Because He Lives Newsletter - December 2024 🎄
Robin Hood. Books Set in Paris. Charlie Brown. Tidy the Library.
My Favorite Finds Around the Internet
The CHA Weekend Edition Presents: The Robin Hood Show!
One Life by Grant Snider.
Books Set in Paris & Where to Celebrate Them.
Charlie Brown Christmas Puzzle.
My Neighbor Totoro Utensil Set.
Tidy the Library Card Game.
My Projects in 2024
This past year has been a busy year for me. Much of that busyness has been self-imposed as I’ve been working on various teaching and writing projects throughout the year. Here is a summary of what I’ve worked on.
created an online, self-paced class for teenagers on Pride and Prejudice
created an online, self-paced class for teenagers on The Two Towers
created an online, self-paced class for teenagers on The Return of the King
finished the first draft of the first Heather and Harold book
An Update on My Writing Projects
Since launching Growing in Love at the beginning of August, I’ve been brainstorming what to work on next. I have been working on a couple of different projects.
Project 1: A children’s book on Harold and Heather. I have talked a bit about this project before, but in August, I was finally able to finish my first draft of the story. I’m still working on finding an illustrator. My hope is that some of these details will come together in the next couple of months.
Project 2: A German-to-English theology translation project. Well, the first of two German-to-English translation projects. I recently translated a small portion of Philip Melanchthon’s works from German to English. I will be publishing my translation work in serial form on my blog in 2025 and then compile it into a short book that will be available on Kindle.
Project 3: A second German-to-English theology translation project! I’ve recently started translating Johannes Tauler’s sermons from German into English. I will start posting my translations on my blog in 2025 (after I finish the posts on Melanchthon). My current aim is to post one sermon a month. My end goal is eventually to compile all of them into a book as well. More details on that down the road.
Meet Hazel (on the right)! Hazel joined her family on November 1.
Reading schedule for The Screwtape Letters:
by December 16, read Letter XVII through Screwtape Proposes a Toast
Reading schedule for The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis:
by January 13, read the preface through chapter 7
by February 10, read chapters 8-11
by March 10, read chapters 12-14
Reading schedule for Letters to Malcolm by C. S. Lewis:
by March 10, read letters 1-4
by April 14, read letters 5-14
by May 12, read letters 15-22
Discussion posts are available for paid subscribers. Come join us! If you want to participate in the read-along and you can’t afford a paid subscription, please just ask me to add you and I will, no questions asked.
"See, amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on Earth below,
See, the tender Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years."
- E. Caswall
Book Gift Bundles
I offer a couple of different gift bundles that include my books (Grace Upon Grace and Growing in Love). The gift bundles include my books (signed and addressed as you desire), 3 tea bags (either black tea or herbal tea), 1 personal note by me to the recipient, 1 sticker, and 1 blank postcard. Please place your order by December 6 to ensure delivery by December 25.
Other Christmas Gift Ideas
If you’re still looking for some Christmas gift ideas, check out this list of Narnia-themed items, these lists of items any Tolkien fan would be happy to receive, this list of Little Women-themed items, or these literary cookbooks. Beyond that, I frequently post bookish, coffee/tea, and travel items in my “spine labels” posts. Or, you could gift a paid subscription to this newsletter (click the button below).
Recently On My Blog
👩🏻💻 Baptists in America - Later Missions Efforts
👩🏻💻 Baptists in America - Liberalism Begins
👩🏻💻 Baptists in America - Fundamentalists and Modernists (part 1)
👩🏻💻 Baptists in America - Fundamentalists and Modernists (part 2)
👩🏻💻 30-Day Giving Challenge 2024 - Week 1
👩🏻💻 30-Day Giving Challenge 2024 - Week 2
👩🏻💻 30-Day Giving Challenge 2024 - Week 3
👩🏻💻 30-Day Giving Challenge 2024 - Week 4
What I’ve Been Reading and Watching
📖 Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
📖 Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien
This month, may you rejoice at the hope we have in Jesus,
— Laura
What does it look like to follow Jesus? I’ve written a book that walks through the Letter of 1 John and offers practical guidance for spiritual growth.
Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest. My reading recommendations. My merch store. My Etsy store. Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).