Giveaway: In Their Sandals by Rand Hummel

Guess what?  It's time for another present!

This time, I bought a little something just for my lovely readers.  Actually, this one's more for moms with middle-school-age writers (or said writers, if there are any that age at our party).  It's a great book titled Creative Writing That Puts You In Their Sandals by Rand Hummel and Jeff Diedrich.

This writing how-to, while not marketed to any specific age group, seems to me like it's meant more for middle-school writers.  Younger kids may well enjoy it, too, but I think it will be a little too easy for the majority of teen writers.  This book takes seven Bible stories and breaks them into seven lessons.  Each lesson is broken into five days, so you can easily complete one lesson per week - making it a seven-week 'course.'  After some writing tips and a word on things like voice and description, the authors jump into writing.

The focus of the book is not only learning to write stories, but learning to truly imagine ourselves inside Bible stories - to smell the salt of the ocean after Jonah was swallowed by the fish, or feel the complex emotions Joseph experienced throughout his life, or hear the grumbling of everyone's stomachs just before Jesus fed the 5,000.  These three Bible stories, as well as demon-possessed pigs, an indignant Jesus throwing moneychangers out of the temple, Christmas night from the innkeeper's perspective, and Noah's ark are all revisioned through fiction.

And guess what?  This copy's autographed!

I met Rand Hummel at my church's Parent/Teen Conference this November.  He spoke to the parents and teens combined, then did the parent session while a speaker from West Coast Baptist College did the teen session.  The next morning, Mr. Hummel preached the Sunday morning sermon before heading off.  On conference day, after all the sessions were over, I got to meet Mr. Hummel personally.  I told him about this blog and the book I'd bought for you lovely readers, and he signed it and we took a picture:

My very first "famous author meeting!"  Now I feel official...

Who wants this great book?

Giveaway Rules:
- US only, please
- All ages welcome!
- Non-followers welcome!
- Ends January 5

To Enter:
Please leave a comment to enter. If your email address is not listed on your Blogger profile, or you don't have a Blogger profile, please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.

Time {guest post}

Today Marcia visits us with a beautiful little piece about time and the New Year, approaching in only two days.




{via weheartit}

Can you believe it is almost 2012? The words 2012 seem so strange, how the year 2011 has flown by.

I remember New Year's Eve last year, I was in a cabin, in the loft, reminiscing. Wondering what the year would hold...little did I know what joys, and sorrows the days would bring.

The memories are still shining brightly in my mind, all the laughter, the tears, the smiles, the worry, and the fun.

"God gave us memories, so that we might have roses in December" -J.M. Barrie

But time passes so quickly... we are here, but a whispering moment. How much do we really do in our short lives? I mean, how much of our life is actually worth something?

{via weheartit}

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." -Carl Sandburg

So, I challenge you, this year...set Resolutions. Not, the normal ones, but strive to know God more, ask God to show you what you are missing, notice the lost, lonely, and hurt, and remember you are His beloved, and He loves you lavishly.


LIVE every moment, LAUGH every day, LOVE beyond words,

{via weheartit}

and FOLLOW Jesus wherever He takes you.


A huge thank you to Emily for letting me guest post!!! :)



{via Marcia}

Hello! I'm Marcia... a follower of Jesus, dreamer, lover of vintage things, photographer, coffee and tea lover, and Anne of Green Gables lover, type of girl....  I blog over at Enchanted Musings about random musings, Jesus, photography, my favorite things, and my wonderful {crazy} life.

Story Time

Since we don't have any special guests or fun activities for today, I thought I'd share a little story I wrote a few years back.  In fact, I wrote this for school a year or so after we moved to Okinawa, Japan.  It was a "book report" for a book about how to write short stories.  Originally titled "Snow," it was a fictionalized account of what I imagined to be our first trip back to New York.  Since then, I've edited and renamed the story, but the central idea is still the same.  Enjoy!

Three Years Later

I climbed into the rental car, snapped my buckle, and stared out the window at the snow. We never had snow in Taiwan - not where my family had lived, anyway.

My family was driving to Sunday morning services at Fellowship Baptist Church for the first time in three years. We had found a church in Taiwan, but every church was different. Take, for example, the size. Fellowship had more members than Charity Baptist Church. Fellowship also had a larger building, with multiple classrooms, a library, and a kitchen. Small churches like Charity were nice, but large was just... what I was used to.

When we pulled into the parking lot, I hopped out of the car and skipped up to the church doors. My mom and dad greeted everyone and started filling in the news. I looked for Renee, my best friend from before the move. I couldn't find her, but I found Pastor in the library.

"Hello, Hannah!" he boomed.

"Hi! We're back for two weeks."

"When did you fly in?"

"Friday night. Have you seen Renee?"

"No, but Amber's in the nursery."

"Thanks!" I left to find Amber Shummings, Pastor's daughter.

"Hi, Amber!"

"Hey, Hannah! I didn't know you were back! How long have you been here?"

I glanced at my watch. "At church, five minutes." I giggled. "In Illinois, since Friday."

"Well, how about a hug?"

"Of course!" I rushed up and hugged her.

"Thanks! Now you'd better get to class."

"I will, after I find Renee. Is she in class?"

"Probably," she said, then mumbled something.

"Okay. Which classroom is Ms. Delaney in? I can't remember."

"Oh, sweetie, a new member teaches the preteens and Captain's Choir. She's in room seven."

