Wishing You a very Merry Christmas!

May your Christmas be filled with love, laughter, family, and friends!
We wish you the greatest of memories this holiday and pray that you
take a moment to remember the Reason for the Season!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Little Miss & Little Man
(and Mother and Father, too!)

Memoirs of a Geisha: A Book Review

Well, this may be a less-than-dramatic way to break my 2-week silence (AGAIN!) especially so close to Christmas, but I actually read this book about a month ago and thought I should get around to reviewing it. It was originally on my Fall Into Reading 2008 list, but I didn't get the book review posted in time for it to officially count. (However, it DOES count in my book because I DID read it!) Now, on to the review...

I had heard so much about this book, that I was really looking forward to it. I must admit it was difficult to get into the story because the content itself is so discouraging and heartbreaking. The life of a geisha (as depicted in this book) is anything but glamorous! On the flip side, however, the imagery and writing were magnificent! I could absolutely picture the gorgeous, flowing kimono and the beautiful surrounding scenery. Overall, it was a sad, sad story that was beautifully told. If you're looking for a beautifully written story full of vivid imagery, this is the book for you. If you're looking for a story to make you feel good about life and the human condition...you might want to shelve this one for now.

I have yet to see the movie, but hope to soon (maybe once I've exhausted my extensive holiday movie collection!). If the book is so beautifully written, I can't wait to see what they do with it on the big screen!

As a side note: I'm hoping to post another book review (from my original list), and send my holiday greetings before we leave on Wed!

I-Pod Giveaway!

Wouldn't an I-Pod make a great Christmas gift...for yourself or a loved one? Focus on the Family is giving away three I-Pods every day from now until Dec. 13. Each I-Pod is pre-loaded with all 16 CD sets from the Adventures in Odyssey® Gold Audio Series, including Volumes 1-15 and The Lost Episodes. For more information, or to enter the contest, click here.

Happy Birthday Sis!

Today is my younger sister's birthday. She is known by many names....Melissa, Mel, Sissy, and now Aunt Mimi. She is the smart and frugal one; and therefore the one with the really good job, the new house, and all the money! ;)

Mel through the years...

Happy Birthday, Sis! I'm so proud of you!

Love, Nanc

The Firstborn Advantage: A Book Review

This is yet another book that was NOT on my Fall Into Reading 2008 book list. However, when I saw it in the book store, I knew I had to read it. I have not read Dr. Leman's other books on birth order (including The Birth Order book), but I remember my parents reading it when we were young and hearing all about it. As a firstborn, I was so excited to learn that Dr. Leman had now written a book, specifically for me. Here is an excerpt from the cover:

"You're driven. You have big plans and dreams. You demand a lot out of
yourself, and it pays off. As a natural mover and shaker of the world, you were
at the top of your class. You're the benchmark setter and the award winner,
you've always done what's expected of you--and yes, you're the one who got in
trouble for what your younger sibling did. Being firstborn comes with a high
price sometimes, and no one is harder on you than you. But it doesn't have to be
that way. You can learn to use your firstborn skills to your best advantage in
every area of life. And you'll still end up as the high achiever you were born
to be."

Like I said...it was written just for me. How refreshing it was to discover that my need to have things done "my way" is not some maladjusted illness or a reason to submit to therapy, but simply a result of my birth order. Whew! Dr. Leman gives great insight into the role of a firstborn--chronological or functional (which he explains in the book)--and how that impacts her view of herself, relationship with others, and need to accomplish things (and do them perfectly!). Dr. Leman gives firstborns tips for using their natural-born leadership tendencies to its greatest advantage in relationships, at home, at school, and at work.

If you are a firstborn, are married to a firstborn, have a firstborn sibling, or simply know a firstborn, this book is a must-read. You will gain a wealth of wisdom and insight. And if you ARE a firstborn, you definitely must read this...if for no other reason, to learn to cut yourself some slack!

Win a $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Arianne at To Think Is To Create is giving away a $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card. Click here for more details, and to get some great cost-saving ideas for the holidays!

Belated Thanksgiving Wishes

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful time at Grandma & Grandpa's. The highlight was a hayride with the cousins through the woods. My very talented bro-in-law captured some amazing photos. Here are a few of my faves...to see them all, check out his Flickr page.

The hayride...that's Hubby driving the tractor.

Little Man playing on Grandma's porch.

Little Miss...all bundled up

Now, let the Christmas festivities officially begin!