It’s a colorful book, with bright pictures and engaging stories.

It’s a children’s Bible for ages 4-7.

And I can’t put it down.

I brought it home for my little girl to hold close to her heart. But the words in the The Jesus Storybook Bible have made their way into mine. I am captured.

Every story, from Adam and Eve to Saul, from Noah to the prodigal son, whispers the name of Jesus. The author follows The Author’s lead and every story points back or ties in the work of Jesus Christ. I have learned so much and it’s opened the Word of God up to me.

I cried when I read it the first time. I use it for devotions. I trade gummy bears with my little girl to borrow it.

“The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far counry to win back his lost reasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne–everything–to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is –it’s true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle–the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.”

For me, this is more than a book about The Bible. It’s a reminder that my life, each chapter, every day that creates my story, should whisper His name. When my life is read, I want the pages to point people in the direction of The One who matters most.

Can you hear it? The whispering….

I survived 48 hours in a hotel room with four girls, five including myself- quite an achievement for this introvert.

It was like a high school sleepover, only we’re our mother’s age, plus there was some snoring going on. I slept with a girl I met on the Internet (if you would have predicted that ten years ago, I would have laughed my head off), but we did line fluffy pillows between us…to prevent any nocturnal spooning or leg crossover.

It was fun and I am tired. I also have no voice. A bonus for my kids. It was good to have a break from my spinning plate routine-juggling The Mercy House, my family of five and looming Christmas. I came home with a lighter burden.

In other news, my tree spins. We decided to simplify our Christmas decorations this year. I invited a couple of newly married girls over to dig thru my SEVEN boxes of decor. I now have two. Lighter. Better.

But since I haven’t reached perfection. I bought a rotating Christmas tree stand. I was really excited to decorate the tree.

Which means I had to decorate the back of my tree. Which means I had to use ALL the ornaments from the last 16 years of marriage. Which means there are a lot of paper handprints on my tree. Which also means we used all my hubby’s childhood ornaments. Which means that he read the date on the bottom of each one. Which made my kids want to touch said special ornaments. Which means three were broken the first day. Which means I may be calling my newly married friends to get some of those Christmas ornaments back.

My kids wanted to decorate it while it was rotating-I had my doubts about the wisdom of this decision…it went pretty well, except for the few times my kids were trying to hang an ornament on a moving branch they ended up stuck behind the tree. That can really frighten a kid.

[Riveting 23 second video] Our Christmas Tree 2010

After thirty minutes, the tree wasn’t the only thing spinning.

I love Christmas, especially with an illuminated oscillating timber.