November Best Book, And Another About The True Meaning Of Christmas

     Some of the good books I read in November included Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker, Meet Me At The Cupcake Cafe, and Servant's Hall.  I enjoyed the ten cozy mysteries,as always.  And I started the month out telling you I was reading My Story: Elizabeth Smart and that hands down, it would be the best thing I read in November, and it was.  Right before Thanksgiving, in the middle of a snow storm I wrote about some of my favorite Christmas books.  I read some of those in November.  One I read in November and then again today, December 1st, so I could say it was the best of the bunch for December.
      Before I get to talking about that little book I need to clarify.  At the end of that post I asked about your favorite Christmas books.  My list of favorites did not include the Bible.  Not because it is not a favorite, especially Luke 2:1-20.... IT IS, but because, for me, my spiritual life is sacred and I keep it pretty close to my heart.  I don't mind other people who speak of their's, or who post "Christian" things on Facebook and the like.  It just is not how I am.  Please don't misunderstand.  No one is wrong, we are all just different in how we handle our religion.  I just like to keep mine real personal.  But then, sometimes, I feel moved to share my spiritual feelings and when I feel that feeling I do.
      Yes, I will be reading scriptures all through December, they just won't appear on my list. To me that is separate. I didn't want you to think I was ga-ga over a list of Christmas books I read every year, --- fiction --- but didn't suggest the Bible might have a good Christmas story, or that I did not read it (and it is not fiction).  Whew. Now that I took all that time to explain that I'm going back to the best book I will read in December.  The title is The Modern Magi by Carol Lynn Pearson.  And I guess I will give you a little glimpse of my religious life by saying I have heard that still small voice and I know from whom it comes.  In The Modern Magi  the main character, Annabelle, wants to give Jesus a gift.  Her story is about how she is trying to do that in her own way, and then she hears a still small voice. Again and again.  Some people may read that and not really understand.  I understand, because I have heard that voice and felt that voice and know that voice.
      I love that little book.  Little it is, only 65 pages and smaller than a 5" x 7" picture frame.  The author, Carol Lynn Pearson? I don't know her, except what I read in the 5 line bio on the book jacket. It was first published a long time ago, in the early 90's if not the 80's. She also wrote another powerful little book in the 80's, A Stranger For Christmas.   What is it about those two little books, especially The Modern Magi?  You will have to read them for yourselves.  I just know it touches me.
     A long time ago, 15 or 20 years, I taught a Spiritual Living class.  At Christmas I told the story of  The Modern Magi.  In a church singles class at Christmas I included it in a lesson I gave.  One year at church I was a speaker in December and I shared the story.  When I taught a Sunday School class for teenagers at Christmas ... you guessed it.  That is how powerful the book is to me.  How much I think that simple story can reach people.  I hope your library has them and you can enjoy them.  If you want to share two wonderful little books about the true meaning of Christmas with your friends you can pick them up from places online such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble for less than $5 a piece.  $5.00 including shipping!  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ms. Pearson --- they do not know me, they did not ask that I give them a plug, I just want to share these little books with you. That still small voice? He knows me and I know Him. I feel Him when I read these stories.  Merry Christmas.
      

Beautiful

I took this photo tonight at the end of my street.  I just love sunsets.
And yes, I do live in one of the flattest places on earth.  :)

Garth Brooks' Biggest Fan

      

On my TV right now, this very minute, is Garth Brooks.  Garth Brooks, Live from Las Vegas. Be still my heart! I love Garth Brooks.  I am his biggest fan, not because he is such an excellent singer-- even he says he is not that great a singer, but because he is so funny, he is such a showman, I like how he sings, and he just seems like such a nice guy.    
        My heart was broken when he was on Oprah one year, quite a while back, and I could not get tickets to go even though it was filmed right here in Amarillo.  Do you remember, in 1998, when some fool monied rancher here in the TX panhandle sued Oprah because she said -- on her TV show -- she would never eat a hamburger again and cattle prices fell the next day?? Obviously her fault. (picture big eyes rolling here) It was during a mad cow scare.  Oprah brought her crew here to Amarillo and filmed her show from Amarillo Little Theater for months during the trial.  That was back before Phil McGraw, PhD was "Dr. Phil."  He was here too, every day, guiding her through the trial.  At the time he had a company in Dallas called Courtroom Sciences, Inc, a trial sciences firm.  He is a big guy -- we saw him on the local news every night right next to Oprah, and we all thought he was a bodyguard.  By the way, she won.
     Anyway, back to Garth.  I didn't get to see Garth on Oprah, except on TV like the rest of the world.  It was his birthday.  Oprah had for a surprise for him -- she brought his Momma & Daddy out with a big birthday cake.  Oprah seems like a real nice person too.  However, one year, I DID get to go to a Garth Brooks concert ... the only concert I have ever in my life been able to attend.  Some times one is enough, if you get to go to the best one.  The year Garth Brooks came to Amarillo for a concert my daughter wanted to go.  I hadn't planned, even dreamed of being able to get tickets but my daughter, who seldom asked for anything, wanted to go.  I have no idea how I came up with the money but I did and me & the 4 kids had the time of our lives.  I remember standing in line f.o.r. e.v.e.r. with my daughter to get those tickets.  I remember going to the concert.  It was outside at a football stadium.  It was awesome. That was one of the best nights of my life -- me and my kids having a blast listening to Garth Brooks.  Life was good. No, life was great.
    I am enjoying this TV special so much.  If you are a Garth fan I hope you were able to see it too.  The only thing I don't like is how often he stops singing and lets the audience sing the words.  Well, at least we know he does not lip sync! :) 
     Tonight, sitting here watching Garth on this TV special I felt happier than I have in I don't know when.  I love his songs, I love his facial expressions, I love his fun, I love his sense of humor and he made me feel good. It reminded me of good times with my kids. It made me feel Happy with a capital H.  That, my friends, is no small thing.  I think this feeling is "the joy of life" my therapists and psychiatrists have told me for decades that I should feel (as I look at them like what the heck are you talking about).  Something even bottles and bottles of Cymbalta haven't been able to do for me.  I am grateful for this 2 hour special that brought me so much happiness. Some where I have some worn out CD's of Garth's.  I need to find those and play them all day long tomorrow and try to keep this feeling inside of me.
    P. S,  I also giggle at myself ---- me, this almost 60 year old, non-alcohol drinking, can't carry a tune in a bucket, Mormon grandma, belting out "I've Got Friends In Low Places Where The Whiskey Flows And The Beer Chases My Blues Away"  along with Garth on the TV.  Too funny! 
     And one more thing,  I am starting my bucket list.  It seems impossible but you never know.  The first thing I am putting on my bucket list is to have a front row seat  (okay, I will take any seat) to see Garth Brooks in Las Vegas.  Or anywhere else, for that matter. 

