Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 361
December 5, 2014
Today in World War II History—December 5, 1944
SS Red Oak Victory at Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Park, Richmond, CA, May 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
70 Years Ago—Dec. 5, 1944: US launches final offensive on Leyte in the Philippines, driving into the Ormoc Valley. Victory ship SS Red Oak Victory commissioned into US Navy as ammunition ship at Richmond, CA (currently at Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Park, Richmond, CA).
December 4, 2014
Simplify Christmas – 10 Ways to Simplify Food & Decorations, by Sarah Sundin – plus Giveaway!
Do you break out in hives just thinking about the craziness and chaos that comes with Christmas? It doesn’t have to be that way. Inspirational authors Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin, and Tricia Goyer share about Christmases past in their new novella collection
Where Treetops Glisten
. Their three stories “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” will take you back to war-time 1942, 1943, and 1944. The authors have also teamed up to give tips on simplifying Christmas this year! Join us December 1-6 on Not Quite Amish for the Simplifying Christmas series.
10 Ways to Simplify Food and Decorations
by Sarah Sundin
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! We long to fill our homes with red and green, with pine and holly, and the smells of cinnamon and vanilla. But in the process we often find ourselves depressed, stressed, irritable, and in debt.
Food and decorations create a festive mood and wonderful memories, but they take a great portion of our time and energy. While writing my novella for Where Treetops Glisten, I was struck by the relative simplicity of Christmas in World War II. Rationing changed menus, shortages meant fewer decorations for sale, and many women had jobs outside the home and less time to prepare for the holidays. Overall, Christmas in the 1940s was simpler—fewer gifts, fewer decorations, and simpler food—but no less meaningful. So what can we do to simplify here and now?
To read the rest of the article and find a helpful printable, please visit the Not Quite Amish blog.
Where Treetops Glisten Gift Basket Giveaway!
My publisher has created three wonderful gift baskets. To enter to win this basket, please use the Rafflecopter form below (US residents only please). Also find the additional giveaways (and read more great tips to simplify Christmas!) on Tricia Goyer’s blog and Cara Putman’s blog!
Each basket contains:
Copy of Where Treetops Glisten
Christmas DVD – Holiday InnBing Crosby, Fred Astaire
Christmas CD (includes all the book title songs) – “A Jolly Christmas” Frank Sinatra
Apron made from vintage pattern
Recipe cards from each character
Christmas Chronicles – Karen Barnett
The Christmas Chronicles is a blog hop between 5 historical romance authors. Our desire is to bring you joy through these letters, grounded in the true spirit of the season, and written from the fictional viewpoints of each book’s heroine. We’re so glad to have you join the event. Each day this week, a new Christmas Chronicles post will go live, complete with a letter and a new ornament giveaway for that blog post.
To read more about the project and enter for a chance to win the fresh evergreen wreath which represents the gift of eternal life, click here.
On today’s stop for the Christmas Chronicles, Karen Barnett shares a letter from her heroine, Abby Fischer from Out of the Ruins. Karen’s giving away a copy of this wonderful book (see my review here!), plus an ornament inspired by the story!
Monday, December 1st: Regina Jennings (Heroine: Abigail Calhoun, A Most Inconvenient Marriage)
Tuesday, December 2nd: Joanne Bischof (Heroine: Sarah Miller, This Quiet Sky)
Wednesday, December 3rd: Amanda Dykes (Heroine: Aria St. John, Bespoke)
Thursday, December 4th: Karen Barnett (Heroine: Abby Fischer, Out of the Ruins)
Friday, December 5th: Sarah Sundin (Heroine: Grace Kessler, Where Treetops Glisten)
Today in World War II History—December 4, 1944
The 1,154-ft ft bridge across the Chindwin River in Burma as it neared completion; this would be the longest Bailey Bridge ever. 2 December 1944. (Imperial War Museum)
70 Years Ago—Dec. 4, 1944: Italian partisans liberate Ravenna in first major planned partisan attack in Italy. British Fourteenth Army begins major offensive in Burma, crossing Chindwin River.
December 3, 2014
Simplify Christmas – Simple Family Memory Making, by Tricia Goyer – plus Giveaway!
