I’ve been a stalker of Marybeth Whalen’s blog Cheaper by the Half Dozen for awhile now and so when she emailed me to see if I’d be interested in reviewing her brand new ebook (which means you order it and it is emailed to you in pdf format lickety split) I jumped at the chance. Not because I just love her blog (which I do) but because of the topic. Her ebook is titled “A Recipe for Christmas JOY” and it is designed to help you find that Christmas JOY your heart is longing for.

A Recipe For Christmas Joy ($9.95) is 73 pages of goodness containing recipes, ideas, encouragement and thoughts on keeping Jesus at the center of your Christmas celebration. I’m always looking for new ideas to incorporate into our Christmas season to help us maintain focus on the real reason we celebrate in the first place. It’s so easy for that to get lost in all the hustle and the bustle. Last year I added the Jesse Tree to our family routine and we continue with that tradition this year.

Reading Marybeth’s ebook was such a delight and what a breath of fresh air to have so many ideas all in one place. I’m also thankful for the MANY holiday recipes and organizing tips she included as well. Her style of writing is like I’m sitting right there with her at the dining room table sharing a cup of tea. Her ebook is fantastic and lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Here is an excerpt:

For years, I thought that if I just did enough and strived hard enough, my family’s Christmas would be that picture-perfect, Norman Rockwell Christmas I desired. But then reality inserted itself in the form of illnesses and bills, bad attitudes and exhaustion. I realized that I needed to lay down my ideal Christmas and allow Jesus to reveal what He had for me through the season. And so, I am including amidst all the recipes and ideas some thoughts, some scriptures, some meditations for you to keep as the center of your celebration this year. I hope that this will be a book you come back to year after year to enjoy and learn from.

For more information about what is included in her ebook you can visit Marybeth’s site (I love her blog design) here.

Merry Christmas!