Christmas Eve traditions

Our family is weird. But tradition is tradition and when you live with autism, you cling to a tradition that works like Velcro. Here’s what we’re doing today (although, I admit I’m limited today due to my surgery recovery): Frantically cleaning every corner and wrapping every forgotten gift we can find. I usually cook all day but that won’t happen …

Autism, Christmas and Miracles

  Source: Facebook I am home from the hospital recovering from surgery and I am not a very good patient. I whine, cry, moan and throw little fits. In my defense, I am allergic to most pain medications. They make me so nauseous and dizzy I simply can’t take them. I’ve been dealing with recovering from a major surgery while …

V is for Venice

I’m writing a book about Marco Polo for middle grades, so naturally I’m also learning a lot about Venice, a place I long to visit. Here are some awesome shots of the Grand Canal that runs through the middle of the city. Venice is called the “City of Romance” so it sees a lot of out-of-town weddings! It’s also called …

My favorite Christmas pageant

When I was in my early twenties, my church asked me to sing “O Holy Night” while the children dressed as shepherds, kings, Mary and Joseph, took their places on the stage for the live nativity scene. The live nativity scene included a little lamb. A very vocal little lamb. That loved to sing. (Turn the video above way up …

A Christmas Promise by Tamera Lynn Kraft

I’m happy to introduce a warm Christmas story by Tamera Lynn Kraft: A Christmas Promise. This lovely little read (about 80 pages long) is a Moravian holiday story set in about 1773. Summary: During colonial times, John and Anna settle in an Ohio village to become Moravian missionaries to the Lenape. When John is called away to help at another …

Featuring The Potawatomi Boy by Lisa J. Lickel

Today I’m pleased to introduce you to Lisa J. Lickel and her new book just in time for Christmas! Green Leaf, The Potawatomi Boy Lisa J Lickel, illustrated by Brenda Hendricks About the Book: Green Leaf’s cousins are all older than he and don’t like to play fair. He longs for a friend his own age he canplay with, explore …