Book Review: The Christmas Train - Tue, 27 Nov 2012
“The Christmas Train” by Thomas S. Monson is a vividly illustrated true Christmas story about a boy who receives a toy electric train for Christmas. To fully appreciate this true story one needs to understand the time in which it is set: the 1930s. Monson tells the story in the
Book Review: The 13th Day of Christmas - Mon, 26 Nov 2012
The big question behind the story of Jason F. Wright’s “The 13th Day of Christmas” is: Can there possibly be a lost verse to the ancient carol The 12 Days of Christmas? And it is possible that the 13th Day of Christmas could change a life? Christmas and change is
The Top 3 Essential Christmas Decorations - Thu, 01 Nov 2012
You might not be ready but Christmas is just around the corner. We all know how long and how much effort it takes to prepare the perfect Christmas day, starting with the decorations. Christmas decorations can add that extra bit of charm and can turn the dreariest of Christmas days
Book Review: Twas the Night Before Christmas (Smoke-Free Edition) - Mon, 08 Oct 2012
Is there a parent alive who hasn’t read their children the classic Christmas poem “Twas The Night Before Christmas”? The poem is approaching 200 years in age and since its creation has captured the Christmas imagination of millions. It emerges again in a delightfully illustrated volume that has been ever
Christmas Gifts 2012 – What is Set to Top the Trend Charts? - Fri, 05 Oct 2012
The lists of family members and friends that many people like to buy Christmas gifts for can be long and complicated, so making the time to think through each gift and buy something that will be enjoyed by the receiver sometimes becomes a mammoth task. Checking the trends each year
Real Christmas Trees Are a Real Pain - Thu, 09 May 2013
It is spring and we’re growing things. Every year we plant a garden, green up the lawn and compete with this season’s version of trying to out-do the neighbors. We do the same thing with Christmas lights each fall. The neighborhood looks great and our unspoken-of competition, I’m convinced, keeps families and good neighbors together. [...]
Loving Our Valentine’s Christmas Tree - Thu, 14 Feb 2013
Our Christmas tree is still up. The lights outside are down, the Christmas wreath is off the door and the stockings are no longer hung by the chimney with care. But the Christmas tree is still up, doggone it. And we’re not nuts. We’re brilliant. The use of evergreens anciently was to invite thoughts of [...]
Grinch Remake: Bah Humbug - Fri, 08 Feb 2013
Maybe it is the cold, dark grey of winter outside my window that spoils my Christmas spirit on a day like this. But reading of plans for a new animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas has me feeling blue. First of all, consider who has been hired to do this project: Illumination Entertainment, [...]
The Power of the Christmas Card - Mon, 28 Jan 2013
A story out of Bloomington, Indiana today tells of a one time service man receiving a Christmas card from total strangers while serving in Vietnam. The year was 1966 and the man was then 27 years old. He received the card while stationed outside of Saigon and thought it was quite something then to receive [...]
Yeah, I Listen to Neil Diamond - Wed, 16 Jan 2013
I read with some interest this opinion piece from a St. Louis publication concerning the Christmas music of Neil Diamond. The piece features a large image of a nondescript middle aged white guy (the writer of the article) — a guy that kind of looks like me. In the article he explains Neil Diamond’s connection [...]