Christmas Stories

"...And there they were all safe and warm,

All together in that ancient barn

When hail--the first wail of a newborn babe reached the night

Where one great star was burning bright

And shepherds with their sheep

Are come to watch Him sleep.

What child is this who is born here

Where the oxen stomp and peer,

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

What child is this who lays down His sweet head?..."

-Excerpt from Christmas in the Barn, Margaret Wise Brown

This book is one I hadn't heard of before this season, but we found it at our local library and it's quickly become one of my favorites.

It's beautifully written, and gives me chills when I'm reading it to my children.

Children's books do this often to me. Is that odd?

Christmas stories are one of the best parts of the Christmas season.

It's so cozy to snuggle up and read tales of Christmas trees and snowmen, shepherds and angels, mistletoe and  holly with my children.

Another favorite book of ours is actually a sing-along book. It's the first verse of Silent Night, beautifully illustrated by Darcy May.

Asher always makes me sing and read it.  :)

The Christmas story is one of the greatest stories ever told on this earth.
Jesus, God, coming to earth as a baby.
Angels lighting up the night sky, bursting with song.
A star so unique that it sent wise men from the East all the way to bethlehem to worship a little child.
An evil King Herod, reminding us of why Jesus had to come.
Visions and inspired dreams.
A virgin mother, and a caring husband, and barn animals.
Prophesies fulfilled in a way that absolutely baffled the world.

This story is bursting with magic and wonder.

It's impossible to beat the story that God told on this earth that Christmas morning over two thousand years ago.  But, that said, we do enjoy all sorts of Christmas tales this time of year! 

Happy reading!