Hope you’ve had a great holiday break and are getting in gear for the new year! We will be back posting new resources on Monday, January 4th. You’re gonna love what we have for you in the weeks ahead!
Your Friends,
The Erskine Family
Yes, that’s us. From left to right: Cassie, wife of son Randall, my sweetheart Susan, son Russell, me (Jim), and daughter Jessica.
“All is Bright: The True Story of Silent Night” (MP3 audio) – In this great audio program originally broadcast on the CBS Radio Workshop, we start on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, where the orchestra is playing for a Christmas eve dance. But when they start playing an uptempo rendition of “Silent Night”, one gentleman in the crowd objects… and proceeds to tell the assembled partygoers the REAL story behind the much beloved hymn, and the fascinating story of how it was almost lost but then re-discovered years after it was first written. Excellent family listening for this holiday season!
Plus:
“Why the Chimes Rang” by Raymond MacDonald Alden (MP3 Audio + PDF ebook) This is the simple, moving story of a little boy who wanted to honor the Lord’s birthday, and how an unexpected diversion caused his to be the greatest gift of all.
Accompanying this delightful book is a great episode of “The Great Gildersleeve” radio program, in which Gildersleeve reads this book to a crowd of children spending their holidays in the hospital. It is a moving reading and a great story that your whole family will love.
Enjoy them both!
Click here for today’s resources!
Family Holiday Memories (PDF ebook) – A fun & idea-packed guide to making memories with your kids during the holiday season, whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. Includes unique get-together & meal ideas, giving to others, family traditions, budget tips, and more. Glean!
Plus:
An extra bonus… The Classic Christmas Candy & Fudge Recipes ebook! Yummmm!!!!!!!!!
Click here for today’s resources!
The Cinnamon Bear- The Final Episodes! (MP3 audios) – Well, the wait is over! We are back this week with the final batch of Cinnamon Bear episodes for you!
Without a doubt, this is THE all-time classic children’s holiday radio program, broadcast continually on some radio stations ever since it first appeared in 1938. The Cinnamon Bear is the classic story of Judy and Jimmy Barton who search for the family’s Silver Star which goes on top of their Christmas tree. They discover the star has disappeared from the attic. Then they meet The Cinnamon Bear, and fly to Maybeland in his Soda Pop Airplane in pursuit of the Crazy Quilt Dragon, whom they believe took the ornament. Over the course of the series, they meet a host of delightful characters, including the Inkaboos, the Candy Pirates (who are my personal favorites), The Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant, and even Santa Claus himself.
This is a delightful fantasy adventure for listeners of all ages, with great music, fun characters, and an engrossing (you-can’t-listen-to-just-one) storyline, which comes to you courtesy of our sister site, Homeschool Radio Shows. Find out why thousands of homeschooling families now make listening to the adventures of the Cinnamon Bear an annual family holiday tradition! You’re gonna love it!
Click here for today’s resource!
We have two excellent vintage Christmas children’s books for you today!
Tales of the Nativity (PDF ebook) -Over two dozen classic stories, poems and readings based on Christ’s birth, plus several tales of Christmas with a Christian outlook.
The Children’s Book of Christmas Stories (PDF ebook) – 20 classic holiday stories, legends and fables from the 1800s and early 1900s especially chosen for reading aloud that the whole family will enjoy!
Click here for today’s resources!
Gifts in a Jar by Jill Cooper & Tawra Kellam (PDF ebook) – Looking for some inexpensive ideas for some home-made gifts this holiday season? Check out this great idea book from LivingOnADime on making your own “in a jar” gift mixes and baskets. Tons of easy, inexpensive gift ideas!
Click here for today’s resource!
Origins of Christmas Traditions (PDF ebooks) – Today, from CelebratingHolidays.com, we have three exclusive ebook samplers featuring
three excellent stories on the origins of three familiar Christmas items:
Christmas Trees;
the hymn “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”:
and the classic story “The Legend of the Poinsettia”.
Fascinating seasonal history!
Click here to download today’s resources!
The Cinnamon Bear- The Next 9 Episodes! (MP3 audios) – Well, we are back this week with the second batch of Cinnamon Bear episodes for you!
Without a doubt, this is THE all-time classic children’s holiday radio program, broadcast continually on some radio stations ever since it first appeared in 1938. The Cinnamon Bear is the classic story of Judy and Jimmy Barton who search for the family’s Silver Star which goes on top of their Christmas tree. They discover the star has disappeared from the attic. Then they meet The Cinnamon Bear, and fly to Maybeland in his Soda Pop Airplane in pursuit of the Crazy Quilt Dragon, whom they believe took the ornament. Over the course of the series, they meet a host of delightful characters, including the Inkaboos, the Candy Pirates (who are my personal favorites), The Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant, and even Santa Claus himself.
This is a delightful fantasy adventure for listeners of all ages, with great music, fun characters, and an engrossing (you-can’t-listen-to-just-one) storyline, which comes to you courtesy of our sister site, Homeschool Radio Shows. We’ve got the second batch of NINE episodes for you this week – PLUS a bonus coloring book! – with the final batch coming next week, in plenty of time for Christmas.
Find out why thousands of homeschooling families now make listening to the adventures of the Cinnamon Bear an annual family holiday tradition! You’re gonna love it!
Click here for today’s resource!
UPDATE from the publisher of this resource, Mon afternoon: “I am so sorry you folks are having trouble. Our servers were just completely overwhelmed. We have already had *thousands* of downloads today! We have tested the download using several browsers and it is working. We will leave the link up tomorrow as well so that any of you who can’t get through today can get it tomorrow! If you had trouble downloading, you might try again and just click on the clink, not right click, it will open a “save window”.
We are so glad to share with you all! – Melanie Young”
A House NOT Divided: Promoting Unity in the Homeschool Family (MP3 audio) – You’ve heard the verses and caught the vision, but what can you do to get your children on your team? Hal and Melanie Young, the authors of “Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys” have eight children, six of them sons. They know all about bickering and fighting and don’t like it! Stop the squabbling and sibling rivalry and begin making memories! In this live-recorded, idea-packed conference workshop, the Youngs share how to tear down obstacles and build up family unity in fun, memorable ways, especially during the holidays!
Click here for today’s resource!
Common Cents When You’re Sick by Jill Cooper (PDF ebook) – Today’s resource is this great ebook by Jill Cooper of LivingOnADime.com. In “Common Cents When You’re Sick” Jill tells her own family’s story and experiences, and provides practical, real-life help and suggestions (as well as a some knowing humor) for coping with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia. The advice in this ebook would also be very helpful for folks facing other debilitating illnesses as well. If your family is dealing with chronic illness, check this out!
Click here for today’s resource!