Her heart was full of sorrow, for there was nothing to fill the stockings, and there would be only a little mush for breakfast. Mary had written to her sisters in Idaho, asking for help with such necessities as wheat, yeast, flour, and cornmeal. She had also asked for clothing and some old, used quilts, for all of hers were thin and full of holes.At the close of the letter, she had written, "If you could just find a dress that someone has outgrown, I could make it over to fit Ellen. She is far too somber for such a young girl. She worries so about the family and about our needs. She has only one dress that she wears all the time, and it is patched and faded."Her letter had gone unanswered, it seemed, and their Christmas would be far from merry. But George Schow, their mailman, had a surprise in store. Could he brave the coming storm and bitter cold to deliver a Christmas miracle? And would there be a special present for Ellen? Find out in this classic tale of Christmas sacrifice and service.About this book: President Thomas S. Monson told the story "A Christmas Dress for Ellen" at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional in 1997, and an adaption of his address was published as a Christmas booklet in 1998. The story was related to President Monson by Marian Jeppson Walker (now deceased), a daughter of Mary Jeppson, the mother in the story. Sister Walker and her husband, William, also exchanged correspondence about the story with President Monson over the years. Additional details were obtained through correspondence with descendants of George Schow, the mailman who delivered the long-looked-for packages to the Jeppson family on Christmas Eve. In addition to other family members, those descendants include Mark Schow (now deceased) and Gayla Woolf Holt. The help and information from all these family members is acknowledged and appreciated.

    His exquisite prequel, Timepiece, and The Letter complete the glorious trilogy of the Parkin family. Now all three magical stories are compiled in one extraordinary treasury that “reaches into that place where all broken heart will forever be made whole” (The Star, Chicago).THE CHRISTMAS BOXA Christmas story unlike any other, The Christmas Box is the poignant tale of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Together, they discover the first gift of Christmas --- and what the holiday is really all about.TIMEPIECE Tracing the lives of a young couple as they discover love, loyalty, and the power of forgiveness, Timepiece is a tale of wisdom and of hope --- and a gentle reminder that the connections from one generation to the next are indelible.THE LETTER A mysterious letter is found at the grave of a couple's only child in this unforgettable conclusion to the collection. As they face love's greatest challenge, they find its truest meaning and learn the lessons that are echoed throughout.

    This special boxed set contains these classic Christmas stories and a beautifully crafted ornament inspired by The Crippled Lamb.Jacob is a young boy who learns a powerful lesson from his carpentry teacher: When you give a gift to one of God's children, you give a gift to Him. Faced with an important decision, Jacob acts on this lesson and truly gives a gift to God.

    He scoffs at the beautifully sculpted creations of the old chandler and instead purchases a simple, inexpensive Christmas candle that the chandler warns him he may find costly. The young man soon realizes that the old man meant, as the poor and ill he encounters on his journey, illuminated by his Christmas candle, become the faces of his relatives, so he feels compelled to help them. He arrives home cold and penniless, but richer for his newfound realization that we are all part of one family. This beautifully illustrated original fable by the acclaimed author of The Christmas Box will become a treasured part of many families' Christmases for years to come.

    So Santa tried just about everything -- from a chimney sweep to a postman to a circus performer. But none of these worked out. It wasn't until he met a group of elves who helped him use all his special talents, that Santa was able to find his dream job.

    With a simple, lyrical text and radiant artwork, this book is perfect for the youngest child to be a part of the wonder of the Nativity.Parents, grandparents, and caregivers have all embraced this telling. Don't miss this beautiful little book from the acclaimed team of Nola Buck and Felicia Bond.

    And who but Quentin Blake could exploit the full comic possibilities of this hilarious debacle as first birds, then maids and finally the full percussion section of the Liverpoool Philharmonic create mayhem in the calm of an English country Christmas?