"Oh... um... okay. Thanks! See you later." I smiled.

"Bye!"

My pace slowed as I walked down the hall. I'll miss Ms. Delaney. The new lady will probably be a nice teacher - and a good singer, too, for Captain's Choir. I sighed and opened door seven.

"Hello! Are you new here?" I shook my head and heard whispers flying. The teacher had kind eyes and a nice smile. This might not be so bad. "All right. I've never seen you here before. What's your name?"

"Hannah," I replied. The preteen class was bigger than I thought. Where's Renee? Then I heard giggling and remembered Amber's mumbling. Turning towards the noise, I saw Renee whispering to another girl.

"I'm Ms. Skye. You can sit... next to Renee? She's in the peace sweater." Yes! I squeezed through rows of chairs and sat beside Renee and Whisper Girl.

"What are you doing in Illinois?" she hissed.

"Nice to see you, too," I replied. Whisper Girl coughed forcefully, and Renee sat up.

"Sorry." Is she talking to me or Whisper Girl? "Jade, this is Hannah. Hannah, Jade."

"Hi." I smiled. Jade didn't smile back.

"Hi," she said. "Now, Renee..."

I quit listening to their whispers and tried to pay attention, but I only heard half of the lesson. I couldn't remember Renee being disruptive in the past.

After Sunday school, I waited to talk to Renee, but she walked past me. Oh, well. It's winter vacation, and Mom said she could stay at the hotel tonight. I smiled and skipped down the hall to service.

When it was time to leave, I realized I'd forgotten to talk to someone. I threw on my coat and looked through the sea of people. She wasn't anywhere in sight, but I spotted Amber right away.

"Have you seen Mrs. Semyr?" I asked.

"You mean Renee didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Well, Hannah, she - Mrs. Semyr - she... passed away."

"B-but... that's not...." Possible. But I knew it was. Amber rubbed my back as I cried into her coat.

"Shh... Hannah, she was ninety-one..."

"Yeah," I sniffed, "I know." I took a deep breath. "Bye, Amber."

"Bye."

After evening services, I realized I hadn't asked Renee about the sleepover. First, I asked her mom, and she said yes. I found Renee and Jade with a group of teens.

"Hey, Renee, could I ask you something?"

"Yeah, whatever." She said something to Jade and strode over. "What?"

"You want to sleep over at the hotel with me tonight?"

"Um, no! I already have plans. Sunday night, winter break? Who doesn't? Other than you, obviously." She gave me a strange look and continued. "In fact, you're all so little girlish. The dress - haven't you heard of jeans? And the braid. Ew. I bet you don't even pass notes. You're so different! Not someone I hang out with!" She spun around and joined her group.

I wanted to cry - to run - to scream, but I couldn't make a scene. After following my parents to the car, I sulked for the ride back to the hotel.

As I lay in bed that night, I thought about the past years' changes. The preteen class had a new teacher. Mrs. Semyr had passed. Renee... well, Renee had done a one-eighty. She had different friends, wore different clothes, and behaved in a different way. She was a complete stranger to me; that was a little scary. After a while, though, I realized I hadn't been fair. Of course things would change. After all, three years is a long time! Even I had changed. I was no longer eight but now eleven; my hair had grown out; I was in junior high. Taiwan was my home, with new friends and a new language. With a start I realized I had learned a valuable life lesson by losing Renee's friendship.

"There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction." -Winston Churchill

THE END



End of 2011

So, I've been thinking how fun it would be to do an end-of-year sum-up post.  Also, as a blogger I feel some inexplicable need to write such a post, whether fun or serious.  And since lately we've been somewhat more serious than usual on this blog - contemplating Christmas and all it entails, especially the spiritual and Biblical side of it - I decided to go with fun.

Since I have always loved lists, and I haven't done one on here in waaayyyy too long, I'm summing up 2011 (blog-wise, anyway) with two lists.  (I actually stole these ideas from this list of list ideas :P )

Silly Keywords Searched To Find My Blog

Zafon: I had no idea this was a word, and I'm thinking it's probably a brand (and why would MY blog show up as a result?!) so I'm gonna Google it and see what I get.... Um.  A lot of results for some author named Carlos Ruiz Zafon.  Still don't know how they ended up at my blog with that kind of search.

Disney Magic Peter Pan: Apparently I get the most search-engine visitors because of an unfinished, too-detailed, rather boring series of posts on our family's amazing Disney vacation.  It's rather ironic, when you think about it.

Okay, so that list was a bit of a bummer.  Most of the other search terms were books I've reviewed or other Disney rides.  Moving on to the really fun part.

10 Pictures That Didn’t Make Your Blog

I'm one of those people who takes advantage of her digital camera a little too much - ending up with five photos of the same nativity scene (from the right, from the left, from above, with flash, without...) or ten photos of the same flower.  Here I actually get to put the extras to some use!

Pebbles's first bath

random cars in a restaurant parking lot (taken because the green bug in the middle is my 'dream car' - right make, model, color, and complete with flower-shaped-lights)

Jell-o from a boy I was babysitting, taken in a mad 'red stuff' photo shoot

Pebbles in my boot.  Taken for the obvious cuteness factor.

the cupcake crew from Cupcakes for Life 2011

my brothers Nick and Jon, my boyfriend's sister Esther, me, and my boyfriend in the waiting room at a tour of the Frito-Lay factory

my brother's desk chair. if you look closely, you can see I was trying to take a photo of our new kitten, Pebbles

a Kashi cereal sample I received in the mail... taken with flash.

