It’s not often that we wake to snow topped mountains here in Santa Barbara—to hail pelting our brick patio—to so much water that our succulents topple over from drunkenness. Since our two older children were born in Colorado, and miss the snow terribly, we always try to rush to the hills when snow hits. Even though I grew up in this place where splays of roses still bloom in December, I miss the dormant time of winter that we met in Colorado. A season of rest, of gathering strength, of building hopes for the coming burst of spring.

This last week has been winter-like in more ways than just the weather. We’ve had three deaths happen in our extended family—it has been a time of prayer and tears and feelings of grief. We’ve added names to our prayer rule, lit candles, baked bread and written cards. Yet, just like snow means water, and water means relief…there is always joy and hope in Christ—in the white purity of snow, the fun of a snowball fight, the creativity of “Sam” the snowman. All things can be turned to joy, eventually, even death, even winter.

Don’t you love opening your neighborhood mailbox to find a handwritten letter inside? Most times it only takes a glance to know who wrote you—from the choice of the stationary to the look of the writing. But handwritten letters are floating our way less and less these days, and though I love email, I believe letters still have a place in our lives—in our society.

But if you think about it, letter writing is no longer a necessity in order to communicate with others. Invitations to Christmas parties have become E-invites with animated spruce trees flashing their tiny lights and ornaments on our screens. Thank you notes are instant-messaged, and pen pals zip email across continents in no time. Even grandmas call to wish you a happy birthday instead of sending a handwritten card—what’s the point of the written note anyway? Is there even a point?

Despite the fact that I can’t yet answer that question to my satisfaction, I still love to handwrite letters. When I run out of stationary, I spend weeks hunting down a paper that I like; it has to have the right weight, texture and color… Even when email is virtually free, I look forward to that walk to the post office to choose just the right stamp. There’s something about the care that goes into forming a word in ink, and to not having that delete button at the ready. Maybe I’m just slow to change, or maybe the art of letter writing really is more than just paper and ink…

How many books are published every year? (More than 290,000 titles in the US alone in 2006—with over 29,000 of those being juvenile titles! See bowker.com) Goodness, if you like to read, or if you’re simply told to read, the options are endless—and overwhelming…

For some years now I’ve been reading and reviewing children’s literature with a critical eye and have begun to compile a list of books worth putting a nose into… My criteria have always been: superior storytelling and a story worth telling…

Instead of writing a list here, I’ve decided to invite you to come and visit me at goodreads.com to see what I read and recommend! It’s a fun site and I’ve found that it encourages me to keep a book by my bed so that I can continue adding to my list. Sort of a silly incentive, but it works!