THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN by Thomas S Monson--Blog Tour

The Christmas Train In this children’s picture book, President Thomas S. Monson recounts a Christmas memory from his childhood. As a boy, he yearned for an electric train. To his delight, on Christmas morning he got exactly that a train that operated through the miracle of electricity. Then he noticed a second train that his mother had purchased for the boy down the street whose family was struggling. Although it was only a wind-up train, it had an beautiful oil tanker car, which little Tommy wanted for his own. Soon after, Tommy s mother invited him to accompany her to the neighbor s home to deliver the gift. Young Mark was thrilled with his new train and, of course, didn t notice the missing train car. However, a remorseful Tommy did. What happened next will bring the spirit of Christmas into every heart and home. Illustrated by renowned artist Dan Burr, The Christmas Train is sure to be a classic Christmas story and a beautiful addition to every Christmas library.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

Includes a QR code for a FREE download of President Monson's narration of the story! Winner of the 2012 Gold Medal Mom's Choice Award!   Download the new interactive Christmas Train app for your iPad! The pages come alive with animations, sound effects, and narration by the author, Thomas S. Monson. Kids will love listening to a true Christmas story, read by a familiar voice, while navigating trains, turning Christmas lights on and off, and experiencing the importance of giving during the Christmas season.
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About the Author President Thomas S. Monson was set apart as the sixteenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. He had previously served for twenty-two years in the First Presidency of the Church, after having been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since October1963. Five years after his call to the Twelve, he was given a special assignment for the work of the Church in Europe, requiring many visits with members behind the Iron Curtain. He was instrumental in the construction of the Freiberg Germany Temple and in advancing the Lord’s work in other eastern European countries that were part of the communist bloc. He also served as chairman of the Scriptures Publication Committee and supervised the process that resulted in the new editions of the scriptures. His ministry has been characterized by his compassion for the needs of individuals and his gift for one-on-one service. President Monson and his wife, Frances, are the parents of three children, grandparents of eight, and great-grandparents of eight.   About the Illustrator Dan Burr earned his bachelor of fine arts degree from Utah State University and a master’s degree in illustration from Syracuse University. He and his wife, Patti, are raising their two children in the Teton Valley of southeast Idaho, a setting that provides great artistic inspiration and fantastic fly fishing. Dan is a well-known illustrator, having been in the business for many years, most recently working as a children’s picture book illustrator. A few of the books Dan has illustrated are The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes; God Bless Your Way; A Christmas Journey; and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/31/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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STUDIO C SKETCH COMEDY SERIES--Review

 STUDIO C. My husband and I heard about these guys from a friend. We watched the "Shoulder Angel" skit and laughed harder than we have in a long time. When my review copy arrived (which the publisher provided, but it did not sway my review) I was excited to see if the rest of the skits were just as funny. They were. I laughed myself to tears for many of them. If you like good, clean humor, this is the series for you. I highly recommend it for anyone and everyone.

:) :) :) :) :)     

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Seasons 1 and 2 of the hilarious BYUtv sketch comedy series, Studio C, featuring Whitney, Mallory, Jason, Matt, and the rest of the cast pulling out all the stops with two full seasons of enough rip-roaring hilarity to make you spit milk out of your nose. Travel back to the moment it all began and watch some of the very first Studio C sketches, plus two never-before-seen features! Includes popular episodes featuring

• Presidential Shoulder Angel
• Facebook Friends Song
• Flirting Academy
• Captain Literally
• The Center for People That YouTube Made Infamous
• Candy Land Character Conference
• Bollyside
• Dana’s Dead
• And many more!

Special Features

• Exclusive Feature: “Just Jeremy Date”
• Exclusive Sketch: “Substitute Miss Frizzle”
• Season 2 Outtakes

Studio C is a hit sketch comedy series that the whole family can enjoy. Like the popular TV show Saturday Night Live, the cast performs original sketches that parody American culture and the hilariously awkward moments of everyday life; but with a refreshingly wholesome yet hilarious spin. With their huge fan-base and increasing popularity, Studio C aims to produce clean, family-oriented comedy for a national audience.  

Purchase Amazon * Deseret Book

       

  Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/31/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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CONFESSIONS OF A MOM

Happy Be-lated Thanksgiving! (Was that really only a week ago?) Happy Birthday to Tigger! (Did he really just turn a year older?) So much has happened that I'm having trouble keeping up with things. It's amazing how fast time goes. Sometimes I feel like I've been put in a roller coaster without a seat belt and have to hang on for dear life so I don't fall out. I'm sure no one ever feels that way. :)

I never expected the holidays to be hard. About a month ago, a newsletter came from Hospice of the Valley about how to deal with the holidays. I glanced through it before throwing it away, not completely understanding why it had been sent. Overall, I think I've been dealing with things pretty well, something that I'll get into in a later post. I just wasn't prepared for "the holidays."

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my side of the family a week early. It turned out beautifully and was pretty low key. We celebrated with Hubby's side of the family on Thanksgiving day at a local park. It was a big affair with Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. The last time I remember a gathering like that was many years ago.

