A Currier and Ives Christmas

A few days ago, I was hunting around my mother's house looking for a book to read. I was in a specific reading mood and nothing I found satisfied my "taste buds." I made my way out into the garage where my mother had a plastic bin of books she had taken off her bookshelf when they moved into the house.

Digging through the books, I came across A Currier and Ives Christmas: Four Stories of Love Come to Life from the Canvas of Classic Christmas Art. Since its the Christmas season, I thought I would go ahead and read it.

The compilation of short stories are written by Lynn A Coleman, JoAnn A Grote, DiAnn Mills, and Deborah Raney.

Later that night, I got in bed and opened the book to the first page of the first story. I discovered it was autographed by the author, Lynn A Coleman and addressed to my grandmother, Carolyn. Before beginning to read, I lay in bed remembering my grandmother. She passed away last summer unexpectedly. I was unable to see her before she died. Christmas just won't ever be the same without her. For as long as I can remember, she has spent a few weeks with us every Christmas. She and I baked Christmas cookies, went shopping and had lots of laughs. The memories painted themselves in my mind just like the lithographic prints produced by Currier and Ives in the 1800s.

Here's my Grandmom...
Carolyn Cornelia-Cole Evans Stebbins

Rachel Hauck's Facebook Birthday Party...

Tonight, award-winning, best-selling author, Rachel Hauck hosted a Facebook birthday party for her birthday on her Fan Page. Attendees posted comments on the wall and "chatted" about their best and worst birthday party memories, favorite Christmas movie and song, answered trivia questions about Rachel and won prizes. Rachel gave away copies of her books, gift cards, CDs by Sara Evans, country music recording artist and co-author with Rachel on her upcoming book, The Sweet by and By. It was a really cool and innovative idea!


All of Rachel Hauck's books are a must-read. She writes the everyday life of her characters and mirrors so well life's ups and downs that we all face each day. At times you want to laugh and cry with each character in their circumstance. And even in the character's chaos, Rachel hits home with just the right truth about life that makes you realize that the ups AND the downs are all worth living.

I have read all her books multiple times and am torn as to which one is my all-time favorite. I really like Georgia on her Mind and Love Starts with Elle, a RITA award finalist.


Oh, and did i mention I know Rachel personally! She is one of my biggest heroes in life! ;-)


For more information on Rachel Hauck visit her webpage at www.rachelhauck.com

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy...

I am getting ready to start reading Debbie Macomber's Shirley, Goodness and Mercy since it is a Christmasy book. My mom checked it out of the library a few weeks ago and read it in one sitting. She really seemed to enjoy the book and recommended it to me. Debbie Macomber is a nationally best-selling author so it should be a good read. I'll let you know what I think...

Current Memory Verse

2 Timothy 3: 16-17


¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Movie Review: The Christmas Card

Ok, I know I am supposed to be writing about books and sushi on this blog...but I decided to write a little recap on a movie I just finished watching...The Christmas Card, a Hallmark Original Movie.

The story is about a lonely soldier serving in Afghanistan who receives an "any soldier" Christmas card from a woman in a small town out west. She comes from a very loving, close-knit family and that is reflected in the personal card she sends to this "any soldier."

What is written in the card is what carries the lonely soldier through some difficult times and when he is sent home on leave, he ends up in her small town hoping for a glimpse of the life and family he wishes he had.

Not only does he get a glimpse but he is welcomed into the family with open arms, but not without some obstacles. Ed Asner plays the woman's father and along with Peter Jason as Uncle Richard, the two old men add wit and humor to the cast.

Watch the movie and find out if the lonely soldier finds what he was looking for in small town USA.
The Christmas Card

The Art of Sushi

This past Saturday, I joined my mother's side of the family for a Sushi Thanksgiving. I know, sushi for thanksgiving??? But let me tell you....it was dee-licious! My aunt ordered an abundance of fresh, raw fish and crabs and shrimp from California. My grandfather spent all morning making three large bowls of rice and I arrived just in time to help roll the sushi. My uncle Don taught me how to make a perfect sushi roll. And then later, I had the pleasure to teach my uncle Darren how to roll sushi. I left out a few steps when teaching him...but that's okay...it all turned out just right.

Not too shabby...if I say so myself. I have decided that I enjoyed the experience so much that I am going to add sushi making items and dishes to my Christmas list this year.