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristen Kladstrup
A funny and magical Christmas story about a gingerbread pirate, Captain Cookie, and his daring adventure on Christmas eve to rescue his crew from a mysterious cannibal named Santa Claus…
The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas by Justine Korman
It’s the poky little puppy’s first Christmas, and he’s not sure what to expect. When he meets an animal friend who’s lost his home, Poky’s quick to help–and learns all about the spirit of Christmas.
Holly Hobbie’s Christmas Book
An illustrated collection of original Christmas verses, together with some well-known Christmas poems by other authors, F.P. Church’s famous Santa Claus letter, and a recipe for sugar cookies.
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
A wordless story. The pictures have “the hazy softness of air in snow. A little boy rushes out into the wintry day to build a snowman, which comes alive in his dreams that night.
The Animal’s Christmas Eve by Gale Wiersum
So begins a sweet rhyming story in which a group of animals recounts the events surrounding Jesus’ birth in the manger, and the parts some of their ancestors played in it. This is also a counting book.
Brigid’s Cloak by Bryce Milligan
Brigid’s Cloak retells an ancient tale about one of Ireland’s most beloved saints. On the day she is born Brigid receives a brilliant blue cloak from a mysterious Druid. Years later, the young girl still wears the now tattered but beloved cloak while she tends her sheep. Is it her imagination that suddenly takes her to an unfamiliar land? Or is it something far greater that leads Brigid to a crowded inn in a town called Bethlehem?
Little One, We Knew You’d Come by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Lush illustrations echo this simple retelling of the Christmas story for the entire family.
Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh
Olive is merrily preparing for Christmas when suddenly she realizes “Olive… the other Reindeer… I thought I was a dog. Hmmm, I must be a Reindeer!” So she quickly hops aboard the polar express and heads to the North Pole. And while Santa and the other reindeer are a bit surprised that a dog wants to join the their team, in the end Olive and her unusual reindeer skills are just what Santa and his veteran reindeer team need.
The Twelve Days of Christmas – so many gorgeous versions!
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
One dollar and eight-seven cents is all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband a Christmas present. She has nothing to sell except her only treasure—her long, beautiful brown hair. Set in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, this classic piece of American literature tells the story of a young couple and the sacrifices each must make to buy the other a gift.
A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz
Christmas is almost here, which means ice-skating, Christmas carols, and sparkly lights everywhere—even on Snoopy’s doghouse! Everyone is enjoying the holiday celebrations except Charlie Brown. Can the Peanuts gang help Charlie Brown discover the true meaning of Christmas?
The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs
The Pine Tree Parable tells the heartwarming tale of a farmer and his family who nurture tiny seedlings into fragrant Christmas trees.
When the trees are tall enough to offer to their neighbors, the farmer’s wife plans to keep the most beautiful pine tree for her family, until one snowy December night when a child teaches her the true meaning of Christmas.
The Christmas Tree that Grew by Phyllis Krasilovsky
The Adam family bought a live Christmas tree that grew so tall it reached into their neighbors’ apartments.
J is for Jesus by Crystal Bowman
I want a candy cane too! Everyone loves a candy cane-but it’s easy to overlook the meaning of this familiar Christmas tradition in all the hustle and bustle of the season. This sweet story reminds little ones that the candy cane represents Jesus’ birth and the gospel message too.
A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg
The story of a young man’s reluctant visit to an elderly aunt at Christmastime, and the unexpected joy it brings.
The Polar Express by Chris van Allsberg
A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole . . .Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city atop the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish.
One Shining Star by Anne Vittur Kennedy
Help your child learn to count using the most beloved story of all―Jesus’ birth! With gentle rhyme and number fun from 1 to 10, this book is full of shepherds, kings angels, animals, a baby, and a shiny star, all waiting to be counted before bedtime.
The Littlest Christmas Elf by Brandi Dougherty
The newly-arrived and littlest elf at the North Pole feels lonely, fearful, and too small to do anything, until he is befriended by a kind old elf named Nicholas.
One Baby Jesus by Patricia A. Pingry
The birth of Jesus is presented in the pattern of the familiar “Twelve Days of Christmas.”
The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Ewell Hunt
Children will be deeply touched as they understand, perhaps for the first time, the significance of Christ’s life and his atoning sacrifice on the cross.
Jacob’s Gift by Max Lucado
Jacob is a young boy with a gift for carpentry who is busy finishing up a project for a contest. His teacher, Rabbi Simeon, not only instructs him in carpentry, but also teaches him important lessons about God. Rabbi has just taught Jacob that when you give a gift to one of God’s children, it’s like giving a gift to God. The night before the contest while working on his project, Jacob has fallen asleep in the workshop and is awakened by a bright light. The light is a star which is directly over Jacob’s father’s stable. As he approaches the stable, he sees a man, a woman, and a newborn baby which is laying in the straw. Remembering what Rabbi Simeon had told him, Jacob returns to the workshop and takes his project (a feeding trough) to the new family. The morning of the contest, the Rabbi pleased to find out that Jacob has acted upon the lesson he learned and has truly given a gift to God.
Alabaster’s Song by Max Lucado
