Merry Christmas, Christmas in our Hearts inspiration stories & Poems provides readers a Table of Contents listing the 20 vignettes comprising this particular book.

Filled with inspiration, and musings from childhood, The Christmas We Peeked into the Attic is a bitter sweet reading filled with anticipation, hope, realized and some not, all together a nifty tale to set the book in motion.

 Other vignettes include At Just the Right Time, Carols Remembered and A Bit of Poetry and Prose.

The writer brings home the truth that all life marches on with a poem entitled Caroling sure to bring a moment of memory for readers who may have joined others for the hay ride, or walk around the neighbor hood as teens gathered at the church building before setting out on the yearly singfest in the cold.

“I sang for ‘them’….. and now all too soon the carolers come and sing to me.”

Filled me with memories of hot chocolate and the faces of those for whom we sang, and the rueful smile as I realize today, they indeed sing to me.

Other sketches include Mary’s Ponderings, Immanuel! Have You Heard, and Listening in on Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve.

There are 20 short tales in all spanning 118 pages; poems, prose, poignant, thought provoking, and compelling to read.

Last Christmas, begins on page 119 and ends on page 160.

This poignant, loving and lovely tale of a family facing what might seem impossible carries an important message; ‘Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus.’ While uplifting and ending on a positive note, this particular narrative is sure to bring a tear or two to the eye. Mary Meet Dr. Luke, An Evening Visit, brings the reader to a family, living in Jerusalem during the early days of the Church. Their visitor, Luke, has a tale to tell of one named Saul who now is called Paul.

It is a strong compelling read about what might have happened, and perhaps actually did take place among the early believers.

Note to reader friends page 221 and Margery’s writing career pages 222 -225 wrap up the book.

I was pleased to discover each of the three tales is complete, significant and stand alone. The single volume brings the three together nicely for a tuck in gift at holiday time, or for keeping and reading for pleasure any time during the year, and especially during December.

Reading Christmas Musings stirred old memories, filling my thoughts with happiness and some poignancy now that my parents and one sibling are gone, children are grown and while causing me happy thoughts; tended to bring as well a little melancholy to even out the joy engendered remembering days gathered around the old piano singing hymns, thoughts of Jesus, caroling, pie suppers and church programs, along with the special recipes cooked at Christmas time and looked forward to by the whole family celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Growing up understanding the real meaning of Christmas, along with visits from Santa and Christmas stockings helped shape the lives of many of those who will enjoy reading Christmas Musings.

I found Christmas Musings to be a heartwarming, enjoyable, and engaging, work meant to help readers evoke the special times in their lives and perhaps to guide 20 something readers to think about beginning or continuing some holiday traditions with their own young families.

At times it seems many in our society have forgotten what Christmas really is all about; these uplifting, reflective and sentimental tales found on the pages of Christmas Musings with keepsake moments centered on family and societal traditions lived during the ‘Happy Days’ period of the mid 1900s help us stop and think what fun Christmas was and is even today.

Writing is fine honed, readable, believable draws the reader into the narratives and poems and offers good sound prose to be enjoyed on a cold rainy evening during December, or on a sunny day spent on the porch sipping Tea and reading.

I received an ARC from the author for review.

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Reviewed by Molly’s Reviews

molly martin

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AMAZON   Product Details

Title: Christmas Musings

Author: Margery Risby Warder

Amazon Product Details

Paperback: 226 pages

Publisher: Parson's Creek Press (November 14, 2013) Language: English

ISBN-10: 0615922732

ISBN-13: 978-0615922737

Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches

For more product details, facts, and shipping information please check the AMAZON site

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Amazon About the Author Two of Margery Warder's passions are writing and speaking, especially welcoming opportunities to communicate both her Christian faith and the joy that humor adds to life. She and her retired pastor husband have been married over four decades.

They enjoy time with their married children's families, taking part in volunteer ministries, entertaining guests informally, and spending time with family and friends. Margery's earlier creative thoughts made it to paper because of her personal faith in Jesus Christ or because of ministry or community needs wherever the Warders lived. When she turned sixty, her devotion to express her faith and humor in writing increased, resulting in being hired as a columnist, features writer, and reporter for two newspapers.

Now, hundreds of articles later, she has completed one historical fiction book entitled "Leaves That Did Not Wither", and has its sequels in rough draft formats, though "books" in her mind are begging for attention. Margery hopes her writing is an encouragement to others because she values time, both hers and that of her readers. She and her husband reside in Oklahoma.