Giving thanks, and a book review

I have a lot to be thankful for, not just in the grander scheme of things (my life, my Catholic faith, my husband and kids, and so forth), but on some minor points as well.  Gemma's nose was running like a faucet yesterday morning, and by nightfall she had developed a very yucky, mucousy cough.  I was prepared to have her waking up all night, so I had Adrian and Dominic, who share the room with her, sleep in our room.  They are on the tail end of a cold, too, so I figured they would be snoring and whining in their sleep as well.  I figured I wouldn't get much sleep.  Well, Gemma didn't cough all night, and the boys hardly stirred on their pallets.  I am grateful.  She has continued to do quite well through today, too.

I am also grateful to St. Anthony for the gift of my CD player. No, not a new one, but today I attempted to give it a try, unable to face the prospect of the first Sunday of Advent without Christmas music.  All the CDs I tried out played.  So, thank you, St. Anthony, St. Gemma and St. Pio for prayers answered!  I don't know if the CD player will work for long, but if it can make it through Christmas, I will be happy enough!

Here I want to do a little book review.  Anthony DeStefano was kind enough to contact me and offer to send me a copy of his new children's book, Little Star,  if I would review it.  I am only too happy to do so.  It is the story of the Star of Bethlehem, and of the stars that adorn the tops of Christmas trees each year. Although I am generally not a fan of talking stars and their like, I thought the story very sweet, and the message of self-giving being the ultimate expression of love a great one.  The illustrations are lovely, and the kids were not thrown by the beardless St. Joseph as I thought they might be.  I gathered some impressions from the kids after I read the story to them.

Una:  I think it's a sweet story.  I especially like the message of sacrifice in it.  I think the pictures are nice.
Sebastian:  I think it's really good.  I like the pictures, too.
Gabriel:  I like how it starts with the boy asking about the star.
Adrian:  It's a good story.  The pictures are nice.  I like the picture of Mary and Joseph.
Dominic:  I like the picture of the comet.  Can we read this book at Christmas?


Una is eleven, and Dominic four, and the others are all between them.  All of them liked the book, and with it's focus on the meaning of Christ's coming and His message of love and self-giving, it is likely to become a Christmas classic.  Added bonus:  it is side-stitched and hardbound, but with enough gutter margin that the book should be fairly durable and will lay open easily without snapping shut like a clam, and this at a very affordable price.  I was a bookbinder in my life B.C. (Before Children), and stuff like this is important to me!
I am happy to add it to our Christmas reading basket this year.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!