Lying in bed, trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, a young boy spends his time asking questions of the angel that adorns the top of the Christmas tree, but Alabaster the angel does not answer him, until he asks “What was it like to see Bethlehem?”
Santa, Are You Real? by Harold Myra
Through colorful illustrations and a heartwarming story, children – and parents – will learn who the real Saint Nick was, when he lived, and why he gave gifts. Most importantly, you’ll see how the original Saint Nick set an example for us today by keeping Christ at the heart of Christmas.
The Donkey’s Dream by Barbara Helen Berger
He was just an ordinary donkey, but on his back he carried a miracle. He carried the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem on the night she gave birth. Along the way he dreamed he was carrying a city, a ship, a fountain, and a rose. He dreamed he was carrying a lady full of heaven–and he was. Barbara Helen Berger’s glowing artwork and lyrical text perfectly convey the beauty and majesty of the story of the Nativity.
We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin
Over two thousand years ago, three great kings journeyed across the desert, riding through the heat of day and dark of night. Each from a different region, each beckoned by the same gleaming star, each bearing treasures, each wishing to welcome a newborn asleep in a manger’s hay — a baby named Jesus, who would change the world.This beloved Christmas carol, written in 1857, celebrates the wise men’s journey and the first Christmas night. Internationally renowned artist Gennady Spirin pays his own type of homage with paintings so exquisitely detailed and wrought that they, too, are a gift — to that baby in the manger and to you.
The Other Wise Man by Henry van Dyke
Though not mentioned by name in Scripture, all know the legend of Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior, whose gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the newborn king are heralded in carols. But what if another had missed the rendezvous and then spent years, searching for the source of the light? Henry Van Dyke imagines that alternative in The Other Wise Man, originally published in 1895. The narrator tells us that along the way, the fourth Magi did not find the Messiah to worship, but found many to help.
Jotham’s Journey OR Bartholomew’s Passage OR Tabitha’s Travels OR Ishtar’s Odyssey by Arnold Ytreetide. We read one of these Advent stories each year!
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl Buck
Rob wants to get his father something special for Christmas this year—something that shows how much he really loves him. But it’s Christmas Eve, and he doesn’t have much money to spend. What could he possibly get? Suddenly, Rob thinks of the best gift of all…
The Jesse Tree by Dean Lambert Smith or Geraldine McCaughrean. We read through one of these each year.
Familiar biblical tales that trace the family tree of Christ, from the Garden of Eden to Jesus’ birth.
Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares
Red and Lulu make their nest in a particularly beautiful evergreen tree. It shades them in the hot months and keeps them cozy in the cold months, and once a year the people who live nearby string lights on their tree and sing a special song: O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree. But one day, something unthinkable happens, and Red and Lulu are separated. It will take a miracle for them to find each other again. Luckily, it’s just the season for miracles.
The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
Ivy, Holly, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones all have one Christmas wish. Ivy, an orphan, wishes for a real home and sets out in search of the grandmother she’s sure she can find. Holly, a doll, wishes for a child to bring her to life. And the Joneses wish more than anything for a son or daughter to share their holiday. Can all three wishes come true?
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the valley, but he is always alone and never smiles. No one knows about the mementos of his lost wife and child that he keeps in an unopened drawer. But one early winter’s day, a widow and her young son approach him with a gentle request that leads to a joyful miracle.
The Snow Angel by Debby Boone – We just love the message and illustrations. I bought this for me!
Rose and her grandfather seem to be the only people left in their village who know how to dream and experience the beauty of the world, until a snow angel comes to life and creates a wondrous event.
The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert
Long ago, a brave little girl named Anja wanted to be one of Santa’s elves. So she leaves a note for her family and helps her elderly neighbor prepare for the holiday, then she straps on her skis, and heads out into the snowy landscape. From a red bird to a polar bear to a reindeer, a menagerie of winter animals help Anja make her way to Santa. A generous trim-size, matte cover, extraordinary photographs, and foiled title make this a special book for the holiday season.And don’t miss the other “Wish” books:
The Reindeer Wish
The Tiny Wish
The Brave Little Puppy
The Puppy’s Wish — coming soon!
The Message of the Birds by Kate Westerlund
An old owl tells the Christmas story to the community of birds as he has done so many times before, but when he tells of the special message from the Baby Jesus, a little bird questions why they no longer sing the message. “People no longer listen,” is the sad realization. The birds decide to share the message once more, but this time to the children of the world. And what unfolds is surely a Christmas wonder.
Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey by Robert Byrd
When Saint Francis stumbles upon a sad donkey, he feels obliged to tell him about the wonderful history the donkey has in the Christian religion as the animal who carried Mary to Nazareth when she was pregnant with Baby Jesus.
The Glorious Impossible (Illustrated with Frescoes from the Scrovegni Chapel by Giotto) by Madeleine L’Engle
The birth of Jesus was a Glorious Impossible. Like love, it cannot be explained, it can only be rejoiced in. And that is what master storyteller Madeleine L’Engle does in this compellingly written narrative, inspired by Giotto’s glorious frescoes from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua.

