Tuesday, December 22, 2009

HAVE A REAL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!


Christmas is here!!!

Merry Christmas everybody!!!


Christmas is here! As the cliche goes, it's the season to be happy! It's true that life's worries are all around us but don't let it all dampen your spirit!

I've heard many people say- as I have observed myself- that this year's Christmas doesn't seem quite as festive and happy as the last. Well,to point us all to the right perspective, I want to share what our priest said in his last night's homily. He said that Christmas should not be viewed through the eyes of commercialism; that Christmas is an occasion of remembering God's love and the gift that is Jesus.

The first Christmas started in a manger, with poor shepherds being baby Jesus' first visitors. It's a picture of simplicity and yes, humble poverty. Yet, more than 2000 years later, this is the birthday we all celebrate with expectations of merry festivities. I think that it's high time we all look deep down in our hearts and examine what's truly keeping us happy this season. Is it the birth of our Savior or is it the presents we expect to receive?

I myself need to put this all in my heart. Here's what I wrote on the e- cards I mailed:

The real spirit of Christmas is not about outward festivities, the presents we unwrap on Christmas Eve, nor the feast we serve on our tables. It's giving thanks for the gift of God's love and sharing it with the rest of the world!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree."
-Roy L. Smith


Look forward to this season with the eyes of a kid. See the simple joys that life has to offer. These simple joys lead to the path of true happiness, peace and contentment!!!

Have a real and MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Book Review: "Here Comes Ginger!"


Hello! It's been a really long while since my last post! I think this has been my longest gap yet! I've been too busy mulling over other things and stressing my mind but now, I'm back, back with some good news! Today, I welcome everyone to my second book review. Yep! I've decided to include book reviews in my blog. My book reviews will follow my readings so there will be no specific genre confinement. It will be really varied, natural and fun!

So here goes! For my second book review, I choose "Here Comes Ginger" By Elaine L. Schulte. This book is another book for young readers. I've come to read it because my sixth grade cousin borrowed it from the shool library. Actually, she borrowed it for me! Very probably, it's meant for a younger age group but this never really bothered me since the book seems interesting! The story revolves around a ten year old girl who is frustrated by her parents divorce and cannot accept her mother's looming remarriage. Add to all these changes, Ginger has to cope with the new idea of her mother's newfound Christianity- she's dating a pastor's son- and her father's seeming oblivion to her mom's lovelife!

What I like about this book is Ginger's character. She's stubborn and naturally funny. She's also very mischievous and comes up with many wild, contrived ideas to end her mother's new love relationship. It's easy to understand her actions, however. Change can be very hard and when you're ten and coping with your parents' divorce and the idea of a new family, it can easily be overwhelming. In her book, Elaine Schulte has created in Ginger, a person that's easy to symphatize with and be friends with. Ginger isn't your perfect, prim and proper kid but she loves her family. Her being defensive and a bit problematic is understandably the result of her threatened sense of security. Children seek security and home is where they first look for it.

"Here Comes Ginger!" is a well- meaning and wholesome read. It has a Christian theme of love, forgiveness and acceptance. It shows the struggles of children taking in their parents' separation and the fears and insecurities every child has. I recommend it to every child especially those who are struggling with the same issue as Ginger's. Children will find it easy to identify themselves with Ginger, her reactions to what is happening in her family and her totally natural behavior. Another strong reason why I recommend this book is for its Christian values. It shows that children need to develop a strong sense of faith and virtue as they grow up and face inevitable life challenges.

"Here Comes Ginger!" is a part of the Ginger Trumbell series by author Elaine Schulte who has written many other books for kids and adults. The Ginger Trumbell books may nowadays be hard to find in bookstores. I recommend looking in on second hand book shops, libraries or better yet, the Internet.

Book Information:
"Here Comes Ginger!" by Elaine L. Schulte
Published by Chariot books, an imprint of David C. cook Publishing Co.
Copyright 1989

The Ginger trumbell Series:
"Here Comes Ginger!"
"Off To A New Start"
"A Job For An Angel"
"Absolutely Green"

Back Cover details:
Ginger's world is falling apart. Her mom has recently become a Christian and, even worse, has fallen in love with Grant Gabriel. Ginger can't stand the thought of leaving their little house near the beach...moving in with Gant and his two children...trading in her "brown cave of a bedroom" for a yellow canopied bed.

Ginger will try anything to fight the changes she knows are coming-green fingernails, salt in the sugar bowl, a near disaster at the beach. But she finds that change can happen inside her, too, when she meets the Lord her mom has come to trust.

Theme: Salvation/blended families. Ages 9-12

Thanks for reading and till my next post everyone!