Tigger loved being around so many cousins. Hubby enjoyed seeing cousins he hadn't seen in years as well. Of course that brings up the inevidable question of kids. Some of our family didn't know about Lion. Thankfully, Hubby was the one who answered that question for us. He's good that way, and I love him for it.

It's been a long standing tradition to print our Christmas cards on Black Friday. We had family pictures taken down at the cemetery this year and we saw those proofs Thanksgiving day. And the picture frenzy began. We went through our shots of Tigger and Lion to put together our Christmas card. Then family members asked for a digital copy of Lion. I found myself slowing down and looking at our precious little ones, savoring the memories that each image invoked. Tears filled my eyes and I gradually began to understand why we got that letter in the mail.

Since I’ve gone through all the pictures and have graduated to stuffing envelopes, my thoughts go to how old Lion would be, what he would be doing, how he would be developing. If he grew as Tigger did, he’d be running around the house by now. It’s one of those bitter-sweet moments. I know Lion is where he’s supposed to be, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss him terrible. That doesn’t mean I don’t think of him every day. That doesn’t mean this holiday season is going to be horrible without him here. That just means it will be different.

I can see why those who have a loved ones pass away struggle at this time of year. It’s not easy to have a constant reminder that someone you love isn’t with you to celebrate the joys of the season with you. That ache seems to be closer to the surface for some reason. But I know that Lion will be with us even though we won’t be able to see him. I know that someday I will see him. I am very grateful for my family, for Hubby, Tigger, Lion, my parents, siblings (that includes my in-law side of the family. I always hated the in-law phrase. In my eyes, they are all my brothers and sisters.).

Happy Thanksgiving. Be sure to show gratitude this season and give an extra hug or two. :)

THE REAPING by Annie Oldham--Book Blast

The Reaping The government is on the verge of perfecting its loyalty serum, and Terra knows exactly what that means—the agents will have absolute control. Terra has survived the labor camp, the agents, and the soldiers who hound her as she brings nomads to the water's edge. But now she faces her most daunting challenge yet: she must return to the colony to ask the council—and her father—to help her destroy the loyalty serum. With the aid of old friends and unexpected allies, Terra races toward a confrontation that will decide her fate on the Burn forever.

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Excerpt The soldiers shrug and look around for a few seconds more before disappearing across the grove to cover more ground. The helicopter lifts into the air and flies above the forest. Our tree sways under its down draft. My foot loses its grip on the branch and I slip, my hands grappling the biting bark as my legs flail out from under me, and Jack catches my hand just in time to keep me from falling. We stay that way—me with one hand on the branch, Jack clinging to my other hand and the tree for all he’s worth—until the sweat is pouring into my eyes and both of our muscles are screaming for relief. I haven’t heard the soldiers for probably five minutes, and the helicopter sounds at least two miles away. I finally let myself relax and Jack pulls me back up onto the branch, and I let my cheek rest on the bark. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Jack sits down on the branch, his legs dangling on either side as he leans against the trunk. “I knew it would be like this. I knew it would be. I just didn’t imagine it would start so soon. That first week in the colony, I checked my back after leaving and entering every room.” His shoulders slump. “It was so strange to feel safe again. Jessa teased me every time I did it.” He looks at me and arches an eyebrow. “For being twins, you two are completely different. After a couple of weeks, I finally relaxed. I’m going to pick up the habit again pretty quickly.” I nod, and the tree bark scratches my cheek. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop checking my back.

Author Annie Oldham Annie Oldham grew up with an insatiable desire to read and came away with the insatiable desire to write. Away from her writing, she's the mother of the three most adorable girls in the world, has the best husband in the world, and lives in the hottest place in the world (not really, but Phoenix sure feels like it).

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/31/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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I WILL LEAD YOU ALONG the Life of Henry B Eyring--Book Review

I WILL LEAD YOU ALONG THE LIFE OF HENRY B EYRING by Robert I. Eaton and Henry J. Eyring. I have talked about this for several weeks now. Biographies are not my thing, but I love President Eyring and thought it would be fun to read about him. I am amazed by his background, his parents, everything that has shaped him into the man he is today. This is such an incredible book. I highly recommend this to everyone not only to learn about Presiden Eyring, but to learn your own life lessons.

:) :) :) :) :)

Henry Bennion Eyring was born on May 31, 1933, in Princeton, New Jersey, bearing the first name of his father, who was fast building a reputation as a brilliant scientist, and the family name of his mother, who didn't care for the name "Henry" and insisted that he be called Hal.

In 1970, Hal received an impression to make a daily record of his activities. Years of journals form the backbone of this personal biography, a candid look at his walk through life with his beloved companion, Kathy. "The journal shows how a good-but-imperfect man works each day to win divine approval," write the authors, and this window into his past provides unforgettable insights about the man the Lord has shaped him to become.

Readers will love these richly designed pages, filled with photographs, sketches from the pen of President Eyring himself, and scores of entries straight from his journals woven into an engaging depiction of his life's journey.