Tangled party goodie bags

random pencil (taken because I love that quote)

a palm leaf folded into a rose by a street vendor in Savannah

I dare you to post your 10 (or 11, in this case) worst photos on your blog!  Don't forget to leave me the link if you do. ;)

real

Giveaway: Love You More by Jennifer Grant

More presents!  Man, y'all are some lucky readers.  What is this, our third gift?  And there's still more to come!

Today we have Love You More by Jennifer Grant.  (You can check out my review here.)  The back cover describes the book as "A stirring memoir on parenthood and the invisible threads that bind us to those we are meant to love.  The obstacles, suprises, and moments of grace that Jennifer Grant experienced, working through the adoption process to bring home her daughter from Guatemala, forever changed her life."

Personally, I think this is a good book for every parent, but especially for moms and/or any parents who have previously adopted, are currently in the process, or want to/plan to/are thinking about adoption.  This isn't just a memoir; it is also a parenting book and adoption help.  But it's not just a parenting how-to, either; it's the real life story of a real mom.

Just a side note: some of you may want to know, this is a Christian book from a Christian publisher.

Now who wants to win it?
Giveaway Rules:
- US only, please
- All ages welcome! (But parents or parents-to-be are recommended.)
- Non-followers welcome!
- Winner announced on January 1

To Enter:
Please leave a comment to enter. If your email address is not listed on your Blogger profile, or you don't have a Blogger profile, please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.

Merry Christmas!

Hope y'all are having a wonderful Jesus's birthday, and are making lots of wonderful new memories.  Perhaps you're enjoying hot chocolate while watching snow, or you're chilling after ripping into those presents, or you're heading for a chilly beach - where ever you are, I wish you a Merry Christmas. :)

No, that's not my cat.  It's from weheartit.

How did your Christmas go?  Care to share a holiday tradition or memory ~ something special to you or your family?

The Night Of Christmas {guest post}

Today my good friend Anna has come to share some thoughts about Christmas with us.

It's Christmas Eve. I have a question to propose to you.

What do YOU think about at this time of year?

It's December, and everyone is thinking about one thing: Christmas. But what about Christmas are you thinking about?

The gifts?

The decorations?
The music?
Spending time with family and friends?

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with those things. There isn't. But I've been thinking recently. There are a couple of songs that come to my mind, and really make me think. Both are Christmas songs, and I'd like to share them with you.

The first one is called “I Wonder as I Wander,” by John Jacob Niles. Perhaps you've heard it.

“I wonder as I wander out under the sky,

How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.

For poor on'ry people like you and like I...

I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,

With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.

But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,

And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,

A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,

Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,

He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.”

The second one is by Steve and Annie Chapman. It's called “The Stable.” I don't know the exact words to it, but the chorus goes like this...

Still there's a message in the place where Christ was born,

Spoken in the kindest way.

Our hearts are like that stable.

They're dark, and cold, and unclean.

And though they are unworthy,

They are chosen for the presence of the king.

I'm not sure if that is the exact phrasing, but it is as close I as I can get. Especially since I am unable to locate the lyrics online. But the song really makes you think.

The stable that Jesus was born in was a cave. Made of rocks. Not at all what we imagine, or what we see in all the nativity scenes. It was dark. Cold. Dirty. Just like the song says.

Our hearts, before Jesus lives in them, are that way. And yet, He chooses to make His home there. And make them clean. Worthy of Him. He came to earth so that we, however unworthy, could receive God's greatest gift ever: eternal life.

What a thing to think about.

“And the angel said unto them, 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 ~ The angel's words to the shepherds.

“And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” Mark 9:35 ~ Just a thought to think about...

Anna is a high school homeschoolee and a good friend of mine.  We met through my P.O. Box Club, and she participated and supported me from day one through the day we ended the club.  I want to thank her for being an amazing friend despite having yet to meet in person, and for being a wonderful listening ear.  So thank you, Anna.  Y'all can visit her blog here.

Winner Announcement: Catching Santa ebook!

And the winner of our very first giveaway, an ecopy of Catching Santa by Marc Franco, is...

*Drumroll*

... Laura O. in Alaska!


Congratulations, Laura!

And readers, don't forget to keep checking in for more giveaways!  Know what's better than winning free stuff?  You don't have to be a follower to win!

Of course, if you want to follow, nobody's stopping you... seriously, though, who wants a bunch of followers who never read anything but the giveaway rules?  Trust me, I know how it is.  We've all been there.  But if you still want to follow - go right ahead!  I apperciate every reader who clicks that little blue button...

White Chocolate Pretzel Candy Clusters {guest post}

Here's that food I promised you!  Like I said, a party's not a party without food.  :)  Today we have Rachel visiting us, and sharing this great holiday recipe.  From the photos alone, I'm already craving one of these! Yum...

Hello everyone! :D I'm Miss Rachel from Young Homemakers! It's such a pleasure to be able to be here with you all. We're going to have lot's of fun in the kitchen today so let's go! ;)

This recipe is really nice for those last-minute Christmas parties or gifts! It doesn't take long and it turns out so pretty. Mmm, delicious too! Make sure you get the little ones involved with this...it's so much fun!