38. The Tomten and the Fox by Astrid Lindgren

In this sequel to the classic The Tomten, the creator of Pippi Longstocking adapts a Swedish folk tale into a beloved children’s story. When a hungry fox wanders into a farm late at night looking for food, the guard troll Tomten finds a way to keep the farm animals safe and feed the fox at the same time.

39. On Winter’s Eve by C.D. Alexander

40. The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits by Ulf Stark

Grump the Yule Tomte lives all alone, which is exactly how he likes it! He’s waiting for Christmas to arrive when all of a sudden a gust of wind steals his mittens from the washing line and his hat from his head. That’s the last straw — he won’t be the Yule Tomte any more!

Binny and Barty, the rabbit children, live with their family in the forest. They’ve never heard of Christmas, or the Yule Tomte, until the wind brings them some strange gifts…

All the animals in the forest prepare for the arrival of Christmas. They make presents, bake sweet treats and even write a song. But will the Yule Tomte ever bring Christmas to the big forest?

41. Tomten by Viktor Rydberg

In the middle of winter and late at night, an old friend returns for his annual visit to take care of the animals and look after the inhabitants of the old farmhouse. He goes through his regular routine but becomes perplexed by an undying question for which he cannot find the answer. Generations come and generations go. “But where do they come from and to where do they go?”

42. Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas by Nora Surojegin

One day Otto, an elfin adventurer, finds a postcard on the seashore showing pictures of beautiful sparkling lights in the night sky with the words, ‘The light of Christmas!’ If this ‘Christmas’ can brighten even the gloomiest Finnish winter, Otto decides he must find it. So he heads north, trudging through dark forests and skiing towards the fells of Lapland, in search of the secret light of Christmas.

On his way he meets the mighty Kekri, king of the forest, Niiu, a beautiful leaf fairy, a hungry badger, a friendly bear and the infamous Ironworm. But will he ever find the mysterious light he’s looking for, and will Christmas brighten Otto’s winter?

43. Little Tomte’s Christmas Wish by Inkeri Karvonen

Little Tomte lives happily in his cosy house beside a beautiful tree. When winter arrives, he’s worried that Christmas won’t come. So he makes a special Christmas wish and embarks on a candle-making plan which will help make his wish come true.

44. Fotinoula and the Christmas Goblin by R.G. Fraser-Green

11-year old Fotinoula doesn’t believe her grandfather when he warns her about the Christmas goblins. After all, the Kallikantzaroi were just an old Greek myth. Creatures with blood-red eyes didn’t really climb up from the underworld during the Twelve Days of Christmas to steal little children, and certainly not in a busy city like Athens.

45. Joy to the World by Tomie dePaola

This collection unifies three of the incomparable Tomie dePaola’s most beloved Christmas stories into one handsome volume. Vividly portrayed and expertly crafted, The Night of Las Posadas, The Story of the Three Wise Kings, and The Legend of the Poinsettia are sure enchant and mesmerize the whole family during the holiday season.

46. Jan Brett’s Christmas Treasury

This deluxe Christmas collection is the perfect holiday gift! It includes seven of Jan Brett’s most beloved Yuletide titles: The Night Before Christmas, Trouble with Trolls, Christmas Trolls, The Mitten, The Hat, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and The Wild Christmas Reindeer.

47. The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Written in 1816 by one of the leaders of German Romanticism for his children, nephews, and nieces, The Nutcracker captures better than any other story a child’s wonder at Christmas. The gift of a handsomely decorated nutcracker from a mysterious uncle sets the stage for a Christmas Eve like no other for the little girl Marie. That night, Marie’s extraordinary present comes to life, defends her from the taunting Mouse King, and whisks her off to the Kingdom of Dolls.

48. Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R. Tolkien’s children. Inside would be a letter in a strange, spidery handwriting and a beautiful colored drawing or painting. The letters were from Father Christmas.

They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place; how the accident-prone North Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house into the dining room; how he broke the Moon into four pieces and made the Man in it fall into the back garden; how there were wars with the troublesome horde of goblins who lived in the caves beneath the house, and many more.

49. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston

This unforgettable tale, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Barbara Cooney, has become a seasonal classic-a touching and joyful story about courage and the power of family.

50. Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou

In this beautiful, deeply moving poem, Maya Angelou inspires us to embrace the peace and promise of Christmas, so that hope and love can once again light up our holidays and the world. “Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, look heavenward,” she writes, “and speak the word aloud. Peace.”

Read by the poet at the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the White House on December 1, 2005, Maya Angelou’ s celebration of the “Glad Season” is a radiant affirmation of the goodness of life.

51. The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale by Philip Van Doren Stern

For almost seventy years, people the world over have fallen in love with Frank Capra’s classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life. But few of those fans know that Capra’s film was based on a short story by author Philip Van Doren Stern, which came to Stern in a dream one night.

Unable at first to find a publisher for his evocative tale about a man named George Pratt who ponders suicide until he receives an opportunity to see what the world would be like without him, Stern ultimately published the story in a small pamphlet and sent it out as his 1943 Christmas card. One of those 200 cards found its way into the hands of Frank Capra, who shared it with Jimmy Stewart, and the film that resulted became the holiday tradition we cherish today.

52. Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a different life — one where there is snow beneath her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day, when the opportunity arises, Dasher seizes her destiny and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. It’s not long before she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh — a man named Santa. And soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will be the same.