Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

I just love books by Nicholas Sparks. I really like his writing style. His characters are very real. I just think he is a fantastic writer. This latest book of his --- another winner. I finished it in two days - just couldn't put it down. There are parts that you expect but also a certain twist at the end that is totally unexpected.

Katie comes to Southport, North Carolina. She has a secret and is trying to start over. She meets Alex. Alex seems to see into her sole, understands her and loves her. It is a great story about overcoming the past and moving forward to a new life. Really a wonderful book.

Impossibly Easy Taco Pie

This is a recipe that I got from the Betty Crocker website - and it was so easy - and tasted fabulous. I didn't have any green chiles - so I used mild jalapenos - cut up. It was nice and mild - which we loved. I topped it with fresh cut up tomatoes, salsa and sour cream. I would think black olives on top would be good, too!

1	pound lean ground beef
1	medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1	package (1 ounce) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
1	can (4.5 ounces) Old El Paso® chopped green chiles, drained
1	cup milk
2	eggs
1/2	cup Original Bisquick mix
3/4	cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
	Old El Paso® salsa (any variety)
	Sour cream, if desired Heat oven to 400°F. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in seasoning mix (dry). Spoon into pie plate; top with chilies. Stir milk, eggs and Bisquick mix until blended. Pour into pie plate. Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 8 to 10 minutes longer. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson

Oh I really loved this book. Very good story. It is a story about forgiveness and about finding the way back after being lost. Lena Markham was just released from prison. She feels like God has not been there for her because what kind of God would allow her to pay the price for a crime she didn't do. She struggles with understanding what God is like and why He allows bad things to happen to people like her.

She gets a second chance and arrives by bus in New Haven. She is suppose to work at Harrington's but the department store is not doing well. It has laid some of its employees off. Still, Lena is a perfect fit for playing Mrs. Santa at the store so she gets a job. She thinks that life is finally turning around for her but then someone complains that she is an ex-con. She gets fired.

The story is a great story about second chances and about healing. A nice story with a great holiday spirit. It does end upbeat. A nice holiday novel.

The reason for the season

Book Review and Giveaway

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

I received this book from WaterBrook Maltnomah Publishers for the sole purpose of reading and doing this review.

This was a cute, whimsical story. The story begins with two lonely hearts that meet in a book store. Although, they work together they really don't know each other. They both receive a ticket to the Christmas ball. The Christmas ball is a magical ball designed to draw lonely hearts together and fall in love. I really enjoyed the story and found it a fun book to read. It is light hearted romance. I really like that in the story Simon, one of the two main characters, believes in courting and not dating. That is a nice aspect to the story. On the other hand, the author also portrayed wizards as being different from witches. It is kind of implied that witches are evil but that wizards are okay. I find this troubling and don't really agree with that interpretation.

A quote from the book (p. 108) "Of course I'm not in favor of witches and goblins and dealing with the dead. Actually, the Anglo-Saxon term 'wizard' simply refers to older, wise people, as in 'wizened.' So wizards are not closely associated with witches."

Hmmmm. I believe this is splitting hairs especially since in the book the wizards had the power of knowing things about people and events. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 it states "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord." God very broadly defines what is detestable to Him and while the exact term of wizard is not used it seems to me to fall into this category. In the book the wizards are good and are portrayed as doing God's work. I believe that angels are sent to do that job and not wizards.

Now while I will say that I draw this distinction, I do also recognize that there is much debate in the Christian world on this subject. Many Christians read and believe Harry Potter is okay and many others do not. My personal beliefs are that witches and wizards exist so I do not say that books shouldn't have them in the story. I just prefer for them to be shown in a negative or evil light instead of portraying them as something good. (My opinion.)

This book didn't bother me as much as some that have witchcraft in them as the wizards weren't really of this world and although they were shown to be 'good' (which I debate) at least the powers were more behind the scenes and not obvious. The main aspect of the story is the budding romance between Cora and Simon. And that is a wonderful, lovely romance. The romance is handled in a very tasteful light.

The story is well written. It really is a delightful read and an enjoyable story. I just wanted to be clear about the 'magic' aspect that is in the book.

I am giving away my copy of the book to one of my blog readers. I don't want my review to scare you away as it really is a delightful read. I just wanted to be clear that there is magic in the book. If you are interested in the book, leave me a comment about one of your most favorite Christmas traditions!

I will tell you one of mine --- I love to get a good book. I stay up late reading - wrapped in a blanket with the wonderful beauty of the Christmas tree lights on in the room. It is my special time and I just love the quiet time to enjoy the lights, a good book and a warm cup of herbal tea!

Giveaway ends December 17th. And please be sure to include your email so I have a way to contact you if you win!

Decorating the tree

Many of our ornaments have special memories attached --- many are ornaments that the kids made over the year, some are ornaments from places we visited or traveled to. It is so special to reminisce as we hang the ornaments. I shared some of my special memories with my youngest. Really enjoyed it.

Art class - Rose Windows

We are so blessed to have a wonderful art teacher --- she is fabulous! She taught the kids about Rose windows - which tied in nicely as we had recently visited/toured one of the beautiful Catholic churches in the area - that has beautiful stain glass windows - one of them is a Rose window. Click here to see the posting on the tour & a picture of the Rose window. It was wonderful to have the kids learn more about Rose windows and then have the opportunity to make one.

