I’m writing part of this from school right now. We have mandatory 2x a week study hall, and a kid is totally snoring. He is passed out.  Must be nice.

So the big news…is that our big snow-ice-sleet-happiness front didn’t come through. I am so stinkin’ mad at my favorite (former favorite) weather guy who said, “This front…it could be so much bigger than we’re predicting.” That was at the six o’clock news. Then by nine, he said, “Our chances are zero. Sorry. Things changed.” Just like that…things changed. Just like that…my heart got ripped out. Just like that…my snow day was gone. So of course, I totally sat down and composed some emo-snow poetry that described the dark night of my soul and how I would be TPing weatherman’s house that very eve. I have finally forgiven…but I shall not forget.

But there’s a new front possibility for Monday. Dare to dream.

Clearly, to improve effectiveness, I need to add some moves to my midnight snow dance. I’m thinking the running man.

Sad item number two. I was hungry at work today, and I search through my desk (because any good teacher worth her salt keeps nothing but pens, glue sticks, and food in her desk), and my huge new bag of walnuts were gone. AND!!! My container of special ordered non-aspartame gum, which you cannot get just anywhere, and the flavor only lasts for exactly 60 seconds before you’re leaning over a trash can and spitting it out or maybe driving past a certain weather man’s house and throwing it into his yard, but still 60 seconds of minty, chewy flavor is better than nothing. This person by-passed the candy (which was kind of thoughtful) and the pb crackers I never eat. And they got walnuts and crappy, expensive gum that they’re just going to chunk in the dumpster. Oh, well.

I have been real-gum free for a year. (Minus a few setbacks…like today.) Not too long ago my mom asked me if I wanted gum (Mom has always been an excellent gum provider), as she always does, even though I’ve turned it down for the last year on a weekly basis. And my eight year old nephew pipes up and says, “Grandma, she’s on a gum diet.”

So I got invited back to a book club that has been very good to me and Katie Parker. Their book this month is The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans. I read this book over ten years ago, and just reread it this week. I didn’t remember exactly being thrilled about the book, but turns out I was wrong. It’s not the most well-written thing, but it’s a great story. I’m a sucker for C’mas stories anyway. And I really liked this book–again.

Speaking of Christmas stories. I’m giving away a beautiful copy of Robin Jones Gunn’s Engaging Father Christmas. This is a short novella about Miranda Carson who thinks she might be getting a proposal with her figgy pudding at Christmas in England. I loved that the romantic lead guy was British! That always adds extra hotness. But wouldn’t you know it–her old boyfriend shows up. (I hate it when I run into old flames in London.) Various other matters complicate her life, but this family-less girl finally finds a home and the meaning of Christmas. I am going to write a bonus chapter where she finds my walnuts and health food store gum.

If you would like to win this cute, touching story, then please leave a comment on this post telling me ONE THING you have on your Christmas list. And if it’s something like “World Peace,” you are immediately disqualified. Leave your comments until Sunday evening. I will draw a name and announce the winner here on Monday. Even if that new front comes in and wipes out the electricity and snows me in for the entire month. I will still post the winner. You have my word.

Say a prayer for this winter weather system. Some of you obviously didn’t pray hard enough for the last one, but you have a second chance to make things right.

Off to perfect my running man…
OH! And a synopsis and sample chapter of Engaging Father Christmas is at the end of my signature. Check it out!
JEN

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Engaging Father Christmas

FaithWords (October 30, 2008)

by

Robin Jones Gunn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawai’i.

She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for 30 years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown.

As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin’s favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives.

Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers’ Guild.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Miranda Carson can’t wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she’s sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation.

But Miranda’s high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian’s father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda’s mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost.

And yet…maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Engaging Father Christmas, go HERE

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