A Wreath of Snow

“A Wreath of Snow,” by Liz Curtis Higgs.

 On that cold, snowy evening of Christmas Eve when Meg boarded the train, the last thing she expected was to run into a man from the past who, when he was a teenager had caused great pain for her family.   When Gordon Shaw overheard the conductor saying Meg’s name, he realized he knew this young woman.  Unsettled by the chance meeting, stammering and embarrassed, Gordon could only say “Gordon” when introduction could no longer be avoided.  At this point Meg still had not recognized this handsome stranger and believed that Gordon was his last name.  Being a man of faith and moral principal, Gordon was working out in his mind how to set right this misunderstanding.  He also was trying to put the words together to confess that he was the teenager who lost his grip of the curling stone handle that struck her brother and caused his paralysis 12 years ago.  However, before Gordon could speak, the train shuttered and came to a violent stop, throwing the passengers this way and that.  Thoroughly stuck in a snow drift, the train could neither go forward nor back up. 

This is the beginning of a story of lies and secrets – Gordon pressed by Meg to keep his true identity from her parents; Meg wanting to hide her part in deceiving her parents; and the brother Alan deceiving everyone for 12 years.  But it is also a story of love, repentance, and forgiveness.  As Gordon’s heart always sought to follow the leading of the heavenly Father, he must live by his belief that light is better than darkness and the truth is better than lies.  Thus, Gordon took the first step that brought healing to his heart and started a chain reaction of events that eventually led to exposing the darkness and bringing healing to Meg’s family.

“A Wreath of Snow” is the first book I’ve read which was written by Liz Curtis Higgs.  I was captivated by her portrayal of Gordon’s close walk with the Lord.  It was so simple and natural and trusting.  I could “feel” Him in Gordon’s life and how it seemed that He just reached out from the pages of the book into my own heart.  I definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Liz Curtis Higgs.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books book program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Christmas Card Making Party!

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of hosting a Christmas card making party at my home for some of my church family gals.  Amid laughter, eating, talking, laughter, eating (get the picture?), we did manage to make a few cards.  What a fun memory-making time we had!  I wish I had a recording to play for you – you’d have to join the laughter just from listening to it.  Anyway . . . here are the 3 card designs we made.  I did the embossing and die cutting ahead of time with my Cuttlebug.  I really like the new Spellbinder Christmas dies.  How did we ever get along without this invention???

Spellbinders Frosty Forms & Spellbinders Labels 18

Spellbinders Lacey Circles

Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia & Cuttlebug EF Disressed Stripes

While shopping for cardstock, I made a great find in the Christmas Stories double sided paper line – Christmas Bingo cards – 12 to a sheet.  Immediately I thought this would make a great ice-breaker game for my party.  I could hardly wait until I got home so I could get started.  After cutting out the Bingo cards I glued them onto a rectangle of heavy weight Christmas paper and added a small embellishment at the top.  Next I went to my stash and pulled out some kids’ white letter tiles, glued a red CS square inside, used stickers to make the Bingo numbers, then covered the inside with Diamond Glaze by Judi-kins, giving them a nice clear, glossy finish.  Next, in that same “stash” I had a white box (like a pencil box or a cigar box) that I had purchased about 6 years ago and now, finally, found something to do with it, so out it came to be decorated which was accomplished by using some wonderful, beautiful Graphic 45 Christmas paper from the "Christmas Past Collection."  The finishing touch to the box was adding the name of the game on the lid using brown wooden letters and a button in each corner.  And finally I rounded up a bunch of small colored buttons (with lots of red and green) and put them in a clear plastic container to use as the game pieces.  Oh, the name of the game you ask, “Button Bingo” of course.  Oh, well, maybe not the greatest choice, but it was all I could spell with the number of wooded letters I had on hand. J  Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of how it turned out.  We had lots of fun with it – too bad we only had time for one game.

 In case I don’t have time to post again before Thanksgiving, please know that I’m thankful for each one of you and pray that our Heavenly Father abundantly blesses your family gatherings on Thanksgiving Day.

Annie