December Book

In honor of Christmas, the book we will be reading for December will be "The Christmas Sweater," by Glenn Beck.



Here is a brief synopsis:

"When Eddie was twelve years old, all he wanted for Christmas was a bike. Although his life had gotten harder -- and money tighter -- since his father died and the family bakery closed...Eddie dreamed that somehow his mother would find a way to have his dream bike gleaming beside their modest Christmas tree that magical morning.

What he got from her instead was a sweater. "A stupid, handmade, ugly sweater" that young Eddie left in a crumpled ball in the corner of his room.

Scarred deeply by the realization that kids don't always get what they want, and too young to understand that he already owned life's most valuable treasures, that Christmas morning was the beginning of Eddie's dark and painful journey on the road to manhood. It will take wrestling with himself, his faith, and his family -- and the guidance of a mysterious neighbor named Russell -- to help Eddie find his path through the storm clouds of life and finally see the real significance of that simple gift his mother had crafted by hand with love in her heart.

Based on a deeply personal true story, The Christmas Sweater is a warm and poignant tale of family, faith and forgiveness that offers us a glimpse of our own lives -- while also making us question if we really know what's most important in them."

A "Frost"ed Night

Our Thursday night meeting was sure a lot of fun! We met at my house, where I supplied hot chocolate and two dozen gourmet doughnuts from the new Mill Creek bakery "Frost." We pigged out on all the yummy confectionary goods and enjoyed good company while sipping our piping hot chocolate!

We had fun discussing "Ender's Game." It was good to hear everyone else's take on the book. Plus, those who have read the sequels were able to tell us a little about them.

Those in attendance were: Carrie Howell, Laura Schilaty, Anne Bodily, Audrey Sisco, Susie Larson, Caroline Rowe, and myself. Thanks for a fun night, girls!!

November Book

Anne Bodily will be hosting for the month of November. She has selected to read "The Actor and the Housewife," by Shannon Hale. Here is a little synopsis of the book:


"A very different kind of fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale. What if you were to meet the number-one person on your laminated list—you know, that list you joke about with your significant other about which five celebrities you’d be allowed to run off with if ever given the chance? And of course since it’ll never happen it doesn’t matter…

Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity heartthrob Felix Callahan. Twelve hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later, something has happened…though nothing has happened. It isn’t sexual. It isn’t even quite love. But a month later Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what’s hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends. Really. Becky’s husband is pretty cool about it. Her children roll their eyes. Her neighbours gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special…something unusual, something completely impossible to sustain. Or is it? A magical story, The Actor and the Housewife explores what could happen when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life and changes everything."