Journal Your Christmas ::: Days 23-29 (Catch up!)

You can click on any picture and see them larger in Flickr. I hesitated to post them much bigger because this post is already a little long! :)

December 23:



December 24:



December 25:





December 26:





December 27-28:

The front (how the layout opens in the album):



The backs:



December 29:

Home Again

No matter how much fun it is a Grandma & Grandpa's, it's always good to be home.

We rolled in last night around 6 p.m. While little girls played with new treasures that had been left behind for our trip and ones that we waited until home to open, he and I took down the Christmas tree and did a general tidy and straightening of furniture and whatnot. The travel loads of laundry were started and must be completed today as does a grocery list for a New Year's Eve party and a New Year's Day get-together. (One of those we are going to and one we are hosting). Also, just in case you were unaware, TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY (and my best friend's) and we will be celebrating together tomorrow night as said-New-Year's-Eve-party is at her home.

But for now, we had a wonderful night of sleep in our own beds and girls are playing happily and have not asked to turn the TV on yet. (We are in Noggin-detox from Grandma's). :) Now, I'm going to make a bit of breakfast and slowly work towards getting out to the store. It's a good day.

Merry Christmas

from our family. :)

A Bloggy Book Review ::: Boomtown

Buy		Read

Thanks to the nice folks at Thomas Nelson, I was sent a copy of Boomtown to review. 

Boomtown is not your average town. For one thing, it's the home of Chang's Fireworks Factory, only the greatest fireworks factory ever! And the people of Boomtown love to blow things up. This unusual town is where Arthur Button moves his family and tries not to get himself killed in the process. He's the newest pastor at Boomtown Church. Actually, he's the 25th pastor of Boomtown Church - and the 24 preceeding pastors have all perished in highly unusual ways.

On top of just trying to stay alive (!), there is also an unusual mystery that needs to be solved. Things are disappearing ... unusual things. A lawnmower, old pieces of wood, an old coat. Where are these things going? You find the answer to this mystery and a even more about what makes the folks of Boomtown so special in this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though I think the readership is geared to a 10+ year old boy. It has adventure, loveable characters and things! blow! up! a lot! in this book. :) One note, there is a side story (very brief) about a baby left on a doorstep and the young parents didn't feel they could raise the child. I thought it was well handled in the story, but as a parent, I would want a head's up that was in the book in case my child came to me with any questions! Even with that disclosure, I think this would be an entertaining book for a tween (especially boys) if you are looking for a last minute Christmas gift.

Journal Your Christmas ::: December 22

Journal Your Christmas ::: Day 22
Originally uploaded by stephaniedshepherd

Short & sweet.

Christmas-y Meme

1. Hot Chocolate or apple cider?

Either one is fine with me!

2. Turkey or Ham?

Ham.

3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?

We have a fake tree. I've never had a real tree (grew up with a fake one) and am not sure what I would do with one if I had it. The tree that we have was given to me several years ago by friends that didn't want to move it. The price was right for us! :)

4. Decorations on the outside of your house?

No. 

5. Snowball fights or sleddin'?

Neither ... I prefer to be on the couch, reading. :)

6. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?

With or without children? :) I think I could enjoy it, but haven't tried it. The internet is my friend.

7. Favorite Christmas song?

O Come All Ye Faithful

8. How do you feel about Christmas movies?

Love. Them. Am working on our collection and slowly gathering some of our favorites - A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Story, White Christmas, Elf, Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Santa Clause ... so many.

9. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?

I typically don't listen to it before Thanksgiving, but that's more because I rarely slow down to listen to music.

10. Stockings before or after presents?

First thing, please!

11. Carolers, do you or do you not watch and listen to them?

Um, we don't have any usually. But, I would listen if they came by. :)

12. Go to someone else's house or they come to you?

We typically go, although this year I am THRILLED that we are having Christmas morning here at our house.

13. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when?

Throughout the season. The girls and I are reading through it about two verses at a time at breakfast and talking about it.

14. What do you do after presents and dinner?

Relax. :)

15. What is your favorite holiday smell?

Peppermint. Spiced Tea (orange/clove/cinnamon).

16. Ice skating or walking around the mall?

Neither. See #5 re: curling up on the couch. :)

17. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas day?

We've been doing one gift with the girls on Christmas Eve. I am enjoying that tradition with them.

