Heroes + Heroines for my Kids // The Beauty of Biography

Stories have always played a significant role in my life... from the moment I could read, I had my nose in a book... there was something about immersing myself in an epic story which truly captured my mind and my heart and my emotions. I have learnt so many lessons through the years from story characters - both real and fictional.

Perhaps the best kind of characters are the imperfect ones... the ones who make mistakes, who are real flesh and blood people, but who appear to achieve something incredible. Something that inspires us, gives us perspective and helps us to long to do more with our lives.

Late Winter Favourites // Book Worm Central

I guess it was inevitable that with me as their mother, our children were always going to be readers. From the youngest age, I have always had an insatiable desire for good stories, and sharing my favourites with our children has been one of the greatest delights of motherhood.

There are just some classics; some stories tied up with my own childhood, that I have truly cherished sharing.

For me, stories are seasonal... does anyone else feel like that? There are certain stories that belong to certain times and places. Perhaps a story is linked to a specific event or tradition, or is one that is tightly bound up in an era of life. There are Christmas books, full of cosy festive tales, springtime books full of hope and promise... summer books full of sunshine and holiday memories, and autumn books of hunkering down and breathing in the natural world.

And then there is this little gap. This post Christmas extension of winter. So I thought I'd share my favourite stories for this time of year with you all... there are a great wealth of books I could have labelled here... but these four are books which have stood the test of time... which both I, and the children, have adored for their quaint tales, lovable characters and wonderful storylines. Just a little shout out for our geniune favourites! Links to buy them are at the bottom of the post!

WHITE BEAR'S SECRET
By Martine Beck

This copy was my own copy growing up... and oh, how much I loved this story! The simple tale of two bears living in the alps who's home is destroyed by an avalanche, and how they set up building their home again, with a little unexpected addition! It is a beautiful, heartwarming story of family, of neighbourly love, and of the excitement of preparing for a new life. And the illustrations?! Stunning!

BRAMBLY HEDGE: WINTER'S TALE
By Jill Barklem

The illustrations in the Brambly Hedge series are something else... my sister actually gifted the girls a framed copy of one of the illustrations for their bedroom. They are so detailed and beautiful and quaint! Little mice living in tree stumps and getting up to all sorts of adventures! The Winter Story is one of ice palaces and excitement and endless amounts of snow... if you haven't come across it - its a keeper!

LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS
Laura Ingalls Wilder

Although this story (the first in the Little House series) covers a length of time, this story in particular is synonymous with winter for me. Woodland snow fall, winter scenes, sleigh rides... It's got it all! The Little House series is a firm favourite with our girls and has been the source of much imaginative play over the years. These are books we return to time and time again!

CHILDREN OF THE NORTHLIGHTS
Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire

Anything by the D'Aulaire's is beautiful, whimsical, stunning and totally captures the imagination. Focussing on historical cultures... these books are truly delightful, and even as an adult, each page brings me so much joy. Gorgeously detailed illustrations, wonderfully simplistic storytelling and a beautiful insight into other cultures and eras. Of all their books, I think "Children of the Northlights" is our favourite!

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This list is by no means exhaustive... and yet these are the stories that have truly captured the children's imaginations, and therefore are the ones I thought worthy of sharing! If you're after some seasonal reads, look no further!

Books can be ordered here... (click on the image)

White Bear's Secret (Picture Puffin)

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He Will Hold Me Fast... // Words to Cling to

We sang this song at Church this morning. Beautiful words. Healing words.

So very, very thankful that in the midst of our struggles, he holds us fast.

Thank you so much for all your kind words, prayers and messages. You cannot know how much they have strengthened and encouraged me these past few days.

God is always, always good.

Our Favourite Advent Books

Last week I shared that one of our Advent traditions is our advent book box... every year we add one to the collection, and any particularly Christmassy books we gather along the way get added to it too. A couple of people asked me to share some of our favourites... and so rather than share everything we've got in our basket, I thought I'd share the children's absolute favourites...

Toy Ideas: Our Family Favourites

Writing a post like this feels a little ironic in the run up to Christmas... we are not huge money spenders when it comes to gifts... though we love the joy of watching our kids excitedly open their little parcels, we want them to be clear what Christmas is really all about... not about getting more stuff, but about receiving the gift of God's only Son.

As well as that, there is the fact that we don't want to be overrun by toys... I, and particularly David, are not fans of accumulating stuff, and so our Christmas Day is always preceded by what has come to be known as the "pre-Christmas purge" AKA - trip to the charity shop. Or rather, multiple trips to the charity shop...

Preparing our Hearts for Christmas // An Advent Devotional

Advent has become such a precious time for us as a family over the past few years... somehow savouring Advent has put the breaks on the Christmas rush and allowed us a slow descent into the festive season. Taking time to meditate on the arrival of Christ has helped us to refocus our priorities and remember what Christmas is really all about. It was a journey we began back when Ava was a baby - an attempt to teach our firstborn the true meaning of Christmas in an age-appropriate and tactile way, and they are traditions I have come to cherish.

My Little Nature Lovers // Exploring the World with Usborne Books

If you were to ask my children what they want to be when they grow up, you'd get some pretty varied answers. It's a question I've always loved asking them, firstly, because I think it gives you an insight into the inner workings of their little brains, and secondly, because it's pretty much a guaranteed giggle.

Here's how it would run in our house...