The Gift Giver: Review & Giveaway

Christmas is just 10 short weeks away and have you thought of how you are going to celebrate the holidays with your kids and STILL teach them the true reason for Christmas? Jacob Haslem & Nick Allen have written a storybook for kids that teaches kids about Santa and HOW Santa would want us to celebrate Christmas....

Huh?

The Gift Giver

by Jacob Haslem & Nick Allen

ISBN: 9781515273110

$14.95 (hardback)

$8.99 (kindle)

About the book:

The Gift Giver is a children's story book about the origins of the man we have come to know as Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve a boy stirs from sleep to find an old man in the living room, dressed in red, with a bagful of gifts. Excitement soon gives way to disappointment as he finds he has received fewer gifts than he expected. The old man sees the young boy's protest and tells the story of his origins and his motives. As the boy becomes privy to this mystery, a question comes to his mind: is it by magic that the old man accomplishes his task, or is it something else... The lesson he learns will change the way he views Christmas forever!

My thoughts:
I grew up in a family that had Santa in it's Christmas traditions and I was about 8 or so before I realized that he wasn't real. It was the year that dad remarried and I popped up one day in the truck and informed my new stepmom that I didn't think Santa was real. Of course she claimed that I knew he wasn't but I didn't and that was the end of that. Fast forward a couple years and siblings came along and they knew all along that Mom & Dad were Santa. They never had the fun and excitement of Santa & I've always felt bad for them.

Since then I've seen people who want nothing to do with Santa, who wholeheartedly embrace the tradition of Santa and those that straddle the line in between. I've always thought it would be nice to be able to have a tool to use with kids to help them understand WHO Santa was and WHY we include him in our traditions...

The Gift Giver is a perfect tool for that:


The Gift Giver would be ideal to add to your family traditions whether you add it to your Advent Activities, Church Library, Family Devotions, Homeschool or just read it when the kids pull it out - do be prepared for lots of discussions and questions from your kids. This is a very LONG story and may be harder for kids under 4 to comprehend what you are reading. You could try breaking it down and reading maybe a 1/3 of it at a time for the younger kiddos and then leaving time for them to think about what you've read and ask questions - older kids will focus on Santa and the emotions of the boy in the story.
Personally I found the book to be a bit emotional for me and I'm sure others will just shrug it off. We are a family & daycare that talks and breathes in Santa so I will need to make sure it's OK to read the book to the daycare kiddos before I read it to their kids so we'll see how much I pull it out...

Would you like to WIN a copy of this book for your family? The authors are offering a copy of The Gift Giver to one of my very lucky readers. Since I am having to do the mailing this time I need to open it to US winners only (sorry about that). All entries must be for 18+ and located in the continental US! This giveaway will start Wednesday 10/21 and it will end at 12 am on Thursday 10/29. 
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Disclaimer: I was offered a copy of The Gift Giver in exchange for my honest opinion. No money exchanged hands and I was not required to have a positive review. The giveaway copy was provided by the authors but I will be mailing a care package to the winner of the giveaway. =D Thanks for reading GivingNSharing.
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12 Pearls of Christmas - Day 9: Charissa Steyn

Welcome to the12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

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The ADVENTure Awaits You!

By Charissa Steyn

God loves keeping us in a place of joyful expectation for what is next. He has mastered the art of surprise. Much to my dismay, God rarely ever lays out steps 1-2-3 for me to see. Maybe you’re like me and you’re a planner. You need time to prepare yourself for what is coming, the unknown grips you with fear, and it’s hard for you to simply enjoy a surprise.

It’s difficult to understand why God doesn’t like to reveal more of His mysterious ways, but I have a feeling it has something to do with faith. I am quite sure that if I knew everything that God had planned ahead of time my response would be, “No way God!”

But maybe we need to be a little more like Mary when it comes to faith. The angel reassured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you…” (Luke 1:30)

Did you get that? You have nothing to fear _________ (fill in the blank with your name) God has a surprise for you!

God invited Mary into the ultimate season of joyful expectation. He took her on the most miraculous adventure of birthing His son!

Instead of hesitation, Mary stepped forward, “Yes . . . let it be with me just as you say.” (Luke 1:38)

Instead of cowering in fear, Mary celebrated in faith, “I'm bursting with God-news; I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened—I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten. . . .” {Luke 1:46-48)

As the Christmas season is upon us, I can’t help but wonder what surprises God has wrapped up for us under His tree of life? What gifts does He want to reveal to us this year?

Like Mary, let’s face the unknown, the mystery, the surprises of God with a quiet, yet confident YES!

God wants to show you the impossible can become possible, the supernatural can become natural. We don’t need special qualifications, just joyful expectation.

May you accept the invitation of Jesus in this truly ADVENTurous season and embrace all the marvelous, mysterious surprises He has for you along the way!

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Charissa Steyn is a God-adventurer. She believes everyday holds exciting undertakings that usually involve risk, but always draw us closer to the Father’s heart. Originally from Seattle, she now lives in Cape Town with her South African hubby, Michal and their son David. Together they are doing their best to lead a simple, yet dangerous life of love. Learn more about Charissa at her blog.