Christmas Gifts From The Heart

These ten short chapters are packed with ways to bless family and friends during the holidays.

Beloved author-illustrator Patricia Polacco’s holiday story is a wonderful ode to the magic of family, Christmas, and giving the right kind of gifts—gifts filled with love. Richie and Trisha want to buy Christmas gifts for their family, but they don't have enough money. Enter Kay Lamity, a new housekeeper . . . but is that all she is? She comes into their lives like a whirlwind, brimming with positive energy and a can-do attitude. Kay not only straightens them out when it comes to whether or not Santa Claus is real, she teaches them something about gifts: the just-good-enough kind that come from the pocketbook and the unforgettable kind that come from the heart. Because of Kay, Trisha and Richie—and the family—have a Christmas morning they will never forget. Celebrating the joy of homemade gifts, Patricia Polacco introduces readers to a new character who is truly a force of nature in this story reminiscent of Christmas Tapestry and An Orange for Frankie. This is a magical Christmas story the author swears is true, right down to the sleigh tracks on the farmhouse roof!

Simple ways to make your family's Christmas more meaningful.

The 13 thematic chapters include biblical examples, ideas for sharing with someone special, brief meditations and/or poems for the reader and frequently a recipe.

Mothering is messy. Our joy and hope in raising children doesn’t change the reality that being a mom can be frustrating, stressful, and tiring. But just as God is using us to shape our children, God is using our children and motherhood to shape us. In The Better Mom, author Ruth Schwenk, herself a mother of four children, encourages us with the good news that there is more to being a mom than the extremes of striving for perfection or simply embracing the mess. We don’t need to settle for surviving our kids’ childhood. We can grow through it. With refreshing and heartfelt honesty Ruth emboldens moms to: Find freedom and walk confidently in purpose Create a God-honoring home environment Overcome unhealthy and destructive emotions such as anger, anxiety, and more Avoid glorifying the mess of mom-ing or idolizing perfection Cultivate life-giving friendships At the heart of The Better Mom is the message that Jesus calls us to live not a weary life, but a worthy life. We don’t have to settle for either being apathetic or struggling to be perfect. Both visions of motherhood go too far. Ruth offers a better option. She says, “It’s okay to come as we are, but what we’re called to do and be is far too important to stay there! The way to becoming a better mom starts not with what we are doing, but with who God is inviting us to become."

This book is a lifelong collection of some of my personal favorite poetry. It details my faith in God and love for family, friends, and country.

Gifts from the Heart is a friendly, concise, and easy-to-read book that helps students learn, practice, and improve ten fundamental communication skills needed for any long-term relationship. Each skill is presented as a “gift” for students to give to others, rather than as a behavior to implement, empowering students to participate more fully in their relationships. With a conversational and student-friendly writing style, each chapter focuses on one essential communication skill that can dramatically enhance students’ connections with their romantic partners, family members, and friends. The book uses simple language, memorable concepts, and practical exercises to present communication techniques that can be used by those hoping to improve specific relationships and by all those who want to offer “gifts” to others in their lives. The third edition of Gifts from the Heart includes new material on using digital technology to enhance and strengthen interpersonal relationships, while minimizing technological barriers to face-to-face interactions.

Stocking Stuffers- Magical Christmas Gifts from the Heart is a collection of five stories created just for the holidays. The author T.J. Hannon says, "I wrote these stories to bring holiday cheer to adults and kids. It's been a tough couple of years, and we all need a way to warm our hearts." Hannon styled the size of the paperback to fit into any Christmas stocking. "I'm hoping family members will gather in front of the tree and read these timeless and magical Christmas tales. Maybe make it a new family tradition." All relating to the holidays, please read the humorous, The Amber Light of Christmas. Young at Heart and Sarah Saves Christmas are nostalgic tales full of faith and hope. Not to mention the human kindness displayed in Little Girl Lost and Secret Santa. Hannon adds, "Laughter, faith, hope, and kindness are what the world needs more of these days."