 White Chocolate Pretzel Candy Clusters

{Adapted from Taste of Home}

Ingredients

• 1 cup pretzel sticks
• 1 cup salted peanuts
• 1 cup candy coated chocolate pieces
• 1 cup crisp rice cereal
• 8 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped {the better the quality, the easier the time you will have in melting it}
• 1 Tbsp. shortening {If you are using a very good quality white chocolate, you may be able to reduce this amount}

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper; set aside. In a large bowl combine the rice cereal, pretzels, peanuts, and candy coated chocolate candies; set aside.

2. In a small bowl or saucepan/double boiler, stir the shortening into the white chocolate Microwave: Melt chocolate in microwave at 30 second intervals; stirring after each minute, so as not to burn/overcook the chocolate. Stove-top: melt on *low* heat, stirring continuously until the white chocolate is completely melted and smooth.

Once the white chocolate is melted pour it over the snack mixture in the bowl. Toss and stir together with a spatula until well-combined.

3. With two large spoons, scoop out some of the mixture and drop it onto the wax-lined baking sheet. You may need to push the clusters together a little with your spoons so  they "stick" together. Have fun with this part...they won't come out  perfect and they just have a nice rustic appearance to them. ;) HeHe!

**This is where the little ones can help out - hand them a couple of spoons and either guide their hands with them or let them scoop the clusters out on their own onto the baking sheet. They'll feel so big and helpful! :D

Allow the clusters to set up for at least 20 minutes before removing from the wax paper. If you are going to store these immediately or will be gifting them, I would leave them even longer so the chocolate has more time to set and come to room temperature. (If you're in a hurry, you can place in the fridge for a bit before packaging).

Note: For those with peanut and/or nut allergies, you can replace the peanuts with cashews, almonds, or pecans or leave them out completely if you'd like!

~ ~ ~

For a fun and easy Christmas gift, wrap these up in pretty cellophane treat bags from your local craft store, put in a pretty paper box or tin, or serve on a holiday tray! :D

I hope you and your family will enjoy making, eating, and giving these sweet treats this Christmas!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." ~ Luke 2:14

Thank you Emily Rachelle for asking me to be a part of your special blog project! :D

God's blessings to you all and Merry Christ-mas!

~Miss Rachel~

Miss Rachel is a 25-year-old  homeschool graduate, delighting in the ways she can serve her family and  her Lord from home. Some of the things she enjoys include  cooking/baking, sewing and a myriad of other crafts, old fashioned things, writing to friends,  singing with her family, blogging with her friends, her sister, and on Young Homemakers, and spending time learning from God's Word.

Christmas Traditions {guest post}

Today my personal (as in met-in-the-flesh-before-online) friend, Mariana, has dropped in to share a few words about Christmas traditions.

Nearly every family has some kind of Christmas tradition. My brother is the king of traditions and we can never do things differently (it’s always odd to do something differently). Every year at the beginning of December my whole family will get together and put up the tree and, of course, decorate it with the many old ornaments and age-old gold and red ribbons. Christmas carols are blaring from the speakers of the old boom box that you have to hit to get it to play anything! Of course that’s the beginning of December, that’s not Christmas.

For as long as I can remember we have always opened up presents on Christmas Eve night. Even when my father was a kid he had opened up presents on Christmas Eve night. This is one tradition we have never, I repeat never broken. Many of you also open gifts on Christmas Eve and it is, in my opinion, the best time to open up presents. The house smells entirely of baked goods, scented candles, and paper (yes, paper does have a specific smell). My favorite part of Christmas is the smells it gives - and of course the food. There are two things my family loves more than anything: eating and singing. Even though my dad can’t sing, he still loves music. For as long as I can remember, Christmas carols have always been blasting throughout the entire house and all of us are like little kids again, dancing and singing all over the place, due to far too much sugar from hot chocolate and cookies.

So tell me, what are some interesting Christmas traditions your family does? Overall my family is not that odd and does not have any interesting traditions that I am embarrassed to write about. So all of you bloggers and blog readers out there, have a great Christmas and be sure to leave a comment behind to tell me your traditions! Merry Christmas and have a safe, fun Christmas! And God bless us, everyone!

Mariana describes herself as an aspiring author who is slighty crazy.  She and I met at church summer camp in Japan.  Currently, she is working on editing her NaNo and writing a futuristic novel.  You can visit her at her blog, Live. Laugh. Write.

Hannukah, the Feast of Dedication {guest post}

Today Jessica is going to explain a holiday that many non-Jews know about but few understand: Hanukkah.

Introduction

Hi, everyone! My name is Jessica, and today, I'd like to tell you about the winter holiday I celebrate, Hanukkah.

Also called "The Festival of Lights", Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday that begins on the 25th of Kislev (usually near the end of December) each year. It is widely celebrated by practicing Jews, but as of late, Christians embracing their Hebrew roots have begun to celebrate it, too. The story of the first Hanukkah is found in the First and Second books of Maccabees. You can read it online for free, but for now, I will just give the basics of the story.

History
                    
In 168 B.C., the people of Israel were under the control of the Syrian government, and they were greatly oppressed. Antiochus, the reigning king, decreed all Jewish practices and traditions illegal. If someone was found reading/teaching the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, they would be killed without question; women were killed for circumcising their sons, and the babies were hung around their dead mothers' necks to be paraded in the streets; circumcised men were executed if they refused to have it reversed; if anyone refused to eat pagan foods, or tried to practice kosher laws, they would be killed. Also, the Holy Temple had been transformed into a pagan temple. Unclean animals, such as pigs, had been sacrificed at the alter, and the holy instruments had been defiled. YHWH (God) was replaced with the false god, Zeus, in the temple.

