Each Sunday "Inspired by Life...and Fiction" shares a Christian novelist's newest book and the garden spots where they find inspiration. Sharon Hinck writes “stories for the hero in all of us,” about ordinary people experiencing God’s grace in unexpected ways. Known for their authenticity, emotional range, and spiritual depth, her novels include contemporary fiction such as The … [Read more...]
Embracing Holiday Imperfection
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, our family was fortunate to enjoy several happy moments that went smoothly and according to plan. But as I look back on the holiday, there were also plenty of moments of imperfection. Bright spot: We spent Thanksgiving with my family! But.... Our dog Sam had traveler's diarrhea for part of the trip. Bright spot: My oldest daughter has a December … [Read more...]
Christmas Candy Cane Traditions
Since it's Christmas morning, I wanted to introduce you to our newest family Christmas tradition -- one that grew out of writing a book. In my latest book, Where Treetops Glisten, the heroine in my novella works at a candy shop that opened in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1912. The name's changed (today it's McCords), but they still make the same Christmas candy canes the same way they were made a … [Read more...]
What I’ve Learned from Christmas Movies
Merry Christmas! My prayer is that this day is filled with the wonder and reality of Christ, His birth, and the reason He came. So you might think it's a little strange that I've talking about Christmas movies. Ever since I researched 1940s Hollywood for Stars in the Night, I've been a bigger fan than ever of classic movies. Growing up, my favorite movies were from the 30s and 40s...that hasn't … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas From Our Home to Yours
A HOLIDAY MYSTERY TO MAKE YOU SMILE A near tragedy occurred two weeks ago in our home while we slept. Princess Pinky was apparently guilty of attacking Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph and leaving them, faces down, in a pool of tree skirt. The victims have fully recovered but are unable to remember the exact details of that fateful night. Authorities continue the hunt for the suspect. If you see … [Read more...]
The Holly and the Ivy
For some reason, the Christmas carol, “The Holly and the Ivy” has been going through my head for weeks, and for the life of me, I could not recall any other words of the song. Thinking of holly and ivy caused me to pause and wonder why we sing about it in the first place and how it relates to Christmas. I read that holly and ivy have been a mainstay of British Christmas decorations since at least … [Read more...]
What Makes It REALLY Christmas?
It seems like every year around this time, I begin to look for that one thing—that spark of...something—that will make it really Christmas. Yes, I know in my heart what the real meaning of Christmas is. I know that it's a celebration of the birth of my Lord and Savior. I'll never forget that, and I'll never stop wanting that one thing to be the true and only "reason for the season." But there's … [Read more...]
The Plot Thickens | Patti Hill
Each Sunday "Inspired by Life...and Fiction" shares a Christian novelist's newest book and the garden spots where they find inspiration. Gardens are Patti Hill's bread and butter, literally. Her husband, Dennis, owns a garden center in Colorado where gardens are beautiful even in winter. Just like the main character of her books, Patti's garden is in a constant state of flux. "There's … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Keep from Becoming a “Bah Humbug”
Recently I read the book Night by Elie Wiesel. In it he recounts his experience with his father in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944–1945. I find it amazing that anyone at all could survive the brutality that the Jews experienced during the holocaust. I couldn't keep from wondering how Elie lasted two years in spite of beatings, starvation, freezing cattle … [Read more...]
‘Tis the Season
With all the hustle and bustle of last minute Christmas shopping, baking, house cleaning, wrapping, and preparing for the big day, I thought I'd keep today's post short and sweet. There's nothing I love more at Christmas time than singing Christmas carols. My kids have finally gotten old enough to read music and sing harmonies, so sitting in church on a pew where I can hear all four parts … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 301
- 302
- 303
- 304
- 305
- …
- 328
- Next Page »