18. Favorite Christmas memory?

I love Christmas Eve. The service at church, going to a friend's home and eating and laughing with long-time friends. Coming home to tuck tired and excited little girls into bed and then snuggling with the husband and usually watching a movie by the light of the Christmas tree. 

19. Favorite Part about winter?

The cold. I am not a hot-weather person so this extra-cold winter has been WONDERFUL for me. :)

20. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?

I don't think so. 

Thought this would be a little fun for a quick December post... :)

Journal Your Christmas ::: December 18

A little homemade envelope. (Template from here).



The inside cards - these are recipe cards that I downloaded from this site and they hold my journal for this prompt on the Christmas menu.

Journal Your Christmas ::: December 19

Journal Your Christmas ::: December 17

This may be my favorite layout thus far and there is just nothing to it. But the picture totally makes me smile. :)

Saturday Linkage

• another good list of holiday books to peruse with myself my girls in mind. :)
• spotted this idea for N2 for her birthday in January ... I'm going to put together a little toolbox of art supplies just for her very own. 
• a reminder to take a little breather during the holidays from Sally Clarkson.
• One woman and her quest for good homemade bread. I'm in. :)
• Dreamy notebooks. Yes, I am a paper nut.
• celebrating the solstice. I love the idea of living a seasonal life and this is food for thought for me.

And with that I wish you a happy Saturday and a very Merry Christmas. I may or may not post any this coming week (I do have one book review I would like to wrap up, but we'll see.) If I don't, have a wonderful Christmas!

Where Do I Go? ::: A Bloggy Book Tour

I am a huge admirer of Neta Jackson's writing. Her Yada Yada Prayer Series is one of my all-time favorites of Christian fiction. Why? Her writing is very real. The characters are flawed, imperfect, and need Jesus. Even those that are the church attending Christian characters. The stories are believable and encouraging to me in my spiritual walk. 

That said, Mrs. Jackson's new series is no exception to this rule. Her newest book, Where Do I Go? is a new 3-book series with a small amount of cross-over from the Yada-Yada books. (Don't go into these thinking that you will mosey right along in the lives of all your favorite Yada-Yada characters). However, you do meet a new character - Gabby - who is struggling with a recent move, new home, no church, and a tough marriage. She becomes involved in Manna House, a shelter for homeless women and things start happening, both at the shelter and in her.

If you are looking for a book that would be a great stocking stuffer for a lover of Christian fiction, I give this one two thumbs up. There are two more books to be written in this series, and in a new twist, Neta Jackson's husband (Dave Jackson) is writing a companion 3-book series about some of the men in these stories. I'm intriguided with that as well and look forward to checking out his book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books. In addition to writing several books about Christian community, the Jacksons have coauthored numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.

Dave and Neta live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years they were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. They are now members of a multi-racial congregation in the Chicago area.

They're trying something new! Not just new for them, but something completely new in Christian fiction: “Parallel novels,” two stories taking place in the same time frame, same neighborhood, involving some of the same characters living through their own dramas and crises but interacting with and affecting one another … just the way it happens in real life.

It’s something that only a husband and wife writing team could pull off. While Neta has Where Do I Go?, her husband Dave has written Harry Bentley's Second Chance.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A story of seeking-and finding-God's will in unlikely places.

Gabrielle Fairbanks has nearly lost touch with the carefree, spirited young woman she was when she married her husband fifteen years ago. But when the couple moves to Chicago to accommodate Philip's business ambitions, Gabby finds the chance to make herself useful. It's there she meets the women of Manna House Women's Shelter; they need a Program Director-and she has a degree in social work. She's in her element, feeling God's call on her life at last, even though Philip doesn't like the changes he sees in her. But things get rough when Philip gives Gabby an ultimatum: quit her job at the shelter or risk divorce and losing custody of their sons. Gabby must take refuge, as in the song they sing at Sunday night worship: "Where do I go when there's no one else to turn to? . . . I go to the Rock I know that's able, I go to the Rock."

Romantic Times Book Reviews says, “Exquisite characters coupled with God's mercy and love emanate from each page.”

Publisher's Weekly adds, “Jackson's Yada Yada series has sold half a million copies, and this new offshoot series ... promises the same.... The book's dramatic ending ... leav[es] readers eager for the next installment in the series.”

To read the Prologue and first Chapter of Where Do I Go?, go HERE.