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Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Widow, Bridgett Pickwick-Buchanan, is planted in the past as firmly as anything in her greenhouse is in the soil she sticks them in. Tree-hugging and family-bound, Bridgett is looking for a way to preserve her family's estate in the most natural way possible and still help settle past debts incurred by the less scrupulous members of the Pickwick Clan.

J.C. Dirks, tree-hugging developer extraordinaire, is searching for answers of his own which bring him to the Pickwick Estate for more than the green property development options for which he's notorious. Passionate and driven, J.C. seems to be the answer to Bridgett's problems, but the past continually comes between them. Can J.C. and Bridgett uproot from their pasts enough to have a future together?

I really enjoyed reading Restless in Carolina. Leigh's characters are solid and quirky with real world issues that are not all resolved in one 340 page book but are developed and thoughtful coming to a clear resolution. I like history and always appreciate learning about other parts of the country through fiction. If you are looking for a Christian read with interesting characters who see their own flaws and the One who can fix them, Restless in Carolina is the book for you.

For more information on Tamara Leigh and her writings, click here.
Just another thought from the tub,
Lori

12 Days of Christmas

Last year we had a difficult time deciding what to do for Christmas gifts for the family. There wasn't a lot we needed and with adding a new baby to the family our budget was a little slimmer than in years past. We talked about doing a family gift, but with the new technology it was hard to decide what that gift should be.

As the holiday drew near and no gifts stood under the tree, I thought long and hard about what could be done. A family gift was still my first choice as starting to shop for 10 people four days before Christmas would be my basic nightmare, but it could be done if that's what was decided. I pondered what the kids would like and/or need and how i could work that into our budget.

One morning as I again thought about gifts, I stumbled across the 12 Days of Christmas. Jeff had been studying the various holiday traditions in his sermon preparations and came across the legend that the song was written to teach children the doctrines of Christianity during a time of persecution. I wondered if we could celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas and do gifts just a little differently this year.

On the Tuesday before Christmas, my darling husband called me from work and asked if I wanted to go Christmas shopping. He would take the afternoon and we would tackle shopping together. As we drove to Sioux Falls, I told him what I'd been thinking about the 12 Days of Christmas. He loved the idea (which is no common thing) so I was thrilled! In this way, we could do both family and individual gifts while keeping the main focus of Christmas on Jesus.

Since we were doing things a bit differently, I already had some things that would work for family gifts. We then proceeded to search for the remaining days/gifts. So on each day of Christmas, we started with a scripture reading and explanation of the meaning of the that day. We wanted the children to remember not only the REASON for the season, but the fact that not every one in every country is at liberty to celebrate the birth of Jesus as freely as we are in America! The children enjoyed the gift each day and hopefully learned something more about the greatest gift of all~Jesus.
The Silly song has great spiritual insight and was a great tool to teach the children doctrine using everyday items that were memorable back in the day.

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.

2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.

3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.

4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.

5. The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.

6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.

7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.

9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.

11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.

12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.

If you think Jesus being symbolized as a partridge in a pear tree sounds blasphemous, remember:


"Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so." (Luke 13:34 and Matthew 23:34)

The "true love" in the song refers to God Himself.

The "me" receiving the gifts is every Christian.

So that "silly" song we sing at Christmas time has more meaning than we thought.
12 great reasons to live, love, and laugh this Christmas Season,

One Last Christmas

Beautiful and Encouraging...the love and support of one small town for a family going through what no parent wants to go through. God's grace is amazing and His love Awe-inspiring.

He is the reason to Live, Love, and Laugh,
Lori