Christmas Books for the Kids! Also, Gift Books for the Dog Lover!

I'm rapidly running out of time, so I'm doubling up on posts here. I received a few lovely Christmas picture books for review that I want to mention because I really love nothing like I love Christmas picture books. And I don't think it's too late in the season to find some new ones to enjoy! So!

For the realllly young ones:

Our Little Deer by Sandra Magsamen (Board Book)

When this arrived, I cooed over it because it's so darn cute. There are actual little felt antlers sticking out of the book that you know the baby in your life is going to want to get their hands all over. And inside is a cute little message of adoration for the little one in your life...reminding them they are deeply loved and have an important place in your family. And the pictures are so cute!! This is a book to wish your little one a Merry Christmas.

The Classic:

The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Holly Hobbie, poem by Clement C. Moore

The Night Before Christmas is certainly a classic and evokes the wonder of magic of Christmas like no other book. If I had limitless space, I'd probably collect various illustrated editions of this book because I really enjoy it so much. And I remember the little pop-up book I had when I myself was a child and how completely worn down and worn out it was! So I think picking the right edition for your family is really important. I really do enjoy this edition illustrated by Holly Hobbie--it has a classical old time feel to it, without being too lavish. The colors verge on being a bit light for my taste, but really there's nothing bad to say about this book. A worthy choice to fill the need if you have it!

A New Twist on the Classic:

The First Christmas Night by Keith Christopher illustrated by Christine Karnacki

I was completely charmed by this twist on A Night Before Christmas, though. If you want to focus your children's attention on Jesus's birth instead of Santa's arrival, this is the book for you. It's a rewrite of the classic poem, instead talking about the night Jesus was born. It's so cute, especially if you love the nativity story as much as I do.

New Traditions:

The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie, illustrated by Christine Karnacki

If you're really looking for a way to incorporate a gift for Jesus into your family celebrations, than The Sparkle Box is the perfect choice. This is a cute story that introduces children to the idea of giving to others as a way of giving to Jesus at Christmas time. As you head into the final Christmas week, why not look for ways to share with others as part of your celebration? The book includes a box that can be used to write down all instances of kindness as a present to Jesus.

For the Dog Lovers!!!

Know someone who is very enthusiastic about their canine friends? Well, here are a few fun/unique books to keep in mind for them.

If that someone is a child, they might be interested in:

Underwater Dogs: Kids Edition

This picture book by Seth Casteel features many pictures of dogs underwater managing to look both terrifying and completely and adorably doggy all at once. There's no real plot to the text, but the pictures are awesome! And you can use the book cover as a poster. What's not to love?

For the adult in your life:

Shake by Carli Davidson

This is a similar concept to Dogs Underwater in that it features simply pictures of dogs in various stages of shaking against a black backdrop. All different kinds of dogs in all different stages of the shake. It's hilarious, and sure to please any dog lover!

Throw the Damn Ball: Classic Poetry by Dogs R.D. Rosen, Harry Prichett, and Rob Battles

Some of these poems genuinely made me laugh out loud. This is just a fun book that anyone who knows what life with a dog is like will enjoy! The poems are accompanied by pictures of the dogs who wrote them and where they're from!

Please note! I received complimentary copies of all of these books either for review or as a giveaway win. I enjoyed all of them so much, to which I say--LUCKY ME!

On Gift Giving

I've mentioned before that one of my primary love languages is gifts, but the truth is I have a really complicated relationship with it. Okay the real truth is that I over think everything in my life and this post is an example of that, but bear with me.

Christmas and birthdays are like my favorite times of the year because you get to spoil the people you love and it's expected. Spontaneous gifts are less comfortable, you never know if someone will think it's an intrusion or odd, but these are the days when you get to celebrate people just as much as you want.

In the past, I've treated Christmas in a very extravagant fashion. It's behavior I'm a little bit ashamed of now, but at the time I loved it, spoiling my nieces and getting things for people that I felt like they wouldn't get for themselves but would still like to have? And of course, finding the perfect gift--that one gift that would really communicate to someone that I knew and loved them was always the ultimate goal.

A couple of years ago around Christmas, a couple of churches started this thing called the Advent Conspiracy. It was basically about cutting down on consumerism at Christmas time and focusing more on giving to others in need. There's a whole bunch of stuff that goes with it that you can check out on their website, but I remember reading an account from one woman (I'd look for it but the site design gives me a headache) about how our gift giving isn't always about others but it's also about ourselves. We take pride in finding the perfect gift, we think it's fun to shop for others etc. And I recognized a little bit of myself in that...in the realization that extravagant gift giving isn't always helpful, people have little space--they don't always need more junk. Even if it's fun for me, it might not end up being that helpful for others. And of course the pride in giving the perfect gift. (on a related note it's like how I can't wait for people to get stuff once I've mailed it or I always want everyone to open my presents first on Christmas Day! :))

Anyway, I recently zipped through Parks and Recreation Season 4 and there's an episode at Christmas where Leslie gives everyone the perfect thoughtful gift and so they all decide to do something for her in turn. I wanted to find a clip or gif, but it proved impossible! It's the usual good stuff of Parks and Rec, but at the end Leslie says she sees gift giving like a sport that she always wins. (but not that year, etc.) Anyway, it made me think about all of this stuff again, so...this post!

