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After being forced to wear lederhosen for the annual holiday card picture, twelve-year-old Chris thinks that the least his parents can do is get him the Tony Hawk skateboard he wants for Christmas. But when he recovers the hand-carved Baby Jesus that everyone thought had been destroyed in a fire the year his Grandma died, Chris realizes that some gifts are even more important than skateboards.
When the author had to discontinue a cherished tradition of reading Christmas stories out loud with his family and holiday guests each week in December, he wrote Finding the Baby Jesus. He had been unable to locate enough meaningful stories that could be read in a single sitting with wiggly children.
Ten Things to Do For Christmas
by Kimball Fisher
1- Build a snowman. If there isn't any snow use marshmallows and toothpicks. When you're done, admire your work while sipping a gourmet hot chocolate in a Christmas themed mug. Make sure to get whipped cream on your upper lip.
2- Call somebody you love. Especially if you haven't talked with them for a long time.
3- Do something to remember somebody who is gone (e.g., write them a letter in your journal, plant something in their honor, or write down your favorite funny story about them and hang it in the tree).
4- Light candles and read a Christmas-themed short story with an uplifting message. Maybe something like, I dunno, FINDING THE BABY JESUS?
5- Try to carve out an hour and do something this year that you always say you want to do on Christmas but never did before.
6- Listen to Christmas songs while you do your errands. Sing along.
7- Stay in your PJs all day on Christmas (like we do) and insist that everyone who visits you does the same thing. (It will cut down Christmas visits to only the most important ones. It also provides lots of blackmail material that may come in handy later on.)
8- Get a honey-baked ham (or our personal favorite, the honey-baked turkey breast slathered with whole cranberry sauce) so you don't have to spend the whole day in the kitchen on Christmas. Use holiday themed paper plates that make you smile. Alternatively, if time in the kitchen is your joy, make something amazing for your family. Use the best china. If you like yams, check out a recipe for a yam and apple casserole. My sweetie does one that I think about all year long.
9- Do something really nice for somebody else. See number 8 about the casserole, for example. Honey, are you reading this?
10- Write down the things you are most thankful for. Count your blessings. Focus on what you have instead of what you don't. Don't buy into the whole commercialism thing (unless that's what makes you happy because you own some amazing little Christmas boutique or Indie bookstore).
Cool tens list, right? It sure gave me lots of ideas to do this Christmas! I most especially love the writing a letter for someone who’s already gone. I will probably do that for my dad. And hang some funny story about him in the tree. :) Plus the writing down the things you are most thankful for. :) -Jenna
Praise for Finding the Baby Jesus:
“Tender and true, this warm Christmas tale brought tears to my eyes.”
–Heather Vogel Frederick, author of the much-beloved Mother-Daughter Book Club series and Oregon Book Award winner for The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed
“A touching story that speaks to the importance of family, giving, and the true spirit of Christmas.”
“A touching story that speaks to the importance of family, giving, and the true spirit of Christmas.”
–Matthew Kirby, author of Icefall, winner of the Edgar Allen Poe and the Pen Center USA Literary Awards for Children’s Literature
“Deeply moving. Poignant.”
“Deeply moving. Poignant.”
–Deborah Halverson, former editor at Harcourt Children’s Books and author of Honk If You Hate Me, a Gayle McCandliss Literary Award Winner
"The perfect little book to tuck away with your Christmas things and bring out year after year to read with family. As mother to three boys, I can't imagine a better protagonist than Chris. His typical teenage attitude followed by the softening of his heart towards a friend teaches a poignant and very relatable lesson on the true meaning of Christmas."
–Amazon review
"After I read this short story I felt like I had read a novel--every sentence is packed with action and imagery. I was emotionally connected to the characters, and the story is touching. I didn't see the plot twist at the end coming! A great story to read every Christmas."
–Amazon review
Author Kimball Fisher
Kimball Fisher writes novels for young readers. He is also a best-selling business author, professional speaker, and management consultant. Some of his past jobs include: sailboat builder, ghost writer (not as scary as it sounds), illustrator, and factory manager (more scary than it sounds). For fun he builds furniture, stained-glass windows, and writing pens.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities (with minors in English, Asian Studies, and Japanese), and a Master of Organizational Behavior degree from Brigham Young University. He and his amazing wife Reenie live in Portland, Oregon, where they have seen pheasants, coyotes, and a bobcat in their own backyard.
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/26/12
Open to anyone 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's permission. 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. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Tour Schedule:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/10/finding-baby-jesus-blog-tour.html
"The perfect little book to tuck away with your Christmas things and bring out year after year to read with family. As mother to three boys, I can't imagine a better protagonist than Chris. His typical teenage attitude followed by the softening of his heart towards a friend teaches a poignant and very relatable lesson on the true meaning of Christmas."
–Amazon review
"After I read this short story I felt like I had read a novel--every sentence is packed with action and imagery. I was emotionally connected to the characters, and the story is touching. I didn't see the plot twist at the end coming! A great story to read every Christmas."
–Amazon review
Purchase
Kimball Fisher writes novels for young readers. He is also a best-selling business author, professional speaker, and management consultant. Some of his past jobs include: sailboat builder, ghost writer (not as scary as it sounds), illustrator, and factory manager (more scary than it sounds). For fun he builds furniture, stained-glass windows, and writing pens.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities (with minors in English, Asian Studies, and Japanese), and a Master of Organizational Behavior degree from Brigham Young University. He and his amazing wife Reenie live in Portland, Oregon, where they have seen pheasants, coyotes, and a bobcat in their own backyard.
Links
Book Blast
Tour Giveaway:
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/26/12
Open to anyone 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's permission. 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. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/10/finding-baby-jesus-blog-tour.html
wonderful giveaway
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments about the tens list. Have a great holiday!
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