Monday, December 14, 2015

Christmas Movies Our Family Loves

'Tis the season! I wanted to share some Christmas movies that have been a blessing to me and my family in my growing-up years. These are family-friendly, encouraging, fun, and edifying. I'm looking forward to enjoying these in the future with my children. I pray that these suggestions are a blessing to you and your family! Please share with me what movies have been a part of your family's lives; I would love to check them out! 

The images below are clickable links to Amazon. 

The Nativity Story

A beautiful re-telling of the birth of Jesus Christ and the events that led up to it. Very Biblically accurate and carefully done. I love the depiction of Joseph as a gentle protector throughout this film and the depiction of Mary as a very ordinary young woman who embraced God's calling upon her to be the mother of Jesus even in the face of adversity. Every family would benefit from watching this film year after year. It brings the story of Jesus' birth alive. I cannot recommend it highly enough. 




Christmas At Plum Creek & A Christmas They Never Forgot

For those of you who loved the Little House on the Prairie television series, these are wonderful "Christmas" editions of the show. Simple, sweet, and extremely family-friendly, these are a "must-watch" during the Christmas season :-). 




A Christmas Carol

One of the "older" versions of the classic story. Alistair Sim's characterization of Scrooge is excellent. We would usually watch this version of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve (accompanied by sugar cookies and hot chocolate, of course! :-)) after attending the Christmas Eve service at church.




The Ghosts of Dickens' Past

One of my sister's favorite films. This is an excellently-done fictitious retelling of the events in Charles' Dickens life that led to his writing of A Christmas Carol (based on real events). It is a wonderful, heartwarming  family movie that you will want to watch over and over again.



It's A Wonderful Life

Jimmy Stewart is tremendous as always in this heartwarming Christmas film. We usually watched this movie after decorating our Christmas tree, having our traditional meal of my mom's beef stew, and making sugar cookies together. After turning on the lights of the Christmas tree, "oohing" and "aahing," we would settle down with a hot cup of cocoa and a thick cookie (or two . . . or three ;-).)




The Small One

This Disney film is so very, very sweet. The heartwarming story of a little boy and his quest to find a home for his beloved donkey, Small One. The ending will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face. 




Love's Christmas Journey

This film comes highly recommended to me. I am looking forward to enjoying it in the near future, the Lord willing!



I pray that these films will be an encouragement and a blessing as you draw near to the Lord Jesus as a family and individually this Christmas season! Joy to each one of you! 




You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on EarthInspire Me MondayLiteracy Musing MondaysThe Modest MomWhat Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate MondaysSo Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every SeasonA Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony TuesdayTell His StoryA Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention WednesdaysMessy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology ThursdaysChildren Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking ThursdayEvery Day JesusCount My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul SurvivalGood Morning MondaysThe Weekend BrewBlessing Counters Link PartyThe HomeAcre HopMommy Moments Link UpGrace and Truth LinkupFaith Filled FridaySaturday Soiree Blog PartyTell It To Me TuesdaysSHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog HopMotivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-UpA Little R&R WednesdaysTGI Saturdays Blog HopTotally Terrific TuesdayRaRaLinkup

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Heartwarming Christmas Children's Books

As I've been reading with my children in this and in past Christmas seasons, these books have warmed my heart.  I  highly recommend them for children and families:





This is the sweet, sweet story of a little mouse who "makes room" for the Lord Jesus. Little Mortimer lives in a "cold, cramped, creepy (though I omit the last word for very young children) hole." One night, after the family whose house he lives in goes to bed, he discovers something "wonderful" --a nativity with a little statue of baby Jesus that Mortimer promptly removes to make room for himself in the cozy, straw-filled manger. One evening when he happens to hear the family reading the Christmas story and realizes Who the manger belongs to, the little mouse is shaken up. Mortimer painstakingly pulls the nativity statues back into their rightful places, resolved to return to his "cold, cramped, creepy" hole. But on the way, he asks the Lord Jesus to provide him with a home. The answer to little Mortimer's prayer is simply delightful. :-)



I remember watching the animated Disney movie of this story as a child. It made a tremendous impression upon me then, as it still does. This endearing tale of a little boy's love for his donkey and his subsequent quest to find another owner for his beloved pet after his father requires him to sell the animal, is deeply touching. The story still brings tears to my eyes when I read it! The little boy, unable to find a suitable owner, faces having to sell his aged pet to a tanner. Unwilling to do this, the boy sits head down, contemplating how to fulfill his father's command. I don't want to give the entire story away, but the donkey ends up playing a key fictitious role in the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. This is a beautiful story of love, devotion, gentleness, and mercy.



This is a relatively new one to me. I love the rich pictures in this book and the lyrical, rhythmic telling of Jesus' birth in a stable. This is a wonderful one for little children in introducing them to the Christmas story or to read as a family on Christmas Eve.


Another recommendation for family reading, though not a Christmas book, is a sweet, creative children's book recently written by my sister. You can read my blog post about Mr. Portly Finds His Purpose HERE. This book would make a wonderful Christmas present and is great for families. 


Some Other Christmas/Winter-themed Books We've Been Enjoying:



These wonderful books have made our Christmas reading more enjoyable. May the Lord bless you and your family as you prepare your hearts for Christmas. He is the greatest Gift. 








You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on EarthInspire Me MondayLiteracy Musing MondaysThe Modest MomWhat Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate MondaysSo Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every SeasonA Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony TuesdayTell His StoryA Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention WednesdaysMessy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology ThursdaysChildren Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking ThursdayEvery Day JesusCount My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul SurvivalGood Morning MondaysThe Weekend BrewBlessing Counters Link PartyThe HomeAcre HopMommy Moments Link UpGrace and Truth LinkupFaith Filled FridaySaturday Soiree Blog PartyTell It To Me TuesdaysSHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog HopMotivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-UpA Little R&R WednesdaysTGI Saturdays Blog HopTotally Terrific TuesdayRaRaLinkup