Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas: 100 Ways to Make the Season Sacred by Traci Smith
From the bestselling author of Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home comes a new book, Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas with 100 simple Advent and Christmas family faith practices to help you bring the spiritual back into the holiday season!
In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy for families to forget the true meaning of the season. In this new book full of faith practices for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, pastors, and anyone who cares about kids will find easy, fun, and meaningful ideas for bringing the sacred back into the season.
The book includes prayers, practices, and stories, grouped by different themes of the Advent and Christmas season, from Decorating, to Family Time, to Giving, to Telling the Story, and more. Practices include: Making an Advent Wreath, Christmas Card prayers, Hot Chocolate Gratitude Party, Year Round Christmas Gift, Silent Night Star Walk, Birthday Party for Jesus, Leaving Hay for Camels, Memory Box for the Year to Come, and many, many more! There is even a chapter on “Difficult Moments” with prayers for when family leaves, when someone is in the hospital, when we miss someone, and more.
With pages decorated with whimsical Christmas doodles from the cover, Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas will delight kids and adults alike and offer families an abundance of ideas for making the Christmas season sparkle with faith and spirit.
Paperback: 128 pages
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PRAISE
"The gift of Traci Smith's new book is that you can open it anywhere and find one simple, lovely thing to do, pray, tell, or make with your family that day (or let's be honest, as Traci is, maybe the next day) to add joy and meaning to the holiday season. Advent is a time to draw near to God as God draws near to us in the birth of Jesus, and Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas is brimming over with wonderful, easy suggestions to help you do just that."
— Wendy Claire Barrie, author of Faith at Home: A Handbook for Cautiously Christian Parents
"The beautiful thing about this book is that even though a plethora of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany practices are presented, author Traci Smith does not overwhelm families, but instead manages to encourage them to celebrate sacred moments and find together the true meaning of this holy season. This book truly is a treasure."
— Glenys Nellist, author of Twas The Evening of Christmas and Twas The Season of Advent
"As promised, far from taxing families with MORE to do during hectic Advent and Christmas seasons, Rev. Traci Smith offers families what we really need: LESS to do. In each of these simple, hands-on practices, Smith gives families the tools to slow down, wait, and the focus on all that Jesus coming into the world means. This is a must-have for any family or children's ministry leader's library."
— Caryn Rivadeneira, author of Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible
“Can you have too much of a good thing? Not if you’re talking about Traci Smith’s creative ideas for infusing faith into daily life. This book is a gift to all who want to enrich the spiritual lives of families as they celebrate Advent and Christmas with one another. Within these pages are rich insights, honest prayers, and compelling practices. Unwrap them with your family and enliven the spirit and the spiritual of the holidays.”
— David M. Csinos, Founder of Faith Forward and Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Atlantic School of Theology
"Christmas can be overwhelming and the faith we affirm can get lost in the shuffle. Faithful Families for Advent & Christmas will help families claim their home as a sanctuary from the overwhelming rush of Christmas. Families will also find everything they need to prepare for and celebrate Christmas. Families of all sizes and ages will find ideas to deepen their faith and grow closer to each other."
— Lee Yates, Project Manager for InsideOut Outdoor Ministries Resources
"As a parent of young children myself, Traci’s words speak freedom and grace directly to my heart. I cannot wait to use this book with my own family! She has integrated our chaos and limitations right into the beautiful and sacred, empowering us to approach a holy season with gentle, manageable, and meaningful intentionality. In Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas, Traci creatively turns all kinds of simple acts into opportunities for both sweet and profound connection. She brings a holistic embrace to Advent and Christmas by guiding us into spaces where we can feel and honor all the emotions we might experience."
— Arianne Braithwaite Lehn, author of Ash and Starlight
"Traci Smith's beautiful new book is an invitation to create and savor new traditions and rituals during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Instead of being distracted and disheartened by the usual culprit at the holidays—consumerism and its shallow promises and payouts—Smith shows us how to grow hope, peace, love, and joy in our homes. Full of fresh, engaging, and helpful prompts and ideas, this book is a gift!"
— Jennifer Grant, author of A Little Blue Bottle and Maybe God Is Like That Too
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
This book is my first foray into Traci Smith's work. It is direct, to the point, and easy to adapt practices and think through concepts for children.