Do you break out in hives just thinking about the craziness and chaos that comes with Christmas? It doesn’t have to be that way. Inspirational authors Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin, and Tricia Goyer share about Christmases past in their new novella collection
Where Treetops Glisten
. Their three stories “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” will take you back to war-time 1942, 1943, and 1944. The authors have also teamed up to give tips on simplifying Christmas this year! Join us December 1-6 on Not Quite Amish for the Simplifying Christmas series.
Simple Family Memory Making
by Tricia Goyer
Christmas for the Goyers mean large family gatherings. My husband, John, came up with this simple and interactive idea.
Below is the Scripture passage of the birth of Jesus. Notice some of the words are bolded. Each of the bolded words have a “sound effect” that go with them.
Instructions:
Print out the story and the sound effects on slips of paper and have family members draw them from a jar. Then as the Bible story is read, everyone must pay attention and say their sound effect at the right time.
When a bolded word in the story is spoken, reader must pause to allow the participant assigned the word to call out their part. For instance, when the word Jesus is read, pause to allow the assigned participant to call out, “God Saves.”
This allows for reader and listeners to participate in the Christmas story. Feel free to change the call out phrase to fit the audience of participants.
It’s a fun way to share the Bible Story and get family members of all ages involved!
To read the story and find a cute printable with the sound effects key, go to the Not Quite Amish blog.
Where Treetops Glisten Gift Basket Giveaway!
My publisher has created three wonderful gift baskets. To enter to win this basket, please use the Rafflecopter form below. Also find the additional giveaways (and read more great tips to simplify Christmas!) on Tricia Goyer’s blog and Cara Putman’s blog!
Each basket contains:
Copy of Where Treetops Glisten
Christmas DVD – Holiday InnBing Crosby, Fred Astaire
Christmas CD (includes all the book title songs) – “A Jolly Christmas” Frank Sinatra
Apron made from vintage pattern
Recipe cards from each character
Christmas Chronicles – Amanda Dykes
The Christmas Chronicles is a blog hop between 5 historical romance authors. Our desire is to bring you joy through these letters, grounded in the true spirit of the season, and written from the fictional viewpoints of each book’s heroine. We’re so glad to have you join the event. Each day this week, a new Christmas Chronicles post will go live, complete with a letter and a new ornament giveaway for that blog post.
To read more about the project and enter for a chance to win the fresh evergreen wreath which represents the gift of eternal life, click here.
On today’s stop for the Christmas Chronicles, Amanda Dykes shares a letter from her heroine, Aria St. John from Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale. Amanda’s giving away a copy of this book, plus an ornament inspired by the story!
Monday, December 1st: Regina Jennings (Heroine: Abigail Calhoun, A Most Inconvenient Marriage)
Tuesday, December 2nd: Joanne Bischof (Heroine: Sarah Miller, This Quiet Sky)
Wednesday, December 3rd: Amanda Dykes (Heroine: Aria St. John, Bespoke)
Thursday, December 4th: Karen Barnett (Heroine: Abby Fischer, Out of the Ruins)
Friday, December 5th: Sarah Sundin (Heroine: Grace Kessler, Where Treetops Glisten)
Today in World War II History—December 3, 1939 & 1944
75 Years Ago—Dec. 3, 1939: RAF bombs Helgoland Bight in Germany, no damage done, first British bombs on German soil in WWII.
70 Years Ago—Dec. 3, 1944: Civil war breaks out in Greece between Communists and Royalists; British intervene. British Eighth Army opens drive for Bologna, Italy. Col. Elliott Roosevelt, son of the president, marries actress Faye Emerson in a highly publicized wedding at the Grand Canyon.
December 2, 2014
Simplifying Christmas – 9 Ways to Manage Your Schedule, by Cara Putman – plus Giveaway!
Do you break out in hives just thinking about the craziness and chaos that comes with Christmas? It doesn’t have to be that way. Inspirational authors Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin, and Tricia Goyer share about Christmases past in their new novella collection
Where Treetops Glisten
. Their three stories “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” will take you back to war-time 1942, 1943, and 1944. The authors have also teamed up to give tips on simplifying Christmas this year! Join us December 1-6 on Not Quite Amish for the Simplifying Christmas series.
