Christmas Eve Musical Monday

If a picture is worth a thousand words, 

what is the exchange rate for music?

Put them together, and you get 

this priceless piece from The Piano Guys.

He came,

bringing light,

direction,

forgiveness,

healing,

eternal life.

He will come again.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Musical Monday

Here's a lovely version of the song that inspired me so last Christmastime.

"In the Bleak Midwinter," sung by Chanticleer.

Christmas Musical Monday

Here's another Christmas song with a twist, from Straight No Chaser.  Enjoy!

Holiday Reading

Are you ready for some Christmas stories? 

D2's school friends have been sharing Christmas story books with their class, so he took three favorites in today:   

• Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight  Fun illustrations show different animals pulling Santa's sleigh

• Snowmen at Night  Not really a Christmas story, but, like "Jingle Bells," it is great winter fun

• A New Star in Heaven  A brief, cute retelling of Christ's birth from the perspectives of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

D2 says that none of the stories he's heard there so far have been religious, but that his teacher says she'll try to read everything they bring in.  It will be interesting to hear what happens.

So, what is on your holiday reading list?  Besides the stories in these awesome anthologies, of course.  If you're looking for something new, LDSP has begun posting entries in this year's Christmas Story Contest.  Click here to read a couple of stories each day.  Then remember to return and vote on your favorites beginning Monday, December 17th.

Enjoy!

Christmas Musical Monday

Hallelujah!  It's December!  I love Christmas music.  It's hard to choose a few pieces to share with you, but here's a fun take on a real classic.  Sit back and listen to the Silent Monks.

Good News

So, one might ask, what's been happening in T's Garden lately?

Well, there's been plenty of rain.  Rainy soccer games, at the end of a remarkably dry season.  Scoot's birthday, with grandparents visiting.  The death of a computer, and the slow training of a new one.  Plumbing repairs.  Thanksgiving with colds and a fever.

You know, some good, some bad, some busy.

But there's another adventure I need to tell you about.  I've been doing some creative writing, and two of my stories have just been published in Christmas anthologies.  Let me tell you about them!

Sing We Now of Christmas contains twenty-five stories inspired by Christmas Carols.  I wrote a story based on Christina Rosetti's poem, "In the Bleak Midwinter," which we sang in our church choir last Christmas.  The stories have been donated by authors from across the country, teaming together for a good cause.  All proceeds from sales of the anthology will be donated to the National Down Syndrome Society.

The Sing We Now of Christmas website offers a video and lyrics for each inspiring song, information about each author, and more.

This Advent Anthology is available in paperback from CreateSpace and Amazon, and as a Kindle ebook.

Get in the Christmas Spirit with Checkin' It Twice & Other Heartwarming Holiday Tales, Volume 2 of award-winning stories from LDS Publisher's 2010 and 2011 Christmas Story Contests.  My contribution, "Foreign Exchange," was loosely based on my memory of a rainy Christmas Eve in Maryland.

See the Checkin' It Twice website for author interviews, contests, and more information.

Available in paperback from CreateSpace and Amazon.  Also available in Kindle and other ebook formats.

And if you buy a paperback copy from Amazon before December 15, you will receive several cool bonus goodies!  See the details here.

Find out more on my other blog!



Did-it-Himself Decor

I never got around to much Halloween decorating this year.  So D2 took matters into his own hands.

Using his favorite artistic medium, LEGO bricks, he spelled out "Haliween" (spelled it himself, too!), and built two skeletons, two pumpkins (on the right), and a yellow leaf (leaning against the W).  They've adorned his windowsill most of the month. 

He's so resourceful.

Speaking of resourceful, check out the costumes we wore to the Trunk or Treat.

Scoot needed some white fur and hairspray to be

an arctic werewolf,

but the other boys used things they found around the house.  D2 wore Scoot's old Buzz Lightyear costume, augmented with wings.  Rollo borrowed Dandelionslayer's robe, some of my jewelry, and Scoot's werewolf expression to be a sorcerer.

The Cat got gat.

As for the Prince and I, we were happy to relax, 

dressed in what we usually wear around the house.

Happy Haliween!