Merry Christmas from our Nest to yours!
We’ll be spending time together as a family over the next week or so, but we’ll be back soon with fun ideas, books, field trips, and recipes. Until then, we wish you the merriest of Christmases.
Our Christmas Family Date 2015
Every year our family takes a day just before Christmas to spend together. We never do the exact same thing twice, but we do enjoy lights, decorations, and a meal out together. This year we decided to go further afield than ever before and head to Charlotte – a city the kids had never visited.
Our trip to Charlotte was prompted by our Big Helper’s love for American Girl. This company recently opened a store in a big mall just south of Charlotte, and we hadn’t made it there yet. While we didn’t plan to do any major shopping, we thought she’d love checking out the store, restaurant, and the wide variety of products available.
She did. We spent about three hours wandering through the store, dreaming about what it must be like to play with such fancy toys.
In the end, our Big Helper picked out a cute new outfit for her Julie doll, complete with boots in the same style as her own, and then we headed out.
We stopped at a nearby train station and purchased tickets for a ride into the city. The kids had never ridden on a Subway or Metro before, and they were quite excited by the experience. I found it interesting the way that the train started out far above ground at our station, but then went up and down as we traveled. Fortunately, unlike in some bigger cities, the train felt very safe and wasn’t crowded.
The kids were excited to see tall buildings as soon as we arrived, but I enjoyed the Christmas decorations even more. This was my first visit to this city during the Christmas season, and the many parks were all decorated beautifully.
Having snacked our way through lunch because of our lengthy American Girl stay, we soon headed to Ri Ra for dinner, an old Irish pub. We’ve loved our visits to Tir na nog in Raleigh and were sad to hear of their closing, so we were hoping for another authentic Irish experience. Our Big Helper ordered shepherd’s pie, and we were all happy to help her finish this huge portion. Their food was excellent and the atmosphere fun. It made for a great meal out.
Back on the street, we headed out to look at more lights. It was so foggy that many of the tallest buildings were hidden from view at the top.
We had hoped to visit a few museums, but we got there just as they were closing. We hadn’t expected to hang out in the AG store for so long! Nevertheless, there were beautiful decorations just outside all of them.
While I would never want to live in a city, they can be really fun to visit for a short while. We thoroughly enjoyed this chance to see lights and decorations on a scale that doesn’t exist in our small town.
After that, we headed back to the train station and back to our car. We debated about possibilities at this point, but in the end IKEA won out. The kids had never been, had heard exciting things about it, and so we went there to admire furniture and examine the creativity that went into such unusual designs. The kids came home with all sorts of new ideas for how to build things, and we liked seeing them so enthused about something that was new to them.
Christmas Family Date Day 2015 was a long one, but it was great. Exploring new places and seeing new things is always exciting, but when everything is covered in tinsel and lights it’s even better.
What are some of your family holiday traditions?
Hearts for Home Blog Hop – December 17, 2015
A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for the weekly Hearts for Home Blog link-up, which means that every Thursday you’ll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post. If you’re a blogger, we’d love to have you link up your posts and join us. You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.
The most clicked post from last week was Six Gift Ideas Under $1 that will Last Beyond Christmas.
Some of my favorite posts from last week were:
– Six Awesome Research Activities
– 10 Ways to Learn with Christmas Baking
– Gingerbread Crafts for Kids –
If your post is listed above, please grab one of our ‘Featured Blogger’ buttons! Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.
A Free Family Christmas Gift + Family Friendly Christmas Ideas
Tired of the Christmas shopping, the baking and sugar overload, the Christmas festivities that keep you away from your family during the season? Take time special time to spend with your loved ones and invest in your community—with Focus on the Family’s help!
You can download a fun gift to give to your friends, family, and community! Each Christmas stocking stuffer card directs you to a special place to hear an Adventures in Odyssey Christmas episode. Plus, you’ll be able to read a special excerpt from Imagination Station #12, “Danger on a Silent Night.” Sign up here to download the free cards.
Plus stop by this page for a slew of crafts, recipes, and stories to share with your family during this special time of year!
If you’re still looking for one last gift to give your kids this year, give the gift of the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family, including an Advent calendar, a broadcast download with tips to create a memorable Christmas, AIO cutouts, and Christmas stocking stuffer cards. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:
- Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
- On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
- 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
- A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
- A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.
To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Investing in Your Child’s Faith at Christmas + a Freebie!
The holidays are a busy time . . . but life can be even more hectic! In the midst of work, after-school activities, grocery shopping, and business trips, how are parents supposed to find the time to build within their families a lasting foundation of faith?
Focus on the Family wants to step in and give you some tips. Sign up by clicking here for a free e-book called 101 Surefire Ways to Strengthen Your Child’s Faith. With creative ideas on weaving faith into everyday conversations, turning family activities into learning opportunities, and having faith-filled holiday celebrations, this book is jam-packed with fun and interesting, easy, faith-building ideas for your family.