    In addition to the complete lyrics, Lowry add

    Mary has combined her favorite Christmas poetry, prose, and songs, and liberally illustrated them with their best-loved seasonal images.Believe / Jan Miller Girando --A Christmas carol / Christina Rossetti --Silent night --Dear Virginia / Charles Dana --Keeping Christmas / Jan Miller Girando --Quite early one morning (excerpt) / Dylan Thomas --Home for Christmas (excerpt) / Elizabeth Bowen --A visit from St. Nicholas / Clement C. Moore --Toyland --Gifts of the magi / O. Henry --Over the river and through the woods --The substitute reindeer / Mrs. Roy L. Peifer --Everywhere, everywhere Christmas tonight / Phillipe Brooks --Up on the housetop --Gospel of St. Luke (excerpt) --The friendly beasts --I believe in Christmas / M. Kathleen Haley --Christmas in Germany --Jack Frost in the garden / John P. Smeeton --A Christmas carol / Charles Dickens (excerpt) --Angels we have heard on high --Little tree / E.E. Cummings --Carol of the Brown King / Langston Hughes --Another boy: the story of the birth at Bethlehem / Bruce Barton --Christmas in Denmark --Have yourself a merry little Christmas --Don't waste the miracle / Jan Miller Girando --Santa Claus is comin' to town --Christmas in Finland --Little Jesus / Francis Thompson --Last minute shopper / Lolita Pinney --Jest 'fore Christmas / --Eugene Field --Lullay, my liking --It came upon a midnight clear --Christmas day in the morning / Pearl S. Buck --A tree of Christmas / Marguerite Gode --Christmas in Sweden --The stork / Christmas comes but once a year / Thomas Miller --The first noel --The three skaters --Coming home / Jan Miller Girando --Christmas in Italy --Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! --Christmas in Switzerland --For Christmas / Rachel Field --The Christmas song (Chestnuts roasting on a open fire) --'Tis the season / Jan Miller Girando --The sugar-plum tree / Eugene Field --Jolly old St. Nicholas --It never hurts to ask / Jan Miller Girando --Christmas / Leonard Clark --A child's Christmas Eve dream / Ethel Van Deusen Humiston --Christmas in North America --All things bright and beautiful / Cecil Frances Alexander --Let there be peace on earth --Its's beginning to look like Christmas --Christmas in France --The lamb / William Blake --Here comes Santa Claus.

    In this unique interpretation of the classic song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Don Daily has us singing along spiritedly with a bevy of animal critters! From juggling polar bears to dancing pigs, this carol comes to life and will be a constant page turner year after year.

    In a touching denouement, he discovers that generosity has rewards that more than compensate for the pain of parting with a beloved possession. Full-color illustrations.

    Others, a social critic. Still others view Jesus as a profound philosopher, a rabbi, a feminist, a prophet, and more. Many are convinced he was the divine Son of God. Who was he—really? And how can you know for sure? Consulting experts on the Bible, archaeology, and messianic prophecy, Lee Strobel searches out the true identity of the child in the manger. Join him as he asks the tough, pointed questions you’d expect from an award-winning legal journalist. If Jesus really was God in the flesh, then there ought to be credible evidence, including Eyewitness Evidence—Can the biographies of Jesus be trusted? Scientific Evidence—What does archaeology reveal? Profile Evidence—Did Jesus fulfill the attributes of God? Fingerprint Evidence—Did Jesus uniquely match the identity of the Messiah? The Case for Christmas invites you to consider why Christmas matters in the first place. Somewhere beyond the traditions of the holiday lies the truth. It may be more compelling than you’ve realized. Weigh the facts . . . and decide for yourself.

    From Mary's meeting with the angel Gabriel to the birth of baby Jesus in a stable, to the visit of the shepherds and the three wise men, the story is rich in imagery and symbolism. Here, in a triumph of glorious art, is that wondrous story excerpted from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew from the King James Bible. Gennady Spirin has been described in the Boston Globe as an artist who "truly represents the picture book as an object of art." In The Christmas Story, his paintings are luminous and reverent. Drawing on both his classical training at the Stroganov Academy of Fine Arts in Moscow and his Orthodox Christian faith, Mr. Spirin has created a work of art to be passed from generation to generation.

