Download or read book Loving My Actual Christmas written by Alexandra Kuykendall and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2017-09-05 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Christmas season is a particularly difficult time for women to slow down and relish what's right in front of them. An annual marker for many, it is a holiday that can often remind us how life is not going as we'd planned. Our family relationships remain strained, our finances stretched, and our schedules stuffed with too much to do in too little time. Following the formula of her successful Loving My Actual Life, Alexandra Kuykendall shares with readers her own personal experiment to be completely present in her life as it is during the holiday season. Addressing the themes of Advent and Christmas, she reflects on hope, love, joy, peace, and relishing the season, with practical pullouts on common Christmas stressors, such as finances, schedules, and extended family. Kuykendall's signature candor helps women go easy on themselves, remember what truly matters, and find joy in their imperfect Christmases.

Download or read book Loving My Actual Neighbor written by Alexandra Kuykendall and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2019-04-02 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As Christians, we know we are called to love our neighbor. We may even grasp that "neighbor" encompasses more than just the people living next door or down the street. But what we too often don't know is how to begin. How do we love our neighbor? Where do we start? What does this look like in our increasingly isolated world? Following practices outlined in the first chapter of 2 Peter, Alexandra Kuykendall lays out the framework for where to begin. From practicing humility to listening with understanding to being generous in our relationships, Loving My Actual Neighbor offers practical, start-now steps readers can take to love their neighbors. With her approachable, friendly tone and down-to-earth advice, Kuykendall has carved out for herself a place in the hearts of readers, who will be thrilled to extend her commonsense approach into this sphere of their lives.

Download or read book Loving My Actual Life written by Alexandra Kuykendall and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2016-04-26 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Feel Satisfied with Who and Where You Are In a world of comparison and discontent, it can feel impossible to be happy with life as we know it. Other people seem to have it all together, to be finding success, to be having more fun. But we weren't meant for a life characterized by dissatisfaction. In this entertaining and relatable book, Alexandra Kuykendall chronicles her nine-month experiment to rekindle her love of her ordinary "actual" life. After wiping her calendar as clean as a mother of four can, Kuykendall focuses on one aspect of her life each month, searching for ways to more fully enjoy her current season. By intentionally adding one thing each month that will make her jump for joy, she provides a practical challenge women can easily replicate. With humor, poignancy, and plenty of personal stories, Kuykendall weaves together spiritual themes and practical application into a holy self-awareness, showing women how a few small changes in their routines can improve their enjoyment of this crazy-busy life. Endorsement "If you ever get the chance to read anything written by Alexandra Kuykendall, take it. She is a gentle, trustworthy storyteller who lives the words she writes about."--Emily P. Freeman, author of Simply Tuesday

Download or read book Seeking Out Goodness written by Alexandra Kuykendall and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2021-10-19 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most of us feel the world is more contentious and less civil than it was a generation ago, or a few years ago, or maybe even last week. We long to be reassured that everything is going to be okay, that God is still at work, even in small ways. The good news is, even when our circumstances change, God does not. He is still in control, and he still offers us good gifts. We just have to know where to look for them. Exploring the beautiful admonition found in Philippians 4:8 to think on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, author Alexandra Kuykendall encourages us to keep seeking out goodness even when we are mired in a time of fear, division, and negativity. Through personal stories and clear biblical insight, Alex helps us see God at work right now, right in our midst, no matter how messy life feels. She helps us appreciate other people even when we disagree with them, move past false dichotomies, celebrate goodness in others when we find it, and hope for a brighter tomorrow even as we celebrate the good gifts we receive today.

Download or read book Christmas in the Barn written by Margaret Wise Brown and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2007-10-09 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What child is this Who is born here Where the oxen Stomp and peer . . . When Christmas in the Barn was first published in 1952, it demonstrated all of Margaret Wise Brown's mastery at skillfully fashioning a truly childlike interpretation of the Nativity story. For this larger, full-color edition, Caldecott Honor artist Diane Goode has created a new tableau of visitors to the barn that will delight generations of new readers.

Download or read book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever written by Barbara Robinson and published by Samuel French, Inc.. This book was released on 1983 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant.