I have a background in child development, and even have dabbled in children's ministry, but I still flounder. (I am definitely a youth and college minister.) This book makes the process of Advent, Christmas, etc. relatable and me able to work with children, both the ones I'm raising and others.
I highly recommend it as a primer and it goes well paired with Shadow and Light (also sold in this store.)
Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home by Traci Smith
Add family faith moments to your daily routine with little or no prep, and share meaningful spiritual experiences with your children with ideas from Faithful Families. Traci Smith, a pastor and mother of three, offers creative ways to discover and develop new spiritual practices as a family, whether you're a new seeker or a lifelong follower.
Brimming with more than 50 easy, do-it-yourself ideas to share with your family throughout the year, Faithful Families will help transform your family's everyday moments into sacred moments!
Download FREE sample practices from the book:
Faithful Families helps you:
- connect faith to your family’s everyday life
- add family faith moments into your daily routine
- learn new spiritual practices alongside your children
- teach your children to appreciate religious diversity with time-tested non-Christian and Christian spiritual practices
- respond to life’s everyday challenges and opportunities with meaningful practices
Paperback: 256 pages
Dimensions: 5.4 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PRAISE
"In a culture that has become isolating, technological, fractious, and cold, Traci Smith has given us a survival kit of practices to help families stay close to what is sacred, meaningful, intimate, and alive. Faithful Families will not only help parents nurture the souls of their children, it will keep them sane within the chaotic forces of 21st-century family life."
— Mark Yaconelli, author, The Gift of Hard Things and Contemplative Youth Ministry
"This is a great book to give as a present for a baptism, birthday, or Christmas. I think this is a fabulous resource for families as well as for church leaders. While all the practices are designed for use in the home, some could also be adapted for a Sunday school or youth group setting."
— Anna Greenwood Lee, Anglican Theological Review
“This book is a must-have for any family wishing to live as faithful disciples of Jesus. Traci Smith has created a gold mine of resources, ideas, and practices that invite children, teens, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, houseguests, pets—everyone who makes up all kinds of families—to actively form one another in authentic Christian faith. Get this book for your family. Give it to families in your faith community. Drop copies of it from an airplane. It’s sure to have an impact on all who use it.”
— David M. Csinos, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Atlantic School of Theology and Founder of Faith Forward
“Traci Smith teaches us how to slow down, to create sacred space and time in order to nurture a child’s soul. This book is a gift of the spirit.”
— Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, author of God’s Paintbrush, Creation’s First Light, and many other award-winning children’s books
“Traci Smith is a gracious guide through practices that are simple, profound, and welcoming.”
— MaryAnn McKibben Dana, author of Sabbath in the Suburbs: A Family's Experiment with Holy Time
"I loved these ideas for families to practice faith and follow the church calendar. The different activities are marked by age and offer variations. I will be picking up a physical copy to put on my shelf with To Dance With God by Gertrud Mueller Nelson and The Circle of Seasons by Kimberlee Conway Ireton. I love all three books, but this is the one that is the most activity-based. If you are familiar with the rhythms of the calendar year and are simply looking for ways to celebrate it, I highly recommend this as an option."
— Kari Baumann, throughaglass.net
"[Traci] Smith's book is, in the most literal sense, a Godsend. It is chock full of imaginative, provocative and developmentally appropriate practices for families to engage in. ....This book presents parents, pastors and teachers with a beautiful and flexible set of practices. Smith is clearly open to the breadth of theologies within the Christian family, as well as local and contextual issues: all of her practices come with suggestions for how they can flex and adapt. It is a gracious book, a clear picture of how our faith can be seamlessly integrated into the seasons of our lives, growing and changing through the years."
— Kelly Boubel Shriver, The Presbyterian Outlook
“In her new book Faithful Families, pastor and author Traci Smith provides a treasure-trove of family-friendly, low-and-no-budget activities that carry with them the power to turn even rushed meals and lazy Sunday afternoons into spiritual experiences. The text is a resource guide chock-full of creativity; perhaps it would read more naturally as a reference book ―complete with a handy table of contents!―than it would be to read cover-to-cover. Traci Smith offers a great gift to busy families everywhere: accessible and achievable spiritual practices that bring awareness to the presence of God that is found in the midst of the everyday, mundane, tabletop moments too. Thanks be to God, indeed.”