    They knew it signified the birth of a great teacher -- someone who would bring change and hope to the world. There and then they decided to follow the star to pay homage to the newborn child. But along the way Artaban stops to help those in need, and his journey takes him far longer than he could have dreamed.Lovingly written and stunningly illustrated, here is a Christmas story unlike any other, about one man's lifelong search for virtue. The Fourth Wise Man truly captures the real meaning of Christmas and is sure to be a holiday favorite for all ages.

    In Christmas Stories, join Laura and her family for some pioneer Christmas celebrations. Christmas on the frontier means visits from friends, good things to eat, and presents! For Laura, every Christmas in the little house is better than the one before. Laura and her friends share wonderful adventures in Little House Friends. From racing ponies with cousin Lena to bobsled rides with Cap Garland and the gang, Laura loves spending time with her friends. Even mean old Nellie Oleson can't spoil Laura's fun!With simple text, entertaining stories, and Renee Graef's beautiful black-and-white artwork, Little House Chapter Books are the perfect way to introduce beginning chapter-book readers to the world of Little House.

    Unique interactive elements inside this book-including envelopes with pullout letters and surprises-makes this a one-of-a-kind Christmas treasure.

    She continues this tradition with Miracle on 10th Street, a collection of poignant writings and reflections that give readers a glimpse of how the wonder of Christmas resonates in her personal life, which deeply involves her family and faith: "I think back to that Christmas when my husband and I did not know whether our little girl would live to grow up," she writes. "Between that Christmas and this, there have been many times when I have been in the fiery furnace, but I am beginning to understand who is in there with me and that when I need it, I am given courage I never knew I had." For anyone yearning for the childlike wonder of the Christmas season to arise in them once more, Miracle on 10th Street is a rich and delightful read.

    

    But it's hard. Jesse has no friends, and his mother's carved wooden Santas aren't selling. Will there even be a Christmas? Jesse wonders. But before the season is out, Jesse and his mom discover the true spirit of Christmas.

    But she is shocked when the handsome oldest son Alan proposes a wager: if he can give her all the gifts from the Twelve Days of Christmas song, without spending a penny, she must marry him. Alan’s wild gambit is his last-ditch effort to win Gen’s heart. After all, no Munroe would ever consider marrying a Pentercast. But perhaps the joy of Christmas can open her eyes to the man behind the wager, a man determined to turn the twelve days of Christmas into a lifetime of love. Book 1 in The Marvelous Munroes series, this sweet, clean traditional Regency romance was originally published as The Twelve Days of Christmas by Zebra Regency.

    Four readings based on the Christmas narratives in the Bible in which the Blessed Virgin Mary tells her five-year-old son, Jesus, the story of His birth.

    Each has a 24K gold-plated or silver-plated charm to keep on the ribbon bookmark or to wear on a bracelet or necklace. A blow-out bestseller. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas for cat lovers.

    On Christmas Eve, with no vest left for himself, he huddles on an icy roof... until someone very special comes to the rescue.

    Christopher learns the Real Christmas story when he asks his mom to tell him only true stories.

    These lively tales are proven favorites for family sharing!

    It tells the touching story of a small boy who loses his best friend but comes to a better understanding of friendship through the interaction of angels.

    On Christmas Eve, Piper the hyper mouse discovers that it is better to give than to receive.

