Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Mary G
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 5:26am | IP Logged Quote Mary G

This book is mentioned in Cay's Christmas Mosaic but somehow I missed it all these years ! The First Christmas Stocking (which wonderful St. Nick placed in my shoe!) is a GREAT story about sacrifice, dreams and love. The original story has the feel of an ancient legend being re-told ... with surprises scattered throughout so even my jaded listeners were "into it". The illsutrations by Russian-born Bagram Ibatoulline (who also illustrated diCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane as well as many other books) lend a homey, cozy almost dream-like quality to the book, which isn't really a picture book so I put it here.

But, and from my personal point of view, the knitting angle is just splendid. I can see giving this as a gift to all my knitting friends ... to folks with new Christmas babies with a homemade stocking ... to everyone who has become a bit jaded in during this heavily secular season.

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Mary G
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 6:03am | IP Logged Quote Mary G

Cay just posted an Advent Mother's Missive about this very book! Great minds thing alike ....

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KackyK
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 6:41am | IP Logged Quote KackyK

It is wonderful isn't it Mary. I cry when I read that book...I seem to cry a lot during the advent season picture-book reading time!

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Paula in MN
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 6:45am | IP Logged Quote Paula in MN

Great. Another book I need to buy!! Not that I need any excuses...

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 9:06am | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

Mary G wrote:
but somehow I missed it all these years !

Yes, well, I'm not sure HOW this happened, Mary! It will remain one of the top mysteries of 2009 for me! I've been RAVING about this book as my "favorite" for the past 2 years ....ever since Christmas Mosaic came out!!!! . Whenever I mention it, my interior monologue goes something like this: "Ok, OK, ENOUGH about that silly book! Would you just SHUSH UP about it! You've already mentioned it and they're sick of you and IT!"      I actually deleted my post the other day, that listed this book, from the "favorite reverent christmas book" thread, cuz it's not directly about the nativity (inspiring reverence), which is what i realized afterward was the orig question.

I LOVE IT! It's SO GORGEOUS! I'm partial to all-things-Russian, but even if you're not....HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE THIS BOOK??????!!!@#$%^&*&^%$   I love this little girl! She actually helps me to pray throughout the year....for my children to be compassionate, loving, accepting, joyful, and gentle just like her.    I think of this story as I remind myself to be compassionate, loving, accepting, joyful and gentle.....things that do NOT come easy to me.

And, I've given it to two of my knitting friends as presents. It's a great adult gift!   

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Mary G
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 9:21am | IP Logged Quote Mary G

OK, Suzanne ... how DID I miss it? Must've been one of those times I "swore off" 4real during Advent and when I would peek in anyway , I would gloss over the book suggestions as I REALLY don't need anymore Christmas book suggestions but this one is just such a peach! I'm already trying to clear my knitting-must-makes list so I can make some custom designed stockings to give with this book ....

And the full price for this book is really quite a deal since it's hardcover and such a classic. What kind of goof ball would sell it ... and sell it for so little! Don't people see the value in a book like this?

Do you know of any others with a knitting theme like this?

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St. Ann
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 10:34am | IP Logged Quote St. Ann

I succombed



Amazon Prime makes it soooooooooo easy.

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Betsy
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 10:42am | IP Logged Quote Betsy

I got Shall I Knit You a Hat?: A Christmas Yarn from the library recently.

When I saw the title I thought that it would be perfect for my dc that are learning to knit!

It's an pretty good Christmas book that focus on generosity, but not a must have type book for Christmas. However, it does talk about knitting and knitting gifts for people...so on that level it's unique.

It's definitely worth checking out from the library, and then deciding if you would want this for your personal library.

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MaryM
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 11:19am | IP Logged Quote MaryM

Tell us truthfully, Suzanne - how to you really feel about the book?

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 11:43am | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

Mary G wrote:
Cay just posted an Advent Mother's Missive about this very book!

Beautiful, Cay!

Now, DON'T LAUGH...but I'm pretty sure I'm going to print copies of that "missive" out and send them to those fortunate individuals who received this book from me as a gift last year. I'm pretty sure their brows will furrow and they'll be completely confused, but I DON'T CARE! They must have it!!!!    

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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 11:44am | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

MaryM wrote:
Tell us truthfully, Suzanne - how to you really feel about the book?
I know! Lunacy!!!!!!!!   

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Paula in MN
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Posted: Dec 09 2009 at 5:34pm | IP Logged Quote Paula in MN

UPS delivered the book 30 minutes ago and I devoured it. It is WONDERFUL!!!

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Posted: Dec 10 2009 at 1:25am | IP Logged Quote St. Ann

It arrived yesterday afternoon. Now I have to decide which girl to give it to.

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Carmie
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Posted: Dec 30 2009 at 9:40am | IP Logged Quote Carmie

Oh, MaryG, I can't believe you missed this book. I read it to Luke and Sam a couple of years ago and we totally thought of you. This is one of those Christmas books that really sticks with us.

We love Angela and the Baby Jesus -Frank McCourt
        Great Joy - Kate DiCamillo
        Frankie's Orange (My husband always remembers this super sad book each year)
        The Polar Express
        The Gift of the Magi- illustrated by PJ Lynch
Angela and the Baby Jesus makes us laugh!

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Posted: Dec 30 2009 at 10:00am | IP Logged Quote Carmie

Oh, I meant An Orange for Frankie--not Frankie's Orange. I guess I always shorten the title.

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Posted: Nov 04 2011 at 4:45pm | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

I know we are a mere 3 days after All Saints Day and some of us even have parties this weekend and are still madly running around gathering veils, habits, cassocks, miter hats and chasubles, BUT....there are some very inexpensive copies of THE FIRST CHRISTMAS STOCKING in "very good" condition at various used sellers on Amazon!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!

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