― T.J. Romaley, “From Mountaintops to Tabletops: A Book Review of Faithful Families,” Musings and Meditations
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
Prayers for Faithful Families: Everyday Prayers for Everyday Life by Traci Smith
Prayers for Faithful Families equips busy parents with simple prayers, written in ordinary language, for a wide variety of occasions. From everyday moments like mealtime and bedtime to milestones such as the first day of school, the death of a pet, or welcoming a new baby, this unique prayer book is an invaluable resource for creating meaningful faith connections at home throughout the highs and lows of family life. Straightforward and flexible, Prayers for Faithful Families helps parents turn ordinary and extraordinary moments into opportunities to teach children that God is with them through all of life's joys and challenges. Tips for praying in creative ways and for creating sacred space at home are included.
Hardcover: 140 pages
Dimensions: 4.0 x 6.0 x 0.25 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.0 ounces
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Traci Smith is an ordained minister, mother of three, and author. Traci's passion is helping families find times for connection and spiritual nourishment amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. What began as a quest to help her own family has provided valuable insight for thousands of others. Traci believes faith practices should be fun, easy to fit into daily life, and accessible to all. Visit her at traci-smith.com.
PRAISE
"Every prayer in this book is beautiful, simple, true, and easy to memorize. I rejoice to think of a generation of children growing up with these prayers in their hearts and minds and souls--and I'm equally happy for the parents over and over again being reminded of the goodness and love of God as well."
— Sarah Bessey, author of Miracles and Other Reasonable Things and Jesus Feminist
"Prayers for Faithful Families is a delightful and easy-to-use resource for families looking for accessible ways to weave the most basic faith practice of all into the nooks and crannies of their already too-full days."
— Jerusalem Jackson Greer, author of At Home in This Life
"Traci Smith's Prayers for Faithful Families is precisely the book I've longed to keep on my daughters' nightstands. Simple yet nuanced, powerful yet never emotionally manipulative, these prayers are poised to empower families to deepen their relationships with God and with one another. What a gift!"
— Katherine Willis Pershey, author of Very Married
"More than just a compilation of prayers, this book invites us to cultivate a family culture defined by love, forgiveness, and generosity. Smith doesn't preach, but welcomes--ever focusing our attention on a loving God. She provides a model of praying truthfully with children about painful issues like divorce, failure, and traumatic news events, but also provides prayers that help us articulate our joy around special moments, such as the birth or adoption of a child. She even introduces nontraditional ways to pray and meditate with young children. Love this book!"
— Jennifer Grant, author of Maybe God Is Like That Too and Maybe I Can Love My Neighbor Too
"Traci Smith's Prayers for Faithful Families is filled with simple yet powerful prayers that will enable parents to weave prayer into the fabric of everyday life. Grace-filled and gently penned, this lovely book would make a meaningful gift for baby showers, baptisms, or birthdays."
— Glenys Nellist, author of the Love Letters from God and Snuggle Time series
"In this gorgeous book, Traci gives children and adults language that is simple, yet not dumbed down; that is theologically age-appropriate, yet profound and expansive; and that is broad and inclusive, yet totally personal."
— Caryn Rivadeniera, author of Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible and Gritty and Graceful: 15 Inspiring Women of the Bible
"If you want a simple yet profound book of prayer suggestions for all kinds of family occasions--happy times and hard time--and it matters that the prayers address the Divine as simply God or Spirit and emphasize God's love, peace, and presence, this book will become for you a much-used, beloved resource."
— Daneen Akers, author of Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
Thinking Through the Children's Sermon by William H. Armstrong
Are children's sermons useful? Are they meant to entertain or edify? And if they are meaningful, are they well prepared and well delivered?
William Armstrong addresses these and other questions as he shares his years of experience as a pastor who has delivered hundreds of children's sermons. Useful and practical information about children, the message, and effective methods are explored.
Thinking through the Children's Sermon is a must-have book for clergy and lay leaders who will be responsible for sharing the Word of God with children.
Paperback: 160 pages
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
God and Goodnight Moon: Finding Spirituality in Storybooks for Children
For children, every book opens a window to another world. Show them the world God would like them to see.
God and Goodnight Moon: Finding Spirituality in Storybooks for Children explores spiritual themes found in popular storybooks for preschool and elementary-aged children.
Some of the books include: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles, The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, God’s Paintbrush by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, and This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen.
A brief synopsis of each book is provided, as well as an exploration of the story’s scriptural themes and applications. There’s also a spiritual reflection and an easy-to-prepare activity children are sure to enjoy.
