What We Wish We Would Have Known When We Were Newlyweds..

This book was suggested to us by my niece. I skimmed through it then but never really read it. Then we received the audio book as a gift from a friend. Half way through listening to it I really wished we had read it before. :) They have some great advice on everything that newly weds deal with as they try and merge their two lives together. I would highly recommend this book to any newly wed. I know it would have helped James and I out A LOT. We are now reading it together a chapter at a time and talking about it and answering the questions at the back of each chapter. We are barely into the book but we are really excited about it and have noticed that it is already strengthening our relationship.

The Enoch Letters

These books are generally really hard for me to get through, even though it's only 71 pages long it was hard because of all the amazing content in it. Neal A. Maxwell is an amazing scholar and scriptorian which I think is another reason as to why it was so hard to get through. But the insights into the City of Enoch were Awesome. After I got through reading this book I looked back through the pages to find a lot of notes I had taken and phrases I had underlined because I liked them so much. The story about the city of Enoch is taught to all Christians at a very young age and a lot of people know about how the city was so righteous that the Lord took it up to heaven to live again with him. But sometimes I think we forget that it didn't just happen that way all in one day or just a "bam" moment. It took time, faith, love and much much more. The Enoch letters are is about letters sent back and forth between two good friends Omner and Mahijah. (sp?)
Mahijah was introduced to Enoch the prophet when he came into his city and slowly became a believe to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It talks about his trials in accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior and first his wrestling with the truth till finally he became a believer. Then the letters start talking about life in the City of Enoch and Mahijah starts to plead with his good friend Omner to come and join him in the city. I loved reading about life for Mahijah in the city of Enoch and to see the progression of the city and all the doctrine he talks about. this really was an amazing story and one I think any christian would enjoy reading.

the Miserable Mill

This book was a little more surprising to me. I don't know if it was because it was the first book in the series that I've read that hasn't been in the movie or if it's because events have shifted in the story. Whatever it may be this book seemed to be a little darker than the rest and the ever present villain Count Olaf was a little harder to find.This book certainly did keep me guessing and just when i thought I figured it out, it would change. I was an enjoyable read...we as enjoyable as you can get reading about misery and misfortune following these little kids around. but so far I am really enjoying this series.

Wait till Helen Comes

This is another book my niece recommended for me. it's a really good read. It's an easy read but has a really great story behind it. It's about these kids Molly and Michael who's mom re-married and with the marriage they gained a step sister named Heather. Their lives are turned even more upside down when their Mom and step-dad announce that they are moving to the country to live in a old church. After the move things become weird when Molly notices her step sister becoming more nasty to her and her brother, and when Molly discovers that Heather has made friends with a ghost named Helen things start to get a little stranger.

Christmas of the Cherry Snow

This book was SO good and SO frustrating at the same time. As I got closer and closer to the end I kept wondering if it was ever going to be able to wrap the story up. This book was suggested to me by a very good friend of mine and sometimes I would express my frustration and all she would say is keep reading.

I am so glad that I had the chance to read this book, it taught me so much about life, love, faith and a determined spirit. i would recommend this book to anyone interested in a good read.

I Believe in Santa Claus.

This is by far my favorite Christmas book...beside the story of the Savior in the Bible and Book of Mormon of course. This book talks about the symbolism in Christmas and what the different things stand for. But mostly it talks about how Santa Claus is the symbol of the Savior and it talks about why. First the author portrays Santa and the person he is, then she describes the Savior and the person he is which is exactly the same. I love how after I read this book now whenever I see Santa I think of the Savior and the true meaning of Christmas being the celebration of his birth and life. This book is a great one o help kids understand that everything we see at Christmas time and even throughout our lives points back to the Savior and is a wonderful reminder of how we need to constantly look to him and remember his life and the example he was for us so that we may pattern our mortal lives after his. This is the first Christmas in 4 years that I have actual felt the Christmas spirit and the Spirit of the Lord together. It's the first Christmas in a long time that i have been excited for Christmas not because of the presents under the tree...but for the opportunity we have to openly declare our love for our Savior and to sing our praises to him without people getting offended. I love this time of year! I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and i know that he lives and that he loves us. I know that he wants us to return to live with him someday.
I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST...therefore I BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS!. :)

The Polar Express

Most kids had the opportunity to grow up with this book. So when they made the movie there were a lot of very excited people. I knew nothing about the book or movie till...I think it was last year. But when I saw the movie I fell in love with it instantly and this year I finally read the book...well listened to it is more like it. I love the story behind it and the characters. I can see why this book captivated millions of Children and parent around the world. :)