Have you read any good books or stories this summer?  It’s been so busy that I really haven’t done much reading.  I haven’t read any novels, biographies or weight loss success stories. There always seems to be something else that needs doing or blogging that needs to be done.  Let me know if you’ve read any good books or stories recently.

This book was on the New York Times bestseller list, has sold over five million copies, and has been translated into over 40 languages.  This book has helped good marriages become better, and it has helped heal marriages with the rebirth of love the couple thought was gone for good.

To enter your name in the drawing for this book, just leave a brief comment and your first name.  In the info part, leave your email address which will be confidential.  I will notify the winner by email.

February 28, 2010 is the last day to enter.

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs (and it’s not just for Christmas – I hear it on the radio during the year from time to time because it’s such a beautiful song).  I tried to find just the song, but the best recording I could find has a movie clip with it.  So…

Here is my Christmas card to you for 2009:  (Lyrics are below)

Here With Us Lyrics

Verse 1

It’s still a mystery to me

That the hands of God could be so small,

How tiny fingers reaching in the night

Were the very hands that measured the sky.

Chorus

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven’s love reaching down to save the world.

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King

You’re here with us,

You’re here with us.

Verse 2

It’s still a mystery to me, oh,

How his infant eyes have seen the dawn of time.

How his ears have heard an angel’s symphony

But still Mary had to rock her Savior to sleep.

Chorus

Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem

A baby born to save, to save the souls of man.

Chorus (2x)

During this time of year, many people are trying to think of the best gift to buy for friends, family, co-workers, etc.  For someone who likes to read, Amazon books might be a good place to look for a gift.  For the person who loves to cook, then a store or website that carries kitchen items would be great places to shop.  Whatever their main interest, it makes it easier to shop if you look for those types of gifts first.

I enjoy listening to awesome Christmas music on KLTY whenever I have a chance.   I listen every day while doing things at home, working on the computer, and when driving somewhere.  One thing I really like about KLTY is not only their great selection of Christmas music by well-known artists,  but also their “Christmas Wish” for families who have found themselves in an economic crisis.  They interview the person online who nominated the family and explain the family’s situation, and then they actually talk to the recipient of the gift (maybe $2,500 to catch up on mortgage payments, or money to make car payments they’re behind on or needed car repairs, or money to pay utilities, and always money to buy Christmas presents for the children).   The recipients are usually overwhelmed and so thankful, and to me, this is a very touching and heart-warming part of the program.

If someone is stuck at a computer all day or working from home on their computer, KLTY has an online radio player that makes their music easily accessible.

For those of you who don’t know, my husband plays the guitar.  In fact the first night I met him many years ago, he played the guitar for me and my roommate out on the grass on the college campus where we were all attending.   Since then, he has played the guitar and sung at various restaurants in the past, and he has played at weddings and other events.

Nowadays, he volunteers to play at a local nursing home once a month.  It’s so cute to see these precious elderly people tapping their feet or maybe tapping on their wheel chair to the music.  It’s a little bit of a bright spot in their day.

He’s still teaching guitar lessons, and I’m trying to encourage him to work on his own blog about playing the guitar.  We’ll see how that goes.  I’ll let you know if and when he gets his blog up and going.

There are so many uses for cardboard displays.  As a previous elementary school teacher, I think a cardboard display would be a great way to display books or maybe to set up an interest center.

If you have a business and need a way to display DVDs or CDs or maybe you don’t have a business but still need a way to display CDs and DVDs, then you might be interested in checking out these cardboard displays.

There are a lot of good books on the market nowadays such as Fireproof and The Love Dare.  There has been a lot of talk about these two books being such great books to read.  These are books I eventually want to get.

There are also other good fiction books on the market, too.  I like to look at Christian books for these.  Janette Oke is one of my favorite authors in this category, and I have read several of her books and have more that I want to read.

If you haven’t seen The Chronicles of Narnia movies, let me recommend them!  We have seen both movies and thoroughly enjoyed them, but the movies need to be seen in sequence to understand everything in the second movie.  So, if you’re planning on seeing The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, make sure you’ve seen the first movie.  If you haven’t, then rent and watch it first. The second movie is still great even if you don’t watch the first one, but you’ll understand certain references if the first movie has been watched.

The Chronicles of Narnia movies are filled with adventure, great effects, and entertaining plots.  In my opinion, they’re a “must see.”