Download or read book A Simple Christmas written by Mike Huckabee and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-11-06 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Every Christmas, I still think about that guitar and the sacrifice it represented. And I hope I don’t forget to think about the greatest sacrifice of all, God’s gift of Himself.” Christmas has become synonymous with shopping, overindulging, competition, and stress. But according to Mike Huckabee (who was a pastor before getting into politics), that was never God’s intention. Going back to the Nativity, Christmas is supposed to be about simple things: faith, love, family, and hope. The hard part, in today’s crazy world, is remembering that those simple things are the most precious of all. Now Huckabee recounts twelve Christmas memories—often funny, sometimes deeply moving—that range from his childhood in Arkansas to his years as a young husband and father to his time as a governor and then a presidential candidate. These true stories will help you smile, take a deep breath, and maybe slow down your own holiday treadmill. If you’re looking for a little clarity, sanity, and inspiration at this insane time of year, you’re sure to enjoy A Simple Christmas.

Download or read book Christmas Is Not Your Birthday written by Rev. Dr. Mike Slaughter and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2011-08-01 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every year, we say we’re going to cut back, simplify, and have a family Christmas that focuses on the real reason for the season—Jesus. But every year, advertisements beckon, the children plead, and it seems easier just to indulge our wants and whims. Overspending, overeating, materialism, and busyness rob us of our peace and joy and rob Jesus of his rightful role as the center of our celebration. This Christmas, cut through the hype that leaves you exhausted and broke at the end of the year. Instead, experience the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us. In five short, engaging chapters, Pastor Mike Slaughter inspires readers to approach Christmas differently, and be transformed in the process.

Download or read book My True Love Gave to Me written by Stephanie Perkins and published by St. Martin's Griffin. This book was released on 2014-10-14 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Twelve romantic holiday stories by twelve bestselling young adult authors edited by Stephanie Perkins. If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you're going to fall in love with My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers (Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de La Peña, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, Laini Tayler and Kiersten White), edited by the international bestselling Stephanie Perkins. Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or Kwanzaa, there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.

Download or read book Love Finds You in the City at Christmas 2 In 1 written by Ruth Logan Herne and published by Guideposts. This book was released on 2013-10-01 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Love comes to New York City in two heartwarming stories of Christmas past and present. In 'Red Kettle Christmas,' it's 1946, and police officer Mike Wolzak inherits the family home . . . and the custody of his troubled sister. While on patrol during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mike meets a Salvation Army bell ringer struggling to support herself and her young child. Over the holiday season in Manhattan, she teaches the veteran how to support his family. In the process, he just might gain a new one. In 'Manhattan Miracle,' a war-weary soldier finally comes home. Max Wolzak is celebrating Christmas in the Manhattan brownstone where he spent much of his childhood when he meets Sarah, his sister's old schoolmate. Sparks fly as the pair gets reacquainted over holiday events, but when Max realizes she will leave for the Middle East the day after Christmas, he has a decision to make.

Download or read book The Nine Lives of Christmas written by Sheila Roberts and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2011-10-25 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unwrap a Heartwarming Tale of Love, Laughter, and Furry Feline Mischief in The Nine Lives of Christmas When a guy is in trouble, he starts making deals with his Creator...and Ambrose the cat is no exception. In danger of losing his ninth and final life, Ambrose makes a desperate plea to the universe. He'll do anything—anything!—if he can just survive and enjoy a nice long, final life. His prayer is answered when a stranger comes along and saves him—and now it looks like he has to hold up his end of the bargain. The stranger turns out to be a firefighter named Zach, who's in need of some serious romantic help. If Ambrose can just bring Zach together with Merilee, the nice lady who works at Pet Palace, it's bound to earn him a healthy ninth life. Unfortunately for Ambrose, his mission is a lot harder than he ever thought. Now it's going to take all of Ambrose's feline wiles—and maybe even a good old fashioned Christmas miracle—to make them both realize that what they're looking for is right in front of their eyes.

Download or read book With Love at Christmas written by Carole Matthews and published by Sphere. This book was released on 2012-08-02 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The uplifting family festive read from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Christmas for Beginners Can the imperfect family really have the perfect Christmas? Juliet Joyce adores Christmas. She loves the presents, the tree, the turkey, the tinsel, everything. Already the festive spirit is upon her, which is just as well as this Christmas things are starting to get out of hand. Her son Tom is out of work and bringing home a slew of unsuitable partners; pregnant daughter Chloe and her little boy have moved back in; Juliet's father, Frank, is getting over a heartbreak of his own and Rita, her eccentric mother, is behaving more erratically each day. And has the chaos got too much for Juliet's husband Rick? With the big day fast approaching, Juliet hopes that she can stop everything spiralling out of control, because the only thing she wants is her family all around her and her home to be filled with love at Christmas . . . Your favourite authors love Carole Matthews: 'A gorgeous novel that will delight' KATIE FFORDE 'Fun, fantastic and brimming with Matthews magic' MILLY JOHNSON 'A life-affirming story full of joy and hope' CATHY BRAMLEY 'An irresistibly warm-hearted story' TRISHA ASHLEY 'Warm, witty and hopeful - I was charmed' SARAH MORGAN 'The queen of funny, feel good fiction' MIKE GAYLE