Some Jews continued to keep the Torah, regardless of the laws. One family was the house of the priest Mattathias. He and his five sons (Judah, John, Simon, Eleazar and Johnathon) refused to give in to Syrian customs. Mattathias and his sons fled the city, heading into the mountains. There, they would be free to worship their God without oppression.

On their way out of the city, Judah turned and cried that if any man be zealous for the Lord, let them follow him and his family. Some followed them that night, but over the next few months, Judah gathered around him a multitude of Jews whose love for the Torah had not died. These men looked to Judah as their leader, and Judah looked to YHWH for direction.

Over the course of the next three years, YHWH led Judah and his small army of men who were zealous for Him against the Syrians. They won countless, miraculous victories, and exactly three years after the Temple had been desecrated, Judah and the other Jews rededicated it to YHWH.
 That is where the holiday gets its name. In english, the word "hanukkah" means "dedication". It is a time of rededicating ourselves to YHWH. I Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." During Hanukkah, we rededicate our 'temples' to the Lord through prayer, and we read the story of when men gave their lives so that YHWH's commandments would not be forgotten or desecrated any further.

Traditions

Every night of the eight nights of Hanukkah, we light the hannukiah, a nine-branched candelabra -- one branch to light for each night of hanukkah, and the one used to light them. In Leviticus 24:4, YHWH told Aaron the priest, "You shall keep in order {keep burning} the lamps on the pure gold lampstand beforeYHWH continually." When Judah and his brothers were rededicating the temple, they only had enough holy, consecrated olive oil to keep the lamp burning for one night, and it would be eight days before new oil could be made. The miracle is that the lamp burned for all eight days, until the new oil was ready, on a supply that would normally only last one night. YHWH supernaturally kept the lamp burning.

Another tradition, (and this one is really fun,) is the game we play with spinning tops, called 'Dreidels.' When the Jews were under oppression, some of them would still do their Torah lessons in secret by hiding in the woods, in alleyways and in caves. But Greek soldiers were on patrol everywhere, and sometimes, they would come across the Jews with their Torah scrolls spread out. The  would quickly turn over the scroll and pull out their dreidels, so that it appeared that they were playing a game on the scroll, betting coins. Today, we play the game with chocolate coins, called 'gelt,' to remember the boldness of the Jews, and to remember that even under pressure, they still stood up for what was right.

Why I Celebrate Hanukkah

Now, people who know me usually ask me, "If you're a Christian, why are you celebrating Hanukkah? It's a Jewish holiday." And usually, when I tell someone I just met that I celebrate Hanukkah, they assume I'm Jewish. I am not technically Jewish through heritage, but I have been grafted into the tree of Israel through the blood of Christ, and so I am a Hebrew. (Romans 11:17)

I celebrate Hanukkah for much the same reason that I celebrate YHWH's appointed feasts (as laid out in Leviticus 23.) Though Hanukkah is not a feast I am commanded to keep, it is a festival celebrated by the people of YHWH, to help us remember to be strong in times of oppression, and to rededicate ourselves to HIS ways. So many things in today's culture can lead us away from God's Word, and so this holiday is just another time set apart for us to remember what's truly important. In celebrating Hanukkah, I am also following Yeshua's example. He was a Jew, and would've celebrated the feast. (John 10:22-23)

I hope you've enjoyed this post. If you would like to learn more about Hanukkah or the other biblical feasts, please check out the resources below. They're really great :)

Thanks for letting me guest-post, Emily!

References: (book) A Light in the Darkness by First Fruits of Zion; 1st and 2nd books of Maccabees; Passion for Truth Ministries

Jessica, formerly known as Cubette [cub-et, not cube-et], is a reader, blogger, music lover, animal lover, and fellow dancer-in-the-rain.  She is also a daughter of the King with a love for truth and her Father.  You can visit her blog here.

Behold the Handmaid of the Lord {guest post}

This cool Monday morning, Anna has come to share her thoughts on the often-overlooked words of Mary.

For a long time my favorite verse in the "Christmas Story" has been one in which Mary humbly states; ..."Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word." Such obedience to the will of God is beautiful as Mary was faced with a black name from her community, family, and fiance.

This is something that I admired in Mary, but didn't really look for in myself.

Myself. This is a very interesting subject. I am naturally one who plans ahead, worries ahead, crosses bridges before she comes to them (and ends up in the hospital after the bridge collapses beneath her).

I'm prone to wondering about what I'll do after high school, how I'll know who to marry, what I'll wear for my graduation ceremony, how on earth I'll pick my bridesmaids - since I have so many people to choose from.... and it goes on.

Harder than these questions is this one: What am I going to do with my life? If my Prince Charming comes along, I want to be a stay-at-home wife and mother - but what if he doesn't come? Maybe God has something else in store - BUT WHAT?! If I should choose a college career, what field should I enter? Or should I not go to college at all? - I need to choose soon, right?

(BTW: I do have my own opinion on the College vs. Stay-at-home war. I believe there is nothing wrong with going to college as long as it's God's perfect will for you. College is dangerous territory for a Christian, but if it is God's perfect will, far be it from me to condemn it. Right now though, I think I should add, I don't feel called to that route.)

These doubts and fears (along with a few other troubles) piled up for a while. I felt bogged down, chained to God's will, unable to make my own decision. I knew that God had said "my yoke is easy", so something must not have been right, but I didn't know what.

