The Secret Of The Gifts

As Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar arrive at the stable to present their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn king, something incredible and wondrous happens, and the reader learns the secret behind each gift.

An inspiring account of America at its worst-and Americans at their best-woven from the stories of Depression-era families who were helped by gifts from the author's generous and secretive grandfather. Shortly before Christmas 1933 in Depression-scarred Canton, Ohio, a small newspaper ad offered $10, no strings attached, to 75 families in distress. Interested readers were asked to submit letters describing their hardships to a benefactor calling himself Mr. B. Virdot. The author's grandfather Sam Stone was inspired to place this ad and assist his fellow Cantonians as they prepared for the cruelest Christmas most of them would ever witness. Moved by the tales of suffering and expressions of hope contained in the letters, which he discovered in a suitcase 75 years later, Ted Gup initially set out to unveil the lives behind them, searching for records and relatives all over the country who could help him flesh out the family sagas hinted at in those letters. From these sources, Gup has re-created the impact that Mr B. Virdot's gift had on each family. Many people yearned for bread, coal, or other necessities, but many others received money from B. Virdot for more fanciful items-a toy horse, say, or a set of encyclopedias. As Gup's investigations revealed, all these things had the power to turn people's lives around- even to save them. But as he uncovered the suffering and triumphs of dozens of strangers, Gup also learned that Sam Stone was far more complex than the lovable- retiree persona he'd always shown his grandson. Gup unearths deeply buried details about Sam's life-from his impoverished, abusive upbringing to felonious efforts to hide his immigrant origins from U.S. officials-that help explain why he felt such a strong affinity to strangers in need. Drawing on his unique find and his award-winning reportorial gifts, Ted Gup solves a singular family mystery even while he pulls away the veil of eight decades that separate us from the hardships that united America during the Depression. In A Secret Gift, he weaves these revelations seamlessly into a tapestry of Depression-era America, which will fascinate and inspire in equal measure. Watch a Video

Escape to Cornwall for an enchanting, heartwarming new novel about friendship, hope and second chances in this standalone novel... ‘A charming and original concept’ Sunday Times bestseller Katie Fforde

Book three in in the Ross Bentley series Ross has spent the past twelve months in hiding in the west coast of Ireland. He has turned his back on the Guild and his gifts. In trying to escape his past and the dangers brought with his gifts, Ross has spiralled into a world of anxiety and depression and, with Cathy leaving for Paris, Ross is completely alone. Suddenly an unexpected visitor arrives. Hunter has come to call in his favour. Through loneliness and a sense of debt, Ross agrees to join Hunter for one day only. What first appears to be a simple task becomes so much more. Ross is dragged back into the world of the gifted where a supernatural war is about to break loose. Ross must choose which side to fight on. Will he turn his back on the Guild forever? Or will he fight to save the Guild members who have kept so much from him? Praise for Million Dollar Gift: 'fast-paced, riveting and insightful... a highly recommended gripping read' Fallenstarstories.blogspot.com

Eighteen years old and ready to take on the world, the friendship of a lifetime begins. Kristen Murphy and Elizabeth Ashley begin as college roommates and live life as friends closer than sisters. Kris, is artistic and thrives off of her time drawing and painting. She is tall and rather plain, but smart and kind. Liz, is musical, outgoing, beautiful, and captures the heart of every person she meets. In their eighteen year-old wisdom, they thought they had forever to be friends. Kris and Liz rented their first apartment together, stood up at each other's weddings and held each other's babies. Liz held Kris' hand when her father was buried. Kris stood with Liz when her husband walked out. The boundaries of our lives blurred long ago. They have been friends for twenty-eight years and the friendship withstands the test of time and the trials of life. Until cancer deals the final blow. Twenty-eight years together will be all they will get. Through Liz's battle with breast cancer they learn how important each part of their life is and how grateful they are for everything that God sends their way. This is the story of their lives. As she sits by Liz's death bed, Kris recounts the trails and blessings that made them who they are. With their melded family gathered around, Kris tells their story and recalls the many "gifts" they have been blessed without throughout the years. She shares of how Liz taught her to notice the gifts in each day and to live with a grateful heart. It is through the telling of their story that the secret of counting gifts is discovered.... The Secret of Counting Gifts is the first book in the Liz's Legacy series.

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time.

What's the secret to a life of happiness? "In this delightful book brimming with humorous and poignant passages, radio personality Hugh Hewitt provides the answer. The starting place is generosity, he says, and there are seven gifts that are sure to improve the lives of both giver and receiver: encouragement, energy, enthusiasm, good humor, graciousness, gratitude, and patience. Anyone can give these gifts, but Hewitt shows that some people are particularly well placed to offer them: parents, spouses, family members, friends, teachers, coworkers, and fellow church members. Channeling his skills as a broadcaster, journalist, lawyer, and teacher, Hewitt weaves stories about these seven gifts and seven givers with inspiring and motivating observations to help readers become generous in the ways that matter most. "The Happiest Life is not simply a delight to read, and not merely a glimpse under the hood of a remarkable man. It’s a map to what Robert Frost once described as the road less traveled—the road that leads to a life of meaning and gratitude and joy.” —Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia "Reading this book is the next best thing to sitting down for a long conversation with my friend Hugh Hewitt.” —Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary “Wanna be a happier person? Know anyone else who does? What if this book could actually help with that? Cutting to the chase—it can. And it will." —Eric Metaxas, New York Times best-selling author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and 7 Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness

This book is a Scrapbooking Idea book with ideas from Entertainment Tonight's Nancy O'Dell