Another way to invest in your child’s faith is through the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family, including an Advent calendar, a broadcast download with tips to create a memorable Christmas, AIO cutouts, and Christmas stocking stuffer cards. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:
- Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
- On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
- 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
- A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
- A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.
Another fun way to build your child’s faith: have a family craft night and use it as a faith-building opportunity! Click the image below for a printable Town of Odyssey cutout set. Bonus points if you listen to an Adventures in Odyssey episode while you put together your town!
To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Hearts for Home Blog Hop – December 10, 2015
A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for the weekly Hearts for Home Blog link-up, which means that every Thursday you’ll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post. If you’re a blogger, we’d love to have you link up your posts and join us. You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.
The most clicked post from last week was The Christmas Movie I Watched the Night My Son Died.
Some of my favorite posts from last week were:
– It’s Nutcracker Season at Our House {Giveaway}
– NKJV Study Bible For Kids – Worshipful Living
– A Christmas Study for Kids A Little R & R Wednes
If your post is listed above, please grab one of our ‘Featured Blogger’ buttons! Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.
“A Thousand Shall Fall” by Andrea Boeshaar
Nineteen-year-old Carrie Ann Bell is independent and spirited. The only thing she really fears are the Union soldiers fighting against her Confederate friends. When her youngest sister runs away from home, brave Carrie Ann is determined to find her and bring her back. Disguised as a soldier, she sets off—only to find she’s fallen into the hands of the enemy.
Her childhood friend Confederate Major Joshua Blevins has warned her against these Yankees: they’re all devils, ready to inflict evil on unsuspecting young women. When Colonel Peyton Collier arrests her for her impersonation of an officer, it seems to confirm all her fears.
Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel. He rescued her, protected her, and has been every inch the gentleman. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally—and more than that, someone she could love. But the arrival of Joshua in the Union camp as a spy will test her loyalties. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?
Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, A Thousand Shall Fall is framed around compelling characters and a very romantic setting in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Andrea Boeshaar’s extensive research guarantees historical accuracy and romance genre enthusiasts and Civil War buffs alike will enjoy the Christian perspectives on actual historical events.
Boeshaar’s characters Peyton and Carrie Ann will enthrall you with their spunkiness. I love reading about characters who face challenges with spark, and Carrie Ann excels at that. She never does what is expected and doesn’t know the fancy manners that Peyton’s social class required, and her mistakes are funny and lighten the dark mood of war.
Dark it is. Boeshaar doesn’t gloss over the gruesomeness of battle in the 1860s, and one can nearly smell the gunpowder floating in the air. The horrors of battle are vividly described, and those issues are important for us to remember if we’re to understand the time period accurately.
While the war is a fascinating topic, the story is a bit slow-moving at times. The characters spend lots of time in conversation, which is important for them to deepen their relationship. With so many different types of action happening throughout this time period, there were many times when I wished that the author had picked up the pace fo the plot. I was ready for action long before the characters took it, and yet when it came it was quite satisfying.
One other interesting angle to me is the setting. With family living in the Shenandoah Valley, I enjoyed reading about the place I’ve been exploring for the past 8 years. Because Boeshaar sets the scene so well, I can almost see the way Winchester and Woodstock must have looked during the War. This ‘virtual historical exploration’ was fun.
The pace aside, my biggest problem with the story was that it ended. By the end I really wanted to know more about Carrie Ann and Peyton’s story, but the book ended just when it was getting really good. I hope Boeshaar picks up right where she leaves off in the sequel.
Click here to read other reviews on this blog hop or here to purchase your own copy now.
Andrea Boeshaar is the cofounder of American Christian Fiction Writers and runs “The Writer’s ER,” a coaching service for writers. She is the author of thirty published works, including Threads of Faith, a finalist in the Inspirational Readers Choice Awards. Andrea is also the author of a popular devotional and regularly blogs on a number of sites.
Connect with Andrea: website, Twitter, Facebook
I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
Book Club, Boys’ Edition: “The Map Trap”
This month’s book has my son studying his atlas and planning for a cross-country trip.
Why?
We read The Map Trap by Andrew Clements. It’s about a boy who adores maps and is being blackmailed by someone after making all sorts of really creative ones.
Of course, we had to do that.
After summarizing and discussing the book at length, we dove right in – with human body maps. We talked about caricatures and the boys drew themselves with either enlarged heads or torsos. Then they filled in that space with pictures – with either the things they think about or the foods they like to eat. Although drawing is not always their favorite activity, they were excited to create a new kind of map and got busy drawing right away.
Of course, they were even more excited to go geocaching like Alton from The Map Trap.