Through these storybooks, children will discover what it means to live in today’s world—a beautiful, richly diverse place where everyone is special, regardless of skin color, religion, physical abilities, economic status, or other differences.
Use God and Goodnight Moon to transform Sunday school lessons, children’s sermons, and bedtime stories into meaningful moments that will last a lifetime.
Paperback: 91 pages
Dimensions: 6.1 x 9.0 x 0.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
30 Children's Sermons Series by Phyllis Vos Wezeman, Anna Liechty, and Kenneth Wezeman
Each children's sermon in the 30 Children's Sermons Series follows a consistent format based on five basic components: passage, purpose, preparation, presentation, and prayer. For use by clergy and lay leaders in preaching to children from kindergarten to fifth grade. The sermons are also adaptable for younger children as well as middle school-aged children.
All books include cross-references to valuable teaching tools — hymn stories, Scripture, and theological themes — that make for a user-friendly resource that will appeal to a multi-age audience.
Taste the Bread contains 30 sermons focusing on biblical stories and theological themes regarding Holy Communion.
Touch the Water contains 30 sermons on Holy Baptism on topics which include Cherished by God: Abraham’s Covenant, Covered by Grace: Water’s Message, Empowered for Ministry: Jesus’ Baptism, and Gifted for Life: Baptism’s Remembrance.
Wipe the Tears confronts the difficult yet important subject of death. The authors skillfully and compassionately use the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures to approach to subject of death in each sermon: demonstrating God's desire to save humankind; showing how the psalms challenge and comfort us; and sharing the victory over death through Christ's resurrection.
Tell Me a Story links ordinary Sundays and special days of the church year to best-loved children's books, such as I'll Always Love You; The Selfish Giant; Miss Fannie's Hat; and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, to name a few.
Paperback: 96 pages
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.2-6.1 ounces
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Phyllis Vos Wezeman is president of Active Learning Associates, Inc. and Director of Christian Nurture at First Presbyterian Church in South Bend, Indiana. She lives in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Anna Liechty is vice president of Active Learning Associates, Inc. She has worked as a religious education volunteer and has written a wide variety of religious education materials. Liechty lives in Plymouth, Indiana.
Kenneth Wezeman is the business manager/editor of Active Learning Associates, Inc. He holds an M.Div. from Calvin Theological Seminary and lives in Mishawaka, Indiana.
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
Raising a Rare Girl: A Memoir by Heather Lanier
Award-winning writer Heather Lanier’s memoir, Raising a Rare Girl, about raising a child with a rare syndrome, defying the tyranny of normal, and embracing parenthood as a spiritual practice that breaks us open in the best of ways.
Like many women of her generation, Heather Lanier did everything by the book when she was expecting her first child. She ate organic foods, recited affirmations, and drew up a birth plan for an unmedicated labor in the hopes that she could create a SuperBaby, an ultra-healthy human destined for a high-achieving future.
But her daughter Fiona challenged all of Lanier’s preconceptions. Born with an ultra-rare syndrome known as Wolf-Hirschhorn, Fiona received a daunting prognosis: she would experience significant developmental delays and might not reach her second birthday. Not only had Lanier failed to produce a SuperBaby, she now fiercely loved a child that the world would sometimes reject. The diagnosis obliterated Lanier’s perfectionist tendencies, along with her most closely held beliefs about certainty, vulnerability, God, and love.
With tiny bits of mozzarella cheese, a walker rolled to library story time, a talking iPad app, and a whole lot of pop and reggae, mother and daughter spend their days doing whatever it takes to give Fiona nourishment, movement, and language. They also confront society’s attitudes toward disability and the often cruel assumptions made about Fiona’s worth. Lanier realizes the biggest question is not, Will my daughter walk or talk? but, How can I best love my girl, just as she is?
Loving Fiona opens Lanier up to new understandings of what it means to be human, what it takes to be a mother, and above all, the aching joy and wonder that come from embracing the unique life of her rare girl.