Download or read book A Currier Ives Christmas written by Lynn A. Coleman and published by Barbour Publishing. This book was released on 2002 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Four American classic Currier & Ives lithographs spring to life in these tales of love and Christmas cheer.

Download or read book The Greatest Gift written by Ann Voskamp and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2013-08-30 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The New York Times bestselling Christmas classic. Over 250,000 books in print. An annual bestseller. Thousands of readers have already fallen in love with Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts, and this Christmas, Ann will help readers celebrate the lineage and the majesty of God’s greatest gift—Jesus Christ. In what has already become a holiday classic, Voskamp reaches back into the pages of the Old Testament to explore the lineage of Jesus via the advent tradition of “The Jesse Tree.” Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, The Greatest Gift retraces the epic pageantry of mankind, from Adam to the Messiah, with each day’s reading pointing to the coming promise of Christ. Sure to become a holiday staple in every Christian home, The Greatest Gift is the perfect gift for the holidays and a timeless reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

Download or read book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year written by Beth Kempton and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2020-10-20 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A delightful guide to a holiday season filled with mindfulness, self-care, and joy. At the end of a difficult year, what if this December were soothing instead of stressful? Celebrate a new kind of holiday season this winter—one where you radiate calm and cultivate delight. A calm Christmas is filled meaningful interactions, special gifts, and thoughtful observations of annual traditions. This enchanting guide embraces festive preparations and authentic celebrations, and then ushers in the New Year in a holistic, nurturing way. Author Beth Kempton gently encourages readers to prioritize holiday hopes and take a slower, more mindful approach. Kempton also provides helpful suggestions for making the most of the hush of winter and recommends using this quiet period to retreat, reflect, set goals, and aspire toward a better year ahead. Filled with personal stories, tips, and advice for staying serene, Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year offers a cozy retreat from the pressure of striving for perfection. Instead of starting the New Year exhausted, in debt, and filled with regret, you will rejoice in the memories of the season and feel rested, rejuvenated, and inspired.

Download or read book The Ultimate Christmas Fake Book written by Hal Leonard Corp. and published by Hal Leonard Corporation. This book was released on 2015-09-01 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: (Fake Book). The 6th edition of this bestseller features over 270 traditional and contemporary Christmas hits! Includes the melody line, lyrics and chords for: Blue Christmas * Caroling, Caroling * The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) * Christmas Time Is Here * Do You Hear What I Hear * Fairytale of New York * Feliz Navidad * Frosty the Snow Man * Grown-Up Christmas List * Happy Xmas (War Is Over) * Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * Here Comes Santa Claus (Right down Santa Claus Lane) * A Holly Jolly Christmas * (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays * I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day * I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus * I'll Be Home for Christmas * It's Beginning to Look like Christmas * Jingle Bell Rock * Joy to the World * Last Christmas * Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! * The Little Drummer Boy * A Marshmallow World * Merry Christmas, Darling * Mistletoe and Holly * The Most Wonderful Time of the Year * O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) * O Holy Night * Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree * Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer * Santa Baby * Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town * Silver Bells * Sleigh Ride * We Need a Little Christmas * We Wish You a Merry Christmas * White Christmas * Winter Wonderland * Wonderful Christmastime * and more. Includes a guitar chord reference chart.

Download or read book The Story of Christmas written by and published by Chronicle Books. This book was released on 2011-11-18 with total page 29 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Delicate paper-cut illustrations provide a lovely, solemn backdrop to the King James Bible’s account of the Nativity story” in this delightful book (Publishers Weekly). Deeply reverent and richly detailed, Pamela Dalton’s exquisite scissor-cut illustrations follow The Story of Christmas from the appearance of the Angel to the shepherds who came from the fields, and to the three wise men who followed the star to pay respect for their new king. Working in a Pennsylvania-German folk-art tradition, with lovingly rendered animals and figures, Pamela Dalton has created a book that takes a deserved place among the finest celebrations of Christmas. A New York Times Book Review 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2011