Finally, after much prayer, I talked to my mom about it. Through the conversation, I was strengthened in the promise of, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He SHALL direct thy paths."

Later - around the time that I sheepishly thanked God for not-so-patiently-or-trustingly-waited-for answers - I also remembered verses like "FEAR NOT for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, THOU ART MINE" and "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself". (I'm paraphrasing, be fore-warned.)

Truthfully, I'm not sure what God has for me. So far I feel led to be a stay-at-home wife and mother... but when will that come to pass? I could marry straight out of high school or later in life. Maybe I'll be called to college before I marry, maybe not.

I've searched over and over for this one answer: "Lord, what do you want me to do with my life?" and it frequently comes back as "Be a prisoner."

Yes. I'm to be a prisoner. Chained, yes - I openly admit it - but by choice. By love. I should be so lost in God that my own ambitions are washed away with a yearning, born of love, that HIS ambitions be fulfilled.

Whatever He shows me to do, whenever He chooses to do it will be fine. Peers may click their tongues and shake their heads, but as long as I'm in God's will it shouldn't matter to me. Whatever gawking acquaintance or hard circumstance He allows to enter my "little world" I should embrace as good for me. Where He leads me, I will follow - though none go with me or approve.

He tells me that He will direct my paths. He says I'm His. He says that the trying of my faith worketh patience. What shall I say, then?

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word."

Anna is a Born-Again Message Believer who hopes to edify and encourage others while glorifying her Lord at her blog, Daughter of the King.  A homeschooled music-lover and amateur chef-slash-baker, she has a large family and a growing heart.

Christmas Memories {guest post}

Today Sarah Grace has dropped in to share a few words on Christmas.

When I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait for Christmas…Christmas seemed to take forever to come. We counted down the days until Christmas and bought our presents at Dollar Tree a month before Christmas. We did our traditions such as getting a Christmas tree, looking at all the lights on the houses, singing the twelve days of Christmas until Christmas day came, etc. The week before, anticipating Christmas was almost unbearable as my sister, brother, and I awaited it. Christmas Eve we had the family party, and I thought I was so important since I got to stay up late. :) When we got home and I was in bed, I tried to fall asleep right away so that Christmas day would come all the faster…but instead it seemed an eternity till Christmas morning came. Christmas morning my siblings and I were awake at 6:00 AM and bounded into the rooms to get Mom, Dad, and my oldest sister. But, to our disappointment, it was always too early… the morning went by slowly it seemed for me, but soon the time came to open presents…

As I look back, I can’t believe how fast time has gone. My siblings and I no longer wake up at 6:00 … instead, we all sleep as late as possible on Christmas. :) I don’t wait for Christmas anymore... It comes to me even before I am ready for it… I scurry at the last moments to get the rest of my Christmas presents and the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song is no longer sung each day before Christmas. We no longer do some of those Christmas traditions. My siblings are all old… and even I, the youngest, am no longer that little girl that couldn’t wait for Christmas. Change has taken place…

Although change has taken place in our lives, God never changes…He’s the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, forever…and the reason why we celebrate His birth never changes, either. God is so wonderful! 

Merry Christmas!  May God bless all of you, and don't forget the true meaning of Christmas....

   Sarah is a homeschooled student who wants to inspire all and give off the glowing light of Christ... she keeps busy with volleyball, piano, school, ballet, teaching ice-skating (and taking lessons herself),  along with numerous other things. She still manages to maintain her little blog at Breezes through the Meadow, though.  :)

Book Review: The Christmas Conversation

Click the cover to buy

The Christmas Conversation by Leslie Ovid Vance Hargrett
Who really personifies Christmas - Jesus or Santa Claus?  Must we choose?


For my December Dorrance review, I just had to have a Christmas book.  There were so many to choose from, but as soon as I read the description for this book, I knew it was perfect.  I didn't know it was a picture book, but I still enjoyed it.  In this black and white kid's picture book, Santa and Jesus discuss why Santa is important at Christmastime.  Santa's worried he's taking too much attention off his Lord, while Jesus explains why Santa is relevant in culture today.

I love the pictures.  The cover is beautiful and detailed, while the pictures inside are more simple and, honestly, would make a fabulous coloring book.  (A story and coloring book all in one! Score!)  While I know Jesus didn't look anything like this popular image, this image is the one Western culture has come to recognize and associate with Him.  And, of course, we all know Santa.  The storyline is exactly what the title says: a short conversation between a famous character and a holy God, both associated with the same holiday.

To summarize the story, Santa complains about the unthankfulness he receives and the greed and selfishness of the people he serves.  Then he worries that he's taking too much focus off the Reason for the season.  Jesus commands Santa to be at peace and realize the good things about his life and job.  Jesus then assures Santa that he must continue his job, for he is a symbol of hope to those who have yet to believe in the Source of Hope.

I think this is a great book for young Christian kids who believe in Santa but have heard the talk about his not being real or the Jesus vs. Santa debate.  I'm not saying I think every child should believe in Santa - that's the parents' choice - but for Christian parents who choose to 'do Santa,' I think this is a great book.

There were a few minor grammar errors - misused punctuation, mixed verb tenses, plural problems, etc. - but otherwise the mechanics of the writing were nice.

I give this book four stars.