Hardcover: 320 pages
Dimensions: 6.3 x 9.3 x 1.0 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.15 pounds
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather Lanier is an essayist, memoirist, and poet. She’s the author of two award-winning poetry chapbooks: Heart-Shaped Bed in Hiroshima and The Story You Tell Yourself, winner of the Wick Poetry Open Chapbook Competition. Her nonfiction has appeared in Salon, The Southern Review, The Threepenny Review, Fourth Genre, Brevity, Vela, and elsewhere. She has received an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award and a Vermont Creation Grant. A graduate of Ohio State University’s MFA program, she’s now an Assistant Professor of Creative Nonfiction at Rowan University. Her TED talk, “‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Are Incomplete Stories We Tell Ourselves,” has been viewed over two million times.
PRAISE
“Lanier’s memoir is now on the short list of books I’ll give, when the time comes, to my own pregnant daughters. It’s not just because a wise woman ought, in this as in all else, to be prepared for disaster even as she hopes for delight. It’s not even because Lanier’s writing is clean and beautiful. . . Lanier shines a clear light on what we sign up for when we allow a human soul to come through us and into the world, in whatever ‘interesting and beautiful package’ that soul might find. . . [She] teases out the glory, charm and humor of these moments, letting us adore her child with her.”
— Kate Braestrup, New York Times Book Review
“Raising a Rare Girl, a memoir by Heather Kirn Lanier, is a remarkable book…I found myself thinking that all expectant and new parents should read it. Lanier’s thoughtful, complex, loving account of raising her daughter Fiona—now 8—who was born with an extremely rare genetic deletion that results in a syndrome called Wolf-Hirschhorn, is a beautiful and hopeful book that is also unflinching about the day-to-day challenges of her family’s life. While every family’s experience of raising a child with disabilities will come with its own specific challenges, Lanier’s ultimate realization that the question to ask herself was not Will my daughter ever walk or talk? but How can I best love her, just as she is?”
— Michelle Herman, Slate
“This is an intensely reflective and honest account….Readers share moments of anguish, terror, laughter, and triumph, as feisty Fiona grows and conquers milestones in her own unique ways. The book ends as Fiona enters Kindergarten, confident, quirky, and rare, indeed.”
— Booklist
“Moving and insightful . . . Lanier struggles with the attitudes of physicians and others who regard her daughter as ‘damaged’ and beautifully details her own acceptance. . . This intimate, powerful memoir will resonate with parents, whether of ‘superbabies’ or not.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Lanier writes with powerful humanity as she charts her course. . . Her abiding love for Fiona is clear throughout, and it’s heartening to watch her learn to reject the idea that disability is deficit. . . A book of pluck, spirit, and great emotion with an appealing perspective on the value of each human life.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Heather Lanier has written an exquisite narrative that is full of joy, honesty, and pain, as she details the unexpected change in her life as a new mother when her daughter is born with a rare syndrome. In Raising a Rare Girl, Lanier writes with passion in each line, infusing wisdom in her stunning prose as she shares the most intimate moments of new motherhood. Lanier has created a book that could only be written by someone with the skill of poet and heart of an optimist. And at a time when mothers are expected to be perfect as parents, advocates, professionals, and partners, Lanier redefines the word perfect, and in doing so, teaches us all to find beauty in the necessary imperfections of our lives.”
— Elizabeth L Silver, author of The Tincture of Time
“This gem of a memoir reminds us that when we become parents, we are signing up for the precarious vulnerability of being human. Gorgeously written, and simultaneously as warm and intimate as a conversation with your wisest friend, Raising a Rare Girl is a moving testament to the transcendence of unconditional love.”
— Liane Kupferberg Carter, author of Ketchup is My Favorite Vegetable
“Heather Lanier has written a brave and beautiful memoir on her journey in early pregnancy as she hoped to create a SuperBaby, and then as she coped with the shocking news that her newborn daughter had been born with a rare syndrome that would require ongoing interventions for walking and talking. Lanier’s prose is dazzling, and her honesty is crushing. In Raising a Rare Girl, she demonstrates the depths of maternal love—and, in our historically perfectionistic society, the true meaning of triumph.”
— Gabrielle Glaser, author of American Baby
“Heather Lanier’s Raising a Rare Girl is that rare soaring book: a gripping read that delivers spiritual reflection and serious cultural analysis on disability and parenthood. These sentences are sheer poetry, and in the service of dissecting the ableism in our culture, they are also piercing and necessary.”
