Reading aloud is my favorite thing to do with my kids. We almost always have a book in progress, and Christmas provides some really wonderful material. We even put all of the Christmas books away in the attic with the decorations each year, and you wouldn’t believe the anticipation and nostalgia it provides when the season rolls around again. Our collection grows each year: Barnes and Noble Membership Card + After Christmas Sales = several new additions to the collection each year = one satisfied book addict Mama. (For a few days, at least.)

This year, though, I did indulge and purchase myself a book before Christmas. (It was on sale already!) The cover drew me, and then the author’s bio caused me to be even more curious – mother of four, missionary to Russia for 8 years. It became my “read for 10 minutes before you fall asleep and then forget what you read the next night book.” I did finally finish it, was delighted by it, and decided to share it with the family. I say family, because even Robert has been able to join us for most of the story so far.

Clam chowder, church ladies, marriage, high school football, a church Christmas tea, a ten foot trout, an almost empty nest, surrendered expectations, sacrifice, and the true meaning of Christmas all make The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren a delightful and simple, and yet simply profound book. I found myself relating refreshingly to Marianne as she found herself in angst over the holidays, consumed with making sure her youngest son had a great football season, struggling with her expectations of family and friends, and also the expectations of others toward her.

It’s not Charles Dickens, but it’s a modern and humorous look into one family’s journey through the holidays – just the light, fun, and encouraging read I was in need of!
(By the way, have I told you that I’m related to old Charles? It’s true! My great-grandma, Elsie, was a “Dickens” – in more ways than one! She could tell you how he fit in to the family – a very great uncle to put it simply. She could also tell you how to drink Vodka, smoke like a chimney, and what your horoscope was for that day. Quite a character, my Nana.)

And speaking of fun, yet profound……

“Get away from the baby!” she yelled at Ralph, who was Joseph. And she made the wise men keep their distance.

“The wise men want to honor the Christ Child,” Mother explained, for the tenth time. “They don’t mean to harm him, for heaven’s sake!”

But the wise men didn’t know how things were supposed to be either, and nobody blamed Imogene for shoving them out of the way. You got a feeling that these wise men were going to hustle back to Herod as fast as they could squeal on the baby, out of pure meanness.

They thought about it, too.

Kory had to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson for his final reading assignment for his Challenge I class. A far cry from The Scarlet Letter or Billy Budd, but a nice way to end the semester and enter the Christmas season! After he read it (in about half an hour), I decided it would be good to read this one aloud to everyone again – we’ve read it before.

You simply can’t read this account of an annual church Children’s Christmas Pageant without laughing out loud, and it provides such a wonderful reminder of just who the gospel is for – all of us Herdman ragamuffins – whether we can see it or not.
(A bit of a nudge to the church to acknowledge our own need and our equality with those we deem unseemly and unsightly.)
It’s simply a Christmas must read!

“Hey! Unto you a child is born!”