I received a free copy of this book from the Dorrance Book Review Team in exchange for this review.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

My Christmas Decor

Today, I'm going to do something I don't generally do outside the A B See Photo Meme: a photo post.  Enjoy the peek inside my room!

my personal dollar-store nativity, purchased in New York when I decided I needed my own decorations

my brother's tree, which was actually my first tree, also purchased in New York for $12 - lights, ornaments, tinsel, topper, and all! isn't it so sparkly and cute?

a close-up of my new tree, twice the size of my first

a close-up of the garland draped across the top of my closet doors

don't let this bare, unassuming, slanted little tree fool you... just you wait

my swing doll, Heidi, in her Christmas dress playing out in the snow with my little snowman

told you the tree wasn't innocent! he's really the loudest, most obnoxious Tannenbaum you ever met. with a motion sensor nose and freakishly bushy 'eyebrows.'

and the grand finale, my marvelous little tree in all its lit-up splendor. :)

Fellow teenagers still living at home with the fam, do you decorate your own bedroom?  If so, when and why did you start?  To all my readers, any special decoration stories to share, or a favorite memory surrounding a special decoration?



Giveaway! Catching Santa by Marc Franco

I told you we'd have presents, didn't I?  And today we have our first: Catching Santa ebook by Marc Franco.  You can read my review of the book here, and be sure to scroll down and check out yesterday's author interview if you missed it. :)

Giveaway Rules:
- International!
- You must be at least 13 years old to qualify
- Non-followers welcome!
To Enter:
Please leave a comment to enter. If your email address is not listed on your Blogger profile, or you don't have a Blogger profile, please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.

Author Interview: Marc Franco of Catching Santa

Today we have our very first author interview with Marc Franco, creator of The Kringle Chronicles: Catching Santa.  {You can read my review of his book here.}

Welcome to Struggles of a (Maybe) Teen Author!  You're the first author to be interviewed here :)  Well thank you for the honor.

Before we get started, could you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a dad of three great kids, husband to a wonderful wife, brother, son, pet owner, author and former sex crimes detective. Being a Navy brat, I grew up living around the world. My dad met my mom in Spain. She’s a Spaniard. I guess that makes me half Spanish. She is also the reason I speak fluent Spanish. I drive a Jeep.  Let’s see, what else? Oh yeah, I love the beach, surfing, swimming and any sport that involves the water. I play competitive soccer. I have a PS3 and love to play the Battlefield games. Okay, I think I just bored your readers.

Haha, I'm certainly not bored.  I love looking into the lives of other writers, especially successful ones.  Speaking of which, how long have you been writing? 24 years on and off. I’ve ten books yet to publish.

Why did you start writing?  I was bored. See, during my first year of college I was working for Pan Am. Now wait. I have to mention that I’m not that old. The year was 1987 and yes, Pan Am was still around, although not for much longer. I was an international travel baggage inspector. Translation: I sat around during my 5 hour shift until summoned by a ticket agent. This happened maybe twice during a shift. I would then physically inspect travelers' baggage searching for anything suspicious. So, after I completed my school work, I’d write.

Then I, for one, am glad you had such a boring job.  I loved your book!  Have you always wanted to be a writer? Nope, not really. I mean I never thought I’d pursue publication. Writing was a hobby.

Who or what has had the most influence on you as a writer? No one person. Well, God, because I always want to do what’s right in his eyes.

Being a fellow Christian, that's definitely admirable.  Sometimes I struggle to point to God with my writing.

Do you have a favorite book, place, song, person, or movie that inspires you? Inspiration? Wow. It comes from all places. My brain is little ADD (my wife's diagnosis) so data comes in fast and scattered. And when it comes I scramble to find my writing journal to download the brain dump. My favorite book is Genesis, yes, just Genesis. Creation fascinates me.

I never thought of counting my favorite book of the Bible with my favorite books... it makes sense, though.  I've read all of Genesis, and it was definitely fascinating.  Honestly, I prefer Paul's letters and what I call the 'story books' - Ruth, Esther, that sort of thing.  It's the books of the law that I find hard to follow.

How much research do you usually put into your books? Research, hmm, let me think because it depends on what I’m writing about. Catching Santa was quick -- 4 hours. All I did was research Germanic Santa lore. On the other hand The Eternal Library has taken weeks and research continues to consume my time.

Do you base events or people in your books off of your life, or your friends' and family's lives? Sure, the three Jablonski children in Catching Santa are based on my kids. I even use their first names. Their surname, Jablonski, is my mother-in-law's maiden name.

I like to base my characters off people I know, but I'm always afraid to use the same names.  Of course, I then have to sift through hundreds of baby names in books and on websites to find one that fits their personality.

What do you do when you're not writing? I workout at the gym with my wife, hang with the kids and play soccer.

What was your favorite book or author as a teen? Anything R.A. Salvatore. What's your favorite now? Joseph Delaney of the Spook’s Apprentice series and anything written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

What was the biggest obstacle to getting published for the first time, and how did you overcome it? I’m pretty fortunate. I was approached by two friends (former Disney creators) and asked if I wanted to be part owner of a new publishing company, Pants On Fire Press. Naturally, I said yes. The plus is that I have a vested interest in Pants On Fire Press. The negative is that we are a small press and really have to do a lot to garner attention. I’m the only writer in the group.

I knew POFP was a small group, but I didn't know you were part-owner.  That's really cool!  I think the company is only going to get better, with the writing I've seen so far.

What is your writing process? Each book is a project. I outline first -- so as to know where I am and where I'm going with the story. Seriously, I see the outline as a skeleton. Once in place I add the flesh. I know that’s gross but it works for me.

