Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

For Peace & Brotherhood

My son, 16, took a English class this past semester at our local community college.  He came home urging me to read his assignment, Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail"  which was written to "Christian and Jewish brothers." As a believer, it is one of the most powerful and moving letters I have ever read, especially in light of who it was writen to.  If you are compelled to read it today, the link above takes you to an printable pdf of his six page letter.

Afternoon Tea in Southern California

It was an exciting day when copies of this amazing new book arrived at work, hot off the press!  Georgia, Steve and I sat in a circle each with a copy in hand shouting out all the wonderful things we discovered: delicious tea sandwich, scone & soup recipes, tea rooms close by, and images of my artwork inside. 

Sherry Evans,  pictured above with her mom,  has beautifully produced and written this wonderful book.  The best part, she has agreed to come for a book signing at my Open House next Saturday!

With my cup tea at hand, I'll reveal a few of the pages inside.

 

 
Sherry is a delightful woman who trusted in the Lord as He has guided her in producing this book which, as she says, "...my purpose is to encourage you, the tea lover, to discover the many places that serve afternoon tea in Southern California." Find her book at www.AfternoonTeaInSouthernCalifornia.com or come  meet Sherry yourself next Saturday, Nov 28th, 10am-4pm at my annual Open House Sale (all my products are 1/2 off) and Tea Tasting. I'll have all the teas out that we use in our cards and stationery for you to try along with fresh baked scones and homemade jams. Scroll down to the next post for more info....

Easter Prayer

This illustration from Dale Evan's Prayer Book for Children reminds me of Easter Sundays as a girl.  My mom always made me a new Easter Dress and my younger brother a matching jacket.  For Easter service we drove to Grandma and Grandpa's church, where both my mom's and dad's parents attended, and where my mom and dad met.  The old ladies would always comment on how much we had grown.  After the service we would run around with our cousins up into the balcony or into the big kitchen.  My Grandpa was the driver who picked up kids in the neighborhood for church, and sometimes we played in his big yellow bus. 

I'll never forget the lady's lounge at that church. It was a small room which lead to the restroom with a big red velvet couch.  Ladies would be in there consoling each other, asking for prayer and encouraging one other.  This is where my Grandmothers would discuss scripture, sometimes even debate it.  From my point of view, as a little girl, God was always in the lady's lounge.

After church we went to one of the Grandparent's house for a wonderful lunch and an Easter egg hunt.  I was never as clever at finding Easter eggs as my brother or cousins.  In fact my mom still has reel to reel tape of me jumping up and down having a fit because all the eggs were found.  It just isn't the same when your eggs come from a sibling's basket who doesn't want to share their bounty.  And believe me, there is nothing attractive about a little girl having a fit in the middle of the lawn, no matter how cute her new dress is.

But from all the Easter Sundays I learned one important thing.  God's love towards us is so vast and His care of us is so immense.  He fills our lives with joy unimaginable and gives us a peace beyond description. 

Have a very Happy Easter Time!!!

No Children's Book Left Behind

Yielding to my "No Children's Book Left Behind" rule, I rescued this sweet book from the bottom of a box at a yard sale.
Publish
Dale Evans' (wife if Roy Rogers) "Prayer Book for Children" A Big Golden Book, has the most delightful illustrations from a more peaceful time. 

For me, the prayers are a wonderful bonus.

May your day abound with sweet blessings and may the evidence of a loving God surround you.

Saint Patrick

"Saint Patrick" by Michael J. McHugh is an inspiring biography which vividly portrays the true story of Patrick who took the gospel of Christ to the people of Ireland.  As a youth he was captured by the Irish Celtic Warriors and sold as a slave to a Druid Priests.  After miraculously escaping, he eventually returned without fear of his own life to boldly break down the pagan practices of the Druids, and win the hearts of the people for Christ.

I loved it. It's a very well written and fast paced book for 7th graders (and you know how I love children's books) with comprehensive questions and new vocabulary words at the end of each chapter.  It appears to be out of print, but I found a few used books offered on Amazon.

Summer Read

Horatio Alger Jr. is one of my favorite authors of Boy's Adventure books.  Horatio (1832-1899) was tutored by his father, a minister, at home.  At age 10 he went to Gates Academy, and at 16  he entered Harvard University where he studied under Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for 4 years. Later he went to Harvard Divinity School to study theology.  Spending much of his life helping wayward boys, he was one of the most influential American authors of the 19th century.  He wrote over a hundred books on the theme that honesty, virtue, thrift, cheerfulness and hard work are rewarded with success, even through the toughest of struggles.

I found this delightful book at a Library Book Sale in the Delta while on vacation. Written in 1873, it's the story of a boy named Herbert who is left alone at 14 years old after his mother dies, his having died previously.  Though his mother has a wealthy brother, the Uncle and his snobbish family do not want him.  Herbert is a hard worker, well loved in his village.  Though he faces unreasonable hardships from a cruel man he becomes bound to, he overcomes through good character taught to him by his mother and the kindness of others who appreciate his honesty.