This year I don't have a lot of extra money and I will probably also not be seeing any of my family except for my parents on Christmas. I'm kind of...really bummed about it, but it is what it is. I'm just poor right now, end of story. But..I still want to give good gifts. It's part of who I am. And so I was thinking about Advent Conspiracy and their admonishment to give more relational gifts...experiences for example, and how much I really love that idea. The only problem is that it requires even more thought than ever.

Okay so some examples would be tickets to a sports game, a DVD to watch together (with popcorn), or something handmade (which is like giving a part of yourself), etc. Obviously each gift should be tailored to the person you're giving it to, like the year I got my dad tickets to a football game. (I wouldn't get that for my mom, etc)

When I was thinking about this, I thought it might be kind of fun to host a carnival where everyone shares their ideas for meaningful gifts. It could be any format--a list of ideas, sharing a story about a successful gift you gave in the past like this, a recipe, a craft, etc. The main focus would just be to provide ideas so that other people can also brainstorm. Would anyone be interested in this? I know it seems like kind of a weird thing for me to host on my mostly books and TV blog, but I think it could be fun. But...it's been so long since I've done anything like this that I just don't know if anyone would participate! The saddest thing in all of the world would be for me to do this and have no one participate :( So...would anyone be interested? I'm thinking I'd like to do it next week, maybe Friday? So that we have time to think about these ideas before Thanksgiving hits.

Let me know what you think! Also, huge thanks to Hannah who knew EXACTLY what I was talking about when I frantically asked her "do you remember that thing churches were doing at Christmas?" She's a lifesaver!

Christmas Spirit

I have a lovely group of students this year. So far, I have received three Christmas gifts which is a record!

One of my students gave me her gift and said, "I wanted to give you something to remind you that you have friends and that you are known." I was recently explaining to her that I often get left out of the loop at work, so I don't always know the lastest news. I rely heavily upon my students, in fact, to share with me what is going on in the company. I am the only employee in my department and the only one who does what I do. Sometimes it feels lonely. I was really touched by her thoughtfulness.

Later in her session, I asked her if her children believe in Santa Claus. She said no, they are Vietnamese and only celebrate Christmas to go along with everyone else. I was again touched by her thoughtfulness in remembering me. Even if her family doesn't celebrate Christmas in a traditional American way, she had fully embraced the spirit of Christmas by her reasoning in giving me a gift.

Sometimes, amidst the commercialism of the season, we can forget what true Christmas spirit is. Jesus coming to earth as a little baby was the beginning of all hope for mankind. The Father gave Him to us to remind us that we were not forgotten. The Father sent Him to show us that we were known. When we give our loved ones gifts, we are extending that same love and grace.

I love you. I know you. You are not forgotten.

"I still think the greatest suffering is being lonely, feeling unloved, just having no one...That is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience." --Mother Teresa

The Art of Gift Giving

I love to give gifts. In fact, half of the Christmas fun for me is planning and shopping for the perfect gifts. I enjoy giving needed gifts, spontaneous gifts, Christmas gifts, birthday gifts. (though if you don't live where I do, your birthday gifts will probably be about six months late)

I think there's a sort of art to gift giving...figuring out what a person likes, what they collect, and what they want without really saying it. I'm not claiming I always get it right, but half the fun is trying. In some ways it's like writing...you wait for the thunderbolt of inspiration to hit, and then you go crazy.

But I think the well of inspiration is currently dry. I have a birthday gift to buy and for the life of me, nothing seems very interesting. I can think of plenty of appropriate gifts or decent gifts, but the right gift keeps eluding me. And the other thing is that I just can't be bothered. I mean, I have to come up with something, and quickly, but without the inspiration? Well the wallet is staying in my purse. I don't know if the problem is summer, the 40 Day Fast, or what, but I think this is going to be one failure of a gift.

How about you? Do you shop for the perfect gift (or wrapping paper, Jen!)? Or does your spouse do the shopping?

Last Minute Gifts

First a quick note to everyone....your Christmas cards/gifts will be late again this year. Sorry!

Thankfully, my Christmas shopping is done since I can't really walk and it's too late to order online goods anymore. What kind of a Christmas shopper is everyone out there? Last minute? Christmas Eve? Or gifts purchased and wrapped before December 1st?

If you are stuck without a gift to give for Christmas you can still purchase online gift cards. If you want to toss a little bit of a personal touch into it, you can opt for a magazine subscription or a subscription to a service like this.

Happy frantic last minute shopping everyone!