I do the same thing! Only my stories have more flesh than bone in most cases.

Do you write regularly at certain times or just when inspiration hits? I usually write either during the early morning hours or late evening hours. It just depends. If inspiration hits I write it in my writing journal, which is never too far, or I’ll record a voice memo on my iPhone.

What keeps you motivated? It’s fun creating and seeing my work in print and online. Positive reviews and awards are cool too.

What is your favorite quote? “Believe in love. Believe in magic. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. If you don't, who will?” – Jon Bon Jovi

Are there any books you wish you'd written? No. Not yet.


What is Catching Santa about? I thought you read it? No, just kidding.  (Haha, I did, but several of my readers haven't.  I like to see how the author describes their own book, too.) It’s about a special boy, Jakob, and his friends. They find themselves in the middle of an age-old power struggle between Santa and Santa’s former assistant, the devilish S.R. See, things begin six days before Christmas and weird things are happening in 11-year-old Jakob's Florida neighborhood. His friends are convinced their Christmas is in danger, and then live snowmen strangely appear and confirm the threat. Jakob dismisses the bizarre events as an elaborate hoax concocted by the neighborhood bully. But when the bully turns into smoke, a devilish stranger appears as the mastermind behind the mayhem demanding that Jakob catch Santa...or else!

What inspired this book? I was tired of the Disneyesque portrayal of Santa and wanted to create a whimsical Brothers Grim-like story with sci-fi and fantasy elements.


Do you have any advice for aspiring teen authors like myself - or any age, for that matter? Don’t give up. Give 100%. Look and see what others are doing and do it better.

Is there anything you'd like to add? Nope.

Well, Mr. Franco, thanks for coming, and I can't wait to see what's in the future for you and Pants On Fire Press.  Readers, come back tomorrow for our first-ever giveaway!

Walls {guest post}

Today Rachelle joins us with this heartfelt devotional, originally posted at Young Ladies Christian Fellowship.

My quiet time that day started out like any other. A quick prayer left my lips for God to bless my heart as I sought Him. I opened the Bible study book I was currently working through. And an eye-opening, heart-rending hour began.

Many times, I was tempted to close my Bible, say “Amen,” and leave. My heart was being probed to its deepest, darkest depths. I squirmed uncomfortably as the Word and Jesus’ gentle whisper proceeded to peel back layer after sticky layer from my soul.

Wounds I had thought were taken care of long ago resurfaced. Though I had thought those scars were healed, I had really only been ignoring them. Attitudes I wasn’t aware I possessed were revealed to be causing a rift in my growth as a child of God. It was an exhausting time. Near the end of the hour, I felt violated.

“Why is it that I feel this way?” I thought. “Why am I squirming as the Lord searches my heart? Is it because I am coming up short? What other outcome did I expect? Isn’t this what I want, for my pursuit of Jesus Christ to be free, unhindered of the baggage that is weighing me down?”

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting,” I prayed (Psalm 139:23-24).

How about you? Have you ever had the Lord whisper softly to your heart that all was not as it should be and you only shifted uncomfortably in your seat?

God was trying to pull down the walls around my heart that morning, but I was busy thwarting Him, erecting even higher ones. Afraid of being vulnerable before God, I had decided that I wasn’t going to let Him get too close. I didn’t think I could trust Him with my secrets. I didn’t want to trust Him to heal and free me from those walls because I thought I could handle things myself.

When I acknowledged that there were indeed walls around my heart and I needed Him to pull them down, at last, the walls fell.
I allowed God to free me from everything that stood between my heart and His. I surrendered my “I can fix this myself” attitude and let God lead me on the first steps towards healing.

Those were the first steps on a bumpy road, but it is a road of joy, because high walls no longer block the light of the Son. Won’t you join me on it?

~Miss Rachelle Rea~



Rachelle is a homeschoolee-turned-college-attendant, writer, and booklover whose online mission is to "inspire daring" in others' lives, as God does so in hers.  Other than reading and writing, she enjoys music, running, and sunshine - among other things.  You can visit her blog, Inspiring Daring, for more of her thoughts and work.

Guess What? It's Party Time!

The day is finally here!  Our huge, multi-celebration, much-awaited, full-of-firsts blog party has finally arrived!

Source

I've gotten my blog all decorated and fancied up, just for the occasion.  I picked out a new background, adjusted the layouts, touched up my button - the whole shabang!

Of course, there are several things that make a party a party.  For example, you can't have a party without guests.  Now, obviously, all you wonderful readers are guests at this party... but we also have some other very special guests who are coming by just for the occasion.  Some are published authors, some are other bloggers, and some are photographers - but they've all got something special to share with us.


You also can't have a party without music... so, although I generally try to avoid putting music on my blog, for this party I've put together a special playlist.

Another party must is food.  One of our wonderful guest bloggers will be bringing that later.  ;)

While some people might disagree, I think every party should have presents.  (Even favors count as presents.)  And since this is partly a Christmas party and a birthday party, presents are especially important for us.  I have several surprises in store for you, my lovely readers, and I'm sure you'll love these presents.

How's that sound for a great party?  Guests, music, food, presents - and of course, lots of fun and friendly chatter. :)  Let's make this an amazing blogoversary, Christmas, Hannukah, New Year's, and sixteenth birthday blog party!

Just a side note: today marks my one-year blogoversary!  Eek! :D