Each boy brought six pieces of swag that represented himself. We talked about signatures and labels and they marked each piece of their swag with their mark. Then we talked about bike safety and broke up into pairs.
The boys put on their helmets and packed their swag into bags and pockets and headed outside.
Earlier that day, I hid 6 bags containing simple swag items around our neighborhood. I also made maps of the neighborhood and overlaid a grid on top. Since we did not have enough GPS units for each group, we needed another way to simulate a geocaching activity, and this was it. I gave each team of boys a set of coordinates to mimic the latitude and longitude of a regular geocache target, and then each team examined a map to figure out where that was. They headed to their specific target to search for the swag bags.
Each bag was labeled with another set of coordinates. When the boys found a bag, they swapped out their swag for the swag inside and then memorized the new coordinates. They studied the map to find the new coordinates and took off again.
The boys loved this activity! They chased down caches for two hours – until they had found every single one. They worked well together in their teams and were generous with their swag. It was a super fun book, and there are many learning activities available to accompany it.
They’re also interested in reading more of Andrew Clements’ work. We’ll definitely be trying out more of them.
What are your kids reading this month?
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“Whispers in the Reading Room” by Shelley Gray
Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.
Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.
Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.
Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.
Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.
Whispers in the Reading Room features the most exciting characters I’ve met in a long time! Lydia isn’t your typical library lady. She’s not shy or demure, and while she’s not exactly led an adventurous life, she’s not sheltered from life’s harsh realities, either. She’s brave and gutsy and willing to face new experiences, except she’s never met a man like Sebastian Marks.
Sebastian is the very best kind of leading man. He’s strong, dangerous, and protective. He cares for those around him but has no trouble making tough decisions. He’s the kind of man you want guarding your family or leading troops into battle. Despite that roughness, he’s nothing but gentle with those he loves, and that’s what makes him so much fun to read about.
The characterization is what makes Gray’s novel stand out. Sebastian and Lydia are exciting to read about, and she puts them in suspenseful situations. They also grow throughout the story, both emotionally and spiritually, and that’s rewarding to watch.
I liked the way that Lydia and Sebastian were aware of societal norms but didn’t necessarily follow them. They behaved well, for the most part, but they didn’t worry about the silly rules that governed class structures. I admire the people who didn’t let other people’s expectations hold them back, and both main leads broke free of typical limits.
Besides that? The plot is suspenseful and the setting colorful. The contrast between the Hartman and the Silver Grotto is vivid and highlights the differences between Lydia, Sebastian, and the lives that they want to lead.
I enjoyed reading Whispers in the Reading Room. It’s an excellent read and a fun historical story. Gray’s books keep getting better and better.
Click here to read other reviews on this bloggy hop or here to purchase your own copy now.
Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.
Connect with Shelley: website, Twitter, Facebook
I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
“The Five Times I Met Myself” by James L. Rubart
What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?
Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.
So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.
Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.
Fans of Back to the Future will love The Five Times I Met Myself. The similarity between the main characters is uncanny, but it totally works for me – Back to the Future is one of my favorite movies! Unlike the ’80s classic, however, Brock isn’t trying only to have a good time. He’s trying to improve his life for the better in some really deep ways. Perhaps it’s really more like a cross between Back to the Future and It’s a Wonderful Life. Brock needs to learn what’s really important in life, and he realizes that he’s had his priorities out of whack for years.
The Five Times I Met Myself does get a little confusing near the end. As Brock’s trips to the past keep rearranging his present, it gets a bit tricky to keep track of what’s happening in which timeline, but that only adds to the suspense. I loved trying to figure out what would happen next – and what Brock’s ultimate ending would be. I never did figure it out, although when it came I felt that I should have known all along.
Brock seemed like a genuinely good guy. I can understand his confusion when trouble first came his way. His life wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as abundant as it could’ve been. Since Jesus clearly tells us that He has an abundant life planned for each of us, The Five Times I Met Myself is the perfect story to help the reader recognize the best.
That lesson resonates with me. It’s far too easy to set your sights on the wrong goal. It’s even easier to do so for what you think are the right reasons. This book reminds us of what is really important, though, and it’s a lesson that many of us still need to learn.
Whether you like the time travel vehicle or not, there are a lot of interesting people in this story. Many different scenarios emerge, and it’s interesting to see how Brock reacts to them all. If you do enjoy time travel, however, The Five Times I Met Myself is definitely a book that should reside on your bookshelf.
Click here to read other reviews on this blog hop or here to purchase your own copy now.
James L. Rubart is a professional marketer and speaker. He is the author of the best-selling novel Rooms as well as Book of Days, The Chair, Soul’s Gate, Memory’s Door, and Spirit Bridge. He lives with his wife and sons in the Pacific Northwest.
Connect with James: website, Twitter, Facebook
I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