President Henry B. Eyring's professional, academic, and personal experiences have all combined to make him uniquely qualified for his responsibilities as a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life story vividly demonstrates the power of the Lord and the example set by one who strives to follow His commands.

*Publisher provided a review copy. That did not influence by review. Cover and back cover blurb taken from deseretbook.com. 

CONFESSIONS OF A MOM

Thanksgiving. A day of gratitude. I have many, many things to be thankful for. My family, friends, neighbors, children, our home, our blessings, my Savior, the Plan of Salvation, temples, and the list goes on.

What I wanted to touch on were two of the tender mercies I’ve experienced as of late. I’m sure these few don’t even touch the tip of the iceberg, but I am ever mindful of The Lord’s hand in my life. I pray that I recognize it so I can be grateful for the help along the way.

One of the very first tender mercies I experienced while Lion was with us happened in the hospital. After being awake for basically twenty-four hours and giving birth and all that other fun stuff, I was surprised at how quickly I recovered, physically. Everyone around me also verbalized it. The recovery nurses were surprised at how quickly my body began returning to normal. Everyone said that I didn’t look like I had just given birth. The only real noticeable thing was after the first day, my ankles and feet swelled up.

It was a huge tender mercy to physically recover as quickly as I could. I can’t imagine trying to deal with everything on top of having the recovery I did with Tigger (even though it wasn’t as bad as it could have been). So any time someone told me I didn’t look like I had just had a baby, I smiled and said it’s a tender mercy. And truly it was.

For what seemed liked months, it was probably only a month or two, people continued to compliment me on how I looked. I still viewed it as a tender mercy, but there was a little pain in my heart. I would have much rather looked like I had just had a baby so in a way I had something to “show” for it. That probably sounds weird, but that’s the way my brain went.

Then when I didn’t (still can’t) fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans, it’s even harder to swallow. I know I shouldn’t be thinking that way. I know it really doesn’t matter and that at the time I needed to be able to be up and moving around, but . . .

The other huge tender mercy I’ve noticed a lot in the past several months is my patience level. I have been able to put up with so much from Tigger. Even when I knew my fuse was short it seemed like I had a little bit left when I know normally I would have blown up.

That has continued with everyone in my life. There has been an extra measure of patience. I know it’s a tender mercy, but I also can’t help but wonder if it’s partially because I have a different perspective on things now. I try to remember that who knows if this is the last time I’ll be able to stay up with a screaming child or the last time Hubby does something that drives me nuts. You just don’t know.

Now that I look back of the months before Lion joined our family, I realized that a lot of my responses to things were just that. Someone at church asked a question on how to handle something in particular with her children. I remember saying that you should try to learn to love it because who knows when that will be the last time you pick up their dirty socks, or something like that. There were several situations similar to that and my response centered around the same thing. In a way, that was a tender mercy too. My mind had already begun to think that way even if I didn’t recognize it. Another tender mercy.

So, enjoy the little things that normal drive you crazy. When you change your perspective it makes them much more enjoyable. Life is good. Watch for the tender mercies in your life, and remember to be grateful for them. :)

CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN & ORNAMENT SET--Reviews

CHRISTMAST FROM HEAVEN as read by Tom Brokaw. This fantastic story is so moving. There are still really good people out there. I loved all the pictures, and it came with a DVD of when Tom Brokaw told the story of the Candy Bomber during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last year. My son watched it and now refers to the "Candy Man" show and book. I would highly recommend this book for any and everyone who loves a good, inspirational, true story.

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Christmas from Heaven is the story of the humble beginnings of what became a beacon of hope to a war-torn land, the story of Gail Halvorsen, a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps who was assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlift, in which US forces flew much-needed supplies into a Soviet-blockaded Berlin.

As he performed his duties, Lt. Halvorsen began to notice the German children gathered by the fences of Tempelhof Air Base. Knowing that they had very little, he one day offered them some chewing gum. From that small act, an idea sprang: He would "bomb" Berlin with candy. Fashioning small parachutes, he and his crew sent them floating down as they approached the Berlin airport, wiggling the wings of their C-54 as a signal to the children that their anticipated cargo would soon arrive.

Lt. Halvorsen became known by hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Berlin as "Uncle Wiggly Wings" or "The Candy Bomber." Word soon spread, and donations of candy and other supplies poured in from sympathetic Americans. Lt. Halvorsen's small idea became a great symbol of hope not only to German children in a bombed-out city but to all those who yearned for freedom.

Famed broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw brings this remarkable true story to life in a stunning live performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, captured on the accompanying DVD. Also included in the book is a template and directions for creating your own “Candy Bomber” parachutes.

Click here to see a video of Tom Brokaw's reading.

The Biblical Names of Christ Ornament Set was beautiful. I thought of many different ways of using it, i.e. putting one star on a gift for someone, putting them in a wreath, using them on a Christmas tree. In the end, my son helped me string the stars on a ribbon and they are strung across the wall where we can see them everyday, kind of like a garland. These ornaments would make a great gift and/or addition to any family tradition. Take a look here.