— Sonya Huber, author of Pain Woman Takes Your Keys and Other Essays from a Nervous System
“Heather Lanier has crafted a provocative examination of the difference between who we think we are and our being. Raising a Rare Girl is, at turns, heartbreaking and heart-soaring. It’s a hard-earned, generous, and insightful investigation of our bodies and our souls, grief and joy, holding on tight and letting go, as well as the worlds that take shape around us and the worlds we create from within.”
— Julianna Baggott, author of Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders
“Raising a Rare Girl is not just a memoir about Heather Lanier’s first few years as a mother, nor is it only about the challenges of raising a child with a rare syndrome in a world that does not welcome differences. It’s a tender and powerful book that asks us to look honestly at what we expect of our children, each other, and ourselves, and explores the unexpected joy that comes when we release those expectations. Lanier had no choice but to let go of her expectations of motherhood, herself, and her baby when Fiona came into this world, and we are the lucky recipients of the loving wisdom she gained in doing so.”
— Kerry Egan, author of On Living
“What does it mean to be a ‘good’ parent in an age of over-parenting? And why do so many of us assume if we just do everything ‘right,’ we can make the ‘perfect,’ baby? With immense tenderness, intelligence, and humor, Heather Lanier explores these questions in her memoir about raising a rare girl. The result is an arresting and beautiful book about the transformative power of unconditional love. Everyone should read it.”
— Kim Brooks, author of Small Animals
“With Raising a Rare Girl, Heather Lanier has written a luminous memoir about disability, life, and ardor. There is wholeheartedness and passion in this tale of parental joy and wisdom.”
— Stephen Kuusisto, author of Have Dog, Will Travel
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
Scripture Art Prints by True Cotton
We are powerfully shaped by the spaces we inhabit: their color, their order or disorder, the toys on the floor, the flowers on the table, the pictures on the wall. Choose of True Cotton's Scripture Art Prints to help you bring the sacred promises of the Bible into your home or office.
Each Scripture Art Print features an original ink painting by True Cotton, printed on high-quality art paper. Available in 3 designs:
- Act Justly
"Act justly
Love mercy
Walk humbly"
Micah 6:8 - Guard Your Heart
"Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it."
Proverbs 4:23 - Wonderful Counselor
"And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
High Quality Art Paper
Dimensions: 8 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.8 ounces
ABOUT THE CREATOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Arin Guthe is the Artist + Illustrator + Owner of True Cotton. True Cotton is full of whimsy and a place where hope lands on paper. Guthe believes we are all created to create, and most of her inspiration comes from creation - mostly in the spot where the forest meets the wildflower blooms. She has the wild, rarely dull or quiet daily adventure of joining her husband in raising their four children and living out fresh grace in real time.
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
Hymn Wool Pennants by Fancy That Design House
These vintage-inspired Hymn Wool Pennants add cheer to any wall and make a perfectly unique gift.
Choose from one of two beloved hymns: "Amazing Grace" or "It Is Well with My Soul." Each pennant measures 9" x 27".
Dimensions: 9 x 27 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 ounce
ABOUT THE FANCY THAT DESIGN HOUSE
Fancy That Design House has grown out of Stephanie Sliwinski's love of all things creative. Sliwinski is a graphic designer, artist, wife, and mom, passionate about creating pieces that are uplifting, encouraging, and leave you smiling. When she is not designing, you can usually find her at a coffee shop, in her garden, wandering through antique stores/flea markets, or in the kitchen. Her husband is a talented illustrator so collaborating is something that comes naturally for them and they love the opportunities they get to work together.
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
30 Days of Hymns Perpetual Calendar by Little Things Studio
- Borders and type are all hand-drawn
- Gold spiral bound
- Free-standing easel backer
- Printed in Nashville, TN
Text Weight Paper: 30 pages
Dimensions: 5.0 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.0 ounces
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS
Order 4 or more and the discount below will automatically be applied in your cart!
- 4 or more = 15% off
- 8 or more = 20% off
- 20 or more = 25% off
ABOUT THE CREATOR
Little Things Studio brings beauty and truth to the special spaces in your life through art prints, calendars, cards, and bookmarks. Mississippi-born and Nashville-based artist Kate Whitley weaves word and image with lush floral designs, vibrant and vintage color schemes and lovely hand-lettering of hymns, songs, and quotes.
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.
