Apple Tree Christmas


The Ansterburg family lives in a barn. 

"Someday Papa would build them a real house. But for now living in the barn with the soft animal sounds and sweet smell of hay was just right."

The nearby apple tree is not only a source of food for the family, it also provides for the children a place to play and to dream. 

When a ferocious blizzard comes to the area shortly before Christmas, the family must work together. First, to prepare for the storm, and then to keep warm during the three-day ordeal. 

The ice storm destroys the beloved apple tree and the Ansterburg children are devastated. They have lost their favorite place to play and dream. 

But father has a Christmas surprise. 

Apple Tree Christmas is a sweet story of simpler times. It is a story of overcoming hardship and disappointment, of family closeness, and of selfless gift-giving. 

First published in 1984, Apple Tree Christmas returned in 2005 as is published by Sleeping Bear Press. 

The story is a beautiful example of family love and will become a cherished holiday tradition.


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Christmas in Art: Sister Wendy on the Art of Christmas

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Detail from a fresco in the Cataomb of Priscilla, Rome


A new addition to our Christmas book collection, Sister Wendy on the Art of Christmas is a tour through fourteen works of art that reflect the spirit of the season. Sister Wendy's insightful narrative guides the reader from Advent through the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. 

For centuries --for millennia--the whole world was in a state of advent: it was waiting. Until the Lord revealed himself to Abraham, our ancestors did not know for what or for whom they were waiting. But every thinking being knew (and still does) that our present state is not right. Injustice, violence, misery: This is not how it is meant to be, and all our instincts cry out against it. 

 Sister Wendy on the Art of Christmas


This is a perfect way to spend some time reflecting on the season while learning about the technique and meaning behind these beautiful works of art. 







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Blessed are you who believed - Printable coloring page

One of the most poignant phrases in all of Scripture and one which applies not only to Mary but to each of us. 

Perfect for advent reflection and contemplation, print the free PDF coloring page here. 

Enjoy!

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Advent Companions: Three Favorites and New This Year

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This beautiful advent devotional by Ann Voskamp is a treasure. The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas invites you to celebrate the lineage and majesty of Jesus through the Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree. 

Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, the book retraces the lineage of humankind from Adam to the Messiah. Each day of advent has a reading, prayer, and reflection. This is a book you will want to revisit year after year. 




Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas includes daily readings from the last week of November through the first week in January. This book helps my heart to prepare a way for the Lord during advent. 

Includes writings by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, Sylvia Plath, J. B. Phillips, Friedrich Wilhelm Foerster, Henri Nouwen, Bernard of Clairvaux, Kathleen Norris, Meister Eckhart, St. Thomas Aquinas, Karl Rahner, Isaac Penington, Madeleine L’Engle, Alfred Delp, Loretta Ross-Gotta, William Stringfellow, J. Heinrich Arnold, Edith Stein, Philip Britts, Jane Kenyon, John Howard Yoder, Emmy Arnold, Karl Barth, Oscar Romero, William Willimon, Johann Christoph Arnold, Gail Godwin, Leonardo Boff, G. M. Hopkins, Evelyn Underhill, Dorothy Day, Brennan Manning, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Romano Guardini, Annie Dillard, Martin Luther, St. John Chrysostom, Giovanni Papini, Dorothee Soelle, C. S. Lewis, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Philip Yancey, J. T. Clement, Thomas Merton, Eberhard Arnold, Ernesto Cardenal, T. S. Eliot, John Donne, Gian Carlo Menotti and Jürgen Moltmann.




Treasured Stories of Christmas has been a favorite for many years and it seems that each year I find a new favorite holiday tale. This is not a book of children's stories, rather a collection of classic short stories that embody the essence of the season. 

 The collection includes time-honored classics by Charles Dickens, Washington Irving, and O. Henry and little known tales by Stephen Crane, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bret Harte. There are stories for children by Louisa May Alcott, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Lucy Maud Montgomery as well as surprising stories from Cleveland Amory, Pearl Buck and many others. 
New this year:

 These are the books I am reading for the first time this advent season.


Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything (and still does) by Scott Hahn




The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander


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A Cozy Christmas Tradition: The Holiday Jigsaw Puzzle

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)
A holiday tradition that actually helps you relax? You need this in your life.


Each year, my family selects and completes a holiday-themed jigsaw puzzle. As family members come and go throughout the season, the puzzle is available at the puzzle table for anyone wishing to find a few matching pieces.

 Here are some great reasons to give this tradition a try:

 Jigsaw puzzles get you in the holiday spirit

 Focusing on a holiday scene for an extended period helps to get in the holiday spirit. You can't feel like the holiday caught you by surprise if you have been staring at a manger scene for days.

 Jigsaw puzzles are relaxing

 Sitting down at the puzzle table is a great way to unwind and get your mind off of the holiday craziness. It requires your full attention so it actually gives your mind a break from other worries and activities. It's a great excuse to spend some time in front of your Christmas tree or near a window on a snowy day. Plus, it keeps everyone unplugged from technology for a time.

 Jigsaw puzzles are great alone or great as a group

 A puzzle works as a great solitary activity or a fun group project. Anyone can participate. Everyone may not be interested in sledding, but everyone can do a puzzle.

 Ready to give it a try?

 Jigsaw puzzles vary in terms of difficulty so consider the ability level of your puzzlers as well as how much time you would like to spend on the project. If you are unsure, a 500-piece puzzle is usually a good place to start. If you have younger children, or want a quick sit-down activity, try a puzzle with fewer pieces.

 It can be difficult to locate Christmas-themed puzzles, particularly religious ones. Here are some we have found.


















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