The birthdays in our family are concentrated into four months extending from the end of November through to the end of March. It makes the time leading up to Christmas rather full. I've never read much in the way of short stories generally but I've enjoyed finding some for Christmas. If you are short on … Continue reading Mother Culture: Advent & Christmas Reading
Christmas Books
Those who would see wonderful things must often be ready to travel alone…
Our Advent Reading '...But his friends looked on with strange and alien eyes. A veil of doubt and mistrust came over their faces, like a fog creeping up from the marshes to hide the hills. They glanced at each other with looks of wonder and pity, as those who have listened to incredible … Continue reading Those who would see wonderful things must often be ready to travel alone…
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room – ideas for Advent when life is busy…
The last days of November mark the beginning of a rush of family birthdays which continue through to the end of March for us. With Christmas preparations added to the birthday celebrations life can get quite busy. I often think of the words of the Christmas hymn, Joy to the World, where it says, 'Let … Continue reading Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room – ideas for Advent when life is busy…
‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!’
Nativity by Tintoretto (c.1550-1570) We're in the middle our term's work and I wanted to continue our regular schedule in the lead up to Christmas but also allow room for celebrating Advent & preparing for Christmas. So what I've done is to stretch out a week's work into one and a half to … Continue reading ‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!’
‘I Will Honour Christmas in my Heart’
I've started reading aloud A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens using the beautifully illustrated version above. This version is illustrated by Robert Ingpen, an Australian artist. We have a number of books illustrated by Ingpen, all quite different in subject matter from one another, and yet again he demonstrates his skill with the … Continue reading ‘I Will Honour Christmas in my Heart’
The Birth by Gene Edwards
I read The Birth by Gene Edwards years ago (in 1995 actually) and just finished reading it for the second time. I have a friend who reads it every Christmas and I've always meant to read it again at this time of the year but I only just got to it this past week. … Continue reading The Birth by Gene Edwards
journey & destination 