The Great O Antiphons: A Coloring Book for Advent from Pelican Printery House (Digital Download)
Since the early centuries of the church, Christians have sung the “O Antiphons” as part of their evening prayers during final days of Advent. Each antiphon explores one of the biblical titles of Jesus: Emmanuel (God with us), Rex (King of the Nations), Oriens (Morning Star), Clavis (Key of David), Radix (Root of Jesse), Adonai (Lord), and Sapientia (Wisdom). Make the O Antiphons part of your Advent traditions with The Great O Antiphons: A Coloring Book for Advent from Pelican Printery House
Elizabeth Lemme of Pelican House Printery has created a beautiful Advent devotional and coloring book celebrating these ancient names of Jesus. This 18-page Advent coloring book features two pages for each of the antiphons. The first page provides the English translation of the antiphon with scriptural references which can be read, studied, and prayed over. The second page provides the Latin antiphon with an image inspired by traditional iconography. Each image is surrounded with a hand-drawn border of poinsettias, pine cones, greenery, and a ring of Gregorian chant from the actual notated antiphon.
These antiphons are packed with symbolic meaning and beautiful scripture references, all of which are manifested in the images provided in the coloring book:
- "O Sapientia" (O Wisdom), December 17th, icon of Holy Wisdom
- "O Adonai," December 18th, is the icon of Moses and the Burning Bush
- "O Radix Jesse," (Root of Jesse), December 19th, an icon of the Tree of Jesse
- "O Clavis David," (Key of David), December 20th, an icon of the Harrowing of Hell
- "O Oriens," (O Morning Star), December 21st, an icon of Our Lady of the Sign
- "O Rex Gentium" (O King of the Nations), December 22nd, an icon of Christ the King
- "O Emmanuel," December 23rd, a devotional image of the Nativity
At the conclusion of the coloring book, there is a word puzzle game. This ancient acrostic is sure to fascinate youth and adults alike and will enliven this beautiful tradition of the church.
A wonderful activity book for all ages (including adults), the Great O Antiphon Coloring Book is available here as a digital download and can be printed in the ease of your own home, year after year, for personal household use.
All illustrations in this coloring book, including all vine work, ornate capital letters, borders, scrolls, and imagery were original conceived and hand-drawn by the artist at Pelican Printery House using the traditional methods of dip pen and Sumi ink on Bristol Board.
This product is a digital download that will be accessible immediately upon completing checkout.
ABOUT THE MAKER
Elizabeth Lemme is a wife, mother, musician, and artist. She holds a B.A. in piano performance and pedagogy from Whitworth University and an M.M. in the same from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her international studies in Byzantine iconography and iconology have informed her growing portfolio of artwork available on her Etsy store, Pelican Printery House. Elizabeth’s music studio is in Nebraska, where she resides with her husband and three children.
What types of shipping services do you offer?
We are thrilled to ship to the US and around the world. We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail via the United States Postal Service and other similar services. All orders are processed in the order they were received. All USPS shipping fees are based on our costs to ship to you and may shift ever-so-slightly from day-to-day, as they update in real time.
First Class International shipping prices range from $25-$40 USD and depend on the destination. International customers may also be charged an additional tariff fee when retrieving their packages from post offices. We are unable to include it in the cost of your item and shipping currently. We understand international shipping is a bit more expensive. We hope to have more international options as our volume increases, but in the meantime placing a group order with your friends will reduce the international cost and give you a group discount!
How quickly will my order ship?
Digital products are automatically sent by email shortly after you place your order. Physical products are shipped from our warehouse in Waco, TX every weekday afternoon. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order is shipped.
Can I change my shipping address, email or payment info?
Because our orders ship daily, we may not be able to change your information before your order is processed and shipped. For that reason, please verify your shipping address at checkout before submitting your order. If you find an error, contact us as soon as possible and we will try our hardest to make corrections before the order goes out. We try to check email for any shipping-related updates before printing labels.
What is your return policy?
We do our best to describe and depict each product with great care and detail. For that reason we created the FREE Essentials Workbook to give you a closer look at the design of our planner. The Essentials Workbook will help you evaluate if our product is a good fit for you before you spend any money. You can often purchase digital sample months of the planners to try before you buy. Our planner isn't a perfect fit for everyone, though. We haven't set out to be. It's not possible! That said, let us know if you find an issue and we will do our best to make it right.
If your physical product is damaged or defective, or you receive the wrong product, please contact us with your name, order number, and nature of the issue at hello@sacredordinarydays.com and we will address your concern as quickly as possible.