Hello, Friends and Visitors!
I meant to do this post on December 1st, but life got away from me.
During the month of December I will be sharing Christmas stories, poems, traditions and recipes. So be sure to stop by frequently!
Today, I would like to share with you one of our family's favorite Christmas traditions. We love to bundle up together and read Christmas stories, preferably Christ-centered ones. Over the years, I have collected many books as well as some Christmas anthologies and we read from them every night as we count down the days to our favorite holiday. I believe reading to one's children is very important, even when they are older (mine are 13 and 15). Doing so, creates an intimate family atmosphere and wonderful shared experience. During the Christmas holidays, the reading of Christmas stories keeps the celebrations rooted in the True meaning and sweeps away the "give-me's". And if your family won't sit still for stories, ambush them and do it around the dinner table while everyone is eating. You might be pleasantly surprised by the reactions you get!
To kick off the Christmas countdown here at Home Musings, I am having a Give-Away of our favorite Christmas story, The Other Wise Man.
One reviewer wrote of this book:
This is the story of Artaban, a seeker of Truth. He is the other wise man who sought the 'great king foretold in ancient scripture and heralded by the 'star'. On his way to meet the three wise men, he is delayed. This sets him on a quest in search of the King. It leads him to many places and experiences. This book with its beautiful word pictures reminds us once again the importance of seeking Truth wherever we find it. It adds new meaning to the story of Christmas.
Henry Van Dyke wrote the original story. He claims that the idea came to him in a dream. He is a wonderful, gifted writer who brings this story alive with beauty and immediacy to the reader. The picture book which is the subject of the give-away is a slightly abridged version, perfect for all ages. In fact, when we were first married, my husband and I use to go around to families within our neighborhood and church congregation and present this book for special family nights during the Christmas holidays. Everyone loved it!
Okay, now for the Give-Away. To qualify, all you have to enter do is leave a comment on this post by Sunday, December 5th, 11:59 p.m. MST. AND, if you advertise this Give-away on your blog and link back to this post, I will enter your name twice! That's all you need to do.
Envision your family all sitting around the Christmas tree, reading this wonderful story together.
Have a wonderful, happy day!
Elizabeth
5 comments:
That sounds like a GREAT book, Elizabeth! Thanks for the chance to win!
Oh Elizabeth I am so looking forward to all your entries in the days to come. I certainly hav enever heard of that book, perhaps it is one that can be only had in the US. Anyway I expect I am too far away to be entered but good luck to everyone else..You are such a wondeful Mother, I can just visulise you all sitting round reading..reminds me of days when my Mum and Dad were around and Sarah Margert and I all sitting on the settee together, Happy Memories
Love Sybil xx
Oh, I love this story! The problem with Christmas stories is that they always make me cry :) We picked up a nice one from a library sale, and I read it to myself while my husband ran into a store for an errand...he was rather alarmed to come back with his purchases and find tears streaming down my face, haha :)
I'm in! I haven't read this one. Thanks for offering it. :)
I'd never heard of this story before. Thanks for the giveaway!
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