Thursday, December 23, 2010

Fall Into Reading Wrap-Up

This is my fourth Fall into Reading reading challenge here at Fresh-Brewed Writer, and my fourth wrap-up post.

Overall I did not do as well as I'd hoped, but at the same time I also read more books on the side, which seems to be my MO.


Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas Blog Day 7

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog.

Today's topic: How does your faith refresh at Christmastime?

I've always felt like my faith gets a huge boost at Christmas. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday season, and I think that it brings a fresh awareness of Christ's presence during this holy time. It's like an energy shot for my spirit.

To help refresh your faith, click here to go to today's WOF prompt post and read what others have written.

I hope you've all had fun with the prompts for the blog carnival this year. I was pretty much the one "in charge" and while of course these prompts were approved by the president, I hope that they've been meaningful for you as they have been for me, both in the writing of the prompt and the reading of the responses.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Christmas Blog Day 6

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog.

Today's topic: You might be a military spouse at Christmas if . . .

*you rejoice in the size of a TLF when on a mini-trip. (Seriously---our TLF at Laughlin is a duplex and bigger than our duplex at the seminary when we first got married.)

*you rejoice in being with your family and they are traveling to YOU instead of the other way around.

*you stress about wearing the same holiday clothing to multiple parties (this was me the past couple of years, because my chaplain husband was well loved and well known and gives a darn good invocation and leaves when the drinking gets going! ha!). This is not my problem this year, however. His group has one party, and I can't go.

*you get excited about military discounts (well, that's pretty much all the time, but with gift giving it's especially good this time of year).

*you feel guilty, just a little, because your husband is home and so many husbands and wives are not.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Summary:

Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?

In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

Review:

This was a lovely book. Cora and Simon are a delightful couple once they become a couple - because it takes awhile, it is interesting that they "seem" an unlikely match in the first place. To me, they are perfectly suited from the beginning.

I think it's important to note that this is a fantasy book. It is not meant to be a realistic story. It's got a bit of the old Hollywood Christmas magic element--the fun, whimsical kind--with a Christian twist, if you will.

I found this book to be a warm and fuzzy read leading up the Christmas season.

Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah Press for a review copy of this novel for the Blogging for Books program.

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Christmas Blog Day 4

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I am not in the running for any prizes, since I'm helping run this blog carnival--but I wanted to participate with my own entries too.

Today's topic is for each participant to write her own Grown-Up Christmas List, based in part on the Amy Grant song of that name.

My list:

  1. For all to know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
  2. For my husband to be able to have a full Air Force career.
  3. To see my children and grandchildren grown, healthy, happy, and safe.
  4. For world peace--no wars, no rumors of wars. I know it's an impossibility, but it's my heart's desire.

Here's the Amy Grant video:

To read everyone else's lists, visit the comments here.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Christmas Blog Day 3

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I am not in the running for any prizes, since I'm helping run this blog carnival--but I wanted to participate with my own entries too.

Today's topic: The Worst Christmas Song Ever (but you must mention one redeeming quality of the song, too!)

For decades I could not stand "The Little Drummer Boy." Really, some kid banging a drum near a baby's head? Even if the baby is Jesus, we know that Jesus was God made flesh. The part of Him that was fully human was an infant. Most babies cry when a drum is rat-a-tat-tatted near their little heads. Can't you hear Mary sigh, and see Joseph shake his head as he escorts the little drummer boy out of the stable? Me too.

However, in recent years I've come to terms with this song. And now I'll give you the redeeming qualities, which are twofold:

1. The boy went to see the Newborn King right away, in the first verse. No waiting around for the Heavenly Host to startle him into going; no sir, he went straightaway.

2. He gave the gift he had: he played his best for the baby Jesus, the Newborn King (who then smiled, if we willfully suspend our disbelief).

The moral of the story: Obey right away the call to go to Jesus, and offer all your best gifts to Him.

To read about the other songs people can't stand, click here to go to today's WOF prompt post.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

This week

I'm over at my other blog for the Wives of Faith Christmas blog carnival.

Christmas Blog Day 2

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I am not in the running for any prizes, since I'm helping run this blog carnival--but I wanted to participate with my own entries too.

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.

(Best opening line ever!)

Seriously, though: What's the one thing that makes Christmas for me?

It's tough nailing down that "one thing." I love Christmas music. I love spending time with my family. I enjoy Christmas programs, Christmas parties, and Advent. Christmas eve services. Singing special music with my friends.

But honestly? The "one thing" is Jesus Christ being our Emmanuel--our God with Us. Our Infant Savior. Just realizing the magnitude of God becoming man, celebrating that during Christmas, is what it's all about for me.


And just for fun, the One Thing clip (warning: a profanity):


To read everyone else's "one thing" posts, click here and read the comments!

Monday, December 06, 2010

Gifts 3

holy experience

Today I continue my list.

3. My gorgeous, sweet, talented, wonderful daughters, M1 and M2. I love them with so much of my heart that it's unfathomable to me that I have heart enough left for everyone else.

4. Grateful for Wives of Faith, a ministry to military wives. I'm so glad to be a small part of it.

Christmas Blog Day 1

Hi and welcome to Pattie's milspouse blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I am not in the running for any prizes, since I'm helping run this puppy--but I wanted to participate with my own entries too.

I wanted to share about my ornament. It's a plastic dove that has sparkles that are mostly worn off now, but it's MY ORNAMENT. The one I HAD to put on the tree when I was little, the one that if it's not on my tree now (and believe me when I tell you my entire family thinks it's ugly with a capital U), it's not Christmas yet. I think I got it when I was about 7 years old.

Here's a picture:


To read everyone else's decorative posts, click here and read the comments!