9 Ways to Manage Your Schedule This Holiday
by Cara Putman
“The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
Have you ever felt that way about the last six weeks of the year? You wake up one morning and it’s November 20th. Blink and it’s January 2. Weeks have passed and you’d had such high hopes for a season filled with peace.
Instead, the weeks are filled with events, rehearsals, recitals, parties, and more. Christmas has become a time of immense busyness. Instead of being a season of peace and enjoyment, many of us see December approach on the calendar with a sense of dread. Do you hate that as much as I do? Do you long for an approach to the season that doesn’t make you cringe?
When I asked some friends how they simplify Christmas, many talked about schedules.
Today, I wanted to share some of their ideas with you. I’d also love to hear your suggestions. Together maybe we can bring some sanity back to the holidays.
To read the rest of the article, and for a free printable to help you manage your schedule, please visit Not Quite Amish.
Where Treetops Glisten Gift Basket Giveaway!
My publisher has created three wonderful gift baskets. To enter to win this basket, please use the Rafflecopter form below. Also find the additional giveaways (and read more great tips to simplify Christmas!) on Tricia Goyer’s blog and Cara Putman’s blog!
Each basket contains:
Copy of Where Treetops Glisten
Christmas DVD – Holiday InnBing Crosby, Fred Astaire
Christmas CD (includes all the book title songs) – “A Jolly Christmas” Frank Sinatra
Apron made from vintage pattern
Recipe cards from each character
Simplifying Christmas – 9 Ways to Manage Your Schedule, by Cara Putman
Do you break out in hives just thinking about the craziness and chaos that comes with Christmas? It doesn’t have to be that way. Inspirational authors Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin, and Tricia Goyer share about Christmases past in their new novella collection
Where Treetops Glisten
. Their three stories “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” will take you back to war-time 1942, 1943, and 1944. The authors have also teamed up to give tips on simplifying Christmas this year! Join us December 1-6 on Not Quite Amish for the Simplifying Christmas series.
9 Ways to Manage Your Schedule This Holiday
by Cara Putman
“The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
Have you ever felt that way about the last six weeks of the year? You wake up one morning and it’s November 20th. Blink and it’s January 2. Weeks have passed and you’d had such high hopes for a season filled with peace.
Instead, the weeks are filled with events, rehearsals, recitals, parties, and more. Christmas has become a time of immense busyness. Instead of being a season of peace and enjoyment, many of us see December approach on the calendar with a sense of dread. Do you hate that as much as I do? Do you long for an approach to the season that doesn’t make you cringe?
When I asked some friends how they simplify Christmas, many talked about schedules.
Today, I wanted to share some of their ideas with you. I’d also love to hear your suggestions. Together maybe we can bring some sanity back to the holidays.
To read the rest of the article, and for a free printable to help you manage your schedule, please visit Not Quite Amish.
Christmas Chronicles – Joanne Bischof
The Christmas Chronicles is a blog hop between 5 historical romance authors. Our desire is to bring you joy through these letters, grounded in the true spirit of the season, and written from the fictional viewpoints of each book’s heroine. We’re so glad to have you join the event. Each day this week, a new Christmas Chronicles post will go live, complete with a letter and a new ornament giveaway for that blog post.
To read more about the project and enter for a chance to win the fresh evergreen wreath which represents the gift of eternal life, click here.
On today’s stop for the Christmas Chronicles, Joanne Bischof shares a letter from her heroine, Sarah Miller from This Quiet Sky. Joanne’s giving away a copy of this book, plus an ornament inspired by the story!
Monday, December 1st: Regina Jennings (Heroine: Abigail Calhoun, A Most Inconvenient Marriage)
Tuesday, December 2nd: Joanne Bischof (Heroine: Sarah Miller, This Quiet Sky)
Wednesday, December 3rd: Amanda Dykes (Heroine: Aria St. John, Bespoke)
Thursday, December 4th: Karen Barnett (Heroine: Abby Fischer, Out of the Ruins)
Friday, December 5th: Sarah Sundin (Heroine: Grace Kessler, Where Treetops Glisten)