The Birthday Girl

After about 5 days of snow and ice on the streets the sun finally came out today and I was able to get to my son's home for my granddaughter's 3rd birthday.  She is just such a sweetie. I told her the sun must have come out just for her birthday. This is probably the longest stretch of time ... 5 days ... without me being able to see her since she was 6 months old and I sure was ready to spend some time with her and her baby brother.  Normally when it snows here it is melted off in a day or two but this time we didn't get above freezing  until today.  Night temperatures have been consistently around 16 degrees for a week.  I dread getting my electric bill but I am so very thankful that I have electricity.  My home is all electric so I would have been pretty cold had the electricity gone out.  Because of high winds and ice on the lines about 6,000 families here lost power over this weekend during the sleet and snow.  Have you ever lost power for your heater during a cold spell, and if so, how did you keep warm?

Thanksgiving Meal

     I really love food.  My favorite Thanksgiving foods are cranberries, classic green bean casserole, and especially cornbread dressing.  Oh, and I love pumpkin pie.  Turkey? Eh, I will eat the breast meat.  My favorite Thanksgiving family story involves green bean casserole.  I make it with Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup and French's French Fried Onion Rings -- the recipe off the onion rings can.  I am not a gourmet cook and not afraid of "cream of" soups.  When my first grandchild, Mason, was about 2 or 3 he was at my home the day after Thanksgiving.  I dragged out all of the leftovers from my fridge and had them on the counter.  Day old green bean casserole still tastes good but it tends to look a little gray and unattractive after a day or two in the fridge.  I picked up my grandson and was showing him the food, asking him what he wanted me to put on his plate.  When he saw that grayish green bean casserole he made these huge "precious moments" shaped sad eyes and said "OHHhhh, my momma told me NEVAH put that in my mouth." We have no idea where he got that or what he thought it was.  (and that word up there is "never" -- he had trouble pronouncing his R's)
     What are your favorite Thanksgiving foods?

Christmas Books for Adults

      I know, Thanksgiving is not even here yet, but at my home it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  It snowed today.  Right now it is 25 degrees outside, but with the wind chill it feels like 13 degrees.  It is dark outside or I would take a photo of our first snow.  It is a perfect evening for a fire in your fireplace if you have one, a cup of hot chocolate, and a good book.
       One of my Christmas traditions is to reread some of the Christmas books I have listed below.  I try to read them all but I always read the first two titles.  I love them.  If your library has these two little books I hope you check them out and enjoy them as much as I do.  They are very slender books, as are some of the other ones listed, so it doesn't take much time to read them. Some times, wonderful things come in small packages.  Three of them are longer but worth every page.  Okay, the last one is a children's chapter book but one of my favorites. If you are not already familiar with it you might give it a try.  Really, it is OK for adults to read kids books and this is one of the funniest Christmas stories, IMHO.  Some of these titles have been made into movies.  Please know that the book is always, always, always better, and never judge a book by its movie!

*The Modern Magi ~ Carol Lynn Pearson
*A Stranger For Christmas ~ Carol Lynn Pearson
*Skipping Christmas ~ John Grisham
*The Christmas Box ~ Richard Paul Evans
*Christmas Jars ~ Jason Wright
*Gift of the Magi ~ O. Henry
*Redbird Christmas ~ Fannie Flagg
*Christmas in Harmony ~ Philip Gulley
*Esther's Gift ~ Jan Karon
*Best Christmas Pageant Ever ~ Barbara Robinson

 Do you have a favorite Christmas book?

Pawprints