December 7th

Last night we read "The Crippled Lamb" by Max Lucado.  This book is really sweet and cute.  It is about a lamb that doesn't fit in because he is crippled.  He feels alone all the time.  When the other sheep leave to go feed in a new valley he has to stay because of his bad leg.  Later that night he awakes to a strange noise and finds Mary and Baby Jesus in the Stable with him.  The baby is cold so the lamb lays by him to keep him warm. 

Shows that each of us has a worth even if we think we are alone.  Our Saviour and Heavenly Father love us!

December 6th

                                 

Last night we ready "One Snowy Night" by M. Christina Butler.  This book sis a cute book about a hedgehog who gets woke up from hibernating and gets a gift from Santa.  When the gift isn't just right for him he wraps it up and leaves it for a friend.  The gift then gets passed from one friend to the next and eventually winds up being the perfect gift for hedgehog.  This is a cute book that teaches about the act of giving.

December 5th

Tonight's book was "The Donkey's Christmas Song" by Nancy Tafuri.  This is a cute book about the Saviours Birth.  It tells about the animals each singing to the baby Jesus as a gift to him.  The Donkey is worried that his bray will be to noisy and not good enough for the baby.  But in the end he gives his song to the baby Jesus and it is perfect.

As I think about the meaning of this book I can't help but reflect on what I have to offer my Saviour.  So many times I feel like my offering isn't enough or

should be better.  I may feel inadequate or lacking but my Saviour loves me and knows my heart,  As long as I am giving it my all he makes up for my imperfections, and that is truly the best gift!

December 4th

My daughter must have a gift for finding wrapped books.  The two kids were talking about the Grinch who stole Christmas.  I told her that we have the book but it is with the wrapped books.  Tonight was her turn and she picked it.  So both her nights she has picked the books she wanted from the wrapped books.

I love "The Grinch who Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss.  I have memories of my mom reading this book to me on Christmas Eve.  Christmas Eve was always a fun night.  We usually got together with all the cousins at my Grandma's house.  We would dress up as The Nativity.  Often each family group would sing or perform something.  We would eat homemade donuts and hot chocolate.  It was all about being with family.

I love this book because it really teaches that Christmas is not about the gifts, the decorations, or the tree.  It is about Jesus' birth!  I also feel that it is about being with family.  I love at the end of the book when the Who's are singing and the Grinch is puzzled by their happiness.  He had stolen what he thought Christmas was only to find out the Christmas is not something that can be bought in the store.  Each year I try to remember that also.  By trying to keep Christmas simple so I can remember the real reasons we are celebrating.

December 3rd

For the third night of December we read "The Story of Christmas" by Patricia Pingry.  We have this book in a board book, which makes it nice for the littlest ones.  This book does a good job of telling the story of Jesus' birth in a way that is easy to understand.

December 2nd

On day two of December we read "Mooseltoe" by Margie Palatini.  This book is so funny and my daughter was really hoping she would pick this one.  In years past I have number the books so they are read in a certain order.  This year I am letting the kids just pick randomly.  The amazing thing is that she did pick the book she wanted.  This book is about a moose dad who is trying to make Christmas perfect but forgets one very important part of Christmas.

December 1st

Okay so I should have made this post last night but I was was to tired.  We opened our first Christmas book last night for the first day of December.  Let me tell you the kids were so excited.  "Silent Night" by Susan Jeffers is a book of beautiful illustrations done by Susan Jeffers about the song Silent Night.  We read the book then talked about what the song means and then I sung it to them.  They are really the only people I sing for because trust me it is not always pretty.  Stay tuned for our next book!