Some New Friends…

made their way to our bookshelf this Christmas.

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Aren’t books the most incredible gift? I mean, to me, it’s like finding an immediate, soul mate to explore the planet with.  The best part is that you have no real idea where you’ll end up with a new one at your side.

Little Felted Animals” is going to teach me how to make–ahhh—well, little felted animals. Doesn’t that kitten look positively real?  I’ve always wanted to try felting. I don’t even really know what it is–but I’m going to learn. My creatures may end up looking more like SpongeBob than animals, but I’m excited to give it a try. If it ends up really scary–well, then–we’ll have some new crafts for Halloween. har har.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

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Here we have “Celebrating Cookies.” Now I ask you…who can resist a title like that? The best part about this book is that each recipe has a full page photo of the cookie–like the cover–so you know way before you start if it’s something you want to eat. Pretty sure, if it’s a cookie in any form, I want to eat it. But I still like to have a picture first. Good things coming from this place soon. Mmmmm….

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The Bald Kid and April’s Jacob both got a large package of Paracord (really strong, kinda pretty rope) for Christmas to make some survival gear with. When I saw all the colors that this stuff came in, my creative juices started flowing and before I knew it, I’d–ahem–accidentally pushed the Amazon 1-click button and had to give “Decorative Knots” to myself for Christmas. It looks fun and has projects in it that–again–I’m quite certain you’ll see in the next few weeks.

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But before I can get too carried away with my new treasures, I’ve got to get better acquainted with an old, dear friend. Remember our family book club? Well, it’s still going along nicely–with the exception of the slow poke, that everyone has to wait for. I love to read– really I do. But the problem is, I’m usually in the middle of about 8 books at one time and so it is…slow going. But this one, along with “Simple Abundance” that a few of us are reading again this year–are just the motivation I need to get all my little duckies lined up and heading in the right direction.

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After all, any journey is better when walking with a friend.

What about you? Did you get any “literary companions” for Christmas this year?

If you’re curious about the “Simple Abundance” adventure–grab a copy here and read with us.

Who knows?

Maybe our dreams are about to come true…

The Queen’s Magical Fabric

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Long, long ago—so long ago, in fact, that the queen of the whole world’s children actually were children—there was discovered a beautiful, magical piece of fabric.

This fabric was a perfect purple, blue and pink paisley, fuzzy, velor.

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It was also discovered that the mystical fabric had a perfectly divine purpose and would be just the thing for making three lovely dressing gowns for the queen’s three incredibly cool daughters.

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However, there was trouble in the kingdom that season and the queen became preoccupied with many, many mundane tasks. Therefore the 3 dressing gowns for the 3 princesses didn’t actually happen.

It turned out to be a good thing because as the princesses grew, one day they unanimously declared that the beautiful, perfect, purple, blue, and pink paisley fuzzy velor was in reality NOT beautiful. It was “dreadful, horrible, snakey” fabric.

Some say the word “hideous” was even gently tossed about that day.

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Well, it’s a good thing the queen didn’t make those dressing gowns for her incredibly cool daughters out of that incredibly NOT cool fabric or certainly all would have been lost, and despair would have swallowed up the kingdom. The horrid fabric was sent to the cold and damp dungeon, to never be heard of again.

Phew.

That was close.

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Several generations later, after much banishing, crown shifting and dragon slaying…

the queen was still in charge of the whole world, but the kingdom had new heirs to the thrown.

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By royal decree, the dreaded fabric was searched out and found. To the delight of all…

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it was miraculously beautiful once more.

Just perfect in fact…

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for a playful romp through the castle halls…

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a quiet chat in the upper chambers…

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or even a quick ride around the grounds.

The magical fabric was wholeheartedly embraced and invited to stay.

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He agreed.

At last, balance, harmony and good will were restored to the kingdom.

Next order of business…

Joy, love, rock and roll, and of course—

world peace.

News at 10.

Welcome…

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January, the month of new beginnings and cherished memories, beckons. Come, let winter weave her wondrous spell: cold, crisp, woolen-muffler days, long dark evenings of savory suppers, lively conversations, or solitary joys. Outside the temperature drops as the snow falls softly.  All of nature is at peace. We should be too. Draw hearthside. This is the month to dream, to look forward to the year ahead and the journey within.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

The Christmas Call

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For the mushy hearted missionary mom with a baby boy in far, far away Lithuania–Christmas day is a fabulous thing. Because Christmas, my lovelies, is one of the four days in two WHOLE years that I get to talk to my boy on the phone.

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So, at 12 noon, our time—which was 9 pm Lithuanian time—we called our Daney boy. Ohhhh…he sounded wonderful–just like he was sitting right next to me. He said he loved the pictures of the babies…

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and of course his BYU loot.

I had no idea that he took that football with him. What a crack up!

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He told us about the place that he lives now called Sialulia–pronounced Show-lay. It’s really quite beautiful–cobblestones and snow everywhere.

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He said he spends most of his days knocking on apartment doors. Most often, no one is home or they don’t open the door.

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He told us that he loves to entertain the kids at an orphanage by talking like Donald Duck. Imagine speaking Lithuanian and Duck at the same time. It makes his nose itch.

Makes my head hurt.

Lily and Beckham sang ABCs and Twinkle, Twinkle. Baby Chompy said, “Oh, wow!” right into the phone.

He read us the Christmas story in Luke–but in Lithuanian. It’s a very curious thing to hear your own child speaking a language that you didn’t teach him. He has worked so hard since last year at this time.

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The best part about this phone call was that this was the last Christmas day call and then in June….

ahhhhh, then my boy comes home. I’ll try to contain myself.

That day will be Christmas.