We used a black board with oil pastels for the 'glass' and glue for the tracery. They focused on radial design and learned about Gothic windows and churches. Our art teacher had been to Europe and had slides of churches that had Rose windows. One of the most famous is Notre Dame Cathedral.

ornament exchange

I belong to an on-line homeschool group. It is really a fun group and I gain alot of insight from them. Every Christmas, there is an ornament exchange for those that want to participate. My kids and I get a kick out of figuring out on a map where the ornament I am sending off is heading. And they just love it when the package arrives in the mail. I think they enjoy it as much as I do.

My ornament arrived recently and it is gorgeous! It is from Katrina - thank you Katrina. We love it. Below is a picture of the ornament.

Pork Sausage Apple Loaf

I made this tonight - it was really good.

It is from Betty Crocker - and you can find the recipe by clicking here.

Christmas - Candy Cane legend

I posted about the Candy Cane legend - with two books to read. A blog friend of mine has a wonderful craft and a treat to make.

Check it out - Lamp Unto My Feet blog.

more Christmas favorites for kids

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

This is a different story than the one I posted about before. This one a new man moves into town and they aren't sure what type of business he is setting up. Turns out, to the delight of the children, it is a candy store. One of the candies he sells is the candy cane and he tells the significance of the candy cane to the girl helping him unpack. The illustrations are wonderful.

The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne

This one is really a favorite. In the story, Dad is upset by all the commercialization of the Christmas holiday. They end up at a Christmas tree farm where there are 3 trees already set up at the entrance. The man in charge tells the significance of the trees and why it all ties in to the birth of Christ. Neat to use a tree as a way to tell the story of Christ. It is really a nice book. He also has one called The Legend of the Christmas Stocking. I just ordered that one from the library. We haven't read that one yet.

Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo

This story is the legend of tinsel. It is a very cute story. The setting of the story is in Germany. After reading this story, many years ago, I find I still walk around and say, "it's time to make Christmas" when I make Christmas cookies.

Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant

This is an Appalachian Christmas story. It is about giving back. And has a great message about God fulfilling our needs at just the right time we need them fulfilled. God is not specifically mentioned and given the credit but it is an easy tie in to talk about with your child.

Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco

This one is about a pastor's family. They move to a new location which is in Detroit. The church needs to be revived and he is the pastor to do it. The son is upset about leaving their home and sees nothing good about their new location especially the church itself - it is rundown. A leak in the roof causes damage to the wall. The son is devastated. Then, they are to go pick up Christmas decorations that the mom ordered and the car doesn't start. The father and son take the bus. It is due to the journey - and who they meet along the way that a wonderful story unfolds. In the end, they realize it was all part of God's plan - that all the pieces were beautifully woven into a tapestry and each part of daily life was a thread in that tapestry that when woven together made a beautiful picture. Really a very wonderful story.

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed books

My son just loved these books. They are really kind of funny. Great rhyming books.

Both are by Lucille Colandro.

Libby

Isn't Libby a hoot! She loves to crawl into the case of bottle water! Then she will lay upside down and play with the wrapper. I think it makes a cool crinkly sound that she loves.

fun treats

Our dog loves peanut butter. We let him lick the empty peanut butter container. He thinks it is quite a treat! Here he is ---- if only he had a longer tongue!

excellent recipe - potatoes

A friend from church told me his wife makes this for him and he loves it. I decided to give it a try and it was truly wonderful tasting. (Sorry no picture - I completely forgot to get the camera out!) Trust me though - these are really good.

And so simple ---

Take some potatoes.

Now my friend said to peel them first but I think the skins are good - plus lots of vitamins in the skins. So I kept the skins on. Washed the potatoes and then cut them into wedges.

Put some olive oil in a bowl.

Also take some cornflakes - I took a glass and rolled it over the cornflakes so that it crushed them up.

Dunk / roll the potatoes in the olive oil.

And then roll them in the cornflakes.

Put on a cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil.

Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes at 375. My friend just said cook it until it seems done. I choose 375 and they were done in about 50 minutes. Basically, they should be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

They were very, very good. My husband and oldest son were 'fighting' over them. My two youngest didn't eat them - but they are not a good judge of things - they are my picky eaters. If we all ate what they liked we would all have to live on peanut butter and jelly.

World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler

World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler

This book is similar to One Second After. It is about survival after the grid collapses. In One Second After the grid collapses due to an EMP being set off. In World Made by Hand there is a crisis with oil --- there is not enough oil and countries begin fighting over the world's resources of oil. It leads to war. In the book, it does talk about Washington D.C. being hit and gone. Both books are kind of futuristic. They remind me of Brave New World - and how when that first came out no one thought that look into the future could ever happen. Now, looking back we can see that some of it did come true. I do pray that none of the things in either of these books comes true. I had trouble getting through this book - it wasn't a hard read but hard to think about any of this happening. Then I kept thinking about how our family would survive. It is just a tough subject.

This book is written from a more liberal point of view than One Second After. In World Made by Hand several of the main characters find God to be distant and not very helpful - after all He allowed their world to collapse (their perspective - not mine). There is a group that knows Jesus but they are portrayed as a religious cult. Still, in the end they are shown as being very helpful to the community.

I really enjoyed the book. It is very well written. I think it offers up alot of 'food for thought'. One interesting note is that in both books after the grid collapses a major flu epidemic sweeps through killing a good portion of the population. Interesting to think about the flu being that deadly. We have such a good standard of living that the flu really is no big deal. Yet, in the past, there have been major epidemics of the flu that have killed alot of people. I know there has been alot of talk about a flu epidemic - such as bird flu, swine flu, et. Still, they haven't amounted to much. A major collapse in the standard of living where fresh water isn't available would certainly create a breeding ground for an epidemic to occur.