    "Christmas Hearts" helps us see the heart of Christmas...I warmly recommend it." Leighton FordA quiet young girl with an oh-so-common name--Mary...Wonder-filled angels who bring scarcely believable messages to people unknown on earth but famous in heaven..Three perceptive skywatchers on a long, seeking journey...They all met Jesus that first Christmas in amazing and unexpected ways. As you read their stories, you may see your own story, too...and say, "That's the Jesus I want to know.""Christmas Hearts" blends great Biblical research and "sanctified imagination" to help you see Jesus through the eyes of those who saw Him first. You'll read the stories of well known and little known characters in the original Christmas story in fresh and faith-building ways. "Beyond the Story" questions at the end of each chapter help you dig deeper and apply what you've learned personally or with a small group. Originally released in 1998 and now in its third edition, Christmas Hearts was a featured selection of Crossings Book club.

    Her personal selection of over 40 beautiful paintings from manuscripts held by the Vatican and Italian State Libraries (many seen here for the first time) illustrate stories that are familiar to us all, yet whose significance is so often elusive. Sister Wendy begins the story by looking at the events that proceeded the birth of Christ--the Creation, the Garden of Eden, the Annunciation, the Visitation leading us to the Nativity story itself--the birth in the stable, the shepherds, the magi. The story continues with much-loved episodes from Christ's time on earth--the Feeding of the five thousand, Peter walking on the water. The last Supper. Finally, she reflects upon the meaning of the crucifixion, resurrection and Christ's eventual ascension into heaven to embrace eternal life.The charming, provocative and often humorous illustrations in this book are the testament of artists who dedicated their lives to producing paintings in praise of God. Sister Wendy blends her artistic knowledge with her spiritual insight in order to help us understand the meaning contained for all of us in their exquisite pictures.

    This touching story takes place on a quiet night several years after the death of Jesus, as Mary shares memories from her treasure box with her granddaughter Sarah. Am ong the items are straw from the manger, wool from the shepherds and the gifts of the Magi, gold, frankincense and myrrh. When Sarah asks why there is so little gold and frankincense but so much myrrh, Mary reminds her that when she went to anoint Jesus' body with the myrrh, he was risen. A touching story that will soon be a classic best-seller.

    Spend a happy day in Laura's cabin in the Big Woods in Laura's Little House and celebrate the holidays with the Ingalls family in Laura's Christmas. Chock-full of vivid illustrations and sturdy flaps, these cheerful lift-the-flap books are the perfect interactive gift for the youngest Little House fans.

    Lonely and alone, he encounters old faces and new facts…a hand carved manger, a father's guilt, a young girl's faith. The trip into the past holds his key to the future, and a scarlet cross shows him the way home.This Christmas treasure, formerly titled The Christmas Cross now repackaged and redesigned, is quickly becoming a Christmas classic.The book takes place in three different settings with four main characters. The film has expanded to include nearly 69 locations, 347 set-ups, 34 speaking parts and over 300 extras.The Christmas Child is directed by Bill Ewing, the former Senior Vice-President of Sony Pictures, whose last films included Men in Black II and Spiderman. The film is produced by Tom Newman of Impact Productions and Penelope Foster, producer of Free Willy, Rosewood and many more.The main character, Jack, is played by William Moses (of Perry Mason and Falcon's Crest). His wife, Meg, is played Megan Follows (of Anne of Green Gables). Also features Steven Curtis Chapman as the town's minister.

    We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

    

    Available on either cassette or CD, the program includes 16 laugh-out-loud shticks, including "Three Wise Guys, " "Carolers from Hell, " "A Little Dickens, " and "The 12 Tips of Christmas."

    It is Nana's tamale quilt that helps her get better. "The tamale quilt is yours now and the stories are now yours to tell", she will always remember. Instructional Spanish, recipe, and quilt patterns included.

    Francis of Assisi nearly eight hundred years ago.

    Each has a 24K gold-plated or silver-plated charm to keep on the ribbon bookmark or to wear on a bracelet or necklace.'Twas The Night Before Christmas for dog lovers.

    But waiting isn't easy--especially when every little noise sounds like Santa! Includes 24 flash cards. Full color.

    

    Those who have known the hymns forever as well as those who are new to these verses will find them, and Crafton's meditations on faith, prayer, forgiveness, healing and more, an excellent companion for Advent and Christmas.